A message to patients
To my patients,
As I approach a decade of clinical practice, caring for you continues to bring me tremendous joy. Every day, I am intrigued and often humbled by the unpredictable and dynamic nature of human health. I love being a physician, and there is no specialty in which I’d rather practice than general internal medicine.
The past few years have brought new challenges. As a primary care doctor, being an effective “quarterback” for my patients has never been more difficult, with more and more data to review and organize for an increasingly large panel of patients, all of whom deserve my time and attention. I have come to realize that the insurance-led, fee-for-service structure in which I practice – with its predilection for enormous patient panel sizes and packed office schedules – is not in alignment with the quality of care that I want to provide.
After much reflection, I have decided that on September 1st, 2022, I will be transitioning to a concierge practice model. This model, which focuses on a smaller group of patients, will help me continue to be the best doctor I can be: available, responsive, reflective, studious, and above all dedicated to my patients’ well-being.
The concierge model offers several advantages for my patients. A few highlights:
-Prompt office appointments for urgent care. Gone are the days of waiting days or weeks for an appointment for a new problem. I will typically be able to offer same- or next-day appointments for urgent issues.
-Direct access to me after hours and on weekends. No more calling an answering service for urgent care after normal office hours. You can simply reach out to me on my personal cell phone.
-Unhurried appointments. Good medicine takes time, and while I have always worked to be attentive and thorough, a full schedule means a lot of time pressure. Under the new system, I anticipate that we will have as much time as we need during our office visits.
-Increased advocacy from me in the healthcare system. I look forward to devoting more time visiting my hospitalized patients, helping to coordinate their care both while admitted and after discharge.
Please note that in order to provide this level of care and service, I must strictly limit the number of patients that I enroll in my practice. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact my office at 312-922-1307, which is a direct line to my assistant, Morgen McGarrie.
I very much hope that you will join me in this new partnership. That said, if you feel that this practice style is not the best fit for you at this time, I highly encourage you to transition your care to one of the two excellent new internists, Dr. Vivien Goh or Dr. Steven Paterakos, who have joined our practice.
It has been a tremendous honor working with you all, and I look forward to building our relationship in the decades to come.
Yours truly,
David A. Vermylen, MD
As I approach a decade of clinical practice, caring for you continues to bring me tremendous joy. Every day, I am intrigued and often humbled by the unpredictable and dynamic nature of human health. I love being a physician, and there is no specialty in which I’d rather practice than general internal medicine.
The past few years have brought new challenges. As a primary care doctor, being an effective “quarterback” for my patients has never been more difficult, with more and more data to review and organize for an increasingly large panel of patients, all of whom deserve my time and attention. I have come to realize that the insurance-led, fee-for-service structure in which I practice – with its predilection for enormous patient panel sizes and packed office schedules – is not in alignment with the quality of care that I want to provide.
After much reflection, I have decided that on September 1st, 2022, I will be transitioning to a concierge practice model. This model, which focuses on a smaller group of patients, will help me continue to be the best doctor I can be: available, responsive, reflective, studious, and above all dedicated to my patients’ well-being.
The concierge model offers several advantages for my patients. A few highlights:
-Prompt office appointments for urgent care. Gone are the days of waiting days or weeks for an appointment for a new problem. I will typically be able to offer same- or next-day appointments for urgent issues.
-Direct access to me after hours and on weekends. No more calling an answering service for urgent care after normal office hours. You can simply reach out to me on my personal cell phone.
-Unhurried appointments. Good medicine takes time, and while I have always worked to be attentive and thorough, a full schedule means a lot of time pressure. Under the new system, I anticipate that we will have as much time as we need during our office visits.
-Increased advocacy from me in the healthcare system. I look forward to devoting more time visiting my hospitalized patients, helping to coordinate their care both while admitted and after discharge.
Please note that in order to provide this level of care and service, I must strictly limit the number of patients that I enroll in my practice. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact my office at 312-922-1307, which is a direct line to my assistant, Morgen McGarrie.
I very much hope that you will join me in this new partnership. That said, if you feel that this practice style is not the best fit for you at this time, I highly encourage you to transition your care to one of the two excellent new internists, Dr. Vivien Goh or Dr. Steven Paterakos, who have joined our practice.
It has been a tremendous honor working with you all, and I look forward to building our relationship in the decades to come.
Yours truly,
David A. Vermylen, MD