CONCIERGE CARE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between concierge medicine and a traditional PCP?
The main difference is time, access, and continuity of care. Traditional primary care physicians often manage large patient panels and must work within shorter appointment times. Concierge practices typically care for fewer patients, allowing physicians to spend more time with each person and provide greater accessibility. This model allows for longer visits, more proactive preventive care, closer follow-up, and greater coordination with specialists. The goal is not simply more convenient access to a doctor, but a deeper, ongoing physician-patient relationship focused on your overall health and long-term goals.
What is academic concierge medicine?
Academic concierge medicine combines the personalized access and continuity of concierge care with the clinical expertise and perspective of academic medicine. It is typically provided by physicians with experience in teaching, research, or major academic medical centers. The approach emphasizes evidence-based medicine, thoughtful clinical judgment, preventive care, and coordination with specialists, while giving patients the time and physician access needed for individualized medical decision-making.
How do I choose a concierge doctor in Boston?
When choosing a concierge doctor in Boston, look beyond convenience and availability. Consider the physician’s clinical experience, training, hospital affiliations, areas of expertise, and ability to coordinate care across Boston’s major medical centers. The right physician should understand your medical history and long-term goals, provide proactive preventive care, and be able to guide complex decisions when health issues arise.
What is the role of a concierge physician when I already have multiple specialists?
A concierge physician can serve as the central coordinator of your care, helping ensure that recommendations from different specialists fit together as a coherent plan. Specialists provide essential expertise in their individual fields, but they may not always have the opportunity to see the whole picture. Your concierge physician integrates information across specialties, monitors medications and potential conflicts, helps prioritize recommendations, and guides medical decisions based on your overall health and goals.
Does insurance or Medicare cover concierge medicine?
Generally, health insurance and Medicare do not cover the concierge membership fee, which pays for enhanced services and access that are not typically covered by insurance. However, many concierge practices continue to accept Medicare or private insurance for covered medical services, such as office visits. Laboratory tests, imaging, specialist visits, and hospital care may also be billed to insurance in the usual way.
What geographic area does your practice serve?
We are conveniently located in the center of Boston metro area, within short driving distance from Back Bay, Cambridge, Lexington, Waltham, Newton, Wellesley and other suburban towns.
What should I look for in a concierge physician for an elderly parent?
Look for a physician with broad clinical experience, strong judgment, and the ability to manage complex medical conditions. Older adults often see multiple specialists and take multiple medications, making coordination and careful prioritization especially important. The right concierge physician should understand your parent’s overall health, communicate closely with family when appropriate, coordinate specialists and hospital care, and focus not only on treating disease but also on preserving function, independence, and quality of life.
What if I become ill while traveling or away on an extended vacation?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 first. If your problem is minor, please contact me. If you seek care at an emergency room, I will be readily available for phone consultation with you and/or other healthcare personnel.
Is concierge medicine worthwhile for healthy adults?
Yes. For healthy adults over 60, concierge medicine can be especially valuable because the goal is not simply to treat illness, but to preserve health, independence, and quality of life. A concierge physician can provide more individualized preventive care, identify emerging health risks early, coordinate appropriate screening, and follow changes over time. Just as importantly, you have an experienced physician who already knows you and can guide care quickly if a new or complex health issue develops.
When is the right time to consider concierge medicine?
The right time to consider concierge medicine is before you urgently need it. Many people choose concierge care while they are healthy and want a more proactive approach to prevention, aging, and long-term health. It can also be particularly valuable when medical care becomes more complex—such as when you develop multiple health conditions, see several specialists, or need help coordinating important medical decisions. The goal is to establish a trusted physician relationship that supports you both when you are well and when your health needs become more complicated.
Concierge medicine vs executive health programs: what's the difference?
Executive health programs typically provide a comprehensive health evaluation at a specific point in time, often through an annual physical with extensive testing and screening. Concierge medicine provides an ongoing physician relationship throughout the year. Your physician gets to know your health over time, provides preventive and routine care, addresses new medical concerns, and coordinates specialists when needed. Rather than a one-time assessment, concierge medicine offers continuity, accessibility, and long-term medical guidance.