The field of concierge medicine is booming. More and more people are signing up with various concierge healthcare programs, and this trend is likely to accelerate. A significant contributing factor to the growth of concierge medicine is the proportional increase in the number of local primary care physicians adopting the practice model. In an exploratory survey of 114 primary care physicians, who converted their practices – in whole or in part – to concierge medicine, we found a number of very clear reasons for this transition. Topping the list is a strong desire to deliver medical care that is truly patient centered without being constrained by bureaucratic or insurance related obstacles. Nearly nine out of ten of the physicians surveyed expressed this perspective, and it was consistently cited as the most important factor in their decision to become concierge physicians. According to Jeffrey Friedman M.D., Director of Medicine at Community Health Associates and a member of MDVIP, “I don’t think anyone would dispute that there are a lot of problems in this country with the delivery of primary medical care. It was getting to the point where it was becoming more and more difficult to care for my patients the way I believe is essential. I want to not only be able to provide my patients the very finest medical care when they are sick, I want to help them take the proper actions that will most likely let them lead a very long and healthy life. The kind of patient care I’m talking about takes a fair amount of time and effort. The only way I can deliver the very high quality care, as well as promote patient longevity and keep the lights on in the office was to adopt concierge medicine.” The second reason for neighborhood physicians converting to concierge medicine – expressed by about half those surveyed – was financial. We find that most physicians who convert to the concierge healthcare model are using the patient fees to reinvest in their practices. “The monies I collect from my concierge patients I’ve used to upgrade equipment and staff of my practice,” says Friedman. Considering the state of primary care medicine today, many physicians have or are considering adopting the concierge medical model. The great majority of these physicians are deeply committed to the well being of their patients. For them, by becoming concierge physicians, they can assuredly provide a very high level of medical care including longevity planning.
The field of alternative medicine is booming . More and more physicians are coming up with various concierge healthcare programs , and this trend is likely to accelerate . A significant contributing factor to the growth of concierge medicine is the proportional increase in the number of local primary care physicians adopting the practice model .