[PJackpot]

I agree with Golfing Eagles. The very thing proponents of government run health care complain about, is the very thing they have created.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

Is sounds like Concierge Care. In theory by charging a membership fee the the doc does not need as many patients to run his business and can spend more time with each patient and provide extra services. $500 a year, though, seems like a low annual membership fee. Look it up "concierge care" in wikipedia Concierge medicine - Wikipedia for more info. We have some friends back up north who use it and feel it gives them better access to medical services.

WOW Dan! Personally I've never heard of getting a membership to see a Dr. Drs. are expensive enough just to see them for 5 mins. Myself I wouldn't pay $500. up front to see any Dr. I went to one of the top Heart Hospitals in the country, Plano, TX. His office visits are less than $200. I could drive or fly there for less than $300. & get the best heart care in the U.S. As far as I'm concerned I'm seeing who I think is one of the best heart Drs. in TV, Dr. Garcia. No, membership! Dan, I know you're only talking about a friend but paying a membership to me is a ripoff, there's to many good Drs. to see without having to pay someone for their services. But thank you for your input!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

I truly don't believe that most people, including the above, understand what "board certification" means. I know for a fact that there are over 20 different "boards" that can "certify" physicians. If that doesn't bother you, it should.

Also, to be board certified, you obviously (already) have to be a physician. You then take a test -- written test. It's only a written test that makes someone board certified! That's it. Then, you are only certified in a single specialty, according to the test taken. If you don't realize that this has nothing to do with someone's ability to be a good physician, you should!

Sorry, but a written test has nothing to do with a doctor's ability to be a good physician. Because an attorney passes the bar, does that make him a good lawyer? No! Because a dentist becomes licensed, does that make him a good dentist? No! Because someone passes the test to be a licensed financial planner, does that make that person good at what he does? No!
No one should be under the misapprehension that if a physician is "board certified," he is a good doctor. Yes -- he could be a good doctor, however, being board certified goes not guarantee that a doctor is good. Period! Anyone who believes board certification is a barometer for excellent care is kidding themselves.

I've never met a doctor who wasn't smart. Smart still doesn't make him/her a good doctor. I've not known a doctor who was still in the dark ages and not up-to-date on medical things. I have never met or been to a mean doctor and I don't really care what kind of tie he wears or if, in fact, he wears a tie at all.

Originally Posted by dbussone

You have no knowledge about what I know or don't know. And I do know about board certification. Your understanding, however, is deficient.

Without going into the intricacies of the certification processes, I'll just say I would generally prefer a board certified physician/surgeon over one who is not. Having passed a certification exam provides one with with a certain level of understanding of the physicians knowledge base. This is, IMO, more true of the traditional boards than of some of the newer "vanity" boards.




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Right on the mark, as usual, DB. Clearly, some posters need to sit for a board exam to have even the slightest idea of what they are talking about. Yes, there are many boards that certify various specialties, but what does board certification in plastic surgery have to do with obstetrics? Would you want a plastic surgeon who passed the requirements for board certification via a teat written by and judged by obstetricians??? And besides the written test, you have to meet a whole list of qualifications before you can even take the test.

The true statement is that board certification does not guarantee a good physician. You cannot test judgement, or communication, or empathy. But every good physician needs a sound basis in the SCIENCE of medicine before they can excel at the ART of medicine. That's what board certification ensures

[Dan9871]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

in TV, Dr. Garcia. No, membership!

Dr. Garcia is a specialist. Concierge Care is mostly, maybe exclusively, used by primary care physicians. My guess is, total speculation on my part actually, if primary care physicians could get the hourly rates that specialists do they would not be setting up Concierge Care based businesses.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

Dr. Garcia is a specialist. Concierge Care is mostly, maybe exclusively, used by primary care physicians. My guess is, total speculation on my part actually, if primary care physicians could get the hourly rates that specialists do they would not be setting up Concierge Care based businesses.

Actually, that's an apples and oranges comparison. Most specialists are procedurally based, while primary care is volume based. The main driving factor for concierge care is regulation and overhead. If we had converted our practice to concierge care with no participation in any insurance, our 3.6 million/year overhead would have dropped to under 750K. But the economy of the area would never have supported concierge care. Besides, I really don't like the concept---it wreaks of money grubbing rather than quality care.

[barbgaines47]

Dr. M-C has been my doctor for almost 15 years. He is wonderful and very up-to-date on medical issues. This is called Concierge Care.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by barbgaines47

Dr. M-C has been my doctor for almost 15 years. He is wonderful and very up-to-date on medical issues. This is called Concierge Care.

No, that is called being a good doctor. Concierge care is a business model, not a physician.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

Dr. Garcia is a specialist. Concierge Care is mostly, maybe exclusively, used by primary care physicians. My guess is, total speculation on my part actually, if primary care physicians could get the hourly rates that specialists do they would not be setting up Concierge Care based businesses.

Dr. Martinez-Cruz is not a specialist - at least none are listed on his license, or on his profile with the FL Board of Medicine. If he was considered a specialist his profile would say so. My assumption therefore is that he may limit his practice to certain areas.

Note he also does not carry malpractice insurance. This practice is acceptable in FL if the physician meets certain financial requirements proscribed by state law.

He also does not have any hospital privileges, and does not accept Medicaid.

All of this type of information to the public for each physician licensed to practice in FL.


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[MDLNB]

My wife goes to Dr. Cruise and really likes him. I know for a fact that he saved one of our friends, by diagnosing a heart attack early and immediately had him admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Yes, he offered us that special service. I did not know anything about it so we declined. He still provides us service and takes our insurance. He also reads and replies to emails.

Dr.Cruise is also reported to have been a teaching physician up North at one of our finest educational institutions.

I do not care if any of you wish to accept his service. I am merely providing my opinion based on my experience.

My understanding of this new service he has started is that by being a member gives you priority service. So far, without it we still seem to get quality service and have not had to wait for an appointment.

Suit yourself. I will say that getting an appointment from Dr.Cruise is sure a lot easier than getting one at the VA.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by MDLNB

My wife goes to Dr. Cruise and really likes him. I know for a fact that he saved one of our friends, by diagnosing a heart attack early and immediately had him admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Yes, he offered us that special service. I did not know anything about it so we declined. He still provides us service and takes our insurance. He also reads and replies to emails.

Dr.Cruise is also reported to have been a teaching physician up North at one of our finest educational institutions.

I do not care if any of you wish to accept his service. I am merely providing my opinion based on my experience.

My understanding of this new service he has started is that by being a member gives you priority service. So far, without it we still seem to get quality service and have not had to wait for an appointment.

Suit yourself. I will say that getting an appointment from Dr.Cruise is sure a lot easier than getting one at the VA.

MDLNB, his concierge membership program begins in September. I wonder what he will do with non members after that time.

Since we are only here six months of the year, he offered us the option of, instead of the $500/patient yearly membership, paying $150 apiece for each visit and then billing Medicare ourselves. We would receive roughly $86 dollars apiece back from Medicare. His theory is that we would not be seeing him quarterly.

I really like his level of knowledge and quality of patient care. I'm thinking about trying this for now and seeing how it goes. My husband is less inclined to try this.

BTW, he's not the only doctor in these parts that has gone to concierge.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by dbussone

Dr. Martinez-Cruz is not a specialist - at least none are listed on his license, or on his profile with the FL Board of Medicine. If he was considered a specialist his profile would say so. My assumption therefore is that he may limit his practice to certain areas.

Note he also does not carry malpractice insurance. This practice is acceptable in FL if the physician meets certain financial requirements proscribed by state law.

He also does not have any hospital privileges, and does not accept Medicaid.

All of this type of information is available to the public for each physician licensed to practice in FL.


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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[MDLNB]

Originally Posted by CFrance

MDLNB, his concierge membership program begins in September. I wonder what he will do with non members after that time.

Since we are only here six months of the year, he offered us the option of, instead of the $500/patient yearly membership, paying $150 apiece for each visit and then billing Medicare ourselves. We would receive roughly $86 dollars apiece back from Medicare. His theory is that we would not be seeing him quarterly.

I really like his level of knowledge and quality of patient care. I'm thinking about trying this for now and seeing how it goes. My husband is less inclined to try this.

BTW, he's not the only doctor in these parts that has gone to concierge.

Well, I can't predict the future, but he did tell us that he would continue treating our family, just as he is now. If that means something changes, it will only mean finding someone else, if that is how we feel at the time. I'm not concerned. The service is probably a good idea, I don't know. I do not know enough about it to pass judgement on the program. I do know that for the past five years, he has been a fine doctor in regards to our family service.

[manaboutown]

My physician charges $750/couple per year for a higher level of service. It is optional and he treat all patients, regardless. However this adds a few features above the norm. He has had a closed practice for many years and is regarded as one of the best physicians in my area. I am more than happy to pay!!

[hubheadrmh]

Originally Posted by MWH&PH

Has anyone ever heard of this, the Dr.is on 466 in Ladylake

As a new patient I made an appointment with this doctor after filling out all the paperwork I was handed an envelope and told to read the patient membership plan. $500.00 per year to become his patient how absurd. After reading that and the sign on the wall stating he does not carry malpractice insurance it was time to leave. Nowhere in my research did I see anything about the above statements.

Maybe he is the concierge doctor Which means he has about 10% of the patients that a non-concierge doctor has for much better service

[Jeff Hirsch]

We had a concierge practice in Delaware and loved it. The fee generally provides you access. You can get in quickly and the doctor spends more time with you. Services were changed to insurance so we had no other out of pocket expense.