Community Corner
The Rise of Concierge Gynecology: A New Approach to Women's Wellness
There is a growing movement in healthcare known as the "direct care" model, which emphasizes personalized, patient-centered care...
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Personalized, patient-centered care without the constraints of traditional insurance. This shift has largely arisen in response to negative changes in the health insurance system that have impacted both patients and providers. These changes include rising costs for patients, who receive less coverage, and declining reimbursements for physicians year after year. Additionally, private practice doctors have been increasingly marginalized as large hospital-owned practices dominate the landscape. In a direct care model, patients pay their doctor directly, allowing physicians to offer more personalized care without the restrictions of insurance. While direct care is not exactly the same as “concierge” care—where patients pay a membership fee in addition to insurance—the terms are often used interchangeably, including in this article, as both emphasize enhanced patient experiences and elevated personalized care.
Dr. Meryl Kahan, MD, FACOG, MSCP, FAAOPM, is a double board-certified gynecologist, medical aesthetics provider, and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. In 2023, she opened SheMD, a gynecology, wellness, and aesthetics practice in Little Neck, NY. Initially, the practice operated within the traditional insurance model. However, it quickly became clear that in order to provide the personalized, high-quality experience she envisioned for her patients—focused on building long-term, trusting relationships—the direct care model was the only way to achieve it.
Dr. Kahan encountered many new patients who expressed frustration with the traditional healthcare system. These frustrations revolved around two major issues: insurance barriers and limited access to doctors, often resulting in long wait times, brief appointments, or feeling dismissed by rushed providers. Having practiced OBGYN in the insurance model for over a decade, Dr. Kahan had experienced firsthand how cramming appointments into 15-minute slots and allowing medical care to be dictated by for-profit insurance companies left patients with unmet needs.
She knew that adopting the direct care (or “concierge”) model would allow her to provide the level of individualized care her patients needed. In gynecology, where women often require more time and attention, this model offers longer appointments, direct access to your physician, and comprehensive care plans tailored specifically to your health needs.
The Benefits of Concierge Gynecology for Women
Comprehensive, Personalized Care
One of the key advantages of concierge gynecology is the ability to offer truly individualized care. In traditional settings, appointments are often rushed, leaving little time to discuss multiple health concerns or address complex issues like abnormal bleeding, infections, or menopause symptoms. At SheMD, Dr. Kahan takes the time to understand each patient’s unique needs, offering tailored care that addresses everything from contraception management to menopausal symptoms.
For example, menopause care often requires in-depth testing and longer consultations to address the full range of symptoms. Unfortunately, insurance models typically do not cover these needs adequately. In a concierge model, Dr. Kahan can provide thorough evaluations and personalized treatment plans, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ensuring women feel their best during this important life stage.
Extended Appointment Times
A common frustration in traditional healthcare is the rushed nature of appointments. This can be especially problematic when dealing with sensitive or complex issues such as sexual dysfunction, which affects so many women of all ages. In a concierge gynecology practice like SheMD, appointments are longer, allowing for deeper discussions and more comprehensive care. Whether for an annual exam or specific health concerns, these extended visits ensure every aspect of your health is covered in a relaxed, comfortable environment.
Transparent Pricing and No Surprise Bills
In traditional healthcare, hidden fees and surprise bills are common. Concierge gynecology, on the other hand, offers clear, upfront pricing. At SheMD, we even offer a membership model that allows you to bank funds for any service you need, whether it’s gynecology, hormonal management, or medical aesthetics. This ensures financial transparency, so you always know what your care will cost, removing the stress of managing insurance claims or surprise bills which sometimes arrive even months after you received your care.
Direct Access to Your Doctor
In traditional practices, patients often wait weeks or months for appointments, with limited follow-up communication. In concierge gynecology, patients enjoy direct access to their doctor. At SheMD, Dr. Kahan provides direct access via text, phone, or secure messaging. Whether you need a same- or next-day appointment or have questions between visits, you can trust that your concerns will be addressed quickly and personally.
Expertise Matters: Direct Physician Care
With the rise of telehealth, especially in the realm of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and medical weight loss, it’s more important than ever to carefully vet your healthcare provider. Not all providers are created equal. Many telehealth services, as well as larger in person practices, rely on mid-level providers like nurse practitioners (NPs) to deliver care. While NPs are often highly skilled, they have less training and clinical experience than physicians, especially when it comes to complex issues like menopause or hormone management.
Even in traditional brick and mortar practices, it’s not uncommon for patients to be scheduled with a midlevel provider—even if you book an appointment with a physician. This can affect the continuity of care, particularly for sensitive and complex issues. At SheMD, every patient sees Dr. Kahan directly for their care. This one-on-one relationship ensures that your health is managed by a board-certified physician who fully understands your unique concerns. You’ll never have to worry about being passed off to another provider. You can trust that your treatment plan will be crafted and managed with the highest level of expertise, ensuring optimal outcomes.
Proactive, Preventive Care
Concierge gynecology also allows for a more proactive approach to healthcare. With more time and resources, Dr. Kahan can focus on early detection, comprehensive screenings, and preventive care that keeps you healthier in the long term. Whether it’s routine wellness, hereditary cancer screening, or navigating menopause, SheMD works with you to create a personalized wellness plan to prevent issues before they arise.
The SheMD Difference: A Full Spectrum of Women's Health and Beauty
At SheMD, we believe that women’s health goes beyond gynecological care alone. How one feels is often impacted by how one looks, and so in addition to gynecological services, we offer medical weight loss solutions and aesthetic treatments such as injectables for wrinkle reduction, dermal fillers, microneedling, hair growth therapy, and skin rejuvenation. These services address both the health and beauty needs of women, ensuring they feel great and look their best as they age. We welcome both members and non-members, though our membership model offers ongoing, adaptable care tailored to your changing health needs.
If you’re looking for an all around better care experience, now you have a local option that will prioritize your needs. Contact SheMD to learn about how you can benefit from direct care gynecology. We also offer free 15-minute “meet & greet” discovery calls to see if we’re the right fit for your care!
Visit www.shemdny.com, call 718-872-9242, or email info@shemdny.com for more information.
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