How to Evaluate Executive Health Programs: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Provider

Whether you’re building your first executive health program or relying on one that hasn’t evolved in years, your organization may be more exposed than you realize.

Executive leaders are high-performance assets. When preventable health issues sideline them, the ripple effects can be substantial: operational delays, lost revenue, and disrupted continuity. Yet many companies still treat executive health as a once-a-year box to check.

At PartnerMD, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping companies protect their top talent through advanced executive physicals and concierge health programs. Our programs have supported hundreds of executives through personalized, scalable solutions built in partnership with organizations across a variety of industries.

Executive health programs typically include a comprehensive physical exam and may also offer ongoing, concierge-level access to a physician throughout the year. The goal is early detection, preventive care, and long-term leadership continuity.

In this article, you’ll learn how to evaluate executive health programs by asking five key questions:

• What does it cost?

• How convenient is the experience?

• Can the program be customized to real needs?

• Does the clinical care go beyond a one-time physical?

• How does the program support broader business priorities?

1. What does an executive health program cost?

Cost is always part of the conversation, and rightly so. Executive health programs vary widely in price based on the provider, services included, frequency of care, and level of follow-up.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Total investment per executive

• Whether pricing is flat or tiered

• What is included in the base cost

• How additional screenings or follow-up services are billed

What to look for: A trustworthy provider should offer transparent, predictable pricing and clearly explain what is included. Programs that provide a range of services across different tiers will allow you to match cost with value, rather than simply choosing the lowest number.

2. How convenient is the experience?

Even the best-designed program will fall short if it is difficult to access or disruptive to an executive’s schedule.

Look for providers who understand how to deliver care efficiently without sacrificing depth or professionalism.

Some nationally recognized providers, such as the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, offer highly respected programs but often require travel and multiple-day visits. For many companies, that level of time and distance may not be practical on a year-to-year basis.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Availability of services in local, regional, or national locations

• Ability to complete the physical in one visit, in one day

• Access to virtual or hybrid appointment options

• Professionalism and accessibility of the clinical setting

What to look for: A strong provider reduces friction at every step. Look for a program that minimizes time away from work, supports flexible scheduling, and makes it easy for executives to engage without navigating unnecessary complexity.

3. Can the program be customized to real needs?

Your executives are not interchangeable. Neither are their health risks. The right provider should offer enough flexibility to account for individual differences and organizational priorities.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Customization based on personal and family health history

• Flexibility for different levels of care based on roles or risks

• Adaptability of the program as your company grows or changes

• What are the options: physical only, full concierge care, or a mix of both?

What to look for: Avoid one-size-fits-all models. The best programs allow for custom physicals, flexible membership options, and support for different tiers of employees, from C-suite to rising leaders. True customization increases both value and participation.

4. Does the clinical care go beyond a one-time physical?

An executive physical is typically a full-day or half-day medical evaluation that goes beyond a standard primary care visit. It often includes advanced screenings and diagnostics aimed at identifying health risks early.

That type of screening can be valuable, but without continuity, even the most advanced physical may lose its long-term impact.

The best executive health programs offer more than a one-time exam. They provide deeper diagnostics, ongoing physician relationships, and a proactive approach to managing long-term health.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Continuity with the same physician over time

• Year-round access through concierge membership options

• Whether follow-up recommendations are tracked and supported

• Use of advanced diagnostics, such as cardiac or metabolic testing

What to look for: A high-quality program includes access to physicians throughout the year, not just on the day of the physical. Look for deeper testing, proactive follow-up, and a system that tracks outcomes over time to improve long-term health and performance.

5. How does the program support broader business priorities?

An executive health program is not just about wellness. It is about business risk, leadership continuity, and talent retention. Your health strategy should support your organizational strategy.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Impact on absenteeism and long-term medical leave

• Role in executive retention and recruitment

• Availability of reporting or program impact data for HR

• Alignment with your overall business and benefits strategy

What to look for: The right provider will show how their program supports broader business goals, not just personal health. Look for clear connections to talent strategy, cost control, and leadership continuity. Bonus points if they can help you communicate that value to your stakeholders.

PartnerMD delivers on what companies care about most in executive health.

At PartnerMD, we work with companies across industries to build executive health programs that deliver meaningful results for your people and your business. Whether you are offering this benefit to five people or fifty, we help you design a program that fits your priorities.

We help businesses:

• Build a custom program that fits your company’s budget and priorities.

• Provide a seamless experience with stress-free scheduling, dedicated support, and minimal wait times.

• Customize every executive physical with advanced testing based on age, gender, family history, and health risks.

• Offer year-round concierge medicine memberships with 24/7 access and longer appointment times.

• Improve productivity, reduce risk, and strengthen retention of top talent through proactive, ongoing care.

A smarter approach to executive health starts with the right questions.

You now have a complete framework for evaluating executive health programs: cost, convenience, customization, clinical depth, and business value.

Whether you are exploring this for the first time or rethinking what you already offer, now is the time to assess whether your program reflects today’s expectations for care, leadership performance, and long-term value.

For more than two decades, PartnerMD has helped companies protect their most important people and plan for leadership success. Let’s talk about how we can help you evaluate or improve your executive health strategy.

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