Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care?
Authors: Martin T. Donohoe
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Letters6 March 2012Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care?Martin T. Donohoe, MDMartin T. Donohoe, MDFrom Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I read the article by Huddle and Centor (1) with great interest. Social justice is a fundamental component of medical ethics and professionalism (2). Physicians have an obligation—borne of their privileged status, the public's investment in their training, and their roles as stewards of the public's health—to work for social justice by addressing, individually and collectively, the social, economic, gender, racial, and cultural factors that contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality (3).Retainer practices will adversely affect the growing shortage of primary care physicians available to care for our aging population. Although there are some lower-cost retainer ...References1. Huddle TS, Centor RM. Retainer medicine: an ethically legitimate form of practice that can improve primary care. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155:633-5. [PMID: 22041952] LinkGoogle Scholar2. ABIM Foundation. American Board of Internal Medicine. Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:243-6. [PMID: 11827500] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Donohoe M. Roles and responsibilities of health care professionals in combating environmental degradation and social injustice: education and activism. Monash Bioeth Rev. 2008;27:65-82. [PMID: 19205317] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Alexander GC, Kurlander J, Wynia MK. Physicians in retainer (“concierge”) practice. A national survey of physician, patient, and practice characteristics. J Gen Intern Med. 2005;20:1079-83. [PMID: 16423094] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Donohoe MT. Standard vs. luxury care.. In: Buetow S, Kenealy T, eds. Ideological Debates in Family Medicine. New York: Nova Science Publishers; 2007:187-201. Google Scholar6. Donohoe M. Luxury primary care, academic medical centers, and the erosion of science and professional ethics. J Gen Intern Med. 2004;19:90-4. [PMID: 14748866] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201.Note: Articles and open-access slide shows are available on the “Luxury Care/Concierge Care” page of the Public Health and Social Justice Web site at phsj.org/luxury-care-concierge-care/.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMedical Professionalism in the New Millennium: A Physician CharterRetainer Medicine: An Ethically Legitimate Form of Practice That Can Improve Primary Care Thomas S. Huddle and Robert M. Centor Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care? Thomas S. Huddle and Robert M. Centor Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care? Marcy Zwelling Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care? Josh J. Umbehr Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care? Douglas M. Van Zoeren Can the Practice of Retainer Medicine Improve Primary Care? James Webster Metrics 6 March 2012Volume 156, Issue 5Page: 400-401KeywordsHealth careHealth economicsMedical ethicsMorbidityPatientsPrevention, policy, and public healthSexual identity ePublished: 6 March 2012 Issue Published: 6 March 2012 CopyrightCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...