Grocery Barons: If Medical Care Delivery Were Like Food Care Delivery

Just got back from the grocery store.  It was 11:10 PM here in North Carolina.  I just finished working out at the YMCA.  I stopped to have a bite to eat and a beer at the local tap room and then decided I needed to pick up some things from the food store.

It was open.  Would be until tomorrow; they sell food 7×24.

The place was well lit, air conditioned and pleasant.  Music even.

Imagine, a warehouse that sells virtually anything you could wanna eat.  7×24.  On your way home.

Then I saw this:

Biscuits and eggs.  Taters and juice.  This would last my family of 4 two whole breakfasts.  That means for $6.99 I feed 4 people twice.  Or, if you carry the 1, eight people for seven bucks.

That’s less than $1 a meal.

Can you imagine what it would be like if we could sell medical care like we sell food?

6 responses to “Grocery Barons: If Medical Care Delivery Were Like Food Care Delivery

  1. One problem with medical care in its current form is that it relies on a labor force to preform the services. The food products that you show are mostly mass produced by machines. If the health care system switched to more self-serve automated equipment similar to the type used to measure blood pressure, we could cut the costs.

    • One problem with medical care in its current form is that it relies on a labor force to preform the services.

      Yeah, a lot of the care is delivered by people. However, even there we can make progress. Do we really need ALL of the procedures being done today being done by MDs? Can some of the more understood and common things be taken care of by RNs?

  2. Maybe with 100 packages of bacon, you could get a blood pressure check.

    • Maybe with 100 packages of bacon, you could get a blood pressure check.

      Well….at this grocery store, the check would be free, you would be in an air conditioned building and could be eating fresh sushi from the deli.

      🙂

  3. Pino ,

    I get your argument, but I say your analogy is too far off . You are comparing a skilled service with food retail . Your basic argument is sound . I think I can give you a more relevant example . I am thinking of car repair . Not being a good do it your selfer I am frequently at the mercy of car garages . Over the years I have found a few that I deal with who do not rip me off . I can also generally get my car into a shop within a few days , two weeks tops .

    Compare that with getting a non emergency Doctor appointment. It can be months . Right now I am trying to see a Dentist because I can’t chew on one side of my mouth . The only reason I got an appointment in 30 days was because the Dentist has a cancellation .

    I realize the big difference between a car garage and a Doctor or Dentist . Yet the economics are the same . The medical Profession does not have to compete for business at anywhere near the level of car mechanics .

    • I get your argument, but I say your analogy is too far off . You are comparing a skilled service with food retail .

      Certainly a product is different than a service. However, I use food delivery s an example because it’s a more basic fundamental need than medical care delivery. And one of the key planks of the Leftist’s argument is that health care is expensive because they have us over a barrel when we need it.

      And I’m just calling BS.

      Over the years I have found a few that I deal with who do not rip me off . I can also generally get my car into a shop within a few days , two weeks tops .

      Now imagine if you set up a maint contract with your mechanic. I’ve been thinking about this with mine. I usually spend about $300-$400 on oil changes and about $1000 on repairs. If I bundle all of that up I might be able to sign a contract with him that:

      1. Guarantees him the money up front.
      2. Locks me into a scheduled condition. Further, I could negotiate benefits like car pick up while I’m at work.

      Right now I am trying to see a Dentist because I can’t chew on one side of my mouth . The only reason I got an appointment in 30 days was because the Dentist has a cancellation .

      This is where I think we can make some really big gains. Up until 3-4-5 years ago, UNC held a government enforced monopoly on dentists. They were the only school allowed to run a dental school. The reason? The fewer dental schools the fewer dentists. COmbine that with the fact that in order to own, not practice, but just OWN a dentist office, you have to be a dentist.

      Result? Months long waiting lists. No rural doctors. And dentist offices that CLOSE for lunch, the whole freakin’ joint closes AND they are closed on Fridays.

      We have a shortage and they control their office hours.

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