Eating Disorders: Concierge Doctor

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Concierge Doctor

Concierge medicine, he says, is "sort of like turning the clock back 40 or 50 years to a relationship between the doctor and the patient which is in many ways like a family relationship." Katzman even makes house calls a couple of times a month -- he did one just two days before speaking with DailyFinance. Concierge medicine (also known as direct care) is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors provide enhanced care. Other terms in use include boutique medicine, retainer-based medicine, and innovative medical practice design. The practice is also referred to as membership medicine, concierge health care, cash only practice, direct care, direct primary care, and direct practice medicine. While all concierge medicine practices share similarities, they vary widely in their structure, payment requirements, and form of operation. In particular, they differ in the level of service provided and the amount of the fee charged. Estimates of U.S. doctors practicing concierge medicine range from fewer than 800 to 5,000.