What does a Medical Concierge Do?
Concierge doctors provide direct care to patients in exchange for a one-time charge, which is frequently paid monthly. Direct primary care (DPC) or individualized medical service providers are other terms for them. Concierge medicine used to be reserved for the wealthy who could pay the costs, but in recent years, it has grown more accessible.
Concierge medical services come at a variety of prices, with different treatments available depending on the price. Patients often pay a monthly retainer charge, with annual fees ranging from $1,500 for basic services to $20,000 for more specialist services.
What is the Role of a Concierge Doctor?
Concierge doctors provide individualized care and direct access to patients. They’re usually doctors who set up a private practice to limit the number of patients they’re accountable for — usually fewer than in a more traditional office setting — and to reduce the amount of paperwork involved with insurance claims.
Concierge doctors can perform all of the same tasks as a primary care physician, including ordering lab tests and performing annual physical exams. Diagnostic screenings and modest urgent care services, such as sutures or treatment for minor skin diseases, are usually available. They cannot, however, perform a wide range of specialist treatments or significant medical operations such as surgery.
Training and Education
Concierge doctors receive the same medical training and license as doctors who work for an insurance company. General practitioners, such as family medicine doctors, typically spend 11 years in school following high school to prepare for their careers, which includes:
A four-year college education is required.
Medical school lasts four years.
In the form of a residency or internship, three to eight years of graduate medical study are required.
Optional one-year fellowships after residency that can help you specialize or earn extra Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs)
Following that, doctors can apply for a license to practice medicine.
Reasons to Consult a Concierge Physician
If you can afford the monthly price, concierge medicine offers a few advantages that you won’t find with a primary care physician in your insurance network.
Reduced Waiting Time
Faster access to your physician is one of the most popular reasons to seek a concierge doctor. Same-day appointments and direct interaction with your concierge doctor via email and phone offer faster access to care. Concierge doctors have more control over their availability because they can limit the number of patients they accept.
Primary Care Services at No Cost
Physicals and preventive screenings, which would normally be covered by a primary care visit, are already covered by the concierge service charge, so you won’t have to pay for each individual visit. A concierge doctor may be more cost-effective in the long term for patients with chronic diseases like heart disease that necessitate frequent visits. Major medical conditions, such as surgery, will, nonetheless, require insurance coverage.
A Closer Relationship With Your Primary Care Physician
Because a concierge doctor sees fewer patients, they can devote more attention to each one. As a result, people will eventually get to know you better. Your doctor will also have a greater awareness of your medical history, making it easier for them to spot problems.
What to Expect from a Consultation with a Concierge Doctor
When you visit a concierge doctor, you’ll receive the same level of care that you would from a clinician covered by a traditional insurance plan. Among the services that may be provided are:
Tests on the blood
Physical examinations on a yearly basis
Work in the laboratory
Screenings for disease prevention
One significant distinction between a concierge doctor and a larger clinic is that you can expect a reduced wait time. Some concierge doctors offer consultations over the phone, over text messages, or via video conversations, and do not require you to come into their clinic.
If you can afford it, adding a low-cost concierge doctor plan to your existing health care coverage can be a good idea. This is especially true if you have a chronic illness that necessitates regular doctor visits and your insurance deductible is large.
Although concierge doctors provide essential primary care, direct primary care is not a replacement for medical insurance, especially if you need to see a specialist or have a disease that requires treatment that your concierge doctor cannot provide. The costs of those extra services will not be reimbursed by your concierge fees.
To discuss your medical needs for Concierge Medicine in Las Vegas NV with a female board certified internist call 702-850-22422 today.
