Gilbert family physician Rakesh “Rocky” Patel saw a flaw in the way he was practicing medicine.
He was seeing about 30 patients a day and only spending an average of 15 minutes with each. He said he struggled to establish personal relationships and instead of preventing them from becoming ill, he was treating them far too often after the fact.
His solution: a membership based practice modeled and managed by Medley Health.
Patients pay an annual membership fee to cover what their health insurance won’t. This allowed Patel to cut his patient volume in half. He has allocated his extra time to longer visits to build patient relationships and to practice proactive medicine versus reactive.
“My patient load is cut in half but my work load isn’t,” Patel, 43, says. “It’s quality not quantity.”
Patients have 24/7 access to Patel through phone calls, text messages, emails and even smart phone applications.
Instead of waiting two weeks to be seen, patience can get same day and next day appointments.
Medley Health’s membership model gives him the time and means to determine likelihoods for certain illnesses in patients, like diabetes and heart disease, through lifestyle assessments and tests. He then makes appropriate changes in diet and exercise to prevent the onset of illness.
With a goal of introducing the membership model to more East Valley residents, Patel’s Gilbert practice, Arizona Sun Family Practice, is holding an open house Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The office is located at 633 E. Ray Road, Building 1, Suite 101. In addition to details about the practice’s offerings, a personal trainer on hand to answer nutritional and exercise questions and a life coach. Raffle prizes will be given away and specials will be available.
“When patients come in they feel fine on the outside but aren’t on the inside,” he says. A lot are at risk for diseases eight to 10 years before they get sick.
The membership plan is $1,200 out-of-pocket a year for individuals or “about a Starbucks a day,” Patel says. It is $1,800 for couples and $2,400 for a family of any size.
That may seem like a lot to pay on top of regular health insurance but according to Amy Culver, a 46-year-old Gilbert woman who credits Patel’s practice with changing her life, it’s a small price to pay for the quality care you get.
“Me and my husband did the math and it doesn’t cost all that much more than higher deductable insurance,” she says. “It’s worth it.”
Culver was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by Patel in 2002. She also weighed about 300 lbs. Patel tailored an exercise and eating plan for Culver and since then, she has lost about 150 lbs.
“He was very helpful and understanding,” she says. “I certainly would not have signed up if I didn’t get awesome care.”
According to Patel, there are several membership based family practices in Ariz. and about 7,000 nationwide.
Patel has approximately 200 patients enrolled in a membership plan and seven are employed in his practice — Arizona Sun Family Practice — including other doctors who practice traditional medicine.
He hopes to enroll about 200 more patients in the next few years.
“We collaborate with patients to see what works well with them.”
Angela, a senior studying journalism at Arizona State University, is an intern for the East Valley Tribune. Contact her at (480) 898-6514 or tribintern@evtrib.com
flippy flop posted at 12:52 pm on Wed, Apr 25, 2012.
About a Starbucks a day...yeah, most of us can't afford that. Or an extra 100.00 a month on top of what we already pay for insurance.
PeacefulCat posted at 5:49 pm on Wed, Apr 25, 2012.
Doctors who recommend cannabis who see patients every 15 minutes come before the board!!! All doctors should spend time knowing you and your ailments.
Agree with flippy on the cost.
change_urlife posted at 1:31 pm on Thu, Apr 26, 2012.
Give me a break flippy. Do your home work! Do you know how many Physician are doing this across the nation because our insurance companies are crooks. They hammer physicians if they go past 10 minutes with a patient? On another note I gladly pay extra for my family and I for a physician that doesn't shove medicine down my throat and recommends changing my life style instead and spends quality time knowing me and my family. We went from paying 300 dollars a month between my wife and I for medicine to paying 129.00 dollars for better medical care and a Dr. that recommend we change our life style instead of shoving medicine down or throats for life... Place your blame in the correct place... INSURANCE COMPANIES....but for people like yourself blame everybody except yourself
DrJCA1 posted at 2:13 pm on Thu, Apr 26, 2012.
Insurers, private and Medicare, are thieving pieces of garbage. Years ago, when I sent them a bill for services rendered, they paid it and usually fast. Then came the wonderful 60s and the millions of rules, regulations, and laws that are slowly destroying our health care system. I used to spen 20-30 minutes with each patient. When I finally got fed up and retired, I was spending 3-4 minutes with each patient. The reimbursement was horrible so I, like many others, had to start running "body shops" instead of decent medical practices. Greed and the govenment have teamed up to kill anyone who wants to provide good quality care. I wish this guy success.
flippy flop posted at 10:28 am on Fri, Apr 27, 2012.
I HAVE wonderful quality care with my physician. She does everything and I mean EVERYTHING you both are talking about and has, for over ten years now. I do not pay one extra dime to HER for this. And btw, LONG explanations are not necessary when your're right!