Concierge medicine is on the rise. For a growing number of patients, paying an annual fee for easier access to their doctor sounds like a good trade-off. For physicians, it offers a path to reduced burnout, smaller patient loads and more autonomy.

But there’s another side to this story — especially for rural and underserved communities already struggling with a shortage of primary care doctors.

As concierge medicine continues to shrink the pool of available physicians, a new opportunity is emerging: licensed doctors from other specialties — or even those returning to practice or shifting toward retirement — can help fill the growing gap by retraining as primary care physicians.

The Problem: A Shrinking Supply of Primary Care Physicians

The U.S. is facing a significant shortage of primary care doctors, and concierge medicine, while appealing, is intensifying the problem:

• Concierge doctors typically care for 300–600 patients compared to 2,000+ in traditional models, reducing overall access.

• These services are largely concentrated in urban or affluent areas, leaving rural populations underserved.

• More primary care physicians are switching to concierge practices for better work-life balance, removing themselves from broader access models.

An article published in partnership by the New England Public Media, NPR and KFF Health News cited trade magazine Concierge Medicine Today’s estimate that there are 7,000 to 22,000 concierge physicians in the U.S. charging membership fees that range from $1,000 to $50,000 a year.

While concierge care may benefit certain patients and providers, it effectively takes a portion of the already limited workforce out of reach for much of the population — especially those in remote or under-resourced regions, according to Michael Dill, the director of workforce studies at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

In the article, Dill noted that concierge services may increase the quality of care for those who can afford it, “But that means fewer people have access,” he said.

“So each time any physician makes that switch, it exacerbates the shortage….” Dill said. In rural areas, “if even one or two make that switch, you’re going to feel it,” he added.

The Opportunity: Retraining to Fill the Gaps

That’s where retrained physicians come in. Across the country, doctors with medical licenses — whether they’re practicing in a specialty, working in non-clinical roles or seeking to reenter medicine after time away — represent an untapped resource. With additional training, these professionals can transition into primary care roles and provide essential care where it’s needed most.

Retraining programs, like Physicians Retraining & Reentry, are often led by academic medical centers and offer pathways that are built from physicians’ previous experience.

Why This Matters for Rural Communities

Rural areas already face challenges in attracting and retaining healthcare providers. When physicians leave general practice or limit their patient base to concierge care, rural clinics are hit hardest. Retrained physicians can step in to:

• Provide continuity of care for communities with high health disparities
• Reduce emergency room dependence for routine needs
• Support public health goals like preventive care and chronic disease management
• Bring cultural competence and life experience to rural medicine

Concierge medicine may be part of a changing healthcare landscape, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of equitable access. As the medical industry shifts, so too must our solutions.

Retrained physicians can be a key part of the answer — bringing skill, perspective and care to the patients who need it most. If you’re a licensed physician considering your next move, or a healthcare leader looking to bolster rural access, now is the time to explore retraining opportunities and help fill the growing gap.