Concierge Medicine for An Older Adult

What Is Concierge Medicine?

Concierge medicine has become increasingly popular in modern American medicine. In this model of care, instead of caring for a large panel of primary care patients, a physician may care for several hundred patients or even less. An annual fee is charged to each “member”, and membership typically includes as many visits to the doctor as you need. Some concierge practices also have à la carte offerings with additional costs.

Given the small number of patients in each practice, concierge physicians are able to provide very hands-on, involved care. This can be difficult in traditional primary care practices where the average full-time physician has over 1,000 patients.

Not All Concierge Medicine Is the Same

Concierge medicine comes in many shapes and sizes. On one extreme, there are practices that charge $10,000 or more for their annual membership fee. Physicians in these practices typically have such a small number of patients that they have no schedule. They’re available whenever or wherever you need them — in the office, your home, or wherever you get ill. In some cases, physicians will even accompany patients to visits with specialists and subspecialists.

In more “watered down” versions of concierge practice, a smaller membership fee is charged that often starts around $1,000 per year. For the fee, appointments are generally expedited (within a day) and the physician returns your call promptly. Care is well coordinated with hospitals and specialists.

While there are some insurance companies that will cover part of the annual fee, note that Medicare will not.

Is Concierge Medicine a Good Option for an Older Adult?

If you have the resources to join a concierge practice, it’s a good option to consider — especially if you’re not happy with the current practice that you’re in.

It’s essential to do your due diligence on the practice before joining. You’ll want to meet with the physician you’d be seeing to get a sense of the doctor-patient fit. It’s also a good idea to speak with other patients in the practice to hear about their experience.

Concierge Medicine and Good Geriatric Care Have Similar Principles

The best medicine for older adults is detail-oriented and practiced compulsively. By providing time for physicians to be thorough and ensuring continuity across the sites you receive care, the concierge care model does this.

This “high touch” approach often produces better clinical outcomes and engenders greater satisfaction in the process. The focus on prevention and diligent follow-up can help protect patients from medical errors and overtesting.

Good geriatric medicine is similar to concierge medicine — without the high fees (thus the long lines). But with geriatricians in short supply, concierge practices can be a valuable alternative for older adults.