VIDEO: Dr. Mark Pinsky Joins MDVIP Network
By Maria Sonnenberg // January 1, 2014
Customized, Pro-Active, Readily Accessible
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County physician Dr. Mark Pinsky is one of the latest doctors to join MDVIP, a national network of 650 physicians from Hawaii to Maine committed to practicing preventive and personalized healthcare, not just the treatment of disease, as is the case in most traditional primary care practices.
BREVARD COUNTY • SUNTREE, FLORIDA – Perhaps you’ve heard the joke about the “Rule of Three” when it comes to getting your doctor’s attention. It takes three months to get an appointment with your physician, you wait three hours in his waiting room before he sees you and then you get three minutes with him at the end of it all.
Many doctors are as frustrated with this sad state of affairs as their patients are. Some, like Dr. Mark Pinsky, are doing something about it.
At the end of this month, the Suntree family and sports medicine physician will launch a completely revamped practice model. His patient load will drop from 4,200 to just 450 to allow him to devote optimal time with all of his patients.
How is Pinsky accomplishing the miracle?
PERSONALIZED HEALTHCARE
Pinsky is one of the latest doctors to join MDVIP, a national network of 650 physicians from Hawaii to Maine committed to practicing preventive and personalized healthcare, not just the treatment of disease, as is the case in most traditional primary care practices.
The network has adapted the basic concept of concierge medicine – health care that is customized, pro-active and readily accessible – and made it affordable.
Patients pay an annual membership between $1,500 to $1,800, which covers the wellness program that encompasses advanced screenings and physician counseling. As a courtesy, patients’ children ages 16 to 26 are seen without the annual membership fee.
PRIVATE INSURANCE AND MEDICARE ACCEPTED
Unlike concierge physicians who often do not accept any type of insurance, MDVIP doctors accept private insurance and Medicare for office visits.
“It’s almost as if the model was prepared for me,” said Pinsky.
“Being a doctor is my life’s blood. I’ve always prided myself for spending a lot of time with my patients. It allows you to be a better physician. The ability to deliver optimum health care is priceless. I wake up in the morning and feel good about what I’m doing, because I’m making a solid, positive impact.”
Pinsky always liked to spend extra time with his patients, because he believes it is necessary in order to get to the root of medical issues. As part of the MDVIP network, Pinsky has committed to same day or next-day appointments that start on time and unhurried visits that last a minimum of half an hour and can last as long as necessary, unlike the eight-minute rush jobs found in many traditional practices.
“In traditional primary care practices, physicians are generally focused on reactive health problems and are not always able to spend adequate time to address prevention, wellness or manage conditions like diabetes, cardiac issues, hypertension and other illnesses which can become more serious, demand more treatment and become more costly for patients,” said MDVIP medical director Dr. Andrea Klemes, who points to data on the improved health outcomes of MDVIP patients as proof of the program’s efficacy.
“In traditional primary care practices, physicians are generally focused on reactive health problems and are not always able to spend adequate time to address prevention, wellness or manage conditions like diabetes, cardiac issues, hypertension and other illnesses which can become more serious, demand more treatment and become more costly for patients,” said MDVIP medical director Dr. Andrea Klemes, who points to data on the improved health outcomes of MDVIP patients as proof of the program’s efficacy.
Peer-reviewed journal articles support the personalized medicine model, citing reduction in costly hospitalizations that have saved consumers $300 million in just one year. A study in The American Journal of Managed Care also noted a 79 percent decrease in hospitalizations for MDVIP Medicare patients and 75 percent for MDVIP patients with commercial insurance, as opposed to patients in non-MDVIP practices.
The cornerstone of MDVIP is the comprehensive, state-of-the-art prevention and wellness program that cannot be easily replicated in a conventional office setting. It begins with an hour-and-a-half to two-hour wellness exam with screenings to assess heart health, diabetes, respiratory health, bone health, fitness activity status, sleep issues, vision and hearing, weight management, emotional wellbeing, sexual health, comprehensive risk factor analysis and adult immunization needs.
AVAILABLE 24/7, NO WAITING
A customized wellness plan addresses risk and also proactively identifies and meets each patient’s health goals. A secure personal website allows patients access to personal medical records.
“The doctor takes the time to get to know the patient,” said Boca Raton internal medicine physician Dr. Shari Rosenbaum, who has been affiliated with MDVIP for eight years.
“I had seen the health care system deteriorate and I felt there had to be something better. Doctors in traditional practices don’t have the time to ask questions. We have the time to educate, screen and treat patients. We’re motivated because we can practice the way it is supposed to be.”
Because patients are seen the same or next day, there is no waiting in the waiting rooms. MDVIP doctors are always on call, available 24/7 through a secure messaging system for confidential doctor-patient email communication. Telephone calls are answered by trained staff rather than automated systems.
ENHANCED SERVICES
Limited to no more than 600 patients per practice, MDVIP physicians can provide an enhanced level of service and spend more time with each patient. Should an emergency situation arise, a reciprocity agreement allows traveling patients same-day service by other MDVIP doctors throughout the nation.
Because they have the time to spend on patients, MDVIP doctors can offer easy referrals to specialists and act as patient advocates for patients with rehab centers, hospitals and outpatient therapy.
Should the patient need treatment beyond those available locally, MDVIP offers a gateway to leading diagnostic and treatment institutions such as Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson Cancer Center an UCLA Medical Center.
The enhanced wellness approach works, says Rosenbaum, who was able to diagnose an early-stage brain tumor in one patient and vascular disease in another through routine tests.
“We were able to catch the tumor in the one patient very early on,” said Rosenbaum.
“According to the cardiologist, the other patient could have had a heart attack at any moment,” said Rosenbaum.
HIGH PATIENT SATISFACTION
Pinsky’s current patients have the option of joining him in the MDVIP model or staying in the traditional practice setting, which will now be manned by Dr. Johnnie Byrd. Pinsky remains connected with Medical Associates of Brevard.
“Patient reaction has been unbelievably positive,” said Pinsky.
Patient satisfaction is also high. Ninety-four percent of the 200,000 patients currently enrolled in MDVIP renew their membership.
“Once patients join the program, they stay,” said Klemes.
With the uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act, Klemes expects MDVIP to become even more attractive to patients as they gravitate to healthcare models that promise optimum care in a timely manner.
“They are relieved they have secured a primary care physician who will be there for them,” said Klemes. “Out of chaos and confusion come choices.”
For more information, call 321-255-4003 or see PinskyWellness.com.
Dr. Mark Pinsky is accepting new patients at his practice located at 8045 Spyglass Hill Road, Suite 101 in Viera, Florida.
