Healthy Reads Blog | PartnerMD

Executive Physicals in Atlanta, GA: Emory Healthcare vs. PartnerMD

Written by Alicia King, Executive Health | Oct 1, 2024

Which executive physical program in Atlanta is right for your company? With several options available, finding the best fit can feel overwhelming. Is your team better served by a well-known healthcare provider like Emory Executive Health, or does a concierge service like PartnerMD offer more tailored benefits? 

In this article, we’ll help you navigate the decision-making process by comparing two of Atlanta’s top executive physical providers. You’ll learn about the similarities, differences, and how each program could impact your company’s health strategy. 

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which option — Emory Executive Health or PartnerMD — is the best fit for your executive team. 

Top 3 similarities between Emory Executive Health and PartnerMD

We know what is similar and what is different between our programs. The similarities are the easy part – there are three.

  • Both programs offer similar standardized tests and screenings you can find in just about any executive physical.
  • Both programs offer convenience from a scheduling perspective. Emory’s executive physical exams last a half day. At PartnerMD, we also offer a half-day physical, as well as a more comprehensive 8-hr physical.
  • Both have very talented physicians. You’ll be able to trust the care you receive from both places.

Where your decision gets difficult is when you start to look at the differences. There’s no easy place that just lays it all out for you. We’re about to change that.

In the rest of this blog, we’ll explain the 4 major differences between the Emory executive health program and the PartnerMD executive health program.

Top 4 differences between Emory Executive Health and PartnerMD

In this article, we’ll break down how each program operates in terms of:

  1. What is the cost of an executive physical program?
  2. Is there an additional cost for more tests and screenings?
  3. How many advanced screenings can you customize?

  4. How is the experience different for your employee?

Now, let’s dive into each of these.

1. Comparing the cost of executive physicals at Emory vs. PartnerMD

Emory’s base physical exam costs $2,710 per person. This includes a one-hour meeting with a physician, same-day review, 12 months of priority access and care coordination, wellness coaching, a family health risk review, an EKG, an immunization review, and a complete laboratory analysis.

However, Emory also suggests additional executive physical exams based on age and gender. These options range from $3,386 for a female between 40-44 to $5,046 for a female 60+.

At PartnerMD, our most basic executive physical is $2,700. This includes a 90-minute meeting with a physician, as well as a full physical exam; medical history review; lung, hearing, and vision testing; an EKG; blood testing; Vitamin D screening; fitness and nutrition coaching; body composition analysis; and certain age and gender screening labs.

We also offer an Enhanced (5-hr) Physical for $2,700 and a Signature Physical for $4,000 that provide more in-depth and comprehensive health information. You can get an instant quote for the cost of your executive physical program on our website. 

As a comparison, here is what each program might cost for a four-executive program: two males in their 50s and two females in their 50s.

  Physicals Included Cost Per Physical Total Cost
PartnerMD 4 Enhanced Physicals $2,700 $10,800
Emory

2 Male Physicals (50-59)
2 Female Physicals (50-59)

Males (50-59) = $4,116
Females (50-59) = $4,376

$16,984

2. Are there extra costs for tests and screenings at Emory and PartnerMD? 

As mentioned above, Emory Executive Health allows you to customize each executive physical exam by adding or removing certain tests on their recommended protocols.

They also offer additional customization options through their Optional Extended Prevention Packages, which range from an additional $200 for a Heart Health Package to $861 for a post-menopause Women’s Hormone Package.

These Optional Prevention Packages are also available at PartnerMD. Some are already included in the base cost of your executive physical, such as what is included in their Heart Health Package (tests for significant indicators of heart disease like apoB and Lp(a)).

Most of the rest, like the Women’s Hormone Packages or Men’s Health Packages, are available for your employees to add to their executive physical as one of the customization options in our Enhanced Physical or Signature Physical for no extra charge.

3. Emory Executive Health vs. PartnerMD: How can your company customize its executive physical program?

As a company, your primary decision when designing an executive health program will be to decide how many employees to include in the program. Is it just for your C-Suite executives? Might other top performers or rising stars get included?

To help manage the size of the budget and control costs, we customize each executive health program for the individual business. Among the things we can tailor to your business are:

  • Is a physical mandatory or optional for certain employees?
  • Should specific employees, or groups of employees, receive a different tier of physical?
  • Do the results of any physical need to be shared with the company’s leadership team or board of directors?

For example, we frequently work with companies to design programs such as:

  • Mandatory Signature (8-hr) physical for all C-Suite executives
  • Optional Enhanced (5-hr) physicals for the next level of leadership and top performers
  • Optional Classic (2-hr) physicals for all employees and sometimes even spouses

Due to the size of the hospital and the volume of patients they treat, Emory probably can’t customize each program for every company on that level. That’s likely why they offer slightly different physicals based on age and gender. It keeps it simple.


4. Difference in the experience for your employees: Emory vs. PartnerMD 

As mentioned before, Emory is the largest healthcare organization in Atlanta. The Emory Executive Health program is located on the campus of the Emory University Hospital off Clifton Road northeast of Downtown Atlanta. It’s in the middle of the hospital’s large campus.

Because of the sheer size of the hospital and the program, they need to operate efficiently to get patients in and out. Hospitals are hectic places on a good day, and it can be an overwhelming experience for your employees to navigate a large campus and then get thrust into a busy hospital setting.

The result for your employees could be an impersonal experience where they feel like just a number.

Contrast that with PartnerMD’s Sandy Springs office, for example, located off Mt. Vernon Highway.

Your employees will get a personalized experience in an office with a dedicated, private executive lounge for their use on their physical day. We also provide car service for any outside tests that may be required.

Next steps: Choosing the right executive health provider for your company

Now that you understand the key similarities and differences between Emory Executive Health and PartnerMD, it’s time to decide which option best suits your company’s needs. Does your team value personalized concierge care with more customization options, or do they prefer the convenience and familiarity of a large healthcare provider?

Before you make your decision, ask yourself these critical questions:

  • What kind of relationship with doctors do your executives prefer?
  • Which program’s health screenings and customizations best fit your company’s health goals?
  • Is your budget aligned with Emory’s higher base costs or PartnerMD’s more flexible pricing?

If you have more questions or want to learn about our programs at PartnerMD, fill out this form to speak to one of our experts. They will be happy to discuss any other questions you may have.