What Is a Concierge Physician? What Does a Concierge Physician Do?
One thing that scares people most is the diseases and how they receive care. The evolution of healthcare has given patients various options for receiving care. One care that has gained popularity in the past few years is concierge medicine. But do you know the concept of concierge physicians and medicine and why they differ from traditional doctors? This guide will help you understand the meaning of concierge physicians and tell you what concierge physicians do.
This guide will cover the following topics
1. What is a Concierge Physician?
1.1 Training and Education
2. What does a Concierge Physician do?
3. Advantages of Concierge Medicine
What is a Concierge Physician?
A concierge physician is a doctor who offers their services directly to patients under a subscription-based model. Patients pay an annual or monthly fee in exchange for more direct access to their doctor. In the past, concierge physicians’ services were used mainly by wealthy and affluent families, while with the evolution of healthcare, concierge physicians’ services have become more affordable. Their direct approach to doctors and patients allows concierge doctors to provide more in-depth care and personal contrast with their patients.
Do you know what makes a concierge physician more unique than traditional doctors?
Traditional doctors mostly have busy schedules, while concierge physicians take their time with each patient. They try to understand the client’s problems with some counseling and then give them medicines. Concierge physicians see fewer patients daily than hundreds of patients in a typical primary care doctor. Fewer appointments provide a heads-up to the other patients of easy availability and quicker appointments.
Education and Training
Concierge doctors train and practice the same way as the doctors you see through insurance work. General practitioners like family medicine doctors spend around 11 years after high school in education toward their careers. This would include:
● A four-year college degree
● Four Years of medical school
● Three to eight years of graduate medical education in the form of a residency or internship.
● One-year fellowships after residency, offering opportunities to specialize or receive additional Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs)
After all this training and education, a doctor obtains a license to practice medicine.
How is a Concierge Doctor different?
We have several ways to distinguish between a concierge doctor and a typical primary care physician. Let’s look at them and know how different they are
● Concierge physicians are often part of a limited practice size; the limited practice allows the doctors to have more availability for their patients.
● Patients don’t have to wait long for their appointments; they can have same-day or next-day appointments, longer consultations, and 24/7 access to their doctor.
The concierge physician not only focuses on you when you’re sick but also on preventive medicine and long-term wellness.
The premium care of concierge physicians also happens because concierge doctors aren’t limited to insurance models or large patient loads; they often have more flexibility for individual treatment plans. They are also becoming famous and more preferred because, with these flexibilities, they can also provide comprehensive health screening, personalized lifestyle advice, or even in-home visits in some cases.
What does a Concierge Physician do?
Concierge doctors can be called a personal doctor. They offer personalized care and direct access to the patient. Concierge physicians often choose to form a private practice to limit the number of patients they’re responsible for a smaller number of patients than traditional doctors.
A Concierge Physician can do everything a primary care physician can. Their work includes lab tests and conducts annual physical exams. Concierge physicians provide diagnostic screening and minor urgent care services like skin condition treatment.
Daily, routine physicals and wellness checks are a significant part of the concierge doctor’s job. One thing that patients enjoy with concierge physicians is their availability of after-hours care. Patients love that concierge physicians are just one phone call away for late-night concerns or urgent care needs. Their easy availability gives them peace of mind, knowing their health concerns can be addressed promptly.
Advantages of Concierge Medicine
A concierge physician has various advantages, but do you know concierge medicine offers several benefits for patients and physicians? Let’s look at the key benefits of concierge medicine.
1. Personal Attention
The most famous advantage of concierge medicine is the personal attention patients receive. Concierge doctors have smaller patient loads and longer and more in-depth consultations. Their attention helps them address complex health issues, understand the patient’s previous health issues, and develop a better treatment plan.
2. Direct Access to Physicians
Patients don’t have to worry about frequent hospital visits. They have 24/7 access to their concierge physician via phone, text, or email. This direct communication reduces the stress of waiting for appointments or urgent care.
3. Longer Appointments
Fewer patients each day means concierge physicians can offer longer appointments. This allows for a deeper discussion of symptoms, treatment options, and preventive strategies without feeling rushed out of the door.
4. Peace of Mind
A concierge doctor knows your medical history and is available when needed, providing peace of mind. This gives peace of mind to patients with complex or ongoing health concerns for prompt and attentive care.
When you go to a concierge doctor, you’ll get the same services as traditional ones. Concierge physicians also include services that can be covered in insurance plans. Those services may include:
● Preventive Screenings
● Blood Tests
● Hormonal Tests and medication
● Lab work and more
Consider a concierge doctor for your health and as your health care provider. Always seek a reliable physician or company that markets concierge services as low-cost medical insurance.