Previously, concierge medicine was a favored option for the wealthy family. However, unless you are sure what this term stands for, you never know if you are getting the right treatments. It is not a suitable healthcare model for everyone. So, you better know if you fit the bill right.
The concept of concierge medicine is rather simple. You have to pay an annual retainer fee to a medical practice or provider. As a result, they will offer you a greater level of personalization and access to medical support.
It provides patients with a higher standard of attention and care. At the same time, doctors can keep their patients’ lists small and create long-term relationships with them. However, there are certain pros and cons involving concierge medicine.
Concierge Medicine Practice
A concierge medical practice provider will offer direct access alongside personalized care to the needful patients. The doctors specialized in concierge medicine will have their boutique medical center, consisting of a few qualified physicians.
- Here, the patient lists are pretty small. It helps in minimizing bureaucracy and paperwork.
- As a result, patients get to create long-lasting relationships with their doctors.
- However, the concierge doctors will have the same qualifications and experience as any other primary care provider.
- They are well-trained to diagnose, conduct annual physicals, and administer laboratory tests.
- But, much like most primary care providers, these concierge doctors won’t be able to carry out any specialized surgery or treatment plans.
Difference Between Concierge Medicine and Traditional Primary Care:
It’s true that on average, a new patient has to wait for 24 days in a metropolitan city to get an appointment with a primary care provider. It is because these experts have a thorough patient panel of around 4000 people. So, they get to see a maximum of 40 patients a day and only dedicate 15 minutes to each one of them.
The routine with traditional primary care is quite similar. You have to wait for weeks to get an appointment, run through some basic tests, and wait for weeks to get the result. If you are lucky enough, a nurse might discuss your reports over the phone.
Then you have the concierge medicine platform, which is more dedicated to patient care and experience. Doctors who are following this model will have a direct patient panel, consisting of not more than 600 patients. They get to see around 6 to 10 patients daily and spend a minimum of 30 minutes with them.
Chances are high that with the concierge medicine model, patients can get same-day or next-day appointments. Furthermore, they will receive advanced screenings and tests easily, and spend time discussing the results. It is one proven way to develop one personalized care plan with the doctors directly.
The Positive Aspects of Concierge Medicine
Much like any other medical practice session, concierge medicine has its fair share of pros and cons. However, the positive aspects dominate the negative signs, which is why more people are moving towards concierge doctors these days. Let’s get to the pros first.
- As mentioned already, patients will receive appointments the same day or the next day maximum.
- There won’t be any co-pays or deductibles associated with office visits.
- Patients will get guaranteed access to promising care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
- Some of the common medicines are dispensed from the office directly. Patients might get some discounts on common medicines.
- Patients will receive standard care in the office. Some examples of standard care are physicals and preventative screening, blood work, and wound treatment.
The Cons:
Once you are well aware of the positive aspects of concierge medicine, it is time to shift your focus to some of the downsides.
- There is going to be a monthly pay routine, which is paired with regular insurance premiums. The results can turn out to be pretty expensive.
- With the patient’s growing age, the fee structure is subject to increase.
- Then again the monthly fees and membership payments will vary based on the practice involved.
- Even with concierge medicine, you will still require regular health insurance to cover certain aspects like specialty referrals and hospitalization.
Overall, the only downside of concierge medicine is the cost involved. But, you cannot ignore the high level of medical attention you will receive without waiting in line behind thousands of patients.
Why Concierge Medicine is the Best Option:
If you want your current healthcare experience to be better, then concierge medicine is always the primary aspect to consider. If you are suffering from some serious illness and need medical attention immediately, consulting a concierge doctor is your first preference. You will receive holistic health services like weight loss, IV vitamin therapy, and more from the sessions.
