A father and son team of physicians recently opened a new family medical practice in Burlington. Drs. Jerry Tolbert and Gerry Tolbert (aka Dr. J and Dr. G) are offering what they call a new approach to old-fashion medical care. This retainer fee Practice, sometimes called Concierge Practice, has been around for a dozen years or so, but is relatively new to Northern Kentucky.
The Tolberts recently explained at a Florence Rotary Club meeting the basic concept of concierge medicine. It is a contract between the doctor and patient. One annual fee covers all family medical care for that year including all office visits and the annual physical examination. Some tests such as x-rays are excluded, as are surgery and hospital stays. The patient has total access to the doctor via cell phone and email at any time. There is no waiting.
The Tolbert practice doesn’t accept insurance of any kind. The result is that there are no issues with Medicare and/or insurance companies. No one outside the two parties is dictating or limiting such things as time spent with the patient, number of visits required or the type of service provided.
The Tolberts said a key to this service is that the doctors care for fewer patients than in a conventional practice. The patient/doctor relationship is one-on-one so they have more time to spend with each person. Patients are never rushed out of the office nor have their care turned over to an assistant.
The doctors have agreements with Northern Kentucky hospitals giving them access to medical records, and permission to visit their patients when they are in the hospital.
Annual fees are currently set at $900 for one person, $1440 for two people and $1800 for a family. The office is located 1838 Old Florence Pike in Burlington, KY. For more information you can call 859-586-8200.
For information about weekly meetings, guest speakers and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Pat Moynahan, President, at amoynahan@insightbb.com or 859-802-0242. Visit the Rotary web site at www.florencerotary.org. Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
