Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceP
What matters is quality. Although somewhat suggestive, Chicago has 3 of the 30 or so generally-accepted top hospitals (Northwestern, Rush, & U. of Chicago) vs. 1 for Houston (Houston Methodist). Medical schools? Chicago has 2 in the top 30 or so (Northwestern & Chicago) vs. 1 for Houston (Baylor).
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I think this is partially correct. But since we are on an
economic forum, having all of the hospitals in one location may or may not have health care synergies for a patient, but it does create business synergies.
You are more likely to get business services that serve the medical and research industry colocalized in a medical district (this is why I'm familiar with the TMC and IMD). And if you are a nurse, physician, researcher or administrator, it's easier to find a job or change jobs if the industry is concentrated. There's more economic gravity in a cluster. And efficiency. I know medical equipment service techs that can visit more users at the TMC than they can in Chicago. You can "pop over" to MD Anderson from Baylor without getting in a car and then head back to finish your main task for the day. And being 3x larger, you are 6x more likely to have a consultant, salesperson, service technician, application support tech or whatever whose only posting is the medical district. As opposed to someone who has an office in Elmhurst and covers a whole region. This is one kind of example, but they are manifest and manifold.
Beyond that, Chicago abounds with examples of law firms clustering in the Loop or health care companies in the North burbs. The concentrated Loop is incredibly valuable to Chicago compared to Houston or Dallas' region-wide sprawl for most things. If you were looking to relocate a business HQ like CVS, they are going to consider Chicago because of our concentrated businesses in the north suburbs, since it would be easier to find and recruit employees and experts who already work in the area. Having a lot of an industry is good; having a concentrated industry is advantageous.
I'd love to see the IMD grow to be more like the TMC for these reasons. With Chicago's resources and the room to expand at the IMD, it's got a shot to nip at its heels over the next few decades. But the TMC is better managed and isn't standing still. It isn't helpful to pretend that the TMC isn't enviable.