My Philosophy: Compassion and the HeART of Medicine
I often find myself reflecting on why I still feel incredibly privileged to be able to do what I do as a physician. While I could come up with pages upon pages, ultimately all of those reasons come down to one thing: LOVE. I was always taught to give freely and with a generous heart, whether it is time, knowledge, or service. Because in the end, it’s all about giving love. Day after day, parents put faith in me to take care of their children, and it is an honor and privilege that I do not take lightly. To me, it is my daily opportunity to give love through hope and healing.
Dr. Ralph Feigin, one of the most influential people in my career and life, said in his graduation speech to my pediatric residency class, “You cannot care for your patient well if you do not truly care FOR your patient.” Compassion and concern may be outmoded in this age of modern medicine, but it is fundamental to the sacred relationships I have with my patients and their families. Unfortunately, our health care system has been increasingly defined by protocols and algorithms that dictate how you can be treated, what should be prescribed, what care will be covered, and whom you can see. What suffers is the quality of care you receive and the relationship and trust between you and your doctor. The fact of the matter is, everyone has a unique body, a unique mind, a unique soul, and a unique experience of their illness, and therefore, your care should be unique to you. I made a decision to drastically change the environment in which I worked so that I may care for you in the way that best serves you and your needs, regardless of what your insurance plan is willing to cover. I no longer participate in any health insurance networks, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurances, so that I may spend more time on what matters most to me — my relationship with you and your child. Fostering a sacred relationship of love, trust, and mutual respect requires time, effort, and effective communication, and it is essential to giving you the most exceptional care possible. Without the extra administrative burdens, I can not only spend ample time caring for your needs but also provide you with personalized subspecialty care at affordable and transparent prices. No hidden fees, no surprises.
What This Means for You
For those of you NOT on Medicare, any out-of-network benefits you have may allow your insurance carrier to reimburse you for my services. You may also be able to submit your receipt to be applied towards your deductible in high deductible plans. You will be responsible for filing a claim for your insurance, but we can help you with the information you may need to file the claim.
If you’re on Medicare, I can still see you and certainly hope to care for you. However, due to government regulations, patients with Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Tricare or other government insurance programs will not be able to file a claim to be reimbursed for my services. Per Medicare guidelines, I will also need to keep on file a private contract between us that allows me to see you. Please see the Patient Forms section of the website.