Ground Breaking

One of the enjoyable things about travelling is when you spot something that looks a bit puzzling. And you wonder, "what the heck is going on."

As I was rounding a bend on Route 50 entering Athens, Ohio on Tuesday, I spotted a tent and a big crowd of people along the roadway on the left. I quickly decided to pull off the exit and backtrack a bit to find out what was going on.

Turns out it was a fascinating hour-long detour. I happened on the ground breaking ceremonies for a 68,000 square foot, 2 story doctor-owned outpatient clinic, the Holzer Clinic, on the outskirts of Athens. And I soon learned that it would be offering a broad range of services, from family practice to a number of sub-specialities. More than two dozen physicians will eventually work there.

My sense in listening to a couple of the short speeches at the ceremony & talking briefly with Todd Fowler -- the Holzer Clinic's administrator -- is that this may be something we'll be seeing more of.

What sort of impacts will these large doctor-owned group clinics have on our communities, and on our existing hospitals? I don't have the answers.

Listen to Todd Fowler, the clinic's administrator, as he explains the nature of the project. Just a quick two minute interview:

• to listen to the conversation [press blue arrow to play; click link to download]
• access this conversation on our podcast page