What is Concierge Medicine? A New Approach to Healthcare

You may have heard of "membership medicine," "retainer medicine," or a "concierge medical practice" in the news or from friends, and wondered about it. Unlike many aspects of medical care, this subject is not at all complex. This increasingly popular form of primary care — family care — works. And, if it is available in your community, you might consider it as an option.

Concierge medicine is a way of re-organizing how your family doctor's office works in order to provide more attentive, more personalized care for patients. The principal problem for most doctors in recent years is that they have increasing numbers of patients to see but less time to take care of each of them — and that problem is growing. 

The goal of concierge medicine is to re-establish the kind of personal relationship with your primary care physician that once prevailed in American communities, while taking optimal advantage of the many advances in treatment and technology that have been made since then. You become a member of a concierge practice by enrolling with the doctor of your choice and paying a monthly fee, which can range up to $500 per person.

This membership fee is a departure from the way mainstream practices are organized, of course. But the fee allows a concierge doctor to see a much smaller number of patients. It provides more of that precious ingredient of quality care: the doctor's time with you, and knowledge of your health history. Your concierge practice should make it possible for you to be in much closer touch with the doctor, via email and even by cellphone in case of an emergency.
You are billed for each visit, just as in a regular practice. Your health insurer will cover the medical cost, and you will co-pay as you are accustomed to doing.

To learn more about how concierge medicine differs from traditional medical care, visit:  https://www.wellcomemd.com/what-we-do/