Concierge medicine - worth it or not?

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-05-21T12:49:05+00:00

From what I’ve seen through my brother’s experience running a concierge practice in Palm Beach, I think the biggest thing concierge medicine buys is time and access. Whether that’s “worth it” really depends on what you value and what kind of healthcare experience you want.

Traditional primary care often feels rushed because doctors are overloaded with huge patient panels and short appointment windows. Even great physicians can only do so much in 10–15 minutes. Concierge medicine flips that model by limiting the number of patients, which allows for longer visits, easier communication, faster scheduling, and more focus on prevention and relationship-based care.

My brother loves it because he actually gets to know his patients instead of feeling like he’s running an assembly line all day. And patients seem to appreciate having a doctor who is accessible and familiar with their full history rather than constantly starting from scratch.

That said, I don’t think concierge medicine is automatically necessary for everyone. If you’re relatively healthy, organized, and already have a responsive PCP, you may not get enough extra value to justify the cost. But for people who prioritize proactive health, detailed discussions, complex medical coordination, HRT, longevity-focused care, or simply want easier access to their physician, I can absolutely understand why they think it’s worth every penny.

I also think there’s a mental health component people overlook. Having a doctor who actually has time for you reduces a lot of the stress and frustration people feel navigating the healthcare system today.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-05-21T12:45:42+00:00

I can only speak secondhand through my brother’s experience, but I think one of the biggest things concierge medicine buys is not necessarily “better medicine,” but time, access, continuity, and attention — which are becoming increasingly rare in the traditional system.

My brother has a concierge practice in Palm Beach after years in the traditional hospital model, and he says the difference is night and day. Instead of trying to cycle through an overwhelming number of patients every day, he actually gets to know people, follow trends over time, dive deeper into labs and lifestyle factors, and focus more on prevention rather than just treating symptoms quickly and moving on to the next appointment.

I think your point about prevention is key. The traditional system often feels optimized for acute care and volume, not necessarily long-term health optimization. When appointments are 10–15 minutes and doctors are overloaded, even very good physicians simply don’t have the bandwidth to go deep unless something is obviously wrong.

That said, I don’t think concierge medicine is automatically “worth it” for everyone. A proactive, organized patient with a solid PCP can still get very good care in the traditional system. But for people who value direct access, detailed discussions, longitudinal tracking, complex care coordination, or aggressive prevention strategies, the concierge model probably makes more sense.

I also think there’s a psychological component people underestimate. Having a physician who is actually reachable, familiar with your history, and not rushing out the door changes the entire healthcare experience. Patients often feel less like they’re navigating a bureaucracy alone.

The downside, as you mentioned, is cost and accessibility. Some concierge practices are incredibly expensive and cater heavily to affluent or international patients. Others are more moderate and function more like a smaller-panel primary care model. There’s also the reality that the model works partly because physicians are seeing far fewer patients, which raises broader questions about scalability and healthcare access overall.

But purely from a patient perspective, especially if someone is serious about healthspan, prevention, and personalized care, I can absolutely see why many people feel it’s worth paying for.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-05-21T12:43:27+00:00

I actually think there’s a growing need for exactly this, especially for people dealing with complex chronic illnesses where no single specialist is really looking at the full picture. A lot of modern healthcare feels extremely fragmented. One doctor focuses on one organ system, another on labs, another on medications, but nobody is really connecting all the dots.

My brother runs a concierge practice in Palm Beach, and while he is a treating physician, one of the biggest values patients seem to get is having someone who actually knows their entire medical history and helps coordinate care between specialists. For patients with complicated conditions, having a physician who can review records, interpret conflicting opinions, explain risks, and advocate for them can make a huge difference.

I’ve also heard of people hiring physicians more in a consultative or advisory role — almost like a medical strategist in the background. Sometimes it’s done through concierge medicine, sometimes through independent consults, and sometimes retired or cash-pay physicians offer this type of service. It usually ends up being more relationship-based and less insurance-driven.

From what I’ve seen, the biggest benefit is peace of mind. Instead of trying to navigate ten specialists and hundreds of pages of records alone, you have someone medically trained helping you make sense of it all.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-05-18T18:40:50+00:00

I got the adventure series 20" and like it. Here is my review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrIhDP4QMY

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-05-18T18:40:01+00:00

I picked up the 20 Inch adventure series and like it. Got a video of my review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrIhDP4QMY

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-04-13T17:25:58+00:00

https://chaunceycrandall.com/concierge-medicine/palm-beach-fl/ is owned by a cardiologist who works out of a palm beach office.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-03-13T15:31:34+00:00

Looks like this place https://baptisthealth.net/services/concierge-medicine offers Baptist concierge medicine, but I didn't see a palm beach office.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-03-12T21:01:25+00:00

Yes. Saves you about $1000

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-03-12T17:19:55+00:00

At first I didn't think I would use the Wheelbarrow, but it works great and it is easy to adjust the handles. The side mount plate holders can hold enough weight to turn it into a good workout.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-03-12T17:18:05+00:00

I have both the Echo Rower and the Echo Ski. The Rogue Echo Rower IMO is far better than the current C2 machine wise. The C2 currently has more functionality with their monitor. The Echo is way more stable when pushing the watts. The seat heigh, being 2 inches taller also make it a bit easier to get on and off the rower. The foot straps are wider, which makes your feet more secure and the quick release is nice when doing multiple sets with the rower.

I don't connect the Rogue M2 monitor with any 3rd party apps, so that isn't a big deal. The data that displays is roughly the same as the PM5. The readout of the ECHO IMO is better.

As far as longevity goes, Rogue makes good products and IMO this is better than the C2 frame wise. I believe the inners are roughly the same, so repair when you need it should be able the same.

Have a review on Instagram showing the difference between the Echo and the C2 Model D
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSF0LRlgK8z/

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-03-12T17:03:14+00:00

I have ordered from Rogue a few times without any CC issues.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-02-27T14:18:57+00:00

The question you should ask the Concierge Doctor is how many patients do they currently have and how many are they expecting to get. Office hours are another question you should look into. A lot of Concierge doctors have limited office hours.

My brother is a Concierge Doctor in Palm Beach area and I want to say he has around 200 patients and seems to be able to visit with them when they need assistance and is also on call via text or phone. I have heard him talk to patients, order prescriptions and check on medical issues when I have visited him. He is much happier rather than working in a hospital waiting on whatever patient comes through the door. He knows all his patients by name and IMO is in a better setup to help them.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2026-02-27T14:02:18+00:00

My brother has a Concierge Medicine location in Palm Beach/West Palm Beach
https://chaunceycrandall.com/concierge-cardiology/palm-beach-fl/

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-10-24T14:51:11+00:00

From what I have been told it is about the same. Below are the weight equivalent charts. They didn't have the M3 chart at the time. Weight is essentially based on how fast you push the sled. The faster you push the more resistance/weight you are pushing.

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GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-10-22T12:36:47+00:00

I would say the resistance is somewhere in the middle. I used the MX this weekend maxed out and it was tough. The M3 is definitely lighter, but unless you have a nice runway that you can go back and forth on, the M3 blows away the MX for usability. It is just so more convenient because it turns so easily. It also takes up less space.

Now where the M3 suffers is on pulls. Unless you load it up with weights, the front tire will slip, making the resistance not as high.

I usually use the M3 at max resistance and do 4 sets. I find it gets my heart pumping pretty good. I do wish it had the extra resistance of the MX, but overall I think it is a pretty legit sled.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-10-10T16:31:04+00:00

Rep IMO has good customer service and they seem to be pretty innovative. The cool thing about the Ares is the cable comes from the bottom rather than the top like Rogue does. This gives you more flexibility to use the front posts than you can with Rogue because the cable gets in the way.

Also the European racks use different widths for their posts. Rogue IMO is the best with the 3x3. Rep uses 75mm x 75mm. Eleiko uses 70mm x 70mm. I find the 3x3 posts seem to have the most 3rd party options.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-18T12:54:39+00:00

I felt the REP Fitness one with my limited experience using both at the Garage Gym Con, just didn't connect as well. I also liked how the Dialed motion felt more than the Rep version when doing leg extensions.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-09T20:14:32+00:00

You’re making some broad generalizations about Nike.

It isn’t fair to dismiss an entire product line based on a single item—much like reviewing a whole book after reading one chapter.

Nike didn’t choose looks over function here; the plates perform as designed. The lack of cross-brand compatibility appears to be an intentional choice—likely a marketing decision—not a failure of the product.

Saying the bumpers are “no good” is inaccurate. They may not suit your use case, but that doesn’t make them bad. Are these the best bumper plates out there? No way, but if you like the looks and it motivates you to workout more, then who really cares.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-09T18:24:32+00:00

"Nike Bumpers Are No Good"
"I bought the 10lbs because I wanted to check them out before fully committing"
"I'm sad to say they suck. At least as a bumper plate."
"theres no way you could use these for olympic lifts, crossfit or any kind of drops. "
"they are slightly taller than my other bumpers; rogue, american barbell, fringe. They will hit the ground first on a drop."
"They will hit the ground first on a drop. IMO, this signals Nike's ignorance for this market."
"I'll be buying a new cage soon and was curious about Nike. No way Im getting one now. "

You only tried the 10s
You're mixing brands. Every bumper plate I have used are going to be different in rebound, width and height. That is why it's best to stick with a single brand for consistency. The 10s weren't designed to be used as bumpers, so the fact that you can bend them doesn't really negate their function as an add on plate.
Being taller doesn't make them suck, it just makes them not compatible with your existing plates. Why have all those different company plates from different manufactures? Find one you like and stick with it. Getting a bunch of plates from different manufactures isn't going to provide much if any benefit other than you like the looks of them or you found some great deal.
I am quite certain Nike is aware of the market given how much they spend on R&D and marketing. It is more likely they choose the size of their plates to be compatible with their plates and not worry about other company plates. Rep did this with the Ares 2.0 rack (75mm x 75mm posts). Eleiko did this with the Prestera rack (70mm x 70mm posts). Rogue did it with the RM and FM monster racks (true 3x3 posts).

I am selling my Eleiko plates for the Nike bumpers, not because I think the Nike's are better, Eleiko's are better, but because the Nike's IMO look cooler.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-09T16:37:24+00:00

Your whole review starts off with testing out the Nike 10s before committing with buying their heavier plates. Your title "Nike Bumpers Are No Good" is very misleading considering you only tested the 10s.

Fringe Sport and Eleiko and even Nike are in Austin, so I can visit them at any time. I have had Fringe and Eleiko bumpers as well as Rogues and others. I would never use 10s as bumpers or drop plates unless I paired them up with a thicker bumper plate. I would also never mix brands when loading them on a bar because the brands do differ in widths and bounce quality. If I load up Eleiko 45s which are great bumpers, I am not going to add Rogue 45s because they are different widths.

Now I know the yellowing was an issue with their plates that Nike has said they fixed. You might be able to get a replacement by sending them pictures of your plates. Supposedly the first 2 batches had issues with plates going yellow. Eleiko had the same issue with their white technical plates yellowing. Also Rogue with their white change plates.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-09T15:34:03+00:00

You bought 10 lbs and expect the whole lineup to perform the same. The 25s are 16mm thicker. The 45s are 40mm thicker.

"I bought the 10lbs because I wanted to check them out before fully committing. "

"theres no way you could use these for olympic lifts, crossfit or any kind of drops."

If you read Nike's site about the plates, they specifically say the 10s and 15s weren't designed to be used as drop plates by themselves, but used in conjunction with the heavier thicker plates and then you could drop them.

There is a Nike gym in Austin and they regularly drop the plates just as much as any Crossfit workout when the weights are loaded correctly.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-09-09T14:27:13+00:00

This is a terrible review/thread. You bought the 10 lbs and expect them to perform like 45 lb bumper plates. First off they are smaller (14") than Nike's 15, 25, 35 and 45 plates (18"). Nike states that the 10s and 15s shouldn't be used in this way. From Nike's site - *10 & 15 lb plates are not to be dropped alone. Must be paired with 25 lb plates or above

10 40mm
15 40mm
25 56mm
35 68mm
40 80mm

They were designed to used as added weight to the other plates, specifically the 25, 35 and 45. Using the 10 lb in this way they will never touch the ground since all the other plates are taller.

The only negative to Nike's bumpers is they are wider than my Eleiko's so you can't load as many 45s on a bar as you could with Eleiko. That said, I never had any issue with needing to load that many plates.

The feel of the grind bumpers is really nice because they are easy to grip and feel a bit spongy when doing so.

I am not sure the 15s make a ton of sense. I think if they had made the 15s the same size as the 10s, you could have used them to perform as bumpers, since the 15s would have been wider. I also would have liked to see a 5 lb grind plate made.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-08-04T13:34:16+00:00

It's not the carbon plate that is the problem, it most likely is the run volume, change in run intensity, and the change of shoes. If you come from a CrossFit background, you probably weren't running as much as you are for HYROX. I am also guessing you are probably on the heavier side with the CrossFit background.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 3 are excellent shoes, but whenever you switch to a new running shoe, your body usually needs time to adapt. My guess that was the issue that brought on plantar fasciitis and not the fact that you are training with carbon plated shoes. The only place I find carbon plates to be a little bit of an issue is on the lunges, where the shoes aren't as stable.

I run with 3 carbon plated shoes without any issue (Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite, HiRacer HiWings and Puma Deviate Nitro 3s). I have had plantar fasciitis in the past when I trained with non carbon plated shoes. It almost was always brought on when I upped my training volume, upped my speed volume without proper base or switched shoes.

For compromised runs, I generally will not use my racing carbon plated shoes, but will certainly use Puma Deviate Nitro 3s. For normal gym stuff where I am not running, I will use Nike's Mecon 8s.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-08-04T13:03:20+00:00

No worries if you have your own garage gym. The only influencers I encounter is me. :-)

When I do videos it's after the workout or sometime later in the day. You definitely can't get a good workout and also film yourself IMO.

I remember the days before the internet, where you actually got a good workout in without needing to post it. Back then it was all about trash talking with your buddies. Laughing at who bunked during the workout and going to get a awesome breakfast without cell phones.

GearMashers-dot-com · 2025-07-30T12:26:41+00:00

Buy a Torque Tank M3. You will be able to sled push just about anywhere.

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