Four hours later, you leave with a prescription you know nothing about and little to no reassurance. In fact, no one even screened for strep, much less mono. (Yes, you’ve told them you’re extremely tired. But that went unnoticed.)
You feel like a needle in a haystack, lost in the world of modern healthcare. No one seems to listen, and you HATE it.
Later in the day, you run into your friend Gina, who is also ill, while picking up your prescription. It’s hard not to notice the scowl on your face.
“Bad day at the doctor?” she says, as you now start to cough. This is a new symptom.
“That’s an understatement,” you respond. My doctor couldn’t get me in for weeks, so I sat at a quick care clinic for almost four hours.”
“Let me in on a little secret,” says Gina. “You need a doctor who practices concierge medicine. My life couldn’t be easier. In fact, I got in the same day I called.”
“Say what?” you think. “What the heck is that?”
Welcome to the future of modern medical care, otherwise known as concierge medicine. These doctors are often referred to as private physicians, concierge physicians, or direct care doctors. And they make life while sick a heck of a lot easier.
Concierge medicine is a sort of VIP club that patients belong to. In the world of concierge medicine, physicians focus on fewer patients, which means more time for “yours truly.” In other words, if you get in with the right practice, the days of waiting just may become part of the past.