Today’s episode is brought to you by Specialdocs Consultants, and our topic today is the growing popularity of concierge medicine. As physician burnout, payer pressures, and patient expectations reach new inflection points, many doctors are rethinking how they practice medicine.

For this episode, Medical Economics Content Vice President Chris Mazzolini sat down with Greg Grant, the Chief Operating Officer of Specialdocs Consultants to explore why 2026 may be a pivotal year for physicians considering the transition to membership-based care. From financial models and patient demand to technology and lifestyle balance, Greg uncovers what’s driving the next wave of concierge medicine and what it could mean for your future in practice.

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

(00:00:00)
Overview of physician administrative burden, episode introduction, and the focus on concierge medicine trends.

Macro trends shaping concierge medicine (00:01:32)
Discussion of macro trends: physician burnout, patient expectations, and the mainstreaming of concierge medicine.

Economic pressures and growth trajectory (00:04:06)
Impact of inflation, payer pressures, physician shortages and economic data on the growth of concierge medicine.

Physician specialties adopting concierge models (00:07:48)
Analysis of which specialties (primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, pediatrics, OB/GYN) are moving into concierge medicine.

Patient willingness to pay and changing expectations (00:11:22)
Exploration of patient attitudes toward paying for personalized care and the rise of health optimization trends.

Structure of modern concierge practices (00:14:45)
Details on practice structure: panel size, visit length, communication, care coordination, and work-life balance.

Integration with hospital systems (00:18:57)
Challenges and models for integrating concierge medicine within hospital systems and health networks.

Specialdocs’ unique approach (00:22:03)
What differentiates Specialdocs in the concierge medicine space and their support model for physicians.

Physician burnout and post-conversion experiences (00:26:24)
Physician stress and burnout before conversion, and improvements after transitioning to concierge medicine.

Hospitality mindset in concierge medicine (00:29:08)
How hospitality principles enhance patient experience and satisfaction in concierge practices.

Transition timeline and readiness signs (00:32:08)
Typical timeline for converting to concierge medicine and indicators that a physician is ready for the change.

Financial realities and misconceptions (00:35:31)
Common misconceptions about the economics of concierge medicine and financial outlook for 2026.

Advice for hesitant physicians (00:38:11)
Guidance for physicians considering the transition and reassurance about the mainstream status of concierge medicine.

Future outlook and excitement (00:40:14)
Predictions for the future growth of concierge and direct primary care, and reasons for optimism.

Closing remarks (00:42:41)
Final thanks, episode wrap-up, and information on subscribing and future episodes.

S1 Ep112: Why leading physicians will move to concierge medicine in 2026 with Greg Grant of Specialdocs

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