Insight Life Care - Blog #healthcare costs

Concierge primary care for busy professionals

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 18:24:52 +0000

The bulk of America’s workforce is found in the services sector. Around 21.5 million Americans work in the professional and business services sector. Additionally, another 16 million Americans are self-employed. This group of people has a unique set of needs when it comes to health care. The working professional needs:

Health care that is affordable.
Access to a doctor at their convenience.
Occasional interaction with a doctor in a non-clinical setting, especially via telehealth.
To be able to get access to testing and health monitoring in a convenient manner.

Access to a doctor when you need it

Concierge medicine offers the working professional access to a doctor when they need it. In typical primary care scenarios, a patient has to wait an average of about two weeks before they can see a doctor. In some areas of the country, like Boston, patients wait about 45 days in extreme situations. Once someone has an appointment scheduled, they will likely wait for 15 minutes or longer at a clinic before they actually see a doctor. Insight Life Care, a concierge medicine provider, can get patients an appointment within 24 hours.

For workers with limited time off, this means that concierge medicine is a viable option for them. You can see a doctor during a longer lunch break, take a quick call during a break to get a prescription refill, or just have a routine check-in appointment. For busy working professionals, the average telehealth session with their concierge doctor will take about 15 minutes, while an in-person visit to a family practice, including wait time, can take as much as an hour or more.

Concierge care is often more affordable

For the underinsured or uninsured, a concierge doctor is often a more affordable option than a visit to the doctor’s office, which can range from $150 to $200. Primary care physicians and concierge doctors using a monthly-based membership are often more affordable. With a $150 membership, Insight Life Care can schedule an appointment with you at the time of your liking.

This is also a more affordable option for even the insured. Sometimes, because of the long wait to get an appointment at a clinic, patients will go to an urgent care center. Urgent care may be totally out of pocket depending upon your insurance, and will cost between $100 and $200.

Concierge care allows you to interact with your physician outside of the clinical setting

According to the U.S. Travel Association, there are more business trips taken each year than there are people in the United States. In 2019, US residents logged 464.4 million person-trips (a trip involving paid accommodations like airfare and lodging) for business purposes. When a person is on the road, they might occasionally need to interact with their doctor via telehealth.

In addition to telehealth, patients might also need remote monitoring, which is another type of care that is available from a concierge provider outside of the clinical setting.

Telemedicine is one of the biggest benefits of concierge care for busy professionals

Even though more Americans are using telehealth over the last calendar year because of the pandemic, patients and physicians alike are finding that it is very convenient for a wide variety of reasons. As of October 2020, 80% more physicians were using it. Physicians reported that, from a doctor/patient perspective:

That it was convenient to use as an option for renewing prescriptions.
That it was a great way for regular chronic care check-ins.
That it was also a convenient way to follow up with patients after check-ins or hospital stays.

Patients who use telehealth also found that it was viable to them for the same reasons. Here are some numbers that indicate patients are extremely satisfied when they work with their doctor in a concierge setting:

According to JD Power and Associates, the level of customer satisfaction with telemedicine is quite high, in comparison to other service industries.
According to a Harvard Business Review survey of 1 million patients, 89% of patients would recommend their telehealth provider after their telemedicine visit.
Studies also indicate that patients are more likely to be compliant if they are taking a prescription or require a routine checkup.

Concierge medicine is one of the ways that patients can take advantage of telemedicine. By and far, this type of service lets patients take care of routine things like checkups and prescriptions. Insight Life Care offers our concierge medical services to working professionals, which includes 24/7 access to a doctor, no waiting for an appointment, and telemedicine when you need it.

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

Chris Nussbaum, MD, FHM founded Insight Life Care after 25 years of primary care and hospital practice in order to create an environment where patients are at the forefront of care. Click here to learn more »

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What is the average waiting time for a doctor's appointment?

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 19:36:00 +0000

When you are looking to schedule a doctor’s appointment, there are three different fronts you’ll experience some sort of waiting time on. When patients arrive at the doctor’s office, there is typically a waiting period before the doctor is available. When scheduling an appointment with either their primary care provider or a specialist, patients will also experience a waiting time for the date of their actual appointment.

On average, you will expect to spend the following amount of times in each situation:

The amount of time spent waiting at the doctor’s office can be about 18 minutes.
The typical patient will wait about 2 weeks from scheduling an appointment to the time that they actually get to meet with their primary care provider.
If you are being referred to a specialist, it can take up to two weeks for that appointment with the specialist.

Why does it take so long to be seen by a doctor?

There are many different reasons it takes so long to be seen by the doctor. Some of the reasons include a shortage of physicians, an increase in the number of people with health insurance, and an increased burden on providers to deal with electronic medical records. In some areas of the country, like Boston, some medical clinics were so short staffed that some patients had to wait as long as 52 days to get into the clinic.

Doctors also mention that electronic medical records do not ease the problem. In a 2016 survey, some doctors felt that electronic medical records reduced the quality of care that it allowed them to give patients. For every hour that a doctor spends with a patient, they likely have two hours of administrative tasks due to electronic medical records.

What are the dangers of long wait times?

There are several different dangers of long doctor wait times. They include:

Patients will skip preventative medical care because they simply do not want to wait at the doctor’s office or for an appointment.
If someone does not want to wait for an appointment, they will often go to urgent care.
Patients might also start “doctor shopping,” which can break down the continuity of care they get from their primary health care provider that knows their medical history.

People who postpone or skip routine medical visits might develop more serious ailments from skipping appointments. When patients see another doctor outside of their regular healthcare provider, they miss out on the expertise of their regular healthcare provider that comes from their history of visits.

Mitigating doctor wait times

Concierge medicine is a different type of health care service. Starting at just $150 per month, you can utilize Insight Life Care’s concierge medical service. Here are some of the benefits that come along with utilizing a concierge doctor:

There is no wait time to see the doctor. You can get access to a doctor within 24 hours utilizing a concierge medical service.
Telemedicine is also available, with appointments being available within 24 hours.
You can also utilize our other services, which include remote monitoring, onsite testing, and other services.
If you need a specialist referral, Insight Life Care can refer you to a medical specialist much faster than your typical family doctor.

Building a relationship with your concierge doctor

In addition to lengthy wait times, your typical interaction with a doctor at a primary care clinic will only last about 15 to 20 minutes. In a recent study, it was found that:

The average length of a doctor visit was about 15 minutes.
The patient and doctor both individually spoke for about 5 minutes each.
The patient was limited in the number of healthcare topics that they got to discuss with their doctor, as well as the length of time spent addressing each healthcare topic.

When working with a concierge medical service, you will get unhurried, lengthy appointments with your doctor. You will also be able to cover any topic, at length, that pertains to your health.

Another guarantee with a concierge medical service is that you’ll never have to meet with a doctor substitute. If you visit a family practice clinic or an urgent care center, the odds are that you will likely see a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner. Here is why you are likely to see a “doctor substitute” in certain types of traditional health care models:

Typically, doctors are involved in more administrative duties, assigning more and more patient interaction to physicians assistants and nurse practitioners.
Medicaid expansion over the years necessitated a need for expanding the health care workforce.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can perform many of the same duties as a physician at a fraction of the cost, which helps traditional primary care clinics save money.

A concierge medical service like Insight Life Care will always let you see a doctor within 24 hours, giving you peace of mind.

Some of the benefits of our membership-based concierge direct primary care model include:

Your costs are controlled: For a fixed monthly amount, you have unlimited access to a doctor with over 30 years of experience practicing internal medicine in Tampa Bay. In our office, we can cover 80-90% of your healthcare needs. If we encounter an issue that needs specialist intervention, we will schedule, manage, and follow up with all outside providers for you.
More time with your doctor: Developing a personal relationship with your doctor enables you to truly engage in your healthcare. Also, having a doctor you can call 24/7 helps to keep you out of urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. It’s like having a doctor in the family!
No health insurance needed: We provide the same level of care to our patients regardless of their health insurance status. Although our services are not a replacement for health insurance, we can meet most of your healthcare needs in our office for a low monthly cost. For our uninsured patients, we have negotiated cash prices with outside providers to make your entire healthcare experience more affordable. Contact us to learn more.
Accessible visit options: Our doctor and nurse will see you wherever you are, whether via telemedicine, an in-office visit, or a home doctor visit in Tampa. We understand that traveling to our office is not always convenient or available to you - just let us know which visit option works best for you.

The importance of keeping routine medical checkups

Concierge medicine is affordable and is often cheaper than visiting a regular doctor. It is also convenient in the sense that you have more timely access to your doctor. Regular checkups help keep any recommended screenings up to date and identify health issues as early as possible. Regular checkups let you communicate with your primary health care provider giving them the chance to better identify and avoid potential health issues.

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

What is Concierge Medicine?

What is Internal Medicine?

Benefits of Concierge Medicine

Employer Sponsored Direct Primary Care

Why Membership Based Care?

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

Our Philosophy

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Options

Employee Health Plans'

Patient Testimonials

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Why you should offer your employees a primary care benefit option

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 18:56:00 +0000

During the pandemic, a large portion of workers in the United States lost access to their health insurance. Between February 2020 and June 2020, 7.7 million workers lost access to some sort of employer-sponsored health care. Moreover, these workers also provided health care for 6.9 million dependents. In all, a total of 14.6 million individuals lost access to affordable health care. Many of these people are coming back to work and may have started new jobs, some of which do not offer any sort of health care. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why it may be beneficial for your business to start offering a primary care option for employees as people start going back to work.

Attract potential employees

According to a recent editorial in the New York Times, there is a labor shortage as America returns to work. Employers are posting new positions in record highs, but applicant activity remains relatively low. One way to make a job seem more attractive to potential applicants is to add a primary care benefit or even some sort of concierge care benefit. Employees looking for a career change may be looking for a job that has similar health benefits to what they had before. Companies like Insight Life Care offer a primary care benefit option in the form of concierge medicine. Even if your company is not in a position to offer health insurance, a primary care benefit can help bring people back to work.

Retain high quality employees

A primary care benefit option can help keep your employees loyal to your company for years down the road. Not only can a robust health package attract new employees, but you will also have dedicated, loyal employees who stay with your company for years. With access to primary care, you will also have employees who are healthier, taking fewer sick days.

Direct primary care is better for your employees

Employees, with their traditional health care, might avoid going to the doctor:

It can take weeks to get on the doctor’s schedule.
They often have to wait in the waiting room and then for a doctor in the exam room.
Their time often feels rushed with the doctor and they may end up seeing a physician’s assistant or an advanced nurse practitioner, not an actual doctor.
There is a co-pay, possibly another referral, and insurance process.

Primary direct care is more affordable and convenient for your employees. If you work with a membership-based service like Insight Life Care, you can get your employees a health care setting where:

They get access to a doctor, not a doctor substitute.
They have access to their personal physician 24/7 via telemedicine
They can have an appointment within 24-48 hours that is convenient for their schedule.
For a simple monthly membership, they don’t have to worry about confusing costs like they would at a typical primary care practice.

Insight Life Care direct primary care and concierge medicine benefits to patients

Concierge medicine is a great way to provide your employees with a more convenient way to access direct primary care. Some of the benefits of our membership-based concierge direct primary care model include:

Your costs are controlled: For a fixed monthly amount, you have unlimited access to a doctor with over 30 years of experience practicing internal medicine in Tampa Bay. In our office, we can cover 80-90% of your healthcare needs. If we encounter an issue that needs specialist intervention, we will schedule, manage, and follow up with all outside providers for you.
More time with your doctor: Developing a personal relationship with your doctor enables you to truly engage in your healthcare. Also, having a doctor you can call 24/7 helps to keep you out of urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. It’s like having a doctor in the family!
No health insurance needed: We provide the same level of care to our patients regardless of their health insurance status. Although our services are not a replacement for health insurance, we can meet most of your healthcare needs in our office for a low monthly cost. For our uninsured patients, we have negotiated cash prices with outside providers to make your entire healthcare experience more affordable. Contact us to learn more.
Accessible visit options: Our doctor and nurse will see you wherever you are, whether via telemedicine, an in-office visit, or a home doctor visit in Tampa. We understand that traveling to our office is not always convenient or available to you - just let us know which visit option works best for you.

Benefits of direct primary care to you as an employer

Reduce healthcare costs: There will be no more claims for primary care visits, a dramatic reduction in emergency room and urgent care visits, fewer unnecessary specialist referrals, and reduced imaging and lab costs. Up to 90% of employees’ healthcare needs will be satisfied through our concierge group healthcare services.
Increase attendance: With 24/7 access to their physician and bi-annual in-house wellness checks, employees are healthier which makes them less likely to take time off of work for healthcare visits and illness.
Increase job satisfaction: Our services allow employers to offer unlimited primary care at no additional cost to employees. A benefit that employees will actually use and value for their improved healthcare access.
Increase employee wellness: Our concierge medical services will help patients learn about health lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise, thus increasing your employee productivity.

Check out the following articles to learn more about the benefits of a direct primary care membership for your business:

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

What is Concierge Medicine?

What is Internal Medicine?

Benefits of Concierge Medicine

Employer Sponsored Direct Primary Care

Why Membership Based Care?

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

Our Philosophy

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Options

Employee Health Plans'

Patient Testimonials

Schedule an Appointment

LET'S CONNECT

APPOINTMENTS

What is blood pressure and why is it important?

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 16:13:14 +0000

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. In order to survive and function properly, our tissues and organs need the oxygenated blood that our circulatory system carries through the body. Not only does our blood deliver oxygen and nutrients, but it also picks up the toxic waste products of metabolism, such as the carbon dioxide we exhale with every breath, and the toxins we clear through our liver and kidneys. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped blood vessels, which include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure reflects the amount of pressure inside the arteries as the heart contracts and blood is pumped into the arteries. Diastolic pressure reflects the pressure inside the arteries during the resting phase between heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and is written as two numbers, such as 112/78 mm Hg. The top number is systolic pressure, and the bottom number is diastolic pressure.

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. If you are an adult and your systolic pressure is 120 to 129 and your diastolic pressure is less than 80, you have elevated blood pressure. If you have a systolic pressure of 130 or higher, and a diastolic pressure of 80 or higher, you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure typically has no signs or symptoms, it is only diagnosed through blood pressure readings. That’s why it is so dangerous, but luckily, it can be managed with lifestyle changes.

Nearly half of the American population over 20 has high blood pressure and many don’t even know it. For most adults, there is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure, and it tends to develop gradually over time. This is called primary (essential) hypertension. Some people, however, have what’s called secondary hypertension which is caused by an underlying condition such as obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid problems. Secondary hypertension tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.

Although there is no identifiable cause of primary hypertension, there are many risk factors, including:

Being overweight or obese: The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the amount of blood flow through your vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls.
Not being physically active: People who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work with each contraction and the stronger the force on your arteries.
Using tobacco: Using tobacco immediately raises your blood pressure temporarily, as well as damages the lining of your artery walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow and increase your risk of heart disease.
Unhealthy eating habits: Too much sodium and not enough potassium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure.
Age: The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age.
Race: High blood pressure is particularly common among people of African heritage, often developing at an earlier age than it does other races.
Family history: High blood pressure tends to run in families.

The excessive pressure on your artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels as well as your organs. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including:

Heart attack or stroke: High blood pressure can cause hardening and thickening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other complications.
Aneurysm: Increased blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm which can be life threatening if it ruptures.
Heart failure: To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, the heart has to work harder. This causes the walls of the hearts pumping chamber to thicken. Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs, which can lead to heart failure.
Metabolic syndrome: This syndrome is a group of disorders of your body’s metabolism, including increased waist size, high triglycerides, decreased HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high insulin levels. These conditions make you more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Trouble with memory or understanding: Uncontrolled blood pressure may also affect your ability to think, remember, and learn.
Dementia: Narrowed or blocked arteries can limit blood flow to the brain, leading to vascular dementia.

So, what can we do to help keep our blood pressure healthy (below 120/80 mm Hg)? Well, basically the same things that we can do to stay healthy in most other aspects. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly in order to keep a healthy body weight. Cut down on processed and heavily salted foods. Increase the amount of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and other whole foods in your diet. Moderate alcohol and tobacco use. Even if you already are experiencing high blood pressure, it’s not too late to make changes. Try going for a brisk walk every day and adding a couple extra vegetables to your meals. Small steps can create big change, and your health and longevity are worth it.

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

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MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

Our healthcare spend doesn't make us healthier

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:56:16 +0000

In 2019, the average American household spent almost $5,000 per person, on average for the year for health care. That’s a 101% increase from the year of 1984, where the typical annual health care costs were about $2,500 per person. There are many costs that are driving up the cost of health care. Unfortunately, many of these expenses are not necessarily making us healthier. These expenses simply mitigate illness and injury and don’t necessarily make us healthier for the longer term.

Why is healthcare so expensive?

One of the reasons that health care costs so much more these days is because of insurance. In 2018, the average American spent $3,400 for health insurance. Many employers bear the burden of insurance for their employees, but some companies pass some of the cost onto their employees. There are several different reasons that health care costs so much more than it used to. These include:

An aging population, with 20% of the American population being over the age of 65 by 2030.
Inflation for health-related services. Medical care costs typically increase by 3.5% or more each year in comparison to the standard rate of inflation.
New health care products and services that are technology driven, which tend to have a higher price tag.
The consolidation of hospitals and doctor clinics can lead to a monopoly where there isn’t competition for prices.

How can Americans save money on health care?

There are different ways that you can save money on health care. The most obvious way to avoid unnecessary health care costs is to take care of yourself. This includes healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices. It is estimated that if Americans ate healthier, the United States as a whole would spend $50 billion per year less on health-related issues like stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Simple things like quitting smoking can also make you healthier, but also save you money. If Americans reduced their smoking habits by as little as 10% this could potentially result in $6.3 billion reduction in health care costs related to the habit the following year.

Ask for generic medications

Generic drugs can save you a lot of money. If you are getting a prescription, like Glucophage, it’s generic counterpart would simply be called metformin. Glucophage costs about $34 for a supply of 30 tablets, whereas its generic counterpart metformin, depending upon where you live, could be as cheap as $8.50. According to some research, Americans save $8 to $10 billion each year simply by using a generic prescription whenever they need one.

Choose the right type of care at the right time

Most people default to go to the emergency room if they are severely ill or injured. Not all types of illness or injury require an emergency room visit. Typically speaking an urgent care visit is going to cost you between $100 and $200 per visit. If you go to the emergency room, you are looking at a minimum of $750 for your bill.

Other types of doctor interaction can also save you money. If you use a telemedicine service to consult with your doctor, it’s going to cost you considerably less than an in-person visit. Depending upon where you live, you could spend about $80 on a telemedicine session.

Look outside the traditional healthcare model

Depending upon where you live, a doctor’s visit could cost you between $100 to $600 depending upon the treatments that are provided. There are other options, like concierge medical care and other membership-based services. At Insight Life Care, a concierge medical service in Tampa, FL, a monthly membership starts at $150. This includes unlimited doctor visits, telemedicine, and much more personal interaction and care from your physician.

If you are looking at any type of medical procedure, consider having it done in an outpatient setting if possible. Many times, if you need a procedure, it often costs less to have it done at a clinic rather than in the hospital. In 2017, the last year where such data was available, the average cost of an outpatient treatment was around $3,800, while average cost of an inpatient treatment was about $13,200 at an inpatient facility.

If you are an employer, offer an employee wellness program

A Harvard study found that employee wellness programs are a good investment for most companies. For every $1 that an employer spends, on average on wellness programs, they will likely see a $6 return on investment. This includes a $3 savings on health care costs and a $3 savings on improved employee productivity and attendance.

Take advantage of preventive care benefits

Many people don’t realize that their health plans could potentially bear the cost of their preventative care, including regular exams, screenings, and immunizations. According to research from 2010, missed preventative care costs added up for the year in which the research was conducted. It was estimated that certain primary care services could have potentially saved up to $1.5 billion.

Finding a health care option that is right for you

Finding the balance of affordable health care that is convenient and hassle-free will take a little bit of time and vary based upon your needs. A concierge medical service can often meet all of your needs whether or not you have insurance.

Insight Life Care takes the guesswork out of your costs. We offer a membership-based primary direct care model that makes healthcare affordable and convenient. We have plans that cost $150/month, $250/month, and we even have a program for employers to help their employees get the healthcare that they need. Some of the benefits of our membership-based concierge direct primary care model include:

Your costs are controlled: For $150/month, you have unlimited access to a doctor with over 30 years of experience practicing internal medicine in Tampa Bay. In our office, we can cover 80-90% of your healthcare needs. If we encounter an issue that needs specialist intervention, we will schedule, manage, and follow up with all outside providers for you.
More time with your doctor: Developing a personal relationship with your doctor enables you to truly engage in your healthcare. Also, having a doctor you can call 24/7 helps to keep you out of urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. It’s like having a doctor in the family!
No health insurance needed: We provide the same level of care to our patients regardless of their health insurance status. Although our services are not a replacement for health insurance, we can meet most of your healthcare needs in our office for a low monthly cost. For our uninsured patients, we have negotiated cash prices with outside providers to make your entire healthcare experience more affordable. Contact us to learn more.
Accessible visit options: Our doctor and nurse will see you wherever you are, whether via telemedicine, an in-office visit, or a home doctor visit in Tampa. We understand that traveling to our office is not always convenient or available to you - just let us know which visit option works best for you.

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

What is Concierge Medicine?

What is Internal Medicine?

Benefits of Concierge Medicine

Employer Sponsored Direct Primary Care

Why Membership Based Care?

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

Our Philosophy

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Options

Employee Health Plans'

Patient Testimonials

Schedule an Appointment

LET'S CONNECT

Developing and maintaining a relationship with your doctor

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:49:00 +0000

According to a recent poll, 89% of Americans felt that maintaining a relationship with a doctor who understands their health background and medical history was important. Unfortunately, the number of Americans with a primary care doctor continues to decline year over year. In 2002, 77% of American adults had a primary care physician that they saw on a regular basis. In 2015, that number had fallen to 75% of American adults. Let’s take a look at some ways that you can develop and maintain a healthy relationship with your doctor.

Find a doctor that fits your budget

Many Americans avoid going to the doctor on a regular basis because of the cost. According to Healthcare Blue Book, a very basic doctor’s visit will cost around $68. This type of visit entails a very minor health problem that requires some counseling and treatment. More complex types of health care services requiring a doctor’s visit could cost as much as $240. For this reason, many Americans simply avoid going to the doctor.

Consider a concierge medical service, such as Insight Life Care. Starting at $150 per month, this affordable membership service guarantees you access to a doctor whenever you need it and can help you establish a regular cycle for receiving routine checkups and visits as you need them.

Find a doctor that will prioritize your appointment time

In today’s healthcare system, doctors have less time to devote to each of their patients. According to some research, the typical doctor has about two hours worth of administrative and clerical work for every hour that they spend with a patient. When you see a new doctor, they often have to spend time researching your medical history.

In a traditional healthcare setting, your appointment length will last around fifteen minutes and only be long enough to address your primary medical concern. Concierge medicine prioritizes your appointment time, ensuring that you have lengthy, unhurried time with your doctor to address all of your health concerns.

See the same doctor consistently

According to research from the United Kingdom that also reviewed data from the United States, seeing the same doctor consistently can potentially reduce the risk of death. People sometimes avoid seeing their primary care physician because of appointment wait time, cost, and other associated factors. With a concierge medical service like Insight Life Care, you are guaranteed access to the same doctor and appointments are available within 24 hours. With the traditional primary care model, you might find yourself using an urgent care facility where you have an appointment with a doctor substitute or could potentially find yourself calling around to find an available appointment with a doctor that might not know your medical history.

Many Americans choose to go to urgent care when they are sick. Nearly 89 million patients visit an urgent care center each year, which accounts for 29% of all primary care visits. While urgent care may seem more convenient than waiting for the doctor, you might not get access to a physician who is intimately familiar with your medical history.

Make sure to address all of your health concerns with your doctor

Over the years, as you develop a rapport with your physician, you will feel more comfortable addressing all of your health concerns with them. The ideal doctor’s appointment will follow a format where the patient sets the agenda and the doctor listens. Preparing a detailed list will allow the doctor ample time to address each issue and suggest a probable course of action. According to theAmerican Academy of Family Physicians, this technique helps physicians address their patient’s concerns in a respectful and unhurried manner. Many concierge physicians take this approach, resulting in a good doctor-patient interaction.

Take advantage of other ways to consult with your physician

Sometimes, work and life make a visit to the doctor’s office an inconvenience. According to some sources, nearly 30% of Americans avoid the doctor’s office because they do not want to take time off of work. Other people, especially during the pandemic, avoid the doctor’s office because they do not want to get sick.

In these situations, concierge doctors offer two services that still allow for regular interaction with your doctor. These include telemedicine and house calls. Telemedicine can allow you to visit with your doctor if you are on vacation or are traveling for business. A house call visit lets the doctor see you in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

In addition to telemedicine and house calls, concierge medical services like Insight Life Care also offer remote monitoring and on-site testing. Insight Life Care also offers in-office visits where you are the only patient in the clinic.

Convenience, consistency, and cost are key for the ideal physician-patient relationship

When considering your healthcare, convenience, consistency, and cost are all going to be driving factors for maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship. In terms of cost, concierge medicine is affordable, with Insight Life Care offering a membership-based model starting at $150 per month. You will also get access to a doctor within 24 hours. Lastly, your doctor will be able to see you at your convenience, whether you are traveling and need telemedicine, or wish to have your doctor visit you while in your own home.

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM