I’ve been practicing concierge medicine in Walnut Creek for 18 years — practically since its inception in our area.
The healthcare landscape was different back then, with patients and doctors alike struggling against the constraints of traditional fee-for-service care.
The Birth of a Movement
Concierge medicine is a relatively new phenomenon, thought to have originated in Seattle in 1996. Two doctors, Howard Maron and Scott Hall, became inspired to create a small concierge medical practice after Dr. Maron’s time caring for the Seattle Supersonics NBA team.
Their insight was simple yet profound: if you can focus intensely on meeting professional athletes’ needs, why not offer the same dedicated care to others?
Ten years later, I became an early concierge medicine adopter in Walnut Creek.
A Personal Catalyst for Change
My father practiced general dentistry for over 45 years and was truly my role model — a man dedicated to practicing his craft without compromise. His passing in 2005 catalyzed my professional growth.
I realized I could no longer uphold the professional standards he had modeled for me within a traditional fee-for-service practice. This recognition inspired me to launch a solo concierge medical practice in July 2007.
At that time, I was only the second doctor in the county to take this leap. Today, after the passing of that pioneering physician, I find myself as the longest-practicing concierge doctor in the United States — the “OG” of concierge medicine in Walnut Creek.
Pioneering Challenges in Walnut Creek
Being among the first to offer concierge medicine in Walnut Creek came with two marketing challenges: educating people about concierge medicine’s value proposition and demonstrating why I should be their concierge doctor.
Many prospective patients had never heard of concierge care. Others confused it with “concierge services” in hotels. Explaining the revolutionary shift from volume-based to value-based care required patience and persistence.
Group Practice: The Next Evolution in Concierge Care
For 17 years, I practiced solo concierge medicine while observing tremendous growth in the number of other practitioners providing concierge care in our county.
In 2023, I began transitioning from a solo concierge practice to a group concierge practice, culminating in Banner Peak Health’s founding in 2024.
During this transition, I discovered the many advantages of a group concierge practice:
- Shared Knowledge: Multiple physicians collaborating creates a learning environment that enhances everyone’s knowledge and enthusiasm for practice.
- Resources and Technology: Economies of scale make evaluating and incorporating new technologies more feasible.
- Continuous Coverage: Patients always have access to a physician familiar with their medical history, even when their primary doctor takes time off.
- Team Spirit: A positive, collaborative atmosphere directly benefits patient care quality.
- Long-Term Stability: With multiple physicians, patients enjoy continuity of care beyond any single doctor’s career.
The group practice model allows us to maintain the personalized care that defines concierge medicine while adding the strength that comes from a coordinated team. Our philosophy is simple but powerful: happy staff and physicians lead to happy patients, ultimately creating better health outcomes for everyone.
Concierge Care’s Changing Landscape
Reflecting on the past 18 years, I’ve observed significant evolution in concierge medicine in Walnut Creek.
Many locals have noticed that traditional fee-for-service medical care can unfortunately no longer meet their needs. With this realization has come sustained and ongoing growth in demand for concierge medical services.
Simultaneously, more physicians have recognized the constraints of fee-for-service medicine can’t meet their standards of healthcare excellence. The increasing number of concierge practices gives patients more options, but it also makes it imperative for patients to be discerning in their choice of practice — and for us at Banner Peak Health to continue evolving and innovating.
The Future of Concierge Medicine
I believe concierge medicine will continue the trend we’ve pioneered at Banner Peak Health: physicians moving from solo practice to group concierge practice.
This evolution reminds me of the automotive industry’s development. When Henry Ford produced the Model T in 1914, it was famously available in “any color you want, as long as it’s black.” Fast forward over 110 years, and today’s automotive market offers endless customization options.
This diversification didn’t happen by chance. Market forces naturally lead to greater specialization and niche offerings as providers seek to better meet consumer demands. What began as a one-size-fits-all product evolved into customized solutions for different preferences and needs.
Similarly, concierge medicine represents this same market-driven evolution in healthcare. Fee-for-service medicine is the Model T — one standard approach to care. But now that we’re in the concierge medicine market space, practices are developing specialized niches and service structures to address specific patient populations and healthcare concerns.
Banner Peak Health is part of this continued evolution, where practices innovate and find new ways to satisfy patients’ healthcare needs. Some practices may emphasize cutting-edge technology, others preventative care, and still others specialized treatment approaches — all representing natural diversification that comes with a maturing market.
How to Choose a Concierge Practice That’s Right for You
Considering concierge medicine in Walnut Creek? Let these questions guide your search for the ideal concierge physician:
- Does medical innovation occur?
- Is there multigenerational knowledge transmission?
- Does the practice have economies of scale for new techniques and equipment?
- Is there team spirit and a supportive environment?
- Will there be continuity in your care as physicians retire?
As our county’s oldest concierge medicine practice, Banner Peak Health embodies the advantages of experience combined with an eye toward the future. We’re proud to lead the next generation of concierge care, combining the personalized attention patients deserve with group practice’s collaborative advantages.
I’m excited to see where the next 18 years of concierge medicine will take us.
