WAIMEA – On July 1, Iris Integrative Health (IIH), a new “direct primary care” service, will offer North Hawaii residents an alternative to insurance-based health care. Dr. Michelle Suber, a naturopathic physician (ND), and her husband Buzz Hollander, MD, are
WAIMEA – On July 1, Iris Integrative Health (IIH), a new “direct primary care” service, will offer North Hawaii residents an alternative to insurance-based health care. Dr. Michelle Suber, a naturopathic physician (ND), and her husband Buzz Hollander, MD, are converting their practice.
By changing to a membership model, Drs. Hollander and Suber will be able to treat patients individually and jointly, as a team. They will have more time to spend with each patient, can provide more comprehensive care, and plan to offer health and lifestyle activities outside the usual primary care “box.”
“We will be the first MD/ND combination in Hawaii, and the second in the U.S., to transform our practice to direct primary care in which patients pay an affordable monthly or yearly fee to be members of our practice,” said Suber.
She has been practicing for more than 15 years and is known in the region as the founder of Malaai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School, a professional dance teacher and mother to two daughters, ages 3 and 7.
“Patients can see me or Dr. Hollander as much as they need. We will also be offering unique, health-giving services that are not possible in the typical insurance-based model,” said Suber. “After two years of research and contemplation, we are thrilled to be making this transition and for the excellent care we will be able to give our patients.”
Her husband has worked in the ER setting, Hamakua Health Center and private practice.
“A conventional doctor has to have on average about 2,500 patients in order to survive,” said Hollander. “That’s 20-25 patients or more per day, and under 60 minutes per patient, per year. So it’s no surprise that over half of physicians report being burnt out.”
Suber and Hollander feel they have found a good solution.
“We face very pressing issues on the Big Island when it comes to quality health care: physician shortage, difficulty obtaining timely high-quality referrals and getting appointments,” Suber said. “I believe this new model will be met with a lot of community interest and hope it will inspire other physicians to think differently about how they care for their patients.”
Patients who sign up for IIH membership can schedule office visits with both doctors, as well as classes and other provided services. Health insurance is recommended to be maintained by all patients, for unexpected or expensive services, prescription medications and other costs. IIH treats children and adults of all ages and offers adjunct prenatal care.
“This new model incentivizes patients to come in and see us as opposed to being a dis-incentive in a fee-for-service practice, in which each office visit can be seen as a cost to be avoided,” Hollander said.
He continued, “I have a huge appreciation for the value of preventive health. Working with Michelle opened my eyes to that. On the basic level, what we are trying to do is offer really good integrative health care and to be freed up to do good old-fashioned medical care. With membership, anything we can offer is already paid for — cooking, outings to the farmers market, Michelle’s dance classes, exercise classes and meditation, yoga. We want to meet people where they are.”
Iris Integrative Health is located in Opelo Plaza in Waimea. For more information, call 887-1210.
