Pushing the Envelope of Concierge Care
One of Dr. Glazer’s clients, for instance, has had his yacht outfitted with a system from Guardian 24/7, a company in Leesburg, Va., founded by former White House doctors that advertises itself as offering “medical protection previously available only to the president of the United States.” The company’s “ready room” will allow a doctor trained in the system to perform basic medical care remotely if something should go wrong while the patient is on the high seas.
“There is very little that we can’t do with the triage room on their yacht,” he said.
Full article on the luxuries coinciding with concierge medical care.
Once again, proving that markets work. Notice that none of the examples here involve Blue Cross, or Medicare or any employer health plan.
When physicians convert to a Concierge Practice, they often reduce patient rolls by 85% to 90%. This article takes this concept to a whole new level. Dr. Glazer reduced his patient load by nearly 99% and focused on only a few very wealthy patients.
As Medicare and Medicaid squeeze provider fees further, physicians will increasingly convert to these simpler practice models. The result will be less access for those enrolled in public coverage.
Sounds great. Where do I get my yacht?
The doctors who serve in the White House (as well as Congress) are usually Navy admirals on loan from Bethesda. It is a nice way for a Navy MD to finish up a military career in medicine.
The fact a few former White House docs have created a “ready room” that uses battlefield-style telemedicine is a testament to their military training — not necessarily their medical school training.