Long wait for a rushed doctor's visit? Maybe you'll get more with a 'membership' fee

The growing number of concierge medical practices limit the number of patients and charge them membership fees. Will this worsen the ongoing shortage of primary care doctors for everyone else?

Long wait for a rushed doctor's visit? Maybe you'll get more with a 'membership' fee
Dr. Rebecca Starr is an internist specializing in geriatric care. When she opened her own practice, she chose a concierge business model, she says, because she wanted to offer patients longer appointments, including time to talk about nutrition and other subjects, but be able to charge enough to make the business work.<br>

The growing number of concierge medical practices limit the number of patients and charge them membership fees. Will this worsen the ongoing shortage of primary care doctors for everyone else?

(Image credit: Karen Brown)