HOLLAND, Mich. — Sitting in a waiting room at the doctor's office can sometimes feel endless, only for the appointment itself to feel rushed.
Dr. Laurie Birkholz says doctors feel that way too.
"The frustration was building amongst my patients. I was starting to feel the classic burnout type symptoms," she said.
That's why so many doctors are leaving traditional hospitals for a new kind of practice.
"The system was broken, and rather than leaving it, I wanted to try to see if I could find a way to fix it, or at least work within it," Dr. Birkholz said.
She landed on concierge medicine and direct primary care. These models allowed her to open up their own practice—the first of its kind on the lakeshore—and avoid some of the stress for both her and her patients.
Concierge medicine gives patients 24/7 access to their doctors, day-of appointments and longer visit times. While they are still able to work with insurance, it operates mainly under a membership fee.
"In keeping our patient numbers low, we're able to spend more time with each of our patients, allowing for stronger relationships," Dr. Birkholz said. "Really bringing the emphasis back on to the relationship between a provider and the patient, which allows for much more personalized care delivery."
It's a common trend for doctors all over the country. Concierge Medicine Today said there are between 10,000 to 25,000 physicians working under a similar system, a statistic that's expected to keep growing.
"There, again, has been a growing frustration amongst patients and health care providers for many years," Dr. Birkholz said. "Unfortunately, the pandemic really just highlighted that or exacerbated a problem that was already present."
Laurie Birkholz MD and Associates opened its doors in 2020 amid the pandemic. The practice recently hit a big milestone, surpassing the 500-patient milestone. Its success continues to be exponential, nearly doubling its patient panel in 2023.
"It's always a challenge when people are unfamiliar," Dr. Birkholz said. "Our growth really has been exponential, in large part because of word of mouth. It's hard to describe or even picture what healthcare could be like, until you've experienced it, or talked to somebody who has."
While she has specialized training in women's health, the practice accepts all kinds of patients.
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