A 45-minute wait, a 10-minute visit, and the feeling that the doctor barely had time to speak with you about your condition and treatment options; we’ve all been there. For decades, that’s been the reality of primary care in the United States. But a growing number of patients and physicians are deciding that it doesn’t have to be.
Concierge medicine flips this image entirely on its head and, instead, puts the patient at the heart of care. One of the areas where it makes the biggest impact is primary care. Read on to learn about what primary care from a concierge doctor looks like, and why more and more patients are choosing concierge primary care for their families.
The Traditional Model is Showing its Cracks
The traditional insurance-based primary care system wasn’t exactly built for the patient; it was built for volume. Physicians in traditional practices are usually stretched thin, with rosters of over a thousand patients. This often leaves little room the type of care that patients deserve and that actually makes a difference in their overall health, comfort and peace of mind. The result is rushed appointments, weeks-long waitlists for visits and a relationship with your doctor that doesn’t exactly feel personal. That’s where concierge medicine comes in.
What is Concierge Medicine?
Concierge medicine is a membership-based healthcare model by which patients pay a monthly or annual fee for direct access to their physician, bypassing the friction that insurance often brings. The model has grown popular across medical specialties because it realigns the relationship between the doctor and the patient.
With concierge medicine, your physician and medical team answer to you, not to an insurer’s billing requirements. It’s a structure that makes better medicine possible and accessible.
What Does Concierge Primary Care Look Like?
Primary care from a concierge doctor feels different than care from a doctor who works under the traditional model. With concierge care, your physician knows you, your history, your family and your concerns. They have the time to gather information, ask questions, answer your questions, and explain your diagnosis and treatment options in a way that feels personal and supportive, instead of rushed. Visits are longer, and access is built in from day one.
Concierge primary care usually involves:
- Same-day visits
- Annual wellness exams and preventative care
- Chronic condition management
- Integrative medicine approaches
- Care coordination and specialist referrals
- Direct access to physicians via phone, text or video call
The House Call Difference
Beyond challenging the traditional healthcare system in terms of insurance and billing, concierge doctors are taking it a step further by offering house call visits. Having a physician come to you eliminates the logistical burden of scheduling an appointment with a doctor who has a packed schedule, driving to the clinic, and waiting for long periods in crowded waiting rooms. This is especially important for busy parents, professionals who can’t afford to take half-days, and seniors for whom transportation is a barrier. Concierge doctor house calls make it easy to get primary care from the comfort of your space, along with specialist visits, urgent care visits and ancillary services.
There’s also a clinical value to concierge medicine, as your physician gets to see you in your home environment firsthand, which gives them critical insight into your day-to-day. When understanding your condition and desigining with the best treatment plan for you, this insight is invaluable, and it’s context your doctor simply can’t get otherwise.
Who Chooses House Calls from Concierge Doctors, and Why?
House calls from concierge doctors appeal to a wide range of patients in various situations. What unites each type of patient is the desire for a physician who is genuinely available for them and who has the time to provide quality care that feels personal, not just part of a process.
The following groups find concierge medicine especially well-suited for their lives and routines:
- Families: Consistent access to house calls makes managing each family member’s health simple and convenient.
- Professionals: On-demand care from wherever they are, including offices and hotel rooms, means they don’t have to rearrange their busy schedules to accommodate their medical care.
- Seniors: Continuity of care, longer visits, and in-home support offers independence and peace of mind.
UPLIN Health and the Future of Primary Care
At UPLIN Health, we believe that primary care should feel like a supportive partnership instead of a transaction. Our concierge primary care model was built around the idea that patients should always be at the center of care. That has translated to 24/7/365 access to physicians, house calls from where you are, and physicians who genuinely care and take the time to understand you.
We’re proud to lead the change in healthcare and redefine what medicine should look like. Learn more about our concierge primary care visits here or explore our Membership options here. We’re currently serving patients living in or visiting South Florida and select cities in New York.