These services are more than routine doctor visits, and they give people the chance to represent their healthcare needs as they see fit.
Knowing what concierge medicine exists can help you understand your options and how to best design your approach to personal care. Explore the world of concierge medicine to uncover how it can make premium medical attention accessible to you and your care needs.
What Is Concierge Primary Care?
Generally, primary care physicians (PCPs) are the doctors responsible for addressing day-to-day health concerns, from preventive treatments to managing chronic conditions. In concierge medicine, primary care comes with a membership fee that helps you receive more premium services.
Premium care can involve various benefits, like more time to see your doctor, easier appointment-setting and 24/7 access to your provider outside the office. Concierge general practitioners (GPs) are an excellent option for people who may have chronic conditions or have a strong desire to maintain preventive care. A concierge GP can help you stay healthy through cold and flu season and respond to the health concerns that are unique to you.
Why do people choose concierge medicine over direct primary care? If you’re focused on staying healthy all year long, the healthcare system may not be the best for supporting your needs. Finding a doctor in itself can be challenging, and you have to wait weeks or even months for appointments. Once you make it to your appointment, your GP may only have five minutes with you to discuss your health needs.
Concierge primary care defies the shortcomings of the healthcare system and gives you the care you need, when you need it.
Limitations of a Concierge GP
Concierge medical care with a GP may address a majority of your health needs, but it has limitations. Primary care providers can only manage so many medical concerns. For example, a person with endometriosis would receive better care through an endocrinologist, not a PCP. If your concierge physician identifies your endometriosis, they will refer you to a specialist, and your premium care stops there.
In addition to the lack of specialization, a concierge GP is likely not the best resource for emergency health needs. While a PCP can give you basic care, they’re not the professional to turn to when you need immediate surgery, advanced imaging or other services found in emergency rooms.
Working with a concierge GP is an option, but it may not address your most pressing health needs, especially for those emergencies outside of standard office hours. Fortunately, concierge medicine extends further than primary care.
How Concierge Medicine Goes Beyond Primary Care
The world of concierge medicine reaches much further than primary care, allowing you to access premium medical attention in the areas you need it most.
Concierge medicine can involve any specialty or type of care, and it’s up to you to decide which memberships best suit your needs and lifestyle. You may choose concierge primary care in addition to one of these specialties, or you may only hold one membership. Looking at the possible options can help you understand which ones are right for you — concierge medicine is most effective when you get the most possible services from your membership. Explore a few of the concierge care services that exist.
Cardiologists
Concierge cardiologists specialize in all needs related to the heart, and they’re best suited for those with family histories or high risks of heart attacks, hypertension, heart defects and other related issues. For those with any of these conditions, this membership can be valuable, but these premium services aren’t suitable for everyone.
Endocrinologists
Endocrinologists treat various hormonal disorders and other problems rooted in the endocrine system. A concierge endocrinologist can be valuable for those with diabetes, thyroid disorders, endometriosis, pituitary conditions and much more.
As with cardiology, a concierge endocrinologist is only valuable to those with hormone disorders and conditions that require strong and consistent relationships with your care providers. A specialty like this won’t be useful to every person.
EMTs
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide on-site emergency services and transport patients to the nearest medical facilities. There are EMTs with concierge medicine models for immediate access to medical transport.
This type of concierge care may be ideal for those who are older and more at risk of emergency illnesses like stroke and heart attacks. However, the premium services will typically only apply to on-site visits and transportation. Once you’re at the medical facility, the care comes directly from the hospital without membership status.
Travel Care
Concierge travel care extends premium medical service to members regardless of where they are. These services can be beneficial for those who travel frequently and want peace of mind while they’re away from home. With these concierge services, you don’t have to face the challenges of navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system.
Different providers may offer varying limitations on travel services. Some memberships may operate worldwide, while others only work in specific countries. If travel concierge medicine seems right for you, research the conditions of your membership to work with the best arrangement for your lifestyle.
The Sollis Difference — Introducing Emergency Concierge
You might be looking for a primary care doctor to help find treatment, but with concierge medicine from Sollis Health, you can experience premium urgent care for every unexpected health need. We take care of all your health concerns — whether you need emergency treatment or your health questions answered.
For example, you may experience a severe headache and shortness of breath, but looking up these symptoms reveals multiple possible illnesses. Take the guesswork out of your healthcare, and turn to the Sollis team for questions and diagnostics at any time of the day or night. Other possible scenarios where our emergency services are essential include:
- Slipping and falling on ice in the winter
- Getting a tick bite during a camping trip
- Spiking a fever in the middle of the night
Sollis can handle 90% of the services that emergency rooms offer. Whether you’re looking for standard treatment for the flu, emergency care for a broken bone or anything in between, you can rest easy knowing that Sollis is here for you 24/7, every day of the year. We are fully prepared to meet your needs, and with our extensive medical connections, we can help you gain access to more specialized care if required. It’s like having a doctor in the family.
Rather than turning to a GP for emergencies only to have them recommend an ER visit, experience seamless emergency care with Sollis.
Sollis Health Supports Every Health Need
On top of our emergency care, we help you navigate the black hole of medicine. When you need care we can’t address at our facilities, we jump through the administrative hoops, so you don’t have to. Sollis can set you up with appointments through a network of over 500 specialists to connect with the right professional for your care needs.
We even support you away from home. If you’re in a different state or country and face a medical issue, an unfamiliar medical system can add stress to an already challenging situation. Count on our team to advocate for you anytime, anywhere.
As a Sollis member, you’ll have access to our concierge medical services, including:
- Unlimited access to physicians
- Expedited specialist access
- On-site access to various levels of care
- Same-day access to imaging and lab results
- House calls and virtual visits
- Emergency care
- Travel care
- Care coordination
From emergency to no urgency, and everything in between, we help you craft a treatment program and coordinate your care through every step of your journey. With Sollis Health, you can rest assured that you’re taken care of.
Contact Us Today
At Sollis Health, our concierge medicine services offer the care you need the moment you need it. Our physicians put your needs first and spend plenty of time with you to ensure you’re in the best physical and mental health. With us, you gain peace of mind, knowing you will always receive immediate, reliable and thoughtful medical care.
Become a Sollis member or contact us today to learn more about personalized concierge medicine.