The Healthcare Village Model: The Next Big Thing?

The healthcare village is a new setting for outpatient care that's similar to an upscale shopping mall. These villages may include cardiologists, primary care physicians, and ambulatory surgery centers, alongside pharmacies, restaurants, spas and health clubs. What are the advantages to this type of business model? Is the healthcare village model primarily a repackaging of existing services, or an entirely new way of delivering care? Dr. Donna Jarmusz, senior vice president for the Chicago-based company Alter+care, a real estate development firm promoting this model, discusses aspects of the healthcare village with host Dr. Michael Greenberg.