About Concierge Medicine
Concierge medicine is a model of medical practice that emphasizes enhanced and personalized care dedicated to a smaller group of patients. In concierge medicine, patients pay an annual/retainer fee in exchange for greater access, time, and high-quality comprehensive primary and preventative care with physicians in an unhurried setting. Physicians devote quality time and attention to 200 to 600 patients compared to the conventional physician who typically oversees 2,000 to 4,000 patients. Although the concept of concierge medicine dates back to 1996, the relentless financial and administrative pressures from insurance companies have recently led to a significant growth in physicians either currently practicing or changing to this model of medical practice. Long Beach Internal Medical Group is a concierge medical practice that has been providing high-quality primary care since 2008.
Unfortunately, healthcare under the traditional model has become increasingly institutionalized and impersonal as medical offices are typically characterized by inadequate access to doctors and appointments, long waits, 8-10 minute “one problem only” appointments, and poor coordination of primary/specialty care. This has resulted in a healthcare system in which the physician-patient relationship has deteriorated, patient satisfaction is low, and healthcare outcomes are worse. Concierge medicine evolved from an innovative model of medical practice to one of necessity for many physicians who are passionate about providing high-quality primary and preventative healthcare in a more personalized manner. Misconceived as a luxury only for the wealthy, concierge medicine is currently affordable across all income brackets. Many concierge medical practices charge an annual fee that amounts to about $150 per month, which is on par with what many pay for their cell phone services, cable television/internet services, and daily Starbucks coffee.
As more physicians turn to concierge medicine as a vehicle for providing enhanced primary and preventative medical care, patients are becoming more aware and embracing its benefits. There are many variations of concierge medicine with differences in the level of services provided, accessibility to doctors, payment structure, and additional perks. At Long Beach Internal Medical Group, these benefits include longer appointment times (minimum of 30 minutes), same or next day appointments, 24/7 physician availability, a focus on preventative care, comprehensive annual physicals, and hospital care by your physician rather than hospitalists who do not know you. These benefits create conditions in which our physicians provide personalized healthcare for acute/chronic illnesses while emphasizing preventative care and maintaining strong, collaborative physician-patient relationships.
Specializing In Internal Medicine/Primary Care Including:
- Wellness
- Disease Prevention
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Cancer Screening
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal Conditions
- Hypertension
- Vaccinations
