Two Maine Doctors Open MDVIP-Affiliated Primary Care Practices
Christine Blake Smith, D.O., and Rasha Hanafy, D.O., Provide Patient-Centered Family Medicine in Greater Portland Area
Boca Raton, Fla. – December 19, 2018 – MDVIP, the national leader in affordable personalized healthcare, today announced that family medicine physicians Christine Blake Smith, D.O., and Rasha Hanafy, D.O., have opened new MDVIP-affiliated practices in Westbrook, Maine. With the opening of their practices, the MDVIP network has grown to four affiliated physicians in Maine who deliver a better healthcare experience with an emphasis on prevention, not just the treatment of illness.
“As a physician and healthcare advocate, I have a passion for empowering people through preventive care and inspiring wellness,” said Dr. Blake Smith. “This requires really listening to patients in order to get to the root cause of their problems or concerns. As an MDVIP affiliate, I’m able to foster this open dialogue, build stronger relationships with patients and provide them care that is truly personal.”
“I’ve always wanted to be the family doctor who treats patients as close friends while helping them achieve the healthiest life possible,” said Dr. Hanafy. “Yet, the way traditional medicine is practiced today makes it difficult to provide this high level of care. Joining MDVIP affords me and my patients the time we need to identify health issues, set goals and partner on a wellness plan that gets them there.”
Personalized Preventive Care
MDVIP-affiliated physicians maintain significantly smaller practices, which allows them to spend more time with patients and provide highly individualized primary care compared to traditional practices. For an annual membership fee, each patient receives the MDVIP Wellness Program, a comprehensive yearly health assessment that includes advanced diagnostic tests and screenings to give a more complete view of the patient's overall health. Using the results, physicians provide coaching and tools to help patients make healthier lifestyle choices, prevent disease and achieve their wellness goals.
Proven Health Outcomes
Published research supports the MDVIP model. Medicare patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices were admitted to the hospital 79% less than patients in traditional practices, and commercial patients were in the hospital 72% less, notes an American Journal of Managed Care study. This significant reduction in hospitalizations yielded a $300-million savings for Medicare in one year. Readmission rates for Medicare patients suffering heart attack, congestive heart failure and pneumonia were dramatically lower than for non-MDVIP Medicare patients.
Smaller Practice, More Time
Other benefits of an MDVIP-affiliated practice include same- or next-day appointments that start on time and last an average of 30 minutes. Physicians are reachable 24/7 by phone. If patients have an emergent need while traveling, their physician can help arrange care with a local hospital, pharmacy or doctor, which may include another MDVIP-affiliated physician. Demonstrating the value of the MDVIP model, patient satisfaction and annual membership renewals consistently exceed 90 percent.
About Christine Blake Smith, D.O.
Dr. Blake Smith earned her medical degree and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. She performed her internship at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. Dr. Blake Smith is board certified in Family Medicine and is affiliated with Mercy Hospital, Maine Medical Center and Southern Maine Healthcare. She was Board President and Spokesperson for the American Heart Association of Maine from 2014 to 2016, and she served as a medical contributor for WMTW News Channel 8 from 2014 to 2017. For more information about Dr. Christine Blake Smith, visit https://www.mdvip.com/doctors/ChristineBlakeSmithDO.
About Rasha Hanafy, D.O.
Dr. Hanafy earned her medical degree and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. She performed her internship at Garden City Hospital in Garden City, Michigan. Dr. Hanafy is board certified in Family Medicine as well as in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, and she is affiliated with Mercy Hospital and Maine Medical Center. For more information about Dr. Rasha Hanafy, visit https://www.mdvip.com/doctors/RashaHanafyDO.
About MDVIP
MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services with a national network of more than 950 primary care physicians focused on prevention and personalized healthcare. Click here for a list of MDVIP-affiliated physicians in Maine. Learn more at www.mdvip.com.