MDVIP, a leader in affordable personalized health care, has announced that Dr. Leslie C. Murphy, of Pinehurst, will open her new practice Dec. 27.

She will focus on the delivery of a higher level of personalized health care, with an emphasis on prevention, not just the treatment of illness, a news release said.

Murphy is board certified in internal medicine and is also a certified menopause practitioner. She is affiliated with FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

"Maintaining a high volume of patients typical in traditional primary care makes it nearly impossible to focus on the individualized needs of each patient," Murphy said. "With the MDVIP model, my patients and I will have a partnership to keep them healthier 365 days of the year, not just in the doctor's office. I will have time to listen, time to examine and the time to determine the goals of my patients so I can best serve their needs and interests.

"By affiliating with MDVIP, I'll be able to dedicate myself to delivering better care and results with improved outcomes and significantly lower hospitalization rates for patients."

The MDVIP model is helping consumers take control of their own health in this rapidly changing environment, the release said. MDVIP is a disruption to the conventional primary care "conveyor belt medicine" approach and is gaining increased momentum locally and nationally as consumers learn about their health care options, the company said.

In health care today, physicians frequently step in at the diagnosis stage, which is often too late. This, of course, means the patient is not getting the earliest possible care, which gives a patient the best chance of complete recovery and is less costly for the patient and the system, the release said.

MDVIP patients' hospitalizations are reduced by 75 percent for Medicare patients and 65 percent for those with commercial insurance, according to the release. This is linked to the physicians' ability to spend more time with patients to engage in preventive care and to intercede quickly.

MDVIP-affiliated practices are significantly smaller than traditional practices, allowing physicians to have closer relationships with their patients and a more thorough knowledge of their lifestyle, medical history and overall well-being.

Each patient receives the MDVIP Wellness Program that encompasses leading-edge screenings and diagnostic testing and physician counseling focused on important health issues and wellness areas, the release said.

Included are heart health, emotional well-being, diabetes prevention, respiratory health, quality of sleep, hearing and vision, sexual health, nutritional assessment, weight management, bone health, comprehensive risk factor analysis and face-to-face physician counseling.

As part of the membership, MDVIP-affiliated physicians work with their patients to ensure they receive all the recommended prevention services. Each patient is provided with a personalized wellness plan to make them healthier.

Through the travel and reciprocity program, patients who visit or travel to another state and need to see a doctor due to an urgent or emergency care situation can see any of the 450 MDVIP-affiliated physicians across the country on the same day, the release said.

The smaller practice size also allows MDVIP-affiliated physicians to provide an enhanced level of service, which includes same or next day appointments that start on time. Office visits start at 30 minutes and are unhurried and last as long as necessary.

Patients also receive their physician's cell phone number and email address so they can reach them 24/7. Additionally, patients in the MDVIP model renew annually at 92 percent and have a 95 percent satisfaction rate, according to the release .

Murphy received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. She completed her internship and residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.