Samantha Fields

One big reason for that is reimbursement rates have declined over the years.

So doctors make less money now per patient than they used to.

So doctors make less money now per patient than they used to.

That is what ultimately drove Sid Leckie to go concierge two years ago.

That is what ultimately drove Sid Leckie to go concierge two years ago.

He was burned out, seeing about 25 patients a day at his private practice near Richmond, Virginia.

He was burned out, seeing about 25 patients a day at his private practice near Richmond, Virginia.

And then his partner retired, which left him as the only doctor.

And then his partner retired, which left him as the only doctor.

It wasn't sustainable.

It wasn't sustainable.

Shantanu Nandi, a primary care doctor near Washington, D.C., is not concierge, but says he hears versions of this from colleagues all the time now.

Shantanu Nandi, a primary care doctor near Washington, D.C., is not concierge, but says he hears versions of this from colleagues all the time now.

Almost everyone he knows who is considering it is just hitting a wall in traditional practice, overwhelmed by the relentless pace, paperwork, and insurance demands.

Almost everyone he knows who is considering it is just hitting a wall in traditional practice, overwhelmed by the relentless pace, paperwork, and insurance demands.

But he says doctors are also torn about turning to the concierge model.

But he says doctors are also torn about turning to the concierge model.

There's already a shortage of primary care doctors in the U.S., particularly in rural areas.

There's already a shortage of primary care doctors in the U.S., particularly in rural areas.

And that it's harder for patients who can't afford the fees or don't want to pay them to find a new doctor.