Concierge medicine is a unique relationship between a patient and a physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer.
It is, therefore, sometimes also referred to as retainer or boutique medicine. Over the years, patients have become increasingly frustrated with their primary care physicians.
These physicians are often overextended and access to them frequently limited. An urgent problem often cannot be seen for days or weeks and the patient ends up being referred to an urgent care or emergency medicine facility. This has its own inherent waits and frustrations.
In a Concierge medical practice, on the other hand, the patient generally has 7-days-a-week access to a physician either by having their cell phone or email address.
The concierge medicine model I use allows us to form a deep lasting friendship and attain knowledge between patient and doctor that would otherwise be unattainable.
The concierge medicine practice cares for far fewer patients than a conventional medical practice. The number of patients enrolled in our concierge medicine practice will range from as little as 50 to 300 patients at a time. It furthermore allows very close monitoring and follow-up laboratories as needed, which varies from person to person. This, then in turn allows careful modification of all prescriptions, specially compounded medications, supplements, and diet, to optimize your health and monitor changes very closely.
Rapid assessment is therefore available either over the phone, in person, or sometimes through telemedicine given today’s Internet capabilities!
Concierge medicine, however, is not a substitute for your primary care physician. They should still be evaluating and managing your health maintenance and any chronic medical conditions; Concierge medicine is a significant convenience making more urgent healthcare needs quickly addressed.