Why are physicians selling products out of their office? Is this best for you, the patient? Should you be purchasing products from your doctor?
These are complicated questions and I will try to help sort this out. First, I will cut to the chase. The main reason why physicians sell products out of their office is to generate revenue. If this was not clear to you, let me clarify. They want to make money.
Now that sounds terrible from the surface, but it is not always a bad thing. It can be a very good thing in some cases. I stress the word “some”.
In many cases, a product may be offered out of convenience, so the patient does not need to go elsewhere to get it. This is good for the patient as it saves them time and may increase patient compliance as they will have what they need. It often is not the cheapest option, as purchasing it elsewhere is often less expensive.
In many cases, a product is recommended that is sold in the office when other alternatives exist that are not sold in the office. In nearly all of these cases, the products that can be purchased elsewhere are cheaper, may be just as good, and, in some cases, are actually better for the patient.
In short, you as the patient are the consumer. The physician is the provider and is there to provide a service and answer your questions. Ask questions! If a provider recommends that you purchase their product, especially for a rash, ask about an alternative. Ask, “Is there a product that will accomplish the same thing that I can purchase in the drug store or online?” Ask, “Is your product better than the one that can I purchase elsewhere or will they do the same thing?” For the last question, I can tell you that in nearly every case there is a product that will do the same thing so if that is not the answer given, I would raise an eyebrow as that is highly unlikely to be true. I would press it further and even say, “I understand that you believe that your product is best, but what would be the next best alternative?”
Ask about the difference in cost, if that is important to you as often the products sold in the office cost much more than ones that can be purchased online or in a drug store. If a provider says that there is no alternative and that you must purchase a product from them, that is just false. There is always an alternative that can be purchases elsewhere. The alternative may be cheaper, it may be more expensive, it may be superior, it may be equal in efficacy, it may be almost as good. But alternatives exist and if you don’t ask, often these providers will not offer alternatives.
Now, Med Spas sell products. It is a big part of their revenues. But, who is really qualified there to choose the best possible products? And even if they are “good” products, are they cost effective? Are there cheaper alternatives? In my experience, many Med Spas carry inferior products that are overpriced. Most consumers like their Aesthetician or Physician’s Assistant. But are they best qualified to find the best products for you? What training do they have in this area?
The products that we offer are tested to do exactly what they say they can do. Most products are not! Why? It costs money to do these studies and most consumers and uneducated providers do not know enough to ask to review them.
Thank you for reading. As a thank you, use the code GIVEME10 at our store at checkout at get 10% off any of our RSBSKINCARE products.