The concept of ‘concierge’ or ‘boutique’ medicine was founded in 1996 in Seattle. Annual membership fees paid by patient subscribers support a low-volume practice environment. In turn, the physicians and staff can provide more time and energy to fewer patients. This practice model currently represents less than 1% of all practicing primary care physicians in this country. CooperativeMed coined the term ‘membership medicine’ as a less biased description of this practice model.

The membership fee is responsible for services and amenities considered ‘non-reimbursable’ by insurance. Because of this fee, these practices are less dependent upon managed care reimbursements and, therefore, can offer services that might be more difficult to provide in a high-volume, traditional medical practice setting.

The membership fee is responsible for services and amenities considered ‘non-reimbursable’ by insurance. Because of this fee, these practices are less dependent upon managed care reimbursements and, therefore, can offer services that might be more difficult to provide in a high-volume, traditional medical practice setting.

Yes. CooperativeMed was developed to compliment, not replace, insurance. As such, CooperativeMed accepts several non-gated commercial insurance plans (i.e. non-HMO’s), as well as Medicare.

CooperativeMed offers all aspects of Family Medicine, excluding obstetrics. This includes management of acute and chronic illness and injuries, with preventative care prioritized. Patient’s can be seen in their home or at work, with same-day appointments available, even on weekends or after-hours. When seen in the office, patient’s can expect no or minimal waiting. The physician is directly accessible 24-hours daily, and there is no answering service. Physician accompaniment to subspecialty physician visits is available in select instances. CooperativeMed offers a unique functional vitamin analysis with customized supplements made based upon an individual’s documented vitamin/mineral deficiencies. The list of services is quite extensive and reflects the specific healthcare needs of each consumer. CooperativeMed cares for patients of all ages, extending an age range from pediatrics to geriatrics.

The benefits appreciated are dependent upon the needs of the patient and the collaborative relationship developed between the patient and the physician. We have documented that CooperativeMed patients are generally less likely to utilize the emergency room or walk-in clinics, require hospitalization, or miss work due to illness. Patient time is optimized (i.e. ratio of time spent waiting vs time spent with physician) and preventative care is considered a priority. While a formal cost analysis has not yet been done, each of these areas could realistically demonstrate cost savings, possibly representing a true investment in one’s health and wellness. Finally, patients’ have acknowledged improved satisfaction and overall perception of their health after aligning with CooperativeMed compared to the year prior to joining.

CooperativeMed prides itself in attempting to fulfill the individual healthcare needs of each consumer. This practice is ideal for anyone who desires to optimize their health and partner with their physician as a pro-active participant in their care plan. This practice should also be considered by persons seeking improved patient service, convenience, more attentiveness to preventative care, or improved anonymity. CooperativeMed has fulfilled the needs of families, persons with extensive or complicated medical conditions, caregivers of medically dependent spouses or parents, business owners, executives, and professional athletes.

No. The concept of ‘concierge’ medicine has received a disproportionate amount of attention in the media, often reporting perceived controversies by politicians, ethicists, and ‘abandoned’ patients. Realistically though, any controversy is generally unsubstantiated and merely the product of misconceptions and fallacies. In fact, this concept has been extensively studied and examined by numerous regulatory organizations and committees, including the Florida Department of Health, Medicare Services, American Medical Association (AMA), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). None of these investigations determined that this medical practice model was unethical or illegal when designed according to legal and ethical guidelines that apply to all medical practices. The GAO does not consider this concept a threat to Medicare or the healthcare system. And, the AMA considers this practice model a potentially complimentary component of a pluralistic healthcare system.