The transition to a concierge model of medicine can be a beneficial move for both doctors and their patients. By removing many of the obstacles that can take up a doctor's time, patients can be sure that they are receiving the full attention they deserve. Furthermore, their health and wellbeing are prioritized. The traditional routine of a primary care doctor is well-known: after waiting weeks for an appointment, having some basic tests and exams and waiting days or weeks for the results to be published on an online portal.
If you're lucky, you'll be able to discuss your results with a nurse on the phone.Concierge medicine differs from traditional care in that it is not about treating the sick, but rather about preventive care. One of the major advantages of this model is more personalized care. With fewer patients, doctors can spend more time with each one. A lower workload can also mean faster diagnoses and treatments for life-threatening conditions.
Many concierge services offer same-day or next-day appointments, longer consultations, home visits, rapid emergency care, and preventive exams and tests that most insurance plans don't cover.It's important to note that a concierge membership is not a complete replacement for health insurance. You should still expect to pay out of pocket for specialist visits, prescriptions, and hospital visits that you would have with a traditional primary care doctor.You may be wondering if it's worth making the switch to concierge medicine. For many doctors, including Dr. Steven Knope, an advocate for assisted medicine, the answer is a resounding yes.
Like Knope, many offices are attracted to concierge services because they believe that the healthcare industry has become too bureaucratic.It's unlikely that you'll become wealthy by switching to a concierge medicine office model, but if you're passionate about improving the health of your patient population, concierge medicine may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, concierge drugs continue to represent a medical expense that many people cannot afford, especially since most people still need insurance to pay for what the advance fee does not cover (Obamacare and other insurance providers cover many procedures that a concierge membership doesn't cover). We believe that you can have a better healthcare experience if you choose concierge care, but you should understand the fees and limitations of the system. Nowadays, with concierge doctors' offices, they will be, and many patients who care about these doctors and who can't afford concierge service fees will know patients who CAN AFFORD it, who will receive the best care just because they can afford it.
Making the switch to concierge medicine is one way to overcome some of that bureaucracy since it allows doctors to spend more time on personalized patient care and less time worrying about when or how they will be paid for their efforts. Switching to concierge medicine will inevitably result in the loss of patients as not all patients want to separate themselves from traditional medical care.
