Comments on: Concierge medicine: "Quintessentially American" http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/concierge-medicine-quintessentially.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:15:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ninguem http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/concierge-medicine-quintessentially.html/comment-page-1#comment-79818 ninguem Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:53:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/concierge-medicine-quintessentially-american.html#comment-79818 You can find "concierge medicine" in the tonier neighborhoods of London, Paris, most everywhere you care to look.<br/><br/>I use the words in scare quotes, 'cause I don't know what better to call it either. Basically physicians offering something extra for more money.....mainly more time and easier access.<br/><br/>I'm sure Tony Blair would attract attention cooling his heels in your basic NHS surgery. Someone charges more, outside the system, for the kind of quick, discreet, comprehensive access certain VIP's want and legitimately need.<br/><br/>Somebody has to take care of George Bush, Bill Gates, etc., on that basis. I trained in a major teaching center that had a specialized unit that attracted those VIP's for personalized and very hush-hush medical care.<br/><br/>Like when Jean Chrétien wanted that private healthcare for himself/family at Mayo. Can't let it get out that Canada's leader wants private healthcare.<br/><br/>So someone a few rungs lower on the political ladder wants the same treatment and is willing to pay for it. As pointed out, we tolerate a lower tier (Medicaid), what's wrong with an upper tier? You can find “concierge medicine” in the tonier neighborhoods of London, Paris, most everywhere you care to look.

I use the words in scare quotes, ’cause I don’t know what better to call it either. Basically physicians offering something extra for more money…..mainly more time and easier access.

I’m sure Tony Blair would attract attention cooling his heels in your basic NHS surgery. Someone charges more, outside the system, for the kind of quick, discreet, comprehensive access certain VIP’s want and legitimately need.

Somebody has to take care of George Bush, Bill Gates, etc., on that basis. I trained in a major teaching center that had a specialized unit that attracted those VIP’s for personalized and very hush-hush medical care.

Like when Jean Chrétien wanted that private healthcare for himself/family at Mayo. Can’t let it get out that Canada’s leader wants private healthcare.

So someone a few rungs lower on the political ladder wants the same treatment and is willing to pay for it. As pointed out, we tolerate a lower tier (Medicaid), what’s wrong with an upper tier?

]]> By: Conciergedoc http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/concierge-medicine-quintessentially.html/comment-page-1#comment-79805 Conciergedoc Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/concierge-medicine-quintessentially-american.html#comment-79805 Egalitarian. For the rich. There are always these "echos" when people discuss concierge medicine. In my retainer practice, I'm am laying the foundation to actually collect some quantifyable data. Data to show whether or not spending more time with my patients leads to better care as judged by the Medicare p4p measures, as well as the ultimate holy grail - better outcomes. <br/><br/>Logically, it makes sense. If I devote more time to providing proactive care, rather than reactive care, this should improve outcomes. <br/><br/>It is taboo to state this but what if it's true - that concierge medicine is superior to traditional care? <br/><br/>By the way, are there any doubters that don't think I can deliver better quantifiable care seeing 8 patients a day versus those seeing 15, 20, or even 40 patients a day? Egalitarian. For the rich. There are always these “echos” when people discuss concierge medicine. In my retainer practice, I’m am laying the foundation to actually collect some quantifyable data. Data to show whether or not spending more time with my patients leads to better care as judged by the Medicare p4p measures, as well as the ultimate holy grail – better outcomes.

Logically, it makes sense. If I devote more time to providing proactive care, rather than reactive care, this should improve outcomes.

It is taboo to state this but what if it’s true – that concierge medicine is superior to traditional care?

By the way, are there any doubters that don’t think I can deliver better quantifiable care seeing 8 patients a day versus those seeing 15, 20, or even 40 patients a day?

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