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George DeVries is living proof the ancient recipe for success--hard work and tireless persistence--can still pave the way.
But not without having to jump some hurdles, said the president and CEO of San Diego-based American Specialty Health Plans (ASHP), the first large-scale alternative medicine HMO.
Laid off in 1987 due to a company acquisition, DeVries joined two friends who provided chiropractic managed care benefits and services to health plans and employers in Minnesota. A type of plan that did not exist in California in 1987.
This inspired the owners of the firm, American Chiropractic Network (ACN), to expand into California. But, the company lacked the necessary resources. That's when DeVries decided to set up an exclusive management and marketing firm for ACN in California.
The expansion into California was sound enough. The popularity of nontraditional healing has been growing for years.
According to a Harvard study, Americans spend $14 billion on nontraditional providers every year; $10 billion out of their own pockets, said DeVries.
The study also showed that more people actually prefer nontraditional providers over primary care physicians, he added.
Nevertheless, starting out in a new state was no easy feat.
"We started out of the second bedroom in our condominium; basically with a couple of thousand dollars in the bank. My wife worked to support us. I worked without salary for two years," DeVries said.
But, DeVries stayed focus and encouraged managed health care plans to offer untraditional chiropractic services.
"Our goal was to really work with health plans who would add a chiropractic benefit and sell it to employer groups that they cover," DeVries explained.
DeVries...