OMG YES. I've heard of this concierge thing (but not experienced it), but I did have a GP whose office similarly transformed... it used to be a waiting room, now it's more of a showcase for my doctor's branded weight loss products and skin treatments. She then started charging me for phone follow-ups and questions, as well as charging me for appointments during the booking process (and refusing to make the appointment without the credit card number)! I have since switched to someone else. Mine did not offer diamonds, however... you so fancy. And yes, I remember the OLDEN days when you could actually call your doctor and ask her reasonable questions. Harumph.
It is difficult being a “have not” these days when it comes to basic services. At least your doctor aka the concierge has not yet referred to her physical place of practice as a boutique clinic. So true and absurd, what you have observed and written.
Her place is now a medi-spa. I got a new doctor I really like. And he better not have shenanigans like this up his sleeve. He seems more blue collar. He has a lot of tats. Fingers crossed
Funny timing for reading this. My husband left for his doctor's appointment at 7am this morning. He was back at 7:10. The doctor's office is 25 minutes away. Um, miracle cure? Miracle driving? Nope, he was 5 minutes into his drive when he got a phone call from the doctor's office saying that said doctor (who shall remain nameless because at this moment I would like to give him a piece of my mind) was a no show. Not as in he was home sick. He just suddenly decided that he was no longer going to practice at that facility. Not even offering a Concierge! Times have changed, that's for sure.
I ended up with an organ failure because my specialist refused to see me. I had a run-of-the-mill infection that morphed into two nastier bugs you get in the IC/U, for example. I was on Cipro, but those “Urgent Care” clinics are staffed by people who don’t know you and at 63, those nurse practitioners did not want to give an old lady like me any antibiotic that could cause tendonitis. So, without treatment long enough to kill an infection, I spent the next 4 1/2 weeks to try and get appointments at a new specialist’s office and at my primary care docs. I had nothing in terms treatment for over a month. I finally shelled out $200 dollars to see a smart naturopath and got in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech told me I needed to be seen in the emergency room. This really was my first clue I had something really wrong. This boutique form of medicine is hitting the mind set of all physicians. As an elder with Medicaid, they want me to die. At this point, an ice floe treatment for those no longer productive enough to afford boutique doctors is probably where I am headed. All of this is so much crap.
Holy wow, over the top doesn’t even begin to capture this.
I just recently got a breakup letter from my GP--no invite to diamond parties or discounted Botox (or info about where she was going and why), just that she’s no longer be part of the practice. Having recently heard of concierge docs, I had a moment of wondering. My last recent appointment with her--an annual--had made me think, she either really dislikes her work or is having a very bad day.
My doc has pamphlets with Lindsey Vonn touting Quviviq. I asked him how to pronounce it. He glanced at her photo and said, “Vonn, like the German word von. I've got your test results back." I still don't know how to pronounce Quviviq but my cholesterol is under control.
Lol. Jeez. Do you think that patients will need a prescription to buy diamonds? And if this doctors handwriting is typical, what color will the diamonds be?
Oh God. I have never even heard of this before. Thank you for writing about it, Merrill. As always, you are a very funny lady. It’s so disturbing, though.
I love my doctor. She saved my life by carefully keeping track of me, then calling a specialist to meet me in the ER. He arrived after hours in a suit and tie. He reviewed my records and told me he had a hunch. He followed through on it. He ordered every test in the book. It took 9 days for them to confirm what was wrong with me. He was correct. A whole team was involved. He came every day to see me in the hospital. Now I’m fine. I am so grateful and thankful.
Very sorry to hear of the problems others have had getting good care.
I’ll add this: Instead of all the expensive skin products, remember that you can always resort to washing your face with a frying pan.
Haaaaaaaaa. Never hurt Dan. He went on to be a legend. And witnesses said he had the tiniest pores imaginable. Beautiful beautiful skin. That was the forgotten verse.
I have had some docs who were, let’s say, from the bottom of their grad class? A specialist who decided I did not really have RA because I could not provide pictures of my joints which should be swollen and red - at every visit to her office?!? Oh oops they did not get the memo to bring selfies!
Because she really loves $$$ I am quite surprised she did not have concierge visits! Maybe she does now if she is still in practice !
This is excellent because it absolutely happens & one has to laugh!! Or spend $$ on a concierge attorney!!
OMG YES. I've heard of this concierge thing (but not experienced it), but I did have a GP whose office similarly transformed... it used to be a waiting room, now it's more of a showcase for my doctor's branded weight loss products and skin treatments. She then started charging me for phone follow-ups and questions, as well as charging me for appointments during the booking process (and refusing to make the appointment without the credit card number)! I have since switched to someone else. Mine did not offer diamonds, however... you so fancy. And yes, I remember the OLDEN days when you could actually call your doctor and ask her reasonable questions. Harumph.
It is difficult being a “have not” these days when it comes to basic services. At least your doctor aka the concierge has not yet referred to her physical place of practice as a boutique clinic. So true and absurd, what you have observed and written.
Her place is now a medi-spa. I got a new doctor I really like. And he better not have shenanigans like this up his sleeve. He seems more blue collar. He has a lot of tats. Fingers crossed
Funny timing for reading this. My husband left for his doctor's appointment at 7am this morning. He was back at 7:10. The doctor's office is 25 minutes away. Um, miracle cure? Miracle driving? Nope, he was 5 minutes into his drive when he got a phone call from the doctor's office saying that said doctor (who shall remain nameless because at this moment I would like to give him a piece of my mind) was a no show. Not as in he was home sick. He just suddenly decided that he was no longer going to practice at that facility. Not even offering a Concierge! Times have changed, that's for sure.
Since she is now a professional concierge, hopefully she can recommend a good doctor in the area.
haaaa. Great. If I had thought of that, I would have closed with it!
I ended up with an organ failure because my specialist refused to see me. I had a run-of-the-mill infection that morphed into two nastier bugs you get in the IC/U, for example. I was on Cipro, but those “Urgent Care” clinics are staffed by people who don’t know you and at 63, those nurse practitioners did not want to give an old lady like me any antibiotic that could cause tendonitis. So, without treatment long enough to kill an infection, I spent the next 4 1/2 weeks to try and get appointments at a new specialist’s office and at my primary care docs. I had nothing in terms treatment for over a month. I finally shelled out $200 dollars to see a smart naturopath and got in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound tech told me I needed to be seen in the emergency room. This really was my first clue I had something really wrong. This boutique form of medicine is hitting the mind set of all physicians. As an elder with Medicaid, they want me to die. At this point, an ice floe treatment for those no longer productive enough to afford boutique doctors is probably where I am headed. All of this is so much crap.
That sounds awful. I am sorry you are going thru it and hope you come out the other side in good shape.
Holy wow, over the top doesn’t even begin to capture this.
I just recently got a breakup letter from my GP--no invite to diamond parties or discounted Botox (or info about where she was going and why), just that she’s no longer be part of the practice. Having recently heard of concierge docs, I had a moment of wondering. My last recent appointment with her--an annual--had made me think, she either really dislikes her work or is having a very bad day.
Yikes! Thanks for sharing.
Don’t give the U.S. Postal Service any ideas.
My doc has pamphlets with Lindsey Vonn touting Quviviq. I asked him how to pronounce it. He glanced at her photo and said, “Vonn, like the German word von. I've got your test results back." I still don't know how to pronounce Quviviq but my cholesterol is under control.
I have never heard of Quviviq but I have a feeling that, after a number of treatments, your friends will tell you that you look "refreshed."
Lol. Jeez. Do you think that patients will need a prescription to buy diamonds? And if this doctors handwriting is typical, what color will the diamonds be?
Oh God. I have never even heard of this before. Thank you for writing about it, Merrill. As always, you are a very funny lady. It’s so disturbing, though.
I love my doctor. She saved my life by carefully keeping track of me, then calling a specialist to meet me in the ER. He arrived after hours in a suit and tie. He reviewed my records and told me he had a hunch. He followed through on it. He ordered every test in the book. It took 9 days for them to confirm what was wrong with me. He was correct. A whole team was involved. He came every day to see me in the hospital. Now I’m fine. I am so grateful and thankful.
Very sorry to hear of the problems others have had getting good care.
I’ll add this: Instead of all the expensive skin products, remember that you can always resort to washing your face with a frying pan.
Haaaaaaaaa. Never hurt Dan. He went on to be a legend. And witnesses said he had the tiniest pores imaginable. Beautiful beautiful skin. That was the forgotten verse.
😆
I have had some docs who were, let’s say, from the bottom of their grad class? A specialist who decided I did not really have RA because I could not provide pictures of my joints which should be swollen and red - at every visit to her office?!? Oh oops they did not get the memo to bring selfies!
Because she really loves $$$ I am quite surprised she did not have concierge visits! Maybe she does now if she is still in practice !
This is excellent because it absolutely happens & one has to laugh!! Or spend $$ on a concierge attorney!!
Bravo again maam!!
I'm laughing but it's nervous laughter from suddenly seeing that every doctor will soon be offering these services.
So your 4 month old baby can get rid of that double chin and your 94 year old granny can get lip fillers.
And both can get diamonds!
A delight as always!
Thank you for the heads up and the yearn for the days when an MD didn’t intern at the Hilton.
My dental group is going concierge. How do I find a blue collar dentist 😁
Call one who advertises on a bench or a bus?
This is madness. Thank you for entertaining us without a concierge charge... yet.
Sweet Ceiling Cat, the market gods have not been kind to your physician's retirement plans. Or maybe they have...