What Is Concierge Spine Medicine? A Guide

BY MARK WANG, MD

 

Dr. Mark Wang is a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon. He dedicates his full attention to working together with his patients to identify their pain source and find the least invasive treatment that works for them.

 

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Through concierge medicine, patients with chronic conditions have more focused and direct access to health care professionals. Specifically, concierge spine medicine provides benefits that help patients requiring spine care.

This guide to concierge spine medicine will answer your questions by explaining what it is, how it works and why patients might consider investing in it. Read below to learn more about how concierge pain management could be beneficial for you.

Concierge Medicine Defined

Concierge spine medicine, also known as concierge spine care or concierge spine surgery, is a specialized approach to treating spinal conditions that emphasizes personalized, patient-centered care and enhanced accessibility to medical services. It is a subset of the broader concept of concierge medicine, which involves a more individualized and comprehensive approach to healthcare.

In the context of spine medicine, concierge spine medicine typically involves a close doctor-patient relationship, expedited access to medical services, and a focus on providing a high level of personalized care. This may include extended appointment times, direct communication with the physician via phone or email, same-day or next-day appointments, and a greater emphasis on patient education and involvement in the treatment process.

Concierge spine medicine aims to provide a more streamlined and convenient experience for patients seeking treatment for spinal conditions, such as back pain, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. It often involves a multidisciplinary approach, where the physician works closely with other specialists, such as physical therapists, pain management specialists, and surgeons, to develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the individual patient’s needs.

In short, concierge medicine is a type of health care that provides comprehensive, personalized care, usually via a set fee for service cash price. 

The benefits offered by concierge medicine often include:

• Unlimited consultations: Unlimited office visits and remote consultations
• Direct phone line: Access to the physician’s direct phone line to ask medical questions and schedule tests or visits
• Expedited and personalized care:  every accommodation is made to work with the patient’s busy schedule and streamline their care

With that in mind, concierge spine medicine provides direct primary care to those who have had spinal surgery, patients with spinal injuries and anyone who needs constant care for spinal conditions.

How Does Concierge Spine Medicine Work?

In large metropolitan areas, a new patient can wait an average of 26 days before getting an appointment with their doctor. When patients have specific and chronic conditions, waiting that long can be detrimental. With concierge medicine, patients can bypass the waiting and get the care they need much faster.

The concierge medicine model focuses on personalized patient experiences. Physicians who participate in direct primary care or concierge care typically have smaller patient panels, meaning they can spend more time with their patients. These care plans make it easy to get same-day and next-day appointments and improve access to advanced screenings and tests, giving you more time to discuss the results with your doctor to create a personalized care plan.

If you have a concierge care plan for spine medicine, you can contact your doctor directly to schedule a visit as soon as possible — usually within a few days — to receive the care you need. There’s no need to wait weeks to see your physician, and you can experience more focused care because your doctor likely sees fewer patients on a daily basis.

Advantages of Concierge Spine Medicine

These are the main benefits that come with concierge spine medicine:

• No more waiting: Concierge spine medicine plans eliminate the need to wait for appointments. You’ll have access to spinal care whenever you need it.
• Expedited access: Having expedited access to a doctor grants convenience and peace of mind to those with spinal issues. Knowing you can ask questions, get remote and physical consultations and arrange simple procedures at any time will revolutionize your spine care and recovery.
• Focused personalized care: By having more dedicated one-on-one time with your doctor, you can create a personalized spine care plan. This personalization makes all the difference for long-term patients and those with chronic spine and back conditions.
• Remote consultations: Concierge spine medicine allows patients to see their doctors without having to visit them in person. If you’re experiencing pain and need to ask questions, you won’t have to worry about traveling to your physician to get the advice you seek. Everything can be done remotely via video calls.
• Coordination of care: Concierge medicine makes it much easier to coordinate your care. This aspect eliminates much of the stress of getting specialist care. Convenient, compassionate and quality health care is easier to access than ever before.

Disadvantages of Concierge Spine Medicine

There are some limitations that come with concierge spine medicine:

• Cash fees: Cash fees for concierge medicine can be restrictive and costly. Even with concierge medicine, you may still need health insurance to cover prescriptions, hospital visits and specialist consultations.
• Insurance acceptance: Most concierge practices accept insurance from many providers. However, it’s far more common for traditional health care facilities to accept insurance than concierge medicine providers. 
• Return on investment: Those who need more regular care and need to see their doctors frequently benefit the most from concierge medicine plans. If you don’t need continual spine care, concierge spine medicine likely won’t be worth the investment for you.
• Availability: Concierge medicine isn’t as widespread as traditional health care services, so you may not be able to access these services depending on where you live.

Why Choose Concierge Spine Medicine?

Concierge spine medicine is advisable for anyone with chronic and long-term spine conditions. This cash fee for service type of health care is designed to make your health care convenient and accessible. Practices that offer concierge medicine can provide you with better care and more reasonable long-term solutions that can make your life healthier and easier.

Concierge surgery and concierge pain management are important parts of concierge medicine. When it comes to dealing with spine ailments and long-term recovery, you must know you can get the care you need when you need it. Concierge spine medicine gives you access to compassionate health care professionals who can work with you to create the best spine care plan for your situation.

Schedule an Appointment With DISC for High-Quality Spine Care

The Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) is an orthopedic spine center based in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area that provides spine patients with the excellence they deserve. Our highly-trained orthopedic specialists can provide top-quality treatment for various spinal conditions. If you’re in need of comprehensive spinal care, the expert care team at DISC can work with you to create an effective and customized treatment plan.

Schedule an appointment or consultation with us today.