If you feel like your doctor’s office has turned into a giant corporate assembly line lately, you are not imagining it.
Across Florida, a massive wave of consolidation is happening behind the scenes. Large hospital systems, insurance conglomerates, and private equity firms are aggressively buying up local, independent family practices.
The result? The traditional, independent neighborhood doctor is becoming a rarity. And unfortunately, it is the patients who are paying the price.
What Corporate Consolidation Means for You
When a local practice gets absorbed by a massive healthcare network, the entire culture of your care changes. You might notice:
• The “7-Minute” Visit: Corporate medicine operates on volume. Doctors are pressured to see as many patients as possible, forcing them to rush through appointments.
• Worse Access, More Gatekeepers: Trying to get an appointment or ask a quick question means dealing with automated phone trees, complex online portals, and tiers of administrative staff.
• Hidden Fees and Billing Surprises: Corporate health systems often add “facility fees” or complex billing codes to your bill, leaving you with confusing, unexpected costs weeks after your visit.
• A Lack of Personal Connection: You become a medical record number on a spreadsheet rather than a person.
Breaking the Mold: True Independent Medicine
At East County Internal Medicine, we watched this corporate trend taking over Lakewood Ranch and decided to do something completely different.
When we opened our doors, we chose to be 100% independent. We don’t answer to corporate boards, we don’t let insurance companies dictate your treatment, and we don’t charge hefty, ongoing concierge retainer fees just to keep you on a list. Instead, we operate on a straightforward, cash-on-demand model.
The East County Internal Medicine Difference
By cutting out the corporate middlemen and the insurance red tape, we can bring medicine back to what it should be: a direct relationship between you and your doctor.
• Transparent Pricing: You know exactly what your visit costs upfront. No surprise bills in the mail, no hidden fees, and no insurance deductible headaches.
• Time with Your Doctor: When you book a visit with Dr. Shaan Kunwar, DO, you get his undivided attention. We don’t rush you out the door to hit a corporate quota.
• Care When You Need It: Our model allows us to maintain a highly stable, personalized practice. Our patients stay with us because they know they have a reliable partner in their health.
You don’t have to settle for the corporate assembly line. You deserve an internal medicine physician who actually has the time to listen.
Shaan Kunwar DO
941-727-7771
eastcountyim.com