You’ve probably experienced the frustration of waiting weeks or even months to see a physician, only to spend hours in the waiting room and mere minutes in the actual consultation.
Our healthcare system is imperfect — it’s complicated, time-consuming, and seemingly concerned with a million things that aren’t you, the patient. No one wants to suffer through the red tape, lengthy waiting times, and inconveniences that accompany a visit to the doctor.
That’s why so many people are turning to concierge medicine – it’s a great alternative to traditional primary care that lets you say goodbye to all those hassles.
Curious about concierge medicine? Read on to find out more about this exceptional care. We’ll discuss what it means, the services provided, and its many benefits.
Concierge Medicine – What Is It?
Simply put, concierge medicine is a model of medicine where the doctor limits the number of patients they sees in exchange for an annual membership fee paid by each patient. In return for this fee, the patient gets access to services such as 24/7 access, same-day appointments, patient advocacy, and more. Concierge physicians see fewer patients, which allows them to provide more personalized, comprehensive care.
What Services Can A Concierge Doctor Provide?
Concierge doctors provide more or less the same medical services as any primary physician. Like normal physicians, concierge doctors are fully licensed medical doctors, so their skills and education aren’t all that different from normal physicians in a traditional medical setting.
Concierge doctors provide the following services, including but not limited to:
- Preventive care
- Acute and urgent care
- Chronic illnesses care and management
- Nutrition and fitness counseling
What Are The Benefits Of Concierge Medicine?
Personalized Care
Due to the small groups of patients that a concierge doctor treats, concierge doctors can develop a personal relationship with each patient. This allows them to get to know you in detail — including your medical history, lifestyle, fitness, diet, concerns, needs, and goals— as well as build support and trust between doctor and patient.
Being comfortable with your concierge physician is important as your doctor will be your partner in achieving optimal health, and your patient advocates if you need to see a specialist. It takes time to trust and understand someone, and your concierge doctor can surely give you that time.
More Focused Attention
Doctors in a traditional setting meet with a lot of patients every day. There’s pressure on them to complete an office visit within a short timeframe so they can accommodate as many patients as possible. But that might cause them to overlook some details of your condition or not give you the time and attention you deserve.
Concierge doctors don’t have that pressure as they control their own availability. This means their attention is completely on you during your entire appointment — you are free to talk through your entire health picture, and your doctor can take the time to explain things more clearly and address your concerns. With concierge medicine, you’ll no longer be rushed through appointments and leave with more questions than answers.
Accessibility
When you suffer from vague or common symptoms, it might not be clear whether you need medical attention, even if your symptoms indicate you could be at risk for illness in the future. In a traditional setting, you could easily be dismissed and scheduled for an appointment later to make way for more obviously emergent patients.
In concierge medicine, you can get your symptoms addressed as soon as they occur. Concierge medicine provides you 24/7, direct access to a doctor, thus removing the barriers to healthcare that could cause potentially dangerous delays. Your concierge doctor is only a call or text away, so you’ll get peace of mind knowing you’ll get the care you deserve when you need it.
Convenience
Sometimes, the long wait to see an experienced physician hinders patients from getting the care they need. Many simply do not want to go through that hassle. Even if you could schedule an appointment in a few days or weeks, your condition could deteriorate even further while you wait to be seen. Since concierge doctors are easy to contact and limit the number of patients that they accept, you can easily schedule your appointments with them without delay.
Prevention and Treatment
Concierge medicine allows for longer, more in-depth appointments, which allows your concierge doctor to review your entire medical history thoroughly, discuss your concerns, and make crucial connections between your lifestyle and health. By doing so, they will be able to treat health issues quickly and prevent future illnesses more effectively.
For patients with chronic diseases, frequent and comprehensive visits will ensure symptoms are constantly monitored. This provides better management of symptoms, decreased symptom severity, and increased ability to notice disease progression.
Cost-Effectiveness
You might think concierge medicine is extravagant and reserved only for the elite. However, it is cost-effective in the long run. Concierge medicine eliminates the need for unnecessary testing, procedures, and specialty visits. This cuts overall costs, allowing you to save money in the long term, especially for those with chronic conditions.
Concierge Medicine In Tucson, AZ
Your health is vital to your quality of life, so why not get the care you deserve? That’s exactly what concierge medicine seeks to offer.
Schedule a consultation with one of the top 24/7 concierge doctors in Tucson, AZ – Dr. Robert Lending. Dr. Lending is a primary care doctor who is board-certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology. He has nearly 40 years of experience and is highly qualified to treat adults with multiple, chronic age-related medical conditions. Dr. Lending strives to provide compassionate and personalized care to ensure that each patient gets the concierge care they deserve.
To schedule a visit, call our office today at (520) 795-4291 or fill out an appointment request form. We look forward to providing you with exceptional care and helping you live the healthiest life possible!
