For accomplished professionals and executives in Chicago’s North Shore, the most profound frustration is encountering a problem that cannot be solved with strategic control or resources. The healthcare system is often that problem: fragmented, opaque, and inherently inefficient.
Concierge medicine, also known as membership or “boutique medicine,” is a powerful response to this challenge within the clinical setting. It is a highly personalized healthcare model where individuals pay a retainer for exclusive access to a physician, effectively restoring the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
This model is defined by enhanced accessibility and a commitment to preventive health. Benefits typically include:
- Longer, more comprehensive appointments
- Direct access to a physician via phone, text, or email
- Same-day appointments
- Greater personal attention due to a dramatically lower patient-to-physician ratio
While only a fraction of U.S. physicians have adopted this model, the shift toward membership medicine is accelerating, particularly among top-tier internists seeking to restore the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship. The number of these private medical services is growing by 3% to 6% each year.
Key Features of Concierge Medicine
Intimate Doctor-Patient Relationship
In a conventional practice, physicians may manage over 2,000 individuals. According to a 2021 study, the average exam by a primary practice physician is only 18 minutes long. Concierge doctors may care for 400 to 600 patients, allowing for far more personal attention. With a lower patient-to-physician ratio, physicians in a membership practice can dedicate much more time to each individual. This allows physicians to thoroughly understand their members’ medical histories and health goals. Physicians may also dedicate more time to each patient and respond promptly to their needs without the long wait times typical in traditional healthcare settings.
Personalized Care
This model places an emphasis on bespoke medical care. Members benefit from longer consultation times, which enable deeper discussions about health concerns, lifestyle choices, and preventive measures. This fosters a stronger relationship between the client and physician, and also empowers individuals to take an active role in their health journey.
Direct Access to Providers
Concierge medicine offers a significant advantage in terms of accessibility. Patients are granted direct access to their private physicians, often enjoying 24/7 availability via phone, email, text messaging, and even house calls. This allows individuals to quickly address concerns, receive timely advice, and arrange for immediate appointments for non-urgent issues.
Comprehensive Care
In the concierge medicine model, physicians not only address acute complaints but often take a holistic approach to health management, incorporating preventive care and wellness strategies into their practice. Members typically receive periodic preventive health examinations and comprehensive wellness evaluations, ensuring that their overall well-being is monitored. This proactive approach allows for early detection of potential health issues, customized fitness and stress management guidance, and overall support for maintaining optimal health.
Crucially, a concierge physician also serves as medical liaison when care escalates to the hospital level. While many retain admitting privileges at institutions like Endeavor Health (including Evanston and Highland Park Hospitals) or Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, their role often shifts from primary provider to clinical consultant during a stay. They coordinate directly with the hospitalists and specialists within these closed systems, ensuring your medical history is accurately conveyed and that discharge planning aligns with your personal health goals.
How Concierge Medicine Differs from Traditional Primary Care
Enhanced Patient Satisfaction
HealthTech Magazine cites a 2019 survey that reported a 98% satisfaction rate among members of concierge practices. Clients often report feeling valued and heard in a concierge clinical setting, as the model prioritizes the doctor-patient relationship. Readily available communication channels ensure that patients experience less anxiety regarding their healthcare. This allows a member to connect with their physician when issues arise, rather than waiting days or weeks for an appointment. The focus on personalized care not only strengthens the bond between the client and physician but also contributes to better health outcomes, as individuals are more likely to adhere to medical recommendations when they feel supported and understood.
Cost Structure
The cost of concierge medicine can be greater than conventional primary medicine, and the cost structure is quite different. Concierge practices typically operate on a membership model. Concierge medicine annual membership fees on Chicago’s North Shore, including communities like Winnetka, Lake Forest, and Highland Park, will vary but can range from $1,200 to $10,000 per person. This covers a range of services, such as routine check-ups, lab work, and preventive screenings. This model emphasizes price transparency, enabling patients to understand exactly what they are paying for without the uncertainty of surprise medical bills that can arise from insurance-based visits. In traditional primary practice, patients may face various copays and deductibles, which can make healthcare costs unpredictable, especially for those with high-deductible insurance plans.
Availability of Services
Due to the low patient-to-physician ratio in concierge practices, many physicians may limit their caseload to ensure the highest quality of support, which can lead to a waiting list or a cap on new members. This limited availability can be a significant hurdle for individuals seeking access to private services, particularly in underserved regions where such options are sparse. In contrast, traditional primary models often operate within larger networks or systems, allowing for a broader availability of services and treatment options.
Limited Insurance Coverage
Concierge medicine operates on a different model than traditional healthcare, which often complicates insurance coverage. Most concierge practices do not accept health insurance for standard office visits, which means that patients are expected to pay the membership fee, alongside any additional costs incurred during hospital stays, testing, or visits to specialists. Additionally, Medicare does not cover the cost of membership fees for concierge services. While clients might appreciate the simplicity of not dealing with co-pays or insurance claims during regular visits, they must still maintain a separate health insurance plan for other medical needs. This can lead to confusion and potential gaps in coverage, ultimately complicating the financial landscape of healthcare for patients.
Integrating Private Physicians into Your Care Plan
For families on the North Shore, building a robust support system requires understanding the full landscape of resources, from community hubs like the North Shore Senior Center to private clinical care. A concierge physician serves as an essential pillar of this system, offering unparalleled access and a deep personal relationship.
Yet even the most dedicated clinical model has operational limits. While your physician ensures rapid medical response, they generally do not manage the complex logistics outside the exam room, such as overseeing home accessibility retrofits, vetting private 24/7 caregiving teams, or navigating the bureaucracy of long-term care insurance claims. This creates a distinct logistical gap between superior medical advice and the daily reality of executing it. Recognizing this gap is the first step in understanding why even the best doctor needs a strategic operational partner.
While a concierge physician directs your clinical strategy, a private health advisor acts as the operational Chief of Staff for your family’s entire health ecosystem. For complex situations involving multiple specialists and hospital systems, an advisor’s sole focus is integrating all of the moving parts. They provide a layer of independent oversight to manage the logistics, ensuring the family can focus on healing.
Executive Summary: Common Questions for North Shore Families
Annual membership fees on the North Shore generally range from $1,200 to $10,000 per patient. This retainer covers your enhanced access, longer appointments, and preventive wellness exams. It is important to note that this is a separate cost from your health insurance, which is still required for specialist visits, hospitalization, and prescriptions.
No. Medicare does not cover the annual membership or retainer fee for concierge practices. However, a concierge physician may bill Medicare for the actual medical services provided during visits, just as a traditional doctor would.
This varies by physician. While many concierge doctors retain privileges at major systems like Endeavor Health (Evanston, Highland Park) or Northwestern Medicine, they often act as a “clinical consultant” during a hospital stay rather than the attending physician. They coordinate with the hospital’s internal team (hospitalists) to ensure your history is known, but they may not manage your daily inpatient care personally.
Think of the concierge doctor as your Clinical Captain and the patient advocate as your Logistical Chief of Staff. The doctor manages your medical strategy, diagnosis, and treatment. Avoa Health manages the ecosystem around that care: coordinating multiple specialists, vetting private caregivers, managing home accessibility projects, and navigating complex insurance disputes. We ensure the doctor’s plan is actually executed.
For seniors with complex conditions, the increased access is invaluable. However, a doctor alone cannot manage the 24/7 logistics of home care or fragmented specialist networks. The most effective approach for high-net-worth families is often a “dual-pillar” model: a concierge physician for medical responsiveness, paired with an independent health advisor to manage the broader operational and family logistics.
Secure Your Complete Care Team
A concierge physician ensures your medical needs are met with precision. Avoa Health ensures the complex logistics of your life and broader care team are executed with equal rigor. We bridge the gap between clinical excellence and daily reality. Contact us today for a confidential consultation to complete your support system.
