Every parent wants the best for their children and that includes everything from their education to the level of health care they receive. Emergency medical situations, routine check-ups, and all the growing-up blues – nothing makes a parent happier knowing they have a physician they can rely on and trust with their children’s well-being.
This is the premise of Concierge Medicine. The membership-based model offers the same level of first-class care when it comes to younger patients. No wonder it has accumulated a steady stream of new followers over the course of the pandemic.
Significant medical studies reveal that unrestricted physician access and a close-knit doctor-patient relationship benefit children the same way it does adult patients.
{google_ad_space_3}
In pediatrics, there are reported to be fewer ER trips, hospitalization, and chronic medical conditions as well as lower health care costs among kids who receive consistent routine care.
The traditional, fee-for-service health care model is faltering at the weight of the pandemic’s demand for quality, reliable health care and Concierge Medicine’s rise to popularity could not have come at a better time.
Waiting in clinic lobbies (a true agony for patients with toddlers in tow); rushed, robotic appointments that last 5 to 10 minutes; financially paralyzing health care costs – patients are no longer having it and it shows.
First of all, not only are clinic appointments a no-brainer for kids during a pandemic, but it is also a method of practice that seems to be outdated in this day and age.
Concierge Medicine provides parents and their children with a more pleasant, convenient experience.
Most appointments in Concierge Medicine are either house calls or telemedicine appointments done via phone call or video chat. Clinic appointments are only scheduled when necessary – when patients need to show up for diagnostic screening or something to that effect. Doing so has saved doctors and their patients a lot of time, money, and effort.
Concierge Telemedicine, while not entirely new to the Concierge Medicine scene, has been a real gamechanger in providing quality care to patients.
When there are no medical third parties that intervene, doctor-patient rapport is seamless and convenient. Giving patients access to their physician’s direct line allows doctors to be a consistent presence in their patients’ lives. This is very important in gaining the trust of patients, especially the younger ones.
More and more patients are beginning to see the benefits of a Concierge Medicine subscription, and it only follows that they want the same benefits for their kids. Membership-based practices such as Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care have grown to 1,219 in over 48 states in America within the past year alone.
As a parent, having a Concierge doctor on speed dial offers peace of mind that is incomparable. Imagine having a physician you can turn to for medical advice in the middle of the night or for freak accidents at home.
{google_ad_space_15}
It's awesome that I can call or text Dr. Josh Umbehr when my children are sick and that I have a solution before they leave for school. - Mick Lowderman, 56,who is married and has two children
For example, when one of my kids woke up coughing recently, my wife and I contacted Dr. Josh, who asked us to put her on the phone to hear her cough and then take a picture of her throat and text it to him. Shortly after, he prescribed an antibiotic, which we picked up at his office the same day. Says patients like Mick Lowderman, 56, who is married and has two children, find great assurance in membership-based models such as Concierge Medicine.
On the other hand, house calls have been great at positively reinforcing the doctor-patient relationship with younger patrons, making them feel more comfortable and at ease with routine care.
Having your Concierge doctor over for check-ups and routine calls may take some getting used to, but, believe it or not, this used to be the medical status quo back in the day.
According to the Journal of Gerontology, house calls accounted for 40% of all doctor-patient interactions 70 years ago. It has since plummeted down to 0.6% by 1980.
Parents no longer have to worry about bringing their kids to an unfamiliar clinic (which is usually the perfect recipe for a tantrum) or loading a sick child into a backseat, driving across town, and waiting in a crowded lobby just for a doctor to see their child.
Having a Concierge Medicine subscription gives patients access to a variety of exclusive benefits. Apart from house calls, you also get 24/7 direct access to your pedia's personal line, same-day and next-day appointments, unlimited clinic visits, as well as discounted rates on outpatient services and medication.
Because many Concierge doctors are in the family medicine practice, it is not uncommon for parents and children 6 years old and above to have the same doctor.
Your Concierge doctor is well-equipped to keep track of the medical records, vaccination schedules, and health histories of the entire family.
This setup also provides your doctor with an inside look at your family’s lifestyle and genetics, gaining deeper insight into what treatments will fit each family member best.
Thanks to Concierge Medicine, parents can now take great comfort in knowing that their children will grow up with a trusted health advisor by their side. Your Concierge doctor will help you navigate your child’s growth and help prevent any debilitating illnesses down the road.
They will be with you through every stage of life, like your kid's transitions from childhood to adulthood. It is almost like having a doctor in the family you can run to for anything, isn’t it?
Making exceptional healthcare accessible even for kids is our ultimate goal. Enjoy the best that healthcare has to offer, and find a concierge pediatrician in your area.
{google_ad_space_30}
Previous Post