Your Health Your Terms
The growing popularity of concierge medicine wellness with Dr. Ehsan Ali, founder of Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor
By Cary Schultz
What are the key benefits that are attracting more people to concierge house call services nowadays, and how has this trend evolved over time? Concierge medicine is extremely convenient and a luxury for most patients. In a time where it may take 4-6 weeks (possibly longer) to get an appointment with a Primary Care Doctor, followed by waiting time in their waiting room of up to an hour, many people welcome and appreciate being able to call/text their doctor directly for an immediate response and have the ability for their doctor come to their home or office. It also prevents exposure to other potentially contagious/sick patients, and many people love the privacy aspect of being seen in their own homes.
In your experience, what specific aspects of concierge care are most appealing to your patients? The most appealing aspect is immediate availability. Not having to call an answering service or leave a message with a secretary (they may not get passed along), then wait for a reply. No waiting weeks or months for appointments. Time is valuable to patients. Virtual visits/texting is loved by all and makes life so much more convenient.
Could you describe a typical day as a mobile doctor? Every day is unique for me. But it starts with me going into my office to see patients who prefer to come into the office. The house call requests start coming in for same-day/next-day visits.
I will then travel to someone's home, office, production site/studio, and sometimes even their private jet/airport to see them. Once seeing the patient at their private location usually I am on my way back to my Beverly Hills office to see more patients. I may have to go to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to see 1-2 patients if they have been admitted.
House calls can be quite the experience. You never know the type of situation you will be presented with. One memory is having to go to the Van Nuys Airport at 11:30 pm to meet a celebrity on his private jet to help treat a laceration and also provide an IV to him to help treat his dehydration.
How do the luxury and convenience of concierge house calls redefine the traditional healthcare experience for your patients? It's very similar to "old school" medicine, where patients had their primary care doctor spend ample time with the patient without feeling rushed. Also, the convenience of not waiting for weeks to be seen and not having to deal with headaches, such as trying to get insurance to approve treatments/medications. The current healthcare experience is not very pleasant for most people and can be quite frustrating. From wait times to feeling rushed to insurance hassles.
With technology constantly evolving, what are the latest gadgets or tools you've added to your mobile medical practice that excite you the most? We offer virtual visits to patients, which also offers extreme convenience. In addition, tech is advancing, so we are able to offer more comprehensive and early cancer screening or heart disease screening.
What are your top three wellness tips for people who find it hard to schedule regular doctor visits due to their busy lifestyles? I like to focus on prevention, which starts with healthy habits. Following a healthy and balanced diet. Making time for exercise. Even if only 2 days a week for 30 minutes. This is better than no exercise. Whenever craving a treat, have HALF of what they normally would consume. And see your primary care doctor at least once a year for proper screening tests.
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