From the
Montgomery Business GazetteThe David Drew Clinic
By Richard I. Alpert
Health care remains one of the most intractable problems facing the United States. Growing numbers of citizens, politicians and free-market enthusiasts are expressing discomfort with the restraints and aberrations of the present managed care market.
It’s a trend worth watching because health care is very big business, amounting to almost a trillion dollars a year. Even a small change in the way Americans provide for their health needs could result in large market displacements, eroding the prospects for some companies, while fostering rapid growth for new industry participants.
For Timothy Soncrant, founder of Chevy Chase’s David Drew Clinic, there is a better way. The former head of the National Institute of Health’s Institute on Aging’s Clinical Treatment Program is convinced there’s a viable niche for providers who can deliver high-tech care utilizing leading-edge technology.
Soncrant’s dual career as physician and medical scientist provided the inspiration for his health-care start-up. His experience as a practitioner taught him the importance of building close relationships with patients and the necessity of developing strong personal communication skills. His years as an NIH researcher left him wondering why the most promising techniques for screening and detection were seldom used as part of a structured program for disease prevention.
"I became convinced that many serious conditions and potentially catastrophic diseases could be caught early on if only people knew what tests were available, and if the medical community was focused more on detection and prevention, rather than treatment," he said. "That’s the message we are getting out to the community. There is a place in greater Washington where you can have direct access to your personal physician 24 hours a day, receive the most advanced health screening available, and participate in a proactive wellness program designed to optimize your individual health."
Clinic services are tailored to eliminate many of the inconveniences that we grudgingly assume are part and parcel of traditional care. Enrollment is limited, assuring patients are seen promptly upon arrival. The penthouse facility is quiet, attractive and comfortable, hardly reminding you you’re at the doctors. Patients care is held in strict confidence. The clinic does not release any information without patients prior permission. And the clinic’s staff, if desired, compiles all charges from allied specialists, obtains reimbursement from insurers when possible, and provides patients with a single, itemized bill for services.
Who uses this high-end health-care service? As you might imagine, it’s popular with busy executives and professionals who place a premium on their time -- as well as their health. It also appeals to affluent consumers seeking the best care possible. But many patients of varying economic status have been attracted to the clinic by their desire to have more control over the level of health care they receive. They want the best and they see visiting the clinic as the ultimate personal investment.
"These are people looking for the best care available. They’ve found care that is designed specifically to optimize their health and well-being, " Soncrant commented.
