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Manhattan’s Flatiron district is the center for IT and new media companies, a neighborhood where one sees many young people in their 20s and 30s. Here, a chic-looking and technology-driven medical clinic opened in November last year. It is One Medical Group’s sixth office in New York City.  

One Medical Group was founded in 2007 by Tom Lee, a physician and a startup entrepreneur. With a focus on establishing a better physician-patient relationship, the company provides membership-based primary care services. Starting in San Francisco, it now has 27 clinics in various cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York and Washington DC.    

Most family doctors who specialize in internal medicine have private practices, and have been slow at digitizing patient care, still using paper charts to keep medical records. Because of this, operating costs increase every year, and to meet these costs, doctors see an average of 25 to 40 patients a day. As a result, physicians end up spending less time with their patients, leaving many of them unsatisfied with their visits. 

By contrast, at One Medical Group, doctors see 15 to 16 patients a day. The company makes full use of technology to limit its fixed cost and improve the efficiency of its physicians and staff members. Patients can use smartphone apps to make same-day appointments and receive test results through email. If they have any questions, they can contact their doctors directly through email as well. 

The annual membership in NYC costs $200. Members can visit One Medical Group’s clinics in other cities so they can see a doctor even when they get sick on a business trip. 

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So far One Medical Group has succeeded in securing $117 million in venture capital, and aims to expand its business across the nation. The company’s rapid growth and the attention it has received from the media reflect how strongly Americans are longing for a new type of medical service that looks forward to the future.