subject: Understanding Concierge Medicine [print this page] Health matters are not slight mattersHealth matters are not slight matters. Anyone who has gone through a serious illness or has seen a family member suffer because of one would know that how crucial is the importance of proper medical care. Nevertheless, the face of medical care has been changing. With the rapid progression of the medical sciences, the world of medicine has seen some spectacular developments. However, not only has the nature of medical services changed but also the structure of medical services has evolved.
Although not a very old concept, but direct primary care is becoming very popular in America. It is important to understand what concierge medicine or direct primary care or innovative medical practice design, boutique medicine or retainer-based medicine is, before you sign up for such a service.
In concierge medicine as opposed to normal medical practice, the doctors attend to one or a limited number of patients. The biggest benefit here for the patient is that he gets the undivided attention of the doctor and can reach to the doctor at any time. They even get the access to the doctors personal cell phone number and there are arrangements where one can make a call to the doctor any time of the day or night or can fix a doctor appointment online. However, it is still being debated whether this practice is actually for the general good or not.
Where the doctors profess that this kind of system allows them to give their entire attention to one patient (or few patients) and they can considerably improve the quality of services that they offer the clients. On the other hand, the fee for such an arrangement is obviously higher. Normally, the clients pay the doctors an annual payment to include a number of services. In addition, most of the concierge physicians do not accept insurances. The payment system is more direct and is between the patient and the doctor itself. With the higher costs and exclusion of the insurances for such an arrangement, is it fair to the ones who cannot afford to pay a bulk annual fee? Is the larger part of the population left with lesser doctors to tend them because of this kind of system? Nevertheless, at the same time, with more streamlined approach to a persons health problem and better focus the doctors are in fact being able to give their patients, though now few in number, the kind of treatment that justifies their profession as the noblest one.
