Why We Started EverBetter Medicine

A New Kind of Medicine for a New Kind of Problem

Our healthcare system was originally constructed to overcome acute illness. Not so long ago, infections were the leading cause of death. Medicine was tailored to identify these threats and treat them using antimicrobial agents. Over time, infections have become more routinely managed, while conditions like heart attacks, strokes, knee ligament tears, and cancer have taken center stage. Yet our healthcare system has remained laser focused on rapid detection and immediate intervention. For someone who needs a stent to open up a blocked heart artery, or surgery to remove an inflamed appendix, our system is very well-equipped to handle these acute, definable problems. Much of how the system manages chronic illness, however, is a different story.

In recent decades, there has been a dramatic rise in inflammatory and metabolic diseases, autoimmune conditions, complex digestive disorders, and mental health challenges. Unlike infections or orthopedic injuries, these conditions are rarely due to a single cause and are thus unlikely to improve with the same approach used for acute issues. Results from a CT scan or a single lab value won’t provide the smoking gun which allows us to say, ‘Aha! If we fix this, we’ll turn your health around!’ These are multifactorial illnesses shaped by genetics, environment, sleep, stress, trauma, and lifestyle. And yet, the system is programmed (and heavily incentivized) to respond to these conditions with the tools – and visit lengths – designed for acute care.

Weight challenges are a great example of this. Fundamentally, weight gain happens when we consume more calories, or energy, than our bodies expend. But the reasons behind this energy imbalance are far more complex. Our metabolism, eating pattern, and energy expenditure is unique to each of us; these key components of body weight are regulated by a complex interplay of hormones, genetics, sleep quality, mental health, and more. Still, despite this complexity, providers have to rush through a visit to prescribe medication without adequate time for thoughtful education or in-depth attention to lifestyle. Medications are powerful tools, but when the agenda is driven by how fast providers can churn through their visits, patients often don’t receive the necessary guidance and may fall short of maximizing their healthiest potential.

Digestive health is much the same. When a patient reports years’ worth of bloating, food intolerances, and intermittent belly pain, the medical team does not have time to unpack the nuance – diet, movement, stress, sleep, and more – that might well be at the root of their symptoms. When it comes to making a diagnosis, without all of this key information, the system focuses on the most common GI conditions and often quickly orders imaging or an endoscopic procedure because those are diagnostic tools for which insurance will offer strong payment. Providers are pushed to prioritize speed and volume, not because they want to, but because the system demands it. Insurance companies offer a fraction of the reimbursement for taking the time to unpack a patient’s story, relative to what gets paid for imaging or an endoscopy that may not end up providing the right answers.

Though the system rarely makes space to explore the true drivers of chronic disease, these issues often contribute to acute illness in the years ahead. Treating reflux can prevent serious esophageal issues. Addressing constipation might ward off a bowel obstruction before it starts. Reversing diabetes or sleep apnea with weight loss might prevent a heart attack, and so on. Yet medical training barely touches on the nuances of nutrition, the benefits of exercise, or how to help a patient improve their sleep. Typical clinic visits don’t allow time to teach patients how their bodies actually work. Patients are left wanting more, feeling dismissed or stuck in cycles of temporary relief without real answers.

That’s where EverBetter Medicine comes in.

We believe your healing begins with our empathic listening – working diligently to understand what brought you to us, what obstacles stand in your way, and how together we will navigate the road to optimizing your health.

Time: The Gift That Transforms Healthcare

The current health insurance landscape gave us little choice but to operate outside of the insurance network. Hospitals are driven to generate revenue any way they can, with lower insurance payments forcing providers to generate revenue through volume by seeing more patients in less time. Our goal is singular – and it’s not efficiency or productivity. It’s to ensure we have the time to understand your story, empowering you to take control of your health.

Understanding the nuances of chronic disease takes time. It otherwise becomes impossible to uncover the layers of circumstance, years of symptoms, rounds of diet and medications, and mental health concerns that result in complex and chronic health challenges. Rarely are patients of big hospital systems able to see their doctors as often as they want, for as long as they want, or even get a message answered in a timely manner. And when symptoms aren’t fully addressed, it leads to more messages and more visits, which stresses the system further.

Over time, our goal is to help you reach a place where you need to see us less. But to do that, we have to make the time to craft the right plan for you and see that plan to fruition. At EverBetter Medicine, our schedule was built for just that – and you’re going to see the same physician and/or dietitian at every visit with your long-term success as our first and only focus.

It Takes a Team

Healthcare is more effective when a team supports you. The cause of weight-related or digestive health challenges can be metabolic, lifestyle-driven, genetic, environmental, or psychological. This is why we’ve prioritized hiring a dietitian with extensive experience, empathy, and skill to be an integral part of our initial staff. We are also partnering with multiple mental health providers and exercise professionals because each patient may benefit from a specific flavor of guidance in these key areas.

This collaborative spirit is the core of EverBetter Medicine. We are committed to addressing the root cause of your health challenges rather than prescribing a quick fix. As physicians, we’ve worked tirelessly to expand our own knowledge of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Our dietitian is also available to tailor nutritional guidance to your lifestyle. Our psychology partners can go deeper in addressing the mental and emotional aspects as your needs dictate. Exercise guidance can be helpful in many ways, with our affiliated resources available to match your priorities.

Access: Making House Calls Virtual

We recognize that not everybody lives a short ride from expert medical care with ample time off work or on-demand childcare. We are fortunate to practice in areas of medicine amenable to a robust telehealth practice. Our virtual care model for non-procedural digestive health and weight management overcomes any logistical or geographical barriers that can make it challenging to see an expert in these fields. Your appointments with us are a couple of clicks away! Set aside worries about parking, traffic, a long commute, paid time off, or who’s going to watch the kids. Have your spouse, sibling, best friend, or support person on the line with you, as you wish. Access the superior and comprehensive care you deserve from a quiet space in your home or anywhere that works for you in a state that we serve.

Virtual Visits, Personalized for You

We built EverBetter Medicine to go above and beyond what is offered by modern healthcare. At our visits, you won’t feel rushed or overlooked. You can access expert care designed to fit your unique needs, even in your pajamas. Our commitment is to provide individualized and thorough treatment that focuses on people instead of their diagnoses. If you’ve felt dismissed, frustrated, or searching for progress regarding your health, we invite you to experience medical care that prioritizes your well-being. Here’s to finding and preserving that best version of you.

Welcome to EverBetter Medicine, where your journey to forever better health begins.