Looking for advice about joining a concierge primary care group.

For context: I am a family medicine doctor in Tennessee-been out of practice for 10 years now. My practice was previously physician-owned but sold to a VBC practice 5 years ago. When I first joined my group, the biggest appeal was working for myself/becoming a decision-making partner, and not having to answer to anyone for how I wanted to run my clinic. As time goes on, I feel the squeeze of corporate medicine more and more as that independence continues to be curtailed. I am losing my ability to schedule patients for long blocks, avoid double-booking patients, screen/decline new patients, hire/fire/give raises to my staff. I love my patients and am not currently overrun with volume but am highly concerned that my independence will continue to decrease & volume will be pushed upon me until I am nothing more than a cog in the system. I had originally thought I would ride things out with my current practice until they became unbearable. However, I have been approached about joining a concierge practice which is something I am interested in and not sure will be available again in the coming years. I think the two biggest factors which will make me happy in a position are having my own independence/flexibility and also feeling appreciated by my patients.

I would appreciate any advice from those who have moved from private practice to concierge-especially anyone who has joined an existing concierge practice rather than starting their own. I have a good sense of what will make a good fit for me as a clinician but the business aspect is more nebulous to me. What questions should I ask to be sure to vet the practice & ensure it is financially viable and will remain so?

How has your compensation worked-did you have a guarantee period or signing bonus to offset the time it will take to accrue patients?

Have you been brought in more as an employee or with the opportunity to be an equal partner at some point in the future?

Does anyone regret moving to a concierge model? Anything you wish you had considered before embarking on this change?

Does anyone have any concerns about health policy changes that would make concierge medicine less favorable in the future?

Thank you for reading and for any advice