Wellness Clinic - experiences?

[Guest guest]

Separate from the issue that wellness should be occurring in

our office visits – does anyone have experience in running a successful “Wellness

Clinic”?

The reason I ask is – a local Medical Foundation

director is wondering if there is an interest/need for a clinic in the valley that

would only deal in “Wellness” – whatever that might mean.

My gut says it would be a money loser and difficult to

manage if one offered the various services - massage, acupuncture, chiro,

etc.

It would have to be cash only, I would think.

On the other hand, our valley has the population that is

into wellness and might take to it.

The only way I could see this working somehow is –

kind of a retainer practice setup.

Perhaps a set monthly fee that would include access to the

gym, a certain amount of visits for acupuncture, chiro, or other treatments,

and discount on further treatments.

Interestingly, there is a local building (just happens to be

across the parking lot from my office) that was built by a local chiropractor

(and now apparently owned by the bank – rumor has it) that has a ton of

space for this type of clinic – and, in fact, the chiropractor was trying

to do a full bodied alternative/wellness clinic during the last year.

Although interestingly, the chiropractor was trying to

basically set up the same wellness clinic, but with an alternative and

chiropractor bent – but couldn’t get it going at least partly due to

the recession. It had big plans – see below.

The facility has area for yoga classes, group meetings,

fitness gym, etc.

http://www.winhealthinstitute.com/

If you go to the above link – you can see that the

chiropractor was trying to do a very broad spectrum wellness type product.

It was actually quite impressive – on paper anyway – what he was

trying to accomplish.

http://www.wininstitute.org/IWIN_about.asp

W.I.N. Institute

Mission:

The W.I.N. Institute is dedicated to integrative healthcare through research

and education, facilitating lifelong health.

Vision:

We will impact and improve the quality of life to build a healthier Roaring

Fork Valley and United States, using:

Research

studies, pilot programs, and published articles will authenticate the

expediential results which occur, with the use of integrative

treatments.

Lectures and workshops to educate and empower individuals, ranging from

children to the elderly, and help them learn to take responsibility for their

own health.

Health scholarships and a mobile unit, which will provide the opportunity to

reach out in the community, assisting those with physical and financial

needs.

The Prodigy Center, a unique concept that will educate children about their

bodies and positive nutritional and health choices, to build healthier

generations for the future.

Values:

=====================================================

There are definitely some Wellness Clinics out there…

Google says -- http://tinyurl.com/yc2jd2v

http://www.whitakerwellness.com/

http://www.livingnaturally.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=1B6BC49EECA347F2947D38232D5CAB64

http://www.onwellnessclinic.com/

http://www.emeraldwellness.com/

I guess there is the other issue of what a Wellness Clinic

does.

One website said wellness clinics perform massage therapy,

colonics, hydrotherapy, life coaching, dietary advice, and Qi balancing.

Usually they also sell products that are in this general line.

I suppose they could also do “executive physicals”

and many other evaluations and treatments outside the normal care that is paid

for my health insurance.

I get the vibe that often times wellness clinics do large

lab panels that may or may not be indicated – stress test on everyone,

DXA on everyone, PSA on everyone, etc.

But maybe other sites run the wellness differently.

I’m not sure what I would offer in a wellness clinic,

but it would probably be more mainstream – in the sense of labs, testing,

counseling (ie nutritional), etc.

thanks

Locke, MD