Is it hard to get an appointment with your doctor, who must see patients every fifteen minutes? Perhaps you are in the market for concierge health care (as described in these two stories, one from 2005 and one from this past Sunday):
For a Retainer, Lavish Care by 'Boutique Doctors'
Despite Recession, Personalized Health Care Remains in Demand
"One promise made to patients paying for concierge service is that waiting will not be a part of their health care experience. Patients are guaranteed that phone calls will be returned promptly, appointments will be scheduled on a same-day basis if necessary, and appointment times will be honored. ...
"A relatively simple tradeoff is responsible: the extra fees collected from patients let concierge doctors, who leave regular practice for concierge medicine, slash their caseloads. Before Dr. Kaminetsky became a concierge doctor five years ago he had 2,500 patients in his practice - a standard number for most primary care internists. His list now numbers 600. "
"The practices typically charge at least $1,500 a year, with the most elite services asking $25,000 or more per family. The fees cover a thorough physical exam and enable physicians to limit the number of patients they see so they can provide premier service. "...
"Critics of concierge medicine consider it elitist and say it has widened the already significant class disparities in American medicine. They also say it has exacerbated the shortage of primary care physicians by leaving more patients to be treated by a shrinking pool of doctors.
But advocates counter that the concierge movement reflects deep exasperation with the two-hour waits and 10-minute appointments of conventional primary care. Given the burnout among physicians who must see more than two dozen patients a day, they say the concierge model may sustain doctors who would otherwise hang up their stethoscopes.
Dr. Thomas W. LaGrelius of Torrance, Calif., who leads the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design, a professional association of concierge physicians, estimated that there were 5,000 such doctors in the United States, out of an estimated 240,000 internal medicine physicians and related subspecialists. "
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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3 comments:
I am a corporate lawyer and usually do not have time to spend time waiting in doctors' offices. I generally look for expedited care, VIP treament and 24-hour access to my personal physician via cell phone and email. I was looking for a concierge medical facility or plan since a year almost and lately found Elitehealth.com providing more than my wishlist. I have registered along with my wife and have made a couple of visits to our primary care physician already. We are quite pleased with the experience and would post further feedback in a few weeks time again.
http://www.elitehealth.com/concierge_healthcare.php
Being a patient of Dr David C. Rosenberg for a few years, it has to be said that the care one receives from him and his staff is unmatched to any medical care a patient can receive anywhere else. VIP doctors such as Dr Rosenberg concentrate on preventive care, which means he takes measures to prevent illness. Rather than treating an illness that you might already have, he tries to prevent you from getting sick in the first place! The extra cost s associated with having a private or VIP concierge doctor is well worth the benefits received. One always feels secure having him as your doctor, because he is always available when you need him via cell phone or e-mail, day or night. You can find Dr David C. Rosenberg at his office 2141 Alternate A1A South, Suite 200 Jupiter, Florida. It is located in Three Palms Center on Alternate A1A South (SR 811) between Toney Pena and Frederick Small road. To get in touch with him Visit his website at www.jupiterfamilypractice.com or call his office at 561-743-0005.
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