Healthlink On Air

Pressured to see more patients in less time, doctors struggle to avoid burnout and serve their patients adequately. One alternative springing up around the country is to charge an annual fee for “concierge” or personalized care to a small number of patients. Pressured to see more patients in less time, doctors struggle to avoid burnout and serve their patients adequately. One alternative springing up around the country is to charge an annual fee for “concierge” or personalized care to a small number of patients. Joseph Barry, MD, Joseph Barry, MD, an internist who specializes in geriatrics in Camillus, says his personalized care includes short or no waits for appointments, sufficient time for patient-doctor visits, after-hours phone availability and free recreational events such as yoga classes or nature walks to encourage healthy living. Barry, who also maintains a more traditional practice, offers his views on changes in medical care and counters charges that concierge medicine is elitist by noting his annu