Function and Concierge Medicine
Healthcare That Prioritizes Your Actual Needs
Function and Concierge Medicine in Edina for individuals seeking direct access to their primary care physician without insurance-driven appointment limitations
True north medical care provides function and concierge medicine in Edina through a membership-based model where you pay an annual or monthly fee directly to your physician in exchange for longer appointment times and direct communication channels. This approach removes the traditional insurance reimbursement structure from the patient-physician relationship, allowing your doctor to focus on your health rather than billing codes. You gain access to same-day or next-day appointments, extended visits that allow for thorough discussion, and direct messaging or phone access to your physician when questions arise between visits.
The membership structure creates a smaller patient panel per physician, typically capping enrollment at 400 to 600 patients rather than the 2,000 to 3,000 common in traditional primary care practices. This reduced patient load means your physician has time to review your health history in detail, coordinate with specialists when needed, and develop preventive care strategies tailored to your specific risk factors. Appointments typically last 30 to 60 minutes instead of the 10 to 15 minutes standard in volume-based practices.
Schedule an initial consultation to discuss membership options and how this model aligns with your healthcare priorities.
What the Membership Model Changes Practically
Your membership fee covers comprehensive primary care services including annual wellness visits, chronic disease management, preventive screenings, and care coordination with specialists when referrals become necessary. You pay the practice directly rather than submitting claims through insurance, though most members still maintain insurance coverage for hospitalizations, specialist visits, and procedures outside the scope of primary care. The financial relationship shifts from transactional per-visit billing to an ongoing partnership where the physician's compensation does not depend on appointment volume or procedure codes.
True north medical care structures this model to provide you with expanded communication access, meaning you can reach your physician through secure messaging or phone consultation without scheduling a separate billable visit. When health concerns arise between scheduled appointments, you receive guidance without waiting weeks for an opening or resorting to urgent care for non-emergency issues. The practice maintains availability for same-day appointments when acute problems develop, and scheduling flexibility accommodates your work and personal commitments rather than forcing you into limited time slots.
The membership does not typically cover lab work, imaging, medications, or specialist services, which remain billed through your insurance or paid directly to those providers. Your physician coordinates these services and interprets results, but the costs fall outside the membership fee structure. Understanding what the membership includes versus what requires separate payment helps you evaluate whether this model fits your healthcare needs and budget.
Patients considering this healthcare model often want clarity on how it differs from traditional insurance-based primary care and what practical changes they will experience in accessing medical services.
What happens during the initial membership consultation?
The consultation involves a comprehensive health history review, discussion of your current health concerns and preventive care goals, and an explanation of how the practice operates including appointment scheduling, communication protocols, and what services the membership covers versus what requires additional billing.
How does this model work with existing health insurance?
You maintain your health insurance for hospital care, specialist visits, emergency services, and prescription coverage while the membership fee covers primary care services directly. Most members find that high-deductible insurance plans pair well with this model since primary care costs are predictable through the membership rather than applied to your deductible.
What does enhanced access mean in practical terms?
You receive your physician's direct phone number or secure messaging portal for non-emergency questions, same-day or next-day appointment availability when acute issues arise, and appointment durations of 30 to 60 minutes rather than the rushed visits common in high-volume practices.
How are chronic conditions managed under this structure?
Your physician develops individualized management plans for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disorders with regular monitoring appointments, medication adjustments as needed, and coordination with specialists when your condition requires additional expertise beyond primary care scope.
What patient volume does the practice maintain in Edina?
The practice limits enrollment to maintain the smaller patient panel that makes extended appointments and direct access feasible, typically capping membership to allow each physician adequate time for thorough care rather than maximizing patient numbers for revenue.
Questions Before Considering a Membership Practice
True north medical care structures this membership approach to restore the patient-physician relationship that insurance-driven volume requirements have eroded in conventional primary care settings. Arrange a consultation to review membership terms and determine whether this model addresses the access limitations you have experienced in traditional practices.