Question 1

Is this a concierge medical practice?

Accepted Answer

We provide excellent access and comprehensive care similar to a concierge practice. We are different from “traditional” concierge practices in a couple of ways:
  
(1)   We do not charge you or your insurance for office visits. Most concierge practices charge you an annual fee “retainer” and they also bill you (or insurance) a fee for office visits. We don’t. By bundling all of our physician services into your membership fee, you get a stable and transparent cost, and we save you co-pays and/or deductible costs.

(2) We are new. Dr. O’Keefe is a leader in general medicine, with experience in primary care knowledge and education at top institutions. This means that our model of care is carefully designed, informed by current science, and personalized for you. This is distinct from many concierge practices that use a boilerplate approach, often by way of a consulting company reducing an existing practice to a concierge clinic and/or a national chain hiring doctors with a corporate template for concierge care.

Question 2

I’ve never considered paying for primary care or concierge care – why should I?

Accepted Answer

To get great care!

The traditional doctor-patient relationship is hard to find as business takes over healthcare. Because of this, doctors and patients are moving to concierge or direct primary care clinics as a better alternative to the fragmented and rushed environment of insurance-based healthcare. The cost of direct care is less than traditional medical bills (closer to a gym membership fee than to huge fees of spending a night in a hospital) and may save you money by providing you the best possible care to prevent health issues.

Because we do not share your records with insurance companies, the government, or other third parties and we can arrange for medications to be dispensed by our practice, there is a higher degree of privacy afforded than in traditional practices.

The yearly fee allows us to cap our enrollment and maintain a small practice size, providing better and more accessible care than available through traditional practices.

Question 3

What kind of after-hours care is available?

Accepted Answer

Dr. O’Keefe is available to Excel Health members by cell phone as well as by secure text messaging for urgent questions.

Question 4

What geographic area do you serve?

Accepted Answer

At UCLA and Emory, Dr. O’Keefe served patients who live all around the world. We can customize your care based on any distance from the practice. Based on patient needs, Dr. O’Keefe currently holds licenses in Georgia and in Florida (telemedicine).

Question 5

Do you take care of me in the hospital?

Accepted Answer

We continue to follow with you, but we do not provide your in-hospital care. Hospital care has improved in quality and safety with the new type of specialist called “hospitalist” who oversees the daily care plan for patients in the hospital. We work hard to keep you out of the hospital, but if you need to be admitted we will work with your hospitalist to coordinate your care.

Question 6

Can I still continue my care with a health system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with large health systems in Georgia to be able to view your records and place orders and specialist referrals to keep your care seamless. We don't work for a health system, so we are not restricted to "internal referrals," allowing us to choose the best resources for each patient depending on their needs.

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Practice Location

Excel Health Primary Care