When Michael Levy joined PartnerMD nearly a decade ago, he was looking for something he had lost in his healthcare: a relationship with a doctor who knew him.
For years, he had been happy with a traditional primary care practice and a physician he saw regularly. But when that physician retired and the practice changed, so did his experience.
“You'd have to wait, and you didn't know who you'd see,” Michael recalled. After trying another physician and still not finding what he was looking for, he discovered PartnerMD.
The idea of concierge medicine appealed to him because it offered the opportunity to have a dedicated physician, more time during appointments, and reliable access when he needed care. He also understood that a smaller patient base was part of what made that experience possible.
“I recognized that it was going to have an increased cost beyond insurance and co-pays,” Michael said. “But there was something that sounded really good that I was getting, especially as I'm getting older, where you have someone who's following you closely.”
He joined PartnerMD Midlothian in 2016. Michael noticed the difference during his very first comprehensive physical.
"I’ve never had an exam that thorough and I’ve never gotten all those explanations about what all the test results looked like,” he said. “It was an obvious difference.”
Michael sees Dr. Jordan Jackson, and he values the personal relationship he's developed with him.
“He just definitely knows me as a person,” Michael said. “He is very familiar with what I've got going on health-wise."
That familiarity has made it easier to talk openly about his health and trust the guidance he receives.
“It feels like you can have a conversation without there being any awkwardness or hesitation and that you can rely on what you're hearing.”
Michael also appreciates knowing that when a health question comes up, he can reach his physician and count on a timely response.
“I'll use the patient portal and then I'll just get a response,” he said. “I'll get it timely, and I can always rely on it.”
But a recent experience showed just how important having a physician who knows him and takes the time to look closely can be.
Following knee surgery, Michael experienced a fainting episode that resulted in a broken rib and a five-day hospital stay.
As part of his follow-up care, Michael saw Dr. Jackson. His left leg was still significantly swollen, bruised, and painful following the surgery.
With more time and a close understanding of Michael’s health, Dr. Jackson thoroughly reviewed what had happened during the surgery and hospitalization before examining him.
“He looked at the two legs and he took a measurement of my unaffected leg and the affected leg,” Michael recalled.
After examining him, Dr. Jackson wanted to make sure a blood clot had been ruled out.
“He said, ‘No one has really looked at whether you have a clot in that leg. I need you to go get an ultrasound, and I need you to get it today.’”
Michael followed his advice. The ultrasound did indeed find a blood clot in his leg. For Michael, the experience was profound.
“It's not an exaggeration to say he may have saved my life.”
For Michael, the experience reinforced the value of the relationship he has built with Dr. Jackson.
“There aren't even the words to describe it,” he said. “Even before this, I've always been very happy with our interactions.”
Dr. Jackson has also helped Michael navigate other health concerns over the years. Those experiences have given Michael tremendous trust in his physician.
That confidence was already there before Dr. Jackson discovered the blood clot. But after this experience, Michael joked that he plans to hold on to his doctor.
“He can't go anywhere.”
Nearly a decade after joining PartnerMD in search of a more personal relationship with his doctor, Michael has found exactly what he was looking for.
When asked what he would tell a friend considering PartnerMD, Michael's answer was simple:
“I recommend it very, very highly.”
If Michael's story resonates with you and you're looking for a more personal healthcare experience built on trust, time, and meaningful relationships, complete our form to schedule a conversation with a PartnerMD team member and learn more about membership.