What happened to the art of medicine? The art of medicine hasn’t been lost, but is threatened by changes underway. Increasingly, doctors that practice the art of medicine are being replaced by advanced practice nurses. As the healthcare system evolves to accommodate the mandates of Obamacare, finding quality personal care from a physician that stays abreast of the best in medicine will be a challenge. Physicians operating within this new reimbursement system find themselves forced into 5-7 minute appointments that leave insufficient time for good medical decisions and advocacy for extended services. To provide the additional time needed, physicians increasingly offer services called personalized medicine, prevention and wellness, and concierge medicine. With additional time, physicians can really listen, make good medical decisions, and truly know their patients. In essence it is a call to return to what family practice once was – a doctor that treats each patient with personalized medical care. When asked what qualities patients want in a doctor, the most common expectations included: An emphasis on prevention, A doctor that knows them, A doctor that can be there when needed most, A doctor that can understand complex medical problems A doctor that listens Unfortunately, that type of relationship is rarely found in a system moving toward ever shorter appointments. The alternative is personalized medicine, often also known as concierge medicine. The guiding principles are prevention, early detection, ready response, and advocacy. Your primary care physician is your “medical quarterback” that coordinates care, anticipates problems, and responds to the first sign of an illness as promptly as possible. Getting quality medical service will increasingly require selecting a doctor that offers a more personalized service. For a fee, seniors can contract with a personal care/concierge doctor that offers prompt access, adequate time for appointments, options for calling them directly, time to make good medical decisions, and advocacy when seeking care beyond the primary care doctor’s office. In Huntsville, Alabama, many view the opportunity to provide personal care as a positive since it provides their doctor time to listen, make the best medical decisions and teach them what they need to know rather than 5-7 minute appointments where healthcare needs get kicked down the road. By providing adequate appointment time and care, this new type of personal care doctor helps keep their patients maintain the best quality of life, stay out of the hospital and avoid unnecessary procedures. Tell Me More about Concierge Physicians in Huntsville, Alabama. Exit |