Wish there were more hours in a day. It’s really tough that many dermatology appts are 5-10 minutes. That isn’t much time for much exam and discussion.
Pulmo appts are 15 minutes and that is very short as well, especially to review symptoms and Rx over the past 6 months or so. Most of these patients have multiple comorbid health conditions as well.
I think people can survive without access to expensive restaurants. I don’t think the same can be said about access to proper medical care.
I really think these are two different issues. I’m a big believer in universal health care, but I don’t think having a solid system of care that’s free for all means some people shouldn’t be able to use private care if that’ how they choose to spend their money
As to the food analogy, I think we all agree every citizen should be able to get sufficient nutritious food, but the fact that some people need free school lunches or a SNAP card doesn’t mean others shouldn’t be allowed to Eat in restaurants.
I agree that good basic healthcare is pretty fundamental. Having all people with access to good healthcare could nip more expensive health issues in the bud — screening and getting preventative advice and shots can save urgent care and ER visits which are much more rushed and not holistic.
I hope people will continue to be allowed to pay for and get more care as well. I’d rather be able to see my out-of state-MDs than get a new car more frequently (our cars are 20 and 19 years old). It is a luxury that gives me and my family peace of mind and has given me better care than I’ve been able to obtain in my state.
I do not object to concierge medicine in general, but it appears to be mostly an expensive luxury in an already-expensive medical care system. The main concern generally would be if it draws away too many PCPs so that it significantly worsens the shortage of PCPs (since each concierge PCP sees fewer patients, reducing the overall number of patients that can be seen if more of the PCPs are concierge) to the point that one either has to pay concierge or go without a PCP.
Update on U of MI concierge medicine—price rising from $2700/yr to $3600 but faculty is protesting, so it’s being reconsidered.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20180312/NEWS/180319978