Choosing a concierge doctor is different from choosing a regular primary care physician. You're not just picking someone to see when you're sick; you're entering a relationship with real financial commitment, and the quality of that relationship affects your health outcomes directly.
Seven questions worth asking any concierge physician you're evaluating. The answers tell you most of what you need to know about whether the practice actually delivers what it promises.
1. How many patients are in your panel?
The foundational question. Concierge medicine's entire premise is that a smaller panel enables more time, attention, and access per patient. But "concierge" is increasingly a marketing term, and panel sizes vary enormously. Some practices labeled concierge carry 600 to 800 patients, which isn't meaningfully different from traditional primary care. Real concierge practices typically cap at 150 to 400.
Why it matters: Panel size determines how quickly you get seen, how available your physician is, and whether appointments are actually unhurried. Ask specifically: "What is your current panel size, and what is your maximum?"
In my practice: I cap at 50 patients. That's smaller than most concierge practices, and it's what enables the level of access I offer.
2. What is your response time?
Direct access to your physician is one of the most valued features of concierge medicine, but specifics vary. Some practices offer "24/7 access" that actually routes through an answering service with a callback in 4 to 8 hours. That's meaningfully different from direct access with a response in under an hour.
Ask: "If I text or call at 8 p.m. on a Saturday with a concern, what can I expect?"
What to look for: A specific, honest commitment. Be skeptical of vague phrases like "we're always available." Push for what that actually means in practice.
In my practice: Patients have my direct cell number. For non-emergencies, I respond within an hour during waking hours. When I'm unavailable (travel, a procedure, rare circumstances), I have a colleague who can cover, and I let patients know.
3. What exactly is included in the membership?
Pricing varies. So does what's included. Some practices cover a comprehensive annual workup, executive screenings, and coordination services. Others charge the membership for access alone and bill insurance or the patient for every visit and service.
Ask specifically:
- Is the annual comprehensive physical included, or billed separately?
- Are routine follow-up visits included?
- What about telehealth visits and after-hours calls?
- Are house calls available, and at what cost?
- What labs are included versus billed to insurance?
- Does the practice bill insurance at all, or is it private-pay?
In my practice: The membership includes comprehensive annual exams, all visits (office, home, or video), direct access, and specialist coordination. My practice is private-pay; I don't bill insurance. Labs, imaging, specialists, and hospital care bill through your insurance as usual.
4. Do you offer home visits and telehealth?
This question reveals a lot about actual commitment to accessibility. The best concierge practices treat care delivery as flexible: meeting you where you are, not just where it's convenient for the practice.
Ask: "Do you offer house calls? Under what circumstances? What about video visits for appropriate concerns?"
What to look for: A specific, thoughtful answer, not "we do our best." You want a physician who has a real policy and actually does it.
In my practice: Telehealth is standard for many follow-ups, minor acute issues, and medication management. House calls are included in the membership and I do them regularly throughout Palm Beach County.
5. How do you handle after-hours issues?
Even the most available concierge physician sleeps, travels, and occasionally gets sick. The real question isn't whether your doctor is always personally available; it's what the plan is when they aren't.
Ask: "If I have an urgent concern at 2 a.m. and you're unreachable, what happens? Do you have a covering physician? How do they know my history?"
What to look for: A specific, organized answer. Good practices have a formal coverage arrangement with a physician who has access to records. Vague answers or "just go to the ER" are warning signs.
In my practice: I have a colleague arrangement for true unavailability. The covering physician has access to relevant records and knows the practice standards.
6. What technology do you use?
A good patient portal lets you review results, message your physician, request refills, and access your records. Telehealth should be seamless rather than clunky. In 2026, the technology is part of the care experience.
Ask: "What platform do you use for communication and records? Can I message you directly? How do I access my results?"
What to look for: A modern system that's actually easy to use, not a legacy EHR designed for billing.
In my practice: I use a platform that supports direct messaging, easy record access, and straightforward telehealth. The technology enables the relationship rather than getting in the way.
7. How do you approach preventive medicine?
This question reveals whether the physician's values align with yours. Concierge medicine's biggest opportunity is in prevention: catching problems early, building personalized plans, addressing root causes rather than managing symptoms.
Ask: "How do you approach preventive care? What does a comprehensive wellness visit look like in your practice?"
What to look for: A physician who's interested in your long-term health, not just reactive care for acute problems. Listen for specificity: what tests, what frameworks, what follow-through.
In my practice: A new-patient wellness visit takes 60 to 90 minutes. We cover personal and family history in depth, lifestyle factors, and health goals, and we design a screening and monitoring plan calibrated to your specific situation rather than a standard checklist.
One more question to ask yourself
After going through the checklist, ask yourself: does this person seem like they genuinely want to take care of me, or are they primarily selling a service?
The physicians who do this well practice this way because they believe it's how medicine should work. If the conversation feels like a sales pitch, trust that instinct.
If you're evaluating concierge care in Palm Beach County
I'm happy to answer any of these questions, and any others you have, in a consultation. Reach out and we can talk through whether my practice fits your situation.
Serving Boca Raton and greater Palm Beach County.
