São Paulo-With increased costs in private health clinics with leaner models may have seen trend in the country and have called the attention of operators of plans. With scale gain and pent-up demand, Dr. Now and DocctorMed aggressive expansion targets proposing already in the midst of a scenario still bad.
Founded in June 2015 and four units in operation to date, Dr. Now, which focuses on primary health care, hopes to achieve 20 clinics in 2017. The reason for wanting to double in size, according to the network''s CEO, William Berardo, is the large pent-up demand.
In addition to meeting the public health plan-those who never had and who lost with unemployment-the Executive points out that has received people who have a plan, but seek the network for convenience. "The unity of the Vila Olimpia [noble neighborhood in São Paulo], we thought we were going to meet the people who work in the region, but we have received middle-class residents to plan."
According to Berardo, this demand profile was unexpected and has created opportunities. Even without revealing the name, he says that signed with two major carriers. "About 60% of cases can be resolved with the primary care, which reduces the cost of operators with emergency room," he explains.
According to the Executive, each emergency room has a protocol to be followed and, at times, include a series of tests that make the query. So, the idea of the partnership is to do a screening with the initial service and only forward to a specialist if necessary. "Forward to the expert nominated by the carrier and how our network will be integrated into the electronic health record of the operator, we were able to schedule," he says.
In addition to the contracts with the plans, the Commission points out that it has a pilot project with one of the carriers to accompany people with more than 70 years. "Often this old man goes to the clinic to talk or to the emergency room when she felt a cold, then you have to run the entire protocol," reports.
In this case, the doors of the clinics will be open to this group of people for 90 days and after checking the frequency of use, Now sends the data to the operator. "Often they just want to see the pressure or blood glucose," says.
In the case of chronic patients, the idea of the partnership is to manage this population, but generate data for the program management of the company to hire. "With the electronic health record the operator will know in real-time the situation of a patient with diabetes or any other chronic disease", exemplifies Berardo. In addition, he reiterates that part of interest operators come from network penetration, located within or close to subways.
The long-term plan of the CEO is to achieve 50 clinics in 2018; in 2017, the goal is to increase the turnover between 10:15 times. To this end, the company has hired Credit Suisse to receive advisory assistance in the search for a new partner to help finance the next units; so far all the clinics were opened with own resources. "We need R$ 25 million for 2017 and 2018," he says.
Asked about the expansion in places outside of the city of São Paulo, he points out that there is a possibility to go to the State in the second half, but the focus is to leverage first to population density. "In the capital fit a 100 clinics."
Aggressive expansion
Already in a different way, the bet on the growth of Docctor Med franchise model to have won and reduction of operating costs. The network, which already has 45 units in more than 12 States, closed with more than 40 2016 contracts signed. "Today we are on the wrong side of the crisis, while Brazil is going through a recession, we''re expanding," says the Director of network expansion, Roberto Asakura. On the model of the Docctor Med, the clinics are composed by several experts as basic dermatologist, endocrinologist, psychiatry, as well as laboratory tests.
"The crisis has accelerated the pace, between 2014 and 2015 sell 24 contracts and only in 2016 were 26 franchises sold", explains. According to him, the goal was to achieve 100 clinics in 2021, however, at this rate it is possible that the network can this number of units in 2019. "Many clinics are looking for [the cast], because the model helps increase profit margin and we got good negotiations with suppliers. In addition to working with a strong brand, "places. In 2016, the clinics that have more than one year of operation have earned on average 25% more than in 2015.
In addition to the people without health insurance, the Executive points out that small and medium-sized enterprises are the focus of the network for years to come. "We launched the Business Card that gives the employee a credit to spend and discounts in the consultations and examinations. This reduces the cost of insurance for small, "he explains.
He also points out that the network will launch a mobile application in the first quarter so that patients can have access to a list of pharmacies and laboratories where they can find what they need at lower cost.
DCI
News Item translated automatically
Click HERE to see original
