By Tammy Kilby

For the Times

DARLINGTON — On Jan. 3, 2019, Dr. Michael Robiolio opened the doors for the first time at DIME Medical, located at 340 Main Street, Darlington. During the past five years, with outbreaks such as Mpox, and COVID-19, DIME Medical has remained strong. 

DIME Medical is a Direct Primary Care clinic. Patients pay a monthly fee and do not pay per visit or procedure. No copays or visit fees are required at DIME Medical. Patients don’t need insurance, nor is it accepted as payment. 

Membership at DIME Medical includes quality comprehensive medical care  at no additional cost. In-clinic tests that are included in the monthly membership includes: ECG, Strep screening, urine testing, urine pregnancy tests, blood sugar checks, and venous blood draws. Labs that are sent out are done discretely and at affordable costs. Other services included in the patient’s monthly membership: Chronic disease management, acute illness and infections, minor in-office skin procedures, laceration repairs, skin lesion biopsies, splinting and casting, pre-employment physicals, school sports physicals, and other patient care wellness physicals. 

Patients have access to Dr Robiolio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; through phone, texts, and emails.

Dr. Robiolio is a Wisconsin licensed family physician with 30 years of experience. He is a member of the Association of American Physicians & Surgeons, and the Catholic Medical Association. He is board certified by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Robiolio received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed as a Navy Medical Officer.

DIME Medical employs two Medical Receptionists: Linda, who can be seen smiling and greeting patients on Friday mornings; and Tammy, who has been employed at DIME Medical since the first day.

Dr. Robiolio was matter of fact about why he opened DIME Medical. 

“I had worked as a family physician for 25 years and witnessed many not good changes in the system of medical care over the years,” Dr. Robiolio said. “Medical facilities, including our own, were ever-increasing in consolidation and central control, all the while becoming more expensive for patients, and more draining in administrative duties for doctors. I seemed to be more unhappy than most, so was motivated to look for an alternative.” 

DIME Medical is not the first of its kind in Wisconsin. Dr. Robiolio said he knew Dr. Michael Kloess, who opened Our Lady of Hope Clinic in Madison, some 15 years before and had succeeded in insurance-free care. The two doctors met at some point, which Dr. Robiolio said went well.

“He told me about Direct Primary Care (DPC), which I then pursued over time,” Dr. Robiolio said.

To get a better idea of what to expect opening his own clinic, Dr. Robiolio attended a conference in Indianapolis in 2018. 

“I was blown away when I arrived slightly late and could not only not find a seat in the massive hotel two ballrooms hall, but barely a space on the wall to lean,” Dr. Robiolio said. “So many physicians had already made the change and many more were like me looking into it at the conference. Those who were veterans spoke of their positive life change going in to DPC. I knew there was a place for such a clinic in the Darlington area and I trusted in God to help me do it.” 

Dr. Robiolio said the American health care system has been great in many ways but has become “way too expensive” with “too many middle men” and way too centralized.

“The current system is not a free market system because no one knows costs before hand, not even the doctors. There is no good transparency of cost. So there is no competition, essentially, to force prices down,” Dr. Robiolio said.  

Perhaps Direct Primary Care (DPC) or systems like it is the answer, he suggests. Dr. Robiolio said he favors small business doctor-owned practices. 

“DPC places the doctor and patient in control of decision making, involves consideration of cost by the doctor who thus seeks more cost effective choices, and it allows patients to consider costs up front in making their decisions, all the while not giving up, but enhancing trust in the personal relationship with their doctor,”  Dr. Robiolio said.

The reward for Dr. Robiolio is assisting the patients he cares so much about. Five years strong, and continuous service to the community of Darlington keeps Dr. Robiolio on his toes. 

“I take more time with patients, spend more time researching and reading about things I don’t know well, and have treated patients successfully for things I would never have attempted before,” Dr. Robiolio said. “I had a patient with hepatitis C and no health insurance. I discussed this person’s case with a tertiary specialist who assured me they would get this person in and provide care and utilize patient assistance for the expensive medications needed to treat it.  However, when this patient was seen by another provider, that did not happen, and my patient refused to return to the other provider. 

“I took the time to research the particulars and the treatment and contacted the drug manufacturer’s patient assistance program for which this patient qualified. We got the medication that was needed for this patient, and soon, they were treated and cured. A very satisfying result for all of us,” Dr. Robiolio said.

The biggest surprise Dr. Robiolio has found has been the growing number of Medicare patients and commercially insured members who prefer care in his clinic instead of using their insurance. Some patients are looking for the privacy of not having their information in a large medical computer system. Other patients are looking at the overall cost. Most would agree that patients are individuals with individual needs. Having a doctor who can provide that individual care seems to be the answer for the patients at DIME Medical. 

Dr. Robiolio has resided in Darlington for over 20 years since moving to town with his wife, Dr. Ann Lucas, in 1999. The couple have been married 30 years. They have two daughters; Hannah (Mrs. Matt) Raabe, and Hope Robiolio; and a granddaughter, Lily. 

When his office isn’t open, he enjoys singing in the choir during Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, spending time with his family, and can be seen volunteering in the Darlington area. Anyone interested in signing up with DIME Medical can do so online at dimemedical.org.