Most people are faced with the choice of HMOs, PPOs, or individual coverage. Can the choice you make have a direct impact on your health? The sad truth is, "Yes, it can." That's why it's so important you understand your choices. And that's why we want you to understand the choices we've made at Diagnostic Clinic.

We have not jumped on the "managed care" bandwagon. Unlike many others, we still think of our medical professionals as doctors and nurses and not "providers." Even more important, we treat patients like people and not "plan participants" or "covered lives."

Does this distinguish us in today's health care environment? Yes, and it is a distinction we are committed to maintaining. Managed care -- in many of its forms -- is in direct conflict with our beliefs and practices.

The most restrictive form of managed care is Health Maintenance Organizations, or HMOs. HMOs encourage "providers" to see a large volume of patients, severely shortening the time a doctor can spend with each one. HMO cost-saving practices such as limiting specialty referrals, tests, hospitalizations, as well as the delays patients often encounter in HMO systems, may have serious health consequences.

We share a practice philosophy, which includes spending ample time with each patient and performing all necessary tests as soon as possible. We also share the belief that financial deals should not influence medical care. For these reasons, Diagnostic Clinic has chosen not to participate in any HMOs.

A second, less restrictive form of managed care is PPOs, or Preferred Provider Organizations. PPOs allow patients to see certain physicians at a reduced cost. Diagnostic Clinic does participate in a limited number of PPOs based on their flexibility and freedom to provide care in a manner consistent with our beliefs. We review these plans yearly as the rules and participants seem to change. Based on that review we decide whether to stay on as members of that plan.

At Diagnostic Clinic, the most important choice we've made is to always provide attentive, comprehensive, quality health care to patients who choose to walk through our doors.

View our Current List of Insurance Plans
Click here for an in depth discussion of Managed Care
Click here for the Managed Care Glossary
See a related article on what makes us different