Elizabeth Ortiz, MD, knew she needed a change. Working at an academic county clinic, she was often worn down and pulled in different directions. "When I thought about what I really liked about my job, it was patient care and spending time with my patients, which I wasn't able to do," Ortiz said during the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2021 Annual Meeting.
Dr Elizabeth Ortiz
She'd heard of direct or concierge care but wasn't sure if it was a good fit for her. COVID-19 offered a catalyst of sorts for a move to a new care model.
Ten weeks after she moved to Dallas, Texas, the pandemic hit full force. Seeing how telehealth was taking off, Ortiz began crafting a new model of care, a hybrid of telemedicine and house calls that offered multiple venues to connect with patients. The practice is just a year old, and "it's working and it's a constant experiment," said Ortiz, who offers membership plans and prepaid appointments. She also does "a la carte" visits where established patients can see her at a one-off price. Her goal is to achieve 100% membership.
Although she operates through a direct pay and cash-only model, only recently has she become comfortable with the word "concierge." There's a preconceived notion of what that word means, she said.
