Many healthcare organizations like Mission Heritage Medical Group are turning to this alternative model to support their physicians and their patients, and membership has been growing. CCP’s Hybrid Choice is an especially good model for physicians associated with vertically integrated medical groups and institutions because it allows them to practice a kind of relaxed, personalized medicine they are passionate about, without dismissing patients or relocating offices. Health systems benefit with a new, private revenue source that exists outside of patient visits, relieving financial pressure and strengthening medical practices. At the same time, a physician’s traditional practice remains in operation, seeing all patients and accepting insurance plans, as before.

“Many patients we see have unique healthcare needs that often require more coordination, time or support,” says Dr. Bedran. “I am thrilled at how this program addresses those concerns and allows me to spend as much time as necessary providing that extra service and convenience that is difficult to find time for in a traditional environment. It’s a great solution.”

“Concierge Choice Physicians is thrilled to welcome new Mission Heritage Medical Group physicians to our family and to continue to grow with them in their mission to serve all in their communities,” say Keith Elgart, Chief Operating Officer at Concierge Choice Physicians.

If you're a physician or executive from a healthcare organization, be sure to check out our upcoming event in NYC on May 16th:
​
"Embrace challenges and Change with Informed Choices: A Symposium on Concierge Medicine in Healthcare Organizations"


For more information on Dr. Bedran’s Hybrid Choice program, call (877) 888-5590 or email [email protected].

Gone are the days where concierge medicine could only exist in private practice! Today, there are flexible models that are uniquely suited to support large, vertically integrated health systems, medical groups and hospitals.  In fact, these healthcare organizations are now CCP's fastest growing market. 

We are currently supporting large medical groups from coast to coast. They include some of the country's most well-known hospital systems, and smaller regional physician groups.  Not-for-profit groups and for-profit.  Even large specialty practices.

There are several reasons these programs are taking off:

1. Healthcare organizations need to find ways to generate revenue, and a new private revenue stream funded by patients outside of visits has proven lucrative.
2. Physicians are experiencing high levels of burnout and fatigue in these often high-pressure environments. The right concierge medicine program allows physicians to practice a more personalized, satisfying style of medicine for at least part of their day, without affecting productivity, relocating offices or dismissing patients.
3. Patients want a more personal connection to their chosen physician. After a stressful period in healthcare, they see the value of a strong doctor/patient relationship and are willing to invest in their health.

Many of the organizations we support started by testing just one physician and growing from there. Oftentimes, it was a single physician or a small physician group with a successful Concierge Choice Physicians program in place that was eventually acquired by a larger group. The acquiring group could see the value the program generated in terms of revenue, physician morale and patient satisfaction, and so they made the business decision to grow the program with new physicians in their network.  In either case, the CCP programs proved successful, satisfying a need in the marketplace with healthcare organizations, their physicians and their patients.

To learn about some of the work we've done with large healthcare organizations:

• Read our latest press release announcing an additional four Weill Cornell Medicine physicians will be offering the Hybrid Choice™ Concierge Program from Concierge Choice Physicians

 

• Read a case study article about how one large medical group started with one physician offering a Concierge Choice program, and expanded to multiple doctors with different program models designed to entice younger physicians and extend the career of senior physicians.

If you are a healthcare executive, or you are a physician who is part of a group and would like to learn more, click here to get on the invite list for our upcoming symposium on Concierge Medicine in Healthcare Organizations.  

Or, as always, give us a call at 877.888-5590 or email [email protected] for a casual chat about our programs and how you might benefit. 

​Cardiologists make up Concierge Choice Physician’s largest specialty group. It’s no surprise. Membership
surveys show that patients consider their cardiologist the most important health provider in their network, the one they turn to before all other physicians for advice, comfort and counsel.

Today, we explore the evolution of a concierge program and practice of one of our many cardiologist clients.

Client: Initially, a cardiologist that was part of a larger group in a busy metropolitan area. Today, a solo
practictioner with a private practice in the same area. The cardiologist was originally affiliated with a cardiology
group that saw thousands of area residents. He had a large and successful practice with many loyal patients who
he treated on a long-term basis. He was highly respected by his medical community and patient base.

Concern: This cardiologist prided himself on establishing strong, personal relationships with his patients in order to move them toward better heart health. As the pressure to see more and more patients mounted, his style of medicine became impossible to sustain. He needed more time.

• His patients came to expect and enjoy longer, relaxed appointments and a comprehensive and compassionate approach to their health.
• Declining reimbursements, productivity measures, and increasing overhead made that style of medicine impossible.
• The cardiologist was looking for a way to satisfy his patients who wanted more time with him, as well as his busy practice, which required him to see a high volume of patients.

How We Got Started: As part of a larger group, the cardiologist had an obligation to his colleagues and his
patients. He didn’t want to enter into a scenario that upend their business structure or style. The physician heard that CCP’s flexible approach to to membership medicine made it possible for specialists like him to benefit and reached out.

CCP analyzed the data from his practice and surveyed his patients. The results confirmed what everyone had suspected: a membership program would be highly advantageous to the cardiologist, and extremely well received by his eager patients.

About the Model: There were several possibilities he could explore, but the cardiologist wished to pace himself and start with a no-risk, blended model called the “Hybrid Choice.” This unique model, exclusive to CCP, would allow him to offer a membership program as a service option. He’d continue to see his traditional patients and his colleagues would not need to change their practice style at all. The program would simply be an option for those patients who wanted more time and support from their cardiologist.

This approach works especially well for specialists, many of whom see patients for episodic care as well as ongoing care. It also allows them to maintain referral relationships and continue to accept insurance and government programs, as before. No patients are dismissed, and the business structure of the practice remains intact. The program operates right alongside the traditional practice, in the same space.

How Did the Program Do?: As predicted, the cardiologist’s program was overwhelmingly successful. He sold out his limited membership program immediately upon launching and had a waiting list of patients ready to join.
It became apparent that graduating to a full-model concierge practice, where all patients were members, was the right move for him. It would allow him to practice the highly personalized, relaxed and compassionate style of medicine he enjoyed practicing, with patients who valued him and prioritized their health.

How it’s Going: After two years, he left his group practice and started a solo Concierge Choice cardiology practice. Today, he has hundreds of concierge patients, and continues to see consult with new patients for episodic treatment. These new patients are invited to join his concierge practice when they become patients he sees on an ongoing basis. This new stream of patients continues to grow his membership program and keep it financially lucrative and strong.

The recent Medicare care cut to physician reimbursements is just another hurdle medical practices have to overcome this year.  The American Medical Association is fighting to have these cuts canceled, and you can read more about their efforts and join the fight by visiting www.fixmedicarenow.org.

But let's face it, no matter what happens in 2024, the pressure is on.  This cut is on top of the 2023 cuts, and no doubt there will be further cuts and increases in practice expenses down the line.  Physicians need to take steps to buffer their practice from declining revenues before it's too late.

A simple, straight forward way to get started is to explore a Hybrid Choice™ concierge medicine program by Concierge Choice Physicians. This style of membership medicine allows a physician to continue to serve all patients, maintain their business structure and style along with payer and referral relationships, and simply add a limited membership program as an option for patients to join.  Even a small program with just 50 members adds up to substantial revenue, far outweighing any cuts that Medicare has proposed.

The important thing is that you take some action.  Add your name to the fight with the AMA, and watch our webinar:  www.ccpmd.com/economics where we discuss in detail the economic impact our programs have on a typical practice's revenue.  You can also poke around our Physician Resource Room for up-to-date industry information.

Click the video below to meet our newest clients!  

Patients have the option to secure an enhanced practice experience with more time, service and a closer doctor/patient relationship
 
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY – November 6, 2023 – Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation’s leading full-service concierge medical service provider, announces that Dipeshkumar Shah, MD, a private-practice internist in Northbrook, IL, has enrolled in the company’s Hybrid Choice™, program - an enhanced service that gives patients peace of mind with greater connectivity between doctor and patient. Dr. Shah will be offering the enhanced service and support program to his patients and taking over the Concierge Choice membership of retiring physician Dr. Jeffrey Glass as well.
 
Dr. Shah’s medical practice, Advanced Internal Medicine Associates, is an independent internal medicine practice that serves the greater Northbrook and Highland Park communities.  He has worked alongside retiring physician Dr. Jeffrey Glass for several years and was a natural choice to take over Dr. Glass’s concierge membership upon his retirement.
 
“Dr. Glass had a Concierge Choice program for ten years and was known for his personal attention and dedication to patients. That’s the style of medicine I like to practice as well,” says Dr. Shah. “I’m thrilled to welcome his membership to my practice and to introduce the Hybrid Choice option to my patients. It’s an excellent option for those who would benefit from more support and service in this complicated healthcare marketplace.” 
 
The Hybrid Choice by CCP is a unique membership medicine program that offers patients the opportunity to select the level of care and support they need. Patients can choose to join, or they may remain in the traditional practice.  No patients are dismissed. The program is simply an option for patients who want greater convenience, service, and the assurance that the physician who knows them and their health history will be available when they need care. For physicians, the program allows them to practice a satisfying style of medicine, where they can take their time with patients and provide more comprehensive lifestyle support than a traditional practice allows.
 
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. Shah’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. Dr. Shah will also admit and provide care to hospitalized members.
 
“CCP wishes Dr. Glass, our long-time client, all the best in this new chapter of his life, and we look forward to working closely with our new client, Dr. Dipeshkumar Shah, to continue to serve the Highland Park and Northbrook communities with the very best in medical service and support,” says Keith Elgart, Chief Operating Officer at Concierge Choice Physicians.
 
Dr. Shah’s practice, Advanced Internal Medicine Associates, is located at 666 Dundee Road, Suite 802, Northbrook, IL, 60062. His Hybrid Choice program is available for an annual membership fee. For more information, patients can call (877) 888-5590 or email [email protected].
 
About Dipeshkumar Shah, MD
Dr. Dipeshkumar Shah is a board-certified internist serving patients in the Northbrook, Illinois area and surrounding communities. Dr. Shah attended Sardar Patel University and completed his Residency and Internship in Internal Medicine at the Saint Barnabas Hospital affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is currently affiliated with Northshore University health system, Highland Park Hospital, Skokie Hospital, and Glenbrook Hospital. Dr. Shah speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, Gujarati.
 
Dr. Shah treats patients for a variety of reasons including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis , gastrointestinal problems, annual wellness exam, sleep problems, pre-surgery checkup, high blood pressure, athletes and more. Dr. Shah admits and provides inpatient care at Highland Park Hospital. Dr. Shah also follows his patients at various area nursing homes and rehab facilities. 
 
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.
 

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY – October 20, 2023 – Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation’s leading full-service concierge medical service provider, announces today that seven physicians from Santa Monica Family Physicians and The Doctors of Saint John’s are now offering CCP’s Hybrid Choice™, an enhanced practice experience that gives patients greater connectivity and support from their chosen doctor.

Unlike conventional concierge programs, CCP’s Hybrid Choice program is a unique style of membership medicine that works well in large healthcare organizations like these. It allows physicians to provide the utmost in patient service to just those patients who want it, while continuing to see and care for all of the patients in their network. Patients are able to choose the practice experience they want. No patients are ever turned away and the physicians continue to accept insurance and Medicare. A portion of the revenue generated from membership fees goes to support St. John’s charitable mission to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.

Patients who want this enhanced practice experience can choose from the following physicians in Los Angeles or Santa Monica:

• Linda Narvaez, MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90066
• Gabriel Niles, MD at 12555 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90066

• Daina Danovitch, MD at 2701 Ocean Park Blvd, Suite 118, Santa Monica CA 90405
• Mehran Movassaghi, MD at 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 460W, Santa Monica, CA 90404
• Mark Needham, MD at 901 Wilshire Blvd, Floor 3, Santa Monica, CA 90401
• Pouya Shafipour, MD, at 1831 Wilshire Blvd, Suite B, Santa Monica CA 90403
• Ruth A. Sorotzkin, MD at 1811 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 201, Santa Monica CA 90403

Healthcare organizations like Santa Monica Family Physicians and The Doctors of Saint John’s are increasingly looking toward membership medicine as a way to satisfy patients who are looking for more service and support, generate much needed revenue, and improve physician satisfaction. In fact, large medical groups are now the fastest growing market for CCP.

“The current healthcare marketplace is extremely challenging for both patients and physicians,” says Keith Elgart, Chief Operating Officer at Concierge Choice Physicians. “With the tremendous need for services, it can be hard for stressed-out doctors to find a balance between excellence in service and the mission to serve all. Our Hybrid Choice program helps medical practices maintain that balance and thrive. We are thrilled to work with the excellent physicians at St. John’s in their mission to provide the highest level of care to all patients.”

The Hybrid Choice 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 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 300 physicians in 29 states. For more information, please visit www.choice.md.

by Wayne Lipton, Managing Partner, Concierge Choice Physicians

Unless a physician does not participate in third party payments at all, they are not in direct control of their compensation for services, and neither are their employers.  Salaries are generally tied in some way to productivity, whether in real dollars or RVUs (Relative Value Units), or with a base salary and bonuses. The rates paid are decided by a third party, like Medicare or insurance plans. On the other hand, concierge programs are funded privately, directly by patients. But how can this work when not all patients in a practice need or can afford the enhanced practice experience created by this recurring revenue model that exists outside of fee for services?

When first reviewed by government sponsored studies, there were only a small number of physicians offering concierge care. Almost all of the membership models were full-model programs, where an existing practice began offering patients membership that included non-covered benefits.  Only a few physicians offered this in part, but it intrigued me.  Could physicians practice both traditional and membership medicine?

When I began exploring the partial approach, I called it the “Hybrid Model” of concierge care. I learned that it was much more appealing to physicians who were reluctant to go for the “gun to the head” approach that the more conventional full model concierge approach used. “Pay, join or leave the practice” felt risky, and was certainly not appealing to the vast majority of patients who would have to leave the practice for the benefit of the few that wanted membership and could afford it.

That’s why it is the Hybrid Model of concierge medicine that, over the last 20 years, has proven to be the model that best serves the needs of all patients—traditional and concierge, physicians, and even healthcare organizations. It’s an effective way to control a portion of a medical practice’s revenue stream without incurring risk, dismissing patients, or damaging the mission to care for all.

​In my next post, I will talk about how the Hybrid Model has spread well beyond primary care and has solved many of the economic and professional issues many practices are grappling with, and how they can be crafted to solve different issues without displacing patients or requiring the exit from insurance plans that help patients afford care.