Hightlights and Details
Enhanced Concierge Care Benefits Included as Part of the Annual Fee
These offerings are not covered by Medicare or by other insurance plans. Our practice size is smaller, which allows us to provide you with the following membership benefits:
Direct communications during business hours.
When you call our office during office hours you will speak with a caring staff member who has a real concern for your health and well-being. If you need to leave a message, your phone call will be returned promptly.
After-hours communications.
If you have an urgent medical problem that occurs outside of our regular office hours, we will use our reasonable best efforts to be available to hear from you. Our goal is to reduce the need for urgent care or emergency room visit. For emergencies, however, always call 911 first.
Little or no office waiting time.
Your time is valued and respected. We will do our best to start your office visit promptly and ensure your time is spent with the doctor, and not waiting for the doctor.
Longer appointments.
We will have time to thoroughly address all your questions and concerns at each appointment, regardless of the reason for your visit. Appointments will generally be scheduled for approximately 30 minutes, but some appointments (for example, a Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment) may be scheduled for approximately 60 minutes, depending on your individual needs.
Extended office hours.
Office visits are best scheduled when the full complement of staff is available. However, should you require an occasional visit outside of our usual office hours, we will certainly do our best to reasonably accommodate you by offering a virtual visit.
Strong focus on preventive medicine and long-term health and wellness.
As part of our commitment to your long-term health and wellness, our philosophy is to educate you about the importance of fitness, weight management, and healthy living. In addition to the clinical services we already offer through our practice, we will assist you to identify and evaluate wellness providers and offerings. This will support your effort to take an active role in managing and maintaining your good health.
Personalized hospital care.
Should you need to be hospitalized, we will make ourselves available when we can to communicate and to serve as an advocate on your behalf, even when you are admitted to a facility at which we do not have privileges. If you wish, unless hospital policy or protocol does not allow, we will do what we reasonably can to remain involved in your care by communicating with the attending physicians who are providing services to you.
Independent or skilled facility care.
Should you need to be in an independent or skilled nursing facility, on a temporary or permanent basis, we will make ourselves available when we can to communicate with those involved with your care, on a case-by-case basis. We will also make ourselves available to your family to address any concerns and offer counsel.
Children of members are welcome.
As a member of our personalized care practice, we will be happy to care for your dependent children ages 6 up to 25 with a reduced membership fee.
“Virtual” consultations and long-distance care.
Whether you are on a brief vacation, living some of the year in a second residence, or otherwise unable to come to the office, we will offer a “virtual” consultation as determined on a case-by-case basis, at our discretion and subject to applicable state law requirements. However, if in our judgment you need to be seen by a local physician, you will be encouraged by us to seek medical attention. We will communicate with you directly, as well as with your treating physician as needed, to support the coordination of your care on health issues that may arise.
Care for visiting relatives and/or friends.
Should your out-of-town family or friends become ill during a short visit to the area, we will be happy to see them in our office and assist with their medical care. We will treat them as though they were a member of our practice without charging a membership fee and simply billing their insurance for the visit or offering our reduced self pay charge if they have no insurance.
Quarterly newsletter on topics relevant to your health and well-being.
We will provide seasonal newsletters on medical subjects of interest to support your good health and well-being.
Travel medicine consultation.
We will offer guidance on CDC recommended inoculations and/or precautions to be taken while traveling.
Seminar groups.
On occasion, we will host meetings to discuss a variety of timely health issues and offer an opportunity for small group interaction.
Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment
In our ongoing efforts to assist you in adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and optimizing your quality of life, you will be encouraged and reminded by our staff to schedule a Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment, regardless of condition or necessity, each year. This is a comprehensive annual visit, unrelated to any illness or injury. It will include a thorough examination, and an appropriate array of screening tests based on age, health status and risk factors. Each person is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to prevention and treatment. Depending on your particular health situation, additional tests (such as blood tests, a colonoscopy, mammogram, etc.) may be recommended. These will be billed by the performing entity, and you or your insurer will be responsible for payment of these tests. We will use the results of our exam to help you develop a plan for the year to improve health and fitness and to address any new or existing health goals. Every patient is advised to have an annual evaluation.
The membership fee does not apply to the Welcome to Medicare assessment or to any annual wellness checkup. Portions of this Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment and associated tests may be “covered” services under Medicare and other commercial insurance plans and will be billed accordingly. The annual membership fee applies only to non-covered components of the Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment.
Our Staff
Our staff is an important part of your experience with our office. They not only have the expertise to advocate on your behalf but will assist you in navigating through other aspects of the medical community when necessary. We have committed ourselves to educate and train young minds aspiring to be future doctors, physician assistants, or nurses by giving them opportunity to work with us.
Insurance Information
Office visit charges are not included in your annual fee. We intend to remain in-network providers with Medicare and most PPO commercial insurance plans. We will submit claims to Medicare and commercial insurance for all covered services and patients will be responsible for deductibles, co-pays and exclusions in accordance with individual insurance plan guidelines. It is our intention that no insurance-covered medical services are included in your annual fee.
As medically indicated, we will make it a priority to refer you to in-network physicians for any necessary consultations and to in-network facilities for diagnostic tests and hospitalizations. Any services rendered by these physicians or facilities will be billed by the performing entity and should likely be covered by your insurer according to in-network fees.