5 Major Benefits of Switching to Concierge Medicine

Concierge medicine is a relatively new approach to primary care that aims to provide a more personalized and enhanced doctor-patient relationship. To gain access to this elevated level of care, patients pay a membership fee to a primary physician, similar to the retainer fee paid to an attorney. 

Concierge medicine typically provides a level of access to your physician that is unachievable in a traditional doctor-patient arrangement. Concierge medicine allows your physician to significantly limit the number of patients they accept into their practice, which means increased availability and access for those part of the concierge medicine program. 

As a patient of Richard Rawson, DO, at Temecula Medical Group in Temecula, California, you can enjoy the advantages of concierge medicine for an affordable monthly fee. Patients who join this service get access to the exact type of care they need whenever they need it without the frustration of delays in scheduling and long in-office waiting times. The result can ultimately save you time and money you may have lost on trial and error home treatments or trips to urgent care centers while waiting to see your primary physician. 

Find out more about five major benefits of concierge medicine and how this patient-physician can make a difference in the quality of health care you achieve from a primary care physician. 

#1 Better patient-physician relationships 

Concierge medicine facilitates the development of a personal bond between you and your physician. With more direct access, you’re likely to develop a more trusting and familiar relationship, which may make you more willing to follow recommendations for preventive care. 

While the correlation between concierge medicine and improved well-being isn’t clear, there is an advantage to establishing a trusted bond with your primary provider. Patients with a primary care provider have 19% lower odds of premature death than individuals who rely solely on specialist visits to manage their health care. 

#2 Immediate and constant access 

When a medical emergency like a stroke or heart attack occurs, there’s often little question that something is wrong and immediate care is necessary. However, when you have a condition that causes vague or common symptoms, it may not be so clear that medical attention is immediately needed. 

With concierge medicine, your 24/7 direct access to our team removes the barriers to care that can cause potentially dangerous delays. Our providers are never more than a phone call or text away and always available. That means you don’t have to second-guess how to handle issues that arise between visits and risk losing precious time that can make a difference in your outcomes.

#3 Little to no wait time to schedule an appointment

A survey of 15 large US metropolitan areas found it takes an average of about 24.1 days to see a family medicine practitioner. That lost time, which totals more than three weeks, can allow your condition to deteriorate while waiting and may even affect the type of treatment you require. 

Because concierge physicians limit the number of patients they accept, they have more control over their availability. Your status as a concierge patient assures your access to same-day appointments so you can address your concerns and conditions without delay.

#4 More time with your physician

While the norm for almost half of primary care physicians is to schedule patient visits at 15-minute intervals, concierge physicians typically spend about 35 minutes on a patient visit, according to a University of Wisconsin report. When physicians are under pressure to keep moving between patients at 15-minute intervals, it’s hard to imagine they don’t have one eye on the clock during your examination. 

The pressure to complete an office visit within a short timeframe may represent missed opportunities for patient education and advice. The extra time a concierge physician spends with you allows for a more thorough examination rather than simply targeting your “chief complaint,” or your primary reason for the visit. 

#5 Full range of care

A concierge medical practice like Temecula Medical Group is equipped with state-of-the-art lab and diagnostic equipment such as EKGs, X-rays, and an in-house laboratory for blood work and urinalysis. That allows you to get diagnostic testing easier and receive the answers your physician needs to provide the best possible care. 

Additional benefits like discounted pricing for lab and diagnostic testing can make your monthly concierge fee a worthwhile investment. The combination of convenience, accessibility and potential cost savings attracts more patients annually to this innovative approach to managing their well-being.

Find out more about the benefits of switching to concierge medicine. Contact our office to find out more about this service.