A new type of concierge care is emerging in urban, affluent areas:
The doctor is cruising downtown on Eighth Avenue in his black BMW when he gets the first in a string of text messages from his patient. “No one here?” reads the last one. The doctor is late.The doctor texts back, one thumb flying over his Verizon Pocket PC, the other hand on the wheel. Natan Schleider, 31, then drives onto the curb to get around a car blocking his, parks illegally, props up the “Emergency Housecall” sign on his dashboard, and soon — dressed in black scrubs, toting a black bag and black laptop — is buzzing the bell of a West Village walkup . . .
. . . Schleider, a soft-spoken man with a sympathetic way, charges $500 for the first visit and $400 thereafter, payable with major credit cards. He does not accept insurance.
(via White Coat Notes)
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{ 1 comment }
As a geriatrician, I faced the same problem with providing traditional at home care. Medicare, despite slightly increased reimbursements, still does not suffice to meet the costs of providing home visits, unless your a dedicated home visit company that is able to create and run an almost NYC cab like efficient itinerary & transportation system.
I hope to combine the aspects of dedicated senior care, balanced with home visits and office offices, and yes, I will have to charge a retainer because insurance coverage just doesn’t afford this level of care.
As a society, yes we need to balance access to care and quality of care. But as a physician, my obligation is first and foremost to my patients and quality of care trumps all.
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