Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 9:15 am
SUTTONS BAY — Phil Siemer practices old school medicine.
He gives as much time, care and attention to patients as possible, while a changing healthcare industry pressures physicians pack scores of patients into short appointments.
Siemer works with Florida company MDVIP, which stands for M.D. Value in Prevention, to provide “personalized preventative medicine.” His patients get an annual health screening that tests for things like inflammation, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular function, depression and more. Patients can call him at any time, can always get an appointment within 24 hours and can spend as much time as they need in the office. They pay $1,500 per year for the extra services and access.
The cost is well worth it for Tom Flerlage, who first heard about preventative medicine plans more than a decade ago when his mother’s doctor in Ohio started working with MDVIP. Flerlage was at first skeptical about the added cost, but didn’t want to ask his mother to find a new doctor in her 90s.
“We just went with it, against my better wishes,” he said. “It’s turned out to be a wonderful thing for my mom.”
Tom Flerlage believes the additional time his mother spends with her doctor has helped her reach 100 years old and survive two cardiac events. He and his wife, Sue Flerlage, signed up for preventative plans through Siemer four years ago.
“When I see Phil I’m usually there an hour,” he said. “There’s no sense of urgency to get to the point and move on through. He’s very, very thorough, very, very compassionate.”
Preventative medicine plans are supplemental to traditional insurance. Health screenings and extra meetings with doctors are covered by the annual fee. Insurance plans fill in the gaps.
