Date of Award

6-2015

Document Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Melinda Goldner

Language

English

Keywords

concierge, care, medicine, students

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the opinions of undergraduate students on a field of personalized primary care known as concierge medicine, as well as assess their satisfaction with their current non-concierge healthcare providers. Concierge medicine aims to provide patients with a high level of customer service and satisfaction, and in exchange for an annual fee, they receive benefits such as lower waiting times for appointments, access to the physician by phone or e-mail, and a stronger patient-physician relationship focused on preventative care. The current literature on non-concierge healthcare reveals several deficiencies including poor insurance coverage, poor patient and provider satisfaction, and low ratings of the United States on several measures of healthcare. The literature on concierge medicine shows that it has grown since its inception nearly 20 years ago and has both supporters and opponents, but no data on student opinions of the field exist. In this study, I interviewed 12 students at an undergraduate college in the Northeast, and found that the majority of students were satisfied with their existing non-concierge care and were not interested in concierge medicine. Students described their current physicians as trustworthy, and never felt rushed or inconvenienced by their physicians. These opinions contrasted with the literature, which exemplifies patients being refused certain care or feeling rushed during their visits. Students also stated that concierge medicine would not be practical for them, as they would not need the benefits of convenience or personalized care it offers. Some felt that it is unethical as well, as it denies care to those who cannot pay the monthly retainer fee. The findings suggest that concierge medicine is not practical for healthy, nonelderly individuals, and that it presents an issue of ethicality by refusing care to those who cannot afford it. Despite the demand and growth of concierge medicine, it is not for the masses, and increasing non-concierge care should be a priority for the future.

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