Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Signature Primary Care

Roper St. Francis Physician Partners has been supporting the health and wellness of Lowcountry families for generations. Similar to concierge primary care services, our program is designed to provide you with the comprehensive, personalized primary care you need — from an organization you know and trust.

Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, battling an illness or simply looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle, your concierge-style primary care doctor will be your personal guide. Signature Primary Care’s concierge medicine approach includes the following benefits and services:

Signature Wellness Exam

This comprehensive 2-visit exam assesses your health across several parameters, including physical, mental, emotional, social and sexual health, nutrition, exercise, and sleep wellness.

During the first exam, you will answer a wellness questionnaire and have blood drawn for a comprehensive panel of bloodwork, including labs not typically covered by insurance, such as Advanced Lipid, Inflammation, and Hormonal Testing.

During your second visit, Dr. McPherson and her team will review your lab results, wellness questionnaire answers, vaccine status, and perform a head-to-toe physical and set of screening exams for:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Dementia
• Lung function
• Grip strength
• And even body composition analysis.
  

Easy access to concierge-style medicine in Charleston, SC

• Same or next day appointments
• More comprehensive 60-min appointment times
• 24/7 direct access to Dr. McPherson
  
  

Concierge-style wellness program

• An personalized program designed to support your overall health
• Personal discussions about your health and wellness priorities and goals
• Comprehensive set of advanced screenings and diagnostic tests
• In-depth review of your medical history
• Prescription and Insurance coverage review
  
  

Care coordination and support close to home

• Personal introductions and coordination with specialists and other providers across Roper St. Francis Physician Partner
• Health coaching
• In-hospital visits in the event you are hospitalized
• Treatment of chronic diseases
• In-office procedural services, including:
• Skin biopsy
• Removal of moles and skin cancers
• Removal of cysts
• Removal of lipomas
• Joint injection (steroid; syncisc/viscosupplementation)
• Carpal tunnel injection
• Cryotherapy of warts and precancerous skin lesions
• Pap smear
• Contraceptive inserts
• Removal of ingrown toenail
  
  

Personalized care right here in Charleston, SC

• Custom diet and nutrition plans
• Mental health resources
• Virtual visits
• Treatment of acute illness and injuries
  
  

Your concierge-style doctor in Charleston

With almost 30 years of experience, Dr. McPherson, Director, Concierge Primary Care Services, is a board-certified family physician with extensive expertise in primary care, academic medicine, and medical leadership in Charlotte before starting at Roper St. Francis. She specializes in preventive medicine, concierge medicine and concierge primary care, treatment of chronic diseases, weight management, behavioral medicine and office-based procedures.

Dr. McPherson embraces a holistic approach to care, considering a patient’s family, environment, occupation, faith and community. She enjoys helping people adopt healthier habits. Her goal is for patients to achieve their best health physically, mentally and emotionally.

Roper St. Francis Physician Partners is here to be your trusted partner through every unique stage of life. If you are interested in more information about becoming a member of our concierge-style primary care practice or want to schedule a no-charge meet-and-greet consultation with Dr. McPherson, please call (843) 724-1900.

During the meet-and-greet, you’ll learn more about our concierge-like Signature Primary Care services, Dr. McPherson’s care philosophy, and have plenty of time to ask questions.

Our concierge-like Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Signature Primary Care services provide you with comprehensive, personalized medical care from an organization you know and trust.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about this unique care program.

1. What is Signature Primary Care?
   It’s a membership program styled after concierge medicine that provides personalized primary care services to a limited number of patients who pay an annual membership fee.


2. What is concierge-style medicine?
   Healthcare can be complicated. Our concierge-style medicine services provide you with unhurried appointments and the personalized primary care you need at every step of your journey to better health. Your concierge-style doctor, Vanessa McPherson, MD, is a primary care physician who takes time to support all your care needs and to coordinate your care with specialists and other providers across Roper St. Francis Healthcare.


3. What benefits do I receive as a member?
   • 24/7 access to Dr. McPherson, a board-certified family physician with extensive expertise in primary care, academic medicine and concierge medicine.
   • The Signature Wellness Exam: A comprehensive, head-to-toe health assessment across several parameters, including your physical, mental, emotional, social, and sexual health, nutrition, exercise, and sleep
   • Same-day or next-day appointments
   • Chronic disease management
   • Health coaching available on referral (additional fee is paid directly to health coach)
   • In-office procedures, such as skin biopsies, steroid and other joint injections, removal of moles and skin cancers and more
   • Injury treatment
   • Insurance coverage review
   • Medication review
   • Personalized Wellness Program
   • Preventative and sick care
   • Virtual visits
   • Personal introductions and coordination with specialists across Roper St. Francis Healthcare
   • If you are hospitalized, Dr. McPherson can typically visit you in the hospital to coordinate your care, communicate with the hospitalist and ensure a smooth transition once you return home


4. Are all of my appointments free after I pay the membership fee?
   No. The membership fee for our concierge-style medicine program covers your comprehensive, two-day Signature Wellness exam; access to longer appointments and same-day scheduling; and 24/7 access to Dr. McPherson. The remainder of your care, such as in-office appointments and procedures, are covered by your health insurance, co-pays and deductibles, similar to any other primary care practice.


5. What health insurance do you accept?
   Our Signature Primary Care program accepts most major forms of insurance to cover such aspects of your care as sick visits, chronic disease management and procedures.


6. Who is Vanessa McPherson, MD?

   Dr. McPherson is a board-certified family physician with nearly 30 years of experience practicing primary care medicine. She specializes in preventive medicine, concierge medicine, primary care, family medicine, chronic disease management, office-based procedures and behavioral medicine.

   Dr. McPherson embraces a holistic approach by considering each patient’s family, environment, occupation, faith and community when helping them adopt healthier habits. Her goal is to help patients to achieve their best health physically, mentally and emotionally. Learn more about Dr. McPherson’s care philosophy.



7. What is the Signature Wellness Exam?

   This comprehensive two-visit exam is the cornerstone of our Signature Primary Care program.

   During the first exam, you will answer a wellness questionnaire and have blood drawn for a comprehensive panel of bloodwork, including labs not typically covered by insurance, such as Advanced Lipid, Inflammation, and Hormonal Testing.

   During your second visit, Dr. McPherson and her team review your lab results; responses to your wellness questionnaire; vaccine status; and perform a head-to-toe physical and set of screening exams for:

   • Body composition
   • Dementia
   • Grip strength
   • Hearing
   • Lung function
   • Peripheral vascular disease
   • Vision

   The results will form the basis of a Personalized Wellness Program that you and Dr. McPherson will build together.



8. What is the Personalized Wellness Program?

   Dr. McPherson works with you to develop an individualized program to support your overall health. Your program will be based on the results of your comprehensive, two-day Signature Wellness Exam. It includes:

   • Personal discussions about your health and wellness priorities and goals
   • Comprehensive set of advanced screenings and diagnostic tests
   • In-depth review of your medical history
   • Prescription and Insurance coverage review
   • Custom diet and nutrition plans
   • Mental health resources


9. What types of in-office procedures are available?

   In-office procedural services include:

   • Carpal tunnel injections
   • Contraceptive inserts
   • Cryotherapy of warts and precancerous skin lesions
   • Cyst removal
   • Joint injections (steroid; syncisc/viscosupplementation)
   • Lipoma removal
   • Mole and skin cancer removal
   • Pap smear
   • Skin biopsy


10. How can I contact Dr. McPherson?
    Once you join our concierge-style medicine program, you’ll have direct access to Dr. McPherson via her cell phone number and will also be able to communicate with her via MyChart, our patient portal.


11. How do I schedule an appointment?
    Same-day or next-day appointments are available to all members. To schedule one, simply call our office at (843) 724-1900


12. Does Dr. McPherson make house calls?
    No. All appointments take place at our clinic location in Johns Island, S.C. (Appointments will also be available at our new location in Kiawah Island later this year.)


13. How much does a membership cost for the concierge-style medicine program?
    The annual membership fee is $3,000 and covers our Signature Wellness Exam, a comprehensive physical exam and assessment that includes expanded lab testing and screening tests not covered by insurance.


14. How do I pay the membership fee?
    We accept payment via check or credit card.


15. Will I have to pay copays at each office visit?
    It depends on your particular health insurance coverage. We will be able to provide you with this information at the time of your visit.


16. How do I join the concierge medicine-style program?
    It’s easy! Call our office at (843) 724-1900 to schedule a free, 20-minute “Meet and Greet” with Dr. McPherson. You can then join on-site by signing our patient agreement, paying your membership fee, and scheduling a comprehensive health assessment with Dr. McPherson. If you want more time to think it over, you can call back at a later date and join over the phone.


17. What happens at the “Meet and Greet?”
    During this free, 20-minute conversation, Dr. McPherson will share more about our concierge medicine-style services, her care philosophy and how she works with patients, and you’ll discuss whether our program would be a good fit for you.


18. Who else works with Dr. McPherson?
    Office manager Alicia Cowans manages the day-to-day functioning of Dr. McPherson’s practice and will be your main contact for scheduling appointments. You can reach her at (843) 724-1900.


19. Where is Signature Primary Care located?

    1807 Crowne Commons Way
    Suite F1
    Johns Island, SC 29455
    Phone: (843) 724-1900

    Coming soon: Look for our second location to open at Freshfields Village (upstairs across from the BizHub) in Kiawah Island in the fall of 2024.