Dr. James Eells, MD, is a renowned healthcare provider in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. His clinic offers personalized healthcare services under the concierge medicine model, where patients subscribe to an annual membership fee. This membership fee covers routine services like annual physicals, vaccinations, and laboratory testing, but may also cover other medical services, including physical therapy, weight loss and exercise programs, and other tailored programs.
Dr. Eells received his medical degree from the University Of Nevada School Of Medicine in 1989. He is an internal medicine specialist, completing his residency and internships in the Las Vegas area. Prior to entering private practice for himself in 2006, Dr. Eells served as an active-duty staff physician for the United States Air Force. In a few short years, he was named as Chief of Medicine for the Air Force’s 99th Medical Group. It was here that Dr. Eells honed his skills for balancing personalized patient care with the administrative and personnel needs of a large-scale medical practice. These skills proved beneficial to his later work; they helped him establish his private practice clinic and assisted him as the clinic experienced immediate growth. Dr. Eells and his staff are known for their outstanding patient care, taking the time to forge deep and lasting relationships with their patients as they address specific health concerns in warm, unhurried environment. The clinic sees fewer patients than traditional medical clinics, giving Dr. Eells the ability to develop care plans and wellness programs that benefit his patients’ health needs.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
As a military healthcare provider and during my internist residency, I saw firsthand the demands placed on physicians. High patient loads and a rushed atmosphere meant that patients weren’t receiving the personalized care they needed and they deserved. I knew there had to be a better way, which is why I chose the concierge medicine model to base my private practice around.
How do you make money?
For me, it’s not about making money; rather, it is about providing premium healthcare for my patients. Personalized membership plans and a lower patient load means that I can spend more time with each patient, learning their concerns and addressing their health goals in a way that traditional medical providers simply cannot.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Our clinic was profitable almost right from the start. Even with our goal of providing affordable membership plans to our patients in the form of annual fees, the demand was there for this revolutionary healthcare model. We have grown steadily since the very first days in 2006, when the clinic was established.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I think it is only natural to have doubts or fears when starting a new business, especially one that goes against tradition. My background as a medical administrator in the military definitely helped me to remain flexible and to address needs as they arose. I was confident in the concierge medicine model and I still am – the only real doubt was whether patients would seek such personalized treatment when more traditional options were available. I can proudly say that my doubts were erased rather quickly, and the Las Vegas community welcomed my clinic with open arms!
How did you get your first customer?
My reputation as a physician with a desire to provide the very best medical care available definitely helped attract new patients to our clinic right from the beginning. We spent a little on advertising and the rest was word of mouth, with existing patients referring their friends and family to the clinic.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Referrals are great, and have brought us a lot of new business. These days, a robust web presence is just as important. Our clinic is active on social media platforms, giving us a chance to showcase our business model and interact with potential new patients in a very informal, informational way. Having a well-designed website packed with information and details on our services, fees, and background is crucial in the modern economy, too.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
For my clinic, we always have to balance our personalized healthcare and time constraints with the ever-increasing demand for our services. If I take on too many new patients, my existing patients may not get the tailored healthcare services they have come to rely on, and that defeats the whole purpose of the concierge medicine model. It is a daily struggle to achieve this balance.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I am successful in this field because my patients know that I care about their wellbeing – it is the whole reason I became a physician in the first place. When your clients can trust you to provide expert care and outstanding service, it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in – you WILL be successful.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
My most satisfying moment came in 2009, when I was recognized for my outstanding healthcare achievements by being named America’s Top Physician by the Research Council of America. I couldn’t be more proud of my clinic and my staff for helping me to rise to these honors.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The field of medicine is ever-changing. New therapeutic regimens, new drugs, and advanced diagnostic tools help keep things exciting and give me the chance to adopt these updates to better serve my patients and their health needs. We will continue to grow while we maintain the aspects that have made us successful in the first place – developing deep relations with our patients in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how would you like to be contacted?
I would love to help mentor the next generation of medical providers. I can be reached through my clinic in Las Vegas.
Why is concierge medicine the future of personalized healthcare?
Patients at traditional clinics often have long waits in the waiting room and even longer waits getting an appointment in the first place. Physicians and other healthcare providers are forced to rush, and this is a detriment to the care patients receive. Concierge medicine changes that equation by reducing patient loads and offering a full range of services for a flat yearly fee. I can spend more time with each patient, addressing their every concern with care and dignity and making them understand that their quality of life is important to me.