Getting older can be a difficult and scary stage of life. When you don’t know what to expect, everything is going to seem like a sinister surprise. Geriatric doctors specialize in the art of aging, if you will. They are trained know what’s normal and what is not.
The only thing better than having a geriatric doctor to help you when you need it is having a concierge doctor who specializes in geriatric medicine. Here are 5 benefits to using concierge medicine for geriatric care:
- A doctor to cater to your needs. Concierge doctors are your personal doctors. There’s a reason they have a cap on how many patients they can have at once; they need to be able to see their patients when those patients need them. It’s not always worth a trip to the emergency room, but sometimes you need your doctor and you don’t want to wait up to a week for an appointment.
- They know you. Your concierge doctor is someone who has spends time getting to know you and your medical history. More than that, they need to know you personally. Geriatric doctors can make more informed decisions when they know more about their patients and both the doctor and patient feel more comfortable when they have a more personal relationship.
- Knowing someone is there. The biggest advantage to concierge medicine is having a direct line to your doctor. It’s easier to know when your doctor will be on vacation or otherwise unavailable when you can speak directly to them. Business hours are often much more flexible in the case of scheduling or an emergency.
- Follow-ups. Ideally, your doctor prescribes treatment and calls after a few days to check in and see how things progress. It’s an unfortunate reality that it’s common for doctors in conventional practices to have too many patients and too tight a schedule to follow up with all of them. Concierge geriatric doctors are much more focused on their patients needs and can make the time to follow up.
- You don’t know what to expect. No matter what you read or how prepared you think you are for the bumpy road that is aging, it’s always going to be at least a little daunting. Getting older feels like uncharted territory a very early age, even though it’s a path well traveled. Doctors give us the comfort to know what’s normal, what isn’t, and what we should be aware of. Concierge physicians understand the importance of a personal doctor-patient relationship.
Geriatric medicine requires a certain amount of gentleness and patience. When the time comes for you to turn to geriatric care, consider the benefits of having concierge geriatric doctors. It’s your care and you should choose to be cared for by someone that you know and trust who knows you.
