Troy Sybert focused on bringing Walmart model to healthcare
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another in a series of articles that will appear over the next several weeks spotlighting entrepreneurs in Northeast Tennessee.)
By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA
“Why can’t we take healthcare and apply the Walmart model,” Troy Sybert asks. It’s a dream that the former healthcare executive is now pursuing in Northeast Tennessee.
“I’m not your typical entrepreneur,” the Founder and President of TroyMD Wellness PLLC told us when we met recently at the East Tennessee State University Innovation Lab. He’s a medical doctor who also holds a Master’s in Public Health and Hospital Administration. Sybert’s career includes serving as Chief Medical Officer in several venues.
Now, after 10 years in the hospital space, he’s focused on changing the industry.
“How do you disrupt and address chronic disease management,” Sybert asks, citing a problem that faces one out of every two people. He describes the solution as the “difference between improving on a candle and developing a light bulb.”
“It’s disruptive,” Sybert says in describing his approach. “I’m attacking the revenue model.”
How so?
Much as Walmart did, Sybert is planning to provide a customer friendly, “you can find everything you need here” model. It’s in essence a one-stop kiosk, conveniently located in places like a shopping mall, truck stop, or even your place of work.
“I’m going to package everything you need – labs, drugs and provider services – in one visit,” Sybert explains.
His vision has the chronic disease patient completing the necessary forms online and then visiting a kiosk for regular lab work. The results of the lab tests would be submitted to a physician within 12 minutes. Then, through the means of telemedicine, the physician would consult with the patient who would remain at the kiosk.
It’s all simple and handled in one visit rather than multiple visits to the doctor.
“My plan is to have multiple kiosks supported by a virtual group practice,” Sybert says, but quickly explains that his concept is not the urgent care approach.
“I’m providing care for your ongoing disease,” he notes. “I’m approaching chronic disease from a lean management perspective. We will automate and perfect the workflow.”
The possibility of kiosks in truck stops comes from his knowledge that many long haul truckers suffer from chronic diseases and are challenged in finding appropriate resources on the road.
Sybert started exploring his concept in early 2016, a few months after leaving Capella Healthcare where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. He is currently developing a prototype of the kiosk.
“I’m doing all aspects,” he says. Right now, he’s not seeking investment capital.
