By Michael Tetreault, Editor
DECEMBER 20, 2013 - It’s been an eventful year in the world of concierge medicine, private-pay and direct primary care as news and headlines continue to circulate across the wire. From The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal and everywhere in between, concierge medicine is becoming a household term that people are beginning to understand as an affordable healthcare option. Concierge Medicine Today (and its sister-publication, The Direct Primary Care Journal) covered this industry and reached millions of new readers, patients and others with headlines now being read regularly in over 130 countries and inside thousands of medical offices and homes across the U.S.
There were four noteworthy occurences in 2013 that are worth mentioning again.
First, patient interest is also at an all-time high as more and more prosepective and curious patients are starting to enroll in concierge medicine and direct-pay (DPC) practices. CMT reports that January thru March of 2014 will have the highest amount of patient enrollments in these practices.
“We have certainly seen an increase in physician interest,” says Catherine Sykes, Managing Director of The Direct Primary Care Journal (The DPC Journal). “Our opinion and that of our research arm, The Collective, is that there are approximately 5,500+ verified physicians nationwide.”
Also a noteworth point related to patient and consumer interest is the amount of books sold this year by Concierge Medicine Today’s Bookstore. Three books in particular are selling faster than inventory can be kept in stock. The Patient Guide To Concierge Medicine and Direct-Pay Practices is now being distributed through doctors offices to prospective patients as an educational tool to help physicians and their staff educate, persuade and guide patients into making a decision about direct-pay and concierge medicine practices for them and their family. Branding Concierge Medicine, Volume I., has also now reached in 2013 the top 2% of all Amazon and Kindle ebooks across the country.
Second, the power of the media in America has spoken and crowned their winning brand name and it’s the term “concierge medicine.” Like it, hate it or simply indifferent to it, the term appeared in headlines and stories over 106,450 times alone in 2013.
The use of the term, controversial and often misunderstood is a brand name and household term that the media (not just us mind you …) has adopted among a wide variety of options such as: boutique medicine; retainer medicine; wealth-care; cash-only medicine, etc. Not to be confused with its familiar cousin, direct primary care (DPC), concierge medicine is a slightly different type of doctors office with different services offered than its often aligned, DPC term. Concierge Medicine in 2013 is now widely understood to be a real healthcare alternative and growing option for the middle-class patient and Mom-types. So, get used to the brand and term … it’s here to stay.
In a story just last week, one reporter writes … despite the name “concierge medicine,” local physicians think the model is accessible to those with lower incomes.
“The ‘concierge’ term gets people to imply high value, which is good. We want them to feel like they’re coming to a high-quality place,” says Dr. Josh Umbehr of Atlas MD in Wichita, KS. “But it also gets them to assume high cost. That’s OK, though, because I can show you my costs are affordable.”
Third, Direct Primary Care (DPC) clinics or direct-pay doctors, similar to their healthcare cousin, concierge medicine, emerged in a big way in 2013. The first-ever DPC Conference was held in St. Louis, MO just last October with more events and meetings slated to occur in 2014.
The practice of direct primary care is growing, but the web of providers is so fragmented that even those in the field don’t know how many physicians or practices work in this way, said Sharon George, MD, who owns a one-physician direct primary care practice in Irvine, Calif.
“It’s definitely growing,” she added. “You don’t have to leave medicine if you’re frustrated. You have your medical degree.”
The Direct Primary Care Coalition formed as Congress was debating the Affordable Care Act (ACA). At that time, the coalition estimated there were between 30 and 50 practices in the U.S., with around 100,000 patients.
But Erika Bliss, MD, told MedPage Today that it’s likely there are more concierge doctors — and patients who use their services — practicing today.
Bliss, a leader of the coalition and chief executive of the five-location concierge practice Qliance, based in Seattle, said she receives Google alerts monthly about a new concierge practice or converting practice, and now estimates one direct primary care practice in nearly every state.
Fourth, was the First-Ever, Medical Centers Concierge Alliance Conference Targets Hospital Physicians, Administrators and Medical Center Executives held in Seattle, WA in August of 2013. The Dare Center of Seattle, WA invited concierge physicians, hospital administrators and medical center executives from across the country participated in a roundtable discussion. At least 20 medical centers were representated at this meeting. There was a breakout session for program managers in established practices and another for attendees exploring this type of practice model. Topics also included: alternative models; amenities/perks; preserving academic standards; legal hurdles; marketing tips; compensation issues; expectations/boundaries; recruiting; networking and more.
Here are the Top 20 most popular stories and headlines in concierge medicine from across the U.S. in 2013:
- The Top Docs in Concierge Medicine of 2013 by Concierge Medicine Today
READ FULL STORY … - The downside to concierge medicine in 2014 —
Demand For Concierge Medical Care STILL Outweighs Supply of Physicians Across U.S.
READ FULL STORY … - NY TIMES: Enhanced Medical Care for an Annual Fee
READ FULL STORY … - Pros and Cons of Concierge Medicine – WSJ.com
READ FULL STORY … - DocPreneurs, Physicians Making An Impact In Their Community
READ MORE ABOUT THESE PHYSICIANS … - Three Year Analysis of Concierge Medicine Shows Encouraging Signs For Boosting Primary Care Medicine In U.S.
READ FULL STORY …![top docs in concierge medicine direct primary care dpc]()
- Dallas, TX: Age-Based Concierge Medicine Pricing Model
READ FULL STORY … - Top 10 Business Tips for the First Time Private-Pay, Direct Care and Concierge Medicine Doctor
READ MORE … - BUSINESS: Step one in Starting Your Concierge Medicine or DPC Practice Right
READ MORE … - SALARIES: 2013, New Data On Concierge Physician Salaries
READ FULL STORY … - INSURANCE: The Affordable Care Act and HSAs
READ FULL STORY … - First National Gathering Focused On Direct Primary Care (DPC) To Be Held In St. Louis: October 11-12, 2013
READ FULL STORY … - BUSINESS: Franchise Concierge Medicine Keeps Prices Low — Consultancies Enter “Red” Ocean
READ FULL STORY … - Concierge Medicine’s Best Kept Secret, the Price.
READ FULL STORY …![cropped-concierge-medicine-marketing-books.jpg]()
- Why OB/GYN Concierge medicine specialty is likely to succeed
READ FULL STORY … - 40 Questions To Ask A Concierge Doctor Before Your Sign-Up
READ FULL STORY … - BUSINESS: The 2 Basic Models Used In CONCIERGE MEDICINE and DIRECT Primary CARE
READ MORE … - The Difference Between Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care
READ MORE … - 2014: Top 25 Best Cities For A Career In Concierge Medicine or Direct Primary Care Next Year!
READ FULL STORY … - DR. ANN RIGGS, DO: Family Docs Going Back to their Roots
READ FULL STORY … - BONUS — First-Ever, Medical Centers Concierge Alliance Conference Targets Hospital Physicians, Administrators and Medical Center Executives
READ FULL STORY …
Overall, concierge medicine and direct primary care are thriving in major metropolitan markets. Four states that have a huge lead in the amount of active concierge or private-pay physicians in-practice and consumers seeking their care are Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Each of these States have a significant number of people [most over age 50] seeking out concierge doctors and cash-only options. Fortunately, a sizeable number of [concierge] doctors are available to serve them. That is not the case in the more rural part of the country. It is also in these areas where we are seeing franchise concierge medicine fees increase and independent concierge doctor fees decrease due to increasing competition and patient demand for more price transparency.”
Of great benefit to the consumers, prices are dropping dramatically due to increasing competition among physicians entering the marketplace, retail medicine pricing, price transparency demand from patients and uncertainty about the implications of the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act has also created a lot of uncertainty among both patients and doctors. The shoe has most certainly dropped and now more doctors than ever are considering a career in concierge medicine, DPC and retail healthcare.
Until recently, people mostly based choosing a doctor on the personal recommendation of a trusted friend or relative. Now with the advent of social media, word of mouth marketing is changing from a spoken word referral to a social media link referral. To view the concierge doctors directory, find a concierge medicine or direct primary care doctor near you, Concierge Medicine Today has created an iTunes and Android App, Concierge Doc, a free App and search engine resource to find and learn about concierge medicine and direct primary care in your area available at ConciergeMedicineToday.com.
