Family medicine is a specialty that focuses on preventing and treating both acute and chronic health conditions in people of all ages – and most of us are familiar with this type of medicine, as we have our annual checkup. Concierge medicine is a new way in which doctors can deliver medical services to patients in a highly personalized fashion, whereby the patient has very easy and fast access to the doctor.
Concierge medicine is growing in popularity here in the Atlanta area and across the United States, and it might be the right choice for you. Let’s talk about the differences and similarities between concierge medicine and family medicine, and where you can go for world-class personalized medical care right here in your area.
How Family Medicine Works
Your family medicine doctor conducts your annual checkup, which includes checking for any diseases or chronic conditions – everything from a UTI (urinary tract infection), which would be determined via your urine sample, to heart or circulatory conditions such as high blood pressure. Your family doctor provides preventive care, cancer screenings, vaccines (such as a flu shot), and referrals to specialty healthcare providers.
Health insurance often dictates whether you see a family medicine physician because you will look for a doctor who accepts your insurance. These healthcare visits usually encompass short appointment times, because the physician has limited availability for patient contact due to high patient load.
How Concierge Medicine Is Different
A doctor of any specialty may choose to run their practice according to an innovative model called concierge medicine. This model is growing in popularity thanks to its more individualized care, so you and your doctor get to know each other on a more personal level. The doctor, therefore, has more of a chance at picking up on things related to your personal health with this one-on-one professional relationship.
When family medicine is provided with a concierge medicine approach, it offers:
- Longer appointment times per patient
- Direct 24/7 contact with your physician in person, by phone, by text, or via telemedicine
- Specialty healthcare coordinated personally by your concierge doctor
- In-depth physical exams emphasize treating you as a whole person and not simply as a collection of symptoms
Concierge physicians take the time to know you well, listen to your concerns, and assess your risk for diseases. They look at lifestyle factors that impact you both positively and negatively, and they address the changes associated with aging, stress, heredity, and more.
Concierge medicine charges an annual membership fee, much like being a member of a club. While this fee does not replace health insurance, it does cover the extended services and in-depth patient care which are the hallmark of concierge medicine.
Concierge Medicine in Atlanta, GA
