FAQs

“Concierge” or “Private Medicine” is a proactive style of medical practice that emphasizes wellness and disease prevention through highly personalized care. My new model is designed to foster a greater connectivity with me as your family medicine physician, helping to ensure a strong, satisfying doctor-patient relationship. A monthly or annual membership fee is charged, allowing me to see fewer patients, so I may devote more time to each patient’s care and individual needs. My smaller patient panel allows for extremely convenient and personalized care when you need it.

It’s the way I’ve always wanted and expected to practice medicine!

You will see and feel the difference immediately when you visit us at Rhodes Concierge Care in Austin. Our reception area is relaxing and comfortable, and our office staff is friendly. You will experience very short if any wait times to see me. Office visits will never feel rushed so we can take the time to address your health concerns and questions with me. Time to practice medicine as it was intended, focusing on every aspect of your health.

Because my practice is limited to just a few hundred, not thousands, of patients, I really get to know my patients so I can take a more proactive role in your health and wellness – and be there when you need me.

My goal is to provide you and your family with an experience that will not just meet, but exceed, your expectations for a doctor’s office.

Your membership covers an annual comprehensive physical or “checkup” exam, regardless of need or condition, that provides you a customized wellness plan that guides you in achieving and maintaining optimum health and disease prevention. The exam is in addition to annual wellness visits covered by Medicare or insurance plans and incorporates comprehensive screening and diagnostic tests, focusing on nutrition, fitness and exercise, heart health, lifestyle behavior management, mental wellness, stress management, and chronic disease management.  Implementing these exams with patient wellness and communication support results in a far more connected version of primary care.

In addition, I can provide a large amount of care and care coordination by phone, email and text, including virtual visits when appropriate.

I am available to discuss urgent concerns nights and weekends when needed. I am working hard to create a practice where you can reach me when you need me, without having to jump through multiple hoops!

You will enjoy greater convenience and peace of mind, and may also find a reduced need for visits to specialists and the emergency department.

Click here for a list of the many services you will receive.

Hospital admissions for serious medical problems are stressful and often confusing for the patient and their families.

If you are admitted by specialist or hospitalist, I will stay involved in your care. I will confer and maintain a collaborative relationship with the admitting physician, review your plan of care, make recommendations when needed, and make courtesy visits to the hospitals where I am on staff. As your health care advocate, I will communicate directly with you and your loved ones, and help you navigate the health care system.

As your primary care physician, my comprehensive training allows me to handle most of your healthcare needs. However, in the event that you do need to see a specialist I will help you find the right doctor. Our referral process may include direct physician-to-physician consultation prior to your appointment so that your specialist knows exactly how s/he can help us improve your health.

After your specialist visit, I will follow up to discuss any questions or concerns you have, and arrange additional testing if needed.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. A family member or caregiver can call me later so I can be in contact with the emergency room.

For urgent problems that are not emergencies, you can contact me when you need to. In many cases, I can diagnose and treat your need without a visit to the ER. In fact, private medicine has been shown to result in fewer ER visits for members because we can discuss your medical needs any time of the day or night, and you know you can see me the next day!

You can speak with me or my office wherever you are and I will help with any medical conditions that can be done by “virtual visit.” If you have a condition that requires in-person evaluation and treatment, I will direct you to appropriate nearby care, and coordinate follow-up when you return home.

Yes, we accept most major insurance plans and will work to see that you receive all the preventive services recommended and provided for through your insurance. This is in addition to the Annual Wellness Exam included with membership.

Absolutely. I am a participating provider with Medicare and will bill Medicare on your behalf, as required by law.

Our private medicine model is particularly well designed to handle the more complex medical issues and medication management often associated with older patients. We can spend the time necessary to manage chronic disease and optimize your health and wellness.

No, insurance companies consider the Wellness exam and other benefits associated with membership as non-covered services and do not provide reimbursement for the membership fee.

Please visit our pricing section for details. You can pay annually, quarterly, or monthly and there are no long-term contracts required. A discount is provided for college students and for couples.

It is expected that many patients will save money at our practice because I can properly handle the vast majority of your health issues and concerns, with the goals of identifying and preventing illness risks whenever possible and better managing illness via our more connected primary care model.

Studies show this model of care reduces the need for unnecessary medications, more expensive testing and unnecessary referrals to specialists. It is more likely to prevent unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This results in saving you money and providing you better care.

And you shouldn’t have any hidden costs or bills that come to you after-the-fact from the office or insurance company.

Absolutely. Our focus is on preventive care, lifestyle modifications, screenings and risk assessments, as well as acute care and chronic disease management. We want to identify and prevent disease before it starts, concentrating our efforts on long-term health and wellness. I listen carefully to you to understand how your life, work and family may be affecting your health. Together we create a personalized plan to achieve and maintain your optimal health and goals. Advanced diagnostic tests can help us identify risk factors and health issues before they cause disease, saving you money, time, suffering and higher costs in the long run. Unlike the traditional practice environment, I have the time to deliver this type of comprehensive and detailed care.

Yes. One of the most important aspects of private medicine is limiting the practice size to be able to devote more time and energy to each patient. Therefore, once we have reached our ideal practice size, we will establish a waiting list.

You are welcome to cancel your membership at any time as long as you give us 30 days notice. We will refund memberships paid for the full year at a prorated rate as long as the Annual Wellness Exam has yet to be delivered.

Please see our Join Us page for more information.

Please remember that space is limited and once we fill all available slots, we will add your name to our waiting list.

Ready to join now?
Visit our enrollment page to sign up securely online.
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