Thursday, July 3, 2008

Your Health: May 8, 2008|ABC 33/40 News

Your Health: May 8, 2008ABC 33/40 News

When you're sick... what's the chance of you calling and talking directly to your doctor to get necessary treatment? A new medical program offers physician access without all the frustration.

House Call with Dr. Andy: What is concierge medicine? | news-press.com | The News-Press

House Call with Dr. Andy: What is concierge medicine? news-press.com The News-Press: "House Call with Dr. Andy: What is concierge medicine?"

The Patient's Doctor: Concierge Medicine For the Masses

The Patient's Doctor: Concierge Medicine For the Masses: "Concierge Medicine For the Masses ' Dr. Alan Dappen is available to his patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone, email and in person. Visits may be scheduled on the same day if needed, prescriptions may be refilled any time without an office visit, he makes house calls, and all records are kept private and digital on a hard drive in his office.

How much would it cost to have the luxury of a personal physician on-call for your every whim?

Would you believe only about $300/year?"

Do You Need to Be as Healthy as a President? - US News and World Report

Do You Need to Be as Healthy as a President? - US News and World Report: "Do You Need to Be as Healthy as a President?
You can get a 'Presidential Physical' for $1,400, but the extra tests might not be a good idea"

Kerrville Daily Times

Kerrville Daily Times: "Medicare cuts to make doctor find tougher "
By Conor Harrison
The Daily Times

10% Medicare cuts, Blue Cross employee premium increase by 36%.

Health-care advocates do the job if you have the money -- chicagotribune.com

Health-care advocates do the job if you have the money -- chicagotribune.com: "Health-care advocates do the job if you have the money
Experts will guide you through tricky health-care maze"

The Patient's Doctor: Going off the Grid - The Rise of “Direct Practice” Medicine « Crossover Healthcare

The Patient's Doctor: Going off the Grid - The Rise of “Direct Practice” Medicine « Crossover Healthcare: "Going off the Grid - The Rise of “Direct Practice” Medicine « Crossover Healthcare: 'Physicians and the patients who are entering into these “direct practice” (the PC way to say Concierge Medicine) relationships is one of liberation, of freedom, and of doing things the way that they should be done."

Concierge Medicine - The Future or the Past? | Brain Blogger

Concierge Medicine - The Future or the Past? Brain Blogger: "Concierge Medicine - The Future or the Past?"

The Health-care ‘concierge medicine' trend - Catholic Online

The Health-care ‘concierge medicine' trend - Catholic Online: "The Health-care ‘concierge medicine' trend
By Judith Graham
6/25/2008

The toniest up-and-coming trend: consumers contracting with professionals to help them navigate the complexities of modern medicine."

Triage | Chicago Tribune | Blog

A Chicago doctor's conversion to concierge medicine


Up at 3:30 a.m. In the office at 5 a.m. Paperwork and hospital rounds for two hours. Back-to-back appointments until 3:30 p.m. Then another four hours of administrative duties before heading home.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Better care -- at a cost - News - inRich.com

Better care -- at a cost - News - inRich.com

LEt's rephrase- better service - at a cost. Bravo doctors - you've found a perfect way to blend traditional practice with a added service option. It's great that patients can choose - just like they can in airlines - first class or coach. As long as you get from a to b, the medical care remains equivalent - there are no ethical worries. And unlike MDVIP, you're not using an extortion technique that MDVIP uses - pay up or find another doctor.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Do You Need to Be as Healthy as a President? - US News and World Report

Do You Need to Be as Healthy as a President? - US News and World Report The Presidential Physical.

abc7news.com: Controversy over practice of concierge medicine 5/28/08

abc7news.com: Controversy over practice of concierge medicine 5/28/08

It's interesting this kind of story comes out of San Fran.

A Pastor's Cancer Diary: May 29, 2008 - No Concierge Medicine for Me

A Pastor's Cancer Diary: May 29, 2008 - No Concierge Medicine for Me

About Dr. Knope : M.D. Stat : Concierge Medicine and Personalized Health Care in Tucson, Arizona

About Dr. Knope : M.D. Stat : Concierge Medicine and Personalized Health Care in Tucson, Arizona

I haven't read his book yet but it's out there for other's to review. Let me know what you think?

Alternative Medicine Daily: Concierge medicine: legal issues, ethical dilemmas, and policy challenges.

Alternative Medicine Daily: Concierge medicine: legal issues, ethical dilemmas, and policy challenges.: "www.conciergemedicinemd.com"

MDVIP - insider tips

It's been a long time since I added a message. I want to know if anyone has any information on how MDVIP operates. I think it would be most educational for those of us starting our own concierge practice's. Marketing tips, service protocols, unique treatments, disease registry systems, etc.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Physicians in Retainer (“Concierge”) Practice

Physicians in Retainer (“Concierge”) Practice

This is a 2005 published paper review of the concierge medicine movment published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. I do disagree in their conclusion. I think they greatly confuse "covered services" versus what is really covered. It makes the assumption that insurnace companies actually pay for the services that we provide. Any patient of a concierge practice will greatly dispute that. Also, the principle of discontinuity- well, it doesn't affect new doctor's brave enough to start off with a retainer practice.

But well worth a read nevertheless.

AMNews: March 10, 2008. Essential provisions of retainer contracts ... American Medical News

AMNews: March 10, 2008. Essential provisions of retainer contracts ... American Medical News

Physicians who elect to try concierge medicine in an attempt to be free of health plan contracts, should remember that they are not completely free of formal arrangements with payers.

Interesting points when you design your retainer contracts. There are no short cuts. Pay for good legal advice, experienced. Do not just copy someone else's agreement. Having to close your doors is the last you want after going through everything you need to to do practice ideal medicine. See my previous link of experienced attorneys.

Insurers, doctors at odds over `concierge' care | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Insurers, doctors at odds over `concierge' care Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Insurers, doctors at odds over `concierge' care
Insurer to drop 4 physicians charging retainers for more personalized care

Doctors who charge an annual fee to patients in exchange for customized care including house calls are drawing the ire of some health insurance companies.
United Healthcare confirmed it is dropping four local doctors from its network in April because the company disapproves of their so-called 'concierge medicine' model."

This movement is in Texas. MDVIP has a few practice's here. It will be interested to see how this developes. In my opinion, that's why patients pay strictly for services not covered for by insurance.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Evolutionary HealthCare : Dr. Carol Osborn : Dr. Phill Haggerty : Family Practice

Evolutionary HealthCare : Dr. Carol Osborn : Dr. Phill Haggerty : Family Practice

Dr. Osborn and Dr. Haggerty. Welcome to the society of ideal medical practice. Best of luck in your endeavors. If you have any tips for other physicians, we'd love to hear about it.

Evolutionary Healthcare Patient Treatment

Evolutionary Healthcare Patient Treatment

A medical clinic in Salt Lake City is hoping to turn an old idea into a revolutionary new way to treat patients. In our Healthy Living report, turning back the clock to a time when doctors really knew their patients and even made house calls...

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

TheStreet.com : How to Pick a 'Concierge' Health Plan | Market Features

TheStreet.com : How to Pick a 'Concierge' Health Plan Market Features

Unless you appear to be at death's door, it can be tough to get a doctor's attention for more than 10 minutes...

Some national attention at Jim Cramer's famous The Street.com

Friday, February 29, 2008

Dr. Thompson's Blog: Private Medical Care in Britain

Dr. Thompson's Blog: Private Medical Care in Britain

My thoughts-
We do healthcare system's always play down to the lowest common denominator. I think taxpayers are best served when government strives to create solutions based on the highest standard of care, AND always provide options.

Monday, February 25, 2008

More docs offering concierge medical services for annual fees - The Business Journal of Phoenix:

More docs offering concierge medical services for annual fees - The Business Journal of Phoenix:

For people thinking about this style of practice, remember your not alone.