Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115206

M. Allison Ford, PhD, Health, Exercise Science & Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, PO Box 1848, 232 Turner Center, University, MS 38677, 662-915-6770, ford@olemiss.edu, Karen L. Hooks, PhD, School of Accounting, Florida Atlantic University, 2912 College Ave. ES 285, Davie, FL 33314, Jeffrey S. Hallam, PhD, Health Promotion, University of Mississippi, PO Box 1848, 215 Turner Center, University, MS 38677, and Ed Goldman, MD, MDVIP, 6401 Congress AVenue, Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

Physicians across the country are increasingly becoming interested in a style of medicine known as “retainer” or “concierge” medicine. One of the first companies to offer “retainer” medicine is MDVIP, a Boca Raton Florida based company. Founded in 2001, MDVIP is the largest "retainer" medicine company in the US with over 12,000 patients and 50 affiliated physicians in eight states. Traditionally, physicians are tertiary providers with limited time to help patients prevent disease. MDVIP physicians have smaller patient loads (600 patients) allowing them s physicians more time to spend more time with their patients. The average MDVIP appointment is 30 minutes, including complete physicals and wellness profiles to help patients combat lifestyle disease such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. In 1990, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) was founded to improve quality of healthcare. NCQA is a private non-for-profit organization that measures quality performance of over 90% of all health plans. NCQA developed a set of criteria measurements known as the Health Plan Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS). This tool uses more than 60 different measures to evaluate the care and service performed by health plans. This provides consumers a standardized comparable measure of the performance of health care plans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of concierge's medical practices compared to these national standards. Medical chart reviews (N=1,371) were conducted using the Health Plan Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS). Quality of care was measured using several national standards such as breast and cervical cancer screenings, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol maintenance and mental health quality of care as set by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Results revealed that the concierge medical practice MDVIP, reported 20 – 30% higher quality care in all areas examined, according to the national standards. MDVIP is a model to enhance quality of health care and improve overall health status. Providing better medical care is vital if a decline is ever expected in diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Understand "retainer" or "concierge" medicine.
• Discuss the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and their Health Plan Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS) as it relates to quality of health care.

Keywords: Physicians, Quality of Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.