I recognized that this is something outstanding, and it needs all the help it can get.
Ben, Grateful Patient
An early morning emergency brought the value of Concierge Medicine into view for Ben and his wife. Before a scheduled appointment, Ben’s wife fainted at home, miles away from care. Within minutes of reaching out at 4 a.m., Arlene Reyes, MD, a leading physician with the Concierge Medicine program, responded with clear instructions, helping stabilize her condition and allowing them to continue their care safely later that day.
At UT Health San Antonio, Concierge Medicine is not just about convenience. It’s about offering patient-centered care and prioritizing the relationships built between patients and physicians. For many, it transforms the healthcare experience.
Finding patient-centered care
At the age of 81, Ben spends most of his days in far west Texas, nearly 100 miles from the nearest emergency room. Access to care was never simple; over time, the challenge became frustrating, delayed and sometimes out of reach. “We just let a lot of smaller issues go unattended because we were so frustrated with the process,” he said.
Long waits, multiple appointments and hours in waiting rooms made even routine care feel overwhelming for Ben and his wife. Splitting their time between their ranch and Austin, Texas, their healthcare experience felt disconnected from their lifestyle.
That changed when they met Reyes. From the moment they arrived for their first visit, the experience felt different.
“Knowing we can reach Reyes anytime gives us peace,” Ben said. “You have medical advice available while you’re on the way to the emergency room.”
Inspired to make an impact
The Concierge Medicine program presents a distinctive approach to conventional patient care, offering round-the-clock access to primary care physicians. This approach cultivates stronger, more personal connections between patients and physicians, guaranteeing continuous, high-quality care.
What began as a search for more accessible care became an experience that inspired a gift to the program. Ben's gift will help expand the concierge medicine approach to personalized care that meets patients where they are, whether that means navigating long distances, managing complex schedules or finding a connection with physicians like Reyes.
“The relationship we develop with our patients allows us to customize care plans as individual as each patient, rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions," Reyes said.
Ben hopes others will see what he and his wife experienced from the very first visit: care that is thoughtfully designed around the patient. And for him, it’s a level of care he is grateful to support, so that future patients can experience not just better access, but better care.
