More and more American patients are growing weary of corporate medicine and are seeking out personalized, patient-centered care.
“People are frustrated with long wait times, rushed appointments and the feeling they’re just a number in a system,” says Dr. Karen Vines, a primary care physician in Hoover. Not only that, but patients know what they need.
“They want a doctor who truly knows them, listens to them and takes the time to understand their health concerns,” Dr. Vines says.
That’s why Dr. Vines recently opened her own prac- tice, Vines Concierge Medicine, on Valleydale Road after working at Grandview Medical Center for nearly a decade.
A Huntsville native, Dr. Vines earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at UAB and joined Grandview in 2016. She’s one of the many U.S. doctors opening small, personalized boutique or concierge offices.
“Even physicians are looking for a better way to practice medicine — one where they can actually focus on their patients instead of being overwhelmed by a high-volume, assembly-line approach.”
Dr. Vines limits the size of her practice so she can devote more time to each patient during longer office visits.
“I thoroughly look into all of my patient’s physical ailments so I can weigh all of their treatment options,” she says.
She has extended office hours, and patients can easily make same- or next-day appointments. They also face little or no office waiting time.
To make this level of care possible, Vines Concierge Medicine – like other concierge practices — charges patients an annual membership fee which covers a range of amenities and benefits.
Importantly, unlike some other membership medicine practice, Vines Concierge Medicine accepts Medicare and traditional insurance. Office visits and labs are submitted to insurance, with patients responsible for any applicable copays or deductibles.
Patients at Vines Concierge Medicine enjoy direct communication with the staff during business hours, with only real people answering their calls. Patients can call after hours for urgent issues.
“One of the biggest frustrations I hear from patients is how hard it is to simply reach their doctor when they have a question,” Dr. Vines says. “They want direct availability to their physician — someone they trust — to guide them in those moments of uncertainty.”
The longer office visits allow Dr. Vines to build strong relationships with her patients and to talk about maintaining healthy lifestyles.
“I’ve seen firsthand what happens when preventive care is overlooked,” she says. “Poor health outcomes, diminished quality of life and even premature death are often the consequences.”
Dr. Vines says she believes in a partnership with her patients.
“Patients understand their own bodies, so I listen carefully as they share their symptoms concerns and thoughts,” she says. “I treat each patient as an individual and collaborate with them to develop a treatment plan.”
Vines Concierge Medicine provides patients with continuity in care.
“Patients will always see me — not another physician or nurse practitioner,” she says.
Dr. Vines considers it a privilege to be able to care for her patients.
“I understand the immense trust they place in me to guide them, and I take that responsibility very seriously,” she says. “It’s incredibly gratifying to help patients improve their health and, in turn, their quality of life.”
