I want a list of which of two companies' dialysis centers are
within a 30 mile radius of each other. (in other words, where the do
two companies have dialysis centers that overlap within a 30 mile
radius?)
The companies are Renal Care Group and Fresenius.
The Medicare.gov website lists the addresses of dialysis centers by
state, county, city, or zipcode. It designates Fresenius centers as
FMC and Renal Care centers as RENAL CARE GROUP.
http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteria.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C6%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home
Right now the only time-effective way I can think of doing this is to
go state-by-state and see how many FMC and RENAL CARE GROUP listings
are in the same city. However, this is not so accurate for a 30-mile
radius list, only a city-by-city list.
I found a powerpoint presentation with a map of all of the Renal
Care and Fresenius locations, but the data for that map is not
available to the public.
The powerpoint is available here:
http://www.freseniusmedicalcare.de/internet/fmc/fmcag/agintpub.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Rede_HV_2005_en/$FILE/RedeHV_Ben_HV_e_final.pdf
and the chart is on slide 29.
Ideally, I would also want to see which of the two companies' dialysis
centers are within a 30 minute drive of each other as well, but I doubt that
this is as easily determined as making a list of dialysis centers that
are within 30 miles of each other. |
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
27 Oct 2005 10:41 PDT
Hi jguttman,
Although quite time-consuming, I have found a way to calculate this
information for you. However, my method will work only if you are
interested in two facilities within a 30-mile radius *and in the same
state*. If priced accordingly, I would be willing to compile this
data.
Note: This work will take at least a couple of days.
Looking forward to your clarification.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
27 Oct 2005 16:35 PDT
I am working on your question, however, before I continue I need to
clarify one thing. I have found a tool to calculate the distances
between various facilities. However, the distance calculated is
between the two zipcodes. Is this calculation sufficient?
Looking forward to your clarification.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
28 Oct 2005 05:36 PDT
How much more would it cost for you to do it? Would $75 total be reasonable?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
28 Oct 2005 05:51 PDT
Thank you for your clarification.
That would be fine. However, please note that the distances will be
between the two zip codes, not exact addresses. Would that be ok?
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
28 Oct 2005 06:04 PDT
I have unlocked the question to enable you to modify the price.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
28 Oct 2005 11:26 PDT
If it is not between the exact addresses, and only the zipcodes, then
I don't know if I am willing to pay more than $50. If $50 is
suffficient for this, then please continue calculating it.
Also, I have noticed that some of the Renal Care Group listings in the
Medicare website are listed as "RCG" and others are listed as "RENAL
CARE GROUP". If possible, please incorporate both of these listings
because they both refer to the same company's dialysis centers.
Thank you.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
29 Oct 2005 08:09 PDT
Following two days of research, I have completed the requested
information. However, after reading your clarification regarding Renal
Care Group also being called RCG, I have located over 100 more
centers. My apologies, but this additional research will take
approximately three more days to complete. Thus, I am not able to do
such time-consuming work for the price offered.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
29 Oct 2005 09:31 PDT
That is fine, will $75 be enough then? However, there are even more
listings that I did not realize were listed differently. Fresenius
centers are designated not only as "FMC" but also sometimes as
"FMCNA". I would like those additional centers incorporated into the
research as well, if you did not already incorporate them. Thanks.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
29 Oct 2005 10:23 PDT
Thank you for your clarification.
I'm sorry, but approximately 3 days work deserves much more than
$56.25, which would be how much I would make. Google takes 25% of the
list price.
Best wishes,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
29 Oct 2005 13:40 PDT
Would you do it for $150 total? Can you also explain your methodology
so that I know that you are putting together something that will be
useful for me? Thanks.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
29 Oct 2005 14:29 PDT
My methodology:
First I search for RCGs in a particular state. For example in Alabama
there are 33 RCGs. For each one, I take the zip code and enter it into
a database that provides the zip codes that are within a 30-mile mile
radius from that zip code. I then look for FMC's with zipcodes that
correspond with the given zipcodes listed.
I will continue this research for the new price offered. However, it
may take 3-4 days to complete. I hope this doesn't cause you any
inconvenience.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
01 Nov 2005 13:19 PST
Hi jguttman,
I have begun the additional research for you. Hopefully I will have
this completed by early next week. I hope this does not cause you any
inconvenience.
Best wishes,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
01 Nov 2005 14:11 PST
The sooner the better. Thanks.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
03 Nov 2005 14:18 PST
Hi jguttman,
I have completed all the requested data for the US states, excluding
Illinois. This state alone has hundreds of centers that fit the
criteria you have specified. Would you like me to post the completed
data as an answer now and continue to work working on Illinois (which
I estimate may take approximately one week to complete).
Alternatively you may like to consider reducing the radius of the area
for the centers located in Illinois.
Looking forward to your clarification.
Best wishes,
Rainbow
|
Clarification of Question by
jguttman-ga
on
03 Nov 2005 15:32 PST
Please post what you have and give me the Illinois data later.
However, I find 38 RCI centers and 52 FMC centers in Illinois. How is
that hundreds?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
rainbow-ga
on
03 Nov 2005 15:43 PST
Here's an example by what I mean when I say hundreds:
RCG - BERWYN is within a 30 mile radius of 44 different FMCs. There
are over 35 other RCGs in Illinois which closely fit the same
criteria. This makes a list of approximately 1,500 combinations of
centers within a 30 mile radius of each other.
Best regards,
Rainbow
|
