By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Whole Foods Medical, Competitive Wellness and Rutabagas
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Whole Foods Medical, Competitive Wellness and Rutabagas
BusinessPublic HealthWellness

Whole Foods Medical, Competitive Wellness and Rutabagas

Lonnie Hirsch
Lonnie Hirsch
Share
4 Min Read
rutabaga whole foods
SHARE

rutabaga whole foodsFuture-thinkers who imagined “healthcare reform” as a move toward socialized medicine in the US may not have anticipated the weight of response from (previously) non-healthcare capitalists.

rutabaga whole foodsFuture-thinkers who imagined “healthcare reform” as a move toward socialized medicine in the US may not have anticipated the weight of response from (previously) non-healthcare capitalists.

The well-established chain of Whole Foods Markets has long been a grassroots evangelist for natural and healthy foods. And they may be another enterprise entry in the increasingly competitive healthcare delivery arena once reserved for doctors.

Traditional providers—physicians, medical groups, hospitals—have all been feeling the heat of new entries as they lose market share to Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, walk-in clinics and similar national retailers. Practitioners continue to be challenged to differentiate themselves, particularly at the family and general practice level, where big-box medicine holds convenience and cost advantages.

More Read

How to Improve Patient Relationship this Holiday Season
6 Ways For Getting The Perfect Workout Motivation
Lessons Learned: The Hard Way
Medication Errors Hospitalizing Seniors Most
New Fund with Stanford Hospital Invests in Stanford Entrepreneurs

Whole Foods jumps in with both feet…

The retail grocery natural-niche that Whole Foods occupies has always appealed to a health-conscious and wellness-minded audience…and that’s a significant reason that their ideas—still in the developmental, “brainstorming” stage—are likely to gain traction quickly.

One idea, according to Bloomberg Business, that Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey is working on is a “weight loss and nutrition camp for employees and customers. It’s based on a program called Total Health Immersion, a weeklong clinic that Whole Foods employees can attend for free, where they undergo medically supervised testing, group discussions with nutritionists, and cooking classes. Mackey wants Whole Foods to offer Total Health Immersion to customers as a healthful weekend getaway.”

The other idea is a Whole Foods medical clinic. The concept would be oriented first to employees and eventually—perhaps—rolled out to customers. “’Health care is so broken in America,’” Mackey says. “If we allow markets to work, if we allow entrepreneurs to get in here and do things like I’m talking about doing, we will pretty much solve the health-care problem in a generation.’”

Are health plans driving for the retail-medical explosion?

The increasing number of non-traditional (retail) entrants among providers may, in part, be due to the rise of high-deductable health plans. “As these plans become more common, pharmacy chains and big box retailers are taking a greater interest in expanding their healthcare provider capacities,” the Direct Primary Care Journal anticipated over a year ago.

Whole Foods and many others have an open-field run at the health- and value-conscious consumer. “The rise of high-deductible health plans means more consumers will be on the hook for much of their medical costs…[and] as these high-deductible plans become more common, traditional retailers such as CVS Caremark, are taking a greater interest in expanding their healthcare provider capacities.”

Healthcare delivery’s harsh business reality is that no one can afford to underestimate or ignore the competition today. For an in-depth look at this topic—and how it applies to your situation—download our free report, How to Win Patients Despite Intense Competition.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries: What Families Need to Know
Policy & Law
October 10, 2025
Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025

You Might also Like

Home HealthWellness

10 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

January 11, 2019

Top Quotes of the Week

June 3, 2011
Twitter, Healthcare Marketing
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

Should Your Medical Practice Have a Twitter Account?

June 27, 2014
Business

Negotiation Strategies For Hospitals And Doctors To Implement

April 13, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?