Program takes a new approach

A new approach to patient care through MDVIP, a boutique, or concierge medical service was just what the doctor ordered for Dr. Russell Neibaur and Dr. William Schofield, two primary care physicians practicing in the Seven Hills area.

According to Schofield, the two doctors received a letter from MDVIP outlining the program last spring. After looking through the brochure and learning about the proposed benefits of MDVIP, which include more time with patients and progressive preventative care, both doctors decided to try the program.

"This gives us a chance to intervene before a camp fire becomes a forest fire," said Schofield. He said a full physical exam takes at least an hour, and it was hard to find that much time to devote to each patient while working in a typical practice.

In order to participate in the MDVIP program, doctors must cut their patient lists down to 600 in order to give each patient additional attention.

The program also focuses on regular client follow-up sessions and developing a personalized wellness plan for each patient that can be adjusted throughout the year.

Both doctors also said the program makes it easier for patients to get appointments when they need them, and helps to ensure those appointments start on time.

According to Schofield, since joining the MDVIP program the longest a patient has had to wait was 15 minutes.

Patients enrolled in the program also receive their doctor's personal pager or cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and when they call the office they speak directly to a nurse rather than a receptionist.

Neibaur described the practice as "old fashioned medicine with a modern bent." As part of the program, both doctors can provide house calls to patients, which Neibaur said saves time and money for insurance companies and patients by saving patients from making unnecessary visits to the hospital.

"Making house calls has been fun. It's very rewarding to help patients through house calls, and they are so grateful," Schofield said. "It's so rewarding to go back to that ability to give that care and help patients so much. It's a great opportunity to interact with people, which is hard to do when you're running after so many more patients."

Participants in MDVIP also can see doctors from the program in other states, although the program has not yet extended outside of the United States.

Participants currently pay the annual MDVIP fee of $1,500 out of pocket, though Schofield and Neibaur said some private health insurance companies with wellness benefits may eventually work with the program. Participants get one full physical exam each year and are charged $20 for subsequent follow-up visits.

Both doctors stressed that the emphasis of the program is preventative medicine. Rather than wait for something to happen and then try to fix it, MDVIP's program strives to find conditions in advance and prevent them from becoming problems.

While neither doctor believes that the MDVIP program will be able to revolutionize medicine on a large scale, it has piqued the interest of the medical community.

"With this program we're offering patients a choice," Neibaur said. "This is another option for patients to choose, and it relieves some frustrations for both parties."

Though Neibaur and Schofield have only participated in the MDVIP program for about two months, both doctors are already nearing their 600-patient limit.

"In the rat race of seeing 25 to 30 patients a day, I thought seeing only 12 would mean more free time, but we're just as busy," Neibaur said. "But this is much more professionally satisfying, and the feedback from patients in the program has been extremely positive."

For more information on the MDVIP program, visit www.mdvip.com.


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