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COPYRIGHT 2005 Manisses Communications Group, Inc.
From Starbucks to Amazon, it's no secret that American culture has a special fondness for niche markets. Despite the proliferation of the "superstore" mentality, where one-stop shopping is king, business is also booming in places that focus on perfecting one service or product.
The same holds true in health care, particularly as clients are starting to pick up more of the bill themselves. When people have problems, they often want specialists--whether it's cardiac care or mental health.
And though we may not think of behavioral health care as a business per se, those organizations that can specialize in treating a particular disorder are finding that narrowing their scope of practice makes good financial sense.
Birth of a trend
These types of so-called "boutique" services aren't necessarily new, just more common than they used to be, explains Steve Schafer, CEO of Schafer Consulting in Sewickley, PA.
Treatment for some behavioral health issues, such as substance abuse and eating disorders, has long been fertile ground for specialization. By their very nature, these diagnoses are complex and challenging, so specific residential units developed to meet those...
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