I had a feeling this would happen.  I am having trouble finding time to write due to how busy we have become treating patients from all over the U.S. and outside.  Even the main stream media finds our model refreshing.  Some random thoughts.

I received an email the other day from someone who described themselves as a “screaming left wing liberal.”  In it she said that she couldn’t disagree more with me philosophically but that she knew a family who had brought a child to our facility for surgery due to our pricing.  She said, “…it’s hard to argue with cheaper and better no matter how you got there.”  

People from all over the country are streaming to our facility now, elated that they can obtain the care they have needed at prices they can afford.  I don’t think any patients are more appreciative than those who travel to see us from far off who have shopped (sometimes for years!) very hard for reasonable pricing, only to be disappointed.  Many have all but given up when they find us.  It seems too good to be true to almost every one in this situation.

We recently did a “two for one,” the same procedure on two little adopted boys.  They both had hernias and their new adoptive parents make a habit of adopting kids (you wouldn’t believe the number they have adopted if I told you).  Dr. Lantier and I were so impressed with this family that we did both surgeries for the price of one.  I don’t believe I have met a more delightful and grateful family.  

There are too many stories to tell, really.  I will try to write more regularly and pass some of these stories on.  I am grateful to all of you who follow this blog and for your support.  The success of spreading our message belongs to all of you.  The growth of our message has indeed been organic, mostly word of mouth.  The applicability of the free market to health care and the power of rational and transparent pricing in health care is  a message whose time has come….and the cat is out of the bag.  I don’t believe there is any stopping it now.  Those who embrace this message will thrive in a healthy and mutually beneficial way.  Those who don’t will perish as all short-term thinkers and entrepreneurs eventually do.

G. Keith Smith, M.D.