If you’ve ever waited a week for a sick visit, sat on hold to reach a nurse, or felt rushed out of the room before your questions were answered — you’ve felt the limits of the traditional pediatric model. Concierge pediatric care is built differently. Here’s an honest comparison of how the two models work, what each costs, and how to tell which is right for your family.
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In a traditional office, the practice is paid per visit by insurance. To stay open, it has to see a high volume of patients — which means short appointments, packed schedules, and limited access between visits.
A concierge pediatrician is paid a flat monthly membership fee by the family instead. That removes the pressure to maximize volume, so the practice can cap its patient panel and spend real time with each family. Everything else — the access, the longer visits, the same-day care — flows from that one difference.
| Traditional pediatrician | Concierge pediatrician (Canopy) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you reach the doctor | Phone tree, hold, callbacks | Text or call your doctor directly |
| Appointment length | 7–15 minutes | 30 minutes – 2 hours |
| Sick-visit wait | Often several days | Same-day / next-day |
| After-hours care | Urgent care or ER | 24/7 access line, evening & weekend visits |
| Newborn first visits | In-office | In your home |
| Who you see | Whoever is available | Your pediatrician, who knows your child |
| Cost structure | Copays + possible surprise bills | One flat monthly fee, no copays |
| Patient panel | Large | Intentionally limited |
Concierge care tends to be a strong fit for families who:
It may be less essential for families who rarely need care and are comfortable with the traditional model. The best way to know is to meet the team and ask questions.
Canopy Pediatrics is a concierge pediatric practice in Tallahassee, enrolling a limited number of families. Book a no-pressure meet & greet with Dr. Homan to experience the model firsthand.
Some parents want their babies to get their ears pierced. I ask patients to wait until after the 2-month checkup. This gives the earlobe time to grow and develop. For toddlers, school-aged children, and preteens, we usually decide to pierce both ears at the same time so there’s no anticipation anxiety. Some parents bring in kiddos who want their ears pierced on their birthdays, which we are happy to accommodate. Makes for a special day!
We use medical grade surgical steel studs with yellow gold plating (see the picture above). You can read more about the Hastings CorenPS piercing kits at Hastings Product Website.
Our earring should stay in for 6 weeks before replacing them with your own earrings. The posts are extra wide to form a good hole, and they are hypoallergenic.
