17 Mar What Is Concierge Medicine?

Concierge medicine has been growing more common in recent years, with its popularity surging in response to the pandemic. But what is concierge medicine? How does it differ from the traditional doctor’s office? Let’s take a look.

How is concierge medicine different from a primary care physician (PCP)?

A PCP is a doctor who practices general medicine and accepts health insurance. They serve as the first point of contact for health concerns and can address a wide range of health concerns.

Services provided by a PCP include:

• Preventative care, such as annual physicals, vaccinations, tests, and screenings
• Treatment of common illnesses, such as colds or infections
• Management of long-lasting conditions, like chronic high blood pressure
• Specialist referrals for conditions requiring special attention

A concierge medical provider, also known as a direct primary care physician (DPC), accepts payment directly instead of working with insurance companies. Payments are typically offered in two ways – paying per service (“a la carte”), or paying a monthly membership fee that covers a range of services. Concierge doctors have the same education and training requirements as PCPs, and can perform the same care.

What are the benefits of concierge medicine over PCPs?

Patients can have a significantly better experience with a concierge practice. PCPs typically have a larger staff to deal with the administrative burdens of filing insurance claims and remaining in compliance with insurance company requirements. This also means that PCPs must carry enough patients to pay for the additional staff and resources needed to handle insurance matters.

Concierge practices avoid the headaches and costs associated with insurance companies, allowing patient care to be the primary focus. This is evident in the patient benefits of concierge medicine, which include:

• At-home appointments: Many concierge providers are mobile, meaning they can provide care in the comfort of your home or office. In addition to convenience, this also lessens likelihood of exposure to Covid-19 or other highly contagious illnesses.
• Stronger doctor-patient relationships: Concierge doctors are able to dedicate much more one-on-one time with patients. Concierge appointments generally last 30 minutes or longer, which is 2-3 times longer than your average PCP visit. Additionally, many concierge practices offer comprehensive telehealth services between appointments, allowing you to ask questions or report health issues as they come up. This increased communication can mean catching health issues early, as well as increased trust in your medical provider.
• Wider range of services: Because concierge doctors have fewer patients, they can often offer care and services PCPs typically refer out to specialists due to lack of time and resources. Concierge practices may also offer additional services such as IV therapy or cosmetic treatments.

What kind of services do concierge practices offer?

Concierge medical practices can offer many types of services. These may include:

• Primary and Urgent Care Services
  • Annual exams
  • Preventative care
  • Urgent care services for conditions like stomach flu, infections, or migraines
• Covid-19 Testing and Treatment
  • RT-PCR, rapid antigen, rapid PCR, and antibody testing
  • Monoclonal antibody therapy
  • Remdesivir treatments for Covid-19 positive patients experiencing severe symptoms
• Lab Tests and Mobile Imaging
  • Tests for general wellness, food sensitivities, vitamin deficiencies, and more
  • Mobile Imaging such as x-rays, ultrasounds, ECGs, or EKGs
• Addiction Medicine
  • Home detox
  • Medical management
• IV Therapy
  • Wellness, recovery, and vitamin restoration formulas
  • NAD+
  • Regenerative IV therapy
• Cosmetic Treatments
  • Hair restoration
  • Botox
  • Virtual skincare consultation
  • Morpheus8
  • Microneedling
  • Chemical peels and facials
• Medical Weight Loss
  • Wegovy weight loss treatments are a weekly injectable prescription medication designed to help reduce appetite and increase insulin release for long-term weight management

Who can benefit most from concierge medicine?

Many people can benefit from having a concierge healthcare provider. Examples of people who can especially benefit include:

Busy families

Many concierge providers will book family appointments so multiple household members can be seen at the same time. Instead of booking several appointments for annual physicals and other routine care, you can have the whole family seen at once. Additionally, if the whole family needs urgent care because they caught a stomach bug, a concierge doctor can come to your home to administer treatment.

Busy professionals

Seeing a PCP often means spending time traveling to appointments and waiting in reception. Concierge medicine allows you to use your time more efficiently with visits to your home or office. This means you can get the healthcare you need without derailing your schedule.

If you are in a high-profile position, privacy surrounding your health can feel like a challenge. A concierge doctor has the time and resources necessary to help you feel confident that your health information is secure.

People with transportation or mobility challenges

Having in-home healthcare can be much more than convenient for those with transportation or mobility issues. Eliminating the stress and obstacles of getting to appointments can help people feel more comfortable during their appointments, leading to stronger doctor-patient relationships.

People with chronic conditions

People with chronic conditions may experience financial benefits in addition to a more comprehensive patient experience. Concierge doctors often can help manage conditions that PCPs refer to specialists due to a lack of time and resources. This means that people with chronic conditions may be able to streamline their care by switching to a concierge healthcare provider.

Many concierge practices supplement home visits with telehealth support, so that you can get answers to questions or concerns as they come up.

Those at high risk of severe illness from Covid-19

People at risk of hospitalization from Covid-19 infection can greatly reduce the risk of exposure to Covid with a concierge physician. Concierge doctors may also offer Covid-specific treatments that you might otherwise be unable to access as quickly through a PCP.