16 Dec Membership-Based Healthcare
I’m happy to finally be free of the elbow brace I was wearing for my left radius fracture—what a relief! That said, I’m still using healthcare services more than ever.
One thing I noticed immediately in the United States, compared to Canada, Panama, and Spain, is how common membership-based healthcare is here. In many other countries, it’s the exception rather than the norm.
Membership care can be structured in different ways, but it usually works like this: you join for a set period (typically one year), pay a monthly fee (around $100), and in return receive 20–50% off treatment fees. This model has clear advantages. Clinics generate steady income from membership fees (roughly $1,200 per client per year), but more importantly, patients commit to ongoing care for a full year—encouraging consistency and follow-up visits.
I teach to my students at National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA) & National University of Medical Sciences (Spain, USA, Panama) to focus on bringing back clients instead of always working on getting new clients. From a business perspective, retaining an existing client is far easier than constantly attracting new ones. Patients already know and trust their practitioner, which makes membership models appealing.
This approach isn’t suitable for everyone, and it won’t work in every practice. However, for some manual osteopaths, naprapaths, and other healthcare professionals, it can be an effective way to bring clients back for regular care throughout the year.
At the physiotherapy clinic I attend, the regular rate is $140 per hour. By purchasing 12 sessions in advance, my cost dropped to $70 per session—a 50% savings. There’s no time limit either; I can use those 12 sessions in one month or over the next 10 years.
Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day