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I think you will find most concierge medical offices in larger urban areas. Smaller communities may not have enough folks willing to pay the concierge fee.
"Private practice and concierge services are two different concepts." I understand what you are saying but it is a fact that every one of the doctors listed at that private practice web site that I checked on were charging an annual fee. Yet, the site says "private practice". The word "concierge" shows up within the doctors' own web sites and in some other article that I read. I think that was at Mayo but might be wrong.
That said, all I need now is to find a doctor in private practice who is not into "concierge" - one who runs his own office, spends enough time with the patient, accepts insurance, has staff to do his own billing (no "central billing office), and handles any questions that arise.
So, what I need now is to know how to sort out the two groups of private practice physicians and continue searching within that category.
I didn't say that they did. I said they sometimes have office hours in hospitals once or twice a week. That is in *addition* to their own offices elsewhere. My primary physician is a private practitioner, but she -also- does one or two days a week in the hospital, seeing patients in their urgent care center. This gives her hospital privileges, and a shared office with other private practitioners who do the same type of double-duty.
Other than those two days a week, her work time is scheduled in her own offices, which are not in or even near a hospital. The practice itself is not affiliated with any hospital, however she, the practitioner, is, once or twice a week.
My OB/GYN has a private practice too but she also has hospital privileges. She also does surgery *at* the hospital, which is a good thing since her office doesn't have the kind of equipment necessary for major surgeries, and she doesn't have access to anasthesiologists at her private practice offices. When I went for a tubal ligation, she met me at the hospital to perform it. This is where she meets all her private-practice patients who need surgery.
My podiatrist -also- is a private practitioner, with hospital privileges. He is -also- head of some foot health department AT the hospital, which he oversees twice a month and has a full staff to do the daily work for him. But when he's not doing that twice-monthly hospital stuff, he is doing his private practice, in his own private offices nowhere near the hospital, and his practice itself is not affiliated with the hospital. He, however, is.
Your PCP is "moonlighting" for extra $ and that has nothing at all to do with her having full or courtesy admitting privileges at a hospital. Same with your OB. If there is more than 1 hospital, they probably have full or courtesy admitting privileges at both places. Podiatrists - not familiar with the nuances - the DPMs I know work out of their in-office surgical suites.
Your PCP is "moonlighting" for extra $ and that has nothing at all to do with her having full or courtesy admitting privileges at a hospital. Same with your OB. If there is more than 1 hospital, they probably have full or courtesy admitting privileges at both places. Podiatrists - not familiar with the nuances - the DPMs I know work out of their in-office surgical suites.
My OB isn't moonlighting. She sees only her own patients, and uses the hospital whenever it is medically appropriate to do so, when seeing her own patients. My podiatrist does not "work" at the hospital; he is an administrator of a particular department there. He doesn't see patients there. The "nuances" with regards to podiatrists have nothing to do with anything, not sure why you even mentioned it.
My OB isn't moonlighting. She sees only her own patients, and uses the hospital whenever it is medically appropriate to do so, when seeing her own patients. My podiatrist does not "work" at the hospital; he is an administrator of a particular department there. He doesn't see patients there. The "nuances" with regards to podiatrists have nothing to do with anything, not sure why you even mentioned it.
Its in YOUR best interest to go a a physician with admitting privileges at a hospital.
Why? If you go to a hospital,and your physician doesn't have admitting privilege,you can only get treated by their doctors,and of course they won't know your history.
Its in YOUR best interest to go a a physician with admitting privileges at a hospital.
Why? If you go to a hospital,and your physician doesn't have admitting privilege,you can only get treated by their doctors,and of course they won't know your history.
Will you be okay with that?
Many very good primary care doctors are choosing not to have hospital privileges. If you need to be in the hospital, your doctor is a specialist called a hospitalist if you are there for a medical illness, such as pneumonia. It's no different from your doctor referring you to a surgeon if you need your gallbladder removed. There should be no reason for your doctor to not be able to give the hospitalist any needed information.
I have a cousin who is a hospitalist. He likes it because he did not want the business hassles of running a private practice.
I think you will find most concierge medical offices in larger urban areas. Smaller communities may not have enough folks willing to pay the concierge fee.
I only know of one or two physicians in the area offering a concierge practice. However, Utah is not a place where trends begin and take hold.
I really could never understand why anyone would want a concierge physician until I saw some of the struggles my parents had when they got older. They related to me how difficult it was to get some physician services under Medicare, My mother actually had a cardiologist make appointments and than refuse to see her when she came to his office as scheduled. He would pass her notes through an office nurse about her condition and what to do about it. (Yes, that is really a true story) I did wonder if they might benefit from concierge services. However, her primary care physician is wonderful and will spend however long she needs with her even with limited reimbursement.
I don't see the value in concierge services. However, maybe as I get older I will.
You know incorrectly. Many private practice physicians have office hours at hospitals, some of them have "privileges" where they can treat their patients in the hospital setting when/if appropriate, and some of them do work a day or two every week in the hospitals and get paid for their services.
Since most doctors don't work full-time for public clinics, you can say that most doctors -are- private practice physicians. Some of them work in a group setting, but each doctor's work within the group is a private practice, sharing facilities and resources (such as a common receptionist and reception area, and shared PAs).
That isn't how "privileges" work....
You also have flawed understanding what the term "private practice" means...
Any physician can have privileges at any area hospital they wish, they simply apply, costs nothing...
In return the hospital reaps the benefits of "charging" for hospital stay, facility fee's for surgery etc...the hospital doesn't "pay" the physician unless said physician is an employee of the hospital...the physician similarly is paid by charging the patient for physician fees which are separate from the rest of the hospital bill
Private practice is any practice outside of the hospital whether it is group or solo...there isn't a distinction of "private practice within a group", one may be in a group practice or solo practitioner, it's all still "private practice"
I only know of one or two physicians in the area offering a concierge practice. However, Utah is not a place where trends begin and take hold.
I really could never understand why anyone would want a concierge physician until I saw some of the struggles my parents had when they got older. They related to me how difficult it was to get some physician services under Medicare, My mother actually had a cardiologist make appointments and than refuse to see her when she came to his office as scheduled. He would pass her notes through an office nurse about her condition and what to do about it. (Yes, that is really a true story) I did wonder if they might benefit from concierge services. However, her primary care physician is wonderful and will spend however long she needs with her even with limited reimbursement.
I don't see the value in concierge services. However, maybe as I get older I will.
I am seeing the same things your parents saw, more of it all the time. The medical world has changed and I don't know how to deal with it. Do without might be the easiest answer.
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You win - I give up.
