Perspectives that Matter: Michael Maxwell

Contributors

“Every one of my patients deserves the time to share their story and, as a team form, a plan to accomplish the goals set forward.” Dr. Michael Maxwell proudly declares this as part of his personalized approach to patient care. Indeed, he considers it a hallmark of his three decades providing care to North Texas families.

But what makes that approach still viable in this era of financial compression and bandwidth constraint across the entire industry?

In this ongoing series from Stellus Rx, physician partners and healthcare providers share their insights on how they are shaping the future of primary care … and the value of pharmacy in the patient journey.

On the evolution of family medicine and the integration of pharmacy into the care experience

Dr. Maxwell: I’ve been in practice for 27 years now. I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to take care of patients in my community for many, many years. When I think about all the programs and resources available to help improve and extend the health of my patients—programs like those offered by Stellus Rx—it’s what has kept me going and motivated to continue practicing medicine.

Ultimately, it’s my patients’ choice on where they get their medications. But especially for our Medicare Advantage patients and our other high-risk patients, I ask them if they’d appreciate some help relieving the complications of chronic condition management and all the medications that come along with it.

I tell these patients, “Stellus Rx works as part of my team. That means they work for you. They’ll help you take care of yourself.” And those words make a difference for my patients–for them to hear that they have an ally with their medications and not just another obstacle to overcome.

It’s meaningful for my patients to know they’ll have a pharmacist who will know them like I know them, who will reach out to check on them and answer questions that sometimes even I can’t.

On the value of ease in pharmacy

Dr. Maxwell: It’s one thing to recommend a service to patients; it’s another to recommend it from a place of personal experience. My wife and I are Stellus Rx patients. Many members of my staff are, because we see the difference it makes in the ease and effectiveness of our pharmacy experience.

Even from a cost perspective, my family is saving hundreds of dollars per year compared to the retail pharmacy we were using before … and now I don’t have to worry about going to pick up my medications at the pharmacy; it all just comes to my house.

That’s what I try to tell my patients: Stellus Rx just simplifies your life. Our lives are already busy enough. Let’s make pharmacy easy, with a pharmacist who actually knows you, knows your medications and your medical history and–maybe most importantly–can make time to work directly with you on the care plan that your physician has made for you. Don’t you think your health would improve with all of that?

On the practical use of team-based care and the impact on patients

Dr. Maxwell: There’s so much that primary care practices have to manage, and those responsibilities seem like they grow daily. So the successful use of a team-based approach to care delivery has never been more crucial. I can’t tell if patients aren’t filling their prescriptions; I don’t know if they’re not taking their medicines … or if they’re taking duplicate or conflicting medications prescribed from one of their other physicians. Having a pharmacy partner in Stellus Rx to watch for all of that and communicate any concerns or questions back to me has now become a key part of the way I practice medicine.

We need all hands on deck to make sure patients receive the care they deserve. I appreciate that Stellus Rx recognizes this, and not just in their interactions with me, with my staff and with my patients–but also with my patients’ family members, when given permission.

For many of my patients, it’s hard to keep track of what all these medicines are and why they’re necessary. Family members serve as primary members of those patients’ care teams to help. And I’ve seen Stellus Rx pharmacists step up to help the helpers and make sure the family members have all the information and support they need. That coordinated, extra effort goes a long way toward improving patients’ quality of life.

On the importance of trusted relationships throughout the health journey

Dr. Maxwell: The fact is that patients will sometimes tell their pharmacists things they won’t tell me. It might be because they’re embarrassed to share something with me. It might be because it slips their mind. “Oh yes, Dr. Jones prescribed that for me, but Dr. Maxwell probably doesn’t need to know about that.” Yes, I do. I need to know everything you’re taking: prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, everything.

So for me, it’s like an extra safety net for my patients to have a personal pharmacist in their lives, who can check for other medications, who has specialized expertise in medications and who always has focus on patients’ medications in every interaction.

On value-based care’s role in the fight against burnout

Dr. Maxwell: Nearly three decades into practicing medicine, I’ve seen and experienced a lot of change. And while the growth of value-based care is certainly a change, I’m excited about the fundamental things value-based care seeks to accomplish. If we’re taking care of patients the best way possible, we’re keeping them out of the hospital, keeping them adherent to their medications, encouraging the right actions that give them the best chance at health.

This is why I’m not on a beach somewhere yet and don’t plan to be any time soon … I continue to enjoy the work and the type of care I get to deliver to my patients.

Published: August 12, 2025