How the Industrialization of Medicine Is Fueling the Growth of Concierge Medicine
People remember when they could reach their doctor and have him or her as their advocate.
I recall when I accompanied my father as he made “house calls” to his patients. This was long ago when your doctor visited your house if you were sick, and you did not have to go to their office.
Now, if you can reach them by phone or see them in person, you feel like you hit 777 on a slot machine jackpot. You often see an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or physician’s assistant (PA) if you are ill. These individuals are called “physician extenders.” Or maybe you give up and go to a walk-in clinic or an emergency room.
This trend did not happen suddenly. The ratio of primary care physicians (PCP) to the population has fallen for the last decade. And if you live in a rural area, the ratios are even worse than in a city.
Already, more than 100 million Americans don’t have usual access to primary care, a number that has nearly doubled since 2014.
At an increasing rate, new physicians are choosing to become specialists rather than primary care providers. This requires…
