ABSTRACT
At Atlas MD in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Josh Umbehr believes that it makes good business sense to build a system with “no nos.” His patients pay a monthly fee based on their age. Every procedure he can complete in the office is complimentary, and he offers everything from home visits to virtual visits, including text messages, direct Twitter responses, Facebook direct messages, cellphone conversations, Skype, and email—in short, he’ll respond using any communication path that works for his clients. Patients purchase most medicines from Atlas MD at wholesale prices—and the savings are sometimes enough to cover their total monthly fee. Dr. Umbehr is trying to align all of the incentives so that doing the right thing is also the most cost-effective thing.
