The only way to beat a healthcare crisis is to improve the health of the people.
Dear Community,
My name is Dr. Stephenie Tornberg.
Welcome to The ROW Health Collective. I am ecstatic to begin this journey providing medical care the way it should be. Since I at least 5 years old, I dreamt of becoming a physician. I do not come from a family of medical professionals or had any traumatic experience that drew me to medicine. It was always a career that drew my attention, from making my mother chase ambulances, to caring for any injured human or animal around me. I volunteered in the Emergency Department, then Certified Nursing Assistant at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, WA in high school, then Bozeman Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman, MT as a college student. I was accepted to many medical schools, choosing Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, WA. I chose MultiCare East Pierce Family Medicine (a dual accredited residency) in Puyallup, WA for residency. I had the privilege to work with MultiCare and Swedish after residency, however I was not feeling fulfilled. There is an inherent problem with our structure of medicine. I am unable to provide the care my patients need and deserve. I am hardly accessible to patients (impossible to be for thousands of patients) and I have to rush through appointments. The payment structure, as set by insurance, dictates how I provide care, what care I can provide. Yes, the more patients seen, procedures done, imaging ordered, medications prescribed, and boxes checked translate to more “RVUs” which increases reimbursement. Yet, the doctor that spends a lot of time with patients, does thorough exam and determining imaging or prescription medications are not needed (etc), results in lower reimbursement. This is not acceptable.
After switching medical systems a few times, I realized the problem is insurance, not the particular system I was working in at the time. I am incredibly discouraged by this. Its frustrating for patients and physicians, alike. I scoured the internet, at times, looking for career switch, as I cannot practice like this.
Then, I learned about Direct Primary Care. It was clear that this is the model where I can provide the medical care that I worked so hard to be able to provide. It aligns with my values and goals as a physician - to create a trusting physician-patient relationship and provide personalized, comprehensive care, while remaining accessible when need arises, all at an affordable, transparent price, not dictated by insurance and medical coding. I wanted to create a service to conveniently get medical care, a place where your time is respected; A modality of care that emphasizes health + care and the root of wellness.
From a dream to a reality: The ROW Health Collective is here to provide an exceptional, personalized, holistic experience with sustained attention toward health and wellness in a calm and welcoming environment. It is the eastside’s premier holistic, integrative wellness collective and direct primary care.
We welcome you and your family to join us in the health + care movement, this direct primary care revolution!
Be Well,
Dr. Stephenie Tornberg
The ROW Health Co., Snoqualmie, WA
