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Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

Michigan's economy has hit rock-bottom and taken health care along for the ride.  But now some Detroit-area hospitals figure growing their business is about the only option left.  

They're re-engineering processes, showing new respect for their patient's time, offering door-to-door shuttles, expanding evening and weekend hours, discounting care - "7 tests for $70" is a great concept - and enabling more patient-doctor contact using e-mail and Blackberrys.

"What we're learning is you just can't hang out a shingle" for a doctor's office, says Dr. Mark Kelley, chief medical officer of The Henry Ford Physician Group. "We may have to be like malls and staff like crazy on the weekends."


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