This Is the Future of Medical Care
One Medical Group offers most of the same services provided by personalized “concierge” medical practices, but at a much lower price: $150 to $200 a year. Doctors see at most 16 patients a day; the nationwide average for primary-care physicians is 25. They welcome e-mail communication with patients, for no extra charge. Same-day appointments are routine. Using the One Medical Web site or a new iPhone application, patients can schedule appointments and refill prescriptions, and, in limited cases, originate new ones. At One Medical, someone answers the phone right away — even at lunchtime. And no one is put on hold.
Full article on affordable concierge medicine.
From the article, it sounds like people are willing to pay $200 a year for peace of mind — knowing that their concerns are acknowledged and the practice is looking out for them.
I agree that this is the future of medical care. And notice that it is happening completely outside of the third party payer system.
I would argue that we already have a multi-tiered health care system — where Medicaid enrollees especially have difficulty finding doctors who will treat them or have to seek treatment in community health centers. I do not necessarily see a multi-tiered health care system as bad – I fear a one-size-fits-all model far worse. A retail clinic coexisting alongside a traditional physician practice is an example of multiple tiers.
However, concierge medicine is becoming increasingly common and stratification of physician care is probably the wave of the future. People who can afford it will have the convenience of deciding where to seek care (a personal concierge physician office visit, a telemedicine consultation or a retail clinic).
Those who rely on public coverage will have to seek care in less convenient settings.
Tom’s right. The key here is that all this is taking place in a marketplace, outside the system.
I hope the public will begin to see that concierge medicine is a viable option for many people…not just the wealthy.