Dr. Ray, Elite Medical Specialty Clinic, Rocklin, CA, concierge medicine.
Some folks are fortunate enough to have a long-time family physician that is always there to assist with their health care needs. But in our fractured world of health insurance many families are unable to develop a long term relationship with a doctor. A growing trend is for individuals, families and even businesses to establish a relationship with a concierge physician. Residents in south Placer County can experience such a concierge relationship with Dr. Ray at the Elite Medical Center in Rocklin, Ca.
Concierge health care in Placer County
Concierge medicine is not a new concept. Before the advent of widespread health plans that have become the gate keeper to health care services, many families had fee-for-service relationships with their trusted doctor. As health insurance has become increasingly restrictive on which doctors a family can choose from many people are turning to concierge doctors for not only supplemental care but primary health care in some situations.
Partnership in health care decisions
I’ve known Dr. Ray for a while and he has always wanted to move his practice to a more patient center model. The concierge health care model is one where patients truly have a voice in their own health care decisions. Concierge health care allows patients and doctors to really explore different types of treatments for a variety of health challenges without the pressure of a health insurance company looking over the shoulder of the doctor.
Stronger doctor-patient relationship
I was first introduced to the born again concierge model by friends and clients who felt our current health insurance model had failed them. These are folks with either complex medical challenges or people who really wanted a physician to be a partner in creating a path to wellness. The concierge physician can take the time to explore all the potential causes of a potential illness and thoroughly review the interventions and progress of the patient.
Concierge medicine diagnosis
In Aiden Hill’s book The Midnight Stranglers which is about his quest to battle extreme fatigue and sleep apnea; he enlists the help of a concierge doctor in the Bay Area. Hill worked with his concierge physician to document how sleep apnea was a primary cause of the fatigue in an otherwise healthy man. When Hill transitioned to a HMO health plan he found out how much more accommodating his concierge physician was over his new Primary Care Physician (PCP).
But when I reached out via email in advance of my first visit, I began to learn that unlike my concierge doctor, Dr. [N] and Kaiser were not interested in “optimizing” (or even managing) my health issues. Dr. [Z] had always encouraged lab tests a week in advance of my visits so he could have the latest data in front of him for an informed discussion around my health status. –pg. 132, 1st edition
Hill’s new PCP declined to authorize the lab work in advance of the office visit. The HMO model has the office visit first, order tests, and then have another consultation. While the PCP’s rational was to save money by only ordering necessary tests, the multiple office visits only serve to increase the costs from additional travel and time away from work for the patient.
Patient centered approach
Concierge medicine can take the bureaucracy out of the health care experience. But it just isn’t for people facing complicated health challenges. Athletes and individuals participating in high endurance competitions also turn to concierge medicine. Even if an individual has a passion for competing in triathlons, they will turn to concierge doctors to address nagging sports injuries, track their metabolism or help design the best pre-race diet. Businesses can utilize concierge medicine for anything from employee wellness programs and flu shot clinics to on-site visits for busy executives and employees.
As Placer County grows, so to do the options for health care services in the region. The diversity now includes Elite Medical Clinic that looks to cater to individuals, families and businesses for whom traditional health plans lack the flexibility to accommodate busy lives and schedules.
