May 23, 2011
Vendors Beware
As we search for news, we have become aware over the last few months that a number of on-site contracts are going to local vendors, who probably have little experience in managing on-site services. But, once in the door, who knows what can happen? Governmental units may feel obligated to work with local vendors for all of the obvious reasons, in spite of the fact that they might be better served in the long run by working with a more experienced company. These employee offerings nearly always seem to be smaller, and far less comprehensive; low budget and little opportunity for bad press. However, they may be very difficult to compete with politically. Vendors, the competition continues to heat up. It may not be the other big national chains you have to beat when working with school districts and city hall.
Written by: Dorothea Taylor
Filed Under: Vendor Updates
Trackback URL: https://onsiteclinics.org/2011/05/23/vendors-beware/trackback/
Peter Lamelas, MD, MBA, FACEP
July 2, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I find your assumptions that local vendors are smaller and less expierence biased, incorrect and insulting. We are a local vendor and recieved preference on a recent contract we acquired. We have 230 employees and saw 130,000 pt visits last year, have full EMR/EHR and digital X-Ray, HRA, biometrics and provide Urgent Care, Primary Care, Wellness Care, Occupational Medicine, Diagnostic testing, lab and others and have been doing a version of on-site clinics for sometime.
We have gotten into the game and provide On-Site and Off-Site comprehensive Clinc services. Competition is the Amercican way so let the so called “big boys” come and try to do a better job than us in our area….I wish them luck.
OnSite Clinics Editor
July 5, 2011 at 11:20 am
I agree with Dr. Lamelas’ point about competition. If the vendors go head-to-head, let the games begin! If the choices are political in nature — let the buyer beware! On-site clinics are part of a program and not just a different site of care. When the consumers (employers, in this case) know something about the many implications for on-site programming, they can choose for themselves who is capable to deliver such services to their employees and beneficiaries. Sometimes an RFP can help sort that out. However, this post was about inexperienced vendors with political connections. They will be one-off local providers and probably not be very representative of the industry in any case. The good ones will be able to compete anyplace, however, and we welcome their entry in the marketplace.