KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasConcierge Medicine is a Growing Trend

Concierge Medicine is a Growing Trend

Most of us know the frustration of spending hours in a doctor's office waiting room, or not being able to get an appointment for weeks or even months. But for patients willing to pay a hefty price, a doctor visit can be immediate and quick.

It's commonly called "concierge medicine." The Eye on Health team talked to a local doctor and patient who are taking part in one plan.

Las Vegas resident Carolyn Danzig used to wait two to three hours to see her primary care doctor, William Schofield. And for a while she dropped his services all together. But when Dr. Schofield switched to concierge, or boutique-style medicine, Danzig came back.

Danzig said, "To be able to pick up the phone at any time and say, 'I need to be seen' and you're seen that day. And also, if it's a 2:00 appointment, you're seen at 2:00, not 3:00."

Dr. Schofield signed up with a concierge medicine company called MDVIP. Patients pay a fee of $1,500 to have prompt access to their physician. They also get a one-hour complete physical examination.

The advantage for the doctor is a greatly reduced patient load. Dr. Schofield's practice went from 2,600 to only 554. "Economically, I'm making less now than I was before. We were in a wonderful, very busy practice. But the quality, of what I felt I wanted to do with my patients was suffering," Dr. Schofield explained.

But not everyone can afford a luxury fee for health care. And other doctors now have to pick up the workload that concierge doctors leave behind. Low reimbursement rates, however, and long work hours may have more doctors checking into concierge medicine.

Dr. Schofield believes the American health care system is overdue for a change. "Unfortunately," the doctor said, "it's become an efficiency factory. How efficiently can we move these patients through without spending any money on them? And that's the big frustration."

The fee for this plan does not cover routine medical bills, including lab tests. There are currently ten physicians in the valley who have joined MDVIP. 

Email your comments to Anchor Paula Francis or Medical Producer Rick Andrews.