In the sometimes impersonal and hard-to-navigate world of health care, a handful of companies offer services to help guide patients and reinstate the doctor-patient relationship. For an annual fee, these concierge medical plans, also called "executive health care programs" or "boutique medicine," offer a variety of exclusive services that run from scheduling next-day appointments to maintaining medical records. Specific offerings differ from program to program, but one common membership advantage is the provider’s extensive reach into the medical system: a Rolodex brimming with leading specialists, and access to top health centers around the world.

One such provider is MDVIP, which currently includes a network of more than 310 physicians practicing in 28 states. "We offer highly personalized preventive care," says MDVIP’s president, Darin Engelhardt. Physicians see no more than 600 patients a year, reducing the traditional practice size by around 75 percent, and are therefore able to spend more time on each case. For $1,500 a year ($1,800 in California), members receive this attention along with a multitude of other services, including extensive diagnostic testing, access to the Medical Centers of Excellence program, and their medical history programmed on a wallet-size CD-ROM. "Our program is statistically proven to benefit health," says Engelhardt. "And members know that, whether at home or while traveling, they are in the best hands."

PinnacleCare offers assorted memberships ranging from basic coverage to policies for chronic illness. In addition to providing a curated list of recommended general practitioners, the company connects members to specialists for more in-depth care. "We act as a private health advisory," says Bruce Spector, PinnacleCare’s chairman and founder. "We are here to point members in the direction of the best care available without their having to lift a finger." PinnacleCare is also the only company offering electronic medical records that are owned and accessed by the member.

Other health care providers operate on the boutique model of a scaled-down practice that adapts to local requests. Holtorf Medical Group provides executives with regular checkups alongside cutting-edge treatments in a peaceful Southern California setting. Lifeguard Medical Group on Martha’s Vineyard offers seasonal memberships starting at $7,500, with benefits ranging from house calls to weight management. Guardian 24/7 grants members access to former White House doctors, and provides "ReadyRooms" for in-home care. U.S. Air Ambulance supplies medical transportation, including international flight service and various ground-transport options, and also handles hotel arrangements and pet care while the patient is away.