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With long hours, dozens of patients, and tons of administrative responsibilities, it’s no surprise that medical practitioners are getting more and more burnt out. In fact, 35%-54% of nurses and physicians experience substantial symptoms of it in the US (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2019).
Usually, burnout manifests in the form of stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness within their work. Enter, concierge medicine. This new healthcare model is like a boutique approach that has a sort of exclusivity and higher quality.
Overall, concierge medicine is a great solution that helps medical practitioners deal with burnout. Want to learn more about how it is reshaping the doctor-patient relationship and giving doctors more freedom?
In this article, we’ll tell you all about concierge medicine, how it’s different from primary care, and what benefits it gives doctors in fighting against burnout. Let’s dive right in.
What is a concierge doctor?
First off, let’s understand what concierge medicine entails. As it stands, this model for healthcare is known for its higher quality of care and accessibility. But this comes at a price that ranges from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
This retainer fee allows doctors to limit the number of patients they see. Consequently, appointments can last longer and can be more personalized and comprehensive. In other words, a concierge doctor is a practitioner of a boutique clinic that values the quality of care over the quantity of patients.
How is concierge medicine different from primary care for doctors?
There are 3 main differences between concierge medicine and primary care. Whether you’re a doctor or a patient, knowing these differences can help you truly understand the main benefits of concierge medicine.
When comparing concierge medicine to traditional practice models, the number of patients and time spent with each patient is very different. Traditional primary care is usually driven by accepting as many patients as possible, while concierge doctors get to see 6-10 patients per day rather than 20-30 (Robinson-Walker, 2024).
Getting appointments with your doctor at the primary care practice can be a huge hassle. Since concierge doctors have the freedom to take on fewer patients, they can also offer same-day or next-day appointments.
From insurance to paperwork, there are so many administrative pressure points for doctors working at traditional practices. Wouldn’t you want your doctor to be focused only on your well-being?
Although insurance coverage is usually unavailable for retainer fees at concierge care practices, these clinics have tons of benefits that are worth the price tag. A concierge practice usually has better administrative workflows, allowing its medical practitioners to have only patient care on their minds.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. With benefits for both doctors and patients, concierge medicine is truly a win-win situation for those who value and can afford it.
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How does concierge medicine prevent burnout for medical practitioners?
Healthcare should not be rushed. It doesn’t benefit either the patient or their doctor. So, why are doctors going to concierge medicine more and more? Lower patient volumes, more autonomy, and no more burnout are among the reasons.
With turnover-driven healthcare practices all around, finding a doctor who will take enough time to ensure you get the best treatment is important, to say the least. So, let’s talk about how concierge medicine helps patients get a doctor who will give them the highest quality of care.
Lowering patient volumes
Imagine having to see 30 patients within 1 day of work. This can be extremely overwhelming. Not only does it leave minimal time for each patient’s care, but it also leaves no room for quality interactions.
Concierge medicine takes this cause of burnout and gives doctors the space to handle fewer patients. With fewer patients, doctors in concierge medicine can better handle chronic disease management
This is why concierge doctors are known to deliver more personalized care – because they take the time to get to know each of their patients and understand their own unique health needs.
Impact on burnout: Fewer patients mean less stress and a better workload. Overall, this helps prevent exhaustion and frustration, which are the main causes of burnout.
Extending time spent with patients
In a typical primary care doctor’s office, your appointment might be just 10-20 minutes long. If it’s your first time seeing this doctor, a couple of minutes will be barely enough time to understand the patient’s health concerns.
With concierge medicine, appointments can last 30 minutes or even an hour. During this time, a doctor-patient relationship can truly grow, giving your doctor the base they need to complete comprehensive evaluations.
Patients will feel valued and heard. Doctors will not rush to write down a diagnosis. It’s a great experience for both.
Impact on burnout: Your doctor will no longer face a rushed atmosphere, which will reduce stress, and help doctors be thorough, thoughtful, and enjoy their work. This way, the risk of burnout will be majorly reduced.
Boosting the practitioner’s autonomy
Usually, in traditional healthcare settings, medical practitioners might not have much control over their schedules, treatment plans, patient loads, etc. This lack of control can be frustrating, leading, of course, to burnout.
With a concierge medicine practice, doctors can gain back their autonomy and be able to make clinical decisions without excessive administrative interference.
When a doctor has the freedom to apply their professional judgment, they become better equipped to heal their patients.
Impact on burnout: The main way autonomy helps doctors prevent burnout is by ensuring they get higher satisfaction from their job. No more helplessness and frustration that contribute to burnout.
Improving a doctor’s work-life balance
Lastly, let’s not forget the work-life balance of medical practitioners as another one of the biggest benefits of concierge medicine. It’s no secret that work is a huge part of a doctor’s life with long hours and stressful situations. However, it doesn’t have to leave them without a personal life. In fact, this imbalance can become a major driver in burnout for physicians.
A doctor who is working with concierge benefits will have a more flexible schedule, a more manageable patient load, and an overall balanced workflow.
Spending more time with their family and hobbies can help medical practitioners avoid burnout.
Impact on burnout: With a better work-life balance, doctors get to recharge and remain passionate about their work.
All these factors combine and create a better working environment for doctors. Not only does patient care level up, but physicians start enjoying their work more.
Ultimately, concierge care reduces the risk of burnout for medical practitioners and benefits the entire healthcare system.
Conclusion
Concierge medicine is an amazing solution to the issue of burnout among doctors and practitioners. It goes to the root of the problem and solves the issues that cause burnout at the source.
Fewer patients, longer consultations, the feeling of autonomy, and a better work-life balance are among the top concierge benefits that help prevent burnout in this industry.
Overall, concierge care gives doctors the ability to practice medicine in a way that fulfills them as well. Patients get a better quality of care, and doctors don’t get burnout. What’s not to like?
References
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; National Academy of Medicine; Committee on Systems Approaches to Improve Patient Care by Supporting Clinician Well-Being. Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2019 Oct 23. 1, Introduction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK552613/#
- Robinson-Walker, D. (2024, July 17). What is concierge medicine and is it worth the price tag?. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/concierge-medicine/
