Concierge Medicine Definition: What is it? How does it work?

Ever find yourself frustrated by long waits at the doctor's office or feeling rushed through your appointment? Maybe you've heard people talk about concierge medicine, boutique practices, or membership-based care and wondered if it's any different or worth it. 

Concierge medicine offers an alternative way to experience healthcare, one that's often more personal and convenient than traditional primary care. But what does that really mean, and why are so many people, including doctors, making the switch?

In this article, we'll define concierge medicine and explain what it means, how much it costs, and whether it could be a good fit for you. Let's dive in. 

Defining concierge medicine: What does it mean? 

We hear it all the time. What is concierge medicine? What does concierge medicine mean? At its core, the concierge medicine definition is as follows:

• Concierge medicine is an alternative primary care model built on a better relationship between physician and patient without the hassles of the traditional primary care experience. Patients pay a membership fee to be part of the practice, which allows the physician to reduce the size of their panel and offer enhanced access, convenience, and additional services. 

Concierge medicine can take many forms, but in general, the meaning of concierge medicine is primary care physicians see far fewer patients than traditional primary care physicians and spend more time with each patient.

How does concierge medicine work? 

So, how does the concierge medicine model work, exactly?

1. A primary care physician reduces the size of their patient panel, from as many as 2,000-3,000 patients to somewhere between 400-600. 
2. To offset the medical revenue lost from drastically reducing the number of patients seen, the patients are charged a membership fee. 
3. In return, they receive a more individualized, convenient patient experience than that of a traditional practice. 

This patient experience typically includes:

• Same-day or next-day appointments for acute care
• 24/7 access to care
• Longer appointments, typically at least 30 minutes if needed
• Little to no waiting in lobbies or exam rooms

Those are the basics featured at most concierge medicine practices. Some practices go above and beyond that and offer advanced annual physicals, wellness services and health coaching, and more. 

At the end of the day, concierge medicine is about removing all obstacles to personalized care and giving physicians and patients more time together to form meaningful relationships.

How much does concierge medicine cost?

When concierge medicine started, it was geared toward the rich. Two physicians started the concierge medicine model in 1996 when they wanted to provide the same experience to patients that they gave to players on the NBA's Seattle Supersonics.

However, as concierge medicine's popularity has grown since then, the cost has become much more affordable.

There is quite a range in concierge membership rates, from $2,000 to as high as $10,000 per year. For those still charging $10,000 or more per year, we'd call that luxury medicine or VIP medicine. You'll hear about those practices in places with the mega-rich and celebrities, like New York City or Los Angeles (Hollywood).

The average cost of concierge medicine is usually somewhere between $2,000-$5,000 per year. At PartnerMD, our membership costs $2,500 per year or $208.33 per month and we transparently include the cost of our membership on our online cost calculator. 

Some practices allow you to pay monthly or quarterly instead of just one big annual lump sum. So you may have a monthly or quarterly automatic credit card payment or automatic withdrawal ranging from $100 to $500 per month.

Why are more patients switching to concierge medicine?  

Why do patients choose concierge medicine? As a concierge medicine that has helped thousands of patients make the switch over the years, we've identified a few themes. Here are the top five reasons patients choose concierge medicine: 

1. They are a high achiever and enjoy the individualized care concierge medicine offers.
2. They have an existing condition that requires attentive care.
3. They experience a medical scare that creates urgency.
4. They’re done waiting.
5. They want peace of mind – for themselves or their loved ones (or both).

Why are more doctors switching to concierge medicine?

What started with two doctors in Seattle in 1996 has grown to more than 12,000 concierge physicians today. Why? Because, like patients, doctors are fed up with the traditional primary care model.

As a concierge practice that has grown from one physician to more than 30, we've also identified a few themes about why physicians switch to concierge medicine. Here they are:

1. They want to practice medicine the way they envisioned.
2. They're tired of running the traditional primary care business. 
3. They are burned out. 

Is concierge medicine right for you?

Switching to concierge medicine is a big decision, and it's important to find the right physician who matches your needs and values. 

Take some time to think about what's missing in your current care and what you want to get out of your healthcare experience. Then, when you're ready, start reaching out to practices and set up a few appointments to get to know the physicians. 

If you're curious to dig a little deeper, check out our free Understanding Concierge Medicine eBook for more information. Who knows? This could be the first step toward a healthcare experience that actually feels like it's built around you.