Full Checklist | 50 Questions A New Patient May Ask A Concierge Doctor Before They Sign-Up

“It’s a different type of busy … My day is just as long now, if not longer. But, I’m spending a lot more time with all of my patients. In between visits, I’m on the phone checking on people at home.” ~Physician in FL

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Last Updated: April 1, 2023

By Editor-in-Chief, Concierge Medicine Today, LLC

Deciding on my next Physician, albeit, a Concierge Doctor, isn’t something that I or my family take lightly or for granted.

I say often and loudly, “I’m not a Physician, but I am a Patient. So, I know exactly what it is like to sit on the side of you!”

I also understand that five words from my Doctor carry a lot of weight.

And, like you, I love a good checklist.

I thought it might be helpful to put together some of the questions that you, our readers, and Concierge Doctor’s themselves have informed us that they get asked so you can inform your team, prepare your response and plan accordingly when a prospective new Patient wants to join your practice.

In the words of survival expert Creek Stewart, “It’s not if, but when …”

So, feel free to use this 50-questions checklist as a jumping-in point of sorts, to help you get your team, your front office staff and maybe a new conversation started with someone.

I think you’ll find these questions thorough enough and maybe even show where you might have gaps in your marketing and practice/program education about your practice.

I know having sat on the other side of many Physicians over the years, both in hospitals, urgent care clinics, specialty practices and all the like that there’s absolutely a difference between a “good” Doctor and a “great” Doctor in the eye of a Patient. And, we’ll know it by how well you take the time to listen to us and answer even just a few of these questions.

Good luck and we hope this helps you and your practice and team!

Editor’s note: These questions are by no means going to get Patients to join or enroll and may vary from practice-to-practice. This checklist is meant as a guide to help you and your team simply address some of the more FAQs a prospective patient may ask. Your situation, practice, program(s) may differ. At the very least, this checklist is a starting point to help you and/or your team help your local community become more aware and make a more educated and informed decision about you and your practice. Thank you! Please see disclaimer here for more information.

1. Doctor’s Full Name, Credentials and Specialty.
2. Doctor’s web site address.
3. Total years in Practice?
4. Years in practice in this local community/area?
5. Do you have multiple locations? If so, where?
6. Are there links to social media? Are they posting profanity on Twitter and does that bother you?
7. Can I read patient reviews about the doctor and his/her practice?
8. Does your web site have the Doctor’s bio? on it?
9. What is your monthly, quarterly or annual membership fee(s)?
10. How do I pay the doctor?
11. Do you accept quarterly or monthly fees?
12. What services are covered by the annual fee?
13. Do you offer any discounts for couples and/or families that join (if applicable)?
14. 

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    What additional fees are not included in the annual membership fee?

15. Will I be required to pay even if I do not need to use your services?
16. What services can I expect to receive directly from your nursing staff or other healthcare professionals at the practice each year during my membership?
17. Do you accept Insurance? How compatible is your medical practice and services with my health insurance plan?
18. Do you participate in Medicare? (If applicable)
19. Do I need insurance to enroll or sign-up?
20. Is there a co-pay?
21. May I see a copy of your Medical Service(s) Agreement?
22. What if I need to go to the hospital or emergency room?
23. Will my insurance reimburse my monthly fee?
24. If applicable, tell me about what’s included in your Annual Physical?
25. Tell me about after-hours care and the doctors 24/7 availability.
26. Can I still see my gynecologist? (If applicable)
27. If a duplicate test is ordered by your office and by a specialist I’ve recently seen, will you coordinate with that specialist’s office to receive the results so I do not have to go thru the same process more than once? If not, why not?
28. What is your annual patient retention? (I.e. do you retain most of your patients annually?)
29. What about lab, x-ray and specialists’ fees and hospitalizations?
30. How long do in-office visits typically last?
31. How long will I have to wait if I come in for a visit?
32. Do you provide home visits or delivery of prescriptions to my office of home?
33. What if I have an emergency or need hospitalization?
34. What hospitals does this doctor have admitting privileges to in this area?
35. What about the cost of prescription medicines?
36. Can I receive secure, HIPAA compliant text messages from my doctor? eg. E-visits, chat, etc.
37. What type of new technology do you use regularly in your concierge medical practice?
38. If I call my concierge doctor at 8pm or 2am for an urgent healthcare concern, what will happen? I.e. Will the doctor be available?
39. What if I need to see a medical specialist or need surgery?
40. How difficult is it to get an appointment?
41. Do you provide same or next-day visits with unhurried appointments that start on time with the doctor?
42. What happens if my doctor goes on vacation?
43. What happens if I am hospitalized in another state or country?
44. How will you, your office staff, etc., communicate with me and oversee my care?
45. What happens if I move out of the area after I enroll?
46. Can I enroll in a concierge medicine plan anytime in the future?
47. What if I get married or have/adopt a child?
48. Can I extend coverage to my new family members?
49. Do you provide help for out-of-town family members visiting for a few days in the event that they have a health issue?
50. Do you have any specials/discounts running right now?
51. How do I sign up?

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We could easily come up with probably 50 more. But, let’s start with these.

Did we miss something? Got a question you’d like to add to this list? Contact us here and let us what question you think should be included and we’ll review it.

Please note: these are by no means going to get you all of the answers you require, but it’s at least a starting point to help you and/or your family make more educated decisions. Please see disclaimer here for more information. Thank you!

Disclaimer: We (Concierge Medicine Today, LLC.) are not in the business of offering any type of medical advice, physician recommendations, tax, accounting, legal or financial information regarding your specific situation. The writers of this content, article, publication(s), book(s), references, citations, web site(s), and/or all other associated reference tips, guides and materials above are designed to provide educational, accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter discussed. The authors, publishers, distributors and its related, affiliated or subsidiary companies, stress that since the details of an individual’s personal situation are fact-dependent, you should seek the additional services of a competent professional for tax, financial, legal, accounting and other business and professional advice. It is therefore, your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any opinions and/or other information provided herein as it pertains to your practice. The information is given with the understanding that the authors, publishers, distributors and its related affiliated or subsidiary companies are not engaging in or rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. In no event shall the authors, publishers, distributors and its related, affiliated or subsidiary companies, be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information herein. PLEASE SEE FULL DISCLAIMER HERE: https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/

Original Article, APRIL 25, 2016. Updated Spring 2022; Last Updated: April 1, 2023.