A Disappointing Experience with Traditional Primary Care

I've always considered myself a healthy person, and in my 30s, I assumed my annual physical would be a thorough check-in. But after a disappointing experience at a general PCP office, I knew I needed and deserved something better. More than that, I really wanted to start taking my health seriously—not just for me, but as a mom to two little boys and a wife. I want to feel my best so I can show up fully for my family. I waited weeks for the appointment, then spent over half an hour in the waiting room with my youngest child (6 months at the time), whose nap I had carefully timed around this visit. Once I was finally taken back, I had to wait another 20-30 minutes in the exam room. By then, my son was getting hysterical. I almost walked out, but since I had already waited so long, I decided to stick it out.

The physical exam itself was basic. Blood pressure, weight, and a few lifestyle and family history questions. Nothing groundbreaking. They sent me for blood work after the fact, which meant there wasn’t much to discuss during the actual appointment time.

And then there was the blood work discussion—or lack of one. The doctor asked me what I wanted to have tested, like my vitamin B levels. I told her I had no idea, and she responded, “Are you worried about those levels?” I said, “Should I be?”—genuinely curious. I thought to myself, Isn’t it your job to educate me on what’s important and why? It left me feeling like I was the one who had to decide what was necessary, rather than receiving guidance from a professional.

A few days later, my lab results were posted on my electronic chart with a brief three-sentence note from the doctor saying everything looked good and that I should consider a vitamin D supplement. That was it. I had some flagged levels, but no explanation—just impersonal numbers on a screen. I really wanted and needed someone to say, “Hey, don’t stress about this, it just means X, Y, or Z.”

The Concierge Medicine Difference

Fast forward to when I joined Connected Health, and wow—a night and day difference! Before my first appointment, I did fasting blood work at their Wexford office a week or so before my physical. The office staff said this was the provider’s preference so they could have a thorough lab review with me during the actual exam. I loved that. The space is beautiful, nothing like a typical sterile doctor’s office. The blood draw was done in a private, clean room, just me and the nurse. She even asked if I wanted to lie down since she saw in my history that I don’t handle blood draws well. She offered me a snack after. It was little things like that that made such a difference!

Then came my physical with Alana Pantely, PA-C. There was no waiting this time. I was offered a coffee and water and taken right back. We spent about an hour and a half together, and it felt like an actual conversation, not a rushed checklist. She asked about my family history, my life as a mom (and not in a generic way—she genuinely wanted to know how I was doing), and we went through my blood work line by line. She explained every flagged level, what it meant, and reassured me where needed. Alana is also a boy mom, so we found a lot in common while chatting about motherhood and balancing it all. What also set this appointment apart was the care plan we discussed—Alana laid out what the next few weeks would look like, and then we talked about a health plan for the future, including any medications, follow-up blood work, and optional medical screenings. Something else that really stood out? They did an EKG, which Alana said was a great baseline to have to make sure there were no underlying heart issues. I had never had that kind of proactive care before!

Real-Time Support When It Mattered Most

Our house got hit with the flu, and that’s when I really appreciated the support. I messaged Alana and the medical team in their secure app, and within 30 seconds, she responded with advice. She kept checking in, even over the weekend. And just when I thought we were in the clear, I got mastitis—a painful breast infection that left me feeling completely out of it—fever, chills, headache, totally wiped out. I messaged Alana, and within minutes, she had a treatment plan in place so I didn’t have to drag myself into the office or worse, end up in the ER.

At first, my husband wasn’t totally sold on the idea of concierge medicine. “You’re young, we have insurance, why pay extra?” But after these experiences, even he admits it was worth it. The time and money we saved by avoiding an ER visit alone made it worth it. And honestly, there’s no price you can put on having a medical team that actually knows you, your history, and responds within seconds when you need them. It’s healthcare the way it should be.