Napa Valley Private Physicians

About Napa Valley Private Physicians

What is Napa Valley Private Physicians?

Napa Valley Private Physicians is a primary care practice at 1030 Main Street, Suite 206, in St. Helena, California. Primary care is its main work. Weight management and lifestyle medicine are two other services it lists. Dr. Susan Gamble, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and was most recently Medical Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute at St. Helena Hospital. Dr. Galen Hegarty, MD, is a board certified Family, Lifestyle and Obesity Medicine physician. He has worked in Sonoma County for 14 years and previously served as Medical Director of the Kaiser Medical Weight Management program in Santa Rosa.

For weight management, both physicians use lifestyle change along with medication, when necessary. The practice does not name the medications it uses. Its primary care is described as members-only, with each physician caring for only 100 patients. In its own words: "Each of our physicians serves only 100 patients which allows for increased communication and extraordinary personalized care." The site also describes an annual executive physical, same-day visits and advanced testing as part of its ongoing care. Telemedicine is offered for patients who cannot come to the office.

What does it cost?

It does not publish prices. It does not state a consultation fee, a membership fee, or whether medication is included in any charge. It does not say whether it accepts insurance. The site describes its care as membership-based but gives no amount, no membership terms and no cancellation policy. Those are the first things to get in writing before you book.

What should you ask before you book?

Ask which physician would write any prescription, Dr. Gamble or Dr. Hegarty, and whether a colleague might see you instead. Ask whether the membership fee covers medication, and if it does not, what the medication costs each month. Ask which medication would be used, whether it is brand-name or compounded, and which pharmacy fills it. Ask what follow-up visits and lab work cost, and whether the advanced testing the site mentions is included. Ask whether any part of a visit can be billed to insurance or paid from a health savings account. Ask how to cancel, how much notice is required, and whether any fees are refunded. Ask for office hours, which the practice does not publish, and whether telemedicine visits are available to people outside St. Helena. You can call 707-872-1412 to put these questions to the practice directly.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician, with a small patient list, and weight management would be one part of that care. It is a weaker fit if your main goal is a fixed-price weight loss program with named medications and published prices, since none of those are published.

Sources: napavalleyprivatephysicians.com, napavalleyprivatephysicians.com/services, napavalleyprivatephysicians.com/team

Services Offered

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