Why is Concierge Medicine Better Than Standard Primary Care?

Close your eyes and imagine your last visit to a general practitioner’s office. How did the visit go? Did you spend more time in the waiting room or the exam room? What was the demeanor of the nurses and doctors who treated you? Were you satisfied with the quality of medical care that you received? 

Most people find that it’s getting harder and harder to get in touch with their primary care providers, and keep their doctor’s attention for prolonged periods of time once they do. Nowadays, primary care practices see more patients than ever, forcing doctors to limit the amount of time spent on each patient. This leaves many people feeling unhappy with their care. The answer to these issues is turning to a concierge doctor instead. 

What is Concierge Medicine?

Concierge medicine follows a values-based approach to primary care, where physicians devote more time and attention to a niche group of patients. This leads to improved doctor-patient relationships, a focus on preventative care, and an all-around holistic approach to health and wellness. Patients can visit their concierge doctor for all of their needs, from a common cold to cancer-prevention initiatives. 

Most boutique or concierge practices employ a subscription-based pricing system, where patients pay either a yearly or monthly fee, and gain unlimited access to their doctor. With different payment plans available for use, concierge medicine is affordable to everybody — no longer is it considered luxury medical care as it was referred to in its premier years. Nowadays, patients can enjoy the closest thing to a personal doctor without breaking the bank.  

What Are the Benefits?

How Does it Compare to Traditional Care?

Although the most popular form of patient care is through traditional primary care providers (PCP), this standard model of healthcare is flawed in many ways. With a few thousand patients being treated annually and at least 20+ patients frequenting one doctor’s office on a daily basis, individuals are often left feeling unsatisfied with the length of their visit. The majority of the time at a primary care provider’s office is spent waiting, with a short 10-20 minutes used for the actual visit. The larger the primary care center, the longer the wait time. In fact, studies show that the length of the visit is directly related to the number of malpractice cases against the doctor. Unsurprisingly, doctors who spend less time actually treating or consulting with the patient, see more malpractice lawsuits during their lifetime. 

In concierge medicine, patients spend very little time waiting and more time conferring with the doctor. Concierge practices limit the number of overall patients they care for down to a couple hundred, so each day is spent providing a few patients with a substantial amount of face-to-face interaction with their doctor. 

Patients have 24/7 access to their concierge physician. In boutique medical practices where each patient is a top priority, doctors can easily form a close bond with the people they’re treating. Therefore, they are more than happy to provide personalized medical care even outside of normal work hours. One might say that concierge doctors never stop working. 

Visit your local concierge doctor, Dr. Sitapara, in his Newtown office for top-of-the-line tailored medical care.