D​.C. Geriatrician Makes the Concierge Choice:
Quality care delivered with compassion and convenience 

Senior patients need support, and so do their doctors

“At this time in my life, being older and all, my concierge membership has been the best thing for me.” This is a typical comment from the patients in Dr. Michael Grady’s Concierge Choice Physicians practice.

As a prominent geriatrician with a private practice in Washington, D.C., Dr. Grady and his staff had been serving an aging population in a changing, challenging healthcare marketplace that isn’t always senior-friendly. As the pressure on his practice and his staff continued to increase, he knew he had to explore options that would support his practice and their most vulnerable patients.

That’s why in 2010, Dr. Grady launched a hybrid “Concierge Choice” program, an optional membership program that patients could choose to join. The program was in such high demand that in 2024, he completed a full Concierge Choice transition.  This personalized approach to healthcare is perfect for patients who wish to have more time with Dr. Grady, enhanced advocacy to help them navigate and coordinate all their healthcare providers, and 24-hour support, among other benefits. The program is available for an annual fee that is paid privately by the patient. Visits and labs continue to be covered by Medicare and insurance plans.

“It takes time to understand my patients’ needs, especially for patients facing multiple chronic health conditions, and those seeing other specialists.” says Dr. Grady. “My concierge program gives the time I need to deliver the comprehensive, compassionate care that results in good medicine.”

For Dr. Grady’s patients, being a member means peace of mind, not just for themselves, but also for their adult children, who are often living far away and managing the care of their parents in addition to their own families and careers. “The program gives my patients confidence knowing someone they trust is looking after their health, someone who knows their lifestyle and their history and will be there for them should they fall ill over the weekend, if they are traveling, or even if they get admitted to the hospital,” says Dr. Grady.

This is the high-touch, deeply personal care that is the work of all geriatricians, but the kind of care that is threatened when Medicare cuts reimbursement rates or develops new schemes that, ultimately, end in reduced payments to physicians who care for some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. Perhaps more than any other specialty in medicine, geriatricians struggle to ensure they are delivering the very best care with support and compassion, while facing increasing overhead demands and the pressure to see more and more patients.

Different concierge models to support all types of geriatric practices

With an aging baby boomer population, geriatrics is one of the most in-demand specialties in medicine, yet it is also one of the most low-paying. According to the American Geriatrics Society, the average salary for a geriatrician was nearly three-times lower than what a radiologist earns. These numbers are troubling. Geriatricians need to look elsewhere for revenue to support their practices, and that’s where flexible membership models come in.

Most physicians are familiar with the concierge medicine models that transform an entire practice, but they are often unaware that the program can be instituted in part, like the blended model Dr. Grady started with. It’s not necessary for a physician to convert their entire practice, leaving the possibilities open to a much wider range of physicians—especially geriatricians.

These partial programs are known as “hybrid” concierge and typically convert just 5-10% of the patient panel. Though the numbers may seem small, they add up to significant revenue for a medical practice. A typical Hybrid Choice™ program from CCP can net an extra $100k annually, on average.

With a Hybrid Choice—the Concierge Choice Physician model Dr. Grady initially chose—patients join if they want an enhanced practice experience. They are not required to join. The patients who do join tend to be the doctor’s most loyal patients, often those who have faced difficult health situations and who have formed a special bond with the doctor and want to maintain it. 

“My doctor has saved my life on several occasions. He has always been there for me when I’ve needed him,” is a comment we often hear when we survey members. These patients see the value in membership and are willing to pay the annual fee to support their doctor because they are grateful for the care the doctor has provided over the years. Other times, members are registered by their caregivers (typically spouses or adult children) who feel much more at ease knowing they can quickly reach the doctor for a check-in or concern.

Strengthening practices for the long run 

Dr. Grady began his program in 2010 and, despite the unfortunate passing of members over time, his program continued to grow.  Demand increased so much that he made the decision to transition his practice entirely to concierge medicine.  Now, he sees under 700 patients,—a number he finds easy to manage. He has the time to provide the extra support, service and medical advocacy his members and their caregivers need. 

The additional revenue Dr. Grady earned from his hybrid Concierge Choice program allowed him to avoid selling his private practice to a large health system.  Today, he maintains his independence and control. “I no longer have to think about selling my practice or doing something like dropping insurance plans or Medicare. I know that I can count on the revenue I get from my membership-based practice, and my patients know they can count on me. I feel fortunate to be able to offer this.”

Learn more

Geriatricians who are facing financial pressure on their practices as well as the pressure to see more and more patients should explore whether a partial or full Concierge Choice model could be the solution for them. Contact 877.888.5590, email [email protected], or visit www.ccpmd.com for more information.