If you’ve never heard of it before, a Concierge Doctor For Kids offers services to patients far above what traditional practices offer, in exchange for a fee in addition to an insurance payout. A concierge pediatrician will provide 24/7 care, often providing direct email and phone numbers, in-home visits, same-day appointments, and allow for longer consultations. This kind of care allows for a personal, on-going relationship between a doctor and patient. A concierge doctor will know your health history intimately and be able focus on your holistic health, preventing rather than only treating disease. Pediatricians also have begun offering concierge services to ensure children are getting the best care possible to help them grow and develop to their full potential.
If you’re thinking about switching to a concierge pediatrician for your child, below are some of the reasons you’ll want to make the leap:
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1. Easy access to your child’s doctor
Most, if not all, parents know what it’s like for a child to wake up at three in the morning on a Saturday with an earache. The pediatrician’s office is closed, so what do you do? Do you wait until Monday? Do you go to urgent care? Is it an emergency or can it wait? Most parents will turn to Google to find some guidance in their desperation to know what to do for their child. With a concierge pediatrician, you don’t have to wonder anymore. A concierge pediatrician will be available whenever you need them. You won’t have to listen to a menu and leave a message for a nurse. You won’t have to fill in a contact form on their website. You’ll be able to speak directly to your regular pediatrician who knows your child and their history, and get their personal advice.
2. More personal care
Since you’re able to spend more time with and actually develop a relationship with your concierge pediatrician, they’ll get to know your child’s health history in personal detail throughout their childhood. They’ll know if their growth curve is flattening out, if they’ve been getting too many ear infections, and how their potty training is going. You won’t have to worry about remembering every detail, because they will. From their professional experience, they’ll know what warning signs to look out for and be able to ensure your child is getting the best care possible. This can be especially beneficial for a child who is chronically ill. A concierge pediatrician will be able to keep track of your child’s regular habits and pinpoint exactly what can help them feel better. It’s one more burden off an anxious parent’s shoulders.
3. prevention RATHER THAN CURE
Because your concierge pediatrician will spend more time with you on a regular basis, they can help your child build healthy habits to last a lifetime. They will not just be seeing them for a hurried few minutes to write out a prescription every time they have an infection or a fever, but instead will be helping them stay healthy from the start. This can also end up being more cost-effective in the long run. When something goes wrong, a concierge pediatrician might not need to order as many tests or procedures to figure out a diagnosis, because they are so familiar with your child’s history and lifestyle. Because your concierge pediatrician will spend more time with you on a regular basis, they can help your child build healthy habits to last a lifetime. They will not just be seeing them for a hurried few minutes to write out a prescription every time they have an infection or a fever, but instead will be helping them stay healthy from the start. This can also end up being more cost-effective in the long run. When something goes wrong, a concierge pediatrician might not need to order as many tests or procedures to figure out a diagnosis, because they are so familiar with your child’s history and lifestyle.
4. More ways to get in touch
In a traditional care model, it often feels impossible to get in contact with your pediatrician without a face-to-face in-office visit. Often, you have to schedule these visits weeks or months in advance. Last-minute appointments can mean meeting with a different doctor than you’re used to, or even getting a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. If you call in with a question, your best hope is to talk to a nurse, and maybe not until the nurse calls you back hours later. With a concierge pediatrician, your personal doctor will be immediately available to you through text, email, or phone call any time of day. You can pick the method that works best for you. Many concierge services even have a strong presence on social media that allows you to get regular advice on how to keep your child healthy. Your pediatrician could be just a Facebook private message away.
5. time with your CONCIERGE Doctor For Kids
Concierge models allow your pediatrician to see a smaller amount of patients without losing money, so they can often spend as much time with your child as you need. This allows your child to really get to know their doctor. They won’t see a different physician every time, and you won’t have to feel rushed through fifteen minute appointments. Your pediatrician will be able to get to know your child’s personal needs and get to the root of any issues they may have, whether that comes down to behavior, nutrition, exercise, or disease.
6. More convenience
With options like a phone call or telemedicine care, you no longer have to put your sick child into a car and drive them to a doctor’s office where you have to sit in a waiting room for an hour. From the comfort of your child’s bed, you can call in and get immediate answers to your questions and concerns without all the stress and inconvenience of a doctor’s office.
7. Sleep Better
Sleep better knowing your children are well taken care of. You don’t have to track their immunizations, or prepare for seasonal allergies, or order their prescription refills, because your Concierge Pediatrician has all those well covered. Take comfort in knowing your children’s health is improving over time and they fall less and less sick.
BabiesMD: A Concierge Pediatrician in Irvine, California, founded by Dr. Rashmi Jain
