Dr. Charles Willey, left, with Bruce Meyer.
For better medicine, Innovare staff gets to know patients
At Innovare Health Advocates in Festus, clinicians work to build relationships with their patients, leading them and their families to become and remain healthy and energetic for life.
“If we know you and you know us, we have a better chance at motivating you to make some of the difficult changes necessary, such as taking medication, changing diet, continuing to exercise or have a necessary but scary surgery,” said Dr. Charles Willey.
Bruce Meyer, who humorously refers to himself as “the Unknown Celebrity,” has been seeing Willey for most of the doctor’s 36 years in practice.
Meyer reported to Willey at a recent appointment that his 93-year-old mother remains well, independent and is still driving.
Every time Meyer ends a visit, his mother admonishes him, “No dope and no bad habits.”
Willey gave Meyer some additional advice.
“If we are going to have you be as healthy as your mother when you are 93, you will need to follow our ‘Cave Man Diet’ to lose 30 pounds, exercise, and start taking an aspirin and cholesterol pill daily.”
The Unknown Celebrity was reluctant to do this, having already told the nurse, “No way,” but he agreed to start the regimen, stating, “I’ll do it for you, doc.”
“Dr. Willey and his clinicians give it to you straight without mincing words,” Meyer said. “They spend extra time making sure I understand, not just what they want me to do but why. It is clear they care about me and my health.”
Innovare Health Advocates is at 1455-B Hwy. 61, across from Mercy Hospital Jefferson.