For years, George T avoided going to the doctor unless he absolutely had to. Like many patients, he saw healthcare as reactive, something you turned to when you were already sick, but not a way to help you stay well. That changed under the care of Drs. Manisha Kalra and Rohit Seem at Shady Grove Family Medicine in Rockville.
“There is no doctor that will spend an hour and a half with you just talking about your health,” he said.
With that time came a turn to better health. Guided by detailed conversations and a focus on nutrition, George says his bloodwork and overall well-being have improved in ways he didn’t anticipate. His experience reflects a growing shift in primary care, and raises a question more patients are beginning to ask:
Should I consider joining a concierge practice?
Concierge medicine replaces high patient volume with a more personalized approach. Patients pay a membership fee in exchange for greater availability, longer visits, and more direct communication with their physician.
At Shady Grove Family Medicine, that includes:
- Same- or next-day appointments
- Visits lasting 45 to 90 minutes
- Direct physician availability
- A strong focus on prevention and lifestyle medicine
Both doctors considered the change essential. “For years, we saw firsthand how difficult it was to truly help patients within the constraints of traditional primary care,” said Dr. Kalra.
Why Time Changes Everything
In traditional settings, appointments are often limited to 15–20 minutes. In a concierge model, that expands significantly, and patients say the difference is profound. Those conversations are central to the practice’s philosophy.
Beyond longer visits, availability of care is another major shift. Patients are often seen within a day or two, or sometimes the same day.
“If I call, they’ll say, ‘Can you come in today?’” shared patient Donna T. “Things happen very quickly, and there’s no waiting time.”
That responsiveness can ease anxiety, speed up care decisions, and reduce the need for urgent care or emergency visits. In some cases, it goes even further, including visits to patients in rehabilitation facilities when needed.
George describes his doctor’s role this way: “If you have a team, you want a good quarterback,” he said. “Dr. Seem’s skills and knowledge bring it all together to address what’s happening, direct specialists and guide me through changes that have made a dramatic difference in my health.”
Lifestyle Matters
At Shady Grove, a holistic, lifestyle approach is used as a powerful tool to help patients manage and sometimes reverse chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
“Many chronic diseases we see today are rooted in lifestyle, particularly diet,” said Dr. Seem. “Now with more time at each visit, we’re able to work with our patients to incorporate meaningful, lasting changes rather than simply prescribing medication.”
As patient S.C. notes: “Dr. Seem educates, explains and walks you through the ‘why’…his advice reflects both clinical precision and genuine care.”
For George and Donna, the emphasis on nutrition was impactful. “It took probably three years of conversations,” Donna said. “But once it clicked, and we changed how we were eating, it made a big difference in how we felt.”
The Cost Question
Concierge care does require a fee, which is separate from insurance and supports the enhanced level of care; importantly, the practice still bills insurance for medical visits. Concierge patients at Shady Grove also receive a number of cutting-edge, complimentary services, including red light therapy to support natural healing and recovery, body composition analysis via 3D scanner and an in-home sleep study.
So, is concierge medicine worth it?
Concierge medicine is on the rise nationwide, driven by dissatisfaction with rushed appointments and fragmented care. For physicians, a smaller practice means more time and less burnout. For patients who prioritize immediate and direct availability, longer visits, and a more proactive approach to well-being, a concierge membership is often seen as an investment in health.
George says he now sees Dr. Seem regularly, because: “It’s not just about treating something when it’s wrong, but about understanding your health and making changes now.”
For other patients, the value can be described as an intangible, and increasingly rare experience in modern medicine – feeling known and understood. Said patient M.M. after seeing Dr. Kalra: “Your story matters to her and she gets to know you personally.”
And for a growing number of patients in Montgomery County, that may be exactly what makes concierge medicine worth it.
