Concierge Medicine vs. Spa Medicine: What Patients in St. Louis Need to Know

The phrase “concierge medicine” is everywhere in St. Louis. But not every practice using the term means the same thing. Some clinics focus on primary care with extended time and direct access, while others lean toward a spa model—selling memberships that bundle aesthetic services, supplements, or experimental therapies. For patients trying to decide, the difference matters. At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, we focus solely on adult primary care without the upsell.

Two Different Models Wearing the Same Label

Concierge medicine can follow two very different paths:

• Evidence-Based Concierge Care – Fewer patients per doctor, longer visits, same- or next-day access, and an independent physician who can recommend the best option across all of St. Louis.
• Spa Medicine Memberships – Packages that emphasize IV drips, Botox, supplements, weight-loss shots, and sometimes unproven therapies like ozone or whole-body cryotherapy.

Both may call themselves “concierge.” Only one centers on primary care.

The Appeal and the Risks of Spa Medicine

For many patients, spa-style practices feel innovative. They promise quick boosts of energy, rapid recovery, or anti-aging benefits. But national evidence shows the science is thin and sometimes risky:

• IV Vitamin Drips – Marketed for immunity and energy, but the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes limited evidence and risks for patients with kidney disease or certain genetic conditions.
• Ozone Therapy – Advertised for everything from Lyme to autoimmune disease, yet the FDA warns against unapproved systemic use.
• Whole-Body Cryotherapy – Popular for inflammation and weight loss, but the FDA has issued consumer alerts about risks such as frostbite and asphyxiation.
• Supplement Sales – The AMA Code of Ethics cautions that selling products directly to patients can create conflicts of interest and erode trust.

Even if these therapies are safe for some, the risk lies in the attention they take away from primary care.

What Financial Incentives Do to Care

Independent research has documented the impact of profit motives in health care:

• The Government Accountability Office found that self-referring physicians ordered more advanced imaging—raising costs without proven benefits to patients.
• A JACR meta-analysis confirmed that physician ownership of ancillaries increases utilization.
• The AMA warns that selling products in-office risks pressuring patients and damaging trust.

When a clinic’s business model depends on selling IV drips, supplements, or aesthetic treatments, the incentive to recommend them grows—even when the evidence doesn’t.

Concierge Care Without the Upsell

At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, we chose a different model:

• Unbiased Referrals – We refer across the St. Louis region, from independent specialists to large systems like BJC, SSM, or Mercy, based only on your needs.
• Time With Your Doctor – While the national average primary care visit is just 16–19 minutes^[NAMCS], our appointments run 30–60 minutes.
• Continuity – One physician who knows your history, instead of being passed from staff member to staff member.
• Direct Communication – Phone, text, and email access to your physician, not a call center.

Our focus is narrow by design: adult primary care. No supplements. No cryo chambers. No upselling aesthetics. Just medicine.

Why This Distinction Matters

Concierge medicine was designed to solve a problem: short visits and fragmented care in traditional practices. A 2013 Annals of Family Medicine study found that strong continuity with a primary care physician reduced preventable hospitalizations. That’s the measurable impact patients should expect—not an IV drip or a retail shelf.

In a city like St. Louis, where patients can choose between health systems, independents, and spa-style clinics, clarity matters. If you’re paying for concierge care, ask yourself: Am I investing in prevention and access, or in a package of unproven add-ons?

Making the Right Choice in Clayton and Beyond

For adults in St. Louis and suburbs like Clayton, the options are broad. Some practices offer more wellness marketing than medicine. Others, like Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, stay anchored in evidence-based primary care. When you compare, look not just at amenities, but at what you’ll gain in prevention, advocacy, and access to an independent concierge doctor.

Explore Our Approach

Learn more about our services, see how our membership plans support smaller panels and longer visits, or read more on our Insights page. If you’re ready to focus on medicine—not marketing—connect with us through our contact page.