America's Top Doctors Give Mixed Reviews to “VIP” Practices

NEW YORK -- According to a recent survey by Castle

Connolly Medical Ltd., in conjunction with the release of America's Top

Doctors (4th. Ed.) Guide, 45 percent of the nation's top physicians believe

concierge practice can be beneficial for doctors, while 31 percent say it would have

a negative impact on patients. 

Concierge practice (also known as "boutique"

or "VIP" medicine) is an emerging type of medical care where patients receive

24-hour access to their doctors and quick same day appointments -- for a

membership fee.  The reasons given by the doctors in favor of concierge

practices included a moderate workload that allows more time with patients and

better compensation.  "It's better to provide excellent, detailed care to

fewer, better paying patients than trying to provide care to thousands of

patients who want to pay absolutely nothing," one physician responded.

However, almost one-third of physicians who responded to the survey were

convinced that switching to a concierge practice would hurt their patients and

demean their professional image. 

"We should not separate available services

by caste," said one physician.  "I provide ‘concierge’ services to all,

regardless of wealth or poverty status." 

Although 45 percent of the doctors were in

favor of this new business model, 23 percent said it was bad for physicians, and only

20 percent of the doctors surveyed would actually consider joining a concierge

medical service. Many physicians expressed their concern that switching to

this kind of "boutique" practice, with its limited patient load, would

inevitably result in abandonment of other patients.  As one physician said, "I

would not leave my current population of patients, the vast majority of whom

would not opt for "concierge" practice."  Despite these concerns, many

physicians felt that concierge models may make medicine satisfying for both

physicians and patients again.  "Patients will regain access, focus and

attention that have been progressively eroded by financial pressures

perpetrated by HMO's," commented one physician.

This report is based on the responses of 785 physicians to a survey

conducted by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. in June 2004. The physicians

included are all highly nominated by their peers and screened by the Castle

Connolly physician-led research team and listed in America's Top Doctors or

Top Doctors New York Metro Area.

Source: Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.