Overloaded Physicians

All of the professionals in our healthcare system struggle under the crushing weight of cost control measures imposed by insurers and medical institutions, which force doctors to minimize the time they spend assessing, treating, and discussing options with patients and their families. Protecting a family in an overtaxed healthcare system requires expertise. The statistics on medical errors, while often quoted, are still disturbing. In the United States, over 70,000 people die every year because of preventable medical errors that occur in hospitals. That means these avoidable mistakes kill more people than breast cancer or traffic accidents, making medical errors the eighth leading cause of death in the country. The report found that these errors were not the result of individual recklessness on the part of caregivers, but basic flaws in the organization of the American healthcare system. The treatment of over 50% of patients with diabetes, hypertension, tobacco addiction, hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure, asthma, depression, and other chronic illness is inadequate. Due to cost constraints and resource limitations, doctors are not able to spend adequate time with their patients and do not necessarily have access to information on all available forms of treatment. In addition, when patients see more than one doctor, their care, medical records, and medications are rarely effectively coordinated. The burden of managing treatment most often falls on the shoulders of the patient and family who are already overwhelmed by having to deal with a serious illness. The average office visit is 10 minutes and physicians may be seeing as many as 40 patients a day. In addition, there are long waits for rushed appointments, the confusion about what types of care are available and best suit the needs, and the stress of navigating the U.S. healthcare system. When dealing with a serious medical situation, it is only natural to be overwhelmed. People tend to be confused about their options and too distracted or upset to ask the important questions. IPA Health provides private health management services.

More Resources

Concierge medicine goes by many names, boutique medicine, retainer medicine, executive health, VIP medicine, and personalized medicine. By any name, concierge medicine is the solution for doctors trying to maintain their integrity and independence in today’s difficult healthcare environment. Concierge medicine is a new style of practice with old roots, in which doctors limit their patient base in order to provide patients with personalized service, high quality care, 24-7 availability, and other amenities. In exchange for this enhanced personal attention, patients pay physicians an annual fee. This concierge fee enables physicians to increase their compensation while managing their workload. In addition to receiving an annual fee, most concierge physicians continue to receive reimbursements from health plans and private pay clients. Concierge medicine is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors provide enhanced care. Other terms in use include boutique medicine, retainer-based medicine, and innovative medical practice design. The practice is also referred to as membership medicine, concierge health care, cash only practice, direct care, direct primary care, and direct practice medicine. While all concierge medicine practices share similarities, they vary widely in their structure, payment requirements, and form of operation. In particular, they differ in the level of service provided and the amount of the fee charged. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery