Patient Story
Pat Greene
Entrepreneur
Greene is on a mission to promote the widespread use of AEDs and CPR, and his efforts dovetail with the newest guidelines from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross and other organizations that create CPR courses. These guidelines indicate that as soon as someone recognizes a sudden cardiac arrest situation and calls for help, they should get an AED and begin CPR.
The updated guidelines also shift the emphasis to “chest compression only” CPR, for two reasons. First, bystanders are more likely to give aid because this is a simpler form of CPR to learn. Second, interrupting chest compressions to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may restrict blood flow – and it’s imperative to keep circulation moving.
In addition, as soon as an AED becomes available and is charged up, the defibrillator should be used. Research has shown that early use of defibrillation can help increase the chances of survival.
“The first 10 minutes are critical,” Greene said. “It can mean the difference between life and death, or other complications like stroke. We want to educate the public, so they know you don’t have to wait for EMS to begin providing life-saving care.”
Unfortunately, there is a stigma of fear surrounding the use of an AED.
“It’s important to educate the Good Samaritan on how to use the device, and to not be afraid of it,” Greene said. “The general public thinks they could get sued, or even get hurt by the unit. We address these fears through training and education.”
Greene is working with physicians and others around the country to develop these training programs and try to get AEDs into every home, as well as in public locations such as VFW halls, country clubs, churches and schools. One key physician partner is his own primary care physician, Dr. John Blanchard, CEO of Premier Private Physicians Management.
Through Greene’s work with medical devices and training programs, he has recognized the importance of his own health, and when he needed a new physician, he turned to Dr. Blanchard.
“I had known John for years, and when he launched his new concierge medicine practice, I was the first to sign up,” Greene said. “I had just had a bad experience where I went to my doctor and sat in his waiting room for three hours. I told this physician that my time is just as important as yours, and you need to manage your business better.”
As a successful business owner, Greene appreciates the partnership and access aspects of this new direct primary care model.
“With this type of personalized medicine, it’s not the ‘mightier than thou’ doctor-patient relationship,” Green said. “I also travel frequently and don’t always have a lot of free time to work in medical appointments. For John to be able to come to my house, or even my office, it’s very convenient. He takes care of my whole family, and when we need something that goes beyond primary care, he can send us to the right specialists. It’s one of the smartest decisions I ever made.”
Patient Story
John Anderson
Principal, The CEO Advantage
“IBM was a healthy environment, and I walked into a situation at Gorman’s where we were losing money and sales were stagnant,” Anderson said. “My instinct was to try to create a little bit of the IBM culture, and this meant getting employees to make their work a passion.”
Anderson began making large changes, including implementing an innovative employee reward system that was featured in several leading business publications. As a result of this and other retooling, he increased sales at Gorman’s from $4.5 million to $12 million over five years.
In his current role, as one of the principals at The CEO Advantage, Anderson uses what he has learned to advise CEOs and executive teams – helping them create smart, healthy organizations.
“To help my clients build effective teams, they need to deal with the bigger picture, instead of just reacting,” Anderson said. “They need to prioritize what is important, instead of just what is urgent.”
When he needed a new physician, Anderson also wanted somebody who would focus on the bigger picture, ask the right questions and, most importantly, make his care a priority.
“My time is valuable,” Anderson said. “With my last physician, I would wait for an extended period of time in the waiting room, then wait more in the consultation room, and then the doctor would come in. He was a fast talker, and he would whip through things, and then was gone.”
One of Anderson’s clients introduced him to Dr. John Blanchard, CEO of Premier Private Physicians Management, and it was a completely different experience.
“Dr. Blanchard didn’t look at his watch, and he wasn’t rushed,” Anderson said. “He spent a good 90 minutes meeting with me, listening intently. I have never experienced a doctor taking that level of serious interest, a true empathetic doctor.”
Since that first appointment, Anderson has seen Dr. Blanchard multiple times, including in an emergency situation.
“I was driving home from Cleveland and had an urgent medical issue,” Anderson said. “I called up Dr. Blanchard, he saw me right away and referred me to the emergency room. They took care of me, and while I was there, Dr. Blanchard came two times to check up on me.”
It’s this level of personal attention and accessibility that has made Premier Private Physicians Management worth it for Anderson and the friends and family he has referred.
“Health is like sports, it’s a mental game,” Anderson said. “If I don’t think I’m in the best hands, my body may not either. How do you put a price tag on health?”
Patient Story
Jennifer Knight
Chief Operating Officer, Advomas
Advomas handles all aspects of the health care payment process, from front-end patient assistance to back-end insurance denials and legal representation for providers.
“We’re here to support and guide the patients who fall through the cracks, the people who don’t understand their options,” says Knight.
Jennifer’s father, W. Bruce Knight, J.D., started Advomas more than 25 years ago out of a request for help from a provider. In 2009, after a successful career in international trade and manufacturing, Jennifer joined the company to help reengineer the way Advomas was marketing and selling its services.
“Uncompensated care is a huge issue,” Knight said. “Hospitals are losing out on one-third of the payment they could recover, and they only have so much time to pursue these funding sources. We help hospitals save time and reduce cost, so they can focus on delivering better care.”
“When I came onboard, we were looked at as a Medicaid company,” Knight said. “Nobody realized that our mission has always been to find the highest payer source.”
In the past several years, we have revamped almost every area, including upgrading our computer systems,” Knight said. “We view our investment in IT not just as a way to comply with HIPAA, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other regulations coming down in 2015, but as a driver of meaningful patient data for better overall health management.”
Devoting adequate time in direct communications with patients is critical for both clinical and financial discussions. In many cases, Advomas will meet with patients while they are still in the hospital, spending an hour or more to help pinpoint the best payer for their case. During this consultation, they use a comprehensive questionnaire they have developed over three decades. This in-person approach helps to address one of the major challenges in health care compensation: uncertainty of available options.
“There is a massive understanding gap when it comes to patients who can’t afford to pay for their health care,” Knight said. “Many government programs require people to go online and sign up, but frequently these patients struggle with the complexity of the application and never complete it when left without guidance. As a result, these resources go untapped and both patients and providers lose out. This is why the relationship portion of our business is critical.”
When it comes to her own health care, Knight has realized that the relationship between doctor and patient is equally critical. About a year ago, she developed severe fatigue and a persistent upper respiratory infection. Her primary care physician was booked out several weeks, so she went to urgent care. They diagnosed her with bronchitis and gave her a prescription – the first of many trips to urgent care and other prescriptions, none of which helped. In the meantime, her illness got worse and began impacting her life and work.
Ultimately, Knight’s parents referred her to their physician, Dr. John Blanchard, CEO of Premier Private Physicians Management, who spent two hours conducting a thorough medical history and looking beyond the symptoms to the root problem. A sputum culture revealed that she had bacterial haemophilus influenzae – a serious bacterial infection that can lead to meningitis if left untreated. Knight was placed on a different treatment plan and has since recovered.
“I had spent eight months with multiple doctors trying to find a cure, and during the first visit to Dr. Blanchard he actually took the time to figure out what was wrong,” Knight said. “It’s totally worth paying a premium to get this level of personalized, compassionate care.”
With Knight back leading IT initiatives, Advomas is now ready to launch AdvoApp, a new software platform that providers can access through a tablet. All related forms will be built into this app, in order to streamline the health care compensation process for hospitals.
Now, Knight recommends Premier Private Physicians Management to family, friends, co-workers – anyone she can.
Joined: 7/16/2012
Patricia Snider
Physician: Dr. Blanchard
To us, medicine as it is practiced for us now is better for all the parties involved. I’m sure it saves money for the insurance companies, too!
My husband has diabetes and other medical conditions that caused him to be rushed to the hospital many times. Since the previous doctor didn’t go to the hospital when his patients were hospitalized, my husbands care there was dangerously uncoordinated. After one last situation which was extremely scary, we decided we had to find another family doctor.
We signed up with Premier Private Physicians about 3 years ago. My husband was rushed to the hospital shortly after we signed up, and Dr. Blanchard came there, talked to my husband at length, went over records and test results, determined what needed to be done, and supervised every step until his discharge.
Since this episode, my husband has not been in the hospital again at all!
Because we are able to contact Dr. Blanchard immediately with any problems or concerns, situations can be resolved before they get more serious. He also needs fewer tests and prescriptions because Dr. Blanchard knows us so well. We have confidence in his caring and expertise and have so much less stress now.
To us, medicine as it is practiced for us now is better for all the parties involved. I’m sure it saves money for the insurance companies, too!
Sincerely,
Patricia Snider
Joined: 9/1/2005
Bill Baer
Physician: Dr. Blanchard
All my family has enjoyed and benefited from your wonderful service for many years…
I wanted to write a quick testimonial of the wonderful benefits of having a concierge physician such as yourself. All my family has enjoyed and benefited from your wonderful service for many years, but my recent experience was the best ever. While having lunch at Somerset Mall I began feeling poorly. I got up from the table called your office and was within your facility in 10 minutes being looked after. It just doesn’t get any better than that. I wanted to thank you for the wonderful care you’ve given me in the past and the care given to me during this recent experience.
Sincerely,
Bill Baer
Joined: 6/26/2012
Jay Karpushenkoff
Head of Reporting & Analytics- Customer Care
Chrysler LLC
Physician: Dr. Christmon
Face time with your doctor is tough in today’s healthcare environment, but this program offers what access, which has been and tremendous benefit.
I have been under the care of Dr. Keith Christmon and the Premier Private Physician team for the past three years. The level of benefit that this program has provided me has been remarkable. Dr .C’s approach to the whole pictures–health, nutrition, family, prevention, mental well being, work/life balance discussions and social aspects has provided me a complete road map to great health. I can absolutely say that I’m in the best shape (and the data proves it) of my adult life which I contribute to Dr. C’s personal involvement with my interest. This program affords me an unparalleled access with my doctor whenever, wherever, which has made Dr. C a friend as well as a trusted professional. Face time with your doctor is tough in today’s healthcare environment, but this program offers what access which has been and tremendous benefit. The office and his staff’s attention to detail and utmost professionalism are always present each and every time I’m with them.
I have truely enjoyed my experience with Dr. Christmon which has provided a vital service to improving my overall health and motivation to continue on this road.
Respectfully,
Jay Karpushenkoff
Head of Reporting & Analytics – Customer Care
Chrysler Group, LLC
Joined: 6/17/2011
Mary Fellows
Head of Operational Transformation Processes
Chrysler Group Manufacturing
Physician: Dr. Christmon
Being able to communicate with Dr. Christmon at all hours, by text or by phone, has been very helpful when on international business trips.
I have been a patient of Dr. Keith Christmon and Premier Private Physicians for the past two years. I made the decision to sign up for the year round care program after seeing Dr. Christmon for my Executive Physical. I was immediately impressed by his thoroughness and determination to get to know his patients on a personal level. The idea of doctor who was willing to become a partner in my health care was very appealing to me. I have not been disappointed.
For the past several years I have been travelling regularly for work and one of the primary advantages of being a patient of this practice is the flexibility and their ability to accommodate a person with a challenging schedule. Being able to communicate with Dr. Christmon at all hours, by text or by phone, has been very helpful when on international business trips.
Dr. Christmon has taken the time to get to know me and understand what is important to me. His holistic approach inspires confidence in my medical care. For these reasons I have recommended him to colleagues and will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Mary Fellows
Head of Operational Transformation Processes
Chrysler Group Manufacturing
Joined: 5/21/2010
Jason W. Stoicevich
Head of FIAT Brand North America and California Business Center
Physician: Dr. Christmon
From my first point of contact, the staff is flexible and accommodating to work with my busy schedule, even for last-minute changes.
This letter serves to commend the services of Dr. Keith Christmon and Premier Private Physicians. I have been a patient of this facility for two years and have been extremely happy with the staff and services. From my first point of contact, the staff is flexible and accommodating to work with my busy schedule, even for last-minute changes. Prior to my appointments, I am given detailed instructions to follow, ensuring accurate results from my tests. On a health perspective, Dr. Christmon is thorough and detailed. Every aspect of my health is equipped with shower provisions to I can ready myself for work, after an exam. This is a convenient feature which I do take advantage of.
Lastly, Dr. Christmon, as an individual, is available all hours of the day. I have contacted him at late hours, with health concerns, to receive an immediate response. He then makes time the next say to see me. This is my greatest praise. Dr. Christmon gives his patients personalized, individual attention. He understands the pressures of my job and provides the flexibility to ensure my health is his priority.
I am very happy with the services of Premier Private Physicians and would gladly recommend them to others.
Sincerely,
Jason W. Stoichvich
Head of FIAT Brand North America
and California Business Center
Joined: 6/4/2014
Jeff Kommor
Chrysler Group LLC
Physician: Dr. Christmon
Your practice just makes me feel downright spoiled!
Just wanted to send a note of thanks for the support you and your practice has provided for myself the last several months.
Being a recent relocated employee you always stress about finding a Physician in your new location. I was lucky when one of my fellow employees recommended your practice.
What I found to be outstanding was:
- The attention you provided throughout the entire process with a genuine interest in my well being.
- Quick, no wait appointments.
- Your attention to follow-up via phone and text until issues were resolved.
- Available to me 24/7 for questions and assistance.
- A pragmatic approach at all times.
Your practice just makes me feel downright spoiled! Having access to your care has been an awesome benefit provided by my company. Thanks again for your support.
Jeff Kommor
Chrysler Group LLC
Joined: 5/7/2008
Michael B. Lewis
Chairman/CEO
Residential Home Health, LLC
Physician: Dr. Christmon
It is comforting to be able to call a physician in the middle of the night with a question about scary symptoms, and then be advised and directed about next steps.
As Chairman and CEO of five health care related companies with over 700 employees operating in Michigan and Illinois, I am acutely aware that personal dedication, long hours and everyday work stress imposes a physical toll upon our executive staff. Nobody can operate at peak levels if he or she is forced to deal with health issues. We have a saying that in order to take great care of others, you must first take great care of yourself. We also have a culture of taking care of each other in addition to ourselves. Thus, several years ago we made a decision to ensure that despite their busy schedules, our senior executives always have access to thorough annual physical exams together with excellent preventive/primary health care on a 24/7 basis, wherever their travels may take them.
When the Residential family of companies selected Premier Private Physicians to provide such services, the hope was that our busy executives actually would utilize the offering and find it to be an efficient way to maintain their health and well being without unduly interrupting their own schedules. The ability to reach a highly qualified, dedicated physician at any time, on any day, has been used to great effect over the past few years. I once called my personal physician from overseas and he was able to arrange for me to obtain a specific medication by prescription in a foreign country. It is comforting to be able to call a physician in the middle of the night with a question about scary symptoms, and then be advised and directed about next steps. The same applies to being able to pick up a prescription at a nearby 24-hour pharmacy after your Premier physician has called in that prescription in the middle of the night.
When there is such a low cost and convenient way to promote the health of our executives and to maximize their time on the job helping others, we considered it a virtual obligation to at least give it a try. Our executives perceive the service as professional, discrete, thorough, efficient, and value added to their personal and business lives. It has been successful beyond our hopes, and we have no intention of going back, particularly these days when access to quality health care is becoming ever more challenging and expensive. Residential Home Health and its related companies enthusiastically recommend Premier Private Physicians for the provision of preventive/primary health care for key managers and executives.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Lewis
Chairman/CEO
Residential Home Health, LLC
Joined: 11/17/2010
Gordon R. Follmer
Partner
UHY LLP Certified Public Accountants
Physician: Dr. Christmon
The response is immediate and the quality of treatment is excellent. I recommend them highly.
I am writing this letter in support of Premiere Physicians and their concierge program. I have used Premiere Physicians for about eight years. I started using them when I was on the Board at St. Joseph Mercy – Oakland who offered the Executive Physical Program. Later, after leaving the Board, I continued using them for my annual physical. For the last couple of years, since Dr. Keith Christmon developed the concierge program, I have been using them for not only my physical but also as my general practitioner. The response is immediate and the quality of treatment is excellent. I recommend them highly.
Very truly yours,
Gordon R. Follmer
Partner
A member of Urbach Hacker Young International Limited, an international network of independent accounting and consulting firms
Joined: 6/1/2012
Terry Woyshowski
Physician: Dr. Christmon
I have traveled as far as Boston in search of an Executive Physical program only to find the finest care available right here in Troy, Michigan.
I have traveled as far as Boston in search of an Executive Physical program only to find the finest care available right here in Troy, Michigan. The personal care that I receive from Dr. Keith Christmon at Premier Private Physicians is absolutely stellar and should serve as a model of all physician-patient care relationships. Dr. Christmon is extremely thorough in his evaluation of my health, is consistent in his care and follow up, and has demonstrated that he truly cares for his patients. Text messages and emails are received and responded to with alacrity and good humor at any time and the patient care is timely and relevant.
I would strongly recommend Premier Private Physicians to anybody in search of a personal physician, and in fact, my wife has also now turned to Dr. Christmon as her personal physician too!
Terry Woyshowski
Joined: 4/7/2011
Michael Brown
Physician: Dr. Christmon
Since I began treating with Dr. Christmon, the diagnosis and prognosis he takes the time to explain to me have been completely accurate.
If you are in the process of seeking a prersonal physician, I highly recommend Dr. Keith Christmon of Premier Private Physicians.
Dr. Christmon has been my personal physician for the past two years. I swear by this gentleman. He takes a personal and sincere interest in my health, which has inspired me to improve my health. His sincerity is manifest in every matter he discusses with me. He keeps things simple. He explains my medical status to me in simple, easy to understand terms. He is accessible 24 hours a day. I have his personal cell phone number. If I call him and he is busy with another patient, within minutes of my phone call he will either personally respond to me, sometimes by text messaging, or have one of the expert staff nurses contact me directly. If I need to see him, he usually invites me to come into the office to see him the same day, or the next day, at the very latest. He is extremely knowledgeable. Since I began treating with Dr. Christmon, the diagnosis and prognosis he takes the time to explain to me have been completely accurate.
If a specialist is required for my medical condition, Dr. Christmon has a network of the foremost specialists in the specialty field to direct me to. For example, I recently required back surgery. In a relatively short period of time, leading up to the surgery, Dr. Christmon methodically took me through a logical progression of treatment and therapy before referring me to one of the most renowned experts in the field of orthopedic spinal surgery. The surgeon’s surgical schedule was booked in advance for several months, however, because I was Dr. Christmon’s patient, the surgeon and his scheduler offered to perform my surgery within 24 hours of my final evaluation.
In conclusion, it should be noted that during my adult life, until I began treating with Dr. Christmon, I’d treated with two personal physicians exclusively. Both were good, however, one retired and the other ones office was located at a prohibitive distance from my new residence. It was a complete blessing for me to retain Dr. Christmon as my personal physician. I am grateful to have Dr. Keith Christmon as my personal physician.
Michael Brown
Joined: 12/5/2005
Bert Whitehead
Physician: Dr. Christmon
I have peace of mind that through our regular scheduled physical exams I know we will have early warning if any serious issue develops.
I am convinced that retaining you as my private physician in 2005 has indeed added ‘years to my life, and life to my years!’
I have peace of mind that through our regular scheduled physical exams I know we will have early warning if any serious issue develops. More importantly, you really know me as your patient and I can trust you (and have time in our appointments) to discuss all aspects of my life.
Your holistic approach, which recognizes that good health requires more than knives and drugs, has immensely improved my well-being. You stress and make sure I do the preventative things, like flu shots, that keep me well.
Perhaps the most impactful counsel I received what at my second visit when you told me, flat out, to go hire a personal trainer. I have had one now for six years and am more limber and energetic than most 67 year old men I know.
A real plus for me has been your accessibility, especially since I travel more than half the year. It’s not only being able to call/text you anytime, and know that you can call in a prescription at a drug store anywhere in the country I happen to be, is an exceptional personal service. It enables me to also meet my clients without medical interruptions for a minor sore throat or flu.
I have come to realize how important it is to have my own health advocate when I have to encounter a hospital. When I fell off a mountain in Arizona on New Years Day several years ago, even with a concussion I could give the ER doctor your cell phone and he could contact you immediately. He said he so much appreciated knowing drug allergies, the shots I have had, and general medical history right away. And I could trust whatever he recommended because I knew you were monitoring it.
This scenario was replayed when my blood pressure and heart rate spiked for a couple of days for unexpected reasons earlier this year. The heart hospital couldn’t figure it out until they talked to you and found out I have had ongoing issues with Potassium absorption.
Alright, I am very type-A and can’t stand to wait in lines. This has always been an obstacle for me to going to any doctor. I hate waiting rooms. I appreciate that you know my time is valuable, and that I can count on in-depth personal care…and don’t have to sit around 45 minutes waiting.
So I want you to know how much I appreciate having you as my private physician. You are indeed one of the five most important people in my life!
Joined: 10/13/2011
Ed Risko
Physician: Dr. Christmon
I didn’t even get to sit down, as the team was ready to proceed as soon as I got there. No waiting then and no waiting throughout the process.
The experience was better than the advertising. When I arrived for the physical the setting was comfortable and inviting, not at all like the waiting rooms to which I had been accustomed. However, I didn’t even get to sit down as the team was ready to proceed as soon as I got there. No waiting then and no waiting throughout the process. Everything proceeded like a choreographed dance, moving swiftly from one station to the next; no wasted motion. They knew their business, were efficient, and completed as thorough an examination as I could possibly imagine in record time. But it wasn’t impersonal. Kim, Alexis and Dr. Christmon, were personable, friendly and in good humor throughout, which alleviated the general uncomfortable nature of the occasion.
I was especially impressed with Dr. Christmon. I don’t think I’ve ever met a doctor both as knowledgable and thorough as Dr. Christmon. There is no rush; no skimping on explanations; no “I’m too busy, just do what I tell you.” He spends as much time as it takes to fully explain a diagnosis and the alternative remedies. As it happened, there were a couple of things revealed by my physical needing attention, so, given my first impression, I decided to try to work through those issues with Dr. Christmon, rather than my former doctor. To say that I have remained impressed with Premier generally and Dr. Christmon specifically is an understatement. Not only did Dr. Christmon effectively analyze and treat my issues but through that process we regularly communicated, either by phone, by text or in person, all at my convenience. I still find it hard to believe. If I have an issue, I raise it with Dr. Christmon immediately and directly, even by text messaging, at any time of day and in virtually no time at all the issue is addressed by Dr. Christmon personally. I have come to regard Dr. Christmon not only as my doctor but also as a friend and I believe that this is the way it should be with someone whom there is an inherent personal relationship and I cannot return to how it used to be.
I cannot recommend Premier strongly enough. If you are tired of cookie-cutter medical care and wish to establish a true collaborative and comfortable relationship with medical professionals, you cannot do better than Premier.
Ed Risko
Joined: TBD
Dick Matthews
Physician: Dr. Blanchard
You helped to make a very difficult time easier to handle with your responsiveness and concern.
Thanks again for everything John – Hopefully our paths will cross again.
Dick Matthews
Joined: TBD
Linda Klein
Physician: Dr. Blanchard
While she always saw excellent physicians, she no longer wanted to deal with not being able to reach a doctor when she felt she had a problem…
She met Dr. Blanchard and interviewed him with me present and he set forth in a very professional manner what the details of his arrangements with his patients were. He did not pressure her in any way to make a quick decision and in very short order she decided she wanted him to be her physician. Additionally we both knew several friends and acquaintances mostly younger, who also used him and had recommended him, and appreciated the personal and very excellent care he delivered even when they were traveling in and out of the country.
Since 2005 that decision has proven to be good one in every way. Dr. Blanchard can be reached promptly by phone and delivers excellent medical advice as he decides what is necessary next. As she has grown older he makes home visits more frequently, but he is not an alarmist and gives good instruction to the caregivers when it is not necessary that he come. It is very important that goes to the hospital when she is there. He tries to do everything to keep her out of the hospital but when it is necessary, it is Dr. Blanchard caring for her and not a hospitalist who she doesn’t know and doesn’t know her history. I can say without exaggeration that I personally believe he has saved her life several times during various hospital stays.
He is very calm and not excitable but very caring and most critical of all I believe him to be a take charge doctor in a good way and a very excellent diagnostician and physician. I would recommend him highly.
Sincerely, Linda Z. Klein
Joined: 10/19/2012
Melinda Janson
Physician: Dr. Blanchard
I have experienced a significant turnaround in my overall health, which has been a direct result of the care…
Most sincerely,
Melinda Janson