If you feel as though you're being hurried out the door every time you schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, you may be wondering what you can do to get a more comprehensive level of care. With insurance policies becoming more and more complex (and reimbursement rates dropping), many practices are feeling the financial pressure and adapting by attempting to squeeze as many patients as possible into a limited time frame. What options do you have if you're tired of the bum rush? Read on for a few alternative types (and methods) of practicing medicine that may help you get the medical attention you desire.

Holistic health treatment

Western medicine tends to be a formulaic process -- the physician will note your symptoms, make a diagnosis, and prescribe medicine, physical activity, or even surgery to treat the problem, often in a very short visit. While this can be effective in treating emergency conditions, for chronic or interrelated health problems, it can often leave some avenues unexplored. Holistic health treatment attempts to heal illnesses and infirmities by treating the entire body -- from improving nutrition to encouraging adequate rest to performing alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, and therapeutic massage. 

This treatment is especially effective for autoimmune conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, where traditional medications may lead to side effects that are more unpleasant than the underlying ailment. By undergoing periodic treatments with a holistic health practitioner, you'll be assured to receive the best treatment available from both Eastern and Western medicine while engaging in a meaningful dialogue with your healthcare provider.

Concierge medicine 

Another option that can give you much more face to face time with your physician is concierge care. Since the advent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a number of physicians have switched to this model to help provide the best possible service to patients while maintaining profits. If you choose to see a concierge doctor, you'll pay a monthly or annual premium to the doctor or his or her practice. This premium usually "purchases" a certain number of visits with your doctor each year or the ability to be squeezed into a slot at the last minute. 

Because concierge doctors have a set and static number of patients and can schedule most appointments well in advance, they don't feel the same pressure as other doctors to get through patients quickly in order to increase profits. This can allow you to spend much more face to face time with your doctor and gain a more thorough level of treatment.