This Amazon bestseller, BRANDING CONCIERGE MEDICINE explores the popularity of concierge medicine across the U.S. and examines recent data and surveys inside these medical practices – showing how exactly they are growing — On Sale Now — $9.95 (paperback) or on Kindle.

By Concierge Medicine Today, Staff

The promotion of your private-pay, concierge medical practice requires personal interaction with current and prospective patients to create interest in your services, staff and practice. Since “prospective patients” include current patients that may become repeat visitors, promotion can happen inside as well as outside of the practice.

Try some of these tactics to promote your concierge medical practice:

Follow up personally with patients.

You can do this both inside and outside of the practice. When currently practicing concierge physicians were asked, ‘how much time do you spend of the phone each day with patients?’ the results were as follows:

2% – less than 1-10-minutes /day;
8% – less than 11-25-minutes /day;
14% – less than 26-35-minutes /day;
12% – 36-45 minutes /day;
10% – 61-90-minutes /day;
19% – 90-minutes – 3 hours per day.

After patients complete their visit, it is never a bad idea for the doctor or Office Manager to speak with them directly, thanking them and asking if they were satisfied with everything. You can also follow up on customer service issues at this time as well. For example, if patients fill out a comment card and leave negative comments, you could call them to apologize for their negative experience and offer to make up for it next time by fixing the problem and giving them a discount or something of ‘unique value’.

Make friends using THANK YOU notes ….

It’s old-fashioned but everyone loves to be thanked. The best part is, a person ALWAYS reads them and it goes a long way the next time you come up in conversation with friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Pitch to local companies.

You can speak personally with the human resources (HR) managers or appropriate personnel at any companies or factories that are in your local area to see if they are interested in setting up an appointment or having you host an educational (topic-focused) meeting or event at their company.

Contact local organizations.

Ask the chamber of commerce or the convention center for a list of contact information for organizations, such as service organizations, unions, political organizations, etc. Call them and tell them about your practice.

Keep Magazines Up-to-date.

If you are one of the rare private-pay, retainer, direct care of concierge doctors that still uses a waiting room, there is nothing worse than outdated magazines on your table. Be sure to subscribe to the latest health and wellness magazines and be sure your staff tosses out anything older than last month.

Only $11.95 — A Must-Have Tool For Growing Your Direct-Pay Practice — On Sale Now — Only $11.95 (Reg. $17.95)

Be friendly, not pushy.

Whenever you are talking to a prospective patient, show excitement about what you have to offer, smile and be easy-going. If they are not very receptive of your new service offering, do not irritate them further.

Train employees in personal selling.

Any employee of your medical practice can and should be involved I ‘selling’ your practice. Train your service window or front-office team as well as all of your back-office staff to engage patients with a smile. Encourage them to smile when they talk to someone on the phone. Believe it or not, people on the other side of the phone can tell whether or not you’re enjoying what you do when they talk to you over the phone. Additionally, provide patients with business cards (preferably with print on both sides and a low-risk offer) on promotional services, events, etc., which they can distribute to their friends, family and co-workers. This will help boost sales, and it will also increase your employees’ enthusiasm tremendously if they are truly excited about your practice also.

Use good body language.

Any time you are in public (i.e. when patients are in your practice facility), you should represent your practice with your image. White coats, professional, clean-cut hair-styles, etc., are just one way to do this.  It’s important to use good body language and sit up straight when you talk to people. Make eye contact, smile and do not cross your arms or put your hands in your pockets. If you are talking to someone on the phone, remember to smile while you are doing it, because the smile will come through in your voice.

Get involved with the community.

The more activities you are personally involved with, the more people you will meet. Almost every person you meet is a new potential patient. You do not need to turn your whole social life into a sales pitch, but you can make a point of good-naturedly mentioning your practice to friends and new acquaintances – particularly on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Single-Serve Coffee Brew Stations Making Big Impression With Concierge Patients

Occasionally you might run out of the house without your hot cup of tea or favorite blend of coffee at your side. If you’re like me, you love the convenience of a fresh, cup of tea or coffee when you’re running late.

The Keurig K-Cup coffee makers and other single-serve and pod coffee/tea brewers have come into businesses with a flury of excitement over the past two years. Patients spending any amount of time in your office will appreciate the convenience and employees of concierge medical practices love the easy, no mess — clean up they provide.

Use Facebook “CHECK-IN” At Your Practice

Virtually every brand and business today has a Facebook Page. Unfortunately, medical practices are one of the last to adopt-a-page and jump into the social media-sphere. As most people are looking to fill idle time with smart phone usage, few medical practices have made their Facebook Business Page “local.” All that practices have to do to make their Page “local” is to add an address to their Facebook Page settings.

Once an address is added, Facebook users will be able to check-in by either tagging their location in a post or by navigating to your page and clicking “check-in.” Note that users must be within a certain radius before the “check-in” button will appear. tip; Make sure to change your Facebook Page “type” to “BRAND” or “LOCAL BUSINESS” in order to enable users to check-in. Otherwise, some Page types will not have an option to add an address.

Next Step, Prepare A Tablet Strategy For Your Practice

More and more people are using tablets like the iPad to surf the web during business hours, waiting rooms, meetings and at home. Searches among tablet users have increased exponentially in the past year and more PR agencies and small business promoters are encouraging business owners to stay updated in the latest technology trends by creating web sites, blogs and geo-targeted advertisements specific for tablets. This also includes the use of videos. So, while creating a tablet marketing strategy for your practice might seem like a time vacuum, it would be wise for you to consider talking to a web professional to help you prepare for the next phase in social connection.

Earlier Hours Inside “Modern” Medical Practices Becoming The Norm

If your mornings are anything like mine, you prefer to schedule the majority of your health exams and check-ups right away. Infact, the earlier the better! I’ll take the first possible appointment or even the second visit of the day because I know that I that my physician(s) are revving up for a busy day — and they and I, need to get our day moving.

I’m a big fan of practices which cater to the patient with hours starting at 6:30am or even 7am. Just last week, I visited a few into a concierge practice in North Atlanta area and was pleasantly surprised at the early morning or after 6pm appointments they’ve made available to their patients every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Refreshment Service Tips For Your Concierge Practice

• Keep a fresh assortment of tea and coffee flavors — don’t limit your lobby coffee maker to one or two flavors.
• Have one of your staff monitor the water tank twice a day (or more, in some cases) and fill the water tank with filtered or distilled water routinely.
• Use throw-away, to-go cups with lids. Lids show that you’ve gone the extra mile to provide convenience for your patients — plus, it helps prevents spills around the office!
• Don’t bring out the old coffee mugs from the break area.
• We all know the health factors that go along with drinking soda. Because you’re trying to promote good health, only in rare circumstances, offer soda to your guests if they ask for them. Have them chilled inside a small refridgerator in your lobby or in the break room.
• Have chilled, bottled water readily available for your patients.

• As many people are aware, this type of boutique medicine or direct relationship medical practice delivery model concept is still relatively new. The greatest amount of data compiled to date on the loyalty or renewal rates of concierge medicine patients year after year tells us that these practices have an annual renewal rate of about 90.%. Additionally, these types of practices are mainly considered Hybrid business models, which means these doctors and their offices accept insurance and charge an annual retainer fee to their patients for enhanced access. This number is based on data from approximately 100,000 patients nationally.
• Retention figures inside concierge medical care practices have proven consistent since the year 2000 but Concierge Medicine Today sources have informed us that these retention numbers are slowly declining due to one major factor — some doctors are over-promising and under-delivering. This inturn, leaves the patient unsatisfied. On the positive side, these patients leaving their concierge care physician are overwhelmingly still choosing concierge-style medical care — albeit just from a another physician in their geographic area.
• Long term data on these particular kinds of patients is currently still being compiled but our data supporting the cost effectiveness and affordability of these healthcare models is intriguing. According to various physician journals, a patient will remain a patient of a traditional primary care doctor in a typical family practice or general medicine practice, barring an altering event (like a geographic move, death, loss of job, or other unforeseen circumstance) for 5-7 years.
• Based upon the data listed above, it appears that retainer medicine or boutique physicians that have a long, relational-history with their patients are reporting higher retention levels that exceed traditional primary care and family practice expectations. This data combined with the fact that this model of medicine provides for closer communication and relationship with people — we expect that the majority of patients will continue to remain with a retainer-based practitioner even longer than seven (7) years.
• The information provided here gives more evidence that these types of medical practices are not just for the deep-pocketed executive. In fact, we have recently learned that over 50% of these types of healthcare consumers make a combined household income of less than $100,000 per year.
• All of this data should be very encouraging to the public, as well as the practicing physician anywhere in America. This concept, initially thought of by many as healthcare for the rich — is now accessible and very affordable for couples, seniors on Medicare, young families and individuals.

To learn more about the benefits and services concierge physicians provide to their patients, go to Concierge Medicine Today’s patient education and resource center at http://www.ConciergeMedicine101.com.

Talk with Physician Mentors and Coaches, at The DocPreneur Institute … Click Here …

Founded for the Poor, Mass General Looks to the Wealthy

MEET THE 2016 LIST OF “TOP DOCS in CONCIERGE MEDICINE” …

Can a hospital founded more than 200 years ago to treat the poor also adopt a form of medicine some criticize as health care for the rich?

The answer may come in August, when Massachusetts General Hospital, the third-oldest general hospital in the nation, plans to open a concierge medicine practice.

Based in Boston, the hospital, whose $800 million annual research budget is among the nation’s biggest, is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and is perennially ranked No. 1 in many categories of U.S. News & World Report’s listings of the country’s best hospitals.

Despite its reputation, Mass General — as it is known — was established in 1811 to care for the city’s poor and indigent. Patients in concierge medicine are likely to be anything but that.

“Today, even inside hospitals, its [Concierge Medicine] historical fingerprints are centered around access, transparency and relationship – and it is these types of new delivery programs and free market healthcare business models that are rescuing the careers of some of America’s greatest physicians and healthcare professionals. Concierge Medicine Programs and Executive Healthcare Memberships inside Medical Centers and Hospital environments has been happening for over a decade. Virginia Mason’s Dare Center [Seattle, WA] was one of the first in the country years ago. There are a number of reasons why hospital executives and physicians do this. In today’s healthcare culture, the 55-plus audience hasn’t been entirely abandoned, but the advertising aimed at this population segment is simply aimed at maintaining brand loyalty and establishing that the products they love are still good, still function and most likely being improved. These are powerful programs which help maintain brand loyalty and provide care to a population in need of multiple chronic care visits with their doctor.” ~Michael Tetreault, Editor of Concierge Medicine Today

For $6,000 a year (and whatever their insurance pays), patients in its new Concierge Medicine Practice will get round-the-clock access to their doctors (initially, there will be three in the practice), as well as personalized nutritional, exercise and wellness counseling.

The idea of wealthy people paying doctors a retainer for exclusive service is not new. With concierge medicine, which was introduced in the 1990s, patients pay physicians a monthly or annual retainer and expect more personalized care and greater access. “A concierge patient who signs up for a practice is not only looking for quality care, they are looking for unfettered access to their provider,” said Dr. Michael R. Jaff, the medical director of Mass General’s Center for Specialized Services and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

There are pros and cons to concierge medicine — or direct primary care, a similar model — which, according to the industry trade magazine Concierge Medicine Today, is embraced by about 6,000 doctors across the country. (Another 6,000, the magazine estimates, are in practices that offer some form of retainer or concierge service.)

RELATED STORY

CMT: The Top 5 Considerations Institutions Should Consider When Exploring Incorporation of Concierge Medicine Programs Inside Medical Centers are …

J. Catherine Sykes serves as the Publisher and Managing Director of The Direct Primary Care Journal (DPCJ) and Concierge Medicine Today (CMT)

“The upside is that it gives more time for patient-physician interaction, and the data shows that generally the more time a patient has with a physician, the better the outcome,” said Dr. Wanda D. Filer, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “The downside is that it can be very exclusive and difficult for middle- and low-income patients to afford. So there’s a concern that you’ll have a two-tier system.”

In recent years, concierge medicine and similar types of programs have spread from private practices to hospitals. Mass General’s embrace of it may prove influential.

“It’s a significant development, simply because of the name and the prestige,” said J. Catherine Sykes, publisher of Concierge Medicine Today. “To have an organization that has the core values Mass General holds enter this arena adds momentum to the movement.”

In 2016 – Learn More about the Upcoming CONCIERGE MEDICINE ASSEMBLY …

To critics of concierge medicine, Mass General’s foray into the field is no cause for celebration. “It’s worrisome, unless you’re rich,” said Pauline Rosenau, professor of public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. As for the hospital’s historical mission, she added, “I’d say it’s in jeopardy.”

“Health care economics are such, as well as the needs and wants of some different patient populations, that we’re offering this concierge model,” said Misty Hathaway, Mass General’s senior director for specialized services. “It won’t be the right model for everybody, but it will help us generate different sources of revenue in a way to fund the core mission.”

Mass General’s concierge practice will be housed at 50 Staniford Street, a 10-minute walk from the hospital’s main building on Fruit Street, in Boston’s West End. The location was chosen for symbolic and practical reasons.

“We didn’t say, ‘Let’s just open a private office in Beacon Hill and put the Mass General logo on the door,’” said Dr. Jaff, who will oversee the new service. “We wanted the practice to be integrated into the institution.”

The proximity to the main hospital will give concierge patients easy access to Mass General’s specialists (something not typically offered in private concierge services). “We’ve made the institutional commitment that these patients will get the best of the best at a phone call,” Dr. Jaff said. “So if I call and say I need a general surgeon, they’ll have a world-class general surgeon that day.”

“Some hospitals are investing considerable amounts of money into making their Emergency Rooms into more patient friendly environments,” adds Tetreault. “Others are redesigning pediatric wings to accommodate for extended family stays.

RELATED STORY

EXAMPLES: Hospital Institutions Offering Concierge Medicine Programs

“The challenges of medical center Concierge Medicine programs are very different than those experienced by concierge physicians in private practice,” said Dr. Kirkpatrick. “All hospitals/medical centers have special perks and usually enhanced access to specialists for their donors and patrons, often a special number they can call. Most have an informal private banking approach where there is no established fee, just an expected level of donation. Despite the proliferation of individual concierge practices and now organized networks, Concierge Medicine programs INSIDE medical centers are quite unusual. There may be only 20-25 in the entire country.” Source:  Exclusive Interview with Dr. John Kirkpatrick and Concierge Medicine Today, June 27, 2013.

As for benefits of the concierge practice for the rest of the hospital’s patients (Mass General has about 1.5 million outpatient visits a year), Dr. Jaff admitted they were a little less tangible, though still critical. “With dwindling reimbursement,” he said, “there needs to be other sources of revenue to help us support our mission to the community at large.”

400+ Pages (Paperback or Kindle Edi) — now available! The Doctor’s Guide to Concierge Medicine (Packed with industry insight plus, over two dozen physician contributions compiled in one book) — LEARN MORE … | READ REVIEWS …

What some call “health care for the rich,” the hospital says it believes, can be one such source.

A version of this article appears in print on February 14, 2016, on page F3 of the New York edition with the headline: Hospital Care Aimed at the Rich. Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe

SOURCE: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/your-money/founded-for-the-poor-mass-general-looks-to-the-wealthy.html

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically
| by Todd Berkley — updated last Fall for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically
| by Todd Berkley — Updated last Fall (’16) for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

This book is the owner’s manual that did not come with your HSA. Health Savings Accounts are becoming a more common part of average Americans’ lives. Paired with HSA-qualified health plans, they cover a growing number of Americans’ health care costs. And the trends indicate that they’ll become an even more important part of more people’s health care in the future.

RELATED STORY

Can Physician “Concierge Fees” be Reimbursed From a Health FSA or HSA?

So where do you turn for complete information on remaining compliant with HSA rules and regulations and maximizing the short-term and long-term tax advantages of your HSA? Right here, with this book. HSA Owner’s Manual is the most comprehensive guide to HSAs available anywhere.

RELATED STORY

“My projections for the 2017 HSA amounts.” ~Mr. HSA Guy

This book is the owner’s manual that did not come with your HSA. If you follow the advice in this book, you’ll keep your HSA in compliance with current HSA rules and regulations. You’ll also learn about sources of updated information as the IRS releases new rules and interpretations and as the Department of Health and Human Services issues health care reform regulations that impact HSAs. Your HSA trustee may offer similar information, but probably not in an easy-to-understand format and certainly not in a single volume.

BUY THIS BOOK HERE (limited availability, first come first served) …

Q: For the patient, how is getting care from an MDVIP physician different than it might be with a regular primary care physician through a regular insurance model?

Jorgensen: To be clear, MDVIP is not an insurance model.

Q: Right. It’s a supplement to an insurance plan, right?

Jorgensen: Exactly. There are some direct primary care models that do some version of an insurance component. That’s not what we do.

All of our patients continue to have whatever it is they currently have for insurance. For example, we have about 100,000 patients who have Medicare insurance, and it covers hospitalizations and all the typical tests and medications insurance would cover.

To your question of how it differs: The primary foundation of our model is that the member gets a host of non-covered services.

It starts with the annual visit, which includes a comprehensive assessment of their health and  a personalized plan  that gets formulated based on that wellness exam. Typically, people go to a primary care doctor because they have an issue, they’re sick, or they have some problem. We try to jump ahead of those things through this wellness exam and the plan of care that follows.

In traditional primary care, you have busy doctors with large patient panel sizes who effectively have to triage fairly fast to other procedures, other extenders, or other specialists depending on what’s going on with the patient. It’s all a throughput process that gives doctors a limited number of levers to pull to deal with the financial viability of their practice. They can’t adjust rates, so as a result what they can adjust is the number of appointments a day. Unfortunately, we feel that doesn’t always lead to the best care.

Our doctors have the time for same-day appointments. They have unhurried appointments. Our patients have access to their cell phones, to their emails. It’s a more convenient way to engage with patients to manage their health.

CONTINUE READING MORE of the INTERVIEW with The Advisory Board …

SOURCE: https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2015/06/10/interview-with-mdvip-ceo

On Monday, Medical Mutual launched a new insurance product in partnership with MetroHealth. The deal will help both organizations cater to former HealthSpan customers.

By Casey Ross, The Plain Dealer | on June 06, 2016 at 11:27 AM, updated June 06, 2016 at 4:02 PM

As HealthSpan winds down its business, MetroHealth and Medical Mutual Insurance of Ohio are picking up the pieces to create a new insurance product they say will cut premium costs by 15 percent.

The product, dubbed CLECare, seeks to achieve those savings by offering employers, and their covered employees, a tailored network of providers to deliver most health care needs.

MetroHealth will provide the bulk of the services — including tests, doctor visits and hospital stays – at its network of hospitals and outpatient centers across Cuyahoga County. Other specialty services, such as complex procedures, behavioral health and hospice care, will be provided by other institutions across the region.

“This rare and intense collaboration improves patients’ access to the best care for their needs while reducing costs,” Dr. Akram Boutros, MetroHealth’s chief executive, said in a press statement announcing the deal on Monday. “The partnership really came together because all of us are committed to improving patient care.”

The partnership is also a way for MetroHealth and Medical Mutual to close ranks around HealthSpan’s customers, who are searching for new options as the HMO prepares to cease operations. However, the CLEcare product is also available to non-HealthSpan members and other Northeast Ohio employers.

After years of poor financial results, HealthSpan announced plans to cease operations earlier this year. The company, which shuttered its physician’s group at the end of March, said it would continue to insure members with employer-sponsored coverage through their renewal date or August 31, whichever comes first. It pledged to insure individual members through the end of the year.

Medical Mutual of Ohio acquired HealthSpan’s insurance business in March, and MetroHealth has hired many of the company’s former doctors in recent months. CLECare is an effort by the two organizations to make those investments pay off, and create a product that could appeal to a broader pool of customers.

In their press release announcing the deal, Medical Mutual and MetroHealth said the new product will make it easier for patients to access affordable care, improve coordination of medical services, and reduce unnecessary treatments.

“We expect significant interest from former HealthSpan insurance purchasers and the growing number of employers and individuals in Cuyahoga County who seek better value for their health care dollars,” said Rick Chiricosta, Medical Mutual’s chief executive.

SOURCE: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2016/06/metrohealth_and_medical_mutual.html

Trending: Comment Cards Inside Your Practice Reassure Your Concierge Medicine Patients

By Michael Tetreault, Editor-In-Chief

Click Here TO Download CMT Comment Card For Use In Your Office …

MAY 31, 2013 – Patients don’t speak with their mouths, they speak with their feet and quietly on the Internet, sometimes know as ‘the cowards canvas.’ Typically, when your patients are unhappy, they simply don’t come back. Why? It could be a bad attitude, unprofessional service, a price increase or a change in the physical location of your practice. Most concierge medicine doctors may never know. But one thing is for certain, allowing your patients an avenue to express their concerns indirectly through the use of comment cards can help you keep your patients year after year. And with the national concierge medicine patient retention rate slipping from 94 percent in 2011 to 92 percent in 2012, it’s more important than even to maintain your current patient-base.

According to a recent poll of concierge doctors nationally by ConciergeMedicineToday.com, they found that it takes between three and four months to acquire a one new patient to a concierge medicine clinic. Additional digging by the same source also revealed that it can cost three times more to acquire a new patient than to keep an existing patient happy. Therefore, a well-executed Patient Comment Card system and drop box by your door, in your lobby or in any place where patients have to wait for you — gives you the vital information you need at the end of the day and shows that you respect the time, opinion and comments of your current patients. Not to mention, it also offers a simple, hassle-free way to give feedback to your staff — good or bad.

Here’s a couple of quick tips:

1. Encourage your patients to fill-in the card completely by giving incentives such as a complimentary $5 gift card on their next visit. Birthday and anniversary ideas are also great incentives too.“One of the best patient incentives I received was a hand-written congratulations card from my doctor when I graduated from business school with my MBA,” said one University of Georgia graduate school and patient of a concierge doctor. “I may have mentioned it in passing but I never in a million years thought my doctor cared.”
2. You don’t need to spend big bucks on mass mailer or a local newspaper ad to attract new patients. While those items should be part of your marketing plan, comment cards focus on keeping the patients who already know, like and trust you and hopefully, value the services you provide to them.
3. You’ll increase frequency of existing patients simply by asking these questions and offering a “thank-you” gift to be redeemed at a future date. Work with your marketing team and staff to create fun redemptions. If you think you need legal advice, run the incentive or gift past your attorney for about 5 minutes.
4. Be creative. Design a comment card (with a drop box too – don’t rely on people to hand it to your staff) that people will want to complete. Include a section for rating the doctor on today’s visit, staff service, wait time, if any, office setting, and additional comments.
5. The last section should ask for more basic information. Here’s where you can start building a valuable database, e.g. birthday’s, anniversary, children’s birthdays, etc.

Last and equally as important. If something goes wrong in your concierge medicine or direct primary care practice, you want to have the chance to make it right—right away, don’t you? Don’t let that patient walk away from your practice for good.

Concierge Medicine Today has provided a sample Patient Comment Card (CMT_Patient_Comment_2013 –) for your adaptation and inclusion into your practice. Email us at editor@conciergemedicinetoday.com and we’ll send you the PDF Patient Comment Card for FREE right away.

SAMPLE PATIENT COMMENT CARD QUESTIONS:

INSTRUCTIONS: Please rate the following areas on a scale of:

1 – Unacceptable
2 – Needs improvement
3 – Fair
4 – Good
5 – Excellent

Your Doctor:
__ – Friendly
__ – Knowledgeable
__ – Prompt

Staff:
__ – Friendly
__ – Knowledgeable
__ – Prompt

What can we do to improve your next visit?

We’d like to send you a birthday or anniversary card throughout the year. Sometimes, we might include a special gift! J

Your Birthday (Year is not necessary J)

Your Anniversary (if applicable)

Would you like to be on our e-mail list?

________________________@______________________._________

Please add any other comments that will help us improve your experience here at our practice. Thank you.

• Katie England Daily Herald
• Updated May 27, 2016

A new clinic in Spanish Fork has a different business model which it hopes will allow financially struggling or uninsured families to better afford day-to-day health care needs.

The clinic’s payment model is distinctive because, rather than accepting insurance for primary care, members pay a monthly fee ranging from $65 for adults under the age of 44 to $175 for a family plan.

That monthly fee includes most primary care services, such as common lab tests, cancer screenings, and minor burn and wound care.

DOWNLOAD FULL AGENDA … August 12-13, 2016 | ATLANTA, GA — Hear Terry Bauer and dozens of others share their expertise and thoughts on the Concierge Medicine industry. LEARN MORE …

Though not intended to replace primary insurance — which can cover surgery and emergency room visits — the clinic, at 415 North Main St., may provide more affordable access to basic primary care, according to Jennifer Trinidad, the nurse practitioner who will provide the primary care at the new clinic.

“We’re looking for people who either can’t afford health care, or can’t afford it through their employer,” Trinidad said.

Simplified Healthcare, LLC, was begun by five partners from different branches of the medical field.

“After many years, many of us in health care realized the insurance system and current health care model is broken,” Trinidad said.

Though there are other direct primary care facilities in Utah County, Simplified Healthcare is the first of its kind in the southern part of the county.

“The south part of the county has always been a drought as far as medical resources for the underinsured and low income,” said Rachel Lovejoy, executive director of Community Health Connect, an organization that helps connect uninsured and low-income Utah County residents with specialty medical and dental care.

Lovejoy said, right now, there are currently few options for those who don’t have insurance in the southern party of Utah County.

“Other than the Mountainlands community (Mountainlands Community Health Center in Payson), most people are coming up to Provo for primary care,” Lovejoy said.

Lovejoy said Simplified Healthcare will fill a niche in the county, but will not solve problems for all South County residents.

“Just from what we see in our facility, (their rates) will still be cost prohibitive for some people,” Lovejoy said, though she noted the rates are much lower than the average insurance premium.

The Utah County Health Department is supportive of the Simplified Healthcare clinic, said department public information officer Aislynn Toman-Hill. Even people whose jobs provide benefits often have premiums that take a third to half of their paycheck.

“So we think, really anything in our community that makes health care more affordable, more within reach and more convenient for anyone in our community, we’re in support of that,” Toman-Hill said.

With a large and growing population in Utah County, it can sometimes be difficult for people to see a provider immediately.

“Sometimes, that makes them go into a facility that doesn’t make any sense for them to go to because they can’t get in to see someone at their own provider’s office because that office is overwhelmed with patients,” Toman-Hill said.

Simplified Healthcare, in addition to hoping to provide more affordable health care, hopes to possibly make it more personalized as well. Trinidad won’t see more than 800 patients, she said, as opposed to a typical primary care provider who may see thousands of patients per month.

Since the clinic has only been open for a few weeks, Trinidad is nowhere near having 800 patients. But she said when and if that happens, Simplified Healthcare would hire another provider rather than give her a bigger patient load than she can handle.

“You deserve 30 minutes to an hour to let you know what you need to know,” Trinidad said.

SOURCE: http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/spanish-fork/new-spanish-fork-clinic-offers-options-for-uninsured-south-utah/article_cdea3fbf-3b73-5792-a42a-932be657178c.html

LATEST Patient Education Guide — $9.95 — LEARN MORE …

Concierge medicine is needed in Austin, according to physicians — Doctors say traditional model is insufficient

“There are differences …and regardless of what you hear, you must choose the one that works for your career. Both have great patient and physician benefits.” INFOGRAPHIC … (Source: Concierge Medicine Today, 2015) …Click to Enlarge …

By Marie Albiges

June 8, 2016 – Westlake-based physicians Drs. Celina Mankey, Robert Garrett and Mark Carlson have each opened practices within the past two years.

The doctors said they decided the traditional primary care model is not ideal for them, choosing instead to operate concierge medicine practices.

Mankey, Garrett and Carlson said the large amount of paperwork associated with health insurance and the limited amount of time they had with patients steered them away from the traditional primary care model. Such a model includes physicians who are paid a certain amount for each test, diagnosis and procedure through third-party networks.

RELATED STORY
TEXAS: ‘I didn’t feel like I could give him up at this point in my life. He knows exactly what I need. I think my health at this point is the most important thing I have.’

Sources close to Concierge Medicine Today and our other publications note that because there is no official federal or state registry, it is hard to pin down exactly how many physicians have switched to Concierge or direct-pay practices. Today, it is estimated that as many as 12,000 physicians operate using private subscriptions practice models across the U.S. For example, we estimate a count of around 140 verified Subscription-based Medical practices (a global term encompassing both Concierge and Direct Care offices) in the New York area and perhaps as many “under the radar” offerings, since concierge medicine for now remains a branded business model and not a certified designation. Breaking down those numbers nationally, we can project that there are as many as 6,500 concierge doctors with perhaps as many “under the radar” offerings. That’s how we get to the 12,000 number. This estimate is based upon industry interviews with hundreds of doctors, thought leaders, marketplace consultants and investors looking to capitalize in the sector over a period of several years. That is still only a minute [mahy-noot, -nyoot, mi-] percentage of the roughly 904,500 actively practicing physicians in the United States today. Given the modern-day variations in the business models and the ill-defined nature of these healthcare brands defined healthcare, it is impossible to calculate a precise number at this time. Medscape’s recent Physician Compensation Report (http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2016/public/overview#page=19), stated that Concierge Care alone in particular, has stayed at around 3% annual growth for the past 3 years. We believe there may be slightly more growth than that, but conservatively no more than 5%, based on what industry sources tell us they personally experience and the increase in physician interest about the business model since the passing of the ACA in recent years. In summary, subscription-based delivery of service is not just happening in healthcare alone. Annual Concierge Medicine Programs, Monthly Direct Primary Care memberships and even telehealth/telemedicine programs are finding the subscription-based business model to be quite popular for the healthcare consuming public.

Known by many other names—including boutique medicine, cash-only medicine, personalized health care, direct primary care and direct-practice medicine—the broad field of concierge medicine typically charges a monthly or annual fee for personalized health care and 24-hour access to physicians without going through a third-party health insurance provider.

Each physician said there was a need for some form of concierge medicine in the Greater Austin area, pointing to an increase in population—from young families to senior citizens—and a rise in the demand for personalized, quality health care.

“I just wanted to be able to have time to get to know my patients and take care of them,” said Mankey, who opened Westlake Concierge Medicine, 1301 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. C-100, West Lake Hills, in November 2014.

That philosophy was the basis for her internal medicine and primary care practice for patients age 18 and older, she said.

Her patients can contact her by phone, email or text when they have questions or concerns; can reach her after office hours; and are not limited on their number of office visits, she said.

Although Mankey decided she would not accept any form of insurance—instead charging patients an annual fee that starts at $2,550—she said she strongly encourages her patients to have an insurance plan for any medical care they may need outside of her office that requires health insurance.

RELATED STORY
Texas Medical Association: “Its getting prohibitive for some physicians, they’re bascially saying let’s just practice medicine, I don’t need all this interference from government regulatory agencies or from the insurance industry …”

Her patients—who include young adults, couples and senior citizens—say they are willing to pay for both insurance and Mankey’s fee for her services.

“Dr. [Celina] Mankey’s concierge practice means that she serves as my receptionist, nurse and doctor,” said Sandy Cangelosi, one of Mankey’s patients. “I realized that my medical issues would be better served through a doctor who would know me more personally and coordinate my care. Dr. [Celina] Mankey coordinated my blood work, specialists to see and other tests that needed to be run in developing a plan to improve my health.”

Mankey said she thinks concierge medicine is on the rise, not just in Austin but nationally.

“In many ways, it probably is the future of primary care,” she said.

AUSTIN, TX 2016

Direct primary care

Garrett, who opened Direct MD Austin, 5656 Bee Caves Road, Ste. D-205, Austin, in March 2014, said his direct primary care concept is simple and less costly. He charges patients a flat monthly rate that varies depending on age, starting at $20 a month for newborns to 19-year-olds, and he does not accept any form of insurance. The only other fees associated with his care are for blood and urine tests, he said.

With more than 14 years of experience working in the emergency room, Garrett said he felt his services would be better-suited in direct primary care, where he did not have to deal with insurance companies and could give greater attention to patients.

“The [primary care] system has developed in a way [that] I think is not healthy,” he said, pointing out many of the delays and costs in seeing patients at a traditional primary care physician’s office are because of insurance paperwork.

He said he averages three to five patients a day, usually spending an hour with new patients and a half hour with returning patients. He is also readily available to answer patients’ questions, sometimes providing diagnoses remotely.

Garrett said his number of clients is less than what he expected it to be since he opened his practice two years ago, but he is optimistic he will reach his goal of 600 patients in the next two years.

“Our growth has been modest but steady and increasing,” he said. “I think more patients are going to seek it out as the [traditional primary care] system gets progressively more broken.”

“[The concierge medicine model is] kind of like when I first got into the practice,” said Dr. Don Read, president of the Texas Medical Association.

Read explained when he first started in the medical field more than 30 years ago, primary care physicians had the time to get to know their patients intimately. 

RELATED STORY
TEXAS, NY TIMES: DPC under the microscope … Dr. Clare Hawkins, president of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. “Direct primary care goes in the other direction.”

In his view, concierge medicine patients tend to be wealthier and want more individualized attention with quick, direct access to medical information.

He said about 2 percent of physicians in Texas practice concierge medicine, and that number has remained constant in the past few years.

An option for seniors

Carlson, who owns Be Well MD, lives in Lakeway and serves patients who are at least 55 years old, traveling to their home for each visit.

He said he traded a career in medical oncology for a focus in geriatrics, moving from Nebraska to Austin and launching Be Well MD in November 2014. He said he encountered several studies that showed a rise in Austin’s elderly population.

“The idea was that the senior population is exploding, and the access to care the seniors had is shrinking,” he said.

Carlson said at a traditional physician’s office, a typical Medicare patient’s visit lasts a couple minutes. With Be Well MD, he said he sees at most five patients a day, averaging one to two hours with a new patient and 30 to 45 minutes with a returning patient.

He has also been able to incorporate telemedicine, setting his patients up with Aging at Home, a service that allows Carlson to track vital signs remotely, perform virtual visits through video sessions, and give patients online access to their medical records and prescription list.

He charges a flat monthly fee of $250 and has an a-la-carte menu of various packages ranging in price from $99 a month to $699 a month.

“I think this is going to grow almost everywhere,” he said about concierge medicine.

Concierge surgery

NEW RELEASE, ON SALE! — The Doctor’s Guide to Concierge Medicine (400+ pages of industry insight plus, over two dozen physician contributions compiled in one book) — On Sale $129.95 (Reg. $189.95)

The model also extends to outpatient surgeries, according to Sean Kelley, the owner of Texas Free Market Surgery, which launched in West Lake Hills in May.

Kelley said he modeled his concept after Oklahoma City’s Surgery Center of Oklahoma, a 32,535-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment where routine, outpatient surgeries are performed by experienced surgeons and anesthesiologists who own the center and do not work with health insurance providers.

Geared toward patients with high deductibles and self-insured employers who want to contract directly with the company, Texas Free Market Surgery lists the prices of each routine procedure on its website.

For example, a surgery for a tonsillectomy costs $2,650 through Texas Free Market Surgery, according to Kelley. The surgeon, anesthesiologist, pre- and post-operation costs and facility charge are all included in the price.

Kelley said the national average cost for that procedure is between $4,000 and $11,000. 

“We’re keeping it simple,” he said. “All were doing is providing an alternative for people that don’t need to be in a hospital but definitely need an outpatient procedure that can be done in an outpatient setting.”

By Janelle Ali-Dinar, PhD, chief operations officer at MedFirst Partners

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), colloquially known as Obamacare, was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, and along with it the federal government has touted a string of successes for access to healthcare insurance and healthcare services from 2010-2020. Perhaps the greatest success outcome to date is that 17 million more consumers gained access to health insurance since the core of the PPACA took effect in 2013 (according to the RAND group study).

Not everyone, however, has benefitted, as some 600,000 people who had individual coverage before passage of the PPACA ended up uninsured. In fact, the PPACA has left rural and underserved communities, healthcare systems, and vulnerable populations more financially fragile, especially minority families that still face racial and socioeconomic disparities even if they are insured. Additionally, while the PPACA increased insurance availability for the economically challenged by expanding Medicaid eligibility to more people based on their income level, it hasn’t panned out as initially thought and planned.

The law originally intended for all states to expand Medicaid, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that states could choose not to do so – and has a result, many went that route, worried about lack of long-term program sustainability and conditioning recipients to not emerge from the assistance programs. As a result, 22 states currently have not expanded the program, putting rural America at even greater risk.

One of the largest impact drivers of rural healthcare is the “hospital setting,” and while millions of people have benefitted from the PPACA, rural hospitals continue to face reimbursement cuts and regulations that many hospital administrators and board members say have caused more harm than good. Since the PPACA was passed, more than 55 rural critical access hospitals have closed.

Perhaps no one has sized up the PPACA’s rural impact more strikingly than one of the key architects of the president’s healthcare law, Ezekiel Emanuel, who has drawn attention to the massive impact rural healthcare closings are having on the totality of rural healthcare’s existence.

“The fact that 56 rural hospitals shutting down is not enough – it’s astonishing,” He was quoted as saying. Frighteningly, Emanuel cited that over the next few years, 1,000 hospitals could be in jeopardy, potentially leaving 1,000 American communities farther away from care.

The results of many studies and polls are indicating that while healthcare reform in this country has been a necessity for a long time, the PPACA isn’t the answer, and instead it has created more disruption to care and communities, from patients to providers to taxpayers.

Originally, insurance exchanges were supposed to create greater competition and drive down costs, but they haven’t worked within the unique rural setting. Being uninsured was already a “rural kind of thing,” with one in six Americans defined as rural, but one in five uninsured classified as rural.

In 2014, competitiveness didn’t exist, with 58.3 percent of rural communities only citing one or two plan options; 23.7 percent of rural counties (versus 5.5 percent of urban counties) had only one plan option; and over three-quarters of urban plans had three or more choices of coverage.

Affordability has been another prickly area. The PPACA mandates were supposed to create greater efficiencies and opportunities, but in many cases they resulted in people buying an expensive policy that was more than what was wanted, needed, or within budget affordability.

While residents of rural counties face slightly lower median premium costs for all levels of coverage than do urban counties, many saw their insurance premiums go up 30-58 percent, because the old plan that worked for them was no longer available within the new slate of post-PPACA offerings.

Co-ops have also been a bitter pill for consumers. Failed co-ops received nearly $1 billion in taxpayer loans, entered the consumer marketplace claiming lower-cost insurance offerings, but then had to fit within stringent guidelines of mandates and restrictions, leaving them to languish. Eight of the 23 healthcare co-ops in the nation have collapsed in the past several months. Insurance co-ops in Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wyoming have already or are closing their doors because they have lost immense amounts of money. This leaves at least half a million people losing their insurance coverage. Those co-ops that are keeping their doors open are hiking their rates anywhere from 43-58 percent so they don’t succumb to the same unsustainable business model.

Not getting to “keep their plan if they liked it” and the PPACA illusion of coverage is not only leaving rural residents without affordable coverage, but placing access to care in total jeopardy. While approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, these areas account for 60 percent of all trauma deaths, and knowing that, the PPACA has jeopardized individuals and now critical access hospitals, creating a domino effect. Originally, the language of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act speculated that the number of bankruptcies due to medical debt (surpassing mortgage loans and credit card debt) would be significantly lowered, citing Medicaid expansion, insurance subsidies, more market competition within insurance exchanges, and approved coverage despite pre-existing conditions as eases to the system. With medical expenses growing at a rate well above inflation, however, 78 percent of all people that filed for medical bankruptcy actually had insurance (according to a GiveForward study). The study found that co-pays, co-insurance, travel to and from medical facilities, lost wages, daycare, high deductibles, and expensive COBRA coverage were actually drivers of bankruptcy. If individuals are filing for medical bankruptcy, it is no surprise that many rural hospitals across the nation also are filing for bankruptcy protection. If their patients don’t have money and hospitals aren’t able to collect compensation for the care that they currently provide patients at no cost, the prospects of closure can become very real.

So again, while many have benefitted, many more have struggled, and continue to do so. It remains to be seen if the Feb. 29 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-issued final report of proposed changes to address the 2017 enrollment period, PPACA exchanges, health plans, and co-ops will produce the significant positive changes desperately needed within the system. Additionally, in a presidential campaign year, when there is great continued PPACA support on one side and ideas of “repeal and replace” on the other side, it is difficult to know where equity and the balance of healthcare reside.

Will political parties ever come to the center to talk about the future of American healthcare and healthcare delivery, or what truly represents what consumers/constituents want and need to create sustainable change for healthier communities and individual positive health outcomes?

Will there ever be a model of affordability that’s truly for all? All of this broadens the deeper conversation and debate happening in academic symposiums, on news channels, and in coffee shops: whether healthcare truly is a privilege earned or a right. One thing is for sure, however: doors need to be opened to provide for the future of our healthcare.

We all are counting on it.

About the Author

Janelle Ali-Dinar, PhD,  is the chief operations officer at MedFirst Partners and a senior rural health expert at Healthcare Solutions Connections. She has more than 10 years of experience in rural health policy, legislation, strategy, and operations, having served on the National Rural Health Association’s national rural congress. Dr. Ali-Dinar is also an NRHA Rural Fellow.

Contact the Author 

drjalidinar@yahoo.com

SOURCE: http://www.racmonitor.com/rac-enews/1985-has-the-ppaca-failed-rural-healthcare.html?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=slea@mhanet.org&utm_content=ERENEWS031016&utm_campaign=CMS%20RACs%20Eyeing%20Up%20Nursing%20Homes

(C) Concierge Medicine Today | The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | June 2016

“In the operating hours of each day, they have the unique opportunity to influence what could be and what should be …” ~Editor, Concierge Medicine Today, Spring 2016

By Staff Writer, Concierge Medicine Today | editor@conciergemedicinetoday.com

March 28, 2016, ATLANTA, GA – Although much has changed in the last 20 years in Concierge Medicine, women in the business of healthcare, management and healthcare delivery space are impacting the lives of countless people and guiding big brands in the space towards the future. Last year, Concierge Medicine Today brought you thirteen female influencers in the business of Concierge Medicine. This year, we are pleased to update the list and add another thirteen additional names of women who have produced incredible work, succeeded in overcoming challenging business hurdles, and today, are helping transform healthcare and influence others. Most importantly, they are paving the way for other females and serve as inspiring role models for younger generations seeking to enter the innovative and early adoption space of Concierge Medicine and Free Market Healthcare Delivery.

J. Catherine Sykes, Publisher of CMT & The Direct Primary Care Journal.

“We know that there will be great innovation produced through this impressive group of influencers,” says Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today.

KNOW SOMEONE (a Women in this industry) YOU THINK SHOULD BE LISTED HERE NEXT YEAR …
Tell Us About Her and Her Business …

RELATED STORY | 2015 Recipients
PART 1 of 2 (2015): Concierge Medicine Today’s (CMTs) Industry Leading Women In The Business of Healthcare.

The Editors and Staff at Concierge Medicine Today and our partner publications are pleased to recognize these “Industry Leading Women In The Field of Concierge Medicine,” which include:

Leslie Mitchell, Vice President of Physician-Client Services at Specialdocs Consultants, Inc., Chicago, IL.

Leslie Mitchell, Vice President of Physician-Client Services
Specialdocs Consultants, Inc. — Chicago, IL

Leslie Mitchell joined Specialdocs in 2012, and was quickly recognized as a valued and integral member of the senior management team. Leslie is a peerless, passionate advocate for the promise of concierge medicine and a true innovator in a space known for innovators. Her commitment to meeting the needs of Specialdocs’ physician-clients has earned her a place as most trusted advisor. She’s the knowledgeable, responsive guide whom physicians depend on throughout their relationship with Specialdocs. Leslie’s goal with every transition is crystal clear: to create the physician’s dream practice and the patients’ best experience. As the compassionate voice patients hear when they are considering the transition, Leslie has encouraged thousands of people to consider the benefits of concierge medicine.

At the CMT/Exl Concierge Medicine Assembly in August 2015 she said … “We work very hard behind the scenes to create the right message and educate patients so they understand it’s not just an unexpected expense. It’s an investment in their health. Once you can flip the thought process from expense to investment, they understand the value…after all, what better investment can you make in life than in your health?”

Leslie brings decades of marketing, sales and client servicing experience to her work at Specialdocs. As a graduate of Kelley’s School of Business at Indiana University and Loyola University’s MBA program, Leslie worked in marketing strategy and sales growth for several large corporations before creating and managing her own successful sales group for 16 years. During this time, she developed an expertise in small business growth and entrepreneurship, client servicing and operational excellence. Additionally, for six years Leslie taught business/marketing courses at Northeastern Illinois University.

Lauren Griffin | Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Lauren Griffin | Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Griffin Concierge Medical — Tampa, FL

Lauren Griffin, a former magazine journalist, co-founded Griffin Concierge Medical in 2008. She works alongside her husband, Concierge Physician, Dr. Radley Griffin. Under her direction, Griffin Concierge Medical in Tampa, Florida grew from the ground-up to an over 7 figure company. Patient retention and revenue collection are above 95% as a result of Lauren’s oversight and direction.

Under her direction, Griffin Concierge Medical in Tampa, Florida grew from the ground-up to an over 7 figure company.

Lauren is a true leader in the growing Concierge Medicine marketplace.

Editor, Michael Tetreault

“Leadership is not about making all the decisions,” said Michael Tetreault, Editor-in-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today. “It is making sure the right decisions are made. As company leaders and influencers, all of these women make it their job to protect the missional integrity of the organization to which they serve. In the operating hours of each day, they have the unique opportunity to influence what could be and what should be. That is what makes this industry and this years list great. Congratulations to the 2016 CMT Industry Leading Women in the Business of Concierge Medicine recipients.”

“I see this as an opportunity to build stronger relationships with my patients and help keep them healthy overall, instead of focusing only on treating a specific disease or problem.” ~Dr. Dena Lacara

Dena Lacara, DO, Medical Director
Continuum Care at Mecca Integrated Medical — Fairfield, NJ

“Dr. Dena Lacara is one of the most selfless, hard working, thorough and diligent doctors I have ever encountered,” says one of her team members on staff. “She works tirelessly to ensure that her patients receive the best, most comprehensive care available, no matter what time of the day. It was not a surprise to me when she was voted one of the Top Docs of 2015 by NJ Monthly Magazine. Now that she is offering “Comprehensive Family Medicine Minus the Red Tape” to her patients, I know that she will be able to use her role as a health educator to promote health and disease prevention and to keep them healthier overall … rather than only focusing on treating a specific disease or problem.

“I hope to give my patients the tools and education they need to overcome many of their health-related issues with proper diet, exercise and lifestyle modification. My patients deserve the peace of mind from having a primary care family doctor they are comfortable with; one who really cares about them and someone they can turn to when they are scared and confused or facing a serious medical issue or life event – regardless of the day or time. More like the old-time family doctor who made house calls, a trusted partner in your care through sickness and health.”

“I cherish the little things – family time in the morning and evening. In my spare time, I enjoy spa-ing and The Bar Method workout, which to me is part therapy, part workout, part addiction. I want my patients to feel like they have a doctor in the family. I want them to feel they have a direct relationship with a true partner who is committed to them and their health.” ~Dena

Dena Lacara, DO is a board certified diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers College of Pharmacy, earning her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology in 1997 and continues to maintain a valid New Jersey pharmacists license. She went on to pursue her medical degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Osteopathic Medicine where she graduated with Highest Honors in 2002. Dr. Lacara completed her training in Family Medicine at Overlook Hospital where she had the honor of serving as Chief Resident during her final year of training. Since then, she has undergone extensive training in aesthetic medicine with specifics in Botox and filler injections, laser procedures, and chemical peels.

Pam Hogan | Director, Practice Transition at MDVIP, Inc.

Pam Hogan | Director, Practice Transition
MDVIP, Inc.

At MDVIP, Pam oversees a Field Team that supports physicians who are converting to a personalized preventive model of healthcare. Her expertise includes: analysis of opportunities; cultivation of key relationships with the community; and, the execution of business plans that lead to an enhanced market position for the physician. As Director, Hogan facilitates communication across the MDVIP Network and integrates sustainable practice solutions for each physician and his/her staff through training and collaboration.

Her volunteer interests include the Junior League, Hospice, Girl Scouts of America and an annual team captain for the “Walk to Cure Alzheimer’s” in honor of her dad who is currently on his journey with that disease.

Prior to joining MDVIP, Pam held multiple leadership and sales positions. Her experience has largely been in the medical space managing sales personnel in multiple regions and offices. Originally from Upstate NY and currently living at the Jersey Shore with her two daughters, Pam enjoys outdoor activities, including the beach, boating, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Mitra Pakdaman, Founder LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based Healthcare Interior Design Company

Mitra Pakdaman, Founder
LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based Healthcare Interior Design Company

Mitra Pakdaman is the founder of LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based interior design studio, utilizing over ten years of in-field experience to provide her signature elegant, fresh, and balanced design concepts to large-scale projects. She received her B.S. in Interior Design and her MBA at CSUN and is a member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

“Smaller waiting rooms, with more flexible, comfortable furnishings, similar to a home environment; coupled with aquariums as calming distractions, and toys and spaces for children to play are the major changes adopted in the interior design of primary care or concierge clinics.” ~Mitra

Mitra built the foundation and received the bulk of her interior design experience at the award-winning company HLW. As a member of their design team, she was involved in design development for Walt Disney®, ESPN®, HBO®, Intuit®, and Equinox®. She has since expanded her career by working independently on successful upscale hospitality, commercial, and residential projects, as well as on state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, and Palm Spring.

Mitra volunteers her time to philanthropic projects, such as the recent design consultation and space planning for the New Design Charter School in downtown Los Angeles and bathroom remodeling for the Santa Monica Aquarium: Heal the Bay project.

Courtney Greenwood, MBA | Product Marketing Analyst Pri-Med InLight EHR

Courtney Greenwood, MBA | Product Marketing Analyst
Pri-Med InLight EHR

Courtney Greenwood, MBA, is the Product Marketing Manager for the new InLight EHR, designed with the Membership Medicine physician in mind. Greenwood has worked closely with this community to understand the needs and wants of the physician community. Packaged in the cloud-based InLight EHR is the paradigm-shifting perspective of a problem-oriented medical system which relieves the cognitive burden physicians feel during a clinical encounter. Greenwood has worked in healthcare her entire career in various roles and received her MBA from Suffolk University, with a concentration in Marketing.

“The time physicians would rather spend with patients is being taken up with government regulations and insurance company mandates,” said Courtney Greenwood, MBA, Product Marketing Analyst at Pri-Med/InLight EHR in a recent interview with MedScape. “Physicians are sick of it, and the primary practice is in trouble as a result. InLight EHR tracks the details of each [Concierge Medicine] patient’s membership plan, and allows doctors to order medications, laboratory tests, and radiology, and to make referrals to specialists all from one box in the software program. And the program can make modifications on the basis of a physician’s previous behavior. In the way that Pandora or Spotify learn what you like to listen to … this learns how you practice medicine. For example, the program might recommend a medication a physician has frequently prescribed for a particular condition.”

Dana R. Walsh | Director, Insurance Services and Medical Centers of Excellence MDVIP, Inc.

Dana R. Walsh | Director, Insurance Services and Medical Centers of Excellence
MDVIP, Inc.

Dana is an experienced healthcare professional with over twenty years of industry experience. She has been an integral member of the MDVIP Management Team since 2009, serving to guide her teams by providing excellence through consultative support and ensuring exceptional above-and-beyond customer service to members.

Dana has facilitated the expansion and growth of MDVIP’s Medical Centers of Excellence Program which consists of the nation’s top tertiary facilities. She also assists in developing a competitive malpractice offering for affiliated physicians. Dana has managed teams in various healthcare arenas including: educational institutions; physician practices; hospital – revenue cycles services; auditing to confirm quality and compliance standards were met; and a federally funded insurance carrier prior to joining MDVIP.

Dana also volunteers her time to help clean-up Florida’s natural resources through numerous efforts such as beach and waterway clean-ups.  In addition, she volunteers her time with Hospice, Boca Helping Hands, and Women in Distress.

Dana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University. She has been an active member of AHIMA and HFMA for both the national and local chapters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, and dabbling with photography.

Debbie St. Clair, M.D. | Board-Certified Family Physician | Team Member | Griffin Concierge Medical

Debbie St. Clair, M.D. | Board-Certified Family Physician | Team Member
Griffin Concierge Medical

“Having practiced medicine for ten years in larger, traditional family medicine practices, I have often felt like I couldn’t spend the amount of time that my patients deserved. For me, Griffin Concierge Medical’s approach is a welcome change.  I am excited to work in a practice where I can get to know my patients personally. Whether my patients are sick or well, I hope to interact with them regularly.  I am committed to healthy living. I played college basketball and now enjoy being outdoors, whether training for a half marathon or just exercising with my family.”

“I really want to get to know my patients and their families and to care for them through different phases of their lives.” ~Debbie

“Dr. St. Clair started her Concierge Medicine Practice in April 2014 and her practice will be close to half full by her first year in practice (300 patients will be a full practice). She’s left an existing traditional practice to practice concierge medicine after years of the “hamster wheel” medicine. Her immediate success speaks of the demand for concierge medicine and the demand for a female concierge physician in South Tampa. Kudos to Dr. St. Clair!” ~Radley Griffin, M.D. Board-Certified Family Physician Founder, Griffin Concierge Medical

Karin Hennings, Executive Director of St. Luke’s Family Practice, a nonprofit Concierge Medical Clinic in Modesto, CA.

Karin Hennings, Executive Director
St. Luke’s Family Practice — Modesto, CA

St. Luke’s Family Practice, located in Modesto, California, is quite unique in the marketplace of Concierge Medicine. St. Luke’s Family Practice is actually a nonprofit Concierge Medical Clinic with an extremely strong charitable focus.

Until Karin’s arrival the practice was administered by the two physicians who were getting close to burn out.

Karin joined St. Luke’s in 2010 as the inaugural Executive Director.  Until Karin’s arrival the practice was administered by the two physicians who were getting close to burn out. Hennings streamlined the business and patient operations inside the medical practice and doubled the amount of charity care the practice provided. This allowed the physicians to focus more on patient care. Karin completed her MBA in Health Systems Management, is involved in her local MGMA chapter, a member of Rotary, and a single mother of two — including a teenage autistic son.

Ashley Rudnick | President
Boca VIPediatrics — Boca Raton, FL

Ashley Rudnick & Chad Rudnick, M.D. of Boca VIPediatrics in Boca Raton, FL, a Pediatric Concierge Medical Clinic.

Ashely is President of a Pediatric Concierge Medicine Practice alongside her husband and practicing pediatric physician, Chad Rudnick at Boca VIPediatrics in Boca Raton, Florida. Ashely handles all aspects of marketing and has successfully built the Concierge Pediatric Practice which now has a waiting list [in certain age groups], after only being open for 1 year. Ashley coordinates press releases, media interviews, and more in order to get the word out about the “pediatric smart office” and the digital health products that they work with. So far, they have appeared on both local and national news outlets over a dozen times in 18 months (January 20, 2016).

“When my husband and I developed the idea for Boca VIPediatrics, there were so many ‘Disney-style’ ideals I wanted to incorporate, to change the current ‘assembly line’ approach that is taken in most pediatric offices. I handle all aspects of creative marketing and personalizing the VIP experience for our families.  As a mom, I’m more in tune to what is missing from the current state of pediatric care. And, because our business is family owned and operated, we offer that personalized, family-style approach!”

“We researched and spoke to a lot of people about the current state of pediatric care, which we feel doesn’t work. The long waiting room times, the rude staff, the rushed appointments, the answering services to reach the doctor, and the overall feeling of being “a number” or “a chart” are all part of the frustration most families feel when they go to the pediatrician’s office. My husband and I combined our ideas to change and improve the state of pediatric care,” answered Ashley. “When it comes to children, their care needs to be monitored closely in an un-hurried way with great attention to detail, to lead to earlier prevention and diagnosis in their formative years,” said Ashley.

Molly Martin | Counsel at MDVIP, Inc.

Molly Martin | Counsel at MDVIP, Inc.
MDVIP, Inc.

Molly is Counsel at MDVIP, Inc. She has been a key member of the MDVIP Legal Team since 2010, assisting in protecting the company’s rights, obligations and privileges as well as its legal interests. Molly provides key legal direction, ensuring the legal activities meet the current and future needs of the MDVIP organization. Molly also provides counsel to the business operations and privacy and security compliance at MDVIP, working closely with middle and upper management.

Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminology (cum laude) from Florida Atlantic University, and a Juris Doctorate (magna cum laude) from Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad Law Center and an LL.M. (Masters of Law) from the University of Miami, School of Law. While attending law school, Molly was research assistant to several professors and received five Book Awards (the highest academic achievement at the course level.)

She clerked at Broad & Cassel on healthcare and regulatory compliance.  Molly volunteers with the Palm Beach County Guardian Ad Litem appointed by the court to protect the rights and advocate the best interests of a child involved in a court proceeding. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and painting. She is also an avid organic farmer raising free range chickens for healthy and nutritional egg production.

RELATED STORY | 2015 Recipients
PART 2 of 2 (2015): Concierge Medicine Today’s (CMTs) Industry Leading Women In The Business of Healthcare.

Dr. Julie is a Board Certified Family Physician in Boise, ID and Owner of SparkMD.

Julie K. Gunther, MD | Owner
SparkMD in Boise, ID

Dr Julie Gunther grew up in Boise Idaho, graduated from high school in Boise and attended Harvard and Washington University for her undergraduate and medical school educations. She is board certified in Family Medicine.

Dr. Gunther started a innovative, patient-centered practice in her hometown of Boise in 2014. She believes the administrative demands of modern medicine have marginalized the physician’s role and are eroding the physician-patient relationship. Like many Family Physicians, she is experienced in caring for a wide variety of life’s stages, ages and dilemmas. She is trained in caring for the whole family, through the many phases of life. She provides urgent care services, wellness services, and focuses on mental and physical well being.

“The delivery of medical care has become complicated and costly. Nobody likes going to the doctor anymore, not even your doctor. We can change this.” ~Julie

She founded sparkMD in 2014 to take back her relationship with her patients and to empower herself to be the doctor she set out to be.

Monica Sarang, MD
Sarang Medical in Southern (Burbank) California

“I have always loved the challenge of practicing good medicine…putting the puzzle pieces together to form an accurate diagnosis. For me, being a primary care physician offers a blend of the best science and critical thinking combined with a healthy partnership between doctor and patient. Throughout my 16 years in private practice, I’ve always felt that the time I spend listening to you and working together to determine the best course of action is the best medicine, achieving the best outcomes.” ~Dr. Monica Sarang

Monica Sarang, MD…offering concierge care in southern California.

Even in the star-studded environs of Burbank, California, home to the country’s best-known movie and television studios, Dr. Monica Sarang proves to have star power of her own. The 16-year veteran of private practice recently made the change to concierge medicine, assisted by Specialdocs Consultants.  Dr. Sarang says ever longer wait times for physical exams and acute appointments, continually seeing more patients in less time, and spending too many hours on non-care tasks spurred her decision to jump off the treadmill to a new model of medicine.

“The current healthcare environment rewards speed and technology, not listening, thinking and compassion.  I was certain there must be a better way to provide the kind of care and attention I set as my standard in 1999…but it required a change,” explains Sarang. “I couldn’t be more excited about the promise of my new practice and the opportunity it brings to address multiple issues in one visit, focus on prevention and wellness and serve as my patients’ medical advocates whenever and wherever needed. It’s the way medicine used to be practiced, and it’s the way we know it still should be practiced.”

Dr. Sarang opened the doors in early 2015 at 201 South Buena Vista Street Suite 250 in Burbank, California.

“I used to do house calls all the time,” Wooten said. “I was like the only person in town doing them for children and I always thought it was a situation where it was a convenience for my patients.”

Posted: Wednesday, June 8, 2016 6:00 am

By Eric Smith, Ahwatukee Foothills News Staff

Latest EDITION — Learn more about Concierge Medicine, Myths, FAQs, Insurance, HSAs, Medicare and more … On Sale Now in our Bookstore

Going to see the doctor can be a pain. Delays in the waiting room combined with the ever-increasing cost of health care can represent a major hurdle.

However, Ahwatukee resident Dr. Duane Wooten is looking to change that. In addition to his current pediatric practice, he’s jumping on board a new trend: concierge medicine.

Wooten’s new concierge medicine business, called Just For Kids (JFK), is allowing him to go back to making house calls and providing a more personal level of care like he used to when he first began in medicine.

“I used to do house calls all the time,” Wooten said. “I was like the only person in town doing them for children and I always thought it was a situation where it was a convenience for my patients.”

Wooten noted that wait times to see a doctor can be upwards of an hour and if the child needs to go to the emergency room, the wait can be many, many times longer.

So, he thought, it would be easier to eliminate the wait altogether, especially for children with special needs. “The concept is to not only take care of those people who want the convenience of having a physician for their children who will come to them,” Wooten said. “But also for those special needs and those niche children, it makes it extremely convenient for those families.”

Ahwatukee parent Todd Heaton thinks the concierge service would be a much easier process than the current routine.

“The biggest challenge as a parent when it comes to doctor visits is waiting,” he said. “If it’s not an emergency, like a broken arm or something dire, you’re waiting sometimes weeks just to get in…I think (concierge medicine) would be great.”

JFK is broken into two tiers, level I and level II. Level I customers receive home visits and after-hours service, among other things. Level II, which is more comprehensive than level I, includes everything in level I as well as a personal Skype account whereby customers can video message Wooten and acquire generic prescriptions covered by the doctor.

The cost for the JFK service begins at less than $4,000 for the year, and considering that children typically see their doctor far more often than adults, the price is particularly cost effective even though it isn’t covered by insurance because, as Wooten said: “”In my humble opinion, insurance companies are the root of all evil.”

“Just For Kids won’t have any insurance plans,” Wooten said. “Just For Kids is a premium-based company that you pay a premium per year and you get significant services.”

Because Wooten can only be available to a certain number of patients to be able to efficiently serve them, he plans to cap his number of clients at 100.

Wooten said he has taken care of all levels of people, from the wealthiest to the most disadvantaged, and that he treats them all the same.

It’s part of the reason he started JFK, to be able to help those who need it.

“I do it because I have a passion to take care of my people,” Wooten said. “This is just an avenue where I can do it.”

SOURCE: http://www.ahwatukee.com/communitylife/article_2764001a-2d13-11e6-9691-b797b0bec2c1.html

“Gain some customer service experience– try a service industry job as these skills are not taught in med school. Moving into Concierge Medicine is not solely about providing excellent medical care without the restraints of insurance industry mandates. You have to also appreciate the lost art of customer service so long ago forgotten when visiting a healthcare institution. Many times my clients (notice I do not use the word “Patients”) have noted why they refer their friends to my practice. It is the attention to detail, always delivering exactly what is promised and then some, and keeping their unique needs positioned first with a flexibility to offer new programs or meet needs as quickly as they are identified. This is the cornerstone of customer service.” ~ Dr. Carrie Bordinko, Consolaré, Paradise Valley, AZ

By Michael Tetreault, Editor-in-Chief

Editor-In-Chief, Michael Tetreault

OCTOBER 8, 2015 – We’ve spent a lot of time, a LOT of time this year, talking with successful physicians and exceptionally trained and well-equipped staff who know precisely what it takes to make a lasting impression on subscription-based patients. Not only do their faces show their satisfaction, but so does their community. Patient subscribers are voting with their pocketbooks and rewarding hard work when its is given.

What do all of these physicians have in common?

They’ve built systems, processes and redundancies inside their practice that has taken the level of patient service to an entirely new level. To say that many of these Concierge Medicine Clinics are providing exceptional care … is an understatement. What you might be surprised at is that it isn’t that difficult. It doesn’t take a lot of money and all it has really cost these doctors is their time.

“If you provide anything less than exceptional patient service for your Concierge Medicine patients, you’re wasting time, creating extra work for and frustrating your patients, staff, suppliers and yourself,” says one of Texas’ most well-known Concierge Physicians in a recent radio interview. “Smart businesses outside of healthcare have customers. So do we. We put in our time, our emotion and our mental strength into our customers and it’s about time we start operating like a business. We have every advantage now that we’re free from a lot of the administrative burdens most traditional medical practices have. There’s simply no reason why we cannot make the extra effort to serve our patients now.”

The basic premise of patient [customer] service training in many medical practices, whether they’re membership-based or not, comes with the best of intentions. The doctor has a staff meeting about patient service, and the service improves for a few days or weeks and then it drops to mediocre levels again. Consistent reminders don’t come because you’re a busy doctor and you have a lot of other responsibilities on your mind.

“Patients deserve to be involved in their care and receive the valuable service of planning for optimal health with the guidance of a family physician who is dedicated to the care of the patient.” ~Dr. Brian Nadolne, MD, Marietta, GA

So what can Doctors do to continually improve their patient care and customer service? At the end of the year, month or quarter (dependent on your billing cycle or patient contract), the patient will ultimately choose and deliver a clear message (think report card) to you and your staff and the business [i.e. practice] as to how they thought you did in the recent past. What do you think your patient retention will be in the coming year? 20% attrition? How about 10% attrition? Why not strive for 3% attrition? What if we took on that expectation? Is it even possible? The answer is yes, it is … !

Today we’ll provide you with three simple insights.

1. The Experience Begins in the Parking Lot.

Guests coming to Disney World are excited about seeing Mickey Mouse, or a Princess. They can’t wait to be a part of the magic inside the parks. There’s only one problem…  Who is the first face Guests see at Disney World?

Believe it or not, parking matters. So does signage, nameplates and having a sense of respect and humor also. If there is a sign in the parking lot that gives the doctor the best spot … what/who does that tell curious patients who that Clinic is putting first?

“My vision is to cultivate a personal Patient – doctor relationship amidst a bustling urban community where impersonal professional relationships are the norm. Our practice strives to deliver quality medical care with an emphasis on evidence based medicine, open communication, easy accessibility, and a focus on customer service. These benefits can lead to an overall improvement in how healthcare is delivered and may ultimately improve outcomes.”  ~Dr. Edward Espinosa Buckhead Concierge Internal Medicine, Atlanta, GA

If you want to make a difference in your community and possibly the world, give your patients and the people you care about appropriate painted parking lot lines, updated handles on doors, updated paint, rails next to steps, and specific applications they can easily follow. You might not think these things matter … but they do, they really, really do!

To add to that, challenge them to do something. As we’ve all seen in healthcare, it’s not safe to assume that people automatically know what to do with what they’ve been taught. Why is it when you tell someone to take their medication or exercise and a few weeks later you follow up and find out your instructions haven’t been followed? The Patient-Physician relationship is a perfect example. How many people follow your advice 100% of the time every time. Their trust needs to be earned, regardless of how long you’ve been treating them. They need specific direction. This is hard. This requires an extra step in preparation. But this is how people grow. This is exactly what great physicians have shared with us that has taken their practice from ‘good to great.’

At the end of the day, it’s application that makes all the difference. Truth isn’t helpful if no one understands or remembers it. How many people do you think remember the parking lot?

2. De-clutter the Office, Fast!

NEW RELEASE, ON SALE! — The Doctor’s Guide to Concierge Medicine (400+ pages of industry insight plus, over two dozen physician contributions compiled in one book) — On Sale $129.95 (Reg. $189.95)

Settings create first impressions. Why is it that the phone is right next to the lobby? Move it to the back? No one wants to hear your staff leave voicemails for other patients. First impressions are REALLY important. For example, if you’re a Pediatric Concierge Physician (and many are), when parents see that you have created an appealing setting for their children, then they trust you with their child even more. Think of it as … ‘We value your kids like we value ours.’

Every physical environment communicates something. There aren’t any neutral ones. What do you do when people visit your home? You clean! When you have junk, that communicates that you are expecting the same old people. You don’t clean the house for family.

“A business that looks orderly says to your customer that your people know what they are doing.” E-Myth by Michael Gerber

You must remove every possible obstacle from the path of the disinterested, suspicious, here-against-my-will, would-rather-be-somewhere-else, guests.

If you don’t see a mess, if you aren’t bothered by clutter, you need to make sure there is someone around you who does see it and is bothered by it. An uncomfortable or distracting setting can derail the patient experience before it begins.

The messages your practice environment from the parking lot, shrubbery to the cleanliness of the bathroom and organization of the administrative area has the potential to trump your primary message, relationship-oriented patient care. This is exactly where you should shine. If your practice is over the price point of $2,500 per year, it’s even more important to get this right. If people are gonna say ‘Concierge Medicine provides exceptional and expensive care …’ your practice should be a walking, talking, amazing example of that and you should be proud of it, because your colleagues who’ve learned this already are.

“Every visit is on time; you are not waiting. If you are ill and come in the morning, you are always able to be seen the same day. And I don’t mean ‘squeezed in.’ I mean seen in a relaxing comfortable visit. You are not seen for five minutes with a practitioner saying, ‘Tell me your problem,’” but is rushed because five more people are waiting. When patients call at 10 o’clock on a Saturday night, they get their doctor on his cell phone — not an answering service, not a doctor who is covering for the weekend. It is their own doctor. He knows them. He doesn’t have to go back to a computer and say, ‘I see here that three years ago, you had pneumonia and we prescribed Cipro.’  When you have that number of patients,” says Roberta Greenspan of Specialdocs. ”You know your patients.”

3. Train Your Team By Involving Patient Insight More.

Do not rely on the absence of patient complaints as the way you determine the level of service your practice provides. People will vote with their feet and their pocketbook. So, even in this new world of social media a large number of people who are disappointed with a doctor won’t complain to anyone, they just leave and never return. You have to define what “exceptional” means then train and remind your staff of the definition.

Customer service, as described by some physicians, is the number one way to grow [this type of] practice.

Satisfied patients are . . . satisfied. If someone else has a little better price or opens a medical practice that’s a bit more convenient, they’re gone. Especially the 25-45 age demographic. Just think of it, if your goal is a satisfied patient, even if you and your staff do everything perfectly, the best you’ll get is a satisfied patient — that’s your goal.

As a doctor, it’s your responsibility to offend people with the truth of medicine. That’s one reason many doctors have staff that work very hard NOT to offend them in the parking lot, the stairs, at the check-in window or lobby, or in the early minutes in the examination room.

You want people to come back in the following days, weeks or months for another round of offending. Present the truth of medicine in uncompromising terms, rally hard against couch potatoes, and tackle the most emotionally charged topics in their lives, while providing an “environment” where people feel cared for.

Patient satisfaction isn’t good enough. Your patient/customer service expectations need to be exceptional, and you need to create not just satisfied customers, but happy, loyal patients.

Example of one Concierge Medicine Physician Office — http://www.choicephysicianssfl.com/

Don’t keep your standards a secret. Ask for insight now, not later.

Don’t think that you show your commitment to exceptional customer service by making up slogans about it. Let your staff and patients know what your service expectations are.

“Patients were skeptical and reluctant because of how accessible and convenient the service was. They expected to be kept waiting on hold. Some seemed puzzled by the fact that when they called I answered the phone and knew who they were. One patient even inquired as to how come they only had one form to fill out.” ~Raymond Zakhari, NP and CEO of Metro Medical Direct, New York

The key is that if you do ask for input from your patients while they’re still inside the walls of your practice, in the moment. You need to act when you get it. Whether it’s a good comment or a complaint, every patient/customer who gives you feedback needs to get a response.

One of the most important reasons for sharing your patient/customer service expectations with your patients while they are still inside the walls of your building is that it puts your staff on the “hot seat” … and, if they feel they haven’t gotten exceptional patient/customer service, now’s the time to ‘make it right.’ If you don’t, it’s likely they will “REVIEW” your practice on sites like YELP, GOOGLE, Vitals or HealthGrades.

When you have your entire team trained and you always remind them of your expectations, you need to make sure every new employee gets the same initial customer service training that your entire team received.

Your current template medical practice is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently getting. But did you know that nearly 100% of every Membership Medicine Clinics say they need more patients?

Dr. Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz, physician, author and blogger. Dr. T is known for giving a little tough love, but she cares immensely for her patients. She truly treats every patient as if they were a family member, and will always give advice based upon that ideal. Tel: 954.523.4141

The best thing you can do to show every new employee your commitment to patient/customer service is to train them about your patient/customer service expectations on Day 1. Any time your staff provides less than exceptional patient/customer service it’s your fault.

“Being a good physician is not just about knowing how to diagnose and treat disease. Honestly…that’s what books and studying is for. Being a good doctor entails earning the trust of your patients by being honest and forthcoming. It means knowing how to communicate effectively while still remaining sympathetic. It requires you, first and foremost, to be a human being. It honestly bothers me that young doctors feel like they have to “know everything” to be a great physician. Put down the damn book and go talk to your patient. Be a friggin human being. Be a friend. Its really that simple.” ~ Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz, D.O. of Choice Physicians of South Florida.

How can this be? It’s simple, either you haven’t trained or reinforced this training properly.

One doctor in New Jersey said … “You either have a workload issue or a workforce issue? If you’re not committed to providing exceptional patient/customer service for your patients, your practice will never achieve its full potential.”

When Concierge Medicine Doctors become committed to exceptional patient/customer service, you may stumble from time to time, but when you do, you’ll still be providing great patient/customer service. The added benefit to providing exceptional service is that when you or your staff do stumble, your patients will be much more likely to forgive you.

In summary, it is natural to assume that what worked in the past will always work. But, of course, that way of thinking is lethal. And the longer it goes unchallenged, the more difficult it is to identify and eradicate. Every innovation has an expiration date.

Commenting on a recent article, Dr. Farzam of House Call Doctor Los Angeles notes that opting for house call doctor visits can decrease stressful and mood altering situations that can benefit the health of patients in the short and long term.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)June 08, 2016

In an article published May 27 on Medical News Today, a study revealed the harmful effects that stress and mood can have on human lifespan and its likely genetic components. Commenting on the article, Dr. Michael Farzam of House Call Doctor Los Angeles says that this study is an important reminder of the impact of stress on human health and can encourage those with high stress levels to find ways to alleviate their condition in order to lead healthier lives. The issue of stress definitely applies to doctor visits, Dr. Farzam adds. With a variety of stress-inducing factors that patients can experience commuting through traffic to a doctor’s appointment or while sitting in a waiting room, Dr. Farzam notes that turning to house call medical care can provide a myriad of benefits towards aiding the recovery of a patient.

Dr. Farzam, a board certified physician, explains that his house call services provide convenience and comfort to patients who would much rather save time being treated at home. With technological changes in medical practices, the need for more personalized patient care is rising and House Call Doctor Los Angeles is leading the way, he adds.

Treating a variety of illnesses, injuries and patient needs, Dr. Farzam says that he and his medical team care for every patient with a sense of urgency, no matter how severe or mild their case may be. This level of urgent medical care is what sets House Call Doctor Los Angeles apart from ordinary medical practices. Moreover ensuring convenience and superior medical care, the entire House Call Doctor Los Angeles team works together to support the well-being of their patients, Dr. Farzam adds. He also notes that the costs of a concierge doctor house call are typically a great deal less than using a hospital emergency room.

Dr. Farzam concludes by explaining how his personalized house call health care practice is a truly superior alternative to ordinary hospital visits. Interested readers seeking high quality medical care in the comfort of their own home are advised to reach out to House Call Doctor Los Angeles today. Appointments may be reserved by calling 310-849-7991 at any time or by visiting the practice online at http://www.HouseCallDoctorLA.com. Dr. Farzam and his staff of highly experienced medical professionals look forward to meeting the needs of interested readers and helping them feel their very best. Special concierge services are also available for patients who want to take advantage of House Call Doctor Los Angeles on a regular basis.

SOURCE: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/06/prweb13458425.htm

To have Foxlink invest capital and guidance in MedWand’s virtual medical exam technology gives us the opportunity to reach markets worldwide.

Foxlink Makes Investment in MedWand Digital Health

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 06, 2016

Telemedicine device startup MedWand announced today that it has received a major investment from Foxlink Group, a renowned multi-billion dollar Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer. The amount of investment was not disclosed.

MedWand, with offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orange County, California, creates technology that allows patients to be examined remotely with a multi-diagnostic handheld device over Internet and satellite links. Dubbed the “telephone of medical exams,” the MedWand has won numerous awards and accolades for its ability to allow patients to be examined from anywhere. MedWand was the winner of the 2015 Health 2.0 Launch event after its inventor, Dr. Samir Qamar, examined a patient hundreds of miles away in front of a live audience.

MedWand CEO and Chairman, Dr. Qamar, commented on the deal. “Foxlink is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronics from companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. To have Foxlink invest capital and guidance in MedWand’s virtual medical exam technology gives us the opportunity to reach markets worldwide. We are excited about our new relationship, and the international impact we will have on medical technology. MedWand is honored to have Foxlink as an investor.”

Foxlink, which typically makes Series A investments, made an exception with MedWand by investing in its seed round.

“As the world moves towards digital health and telemedicine, MedWand is exceptionally well-positioned to make a global and lasting impact with its remote medical examination capabilities,” remarked Rodney Chiu, Foxlink Group’s Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Investments. In addition to believing that MedWand’s technology is the leader in its space, we find MedWand’s team to be a unique blend of healthcare and engineering experts, a necessary ingredient for success. In addition to investment, Foxlink will provide technical, manufacturing, and distribution guidance to validate MedWand in markets around the world. Foxlink looks forward to building on the early successes of MedWand.”

AUGUST 12-13, 2016 – Presented by EXL/Concierge Medicine Today — Atlanta, GA

With significant pre-orders and global distribution deals in hand, MedWand is currently welcoming Series A investors, according to company officials.

About Foxlink –
Headquartered in Taipei Taiwan, Foxlink has over 15 design, manufacturing and sales sites worldwide. Since 1986 Foxlink has been designing, manufacturing and selling connectors, cable assemblies, power management devices, battery packs on an OEM/ODM basis to some of the world’s leading makers of communications devices, computers and consumer electronics. In addition to its expertise in the components, Foxlink and its subsidiaries have successfully developed diversified products in the area of wireless communications and optical technology, targeting to provide customers the total solution from components to turnkey products with the highest quality.

About MedWand Digital Health –
U.S.-based MedWand Solutions, Inc. creates award-winning telemedicine technology, allowing consumers to be remotely-examined by medical providers. Designed to be used by patients and doctors together, the handheld MedWand device is portable and combines a digital stethoscope, high-definition video camera for looking at skin and inside passages, thermometers, pulse oximetry, respiratory and heart rate monitors, EKG, and Bluetooth for peripheral device data. MedWand DOCs (Digital Onsite Clinics™) combine MedWand devices with computers and tablets to create virtual clinic capabilities for consumers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.MedWand.com, or follow on Twitter @MedWand.

SOURCE: MedWand; http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/06/prweb13466432.htm

30 Under 30 Alum Locks In Another $4 Million To Improve Patient Access To Specialists

By Nicole Fisher, Forbes, Contributor

JUNE 1, 2016 – Early this morning, RubiconMD announced the closing of their $4 million Series A financing, led by Waterline Ventures. There were also funds provided by North Carolina-based Dioko Health Ventures, a fund managed by Nashville-based FCA Venture Partners. And, according to cofounder and CEO Gil Addo (a member of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare), the funding will be used to grow their eConsult platform, which allows primary care doctors to consult with specialists so that patients can receive better, more comprehensive care.

When pressed for growth opportunities this money will provide, Addo and RubiconMD cofounders Carlos Reines and Dr. Julien Pham highlight the importance of primary care to the entire health ecosystem, and how moving their services into primary care environments will help the team show their value by reducing inefficacy, saving patients time and money with specialists, lowering emergency department (ED) admissions and lowering costs as a result. This sounds lofty, but the premise of their platform is to allow primary care providers–the foundation of the U.S. health system–to access same-day insights from a panel of expert specialists, thereby avoiding having to refer patients, and inherently saving time, appointments, tests and costs.

Cofounder and COO Carlos Reines explains, “Once a primary care provider submits a case, our system uses smart routing to identify the appropriate specialist to review it. The provider will then receive an expert answer within a few hours. Through this process, we provide the insights needed to reduce patient wait days, optimize their care plan and avoid unnecessary referrals.”

“At the core of what we’re doing is building a tool that is integrated into the physician workflow, to support great primary care. Because primary care is the foundation of the system, real transformation to lower costs has to start there,” adds Addo. To do this, the company has gone beyond approaching traditional systems, and has targeted managed care organizations, value-based payers, employers with onsite health facilities, and, most recently, safety net hospitals. These include recent customers Callen Lorde Community Health Center in New York City and El Buen Samiritano in Texas.

RubiconMD has been working hard to validate its model by using customer dat,a such as images, lab results, studies and recommendations, collected across the 26 states it has implemented platforms. A previous study of providers using the system suggests that up to 97% of e-consults offered “meaningful support to clinicians, with 72% directly improving their care plans.” When few in the digital health space are focused on the base of the health pyramid–primary care–the opportunity to create value by reducing inefficacy and cost is great.

CONTINUE READING FULL STORY …

SOURCE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2016/06/01/30-under-30-locks-in-another-4-million-to-improve-patient-access-to-specialists/#6e56511879a0

Scientists debate value of genetics-driven medicine while patients live with ambiguity.

By Kathleen McLaughlin / The Bulletin

Published May 9, 2016 at 12:11AM / Updated May 9, 2016 at 06:42AM

Across the top of the page of breast cancer patient Marta Izo’s genetic test results is a big red stripe.

Positive, high risk for breast cancer.

Izo, 65, carries a variation in the ATM gene that’s associated with a high risk of breast cancer and an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer, according to testing company Myriad. Less than 1 percent of the population carries this variation of the ATM gene, which plays a central role in cell division and flagging damaged DNA.

The ATM gene was suspected as a cancer link because it’s the key player in an autosomal recessive disease, ataxia telangiectasia, or Louis-Bar syndrome, which occurs in extremely rare cases when someone inherits two copies of the mutated gene. Families in which Louis-Bar occurred also seemed to have higher instances of breast cancer.

Now research on people who carry a single copy of the ATM mutation indicates women have a 17 to 52 percent chance of developing breast cancer from age 50 to 80, compared with 10.2 percent of all women in that age range.

The risk of pancreatic cancer, which applies to women and men, isn’t quantified.

When Izo was diagnosed in 2014, her oncologist at Bend Memorial Clinic didn’t think she was a carrier of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, well-known because they mean a high risk of breast cancer, but based on her family history, some other genetic syndrome might play a role in her cancer, Izo said. Myriad was to begin offering a 25-gene panel test that summer, so she took it, even though she’d already undergone a lumpectomy and radiation.

“I think it’s kind of a blessing and a curse,” said Izo, a nurse at St. Charles Bend.

Because of her breast cancer risk, Myriad recommends clinical breast exams every six to 12 months and an annual MRI in addition to mammography.

“They will watch me differently and they will treat me differently, but it will always hang over your head a little bit that you have this gene mutation,” Izo said.

This type of genetic testing is the bread and butter of precision medicine, which aims to develop treatments tailored to individual patients. The National Institutes of Health this year made its first grants under a $200 million initiative, which seeks to build large-scale participation in research. The effort depends on people like Izo, who authorized her test results to be included in a national registry of people who’ve had this newer form of genetic testing, called multiplex gene panels.

With the panel tests, doctors no longer have to guess which gene to test, and they’re learning more about common genetic links across cancer types. Variations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are also associated with ovarian, pancreatic, melanoma and prostate cancer.

In another example, mutations in one of five genes can cause Lynch syndrome, which is behind 3 to 5 percent of colorectal cancers. People with this syndrome have cancer at a young age and may experience multiple types of cancer over their lifetime.

CONTINUE READING FULL STORY …

SOURCE: http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/4116434-151/gene-genies-what-answers-do-they-hold?referrer=bullet1