Nowadays, the United States is seeing some developments in the healthcare system and doctor-patient relationship. More and more independent physicians classify themselves as a boutique doctor and adapt the concierge medicine practice model.

If you are wondering what a boutique doctor does and what services you can get from a concierge clinic, today’s post is for you.

Boutique Medicine: Personalized Medical Service

The experience of a doctor’s appointment is gradually changing over the years. The changes are not always classified as a positive experience.

Today, a patient can only get up to 10 or 15 minutes (or even less) of face-to-face time with their physician. Is that sufficient time for you to discuss your health concerns with your doctor?

And during that speedy appointment, most doctors already have their eyes on the clock.

They can’t give you their full attention because it’s all about the turnover.

These short visits have proven to be a bad practice.

That kind of trend has taken a toll on the patient-doctor relationship.

For that reason, some independent physicians have adapted the concierge medicine practice model.

Essentially, this type of model ensures that stellar patient care is provided. It also aims to establish a stronger patient-doctor relationship.

What Is a Boutique Doctor?

This classification is for independent physicians who run a concierge medicine practice. This type of clinic charges their patients a membership or monthly retainer fee.

The terms “concierge doctor” and “boutique doctor” interchangeably. Some concierge doctors offer all-inclusive services without insurance fees.

Boutique doctors also limit the number of patients they see. Because a boutique doctor only sees fewer patients than a regular doctor, they can allot more one-on-one time with each patient.

The Role of a Boutique Doctor

When you go to a concierge doctor, you can avail their services by paying a monthly retainer fee. These healthcare professionals are also referred to as personalized medical service providers or direct primary care providers.

Before, only well-off people could afford the fees of a boutique doctor. However, in recent years, boutique doctors have made their services more affordable for the general population.

The costs for the services of personalized medical services vary. On top of that, the specific services you can get also differ according to the boutique doctor’s rate.

Often, patients are billed with a monthly retainer fee.

The annual total for this setup can range between $1500 and $20,000 per year. The lower end can get you the most basic care and treatment. On the other hand, the higher range is for more specialized and complex services based on your needs.

Primary Benefits Offered by a Boutique Doctor

There are several benefits you can get from seeing this type of doctor.

Here are some of these advantages:

Better Care and Treatment

Seeing a concierge doctor allows you to get better care and treatment. The longer appointment time will enable your concierge doctor to discuss your health more.

With these lengthier discussions, they can learn more about your health, what symptoms you may have, and other related topics. On top of that, they can give you more personalized health advice rather than blanket generalizations.

This type of doctor can also provide a customized healthcare plan. Ultimately, this healthcare plan aims to improve their patient’s health. Instead of treating problems as they arise, a boutique doctors can focus more on prevention and personalized care for their patients.

Extra One-on-One Time During Appointments

Physicians who adopt the concierge medicine platform can allot more time for their patients. The patients can then take advantage of not feeling rushed during these appointments.

Personalized Attention

When you hear the word “concierge,” what do you usually think about? For many, it’s getting superior service from a professional.

Concierge doctors practicing this type of healthcare setup always go the extra mile for their patients. The very system they build their practice on allows them to do this same thing.

A well-organized and adequately ran concierge medical practice can do the following seamlessly:

• Coordinate care and treatment plan between specialists
• Handle necessary medications
• Can manage more items than a traditional physician’s clinic

All these things are aimed to get the extra care each and every patient of a concierge clinic needs.

Shorter Waits or No Waiting at All

Because concierge doctors do not accept as many patients as traditional physicians, there are virtually no wait times when you make an appointment. You can call your boutique doctor’s clinic and set up a time convenient for you.

When the time of your appointment comes, you can come to the office and don’t have to wait. They will be ready for you, and you wouldn’t have to be inconvenienced.

Reduced Overall Expenses

It turns out some patients pay less when they see a concierge doctor. This outcome becomes they get healthier overall, so they don’t have to go to individual appointments with a regular physician.

Also, a boutique doctor can better monitor their patients’ health. This setup allows them to do proper preventative health maintenance.

Additional Perks

All concierge medical practices offer special perks. Naturally, these perks vary by office.

Some of the unique offerings afforded by concierge medical practices are an impressive suite for your appointment, nutritional counseling, gift baskets, valet parking, special robe, toiletries, and more.

Reasons to See a Boutique Doctor

Since this type of primary care physician does not see many patients, you’re not competing for their time during your appointment. Seeing a boutique doctor means that they can get to know your health/

They can also get a more comprehensive understanding of your medical nature, medical history, and other pertinent information about your health.

This understanding allows a concierge doctor to detect issues, signs, and other symptoms of certain health conditions.

What to Expect at Your Concierge Doctor’s Appointment

Seeing a concierge doctor is the same as seeing a regular physician. You can expect to get the same type of healthcare services similar to a more traditional health insurance plan.

The following basic services are what you can get from a concierge medical practice:

• Annual physical examinations
• Blood tests
• Laboratory work
• Preventive health screenings

The Big Difference

The primary difference between a traditional physician’s office and concierge medical practice is the wait and appointment durations.

Concierge medical patients don’t wait long for their appointments. On top of that, some boutique doctors can also provide consultations either over the phone, through emails, texts, or video calls. This is another convenience for patients if they can’t make it to the doctor’s office.

If you have existing health insurance, you can look into adding a concierge medical doctor plan to your coverage.

Some of these coverages are affordable enough for many people to afford them. This setup is conducive to those with chronic conditions that need frequent checkups.