Concierge Care

As healthcare has evolved in recent years, both patients and doctors often feel rushed, making it difficult to establish a long-term, personal relationship, which is how Dr. George has always practiced medicine. For many patients and their doctors, concierge care offers a better way forward.

A concierge practice means more time spent with the doctor for a more thorough and unrushed exam. It means collaborative coordination with a wide range of specialists in his network and following up on his referrals. It means patient-centered care that prioritizes overall well-being. It means patient convenience: minimal wait times, both to get an appointment (often same-day) and to see the doctor. It means access to the doctor when you need him, even if it’s after business hours, even if you’re traveling. It means having a doctor you know and trust.

At a concierge practice, patients pay an annual membership fee that gives them access to medical care 24/7. If it’s urgent, patients can reach the doctor through the office, via email or text, or on his personal cellphone.

Many patients are happy to join a concierge practice because it gives them peace of mind, knowing they can contact their physician day or night if necessary. Sometimes a quick call, text or email can answer a question that might, in a regular practice, require an office visit or a long time on hold.

In a survey reported by AARP, 90 percent of concierge patients are satisfied with their care, compared with about 67 percent in traditional health care practices. And almost all — 97 percent — think their doctors take a personal interest in their health care, which is more than one-third higher than those in a regular practice.

Concierge patients also recognize that it saves them time, and they value the convenience of being able to make an appointment on short notice, rather than waiting for weeks or months.