If your parents are in Boca Raton for the winter—or year-round—and you're hundreds of miles away, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once. How do you know they have a good doctor? Not just any doctor who can see them when something goes wrong, but a physician who actually knows them, understands their medical history, and will pick up the phone when you're worried at 10 PM on a Tuesday.
As an Internal Medicine physician practicing concierge medicine in Palm Beach County, I hear this concern from adult children constantly. They're in New York, New Jersey, Toronto, or Chicago, and their parents are down here enjoying the South Florida sunshine. But that distance creates anxiety—especially when Mom mentions she's been having chest pain, or Dad admits he forgot to refill his blood pressure medication again.
The Problem with "Finding a Doctor" in a New City
Let me be honest about what I see happen too often. Your parents move to Boca Raton, and they figure they'll just find a doctor when they need one. Maybe they get a recommendation from a neighbor at the condo. Maybe they pick someone from their insurance directory. And for routine things, that might work fine—at first.
But here's the reality of traditional primary care in South Florida: Many practices are overwhelmed. Physicians are seeing 25-30 patients a day. Appointments are rushed. Your parents might see a different provider each time. And when something serious happens—a concerning symptom, a fall, a new diagnosis—they're navigating a fragmented system without anyone truly quarterbacking their care.
This is when adult children start calling me. Usually after their parent has had a scary ER visit, or after they've realized that no one is actually coordinating their father's four specialists.
Signs Your Parents Have the Right Doctor
So how do you know if your parents are in good hands? Here's what I tell families to look for:
- Their doctor knows their full medical history—not just what's in a chart from their last visit, but the context of who they are, what matters to them, and what their baseline looks like.
- They can actually reach their doctor—same day or next day appointments, direct phone or text access, not just a message left with an answering service.
- Someone is coordinating their care—if they're seeing a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, and an orthopedist, someone needs to be connecting the dots and making sure medications don't conflict and recommendations align.
- You can be involved—a good physician welcomes communication with adult children (with the patient's permission), because we know that family involvement often leads to better outcomes.
- Preventive care happens proactively—not just putting out fires, but catching problems before they become emergencies.
Why Concierge Medicine Makes Sense for Aging Parents
I'm biased, of course, but I've structured my concierge practice in Boca Raton specifically to address these concerns. When I take on a patient, I'm committing to truly knowing them. I limit my patient panel deliberately so I have time to do this right.
For your parents, this means comprehensive annual physicals that take 60-90 minutes—not 15. It means I personally handle their prescription refills and prior authorizations. It means when they call with a concern, they reach me directly, often within minutes. And it means that when they need a specialist, I'm coordinating that referral, reviewing the results, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
For you, as the adult child who worries from afar, it means having a physician you can actually talk to. With your parent's permission, I'm happy to loop you in on important health decisions. I can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone who genuinely cares is watching over them.
What to Ask When Evaluating a Doctor for Your Parents
Whether or not concierge medicine is the right fit for your family, here are the questions I'd encourage you to ask when evaluating any physician for your aging parents in South Florida:
How many patients do you see per day? Fewer patients typically means more time and attention per person.
How do my parents reach you in an urgent situation? If the answer involves an answering service and a 24-48 hour callback window, that's a red flag.
Do you coordinate with specialists? The best primary care physicians see themselves as the quarterback of the care team, not just one player among many.
Can I, as their child, be involved in their care? A physician who welcomes family involvement understands the importance of communication and support systems.
Peace of Mind Is Possible
I understand the worry that comes with having parents in another city. I see it in the faces of adult children who fly down from New York when their father is hospitalized, or in the voice of the daughter who calls me from Toronto because her mother mentioned something concerning during their weekly phone call.
The good news is that having the right doctor in place transforms that anxiety. Instead of wondering if anyone is paying attention, you know someone is. Instead of scrambling to find care when something goes wrong, you have a trusted physician already in your parents' corner.
Your parents deserve more than adequate healthcare. They deserve a doctor who treats them like family—because to you, that's exactly what they are.
If you'd like to learn more about personalized concierge medicine care in Palm Beach County, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Ben Soffer today.