Marshall Friedman was one of the first people to go through Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s executive physical. He was so impressed with his health assessment through Wellness Compass that he decided to try the new concierge medicine component with nurse practitioner Joan Lanfear.

“The reason I do this is I’m an extreme aerobatic pilot and I’m 71 years old,” Friedman said. “I have to make sure that everything keeps ticking and that I stay awake during the violence that takes place up there.”

A Whitefish resident, Friedman previously had annual physicals at a major national institution. He said he decided to give the program in Kalispell a try based on “the world-class” physicians who have joined the staff in recent years.

He cited Dr. Drew Kirschner, who previously practiced at a hospital named one of the best in America for heart surgery and Dr. IIyas Colombowala, who achieved four cardiac-related board certifications before coming to Kalispell to establish the electrophysiology program.

According to Friedman, his Kalispell executive physical was far better than any he or his friends experienced at national institutions.

“They did some things that I have not ever done and my friends have not ever done,” he said. “For example, they did a bone scan. They found I have osteopenia. That’s not a horrible condition as long as they catch it. It’s very treatable with calcium.”

Friedman said the other difference was the focus on wellness that he and his friends had not seen at other places. Because he was fit and ate a healthy diet, he assumed he wouldn’t learn much.

“It was amazingly eye-opening,” he said. “Everyone I met, whether physician, physical therapist, dietitian, was amazingly professional. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”

When Friedman learned about the new concierge medicine part of Wellness Compass, he decided to try out the service even though he thought he wouldn’t use it very much.

“You use it more than you think,” he said. “We don’t realize how often we get a cold, a sore throat, our shoulder hurts. What’s unique about Kalispell Regional is that now you have access to the whole hospital system.”

Friedman said most concierge programs provide quick access to just a private physician. As an example, he developed a knee problem so he contacted Lanfear.

“I called at about 10 a.m. and I was in the doctor’s office at 1. That’s not going to happen any other way than doing it with them,” he said. “When I walked into the orthopedic office, Joan was standing there waiting for me.”

Friedman said Lanfear organized his annual physical this year, arranging for him to have blood drawn. Since he had to fast, Lanfear had breakfast arranged afterward.

“There’s this little room with two chairs and my breakfast was these beautiful scrambled eggs and fruit and coffee and orange juice,” Friedman said. “It was a wow.”

At his request, Lanfear had also arranged a consultation after breakfast with his dietitian. When he mentioned concerns with his exercise regime, Lanfear had the exercise physiologist join them and set up a visit to watch him workout at his home gym.

Again, Lanfear came along. He said that she wants to know every aspect of his health program to provide optimum care.

Friedman said he has called her evenings and weekends because illnesses don’t always happen on a business day schedule. He no longer faces the risk of a condition getting worse before he gets an appointment.

An active investor for the last 20 years, Friedman believes that Wellness Compass pays dividends to anyone who wants to live as long as possible and remain mobile, active and vibrant.

“To me, it’s an absolute no-brainer to do this,” he said.