Like everyone, I get unsolicited emails for unsolicited services. I’ve noticed that lately I’m getting more and more emails from legitimate medical practices that are now offering “medi-spa” or cosmetic procedures in addition to their medical services. For instance, a very well regarded OB/GYN practice locally now offers “sculpturing,” medically supervised weight loss, and other elective medi-spa procedures. They advertise heavily on TV and radio and strongly emphasize the stellar reputation of the practice and blend it with their medical abilities.
Medical care is a business. Even though many practices are labelled “not for profit” it doesn’t mean they don’t make money. Staff has to be paid, building maintained and all infrastructure costs covered. Declining insurance reimbursement has resulted in less revenue. So, in this era of medicine-is-a-business, how do we increase our revenue? Are medi-spas the answer?
There are multiple venues for medi-spas including free-standing, affiliated with a dermatology or plastic surgery practice or affiliated with a medical practice. The legalities of medi-spas vary from state to state. In some states, medi-spas must be 100% owned by a physician and the physician must be well versed in the procedures being performed.
The Academy of Dermatology has come out with a position paper on medi-spas:
Quote
“Medical spas are facilities that offer a range of services, including medical and surgical procedures, for the purpose of improving an individual’s well-being and/or appearance. The distinguishing feature of medical spas is that medicine and surgery are practiced in a nontraditional setting.
Procedures by any means, methods, devices, or instruments that can alter or cause biologic change or damage the skin and subcutaneous tissue constitute the practice of medicine and surgery. These include but are not limited to the use of: scalpels; all lasers and light sources, microwave energy, electrical impulses, and all other energy emitting devices; thermal destruction; chemical application; particle sanding; and other foreign or natural substances by injection or insertion.
Any procedure that constitutes the practice of medicine, including but not limited to any procedure using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared or regulated device that can alter or cause biologic change or damage, should be performed only by an appropriately-trained physician or appropriately-trained non-physician personnel under the direct, on-site supervision of an appropriately-trained physician in accordance with applicable local, state, or federal laws and regulations.”
Few medi-spa treatments are covered by health insurance. However, there might be some limited coverage for weight loss products as this reduces healthcare costs for the insurance company. Some other diagnoses that might be covered by traditional health insurance includes treatment of acne scars, rosacea, and acne treatment. Other procedures and treatments may be covered on a case by case basis. However, traditional healthcare insurance does not usually cover cosmetic or elective medi-spa procedures.
Should medical practices add medi-spa services in order to increase income? Does this legitimize medi-spas in the consumer’s mind? When we go to our physician’s practice for a follow up for hypertension or diabetes do we expect to encounter brochures on the counter advertising weight loss products, laser hair removal or botox? Do we take these advertisements as tacit approval of the treatment by our medical provider? After all, this is being offered at our trusted professional’s office. The glitzy brochures certainly entice patients to consider non-medical care. Is this a positive? Or are we offering what the public demands?
Labiaplasty....the procedures MD's invent that no one needs! No end to the greed. I'd find another doctor advertising spa treatments. I worked with a very young OB GYN who left her practice to do laser treatment only. What a waste! One plastics guy tried to convince me that tongue forking is a "service" he would be happy to provide.
I wish my OB would offer something like this personally. As I’m already an established pt and they know my history, adding these services on seems great.
Now, if you’re adding in the hospital itself, like the ER or say cardiac floor, I might side eye it, but at an outpatient OB, office, seems logical.
I would love to have sculpting done. Losing the baby weight has been rough.
Just so you understand, cool sculpting won’t help you loose any weight. It supposed to help shape problem areas like love handles. But no weight lose.
I wish my OB would offer something like this personally. As I’m already an established pt and they know my history, adding these services on seems great.
Now, if you’re adding in the hospital itself, like the ER or say cardiac floor, I might side eye it, but at an outpatient OB, office, seems logical.
I would love to have sculpting done. Losing the baby weight has been rough.
I go to my GYN MD for a serious illness f/u - the advertising is a huge turn off to me...so much so that I'm thinking of taking my care elsewhere. If I want to have medi-spa care, I would go to a medi-spa.
Our Medi-Spa is attached to our Plastics office, which makes sense to me. If it were with any other type of practice, I might be hesitant to go there. We were acquired by a new hospital system last year. Advertising is mostly about them being in our market now, no specific departments. Now if only I could afford the spa services. haha
Our Medi-Spa is attached to our Plastics office, which makes sense to me. If it were with any other type of practice, I might be hesitant to go there. We were acquired by a new hospital system last year. Advertising is mostly about them being in our market now, no specific departments. Now if only I could afford the spa services. haha
Yes, plastic surgery or even dermatology practices make sense to have additional services like a medi-spa as some of their practice is elective.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
What is with all these 20 and 30 year old women getting all these treatments these days? So expensive and do they really need it at that age?