Doctors that are available 24-7 could be mistaken as emergency room doctors. However, concierge physicians are also called 24-hour doctors, because they are available for their patients 24 hours a day, or throughout the mornings, evenings, and even on weekends, in the situation that they may need a medical provider’s care or guidance. Concierge doctors are able to offer this level of care by having limited patients under their care who pay an annual retainer fee for medical services.
Concierge doctors treat everything that typical primary care doctors treat, such as illnesses like the flu and infections, as well as minor issues like wounds, minor burns, and colds. However, unlike typical primary care doctors, who are available during business hours only, concierge doctors understand that health issues can develop at any time and on any day of the year – which is why they offer around the clock access to medical care and advice.
Are Concierge Physicians Available for Emergencies?
Yes, concierge physicians treat patients with non-life-threatening emergencies, especially those requiring urgent care for chronic diseases. Concierge physicians not only treat medical conditions requiring urgent care but also provide preventive and chronic disease management services. In fact, the goal is to prevent medical emergencies from happening and reduce hospital visits.
Concierge medicine is especially beneficial for patients with age-related medical conditions, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions. However, even without a chronic medical condition, you can still benefit from concierge medicine services if you don’t like waiting days or weeks to see a doctor, or if you want to have a close relationship with your primary care doctor so that you receive quality, focused care.
What Are the Benefits of Concierge Medical Care?
Here are some of the benefits of concierge medicine:
- Comprehensive and personalized care When you see a concierge doctor, they will have more time to get to know you and your health needs, because they have a limited number of patients under their care. This means that they can provide more comprehensive and personalized care than if you saw a traditional primary care doctor.
- A long-term relationship with your doctor Seeing a concierge doctor over time allows for better continuity of care. This type of relationship also gives the physician a chance to really get to know their patients, which leads to better overall care.
- No long waits for appointments Because concierge doctors typically have fewer patients, you won’t have to wait as long for appointments. Furthermore, concierge physicians usually offer same-day appointments if you have an urgent medical need.
- High patient satisfaction With longer appointment times, flexibility in scheduling appointments, greater continuity of care, and more individualized attention from a 24-hour doctor, patient satisfaction at a concierge medicine practice is often much higher compared with other types of traditional healthcare providers.
Concierge care doctors can treat emergencies, but they may not be the best option for every emergency. If you have a life-threatening emergency, you should go to the nearest hospital or emergency room. However, for anything else, a concierge doctor is your go-to medical professional.
24-Hour Concierge Physician in Tucson, AZ
Dr. Robert Lending is an internal medicine doctor providing superior and personalized concierge medicine services. If you want to find out how our concierge medicine services can help you, call our clinic today at (520) 795-4291, or use our convenient appointment request form.