Dr. Gary Miller's primary care patients

When I signed on last year as one of Dr. Gary Miller's primary care patients, he described his approach as a throwback to an earlier era of medicine -- before today's assembly-line tactics -- when doctors gave patients ample personal attention and effort. Sounded good, especially after recent waits of weeks or months to see specialists for various ailments. I figured Dr. Miller was indulging in some poetic license; this was Washington DC, after all. I was shocked to find that Dr. Miller exceeded even his own description, lavishing me with more attention than I'd received even as a child from my mother, and with far more expert advice. My e-mails often drew instant replies, so quick that I thought they must be automatic undeliverable error messages. I sent him some missives in the evening and at night, figuring he'd see them first thing in the morning, but replies came back at 6, 8, 10, 10:30 p.m. Weekends, too. He even replied during the Super Bowl, when I would rather have suffered for a few hours and watched the game. More than once, I felt compelled to express regrets to Dr. Miller, telling him he must have had no idea what he was signing up for with me, after a couple of my pre-existing medical conditions from before his time proved serious, one life-threatening and requiring prompt surgery. He never flinched, and remained steadfastly in my corner, overseeing my care through its stages, insisting on seeing reports from various specialists. Having Dr. Miller in my corner offers more than immediate attention and action; it offers the confidence that as my aging body demands ever more maintenance and repair, he will be there to diagnose and expedite treatment. I don't remember having such confidence, even in the old days, even with my mother.