The Many Benefits Of Concierge Medicine

doctor on call

Are you sick of waiting weeks or even months to see your doctor, only to feel like their attention is elsewhere and your concerns fall on deaf ears when it finally comes time for your appointment? This is the experience felt by millions of people across the US when they need medical care in the traditional healthcare system.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are other options out there for healthcare services, including the growing field of concierge medicine. But what exactly is concierge medicine, and why are more people turning away from the traditional healthcare system and towards a more patient-centered approach? We explore the many benefits of concierge medicine in today’s blog.

Why Choose Concierge Medicine

Before we dive into why concierge medicine is oftentimes preferred to the traditional primary care healthcare model, let’s explain what it is. Concierge medicine tries to restore the doctor-patient relationship by offering services and healthcare options to patients who pay monthly or annual fees. It’s a bit like a Homeowner’s Association or a country club membership in that you have access to services for a nominal fee, but instead of getting regular lawn maintenance or a round of golf, the services are focused on you and your health.

But what does a concierge medical provider offer that you may not find in the traditional healthcare system? Let’s look at some of the most common benefits that patients mention when talking about concierge medicine compared to their previous healthcare model.

  1. Shorter Wait Times – You don’t need to wait weeks or months to be seen by a provider when you go with a concierge facility. Many patients can be seen the same day or the next day when an issue arises. Try seeing your primary care physician on a day’s notice at a traditional medical facility.
  2. More Personalized Care – Because of their structure, doctors at concierge medical facilities have a much smaller patient pool. This means they have the ability to really get to know the patient and deliver more personalized care. When it comes to your health, a doctor who truly understands you, your family and your wellness goals can make all the difference in the success of your care. We’re not bound by the traditional medical structure that prioritizes seeing as many patients as possible in a day.
  3. Faster Results – Similar to how a smaller patient roll can lead to shorter wait times and more personalized care, it also means that you can get diagnostic testing or lab results back sooner. There’s no backlog to slow down the process of helping you get the treatment you need. The sooner the problem is identified, the sooner we can begin effective treatment.
  4. Easier Access – We also make it much easier to connect with your physician whenever you need. As you can see on our membership page, even the most basic package comes with free telemedicine and text-based communication with your provider, and we offer office visits or come to your house for care from 8am-8pm, seven days a week. We understand that school and work commitments can make it tough to get to a doctor’s office during traditional hours, which is why we offer a variety of ways to connect with a doctor as it fits into your schedule.
  5. More Comprehensive Care – When you have more time to connect with your physician, it gives you the ability to really touch on different areas of your life that may be positively or negatively affecting your health. Whether that’s talking about your sleep habits, stress level, vitamin intake, changing your exercise habits, reframing your approach to your diet, your sexual health, age-related changes and challenges, cancer screening or aesthetic skincare questions, we can dive deep into the topics that are most pertinent to you at this stage of your life. Really diving into these topics with your primary care physician is next to impossible in the traditional healthcare system.
  6. Patient Satisfaction – It should come as no surprise that patient satisfaction scores for those who receive care through concierge medicine facilities tend to be much higher than those who are stuck in the traditional healthcare system. As AARP reported, a study found that 90% of patients who received concierge medical care were satisfied with their care, compared to only 67% in the traditional healthcare system. When it’s something as important as your health on the line, you need to know that you’re going to be pleased with the care you receive.

We’d be remiss not to acknowledge that there is a potential cost barrier for some who are considering moving to a concierge medical system, but when you consider how much it has to offer, and the healthcare costs you’re already incurring for the type of care you currently receive, investing a little more in your health can go a long way.

If you would like explore how Concierge Medicine fits into your life, call us at (651) 565-9633 or read more about our Concierge Medicine Memberships.