Finding a Primary Care Physician Who I Can Partner on My Healthcare Journey

As a nurse case manager, I know having a good primary care physician to partner with on my healthcare journey is essential. I have tried several doctors in my community over the years, but I felt we never were on the same page. They were always so busy; the appointment was on ‘their terms’ so they could check off the boxes instead of listening to me and my concerns.

I had heard about concierge medical practices but thought they were only for ‘rich’ people, so I never really thought this practice was for me.

Recently, I saw a few ads on Facebook about concierge practices in my area. I clicked on one and told them I was interested in information. I did this three times but never heard back from anyone. I crossed them off my list as I was uninterested since they never reached out.

I saw another ad for MDVIP, a concierge practice, also known as direct primary care (DPC). I clicked to learn more, filled in a form with my name and phone number, and pushed send. I got a call the next day. The person who called back explained the program, the cost, and the benefits. He took time to learn what was important to me and what I was looking for in a primary care physician. He told me that each doctor has no more than 400 patients in their panel vs. an average primary care practice with an average panel of 2300. Doctors who moved into concierge medicine do this to have time to meet their patients where they are. Appointments can be made within two weeks, the wait time in the office for the appointment is usually less than 15 minutes, and patient and provider satisfaction levels are above average. I can message the doctor via the patient portal and get an answer the same day.

The website showed a list of doctors in our area. I click on several doctors and read their bios. I learned about their education, certifications, and experience. I picked one doctor whose bio seemed to match what I sought in a primary care doctor. When I contacted the office, we were able to get an appointment within a week!

When we met the doctor, she was pleasant, well-dressed, and receptive. She sat down and asked my husband and me about ourselves. She also shared a little about herself. It was so different from a ‘typical’ medical appointment. I felt relaxed and that the doctor was focused on us.

She told us she wanted to partner to help us maintain our health and prevent problems. She asked us what our healthcare goals were and what our concerns were. She listened to my husband, and I took notes on her laptop. In the end, she summarized her plan for each of us.

As we did not have recent lab work, she ordered blood work and said we should return in a week to discuss the results. When we left, we made our return appointment and felt good about the visit and the doctor.

During the week, we received text messages from the patient portal about the labs as they came in from the doctor. She wrote a note to each of us and said we could talk further when we saw her for the return appointment, but overall, the labs were good.

My husband and I discussed what we wanted to share at the next appointment. We both made a list of things so we would remember them when we saw the doctor.

The 2nd visit went well, and we discussed some educational opportunities they offered through the practice and were part of the program. These tests would tell the doctor more about our health and risk factors. She said she would work with us to develop a plan after this was complete. I asked the doctor if she would follow us if we were admitted to the hospital if one of us were admitted. She said with hospitalists, the PCPs usually don’t follow patients, but she would call the hospitalists to know what was going on, make suggestions, and collaborate with the medical team at the hospital, kind of like our advocate. I like this approach and feel I would have better continuity of care.

So far, I am happy with the service. The office and the doctor are responsive. I am hopeful we have found a doctor with whom we can partner as we progress on our healthcare journey!

Wish us luck!