For more information about the author, click to view their website: NCH Concierge Medicine
Utilizing the services of an NCH concierge physician provides you with the luxuries of access and time. While all NCH physicians provide excellent medical care, concierge doctors are able to focus their services on a much smaller number of patients and take a deeper approach to their health.
Your concierge physician becomes, in
effect, the quarterback of your healthcare team, and patients can reach the
doctor on short notice in a way that is not possible in the traditional medical
model. Concierge physicians offer their patients personalized care and direct access. In most cases patients are able to get in for an appointment the same day or next day. Additionally, if a patient has a healthcare issue or crisis, they have someone they can call.
Patients
who would like to see a concierge physician are charged an annual membership
fee. This financial model allows the physician to focus their attention on a
much smaller number of patients. Usually, the physician limits their patient
load to about 300 patients per physician, versus 2,500 to 3,500 in traditional
medicine.
The concierge model has proven
popular in affluent Southwest Florida. Many NCH Concierge Medicine physicians
have reached their practice’s maximum patient count and prospective members are
added to a waitlist.
The newest addition to the Concierge
Medicine team, Tameca
Bakker, MD is currently accepting new patients. Tameca Bakker, MD also
holds an MBA. Dr. Bakker works primarily at the Moorings Park Community
location(s) in downtown Naples.
Dr. Bakker previously practiced as a
hospitalist and is board-certified in internal medicine. She said she finds
concierge medicine to be rewarding for the physician as well as the patient.
“The reason I went into concierge medicine
was to have a better physician/patient relationship,” said Dr. Bakker. “Concierge
medicine allows for ample time spent with patients to listen to their concerns,
perform a thorough examination, diagnose and formulate and manage a plan of
care with time for questions at the end of the visit. It’s a better way of
practicing, taking medicine back to what it used to be. I give my personal
cellphone to patients. I do courtesy hospital visits and even home visits – I
take care of my patients. Even if you’re traveling, you can reach me from
anywhere, and I can call a prescription in.”
As the “quarterback” of her
patients’ medical team, Dr. Bakker coordinates with specialists including
cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology and others, and sets up labs, imaging,
and ancillary care as needed. And like all NCH concierge physicians, she has
additional concierge doctors backing her up as part of the team, so her patients
always have a doctor to connect with.
NCH concierge physicians emphasize
preventative care with nutrition and fitness counseling, treating the whole
person rather than just a particular symptom or illness.
“I take a holistic approach,
treating the patient as a whole; incorporating mind, body and soul as I care
for my patients,” said Dr. Bakker.
Participation in NCH concierge
medicine includes complimentary and discounted membership in the NCH Wellness
Center, and personalized coordination of care for patients in NCH hospitals.
Patients at the three Moorings Park locations also enjoy access to the spa and
the gym at Moorings Park, plus the services of their personal trainers and
physical therapists.
“Sickness doesn’t happen on a 9 to 5
basis,” said Dr. Bakker. “Having the peace of mind that they can connect to
their doctor at any time is very reassuring to patients.”
To learn more about the
program, and schedule a meeting with Dr. Bakker, call NCH Concierge Medicine at
239-624-1120
Tameca
Bakker, MD
NCH
Medical Group | 132 Moorings Park Drive, Naples, FL 34105
239.624.1120
https://nchmd.org/services/concierge-medicine/
When an older adult needs help at home and sees several clinicians, a coverage decision can affect everything from prescription refills to rides. If youre considering TRU PACE in Lafayette, start by asking how enrollment would change the care and coverage you already use. How Medicare and Medicaid Fit Into PACEPACE is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It coordinates healthcare and support for eligible adults who meet a state standard for nursing home-level care and can live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. Applicants must also be 55 or older and live in the programs service area. TRU PACE and Your Current CoveragePhone: 303-665-0115Medicare says people with Medicaid pay no monthly PACE premium. Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid pay premiums for the long-term care portion and Medicare Part D drugs. Medicare also says participants owe no deductible, copayment, or coinsurance for drugs, services, or care approved by their PACE team. Ask TRU PACE for an estimate based on your individual coverage before enrolling. Doctors, Prescriptions, and Existing ServicesTRU PACE says it becomes the participants insurance provider at enrollment. Participants generally receive care through the programs provider network. Bring a list of your doctors, medications, and scheduled services. Ask which providers are in the network and how the team would coordinate any changes. Why This Matters in LafayetteIf you regularly see a clinician near home or have a specialist visit scheduled outside Lafayette, give the enrollment team the names and dates. Ask which appointments can continue and what to do about any refill due around the enrollment date. How to Get Started1. Gather Your Coverage InformationHave your Medicare and Medicaid information, if applicable, along with details of any current plan. List the appointments and prescriptions you rely on most.2. Ask for an Enrollment and Cost ReviewCall TRU PACE and ask for your expected monthly cost, when any coverage change would take effect, and who would help coordinate the transition. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesPACE Adult Day Services Care Management
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