Tried this practice/doctor for a year. As of this writing, I believe the annual individual fee is $10,000. I do not recommend them and did not renew for several reasons: * Dr. Donahue is not terribly responsive. There were several occasions where he said "I'll get back to you" and then never did. * Relatedly, I would have to call and follow up every time test results came in-he/the practice never reached out to me. Even the boring ol' dermatologists and ob-gyns of the world (in non-concierge practices) let you know your test was negative/positive/whatever. For $10k a year...can't Dr. Donahue or his staff do the same? * Inability to schedule online (every time I emailed to ask about an appointment--even for telehealth--I was told to call in to speak to someone live just to schedule the appointment). Every time they wanted to see me, they would email me and say "please call in to make an appointment." Couldn't you just have...sent some appointment times in that very email? Or call ME? For this (alleged) level of service and fees, I'd like the ability every hairdresser and nail salon has had since 2010: let me schedule online! Offices can certainly review and reject appointment requests, as these other professions do. * Dr. Donahue is relatively scatter-brained, to put it politely, to the point that it will affect your care. I experienced this a few times across my year in his practice, including in minor ways (e.g., promising to get back to me after he reviewed an article I'd sent him), but the most egregious example is that we had a entire appointment (reviewing test results and recommending actions for me) that he subsequently forgot about. I checked in with him about a month after the appointment to follow-up, and he emailed me to ask me to take a variety of tests before we met...which tests I'd already taken and discussed with him the prior month. When I mentioned the date of our prior meeting and the lab results, he sent an email apologizing. Still: if I were less meticulous--or forgetful myself--I'd have undertaken a whole new round of tests (not covered by insurance, natch). At various points throughout the year, I actually wondered if he might have early-onset Alzheimer's. * Dr. Donahue runs a LOT of tests--many of which are not covered by insurance--the results of which are not terribly helpful. For example, one relatively expensive test for 'food sensitivities' revealed some for me...I asked if I should eliminate those items that showed up in red on the test, at which point he told me the test could be revealing a sensitivity OR just picking up on stuff I'd been eating a lot of lately. That....would have been helpful to know before the test, when I might have modified my diet; when I mentioned this, he said that I could always eliminate something concerning me and then retake the test in a few months. * Dr. Donahue would frequently say things--especially early on, going over my medical history, etc.--like, "now THAT'S interesting!" if I presented a medical quandary or something bizarre or troubling. This language happened a few times, when I presented new issues or we got new test results in. Conversely, I got the sense he was a bit zoned out when we talked about your regular 'run of the mill' medical issues (e.g., high cholesterol), and that overall, the only way to keep his interest would require an ongoing litany of unusual troubles...like he's "House" or something. *At our first meeting/physical exam appointment, he cheerily pointed out a few times that he could do my ob-gyn work, too! I have a great gynecologist, which I mentioned--and he re-mentioned, again, later, that he could do it, too. I thought it was odd that he mentioned it first (I hadn't brought up ob-gyn work because I already have that taken care of) and more than once. I was attracted to the practice because I felt that Dr. Donahue's experience as a doctor in a more rural community may have given him the knowledge/wisdom a kind of old-timey house call doctor would have. Instead, what I got was part absent-minded practitioner, part woo woo medicine dude. No, I don't want to order oregano oil from your Personal Health MD dispensary at Fullscript.com, where you make a commission (and where everything you prescribed costs more than from GNC, Amazon and other online stores). Jeez Louise. That kind of stuff makes you feel like you're in a multi-level marketing scam rather than a pricy concierge medicine practice. If you definitely want to be part of a concierge medical practice, you can find several others in the area for much less money and with more responsive, professional doctors. If you're still on the fence about signing up for concierge medicine at all, I'll say this: you're in the Boston area, and there are no shortage of awesome physicians to choose from who are just part of the regular ol' conglomerates we have. Whichever way you decide to go, this guy ain't it. read more

If you're not aware of what 'Functional Medicine' is make sure you google the background before you commit to being a member of this practice. While I do support and believe in alternative therapies, when they make sense. I believe in them after traditional medicine might not work, such as acupuncture or massage therapy and the like. I Don't subscribe to the idea that Supplements or Molecular and numerous Genetic testing should be used as a Primary approach to health care or in lieu of traditional medicine first and foremost. That's what Functional Medicine is, lab tests that your standard insurance carrier will not cover and will reject the claim as 'Experimental' because it is which might also explain the high annual membership cost. If you're looking for a physician who isn't interested in 'your' input regarding your medical needs and would prefer to 'tell you' what they thinks is best, than this is the practice for you. If however you want to have a meaningful dialog to work on a plan together such as discussing past comprehensive medical history or being 'asked' if you're familiar with a certain medication or protocol 'before' making assumptions and decisions...this is 100% definitely NOT the practice for you. The membership fee is very high and while you usually don't have to wait long for an appointment. The trade off is not having a traditional GP/Patient relationship. A traditional GP wouldn't sell me a $140 bottle of CoQ10 because my whatever enzymes were low for instance. Or some vastly overpriced liquid fish oil to help with joint pain, because we all know joint pain is based on inflammation and fish oil reduces inflammation...okay. (Which I found on Amazon at 1/3 the price btw.) Don't get me wrong. If this approach 'is' your thing and your not interested in a standard medical GP for your routine illnesses than by all means, enjoy the lovely persian rugs and fine china while you sip some herbal tea. If however you're looking for a Concierge Physician that practices standard traditional medicine or to provide routine referrals as needed. This is not the practice for you. I'll stick with a traditional approach where the emphasis is on treating the patients needs, it's never failed me before and you're valued a great deal more than in a Functional Medicine approach which prefers to ignore the symptoms and go off on tangents for the all important 'root cause'. Vitamins have their place...on the store shelf of my local pharmacy. read more

I found Dr. Rick while searching for a Functional Medicine doctor for my elderly father. I've had many health challenges, so I'm a very experienced and critical consumer of health care. I've seen hundreds of doctors. Dr. Rick is extraordinary in his ability to listen deeply, really connect with my father and include our family in thinking about his care, bring the best of conventional and functional medicine to bear on complex health problems and in his enthusiasm for solving medial puzzles. The membership fee we pay to be in his practice allows Dr. Rick to offer in-depth attention, make house calls, and be much more available to his patients than most doctors can even dream of being. He's able to combine 21st century medial science and old-fashioned small town family doctoring. (The last time a doctor made a house call on our family was in 1959.) When I first contacted Dr. Rick, he offered to come to our home for a "meet and greet" to see if he was a good match for us, and spent two hours with my father, asking him questions ranging from his physical symptoms and lifestyle habits to his emotional well-being, what my mother, who passed away last spring, was like, and his work and sense of purpose and fulfillment. While he may not always be able to spend that amount of time, he always takes the whole person into consideration, not just their symptoms. Over the past months my father has been in and out of the hospital and faced a series of crises. Dr. Rick has always responded quickly to medical questions, sometimes via text message, saw my father in the hospital many times, and helped us negotiate his care there, shares his thought processes as he comes up with strategies to try, and clearly loves his work. I'm profoundly grateful to have someone like him caring for my father and can't recommend him highly enough. read more

Dr. Donahue doesn't just treat the presenting symptom. Your entire wellbeing is of concern. The doctor and his staff all take pains to get to know you as a person, a whole person. He doesn't just give you a prescription to treat the symptom and send you on your way. He works to find and treat the underlying cause. He takes the time to answer all your questions and explain what is going on. Unlike a clinic or hospital office, your appointments are scheduled for the real amount of time you need It's not 15 minutes and out. Even the waiting room is comforting. It's not all screamingly bright light with stiff plastic chairs. It's like a friend's living room, with an upholstered couch and real plants, you can even make yourself a cup of tea or coffee if you like. It's a concierge service so you pay a little extra, but you get everything you've payed for and more. Incredibly calm and welcoming, Rolls Royce service. read more

The best primary care physician I've ever had. Incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and caring.

Made an appointment on ZocDoc (awesome service), scheduled for 1pm on a Thursday. After showing up, they refused service for one simple reason: They did not want to call my medical insurance (a highly rated PPO plan) to verify that my insurance was valid. For some reason, my PPO shows "inactive" when you check online, but "active" when you call them and ask. It takes a few minutes, and that's it. I've had this insurance for 6 years and besides this one quirk, it's awesome. The office said "Sorry, your appointment is at 1 PM, it's 12:55 now and we don't have time for this. The doctor has appointments back-to-back and isn't going to see you today." Ask yourself: If you have a medical appointment, do you want to schedule it, show up, fill out all the paperwork and NOT be seen because the office couldn't spend 5 minutes on the phone? I even offered to pay out of pocket for the appointment and deal with the insurance later. They refused. I asked for the name of the office manager, and the lady I was talking with (the office manager, as it turns out) hesitated to give it to me. What does it say about the quality of the office when the manager refuses to identify herself and take responsibility for cancelling on a patient at the last minute? So, 1 star. This is the worst doctor's office I've ever been to. They had zero empathy and provided zero service. I am sure the Dr. is wonderful, but the management team is so bad it's unreal. You're a service, treat your patients with respect and *never* deny service if you can verify insurance with a quick phone call. read more

I may regret this review because I prefer to keep a really special thing a secret. Dr. Donahue is a Maine country doctor come to back bay. His medical advice is clear and his willingness to be open-minded advances my personal approach to proactive health strategy. His nursing staff expeditiously secures my referral appointments to the most informed medical specialist; then Dr. Donahue works as the hub of my care by following what occurred at every specialist's visit. I gain healthcare management. This gives me confidence I am optimizing not only my quantity, but especially my quality of life. I feel like the practice name "Personal Health MD" best describes this special primary care practice since I gain a medical doctor who feels like a beloved member of my family who is medically at the top of his field to my advantage. read more

Dr. Rick Donahue follows through on his promise -- which is state-of-the-art science blended with the art/science of small town doctoring. Everyone should have a "Dr. Rick" their life. Can't say enough about how much he's helped me. read more

Dr. Donahue is, without question, the best PCP I have ever had. He practices medicine with care and compassion for the patient as a person, not as a medical condition. He gets to know his patients, and, when appropriate, their family as well. His practice is not the typical "body shop." Most doctors schedule a patient for 15 minutes. Dr. D. will schedule up to an hour (sometimes a little more) to make sure that everything relevant to the illness you're experiencing is addressed. He takes time to discuss and explain everything that is going on both in your body and your treatment. He has a weekend number that goes directly to him, no answering service. He's really good at substituting OTC combos for things other docs would automatically prescribe for. I take care of a migraine with OTCs that are usually in a medicine cabinet anyway. He has a small lab in his office so that common tests can be taken right there, with results available in a few days. You don't have to go to a different facility and wait a couple of weeks for results. He is tied in to the major hospitals via computer so that if you do need to go out for tests or a referral, he gets the results as quickly as they are posted. Yes, his is a concierge practice so you do have to pay a once-a-year membership fee, but it's worth every cent. When was the last time you called your doc on Sunday morning and *he* picked up the phone? read more

The Personal Health MD care is unlike any healthcare experience I've had since my knee injury. Dr. Donahue is totally unrushed and remembers even the small details of my medical information from the top of his head. These guys take healthcare to the limits of ..."care". The nurse reviews my daily personal data I capture using apps. This team is the way to gain real-time and sincere care. read more

I went to Dr. Donahue around 2 years ago when I moved to the area based on the convenience to my work and reviews I saw posted online. I can confidently say Dr. Donahue and his staff are the best I have ever gone to. He takes his time and listens to what you have to say and gives candid feedback and suggestions. I think the most important part is his willingness to cater towards you as an individual and try things until they are right and to your satisfaction. Another huge plus is his availability. I have called/emailed the day of and on weekends and they have gotten me in every time. I highly suggest this office to anyone looking for a doctor in the Boston area. read more

"Dr. Donahue and the team from Personal Health MD provided extraordinary care to my Aunt during the last months of her very long life. Dr. Donahue carefully and constantly managed her complex drug regime to assure that she had maximum benefit and minimum side effect. He not only focused on her physical issues but also on the social and psychological aspects of my Aunt's health. He and my Aunt developed a wonderful trusting relationship during his many visits to her, and she was able to remain comfortably at home and engaged in her daily life right up until she passed. As a family caregiver struggling to deal with the complexity of my Aunt's end of life challenges, I found enormous comfort in knowing that Dr. Donahue could always be reached, that he routinely offered good counsel, and that, when necessary, he would come on short notice to assess and improve my Aunt's condition. I recommend the entire team enthusiastically and without reservation." read more