A concierge physician, or direct primary care doctor, offers personalized, in-depth health services to a limited patient load. Sincethis board-certified professional sees far fewer individuals than the average doctor, patients get the same-day appointments they need with no time limit on their in-office consultations.
Let’s talk about seven things to know when choosing a concierge doctor and where you can find this doctor in Kennesaw, GA.
1. Concierge Doctors Charge an Annual Fee
This retainer fee enables the concierge physician to limit his or her practice to a far smaller than average patient load and number of patients seen in-office on any given day. The annual fee may be paid in one lump sum or monthly installments. As a prospective patient, ensure to ask how much this fee is and how you can pay it.
2. The Right Concierge Doctor Will Provide You With 24/7 Access
The right concierge doctor provides unlimited patient access via text, email, or phone. Off-hours consultation is not put off by an answering service, nurse, or resident in training. Rather, the physician answers any and all queries 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends.
3. Your Concierge Doctor Must Refer for and Coordinate Specialty Care
When choosing a concierge doctor, ensure he or she provides referrals to medical specialists, such as cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, psychiatrists, and others, as needed. The concierge doctor also should coordinate care among multiple specialists, help schedule preventive screenings, such as colonoscopies and physical therapy evaluations, and keep your medical record up to date and accessible to you and other providers as the need arises.
4. You Still Need Health Insurance
Find out if your annual fee covers all your in-office services or if some will be billed to your health insurance carrier. Regardless, you must continue your regular health insurance policy to cover specialist visits, off-site testing, hospitalizations, out-of-town care, and emergency room or urgent care visits.
5. Concierge Medicine Focuses on the Individual
The best concierge medicine providers focus on individual patient needs, including treatment of acute illnesses and injuries, prescription medications, diagnostic tests, and preventive screenings for cancer, osteoporosis, and more. In addition, because the doctor limits his or her practice to a certain number of patients, each individual enjoys relaxed, conversational, and friendly office visits. The doctor and patient get to know each other well, and patient concerns and health-related goals are prioritized.
6. The Right Concierge Doctor Has Excellent Training and Credentials
Look for board certification in internal medicine and family practice. Check this credential through certification matters.org. Also, ask where the doctor went to college and medical school and where he or she took residency training. Finally, find out what hospital the physician is affiliated with.
7. Explore the Point of Care Services and Telehealth Options
Lab services and X-rays should be provided onsite and screenings for a wide range of chronic and acute disease conditions. Also, find out if telehealth appointments are available and how the patient portal works.
