The Impact of Concierge Medicine on Preventative Care

You know the age-old saying ‘prevention is better than the cure’? That’s concierge medicine and preventative care in a nutshell.

Unlike traditional, insurance-based healthcare where patients are the last priority, personalized medicine practices, such as concierge medicine and direct primary care (DPC), have made significant progress in prioritizing long-term patient well-being.

The goal of direct pay practices is to restore a version of healthcare that is, once again, less about curing illness and more about keeping patients healthy.

This blog post does a deep dive into concierge medicine and preventative care: how the collaboration of both concepts has improved medical outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and restored a patient’s trust in their primary care physician.

Concierge Medicine: A New Approach to Preventative Care

If traditional healthcare is passive towards health and reactive towards disease, concierge medicine and preventative care prioritize holistic medicine, proactive medical attention, and patient empowerment.

This approach represents a major shift in American healthcare as a whole.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 8% of adults in traditional healthcare receive the recommended preventive health services. Nearly 5% of adults in the U.S. receive none at all.

These recommended preventive health services include cholesterol monitoring, executive health check-ups, lifestyle counselling, and health screenings that provide early detection of chronic conditions, such as cancer and heart disease.

According to the CDC, preventative care can be categorized into three major strategies.

• Primary Prevention: intervention before disease occur
• Secondary Prevention: detection and treatment of disease at an early stage
• Tertiary Prevention: chronic disease management to slow or stop its progression

Instead of only seeing a doctor for emergencies or when symptoms arise, private medicine models utilize these three strategies to encourage patients to remain proactive about their health and wellness.

Read more about Concierge Medicine: A Patient-Centered Care Model

The Benefits of Concierge Medicine for Patients Seeking Preventative Care

While preventative services are universal in any concierge medicine practice, patients may find that each physician tailors their offerings based on the markets they serve.

Take for instance, primary care physicians and family medicine doctors affiliated with FindMyDirectDoctor.com offer individualized, integrative care depending on their specializations.

Some primary care physicians offer women's health coaching while others offer holistic sports medicine.

What is great about concierge medicine is the flexibility and patient-centered care it extends. Patients are given the power to take charge of their health and choose a concierge medicine membership that fits their needs best.

That being said, here is a comprehensive list of benefits patients may receive from concierge medicine, depending on what their health requires.

• Annual comprehensive physical exams and diagnostic tests: Thorough, extended exams that are conducted to identify potential health issues before symptoms arise.
• Advanced cardiovascular risk assessment: Testing for cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as coronary artery calcium scoring, carotid intima-media thickness testing, and lipid profiling.
• Genetic testing and counseling: Analysis of genetic markers to identify inherited risk factors for conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Personalized fitness, nutrition and wellness coaching: Customized exercise, diet, and stress management plans based on fitness goals, health status, and injury prevention.
• Cancer screening and prevention: Regular screenings for breast, colon, prostate, and skin cancers, as well as HPV and hepatitis B vaccinations.
• Infectious disease prevention: Vaccinations for flu, pneumonia, shingles, and other preventable illnesses, as well as travel medicine services.
• Mental health and stress management: Regular check-ins with a mental health professional, stress management techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Advanced laboratory testing: In-depth analysis of biomarkers for chronic diseases, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance.
• Cognitive function and brain health: Screening for cognitive decline and guidance on brain-healthy lifestyle habits, supplements, and cognitive training programs.
• Telemedicine and remote monitoring: Regular check-ins and remote monitoring of vital signs and health metrics to prevent hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

How Concierge Preventative Care Can Reduce Healthcare Costs

Not only does concierge medicine and preventative care maintain good health, it also creates better financial scenarios for patients in many respects.

By identifying and addressing potential health risks early, preventative care can avoid costly and/or unnecessary medical expenses down the line.

Case in point, FindMyDirectDoctor.com has made a significant impact on healthcare costs, potentially yielding a staggering $120.4 million in healthcare savings.

This remarkable achievement can be attributed to two key factors: a $20.4 million reduction in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and $100 million worth of medical savings via chronic disease management.

Regular executive health exams and screenings, as well as a tight-knit relationship between doctor and patient, serve as catalysts for early detection and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. 

A 2019 study by the American Journal of Medicine reports that patients who have access to longer primary care visits are 50% more likely to reap the rewards of preventive health services.

This is why concierge medicine and preventative care work hand in hand to ensure proactive, long-term wellness for their patients, protecting them from expensive hospitalizations, surgeries, and medication. 

Preventative Care in Concierge Medicine vs. Traditional Healthcare

There are key differences to take note of when it comes to preventive health in concierge medicine vs. traditional healthcare.

For one, concierge medicine and preventative care are occupied with protecting patients from the risks of chronic diseases, managing existing conditions, and maintaining overall health.

On the other hand, traditional, insurance-based healthcare is known to be reactive, only acting when symptoms are already apparent.

The emphasis of concierge medicine and preventative services on wellness and prevention is expected to drive higher interest on retainer medicine models even more.

On that note, here are fundamental aspects to take note of when differentiating preventive health in traditional healthcare vs. concierge medicine:

Patient Testimonials on Concierge Medicine

The secret of concierge medicine when it comes to preventative care (or pretty much any medical concern) is to personalize the process, the approach, the treatment according to the patient in question.

In doing so, positive medical outcomes and patient satisfaction increase immensely.

Sean Dougherty, a 52-year-old PR executive from New York city, shares that his parents rave about their Maine concierge doctor.

“What we found was that the value was in being able to reach the doctor any time for any reason, and that he always had time for them.”

Texas resident Marilyn Santiesteban, on the other hand, switched from her traditional provider to concierge care after being very satisfied with the convenience and personal experience she had.

When a bad bout of colds left Santiesteban severely dehydrated, a friend suggested she look into a concierge medicine practice in her area.

The concierge doctor recommended that she receive an intravenous infusion, which immediately prevented her situation from getting any worse.

“For everyday testing, bloodwork, even physical therapy, I love the convenience [of concierge medicine]. Sometimes you just get tired of being another cog in the machine. You want someone fully focused on you and your issue—no interruptions.”

The Future of Personalized Medicine in Preventative Care

Louise Aronson, a geriatrics professor at the University of California San Francisco, sheds light on what concierge medicine has contributed to preventative care and why patients are becoming even more drawn to concierge models.

“In traditional care, a healthy 30-year-old with no health problems other than seasonal allergies gets the exact same amount of time as an 87-year-old with 12 medical issues who's on 18 different medications.”

Patients and physicians alike are attracted to concierge medicine because it bridges a gap in traditional healthcare, where no one is ever given enough time for long-term wellness.

True enough, time is the cornerstone of patient-centered care. More time between doctors and their patients puts greater emphasis on preventive health, ensuring any potential health risks are immediately attended to.