Would you hire a concierge doc for your OWN primary care?

[northernpsy]

Thinking about the recent trend in concierge medicine made me wonder: have you / would you hire a concierge PCP for your own care? I think many of us have had frustrations with the conventional system from the perspective of the doctor but I am curious about how many folks who are in the thick of primary care have opted out when they're the patient (or plan to if you're not yet in a position to afford concierge fees).

(I'm not sure how common it is among docs, but I personally choose to avoid seeing docs who are friends/colleagues for my own care just to make sure there isn't any ethical weirdness from treating a "friend" or having to see someone at a staff meeting after telling them in an office visit about an embarrassing health issue)

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[simpler2]

"physician, heal thyself"

I don't see why I would waste money paying for something I am capable of handling myself, especially paying a premium for someone else to do this. I realize that there are different takes on self management of health problems by even primary care providers in my own system. I personally have never seen the need to see one of my colleagues beyond asking them to order a lab/vaccine for me or place a referral to appease the insurance gods.

 

[nlax30]

I use a person I know well, respect and trained under for some of my training as my PCP. First off I think there has to be mutual trust and I don't have a problem with telling them very personal details if needed. True, most of this stuff I could handle myself but honestly I wanted someone more objective and needed the accountability of actually seeing someone. I've had to see a local specialist for a recent issue that came up and honestly with the professional courtesy that was extended to me I don't see the need to have a concierge doc.

 

[tatsuchi]

I realize that there are different takes on self management of health problems by even primary care providers in my own system.

I've literally never seen any attending or other physician advocate for managing their own health themselves. It's careless, biased, and likely illegal as you cannot document for treatments on yourself and frankly just asking for the state board to audit you and take your license.

 

[KnuxNole]

Thinking about the recent trend in concierge medicine made me wonder: have you / would you hire a concierge PCP for your own care? I think many of us have had frustrations with the conventional system from the perspective of the doctor but I am curious about how many folks who are in the thick of primary care have opted out when they're the patient (or plan to if you're not yet in a position to afford concierge fees).

(I'm not sure how common it is among docs, but I personally choose to avoid seeing docs who are friends/colleagues for my own care just to make sure there isn't any ethical weirdness from treating a "friend" or having to see someone at a staff meeting after telling them in an office visit about an embarrassing health issue)

I would in a heartbeat

 

[simpler2]

I've literally never seen any attending or other physician advocate for managing their own health themselves. It's careless, biased, and likely illegal as you cannot document for treatments on yourself and frankly just asking for the state board to audit you and take your license.

I looked into the issue more in depth in residency and just did another search of any state boards with specific regulations against self/family treatment. I have never and cannot currently find any board that forbids the practice. A few rare boards recommend against it. I know I am in the minority in my opinion. I think it is an interesting topic and have never found any personal compelling reasons not to treat self and family (granted this has always been limited and urgent care in nature). This is a more complicated subject than I feel should simply be answered with a black and white blanket response. There are certainly extremely rural areas where it would be ethically unjustifiable NOT to provide self or family treatment as this could delay or prevent proper treatment. Found this interesting article in a Canadian journal on the topic: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726082/

Just because a practice is common, does not mean it is correct or necessarily justified.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I wouldn't even know where to find a concierge doc.

 

[northernpsy]

Interesting responses. I too have had "professional courtesy" experiences but I also feel like even in those situations, docs in the conventional system generally have packed schedules and are juggling plenty of patients, which has at times made me wonder if that affects care even when the doc is trying his/her best to give time and consideration to you. Even if some of the docs I have seen as a patient are happy to spend extra time discussing things in more detail because they know I am a physician too, at times I have felt kind of guilty delving into things when I KNOW the domino effect of clinic getting off schedule.
I do think the discussion here of whether those of us in the biz even need our own docs is interesting.
I guess the way I see it is that even when it comes to something simple, it does seem important to have someone who can be more objective about my health since I do think sometimes we can have blind spots or denial when it comes to our own health. I remember once hearing a story (perhaps an urban legend) about a cardiologist who died of an MI clutching some antacids.
Of course, I am female, and I would expect that female docs are probably more likely to seek formal medical care for themselves than male docs are. Perhaps I could do a Pap smear on myself but I don't really want to.

 

[mabinante]

Just graduated residency and signed up with a DPC doc and Liberty Direct. $400/mo for my whole family of 5 with basically a $1000 deductible and then covered at 100% up to $1m per incident? Can't beat it.

 

[simpler2]

With my employer $200/mo for family of 5 with $10 copay for any visit of any purpose in system and includes dental. $400-600 deductible for hospital care. No incident coverage limits that I am aware of.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I looked into the issue more in depth in residency and just did another search of any state boards with specific regulations against self/family treatment. I have never and cannot currently find any board that forbids the practice. A few rare boards recommend against it. I know I am in the minority in my opinion. I think it is an interesting topic and have never found any personal compelling reasons not to treat self and family (granted this has always been limited and urgent care in nature). This is a more complicated subject than I feel should simply be answered with a black and white blanket response. There are certainly extremely rural areas where it would be ethically unjustifiable NOT to provide self or family treatment as this could delay or prevent proper treatment. Found this interesting article in a Canadian journal on the topic: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726082/

Just because a practice is common, does not mean it is correct or necessarily justified.

I'm with you to an extent. I do minor things for myself and family (refill my own allergy meds, my wife's Wellbutrin (stable on since before we met), I have urine dipsticks at the house for her occasional bladder infections and antibiotics for same). I see my PCP once/year at least for blood work, Crestor refills, and general check up (my wife does the same with her GYN for exam and OCPs). I think its wise to have a PCP even if you only go once/year to chat, that way if something does come up you have a place to go.

Now that being said, my state is notoriously lenient on discipline. If I lived somewhere that wasn't, I would probably not do what I do for family.