FREQUENTLY ASKED
Everything you’d ask before joining.
If you’d like to learn more about how our approach to concierge medicine can benefit you and your family, here are the questions members and prospective members ask most. Don’t see your question? Inquire.
THE CONCIERGE DIFFERENCE
What makes Griffin different from every other practice.
Concierge medicine is a relationship model, not a service model. These questions explain what that means in practice.
How is Griffin Concierge Medical different from a traditional practice?
We provide a highly personalized level of care that traditional offices cannot match. This includes same-day appointments, 24/7 direct access to your doctor via cell or email, and unhurried visits that focus on proactive longevity rather than just treating illness.
What is the Griffin Way?
The Griffin Way is the next era of the family physician — combining the warmth, continuity, and deep personal relationships of traditional concierge medicine with the infrastructure, collective expertise, proactive systems, and relentless pursuit of what is next in modern medicine. Practically, it means a dedicated Patient Care Coordinator who knows your name, quarterly chart reviews, every loop closed, and 24/7 access to a real Griffin physician.
What does '24/7 access' actually mean at Griffin?
It means a real, prepared Griffin physician — not a voicemail, not a triage line, not urgent care. Target response time is 30 minutes or less. The on-call physician has your chart, your medication list, and the context to make a decision in real time.
How many physicians will I see as a Griffin member?
You will have one designated physician — your primary relationship — and a small, consistent team that includes your dedicated Patient Care Coordinator. When complex cases benefit from collective expertise, your physician will consult with the ten other Griffin physicians across our locations. You benefit from the hive-mind without seeing eleven doctors.
What is a Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) and why does it matter?
Your PCC is your operational partner — the person who knows your communication preferences, your life events, your travel patterns, and the rhythm of your care. The PCC is the relationship that makes the medical relationship work: scheduling, prep check-ins, results follow-through, and the small details that make the difference between good and exceptional care.
How do you manage my care if I am hospitalized?
If you are admitted to a local hospital, our doctors act as your primary advocate. We communicate with the hospitalists, visit you when appropriate, and manage the transition back to your home care plan.
What hospitals do Griffin physicians have admitting privileges at?
Our physicians hold active admitting privileges at six Tampa Bay hospitals: Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, HCA South Tampa, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and Morton Plant Hospital. When a member needs inpatient care, the Griffin physician they already trust is the physician at their bedside.
Do I get a longer appointment than at a traditional practice?
Yes — appointments are unhurried. An annual comprehensive assessment can take 60–90 minutes. Sick visits and follow-ups are scheduled for the time the issue actually requires, not the time a 15-minute slot allows.
MEMBERSHIP & BILLING
How membership works and what it costs.
Transparent answers about fees, insurance, billing cycles, and what happens if your circumstances change.
How much is the membership fee and what does it cover?
Membership fees are graduated based on age. The fee covers all professional primary care services in our office, including your Comprehensive Annual Assessment, 24/7 physician access, and care coordination. Contact our office for current age-based pricing.
Will insurance, Medicare, or my FSA/HSA cover the fee?
Insurance and Medicare do not cover the membership fee. However, many members find that their HSA or FSA funds can be used to pay for concierge services; please consult your tax advisor to confirm.
Do I need health insurance? What about HMOs, Tricare, or Medicaid?
Yes, you still need insurance. We do not participate in any insurance networks, including HMOs, Tricare Prime, or Medicaid. You will need your insurance to cover specialist visits, imaging, and hospital stays.
How is the membership fee billed?
Most members are billed quarterly. Annual and monthly options are also available. Membership begins after enrollment and continues until cancelled — there are no minimum-term contracts.
What happens if I cancel my membership?
Memberships can be cancelled at any time with 30 days’ written notice. Pro-rated refunds are issued for the unused portion of any prepaid period.
Can I be seen once or for a one-time executive physical?
No. We are a membership-based practice focused on long-term relationships. We do not offer one-time consultations or stand-alone physicals to non-members.
CARE MODEL & ACCESS
How we deliver care — on your terms.
Appointments, portals, travel coverage, house calls, and the tools we use to keep you connected to your physician.
How do I access medical services when I’m traveling?
You have 24/7 direct access to your doctor via phone, text, or email. We can handle many issues remotely, call in prescriptions to a pharmacy near you, or help coordinate care at a local facility if necessary.
Do your physicians make house calls?
House calls may be provided on a case-by-case basis at the physician’s discretion, primarily for members whose medical condition prevents them from visiting the office.
Do you have a patient portal?
Yes. We use the AthenaHealth portal. This HIPAA-compliant platform allows you to securely view your labs, request refills, and communicate with your doctor 24/7.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Same-day appointments for acute issues. Routine appointments are typically scheduled within 24–48 hours. Annual comprehensive assessments are scheduled in advance and built around your calendar, not ours.
What’s the difference between calling, texting, and using the portal?
Calls are for sensitive, complex, or emergent issues. Text is best for routine questions, refill requests, and quick logistics. The portal is for documentation you want stored in your record — lab results, referrals, written notes. We read the tone and escalate medium as appropriate.
What is a Comprehensive Annual Assessment?
Your annual assessment is the longitudinal foundation of your Griffin care — 60–90 minutes with your physician reviewing your complete history, current labs, medications, and goals. The assessment is not a 15-minute physical; it is the conversation that shapes the next year of your care plan.
SERVICES & SPECIALTY
What we treat, offer, and coordinate.
On-site services, specialist relationships, advanced diagnostics, and the care categories you’re most likely to need.
What other products and services do you offer at the office?
Beyond primary care, we offer advanced nutritional counseling, body composition analysis, and a curated selection of clinical-grade supplements.
Can you draw my labs at your office?
Yes. We offer on-site phlebotomy for our members’ convenience. We draw the blood here and send it to your preferred laboratory (such as Quest or LabCorp) for processing under your insurance.
What if I need a specialist?
Griffin physicians maintain direct relationships with leading academic medical centers — Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center, MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins, Dana-Farber, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. When a member needs specialty care beyond what we provide, we coordinate the referral, transfer records, and stay involved through resolution. The referral is the beginning, not the end.
Do you offer hormone optimization, weight loss, or longevity-focused care?
Yes. Griffin physicians offer comprehensive hormone evaluation and titrated treatment, evidence-based and medically supervised weight management (including GLP-1 therapy when appropriate), and longevity-focused preventive care including advanced cardiac labs, genomics testing, and proactive screening. All integrated into your primary care relationship — not separate transactions.
Can I get my vaccinations and travel medicine at Griffin?
Yes. Travel medicine — including country-specific vaccinations, prescriptions for malaria prophylaxis, antibiotics, and altitude medications — is part of every Griffin membership. Pre-trip planning, mid-trip support via the 24/7 line, and post-trip illness evaluation are included.
FAMILY & CHILDREN
Griffin care for every generation.
From children and adolescents to aging parents, Griffin membership can extend to the people who matter most to you.
Can you care for my child?
We provide care for children and adolescents ages 6 to 17, provided that at least one parent or guardian is also an active member of the practice.
Do family members get a membership discount?
Yes. Family-rate pricing is available for spouses and adult children when joining together. Please inquire for current family pricing.
What about elderly parents — can they join?
Yes. Many of our most engaged members are caring for aging parents and find that concierge medicine — with its proactive coordination, 24/7 physician access, and integrated specialist referrals — is particularly valuable for older adults. Membership pricing is graduated by age.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
Still have questions? Begin a membership conversation.
Tell us what brought you here. We’ll tell you honestly whether Griffin is the right fit.
Inquire About MembershipOr reach us directly at (813) 751-6556.
