A new physician has joined Santa Barbara Doctors and is looking forward to serving patients with a personalized approach. Dr. Marie Claire Lamb was drawn to the practice because she wanted to be part of a team that shares her passion for patient-centered, comprehensive care without the barriers seen in traditional practices.
“Here, I can spend meaningful time with patients, address their concerns in depth, and focus not just on treating illness but on promoting overall wellness,” Dr. Lamb said. “I believe the best care happens when we have the time and space to build real relationships with our patients, and that’s exactly what this model allows.”
That model is concierge medicine and, though it may be unfamiliar to some, it offers many benefits.
Concierge medicine
Concierge medicine operates on a membership model that allows a doctor to see a smaller group of patients than is typical and gives patients more direct access to their physicians.
“The level of personalized care is unparalleled,” Dr. Lamb said. “Patients don’t feel like a number — they feel truly seen and supported.”
This personalized care includes same-day or next-day appointments, after-hours availability, and even hospital or home visits when needed.
Beyond that, Santa Barbara Doctors offers in-house laboratory services to streamline care and minimize the time and effort patients spend navigating the health care system.
“It’s a model that puts the patient first — where care is timely, comprehensive, and genuinely personal,” Dr. Lamb said.
This standard of service is available because patients pay membership fees monthly or annually that are designed to be reasonable for the amount of access and care provided.
“I truly believe concierge medicine represents the future of health care for those who want to be proactive about their well-being,” Dr. Lamb said.
In fact, Santa Barbara Doctors takes its mission seriously as it balances up-to-date medicine and technology with compassion, empathy, and respect to deliver the best possible primary health care to patients in a caring and accessible environment.
Lifestyle medicine
With fewer patients to keep track of, Dr. Lamb is available to offer a high level of care to patients, making sure that each person is treated as an individual.
“I practice evidence-based, patient-centered medicine with an emphasis on optimizing health and well-being,” she said. “Every patient is different, and I work closely with each one to create individualized strategies that support their unique goals and lifestyles.”
In particular, Dr. Lamb focuses on lifestyle medicine at the core of her approach, discussing it at every visit, and personally living by it, too.
“I stay active through running, biking, CrossFit, surfing, swimming, and really anything outdoors,” she said.
Dr. Lamb is excited to live and work in the area, where she is raising two young daughters and planning to stay for a long time.
“I’m a Santa Barbara native, deeply connected to this community,” she said.
For more information about Santa Barbara Doctors and their physicians, including Dr. Lamb and her colleagues, or to schedule a complimentary consultation, visit santabarbaradoctor.net.
