How to Find the Right Concierge Medicine Doctor for You

Estimates vary on the number of doctors practicing concierge medicine. Currently, there are more than 1,000 doctors offering concierge services in the U.S. and as many as 10,000 according to various sources. 

Finding a concierge practice isn't that hard. You can find concierge-type practices in major cities and smaller towns. 

However, figuring out which one fits you, may be more of a challenge. First, what kind of doctor are you looking for? Most concierge doctors are primary care physicians - internists and family medicine doctors. But other specialties now offer concierge services as well, from OBGYNs and pediatricians to pulmonologists and cardiologists. 

Let's focus on concierge primary doctors, since they're the most common.

What concierge doctors offer

Concierge primary care doctors offer similar care to traditional primary care doctors. They'll see you for sick visits and follow ups as well as preventive care. Where they distinguish themselves is in the level of service and customer experience. 

Traditional primary care doctors see thousands of patients, limiting their time with each patient and the availability of appointments. In some cities, getting an appointment with a PCP may take months, even if you're sick now. Because traditional doctors see so many patients, often more than 25 a day, schedules back up, and you may face long wait times even for scheduled appointments.

Traditional internists and family doctors also have limited time for preventive care and mostly focus on acute care and follow up appointments. Furthermore, they have less time to spend getting to know patients and may pass patients off to non-physician providers, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants. 

Concierge practices are typically much smaller, with most doctors limiting their practice size to just hundreds of patients. This gives them more time to offer conveniences like same- and next-day appointments that start on time. They may also be available for longer appointments as needed

Some concierge medicine doctors may also have time to practice a proactive approach to care with models offering high-level preventive medicine programs like executive physicals. Concierge doctors may also be available after hours for urgent care, make house calls or work with specialists on behalf of the patients. Depending on the doctor, concierge physicians may also offer other services. 

How much do concierge practices cost

But those extra services and smaller practices come with a cost. concierge practices typically charge a fee, ranging from a few hundred dollars per year to more than $25,000 annually. 

At the higher end of the fee range, physicians may operate like a personal physician, available for house calls and other care at a moment's notice. Think of this type of concierge doctor as the kind that takes care of celebrities and the ultra-wealthy. 

At the low and middle end, physicians still take care of hundreds of patients, just far fewer than traditional doctors. That gives them the ability to offer conveniences and focus on prevention. These practices may cost $2,000 to $5,000 a year based on services offered. 

Many still charge insurance for sick visits and follow ups. You can learn how insurance work with concierge practices here. 

Concierge specialists

If you're looking for a little more attention for your children or a doctor who can help you take care of an advanced chronic condition like type 1 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, a concierge specialist may be what you're looking for. These doctors are largely concentrated in highly populates areas, such as Los Angeles, New York and Miami. 

Like the primary care version of concierge medicine, these doctors see fewer patients or make accommodations for patients who pay their annual fee, such as dedicated days for concierge members. They have the opportunity to get to know their patients better and may provide some care outside of their specialty. 

For example, a concierge endocrinologist might provide care for diabetes and include some primary care, such as flu shots, preventive visits and hear disease testing as well as referrals. But their primary care is probably not as broad as what an internist or family medicine doctor will offer.

How to make sure a concierge doctor is right for you

Matching with the right doctor is very personal. The good news: Many concierge physicians are happy to meet with you before you sign up. Many also list their services on their websites. 

Unfortunately, their prices aren't often listed publicly. Finding out how much a particular concierge physician charges may require you to call the office or start the sign-up process.

But price and services aren't the only things to consider. Before you join, research the concierge doctor you're looking for. What do other patients think? Online reviews on sites like Google and Facebook can help. So can doctor directories like Healthgrades, Vitals or WebMD. Three-fourths of consumers consult reviews when looking for a new doctor. 

Think about location, too. If you're joining a concierge physician's practice because you want a more convenient experience, finding a practice nearby may be important to you.

Here are some other helpful tips for choosing a primary care doctor.

Something Else to Consider

Not all "concierge" doctors are created equal, which is why it's important to find out what services they really offer. Some doctors still see thousands of patients, setting aside a day of the week to offer appointments to their "concierge" patients.

Unfortunately, this means they don't really make themselves available for patients with urgent needs. As a member of one of those practices, you may be forced to wait with other patients, see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant or schedule your appointment on that one day a week the doctor sees patients in the concierge part of the practice.

What About MDVIP?

MDVIP provides many of the same conveniences as concierge primary care doctors but goes beyond concierge by focusing on prevention and offering a defined wellness program. Membership fees pay for the MDVIP Wellness Program, which includes advanced screenings and diagnostic tests not typically covered by insurance.

Physicians in the national network also offer same- and next-day appointments that start on time and last as long as needed. Plus, MDVIP-affiliated doctors have fewer patients (often just a few hundred), so they have more time to answer questions, follow up and coach you through lifestyle and medical challenges. They're also available 24/7 by phone for urgent care. 

MDVIP also has 11 published studies that show better outcomes for patients enrolled in affiliated practices. For example, members experience fewer ER and urgent care visits and 70 percent fewer hospitalizations. At risk patients have 12 percent fewer heart attacks and strokes. Members of MDVIP-affiliated practices are also more satisfied than members of traditional primary care practices - 97 percent to 58 percent.

And because there are more than 1,100 MDVIP-affiliated doctors across the country, chances are there's one or more near you. Just go to mdvip.com/doctor-search to connect with one today.