Concierge Medicine

[pstone]

We won't have to worry about this since she is anesthesia, but I say why not! Still get to practice medicine, and have more time for your own life? Sounds great to me.

[Sheherezade]

I know several ER and surgery docs that have made a killing (bad choice of words!!) doing locums tenens start up companies. It is funny to think of the different angles in medicine. There are many different ways to practice.

As for VIP practices, I think it brings out in the open the caste system that already exists in many areas. More money buys better care. I don't think there is any way around that without restructuring our entire society. Doesn't that hold true even in countries with socialized medicine? They way I understand it, if you have the cash you can always go abroad for a procedure. I'm not sure it's fair, but it is capitalism.

For the docs, it certainly can bring a better lifestyle. Hard to argue with that side of things.

[PrincessFiona]

For the doc, concierge medicine may not be so bad. I guess I just question it's value for patients and for healthcare in general. What we have more and more in America is a divide between medicine for the "have's" and "have nots". Concierge Medicine is just an extension of that. Sure, there are $1000 plans...but what could you possibly get as a 'service' for that.

I'm also curious to know what happens if someone chooses to 'hire' their own private doctor and forego health insurance but then needs to be hospitalized or have expensive chemotherapy or surgery? Do they pay for it all out-of-pocket? What happens to the elderly who currently have medicare? Doctors already don't want to see them. What will happen to us when we are older?

I just have my doubts about a 'market-driven' healthcare system. Cars, TV's, Computers? Let the market decide. Healthcare where it could be life or death? hmmmmm

[pstone]

Your point is well made for sure. I know when I try to wrap my head around the healthcare problem I just end up with a big headache. So easy to make arguments for universal care and preventative medicine, and also easy to see how "single payer" systems can lead to bad things as well. Seems no matter where you try to tackle the problem there is always a reaction or consequence that you either did not intend, or that you can't control.

As it is more personal for my family now, I hate that doctors have to take on more and more of the burden for the whole country.

[Rapunzel]

You know what would really, really help the whole healthcare problem? If people would stay away from alcohol, cigarettes, drug addictions, fattening foods (obesity), and risky sexual behavior! I know, it's a dreamworld where that all takes place. But, seriously, if people would just take better care of themselves to begin with we could drastically cut healthcare costs in this nation and we *might* have much less of a problem overall. I think there is ownership for the problems we see with healthcare on all sides - including the U.S. population and their bad habits as a whole.

Anyway, I don't see a problem with concierge medicine. Some enterprising people see a niche and they fill it! If someone wants to pay for that set of services it's there money....

Jennifer

[HeartRN]

I see no problem with it....the downside for the doc, however, could be becoming fully entrenched in the lives and issues of a particular family. I guess then, the relationship could end if the doc no longer wanted to work with a particular client/family? I don't know how it all works only having heard of it briefly at work (sorry--no time to read the articles right now!)

[Rapunzel]

Annie, I don't think you want to be a poor, old, sick person in any country. Healthcare has it's holes and chinks in every nation I can think of.... :|

Jennifer