A "tumor hunt clinic" for teens. Good idea ?

I am not convinced that such a clinic would reach those worrieds who enter our small community on YA! Many of them seem to (understandably?) believe that it is possible to make firm diagnoses over the internet.

I think we already have what you are proposing in our health care system. Everybody (In Denmark) has a GP close to where he/she lives. And part of their job is to do physical exams and order relevant additional tests - also in the context of cancer. The primay consultation, additional tests and relevant treatment is all taxpayer financed. From time to time it is debated if people should pay a small fee for the primary consultation, but for now, the whole package is payed for through taxes.

ETA:

Of course you were kidding Spree. One of our poets (Piet Hein) once wrote :"Those who only see joking in jokes and only seriousness in serious have a poor grasp of both" You have a good grasp of both :-)

I think you might just have a winner! I have a family friend who runs an all-cash store front clinic in Missoula Mt. He sees allot of college students and younger adults who are, for the most part, perfectly healthy but may have a small semi-emergent need. He does refer out to other clinics and physicians for the cases he isn't able to treat.

He charges a flat fee of $85 (more for x-rays & labs) serves mainly under/uninsured walk-ins, and is again enjoying his work. He employs just 1 office person/ assistant. He was able to take over an out of business chiropractor's office, so it was virtually turn-key.

He started this after almost going bankrupt in his previous 3 physician family medicine practice that was constantly over booked,over worked, and under compensated primarily from being forced to accept money-losing clients, so he bailed out. He is now very happy, he sees about 10-15 patients a day, and is running a now profitable practice and is even able to consider a retirement plan.

If you can find a profitable model similar to what you described, then why not give it a shot!

It would be fine for the majority, but my daughter's tendonitis, diagnosed by two different doctors, was finally diagnosed 3 weeks later as stage IV Alv. Rhabdo. I would hate for her to have slipped through the cracks, no matter how annoying she seemed, and how rare her diagnosis was. I was never the kind of mum to take my children to the doctors for 'trivial' matters, but she was really concerned that her sore hand was more than just overworked tendons (she is a violinist in a youth orchestra).

I never knew that there was such a panic attitude regarding cancer, until I came to this site, so I do understand what you are saying. And being Australian, I do know that it is much easier here to get to the doctor and pursue until you are satisfied with the answer. I'm not criticising your idea at all, just adding two cents. Its great to see someone here who can offer good advice, who comes with credentials.

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Wouldn't this be taking advantage of uninformed/hypochondriac teens? And where will a teenager come up with $100 dollars to see a doctor?

If the clinic was geared toward adults without insurance that may work.

No I think you're adding fuel to a fire

If a clinic existed like that teens would think its necessary

And that cancer is more common than it is

And paranoid teens would keep going back for tests they don't need

It's better to go to a normal dr I think as a first stop cos they can refer you if necessary or diagnose the smaller problems teens probably really have

I love ya, but I think this one is a bomb ;)

First off - you really wouldn't be billing said teen, but the parents, and I see no reason to punish a parents bank account for their kids anxiety.

Edit: Ok, ok, you would have consent for minors, so the folks would get what they "deserve"....However, it kinda doesn't feel ethical to treat anxiety by testing for cancer....

Just my two cents.

Good plan. You could then rent out part of your space to a shrink who could see them afterwards and pay you a commission for referrals.

Sounds great but nothing will change their opinion if they are convinced they have a life threatening disease.

Spree, you would make a fortune!

And the best part is you wouldn't have to deal with people who were actually sick, just slightly hysterical.

I'm embarrassed to admit my first thought was 'what would your insurance think about this?'

Ah, the world we live in... ;-)