That’s because through concierge medicine, a physician’s caseload is drastically decreased. In fact, his or her caseload may go from thousands of patients to just hundreds.
“Many primary care physicians got into medicine because they wanted to help people, but with so little time to spend with each patient, and such a high demand to see as many patients as possible in the shortest time period, some doctors are looking for other options to help patients reach optimal health,” according to the American Academy of Private Physicians (AAPP).
Concierge medicine is a little different than traditional medicine in that patients pay a sort of membership fee. The AAPP says that “patients pay an annual fee (often in addition to insurance) to be part of a practice where the doctor has only a few hundred patients.”
There are a number of benefits to concierge medicine, the greatest being attention. When it comes to concierge medicine, you’re no longer a number. Instead, you’re a person with a known, remembered and understood health history.
“Fewer patients and more time with each patient means the doctor can really get to know each person’s health history, which can help them more accurately diagnose current symptoms and conditions,” according to the AAPP. “The result is better outcomes with fewer unnecessary tests or procedures.”
And best of all, your doctor may even be able to go to the hospital with you in the event of an unexpected stay. It’s been years since those privileges have been a reality for most patients.