Dr. Elisa Cuellar Alvarado Explains Concierge Medicine
Americans continue to voice their concerns about a healthcare system that many say is broken. Too often, there is a focus on illness rather than wellness and a lack of personalization that treats patients as categories rather than unique individuals. Dr. Elisa Alvarado believes in the Concierge Medicine delivery model because it gives patients a higher standard of personalized care while building a stronger patient/practitioner bond.
Imagine doctor appointments that are more relaxed and last longer to give patients a chance to describe their concerns better. Concierge medicine features minimum appointment wait times and a direct line of communication with your primary care specialist. According to statistics from many reputable researchers:
The average wait time for new patient appointments is about 26 days, up 8% from 2017, and the story is even worse when you look under the hood at certain specialties and markets. The average wait time for an OB-GYN appointment is 31.4 days, while wait times grew across dermatology (+7%), cardiology (+26%), and orthopedic surgery (+42%) between 2017 and 2022.
What is Concierge Medicine?
Dr. Elisa Cuellar Alvarado explains concierge medicine as a relationship between patients and healthcare providers that is more direct and personalized. The physician makes a contractual commitment to the patient, ensuring adequate availability and time for disease or injury diagnosis and treatments, preventative care or holistic wellness therapies, and medical consultation.
Services provided by a concierge doctor include the ability to perform health diagnoses, administer lab tests, and conduct annual physicals. The concierge medical doctor may also offer some boutique services besides primary care. These may include joint and arthritis care for older patients or aesthetic services like Botox and weight loss therapies.
The Benefits of Concierge Medicine
- If needed, same-day access to your physician
- Direct cell phone or text messaging with your doctor
- Typically, there is little or no waiting time in the office
- The focus is on preventive care and overall wellness
- Enjoy an unhurried and relaxed doctor’s visit
The Concierge Business Model
The country’s healthcare system works primarily under an insurance provider business model that collects premiums from members, which are then used to pay for medical expenses that are deemed appropriate or necessary. The concierge medicine business model is different and may resemble one of the following business models:
Annual Retainer Model – This model (aka Fee-for-Care (FCC)) allows the patient to pay a monthly, quarterly, or annual retainer fee to the physician, which covers most in-office services. Additional fees may apply for certain services, such as vaccinations, lab work, and X-rays, which may be charged separately.
Fee for Extra Care – The FFEC model provides additional medical services typically not covered by the patient’s insurance or Medicare. While your primary insurance is used for in-office medical costs, the FFEC plan offers enhanced access, personalized care, and expedited appointment services, which is also found in the FCC model.
The hybrid Concierge Model is where physicians charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual retainer or membership fee only for services not covered by the patient’s Medicare or other insurance provider. This model often meets patients’ desire for boutique medical services and greater access to their physician through consultation, discussion, and medical records review.
Elisa C. Alvarado, M.D., is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician and founder of ECA M.D. Inc., located in Pasadena, CA. She and her clinical care team offer a holistic approach to medicine in a family-oriented setting. Dr. Alvarado’s Concierge Medical practice provides comprehensive, traditional primary care services to its members and a range of aesthetic and wellness services to the general public.
