For physicians considering a shift to membership medicine, the decision can feel daunting. Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP) uses a data-driven approach that helps physicians make informed decisions about transitioning to a membership-based model—ensuring they understand the potential benefits and challenges before taking the plunge.
 

Is Membership Medicine Right for You?

Membership models have come a long way since their inception 25 years ago. Initially, physicians had to adopt a full concierge model, where all the patients in the practice joined as members or had to leave and find a new doctor. CCP changed that 20 years ago when we pioneered the “hybrid model” of concierge medicine, allowing physicians to blend concierge service with their traditional practice. This opened up opportunities for a much wider array of physicians and their patients to benefit from membership medicine.

Today, CCP continues to specialize in the implementation of a full range of membership models, including hybrid, full model and transitional programs. Using our proprietary research and data-driven analysis, we collaborate with each physician to further customize a model to meet their goals and needs.
 

Matching Physicians to the Right Concierge Model

Generally speaking, there are two main concierge medicine models that can help set some initial stakes in the ground:

Classic, Full Model Programs: This is an ideal choice for physicians with large patient panels, those who wish to slow down their pace, doctors who are interested in transitioning closer toward retirement, and any doctor (including specialists) who sees patients on an ongoing basis.

Blended Hybrid Programs: This model significantly broadens the playing field. The flexible nature of the program works well for physicians with smaller practices or doctors who are risk-averse and may prefer to take smaller steps toward membership medicine. It also works well for physicians who want the income boost that comes from concierge medicine, but don’t want to dismiss existing patients.
 
The Role of Data in Predicting Success

It’s essential that physicians have access to reliable, predictive information to help them understand their options. Patient demographics are only part of the picture. CCP’s proprietary research goes much further. We conduct an in-depth analysis of the practice’s patient data, examining various factors such as the number of active patients, the frequency of visits, and, perhaps most importantly, what patients actually think of their physician.

Understanding patient loyalty is crucial. For example, CCP surveys patients to gauge satisfaction and engagement, helping to predict the level of success with each model. These insights have often surprised physicians. We’ve had clients with small practices who were certain they couldn’t support a full model, however, our analysis indicated deep patient loyalty and strong patient support for the program.
Similarly, we worked with a specialist who was skeptical about concierge medicine. After a thorough evaluation, our analysis predicted great success. Initially nervous about being one of the first in their industry to make such a leap, the physician chose to start with a hybrid model. After quickly selling out their hybrid program, as our analysis predicted, they transitioned to a successful full-model program.
 
When the data tells a different story

Sometimes, the data leads to unexpected conclusions. For example, the initial data from a large medical practice in a high-wealth area may seem perfect for a full model program. But upon further examination, the data might reveal issues—such as a younger patient demographic or patients who frequently switch between multiple providers—that suggest a more cautious, hybrid approach would be better initially.

As the old saying goes, “Trust, but verify.” Many physicians come to us when they are at a crossroads in their career, faced with a big decision like whether to sell their practice or make a leap into concierge medicine. Even when the data strongly suggests a full model program will be successful, some physicians may prefer to start with a hybrid model. They want to be absolutely certain before making any decision that could limit their patient panel.

The key is establishing trust in the data and the analysis. Our clients have spent their careers building their practices, and we want to ensure they have accurate information before making a major change.
 
Getting Started with Concierge Medicine

For physicians interested in exploring membership medicine, the process starts with a casual, no-obligation consultation with CCP’s physician development team. Together, we then move forward with HIPAA-compliant data evaluation, ensuring the highest level of security and confidentiality.
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With data-driven insights and an array of flexible models to choose from, CCP helps physicians navigate the complexities of membership medicine with confidence.
 
Conclusion 
 
As membership medicine grows, CCP's data-driven approach—integrating demographic, survey, and performance data collected over two decades—provides physicians, medical groups, and health systems with the tools and insights needed to make informed decisions. Whether transitioning to a hybrid model or adopting a full concierge offering, physicians can trust that CCP's analysis will guide them toward the best path for their unique needs, with the flexibility to make adjustments as they go.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY – November 13, 2024 – Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation’s leading full-service concierge medical service provider, is pleased to announce that Dr. Margaret Greenough, a family medicine specialist in San Luis Obispo, CA, has opened a new medical practice offering patients the Concierge Choice FullFlex™ program. This exclusive full-practice membership model allows physicians and patients to spend more time together in a comprehensive, nurturing environment conducive to good health and wellness.

Dr. Greenough is part of a growing movement of physicians offering CCP’s FullFlex model of concierge medicine. This membership style of medicine limits the size of a physician’s medical practice, allowing for a more personalized approach to wellness with greater connectivity, enhanced lifestyle coaching, and emotional support delivered in a relaxed, convenient practice setting.

Most importantly, Concierge Choice programs offer patients peace of mind. “My patients want to know they will always see me—the doctor they know and trust—when they make appointments,” says Dr. Greenough. “That’s why I felt strongly about opening this kind of practice, where I can make that commitment to patients.”

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

“Welcoming my patients to this new style of medicine has been overwhelmingly positive,” Dr. Greenough adds. “I love having the time to truly get to know my patients, advocate for them and help them navigate their health challenges in a comprehensive, convenient manner. It’s a wonderful way to practice medicine.”

Dr. Greenough’s practice is located at 4251 S. Higuera Street, #701, San Luis Obispo, CA. Her Concierge Choice medical program is available for an annual membership fee. For more information on the program or to join, contact Concierge Choice Physicians at (877) 888-5590.

About Margaret Greenough, MD
Dr. Margaret Greenough is a Family Medicine Specialist in San Luis Obispo, CA with over 10 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from UCLA School of Medicine in 2010 and completed her residency at the University of Michigan in 2013. Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Greenough enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family.

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.

According to a recent survey by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), 92% of medical group leaders report their operating expenses have increased in 2024. It’s no surprise. In fact, this continuing trend has gotten worse over the last few years.

MGMA discusses ways that medical practices and healthcare organizations are attempting to buffer these rising expenses by consolidating facilities and examining other costs. But what if you’ve done that? What if you’ve already squeezed as much as you can from your budget, your operating costs and your providers are maxed out?
Medical practices and healthcare organizations are a unique business. The MGMA article points out that medical practices are “caught between the rock of set payments and the hard place of increased costs.”  They can’t just increase the fee for patient visits, and they can’t keep adding patients without burning out physicians and providers at every level. It can feel overwhelming, like there is no way to bridge this fiscal gap.
There is good news though. Practice managers and administrators are now recognizing the value of membership medicine as a way to substantially increase revenue, particularly in primary care practices that have traditionally underperformed. 

Many healthcare organizations today are adding new, private revenue through membership medicine programs. In fact, at Concierge Choice Physicians, healthcare organizations are now our fastest growing market. We are currently working with hospital systems, regional healthcare groups, not-for-profit institutions, physician-owned medical groups, and even large specialty practices.

Our membership medicine programs come in many shapes and sizes, and they adjust to suit the needs of the healthcare organization and its patients. Some have added a Hybrid Choice™ program, which gives patients the option to join a physician’s concierge program or remain in the traditional practice. Other healthcare organizations have implemented full-model Concierge Choice programs based on high demand from patients. Still others have a mix of both, or have programs that evolve as patients and physicians grow more comfortable.
The point is, today’s membership medicine programs are flexible. They have integrated to become a key part of revenue plans for many large medical groups and organizations. For example, on average, revenue from a typical Hybrid Choice program increases a physician’s revenue by 30%. This easily makes up for the increase in operating expenses, and then some. Simple Hybrid Choice programs have turned primary care practices that were losing money into actual profit centers, not just referral sources.

The financial benefits go beyond just the new, private revenue stream. Think about how much physician burn out and  turnover costs your organization. Physicians who practice membership medicine for even just part of their day report high levels of satisfaction with their job. The slower, more personalized pace allows them to practice the kind of medicine they enjoy in an unhurried environment, without sacrificing revenue. Many practice managers and business administrators are using membership medicine to extend the careers of senior physicians who might otherwise retire. These programs are also being used as a recruitment tool to attract and incentivize new, high-quality physicians.

Membership medicine programs are even being used to attract a more loyal patient base in a competitive marketplace. After all, patients are feeling the same pressure practice managers and physicians are experiencing. They want conveniently scheduled appointments with the physician they always see, the one they prefer, who knows them. They don’t want to be shuffled around to whichever provider has time for them. They want help navigating a complicated healthcare system with several providers. They want to know that when they call, they’ll get a real human on the phone, and they are willing to pay for a membership program to secure that peace of mind.

Practice administrators shouldn’t ignore this opportunity. Consider launching a pilot program of just one or just a small group of physicians as a test. That is how many of the healthcare organizations we work with began. Just one physician is all it takes to recognize the value in membership medicine. Our clients have expanded from there.
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Concierge Choice Physicians has many resources to help practice managers and administrators understand the opportunity in membership medicine. Here are a few articles that offer more detail:

• “The Power of Primary Care: How healthcare organizations are turning a profit-loss center into today’s biggest untapped revenue source”

 

• “Healthcare Organizations Meet Goals with Membership Medicine: Bolster Physician Morale, Improve Retention, Attract New Doctors and Extend Careers

 

• “Case Study: Concierge Medicine and Health System. How the right model works and why.”

 
We also welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your healthcare organization and how our programs might help. Feel free to contact Concierge Choice Physicians at 877.888.5590 or email [email protected].
 

CCP is proud to honor the women physicians we support this September, for Women in Medicine month, and every month!  Watch our short video showcasing the exceptional women physicians we work with.

​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].

Recently, a physician wrote about how access to a patient portal has turned his primary care practice into a reluctant concierge medicine practice, with patients asking questions and expecting quick responses day or night. I could relate. Modern technology is bringing a host of new, unexpected challenges to today’s physicians.
Patient portals may provide a level of ease and efficiency, but, as the physician rightly pointed out, they also create confusion, concern, and more questions. A portal is no substitute for a physician who knows you and your health history and who has the time to consult with you about your test results and the issues that matter to your health and well-being.

This kind of availability and support is concierge medicine, not a traditional medical practice in America today. But not every doctor wants to dismiss patients who may not be able to afford a membership. And not every patient needs this kind of personalized care. Yet, doctors can’t afford to provide this kind of time and attention to the patients who feel they do without receiving proper compensation. That is a simple fact.
That’s why I became convinced a hybrid concierge program is the solution to this problem. I launched my limited-membership program several years ago. Now, I  maintain my traditional practice, seeing all patients. No patients are dismissed or relocated. Yet, those patients who want more time and attention can have it by joining my concierge program. They get the support they want or feel they need, and I am properly compensated for providing that level of service and personalized, timely attention.


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