New senior health centers open in Jacksonville: ‘Concierge medicine on steroids’

Aug. 16--Seniors in Jacksonville have a new tailor-made health care option designed to decrease the time they spend in emergency rooms and hospitals and waiting for prescriptions and increase the time they spend with their doctor on any given visit.

The three newly opened Dedicated Senior Medical Centers -- in Arlington and on the Northside and Westside -- also provide such activities as tai chi, line dancing and Zumba classes.

The only requirements to join one of the centers are being age 55 and up and on Medicare Advantage, which are privately administered health insurance plans for seniors. Center members pay little or no additional cost.

"Our mission is to provide affordable health care that delivers better health. ... It's less about taking care of the sick and more about preventive care," said physician Christopher Chen, CEO of ChenMed, the 40-year-old national primary care provider that created the Dedicated company. "Concierge medicine on steroids."

Chen, based in South Florida, was in Jacksonville Wednesday for the grand opening of the Westside center. All three centers opened for business July 2, but special events were planned to introduce them to the public. The Northside center had a grand opening last week, the Arlington one happens Thursday.

The new centers are now among 15 Dedicated locations in Florida and Pennsylvania. ChenMed also operates about 40 senior medical centers across the country.

Concierge medicine typically involves a patient paying an annual fee or retainer to a primary care physician, who in exchange provides enhanced care, time and availability. At Dedicated, which targets moderate- to low-income seniors, the finances are between Dedicated and Medicare Advantage, but patients receive the same enhanced care, time and availability. They also receive courtesy transportation, on-site specialists and medication dispensing.

But the keys are doctors' patient loads and face time with patients, Chen said.

The typical doctor has 2,300 to 2,500 patients, while each Dedicated doctor has about 400. The typical doctor spends 16 to 22 minutes a year with a Medicare patient, compared to 168 minutes a year for Dedicated doctors, he said.

All those factors combined lead to improved health, he said. Dedicated patients have about 28 percent fewer hospital admissions and 34 percent fewer emergency room admissions than regional averages, he said.

Medicare programs are typically for ages 65 and up, but a ChenMed spokesman said there are some limited circumstances when Medicare beneficiaries can be younger than 65.

Shari Anderson, a semi-retired nurse and Ms. Senior Jacksonville 2017, visited the Westside center for the grand opening and endorsed the concept.

"I know that it does work," she said. "I'm a consumer now. I know about waiting for doctors, I know about doctors who don't listen to you."

Anderson, 66, also appreciated the value-added activities.

"I'm coming for the tai chi," she said. "We're still vital."

Sandra Balestracci, 84, was there as ambassador for the Moosehaven retirement community in Orange Park, where she lives. She has Medicare coverage but said she would seriously consider Medicare Advantage to join a Dedicated center. She also teaches line dancing.

"I'm very impressed," she said.

City Councilman Garrett Dennis, whose district includes the Westside location, said he appreciates the jobs and economic impact they bring and, as the primary caregiver for his 93-year-old grandfather, he valued the one-stop-shop aspect.

"We're all over town trying to make medical appointments," Dennis said.

He asked Chen to open more centers in the city.

"We need more than just three," Dennis said.

Dedicated is already investing more than $60 million over five years in Jacksonville, employing about 100 physicians, clinical support, administrators and community engagement specialists during that time period. Chen said the company may open more locations if the three new centers fill up and there is a need to expand.

Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109

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