Local doctor brings concierge medical care to Sumter

Building on his reputation for providing Sumter's seniors with thoughtful, compassionate care, a local doctor is now offering an even more individualized approach and an enhanced focus on proactive wellness.

Carolina Concierge Care, a membership medicine practice, Sumter's first, represents a unique opportunity to offer the type of care Mayes DuBose has long considered essential. "Concierge medicine is care that patients deserve," he said. "I feel this is how we should all be practicing so patients can experience health care as it was intended to be - unrushed, thorough and tailored to their individual needs by a physician who knows them well."

At Carolina Concierge Care, DuBose cares for a limited number of patients, allowing time for extended visits, same-day appointments and 24/7 direct communications after hours by cell, email or text. In addition, patients benefit from coordinated care with specialists and personalized attention if hospitalized. The annual fee to become a member of the practice includes a comprehensive annual health assessment with a careful examination and screening tests, which serves as the basis for an individualized plan for long-term wellness.

For patients age 50 and older, the concierge model creates an ideal environment to emphasize preventive care that can enable optimal quality of life, according to DuBose.

"Poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging," he said. "Much of the sickness and disability associated with chronic disease can be avoided through early detection and testing, healthy lifestyle habits and guidance from a physician who has cared for you over time - the cornerstones of my concierge practice. It is my mission to care for each of my patients in this way."

That mission resonates with Sumter resident and physician Tim W., 58, who was inspired to join the practice by both the thorough, empathetic care DuBose provides to his father and for the focus on preventive medicine.

"While my dad, at 93 years old with multiple health issues, certainly benefits from prompt, personalized attention, I was looking for a highly regarded physician who was experienced in preventive medicine and who could be my doctor for a long time," he says. "We are fortunate to have found it all with Dr. DuBose - an excellent physician who I consider to be a true health care partner."

For example, "we're working on different ways to lower my cholesterol, and it's very much of a collaborative effort." The direct availability to DuBose is particularly valuable, he said.

"I appreciate how easy it is now to make an appointment when I need to be seen and the ability to simply text a question to his cellphone and receive a prompt answer," he said.

His father's situation was much different.

"I told Dr. DuBose I didn't think there was much he could do for me," Ohlen W. said, "but he thought otherwise. And now I know he was absolutely right."

For DuBose, it exemplifies the intangible but most essential feature of his concierge practice: time.

"What I love most about practicing in the concierge model is having more time to listen to my patients and build strong, meaningful relationships," he said. "Before, visits became faster and faster, and it was impossible not to worry about keeping up with my schedule each day. There were countless instances when I wished I had an hour set aside to hear a patient's whole story. Now, I have the ability to get my patients into the office quickly and then spend as much time with them as they require."

To learn more about becoming a patient at Carolina Concierge Care, 244 Church St. in Sumter, call (803) 847-5810 or visit https://carolinaconciergecare.com.

About Dr. DuBose

- Board-certified in family medicine and geriatric medicine

- Sumter native

- Has been caring for the community for almost 20 years

- Undergraduate, Clemson University, Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, cum laude

- Medical degree, University of South Carolina School of Medicine

- Residency, Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital

- Geriatrics Fellowship, University of Connecticut Health Consortium

- Opened Sumter's first geriatric practice in 2005 and first concierge practice in 2019

- At Carolina Concierge Care: focus on preventive care includes guidance on fitness, weight management, nutrition and healthy lifestyle