Top 5 Reasons Patients Choose a Concierge Medicine Doctor

Patients who choose a concierge medicine doctor over a traditional physician do so for various reasons. Some are looking for convenient appointments or brief waiting times. Others are looking for a real doctor-patient relationship they may not be able to get from providers who offer 15-minute appointments. 

What's the problem with traditional primary care providers?

Why are patients abandoning traditional primary care practices? First, the service most patients experience in internal and family medicine practices isn't good.

Appointments are hard to get - taking weeks or months in some locations. This is one of the reasons why so many people choose urgent care and mini clinics for primary care versus traditional general practitioners. 

When you do get an appointment with your traditional PCP, it often starts late and may be very rushed. Doctors schedule primary care appointments in 15-minute increments - which is how insurers pay them. But if one of those appointments goes over time, subsequent appointments are late. 

Short appointments can be problematic for many patients, particularly those who have multiple acute needs or questions that the provider may not have time to answer. Patients may not know the provider, in some cases, and the provider may be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant instead of an actual physician. 

Finally, doctors in a traditional model don't have time to focus much on preventive care. They mostly spend time on urgent matters and sick care - operating like a triage assembly line. Many don't even perform annual physicals anymore. 

The difference between concierge practices and traditional primary care

While traditional primary care practices are set up to serve a large volume of patients, concierge medicine practices focus on customized care for a smaller number of patients, often 75 percent fewer than traditional practices. 

For example, the average primary care practice has 2,300 patients, but many practices are much bigger. Doctors may see as many as 25 to 30 patients a day, squeezing in urgent appointments where possible. 

But concierge practices are generally much smaller, a few hundred patients, which means doctors see fewer than a dozen patients a day. This mean they can offer patients conveniences such as same-day and next-day appointments that last as long as needed. 

They can offer services that primary care doctors don't have time for - from preventive care program to ancillary services. Some examples include aesthetics, nutrition management and weight loss counseling. Some concierge doctors may do house calls or see patients in the hospital. They may also be available by telemedicine when you're out of town and get sick. 

What patients are looking for

Patients are looking for conveniences not offered by traditional primary care. They're looking for a solid doctor-patient relationship and a good bedside manner that physicians in traditional primary care practices often fall short of. They're looking for office staff who answer the phones and follow up, not phone trees. 

Most importantly, they're looking to be involved with decisions about their care and have time to discuss options. Unfortunately, traditional primary care physicians don't often have the time to personalize care, instead relying on a one-size-fits-all approach to practicing medicine. 

Many concierge practices, however, offer personalized care. Physicians in these practices have time to talk to patients, and staff have time to follow up and answer the phone. Doctors have time to form relationships and really get to know their patients in concierge medicine practices. 

Why patients switch

When patients choose a concierge-style practice over a traditional primary care practice, it's usually for one of five reasons.

1. They've has a bad experience. When they really needed to see their doctor, their doctor wasn't available. Or their doctor was dismissive or too hurried to pay close attention. Or they've had a diagnosis that required follow up from their physician but the physician didn't follow up. There are many possibilities, and in the rush of traditional primary care practices, the service aspect can lead to bad experiences. 
2. They're looking to improve their health. For many patients who go concierge, they're searching for a different approach to the care they currently receive. They want their doctor to help them prevent illness or help them better manage an existing chronic condition. They want a more proactive approach that most traditional physicians can't provide.
3. They can't get the service they need from a traditional doctor. Imagine you've called your doctor multiple times and still haven't heard back. Or imagine you're looking for nutritional counseling or lifestyle coaching, but your doctor only has a few minutes to see you. This happens frequently in primary care practices. There's little time for follow ups and support beyond your most immediate urgent need. If you want to go beyond sick care, a traditional primary care physician may refer you to someone else.  

4. They want convenience. Most consumers expect convenience to be part of ordinary business interactions. One of the most frustrating things about traditional primary care is that it's not convenient. It's hard to schedule appointments. Getting an appointment may require a long wait on the phone and then an even longer wait for the appointment - weeks sometimes. Appointments often start late, and half a day can be wasted at the physician's office waiting for an appointment that lasts less than 20 minutes. But most concierge practices address this issue by seeing fewer patients, so that appointments can run longer and be scheduled quicker. 

   How MDVIP is different

   Like concierge medical practices, MDVIP-affiliated physicians see fewer patients, so they offer conveniences like same - and next-day appointments. Doctors are available by phone 24/7, and they have time to follow up and answer questions. 

   But MDVIP is not concierge. MDVIP-affiliated physicians go beyond concierge by offering a preventive approach to primary care. Patients take part each year in the MDVIP Wellness Program, which includes advanced screenings and diagnostic tests that have been shown to help detect issues earlier. These tests and screenings and diagnostic tests that have been shown to help detect issues earlier. These tests and screenings are not typically covered by insurance. 

   Doctors in the program also have time to really focus on getting to know their patients and building strong, doctor-patient relationships which can lead to better outcomes. 

   Plus, MDVIP has a nationwide network of primary care internists and family medicine physicians. Find a physician near you today.