A concierge approach to medicine

Dr. William M. Healy spent 26 years building a practice of 2,000 patients yet felt that he rarely had enough time amid the paperwork and bureaucracy to listen and think about their concerns.

So he did what a small but growing number of frustrated doctors are doing about job satisfaction.

Healy started charging a $1,650 annual fee and told patients who agreed to pay it that they would get greater access, quick appointments, longer visits, and house calls.