For Drs. Paige and Mike McClincy, opening Rivanna Concierge Physicians wasn't simply about launching a new medical practice. It was about creating the kind of healthcare experience they believed had become increasingly difficult to find: one centered on relationships, accessibility, and prevention.
After years of practicing medicine within the traditional healthcare system, the husband-and-wife physicians saw firsthand how rushed appointments, limited access, and growing administrative demands affected both patients and doctors.
"We wanted to create the kind of medical practice we would want for our own family, where patients have easy and direct access to their doctor, where appointments aren't rushed, and the focus is on preventing disease and optimizing health," Paige McClincy said.
She said today's healthcare system often leaves patients feeling disconnected while physicians struggle to provide the level of care they aspire to deliver.
"Patients often have to navigate call centers instead of speaking directly with their doctor's office, and physicians are expected to care for thousands of patients, making it difficult to offer prompt appointments," she said. "We couldn't change the system, so we left it to create a different one."
That different approach begins long before illness develops. Rather than focusing primarily on treating disease, the physicians encourage patients to think proactively about the future they want to enjoy.
"One of the greatest benefits of concierge medicine is that it gives us the time to have these conversations before illness develops," Mike McClincy said. "Instead of reacting to disease or waiting for problems to crop up, we're helping patients build habits, identify risks early, explore new treatments, and make informed decisions that can improve both lifespan and healthspan."
He said that perspective allows patients to invest in the quality of their lives for years to come.
"It's absolutely possible to reverse engineer how you want your last decades to look, but it requires being proactive rather than reactive," Mike McClincy said.
The extra time patients spend with their physicians is one of the practice's greatest advantages. "When physicians aren't rushing from room to room, they can listen more carefully, ask better questions, and understand the whole person, not just the symptom that brought them in that day," Mike McClincy said. "That's going to lead to earlier detection of problems, more personalized care, and patients who are more engaged in their own health."
The couple's philosophy was shaped early in their careers while training together at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, where experienced physicians modeled an approach focused on understanding the whole person.
"There was constant emphasis on treating and understanding the whole person, not just their medical conditions," Paige McClincy said. "Beyond that, so many patient interactions over the years have influenced and refined the way I approach patient care, and I'm still learning from my patients today."
While concierge medicine may seem like a modern concept, Paige McClincy said many aspects of Rivanna Concierge Physicians intentionally reflect the family medicine patients once expected.
"We hope to model primary care the way it used to be experienced, a doctor and staff who know your name, a familiar friendly voice answering the phone, a comfortable office with little waiting time, and a visit with your doctor that lasts longer than 15 minutes," she said.
Preventive care also means focusing on the habits that have the greatest impact on long-term health. Mike McClincy points to exercise, particularly improving cardiovascular fitness and building muscle strength, along with quality sleep, good nutrition, and strong social connections.
Since opening in June, the response from the Charlottesville community has affirmed the practice's mission.
"It's been exciting to see how much interest we've been getting from the community since we opened," Paige McClincy said. "I was so happy to say 'yes' the first time a patient called in and asked to be seen same day."
Looking ahead, Mike McClincy hopes Rivanna Concierge Physicians becomes known for restoring something many people feel healthcare has lost.
"Healthcare has become increasingly transactional, but we want to make it personal again," he said. "Over the next decade, I'd like Rivanna Concierge Physicians to be recognized as a practice where patients feel known, physicians have the time to do their best work, and prevention is just as important as treatment."
"If we've built lasting relationships, earned patients' trust, and made a meaningful difference in their quality of life," he said, "we'll have accomplished exactly what we set out to do."