Concierge Medicine Pros and Cons
Weighing concierge medicine pros and cons is an important first step in making better healthcare choices for you and your family. After all, there are many models of healthcare, and each one is designed to meet the needs of patients in a different set of ways.
Concierge Medicine Pros
1. Personalized Care
Concierge medicine brings doctors and patients closer together, in a model that more closely resembles what many of us grew up with. Physicians spend as much time with their patients as needed to better learn all about them. The physician and the patient then work together to find the right solutions for the patient’s needs and lifestyle.
2. Preventative Care
With doctors in a rush to see patients quickly, little time is spent on preventative care and total wellness. The focus is on sick visits or acute care. In the concierge-style model, doctors and their teams spend more time on preventive care, so patients live healthier, fuller lives.
3. Flexibility
Patients typically have access to their physician 24/7 via phone, which can sometimes eliminate visits altogether. Doctors also leave time open in their schedules for urgent visits and may have more diagnostic tools and support on site.
4. Cost Effective
Preventative care helps lower healthcare costs for the patient, simply because patients stay healthier and require fewer hospitalizations. Unfortunately, the time physicians spend with patients now is not enough to focus on wellness, meaning people spend more on illnesses, diagnostics, hospitalizations, and other things associated with being sick.
5. Happier Doctors
Physicians also benefit from concierge care. They report greater job satisfaction and gratitude for the ability to use their skills to their fullest. Doctors have even claimed a “moral problem” with the issue of having thousands of patients and only ten minutes with which to treat them.
6. Perks
Although each office varies in the services offered, other reasons to use a concierge doctor service include 24/7 access. same-day and next-day appointment availability, wellness coaching, modern medical testing. Dedication Health also offers valet parking for all members and their guests as well as hot tea and slippers and blankets upon request.
Concierge Medicine Cons
1. Limited Spaces in Popular Practices
Because the popularity of this model is increasing, concierge doctors tend to fill up quickly.
2. Thin Coverage
Every year, more doctors decide to switch to this style of practice, but there are still areas of the country that are underserved by this model, and there is already a shortage of physicians in general.
3. Membership Fees
The fees associated with a concierge medical practice vary, but all charge either a monthly retainer or membership fee, and some have start-up or joining fees as well. Although costs may be lower overall, many see the fees as a barrier to receiving quality care.
Weighing Concierge Medicine Pros and Cons
Evaluating the benefits and drawbacks is essential because the right choice is different for everyone. However, many appreciate that concierge medicine can improve their health, provide them with a better relationship with their physician, and possibly reduce their overall costs, making it the ideal healthcare solution.
Learn More About Concierge Medicine
If you’re interested in learning more about concierge medicine or feel it’s the right choice for you, contact us at 847-986-6770. Our office manager Christine will be glad to walk you through the process and educate you about the many benefits of joining our practice. To further evaluate concierge medicine pros and cons, read more on our blog.
Image already added