For those seeking more personalized medical attention and direct, extended access to their physician via concierge medicine might be the answer.
Carey Cooper had been working for years on diet and lifestyle improvements with yo-yo style success, always wondering what health issue was going to pop up out of nowhere. His biggest worry was having a cardiac issue or stroke like his father.
He set the concerns aside by partnering with David Davidson, MD, a cardiologist at Endeavor Health who started a cardiac concierge program in January 2026 in Highland Park.
“Dr. Davidson is bright, intuitive and brings Medicine 3.0 into the practice. I have embarked over the last several years on my own health journey. I want to associate myself with the most cutting-edge therapies and treatments available. Dr. Davidson offers these and also provides a sensible approach to cardiovascular health,” said Cooper.
Direct access
The first concierge practice launched in Seattle in 1996, and the American Medical Association offered ethical guidelines for the practice in 2001. Since then, concierge medicine has expanded into all medical specialties, as patients seek more direct access with their physician.
While Endeavor Health provides expert, personalized cardiac care to patients across its health system, concierge service offers an optional path for those seeking enhanced access.
With concierge service, a patient pays an annual or monthly retainer fee to a physician to have quicker appointments (often same-day or next-day), longer visits and enhanced access to the physician.
To maintain this level of care, each concierge practice caps its patient profile at a specific number. Most concierge medical programs bill insurance for some services, like imaging and labs, but there can be increased out-of-pocket expenses.
While every patient at Endeavor Health has access to top-tier, comprehensive heart care and advanced treatments, the cardiac concierge model offers another option for those seeking extra time and direct, around-the-clock access to their physician.
“The medical system comes with constraints where patients want more time with their physicians, but physicians are forced to be comprehensive and personal within one short encounter. Concierge service has allowed me to focus on a set number of patients, work on preventative care and make meaningful changes to improve cardiac outcomes,” said Dr. Davidson.
“It was also important for us to stay with a top health system like Endeavor Health so that patients could continue to have access to all of the resources that the system provides, including high-level cardiovascular expertise and advanced imaging, interventional and electrophysiology capabilities,” he added.
The benefits
Cooper, who uses Endeavor Health for primary care and other specialty services, had heard of Dr. Davidson for years. He began seeing Dr. Davidson under the concierge model in January 2026, when he was motivated to take proactive, preventative measures to avoid the conditions his father experienced.
For Cooper, the increased out-of-pocket costs are well worth the benefits. During each appointment, he spends more time with Dr. Davidson for a deeper level of attention. When medical concerns have come up, Dr. Davidson is consistently available.
Under Dr. Davidson’s guidance, Cooper has had genetic and biomarker testing, a cardiac echocardiogram and other imaging. All of these revealed that Cooper is in good cardiovascular health.
“Having Dr. Davidson available all the time is so reassuring. Cardiovascular death is the leading mortality cause. Having someone dedicated to preventing this was a no-brainer decision for me,” added Cooper.
Guided by the test results and conversations, Dr. Davidson was able to identify some high-yield, more personalized targeted interventions for Cooper. These changes have already translated into meaningful weight loss and improvements in his health.
“Carey is very happy that we have left no stone unturned,” said Dr. Davidson. “We can be meticulous about heart health in cardiac concierge with the support of the Endeavor Health system.”
Seeing Dr. Davidson has become a family affair with Cooper’s wife, Cheryl, also now a patient. In June 2026, Cheryl was in the emergency room with chest pain, which turned out to be non-cardiac in nature. Cooper called Dr. Davidson from the emergency room and signed Cheryl up for the cardiac concierge program right then and there.
“Cheryl had peace of mind immediately upon seeing Dr Davidson,” said Cooper. “Dr. Davidson was able to determine that Cheryl’s pain was not cardiac in nature, and he referred her to the appropriate Endeavor Health specialist to manage her care. This would have taken weeks in a traditional setting, and it took hours under the concierge program.”
“Access is the biggest benefit of cardiac concierge. It allows for patients and physicians to have more one-on-one time and better communication to improve patients’ quality of life and health,” said Dr. Davidson.
“At the same time, we want every heart patient at Endeavor Health to know they are in expert hands receiving outstanding, compassionate care — concierge is simply a specialized option focused on expanded time and direct availability.”
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