Why concierge medicine is not a complete healthcare solution

Getting a physician’s appointment, both primary care and specialists, can take longer than you may want to wait. Survey data gathered by Merritt Hawkins/AMN Healthcare in 2022 found that there were significant waits for appointments with physicians in a number of key specialties.

While the wait time for an appointment for a physical with a family medicine specialist had decreased, the average wait was still 20.6 days. The longest wait was for an appointment with a dermatologist to check for skin cancer at 34.5 days. Other specialties surveyed included OB/GYN (31.4 day wait for a well woman visit, cardiology (26.6 day wait for a checkup), and orthopedic surgery (16.9 day wait for an appointment to address knee pain or injury).

A 2023 national survey performed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners found that 26% of people surveyed waited more than two months for an appointment, while 40% experienced a longer than reasonable wait. Nearly half of those respondents stopped trying to get an appointment and did not receive care.

Physician shortages are one of the driving reasons for the challenges accessing healthcare in a timely manner. A 2024 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges projected a shortfall of 86,000 physicians by 2036. With fewer physicians available and an aging population that will require increasing levels of medical care, getting the care you need becomes increasingly difficult.

Not only is the overall U.S. population aging, so is the physician workforce, with more physicians retiring. 20% of physicians are 65 or older, while an additional 22% are between the ages of 55 and 64.

Concierge medicine is designed to improve access to primary care

Concierge medicine is a membership-based model of care in which a primary care physician manages your care. Concierge physicians care for a limited number of patients, so they are able to focus more closely on the needs of each patient.

Patients pay upfront (either a monthly or annual subscription) and have access to everything provided in that practice’s membership plan. Each concierge medicine plan will differ slightly, but services can include:

• Unlimited physician access
• Same-day appointments
• More in-depth, longer appointments
• Greater focus on preventive care, longevity, and early detection based on your personal and family medical history and risk factors
• Comprehensive preventive care services beyond typical screenings
• Additional services like house calls and enhanced physicals

Concierge medicine leaves gaps in access to specialty care

While choosing a concierge medicine physician does increase access to primary care and provide patients with both more time with their primary care physician and a greater focus on preventive care, there are other areas where it may not provide a complete solution to all your healthcare needs.

When you have a serious or complex illness, your medical needs extend beyond primary care. You may require specialized diagnostic tests and the expertise of one or more medical specialists to diagnose and treat your condition. Think, for example, about back pain. You may need to see an orthopedist, an orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, and pain management physician to treat and manage your condition.

If you need care from a specialist, a concierge medicine physician can refer you to one. However, their network of specialists is often limited by geography and which medical centers they are associated with. That means you may not have access to the specialist with the greatest expertise and experience treating your condition. This can also affect whether you have access to leading-edge treatment options and clinical trials.

Bridging the gaps in concierge medicine

A more comprehensive approach is to combine concierge medicine with the support of a Health Advisor to ensure you’ll have access to all the care and resources you need. By adding the services of a PinnacleCare Health Advisor to your care strategy, you can make sure you have the complete spectrum of care and support, no matter what your health concerns are.

Your Health Advisor can work with your concierge physician to provide:

• Expedited access to a broad network of qualified specialists
• 24/7 access to health support to ensure you can connect with the care you need if you face an emergent need
• Easy access to in-person or virtual second opinions with physicians who are experts in treating your condition
• Coordination of communication and records between all the healthcare providers you see to help you avoid the risk of care fragmentation
• In-depth, evidence-based reports on medical conditions, treatment options, and clinical trials to help you make informed decisions about your care
• Collection, review, and regular updating of your complete medical record, which can help lower your risk of medical errors and misdiagnosis, as well as the creation of a secure electronic medical record that can be shared in minutes with any healthcare provider
• Connection to experienced healthcare providers anywhere in the world to ensure you get the quality care you need if you get sick or are injured while you’re away from home
• Access to specialists to help you manage illness or improve your overall wellbeing, including integrative medicine specialists, dietitians, physical therapists, mental healthcare providers, and sleep specialists

Get PinnacleCare’s support

Adding the services of a PinnacleCare Health Advisor enhances the healthcare resources you have through your concierge medicine physician and puts you in the strongest position to effectively manage your health, whether your goal is healthier living, mitigating your health risks, or dealing with the complexities of a serious health issue.

By combining concierge medicine with private health advisory services from PinnacleCare, you can create a comprehensive team tailored to your health needs.  Reach out to our membership relationship team today to discuss how the PinnacleCare team can help.