Concierge services have been around for a long time. They were more popular in certain industries, like hospitality but have now spread into shopping, travels, events, and even medicine.
Some days you just don’t feel like doing anything and need someone to run your errands, manage your lifestyle, and all of that. Other times your schedule won’t just allow you add all of these things.
Welcome to the era of possibilities. So long as it’s legal, ethical, and moral, there’s someone or a company willing to help you with those services.
Concierge is derived from the Latin word “conservus” which means “fellow slave”. Some even say it evolved from the French word from the 19th century, “comte des cierges” which translates “the keeper of the candles” a servant in charge of maintaining the lighting and cleanliness of medieval palaces (as was the duty of concierges during the middle ages). This job has of course changed over time in terms of delivery and performance.
Who is a Concierge Anyways?
A concierge is an individual, employee, or company specialized in in the provision of assistance services like lifestyle management, lobby assistance (home or hotel), helping guests, tickets and tours booking, deliveries etc. These services are of course usually rendered for a fee.
Concierge Medicine
This is simply a direct primary care, with a membership kind of service where the patients pay the physician (usually a family practitioner or internist) a monthly, quarterly or annual retainer fee. They have access to an exceptional and highly personalized doctor-guided primary care experience. Due to the nature of services provided such as preventative care, 24/7 access, nutrition and wellness plan, same-day appointments, ample consultation time etc., the physician doesn’t see as much patients as the regular traditional doctor.
It is run on a “less is more” model to focus on quality patient-care, albeit for fewer people per time. This practice is sometimes referred to as membership medicine, retainer medicine, boutique medicine or direct care. You can see here for more on what it entails.
Types of concierge medicine
Although various models exist for this service, they can be categorized into these three models:
Fee for Care (FFC)
This model allows the patients pay directly according to the plans available. It can be monthly, quarterly, or annually. This model eliminates health insurance from the equation. This mainly covers the basics like routine lab works, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol readings. Services like vaccinations, and diagnostic exams are to be paid for separately as they aren’t covered.
Fee for Extra Care (FFEC)
This is also similar to the FFC as mentioned above save for the fact that additional services are billed to the patient’s insurance plan.
Hybrid
This model has patients who do not rely solely on their private insurance plans to cover cost of all specialized services. So they pay a retainer for these custom fit services like phone consultations, prolonged visits, personalized health and wellness plans and more. Usually there’s a limit to what the retainer itself covers and it is usually lower than that of FFC or FFEC. So, additional services will require out-of-pocket payment.
Benefits of Concierge Medicine
Prioritized Patient Experience
As much as this is a service, it is also an experience for the patients. This is totally different from the traditional medicine style where it was all about the doctor. Efforts are made to ensure that the patients are comfortable, have timely access to care and are well attended to. They also get plenty of time with the doctor, in-depth discussions and enough time for detailed answers.
Building Human Relationships
This practice helps the physician to get to know the patients. They build a one-on-one relationship, one that promotes mutual trust. They are actual people with actual needs and the relationship even has its way of augmenting the care of the patients. Giving them a listening ear can do wonders.
Preventive Care
This is one of the sole purposes of this practice. You practically keep tabs on the patient’s wellbeing and make sure they aren’t lagging on vaccines or check-ups. This helps them stay a step ahead of unnecessary ailments and also makes early detection of any lurking around easy. After all, it shouldn’t just be about treating illnesses, but avoidance.
Quality Medical Care
Unlike traditional medicine practice, this requires a deep study and understanding of patients. From their medical history to knowing how to talk to them, you’re never done. You think about them, research give recommendations and call them. All of these take time and effort to eventually get the desired result.
Retainer Fee
This is paid either monthly, quarterly or annually. The patient doesn’t have to worry about hospital bills during these periods. They are covered more or less on basic things. It comes in handy especially if the patients are elderly and need to visit the doctor often.
This service is designed for anyone, and everyone seeking a more personalized doctor-patient experience. Senior citizens, busy professionals, or even families conscious about their health are also ideal for this service. This practice is gaining grounds everywhere in America.
If you want to get concierge medicine in Boston and need to know if it is worth it and what you are likely going to spend, here’s a quick guide.
Depending on the plan subscribed to, the membership fees range from about $150 – $7000. Health is wealth and no price tag would be sufficient to put on it. The flexibility is the icing on the cake. Imagine having access to a physician 24/7 from wherever you are. Imagine someone who cares about your wellbeing and would go to any ethical and humanly possible length to keep you healthy.
Several studies have proven this practice effective. There has been a decrease in the number of admissions, emergency visits, and surgeries as a result of this type of care. Prevention is indeed better than cure. Everyone needs a concierge doctor, make an informed decision today.
