Physicians, are you interested in making the change to concierge medicine but unsure what to look for in a medical practice consultant? In the fifth and final part of our podcast series, “The Rise of Concierge Medicine,” two physicians, including one of the first family practitioners to transition to concierge medicine and the other recognized as a top concierge doctor in 2016, share why choosing the right concierge medicine consultant partner is essential to a successful transition.
For J. Patrick Tokarz, MD, Specialdocs’ Chief Medical Advisor, the expertise a concierge medical practice consultant brings to the table is invaluable throughout a practice change. “It’s important to recognize this is a very complex transition that you’re going to go through as a physician, emotionally, spiritually and financially. And I can’t imagine trying to do this without a guide who has a lot of experience. Just like you wouldn’t want to do your own heart surgery, you want to work with someone who has done this many times and has been successful.”
When selecting a concierge medicine consultant, Dr. Tokarz recommends asking for references and determining what’s most important to you in a partnership. “You want to be able to talk to other physicians who have transitioned with these partners and know that they are happy and satisfied. And, I look for transparency…where you can feel you’re talking with someone that you can trust, and that you know has your best interests at heart.”
Jeffrey S. Puglisi, MD, Glenville Medical Concierge Care, agrees. “I love the word ‘transparent,’ because I think many physicians are fearful of any group that’s going to charge any amount of money to help them through this transition process. But the six months or more that it takes to transition a practice are difficult. At the end of the day, you have to go with your gut, and know that the group has got your back and is going to be there through thick and thin.”
Dr. Puglisi researched many consultants before presenting one to his colleagues. “Part of the reason I invested so much time, and talked to so many different groups, is because I wanted to bring something to my partners that was foolproof, that had a fail-safe, that I knew definitively was going to get us over the finish line, and was going to allow us to have a successful practice where we could be autonomous.”
Tune in to hear these concierge medicine trailblazers share more about how choosing the right partner can help minimize risk and maximize success, and learn why Specialdocs has been a leading partner of choice for 15 years.
Download Picking the Right Partner (Podcast Pt. 5) here
This concludes ‘The Rise of Concierge Medicine” series here on our blog. If you haven’t already, be sure to download each of the podcast episodes by clicking on the link above. Do you have questions about concierge medicine? Reach out to us at 847-432-4502 or info@specialdocs.com. We’d love to hear from you!
About our Panel
J. Patrick Tokarz, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, Specialdocs
A concierge medicine pioneer, in 2005, J. Patrick Tokarz, MD, was one of the first family physicians in the country to convert to a concierge practice. Board certified in Family Medicine, he earned numerous awards during his career, including Best Doctor in America (2005-2010) and Top Doctor Recognition (1995, 1997, 2010, 2011, 2012). After more than 30 years at Northern Virginia Family Practice, Dr. Tokarz retired from practicing medicine in December 2014. Read the full bio here.
Jeffrey S. Puglisi, MD, Glenville Medical Concierge Care
Jeffrey S. Puglisi, MD, Board certified in Internal Medicine, is a founding partner of Glenville Medical Concierge Care, established in 2015 in Greenwich, CT. Named a Top Doc in Fairfield County and NY metro area in 2015 and 2016, Dr. Puglisi earned additional recognition in 2016 as one of the Leading Physicians of the World by the International Association of Healthcare Professionals. He was named one of Concierge Medicine Today’s annual ‘Top Doctors in Concierge Medicine’ for 2016, a distinction held by less than one percent of physicians across the country each year. Read the full bio here.
Terry Bauer, CEO of Specialdocs
With more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience, Terry Bauer has a reputation for bringing about positive change as a strategist, builder and driver of successful companies. As CEO of Specialdocs Consultants, LLC, he is dedicated to transforming physicians’ personal and professional lives and as a result, the health of their patients, through conversion to the concierge medicine model. Read the full bio here.
Michael Friedlander, Principal of Specialdocs
Michael Friedlander brings over four decades of business experience in financial planning, marketing and risk management evaluation to Specialdocs Consultants, LLC. Michael began his career in the investment banking business. After twenty years, he left the financial world to establish a successful marketing and sales promotion consulting company, and later, a commercial printing and electronic media communications corporation. In 2007, Michael became a partner at Specialdocs, helping create one of the largest independently owned concierge health care consulting firms in the country. Read the full bio here.