Do we need a freestanding prostate health center?

Doctors in Raleigh and Charlotte contend that we do. Cary Urology and Cancer Center of North Carolina want the right to build a $10 million prostate clinic in Raleigh while Carolinas Prostate Center wants to do the same in Charlotte.

The state will allow only one clinic as a demonstration project. Still, specialty clinics with fancy technology seem to move us further away from the goal of increased coordination of care and containing health costs.

It is also likely that only the well-insured will seek care at these prostate health clinics, which will draw those patients away from hospitals. Hospitals need insured patients to help offset the tremendous amount of free care they provide.

We seem to have survived pretty well thus far without any prostate clinics. Why do we need one now?