New senior health centers open in Jacksonville: ‘Concierge medicine on steroids’
The three newly opened Dedicated Senior Medical Centers -- in Arlington and on the
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
Chen, based in
The new centers are now among 15 Dedicated locations in
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.
"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."
"I'm very impressed," she said.
City Councilman
"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
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