You’ve probably felt that frustration. You sit in a waiting room for 45 minutes, finally get whisked into an exam room, and then the doctor spends exactly six minutes looking at a screen before handing you a prescription. It’s the "conveyor belt" of modern healthcare. But in Covington, Louisiana, Dr. Elizabeth B. White MD basically decided she was done with that.
Dr. White isn't some new kid on the block. She’s been practicing internal medicine and pediatrics for nearly 30 years. That’s a long time. Honestly, most doctors would just ride it out until retirement, but she made a pretty radical pivot to the MDVIP model. It’s a move that says a lot about where medicine is going—and why a lot of patients are starting to demand something different.
The Med-Peds Specialist Who Stayed Put
Elizabeth White didn't just stumble into Louisiana. She’s New Orleans through and through. She graduated from the LSU School of Medicine in 1991 and stayed there for her residency. She’s what they call a "Med-Peds" doctor.
That’s a bit of a rare breed. It means she’s double-board certified to treat literally everyone—from the newborn in a carrier to the great-grandfather with complex heart issues. She started her practice in Mandeville back in '95 and eventually moved over to Covington. She’s been a fixture at St. Tammany Parish Hospital and Lakeview Hospital for decades.
But here’s the thing: being a "dinosaur" in a community is a double-edged sword. You know everyone, but you also see how the system starts to break.
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Why the MDVIP Move Matters
A few years back, Dr. White joined the MDVIP network. If you aren’t familiar, it’s basically "concierge medicine-lite." In a traditional practice, a primary care doctor might have 2,000 or even 3,000 patients. It’s impossible to keep up. You're basically playing a game of medical whack-a-mole.
By switching to this model, Dr. White capped her patient list. It’s a much smaller circle now.
Why does that matter to you?
- Time: Appointments aren’t 10-minute sprints. They’re actual conversations.
- Access: You get her cell phone number. Like, her actual number.
- Prevention: Instead of just treating the UTI or the sinus infection, there’s a massive focus on the "Wellness Program"—advanced screenings that insurance usually scoffs at.
Some people think concierge medicine is just for the ultra-wealthy. Kinda. But for a lot of people in the Northshore area, it’s become a "health tax" they’re willing to pay to actually have a doctor who remembers their name without looking at a chart.
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What Dr. Elizabeth B. White MD Actually Treats
While she’s a generalist, data from patient reviews and clinical records shows she handles a lot of the "bread and butter" of internal medicine, but with a deeper focus on chronic management.
We’re talking:
- Complex Chronic Conditions: Managing the "big three"—Diabetes, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol.
- Women’s Health: From routine screenings to hormonal shifts.
- Acute Illness: Because she’s Med-Peds, she’s still the person you call when your toddler has a 102-degree fever at 7 PM.
- Aesthetics: Interestingly, her practice has branched out into things like Botox and dermal fillers. It’s a common trend for primary care docs who want to offer a "total package" of wellness and confidence.
The Reality of Patient Reviews
No doctor is perfect. If you look at her ratings, they’re high—usually around 4.5 to 5 stars. People rave about her listening skills. One patient mentioned she’s been their doctor for 20 years and "wouldn't go anywhere else."
However, there’s a flip side. The move to a membership-based model (MDVIP) naturally rubs some people the wrong way. If you’ve been seeing a doctor for a decade and suddenly there’s a yearly fee to stay in the practice, it’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s the classic tension between "healthcare as a right" and "healthcare as a premium service."
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What Most People Get Wrong About Her Practice
People often confuse her with other Elizabeth Whites. There’s a famous historian by the same name who wrote about Nazi criminals (Elizabeth "Barry" White), and a developmental pediatrician in Virginia.
The Louisiana Dr. White is the one at 205 Highland Park Plaza. If you’re looking for her, make sure you’re looking at the Covington/Northshore listings.
Actionable Steps for Choosing a Primary Care Doctor
If you're considering a doctor like Dr. White, or anyone in the concierge space, don't just sign the check. Do this first:
- Audit Your Usage: Do you see the doctor once a year? If so, a membership fee might not be worth it. Do you have a chronic condition that requires monthly check-ins? Then the math starts to favor concierge.
- Check the Hospital Rights: Make sure your doctor still has "rounding" privileges at hospitals like St. Tammany or Lakeview. If you get admitted, you want your doctor there, not just a random hospitalist.
- Interview the Staff: In a small-batch practice, the office manager and nurses are just as important as the MD. If they’re stressed or rude, the "concierge" experience falls apart.
Next Steps for Your Health:
If you're in the Northshore area and feel like your current care is too rushed, call Dr. White's office and ask for a "meet and greet." Most MDVIP doctors offer a brief, no-cost initial meeting to see if the chemistry is right before you commit to the annual program. Take your current medication list with you and see if they actually listen to your concerns or if they're just checking boxes.