The Benefits of a Concierge Pediatrician for Your Child
written by
Veronica Max, APRN, FNP-C
When it comes to selecting your children’s primary care provider, you want the very best. With that intention, you may be considering a concierge doctor for their care.
What is a Concierge Pediatrician?
Concierge pediatricians are doctors who provide personalized care to a smaller number of patients, usually on a retainer or membership basis. The model is similar to concierge medicine for adults, but tailored specifically for children. This can include 24/7 virtual access and even home visits.
Key Benefits of Concierge Pediatricians
In many ways, the benefits (and problems) of concierge physicians for children mirror those for adults. The convenience of guaranteed same-day or next-day appointments, no waiting in the lobby, in-home appointments and 24/7 access to physician care (for those 3 a.m. wake-up calls from a sick child) can make a huge difference in your busy life.
More Personal Care
One of the biggest advantages of having a concierge pediatrician is the familiarity that comes with having a dedicated healthcare provider who knows your child well. With a traditional pediatrician, you may see a different doctor every time you visit, which can make it difficult to build a strong relationship.
With a concierge pediatrician, you'll have the same doctor for every visit, which can lead to a much more personalized and effective level of care. Additionally, concierge pediatricians often have smaller patient loads, which means that they have more time to get to know each patient on an individual basis.
A Focus on Prevention
Concierge pediatricians often focus on preventative care, which can be a major benefit for your child's overall health. Preventative care involves identifying potential health problems before they become serious and taking steps to prevent them from occurring.
Concierge pediatricians typically have the time and resources to provide more thorough and personalized preventative care than traditional pediatricians.
This can include regular check-ups and screenings, as well as advice and support for healthy eating habits, exercise, light exposure and other lifestyle factors that can contribute to good health.
Greater Convenience
When you’ve got a sick child, the last thing you want to do is load them in the car to drive across town and fight traffic for an in-office appointment. Conversely, who wants to bring a newborn for their well check and wait in a room full of sick children? The answer is no one–assuming there are other options. And there are!
Concierge pediatricians offer same-day appointments and empty “waiting rooms”. Some even offer house calls, where your child can be seen from the comfort of your own home. The doctor brings what they need with them to diagnose and often treat symptoms. All you have to do is schedule the appointment.
If your child’s health concern does not require in-person medical care, telemedicine may be an option. Depending on the issue at hand, your concierge doctor may be able to treat your child via a video visit, phone call, or even text.
More Access to Your Child’s Doctor
When your child is sick or injured, you don’t want them to have to wait days or even weeks to be seen. With a concierge pediatrician, same-day and next-day appointments are the rule, rather than the exception.
And if you have an urgent question or concern, you get 24/7 access to your doctor via text and phone. This remote support is priceless, especially if you are a new parent with your first child.
This direct access gives you peace of mind and prevents unnecessary trips to the ER or urgent care
Holistic and Integrative Approach
A holistic or integrative approach to healthcare takes more time and a higher level of touch than conventional medicine.
Since traditional doctors often only have 5-10 minutes to spend with your child, they are much more likely to prescribe antibiotics or other prescription medications for routine childhood illnesses (most of which are viral). This has serious, long-term health consequences for your child’s health as early antibiotic exposure has been associated with an increased risk of childhood-onset asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, celiac disease, overweight, obesity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
In contrast, concierge doctors can afford to take a more conservative “watch and wait” approach to your child’s care.
In the case of an ear infection, this means your concierge doctor might “prescribe” a warm compress and chiropractic care before moving on to antibiotics. Your concierge doctor will then follow-up with you about your child via text or phone, and if not improving, they can move on to other options like antibiotics. However, in these instances, many children end up not needing them.
Do you have a provider who takes the time to wait and re-evaluate their condition?
What Services Do Concierge Pediatricians Offer?
Concierge doctors may offer different services. You should ask what services they provide when you are comparing doctors. Some of the more common services are:
Well child visits
Sick visits
Vaccinations
Growth & development guidance
Breastfeeding guidance
Sleep guidance
Sports physicals
Ear piercing
Suturing
Do Concierge Pediatricians Offer House Calls?
Many concierge pediatricians do offer house calls as part of their services, though this service may be limited to a specific service area and/or there may be an additional charge. At UltraPersonal Healthcare, housecalls are included as part of our Premium Membership.
How Much Does Concierge Pediatrics Cost?
A common question about concierge medicine is always about cost, and that doesn’t change just because we’re talking about your children’s primary care.
The cost of concierge medicine works the same way for children as it does for adults. There’s a membership fee for each practice, usually payable by month or year, and that rate varies from one practice to the next.
Some concierge practices offer a discounted rate for children. At UltraPersonal Healthcare, for example, we charge $125 per month for adults and $60 per month for children who join with an adult.
If you have insurance, you can still use this to pay for labs, medications, imaging and any specialty appointments outside of the concierge practice.
Choosing the Right Concierge Doctor
There are three types of primary care doctors – pediatricians, family doctors, and internal medicine doctors. So what’s the difference and how do they affect your children’s primary care?
Pediatricians focus specifically on children’s health. Eventually, your children will outgrow their pediatrician. Most pediatricians see kids until they are 18, but some will continue through their college years.
Family medicine physicians see patients throughout all stages of life, from infancy to adulthood.
Internal medicine physicians only see adults. Most will not see patients until they are at least 18 years old.
Because internists focus on adults, your options for your children’s primary care are a pediatrician or a family doctor.
If you’re seeking a doctor who will be able to see your children through their college years and into young adulthood and beyond, a family doctor is the way to go. They also tend to be more open-minded than pediatricians.
With concierge medicine, keep in mind that specific practices and doctors vary regarding the age of children they accept. Make sure that a prospective doctor is not only accepting new patients but also working with your child’s age group.
Now that we have the differences in types of doctors out of the way, there are other criteria that you need to consider.
Follow these steps to choose the right concierge doctor for your child(ren):
Seek recommendations from friends
Check online reviews of the practices in your area
Schedule a meet and greet or call with potential providers
Ask pointed questions on topics that are important to you. This will help confirm whether or not the provider shares your values.
What does your gut/intuition say? Do you feel safe with this person?
Does the practice see adults as well? Concierge doctors are able to better care for your child when they take care of the entire family unit.
Final Thoughts
A concierge doctor may be the best investment for your child's health.
With more affordable and personalized care, shorter wait times, 24/7 access to your doctor, and a focus on preventative care; a concierge pediatrician can provide your child with the best possible care.
And by eliminating the need to deal with insurance and providing better access to medical care, concierge pediatricians can save you time, money, and stress.
If you're looking for the best possible medical care for your child, consider UltraPersonal Healthcare!
