FAQs
Q: What is private medicine?
A: Private medicine is a rapidly growing movement in American healthcare. These doctors have fewer patients than a traditional primary care practice – a few hundred not a few thousand. They spend more time with their patients and are available with little waiting as well as over the phone and through email. In addition, n1Health-affiliated private physicians work to keep patients well in addition to treating them when they are sick. Think of them as a health quarterback, providing proactive medical attention and working together with any specialists if a patient is sick. A membership fee usually covers an annual physical and wellness testing that focuses on disease prevention and overall health. A patient uses health insurance, as they would in a traditional practice to cover sick care.
Q: How do n1Health-affiliated physicians deliver improved care?
A: An n1Health physician provides more than just shorter wait times and easy access by cell phone and email. Our physicians are focused on keeping their patients healthy. This is usually done by delivering more in-depth annual physicals, going beyond the basic standards of care and having access to some of the most advanced techniques and technologies to deliver preventative care. An n1Health physician is a health quarterback, caring for their patients as they navigate an illness and working with them over the years to maintain optimal health. Our physicians and their patients find this highly rewarding – delivering and receiving improved health care.
Q: What will n1Health do for me?
A: At n1Health, we are here to help you navigate all the stages of this new healthcare delivery model. If you are considering a change, we will consult with you to see if this change is right for you. Should you choose private medicine and feel n1Health is a good fit, we will help train you and your team on the tools and skills you will need to be successful. We will help you transition your practice. We will help you grow your practice. And, if at some point you are looking to exit your business, we are here to consult with you on this transition.
Q: How would my practice be different?
A: Your practice would be different from your practice today in that you would have fewer patients and more time to spend with each patient. You would be delivering in-depth physicals designed to identify any problems before they start, as well as taking care of patients when they are sick. Our physicians and their patients find this way of practicing medicine highly rewarding.
An n1Health-affiliated practice is different from other membership style practices because it offers more than just improved access to you, the doctor. Our practices use the latest techniques and technologies to deliver preventative care to patients. Our goal is to keep patients healthy and reduce long-term health expenses.
Q: Can I become an n1Health-affiliated physician?
A: If you are interested in exploring private medicine or what n1Health has to offer, we would like to talk with you. Please contact us at 804-525-1700 or send us an email at info@n1health.com.
Q: How does this work with insurance and Medicare?
A: Our physicians continue to take standard forms of medical insurance for sick care of patients. This allows the patient to continue to use their insurance in a traditional fashion. The membership fee provides patients 24/7 access and any additional non-covered services offered by the practice, for example electronic personal medical records, genetic testing and mole mapping.
Q: What happens to patients who do not join the practice?
A: Patients who elect not to join the practice are referred to another doctor and any medical records are transferred to that doctor.
Q: How does this work after hours or when I’m on vacation?
A: If there is an emergency after hours, a patient has your cell phone number and can call you. This is reserved for true emergency situations. While you are on vacation, patients are referred to a doctor you have selected for their care. In special situations, a call may be made to you or a consultation may occur while you are on vacation.
Q: What kinds of patients join this type of practice?
A: A variety of patients join a private practice – young and old, men and women, sick and healthy. What they all have in common is a belief that their health is important and a willingness to do something about it.
Q: What happens when I’m ready to retire?
A: When you are ready to retire, n1Health will work with you to identify a physician that can transition in as you transition out.
Q: How can I be sure that my practice reflects my own vision?
A: Before a decision is made to move your practice to a private medicine model, the n1Health team spends a great deal of time with you to evaluate if the transition is even right for you and your practice. This includes an exploration into your vision and passion about medicine and an evaluation of your practice. In order to be successful in this new model, there must be an alignment of a number of elements – including your vision.
Q: How does n1Health help me minimize the risks of moving to this type of practice?
A: n1Health has a comprehensive approach to transitioning your practice. It starts prior to the conversion with an evaluation of you and your practice to ensure that this is a good move. Then, we help you create a differentiated offering for your practice. We provide operational support to allow your practice to grow while you focus on patients and medicine.
Q: How would I interact with other n1Health-affiliated physicians?
A: One of the benefits of being in a network is the ability to share ideas and best practices, as well as offer your patients that travel a physician within our network who may be able to treat them should the need arise. n1Health also has regular meetings and conferences that bring together our network of physicians to review a specific topic or technology.
