Care Without Compromise
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Dr. Andrew Johnstone, RPh, M.D is trained both as a pharmacist, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, and as a physician, graduating cum laude from Indiana University. He completed his Family Practice Residency at St. Francis Hospital and has been in continuous practice in the Greenwood area since 1988. He chose to remain independent in order to avoid what he observed as higher costs, reduced quality, and distorted priorities that often arise when physicians become employees of large hospital networks.
His background in pharmacology has made him thoughtful and appropriately skeptical of the pharmaceutical industry. While he firmly believes there is a time and place for traditional allopathic medicine, he also recognizes its limitations. Over the long term, for those seeking the best quality of life and health span, he believes lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, physical activity, and the reasonable use of supplements are more likely to address root causes and produce lasting improvement rather than simply manage symptoms. Healthy aging is not achieved by waiting until problems become severe and then attempting to reverse decades of damage through aggressive interventions like bypass surgery or joint replacement. Instead, it is best supported by gentle and thoughtful intervention earlier in life. The most vulnerable years are often between ages 30 and 50, when people feel energetic and capable but are extremely busy and frequently neglect meaningful preventive care. Many rely only on work clinics, limited screenings encouraged by employers or insurers, or occasional specialty visits that do not provide comprehensive oversight. The modern insurance driven healthcare system often forces physicians to practice in a way that prioritizes speed and volume over quality. Physicians who accept insurance must frequently conduct extremely brief visits, address only one or two issues at a time, and rely on repeated follow ups with additional copays or extensive referrals to hospital specialty clinics. In other cases, practices survive by emphasizing services that insurance reimburses well, even when unnecessary, while avoiding services that are poorly reimbursed, even when clinically important. Dr. Johnstone chose a different path. He did not invest thirteen years of post high school education to serve the financial interests of insurance companies or hospital systems. His services are thorough, fairly priced, and focused on patient outcomes. We believe it is difficult to find care of this quality at any price, let alone at a reasonable one. Johnstone Family Practice sees patients of all ages and treats both acute and chronic conditions. The focus is always on identifying and addressing underlying causes rather than merely suppressing symptoms. Care often includes medications when appropriate, but also dietary guidance, physical interventions, and targeted supplementation. The practice avoids in office testing or treatment gimmicks designed primarily to generate revenue. Many patients experience meaningful improvement from relatively simple and inexpensive supplements tailored to their individual metabolic needs. Addressing foundational hormone imbalances, including thyroid, insulin resistance, and sex hormone issues, often leads to even greater improvement when clinically indicated. In many settings, patients have not received thorough evaluation for these issues, relying only on limited screening tests that are frequently inadequate. Treatment is sometimes similarly restricted to a narrow set of medications rather than more comprehensive and individualized approaches, including bioidentical hormone therapy when appropriate. While specialized laboratory testing and compounded medications can be costly, Dr. Johnstone believes that careful ordering, guided by a complete history and physical examination, helps minimize unnecessary expense. He has personally evaluated multiple compounding pharmacies and works closely with one he considers to be of exceptional quality. Vaccination is not required at the practice. The only expectations are that patients attend appointments, pay their bills, and complete an annual physical examination. Vaccination is discussed openly and respectfully, like all medical decisions, with recommendations individualized to each patient. Some patients choose more traditional screening and vaccination approaches, while others do not, and those preferences are respected. Dr. Johnstone provides patients with an ongoing and regularly updated list of journal articles, podcasts, and other educational resources to support informed decision making. Many patients are healthcare professionals themselves, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, but the material remains accessible to all patients. During the COVID pandemic, Dr. Johnstone was among a small number of physicians in the area who actively treated patients using therapeutic approaches he found effective. These included nutritional support and medications such as zinc, quercetin, vitamin D, hydroxychloroquine, and ivermectin, as well as additional therapies for more severe cases. When access to certain medications was restricted, the practice worked diligently to help patients obtain appropriate treatment. Dr. Johnstone believes that open inquiry and honest discussion are essential to medical progress, and that individualized patient care must always take precedence over rigid institutional mandates. The practice does not rely on marketing labels such as alternative, functional, or natural. Dr. Johnstone’s approach has evolved over decades into a thoughtful integration of multiple medical philosophies. As a family practice physician, he is trained to provide comprehensive care across the lifespan, including pediatric, adolescent, adult, gynecologic, urologic, and geriatric care. While he does not deliver babies, he works collaboratively with midwives and obstetricians when appropriate. When a condition falls outside his expertise, he readily seeks consultation with the appropriate specialist. At Johnstone Family Practice, patients can expect careful listening, thorough evaluation, and a sincere commitment to their long term health. |
We solve these problems by focusing on
what’s important: patient care
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Johnstone Family practice is a Direct primary care (DPC), a personalized healthcare provided by a doctor who has the time to get to know who you are. It’s preventative care that promotes lifelong wellness. It’s healthcare that takes into account your budget and your time. It’s medicine, reimagined.
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What Can We Do for You?
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We manage 80% of your healthcare needs in-house, providing comprehensive, proactive care that keeps you healthier, longer. At Johnstone Family Practice, we take the time to understand your past, present, and future health needs.
Our membership-based model covers the majority of your lifelong care while reducing the risk of costly hospital stays and specialty visits. Because better healthcare starts with better access. And that’s what we’re here to provide. |