​Dr. Cohen is one of a growing number of specialists in Texas offering the Hybrid Choice, a blended membership model of care through Concierge Choice Physicians. ​The model is unique because it allows Dr. Cohen to continue to care for all his patients—both members and nonmembers. The program is designed as simply an option for patients who want more time, enhanced service and medical advocacy. With the Hybrid Choice, Dr. Cohen is able to provide patients with the highest level of connectivity and the comfort that comes with knowing their trusted doctor is easily within reach.

“When you work with patients who have chronic illness, particularly long-term concerns, you want to make sure they know you are available when they need care. That kind of peace of mind is invaluable,” says Dr. Cohen. “I wanted to offer my patients a way to secure that support, if they feel they need it. This blended approach to concierge medicine, where only those patients who want that kind of enhanced service need to join, is the perfect solution. I’m enthusiastic about the response my program has received so far.”

Membership benefits include: same-day/next-day appointments that are scheduled for longer so patients never feel rushed; a dedicated concierge coordinator at the office to answer calls and facilitate care; direct after-hours support via Dr. Cohen’s private cell number; patient advocacy and enhanced coordination with other specialists and health providers; and a comprehensive annual exam with customized screenings for each patient.

“Specialists in the Dallas area are now facing the same pressure to see more and more patients that primary care physicians have experienced. It’s often difficult to provide the care coordination, advocacy and connectivity that many patients want,” says Keith Elgart, CCP’s Chief Operating Officer. “CCP’s Hybrid Choice works for both doctors and patients. Patients who join get more time and personalized attention from the doctor they know and trust, while physicians—who are often stretched to the breaking point—get to deliver that satisfying style of medicine, without the pressure. We are thrilled to be working with Dr. Cohen and his member patients.”

Dr. Cohen practices at Rheumatology Associates’ Dallas location (8144 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75231) and Irving location (2021 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 515, Irving, TX 75061.) For more information on Dr. Cohen’s Hybrid Choice program, patients can call (877) 888-5590 or email [email protected].

About Stanley Cohen, MD
Dr. Stanley Cohen is a board-certified rheumatologist and internist with Rheumatology Associates, practicing at their Dallas and Irving locations. Dr. Cohen is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Co-Director of the Division of Rheumatology at Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas. He also is Co-Medical Director of Metroplex Clinical Research Center. He is a past president of the American College of Rheumatology and was honored in 2016 with the designation of Master by the American College of Rheumatology. Dr. Cohen completed a degree in biology from the University of Virginia and received his Doctor of Medicine with honors, from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas, and a fellowship in Rheumatology at UT Southwestern/St. Paul University Hospital.

About Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP)
Dedicated to providing real options for patients and physicians, Concierge Choice Physicians™ is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available today—Hybrid and FullFlex™. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any size—from solo physicians to large medical practice corporations—both independent and affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company has worked with more than 500 physicians in 29 states. For more information, please visit www.ccpmd.com.

“Parents today are under a lot of pressure, juggling the needs of children, careers, their homes, and an often complex healthcare marketplace,” says Dr. Wolens. “This program is designed so that I can take some of that stress away. I serve as a trusted resource with the time necessary to help navigate developmental milestones, parenting concerns, medical conditions and care from other healthcare providers children may see. It’s a great solution for parents who want that extra support and I’m happy to now extend this option to the families I care for.”

Program benefits include: an annual consultative appointment with a greater emphasis on developmental milestones, overall wellness, and guidance with any parenting concerns, dedicated hours for Pediatric Choice patients so that appointments are easy to secure, convenient ways to communicate directly, even after hours, coordination of care and medical advocacy with specialists and other healthcare providers, a dedicated staff focused on service, and nutritional counseling.

“Giving patients choices has been the hallmark of CCP’s approach to membership medicine,” says Keith Elgart, Chief Operating Officer at Concierge Choice Physicians. “We are thrilled to now work with Dr. Wolens and help him give Houston families the option to secure the level of care that’s right for them. We look forward to supporting Dr. Wolens and his member families.”

Dr. Wolens’s practice “VIP Pediatrics” is located at 2727 Gramercy Street, Suite 225, Houston, TX 77025. His Pediatric Choice program is available for an annual fee. For more information call (877) 888-5590 or email [email protected]

About Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP)
Dedicated to providing real options for patients and physicians, Concierge Choice Physicians™ is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available today—Hybrid and FullFlex™. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any size—from solo physicians to large medical practice corporations—both independent and affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company has worked with more than 500 physicians in 29 states. For more information, please visit www.ccpmd.com.

I already offer my patients quality care. Why would they pay to join a concierge program?

This is the most common question we get! What we have discovered after decades of research is, the most successful concierge programs are actually headed by physicians who already give their patients a high level of support and service. It turns out, when patients appreciate and value the time their physician spends with them, they are more likely to join.

In a full model concierge program, it’s more clearcut: patients join because they don’t want to leave their trusted physician. In a blended program like CCP’s Hybrid Choice™, patients join because it gives them peace of mind knowing they have a special relationship with the physician they love. The longer appointments and additional time they get is a source of comfort. Patients also join for conveniences, like shorter waits for appointments, easier ways to communicate, and assistance with medical tasks like securing specialist appointments and paperwork.

If I give out my cell phone number, are members going to be calling me and expecting me to answer the phone at all hours? Will it kill my private life?

The answer is unequivocally, no! This is one of the biggest concerns physicians have when they begin looking into concierge care and, fortunately, we find they get over this fear quickly, once their program begins.
It’s an understandable concern. Physicians are used to large patient panels and the thought of all those people having their cell phone number is stressful. But the nature of concierge medicine is different. First of all, the number of patients who are members is far fewer than the number of patients in a traditional practice, so the entirety of a physician’s patient panel won’t have their after-hours contact information. But, even more importantly, concierge members have easy ways to reach you during office hours or via email, therefore they have less need to contact you after hours. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, patients who join a concierge program tend to be the physician’s most loyal and respectful patients, rather than the needy patients who might take advantage. I can’t stress this enough.

​Will I have to make a financial investment to get started?

If you try to launch a concierge program yourself, you will be responsible for all of the startup expenses and all of the expenses that come with managing the program after your launch, like membership fee collection and ongoing sales and marketing. However, if you use a firm to assist you, the costs will vary. At Concierge Choice Physicians, there are next to no upfront costs. CCP handles all of the marketing and implementation expenses. Physician investment is negligible—like setting up a new phone line for concierge members in the office. After your program launches, we have a dedicated team of marketing, sales and accounting professionals that provide robust and ongoing support, all at no expense to the physician or medical practice.

I am a specialist. Can I offer a concierge program?

Yes, specialists can have very successful concierge programs. The nature of concierge medicine is about having a special relationship with patients, not necessarily about providing primary care. The right model is important. Many specialists rely on referrals and often see patients on an episodic basis, therefore they have particular needs. A full concierge practice can work but, often, a blended program—where a specialist continues to see traditional patients for consults, etc., and offers a limited membership program to those patients who they treat on an ongoing basis—works perfectly. We work with many specialists, particularly cardiologists and endocrinologists.

For more answers, visit our Resource Room where we have a collection of informative articles about concierge medicine, or contact us directly at 877.888.5590 or email [email protected].