PCP switching to concierge model

[Anonymous]

Is it worth it? I've checked old threads and it seems that most people are pretty negative about concierge practices. The other option in the practice is to see a new, young non-concierge PCP.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the point of it at all. I could see for a specialist you need to see often due to a condition but PCP? No, I'd see the young one.

[Anonymous]

For me, it depends on your health issues and disposable income and how much you like this doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the point of it at all. I could see for a specialist you need to see often due to a condition but PCP? No, I'd see the young one.

Being able to get appointments, for one.

[Anonymous]

Be able to get appointments
Having phone calls returned
Email
Experienced with network of peers in various specialties to refer me to including new ones as things crop up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the point of it at all. I could see for a specialist you need to see often due to a condition but PCP? No, I'd see the young one.

Being able to get appointments, for one.

Appointments for what purpose though? An annual exam is scheduled early and any sudden ailment you can go to a minute clinic for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be able to get appointments
Having phone calls returned
Email
Experienced with network of peers in various specialties to refer me to including new ones as things crop up

None of this would compel me to pay $2,000 a year, which is what my doctor charges for concierge service. Instead, I've been happy switching to his NPs for annual exam, and the younger docs in the office for anything that requires an MD.

Someone will return your emails and phone calls, OP.

[Anonymous]

It is worth it 100%. This is the future of quality health care in America.

[Anonymous]

Having a concierge doctor has been very good for me. I'm able to get in to see her easily, whereas my last pcp was booked out 6 months -- I had called for a physical in April and the first appointment they could give me was in November. And my concierge doctor has managed my hrt and weight loss meds, which many pcps won't/don't do (for various reasons). I'm healthier than I was, by a lot, when I first started seeing her. One of the things I appreciate is that when I have needed something, like for example a form filled out to get an insurance tier exception that would allow me to pay less for a medication, it's done that day. I feel like at a regular doctor's office it might get done some time this month, or maybe not, lol -- they just don't have time for that. But the ability to provide stuff like that quickly is built into the concierge practice model. I also found out that I have hearing loss because as part of the annual physical they do a hearing test; I had no idea I had hearing loss, I'm much younger than the age at which that normally happens, but it did explain a lot and I'll probably be getting hearing aids (even though I'm insecure about it because I've never seen anyone my age wearing them). These are some of the reasons it has been helpful for me.

That said, if you are pretty healthy and don't need much care, no sense at all in paying for concierge. People get frustrated when they can't get in same day to see their pcp if they are sick, but that is what urgent care is for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is worth it 100%. This is the future of quality health care in America.

This makes no sense - who care about the "future"? You either need that type of care or you don't and it's not a simple answer. Poster above said it nicely in the last paragraph.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be able to get appointments
Having phone calls returned
Email
Experienced with network of peers in various specialties to refer me to including new ones as things crop up

None of this would compel me to pay $2,000 a year, which is what my doctor charges for concierge service. Instead, I've been happy switching to his NPs for annual exam, and the younger docs in the office for anything that requires an MD.

Someone will return your emails and phone calls, OP.

My experience has been that many doctors offices do not return phone calls or even have a way to contact people at all. Larger doctors offices that have multiple locations are especially bad at communication. Even for some of the IVF clinics I went to it was almost impossible to contact someone when there was an urgent issue. I had a clinic tell me that they will reply within 2 business days when I had a medication issue on Friday and the retrieval was scheduled for Monday. Completely unacceptable and potentially ruins the entire cycle due to their laziness.

[Anonymous]

I switched from my doctor of 20+ years when her practice went concierge. $2700 fee. I did it for one year and literally only went in once for a check up and called once about an eye infection. Switched to another practice; it has an admin fee ($150) and seems to be just as good about returing calls and making appointments. My gyn practice just announced an "admin fee" so suspect they will all start going this route and it will likely start going up too....

[Anonymous]

I have a concierge doctor that's a waste of money because I don't go to the doctor as often as I should. Its very expensive over $2000k a year but I've been too lazy to find a regular GP but its on my to do list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be able to get appointments
Having phone calls returned
Email
Experienced with network of peers in various specialties to refer me to including new ones as things crop up

None of this would compel me to pay $2,000 a year, which is what my doctor charges for concierge service. Instead, I've been happy switching to his NPs for annual exam, and the younger docs in the office for anything that requires an MD.

Someone will return your emails and phone calls, OP.

My experience has been that many doctors offices do not return phone calls or even have a way to contact people at all. Larger doctors offices that have multiple locations are especially bad at communication. Even for some of the IVF clinics I went to it was almost impossible to contact someone when there was an urgent issue. I had a clinic tell me that they will reply within 2 business days when I had a medication issue on Friday and the retrieval was scheduled for Monday. Completely unacceptable and potentially ruins the entire cycle due to their laziness.

+1

To say that "someone will return your emails and phone calls, OP" is laughable.

[Anonymous]

The problem is, most of the people who choose concierge have lots of ongoing health issues (elderly, long-term chronoc issie, etc), and then the doc has too many of those patients, and it sucks up all of their time