Larry Lyon, MD, opened his Family Practice medical office in Belfair in the fall, and had a well-attended open house for North Mason community members this February.

“I practice modern medicine the old fashioned way,” says Lyon. Then he quotes Sir William Osler (1849-1919): “Ninety-five percent of diagnosis comes from the history.” Taking that to heart, the physician says he does not over-book so he has time to listen to each patient.

“I treat my patients the same way I want to be treated,” he continues.

“In 2003, the third millennium, an ounce of prevention is now worth far more than a pound of cure,” he quips, in all seriousness.

The doctor advocates permanent healthy lifestyle changes, “an apple a day,” and a positive attitude toward life. He believes that we all have choices about how to live our lives, and that part of his job as a doctor is to offer information and make recommendations. He also believes that the mind-body connection is important to optimal health, and that includes positive interactions with others.

Lyon, now 46, began medical school at age 35. “I had done a number of different things previously,” says the physician. “I always thought you had to either work with your hands or with your brain. I wanted to combine both in a way that would help people and make a profound difference in their lives.”

Originally from Chicago, Lyon is a graduate of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, interned at Kalamazoo, Mich., and is a 2000 graduate of the UCSF Fresno Family Practice Residency program.

Lyon comes to Belfair from Tacoma, where he served in Community Health Care’s downtown office.

Sharing more of his philosophy, Lyon says, “Our current style and system of health care, with doctors feeling pressured to see as many patients as possible, pushes physicians to become overly dependent upon technology and tests rather than taking the time to hear a patient’s concerns and put the pieces together.” Meanwhile, patients often feel their concerns go unheard. He believes this whole cycle tends to drive up medical costs unnecessarily.

Lyon believes self-paying patients may have a financial incentive to take better care of themselves, as he encourages all people to do. Of insurance types, he accepts preferred provider organizations (PPO), because “they are the least intrusive into the doctor-patient relationship.”

Opposing managed care, he says, “It’s not acceptable to me as a physician to take time away from doctoring, and then wait on hold to ask non-medical personnel for permission and type of treatment I can give my patients. This should not be acceptable to any patient, either. Managed care would force me to accept the medical responsibility and risk for liability for their decisions, even though I am sworn to uphold and practice the standard of care.”

Lyon, who is single and has no children, enjoys working with wood and metal, considers himself an amateur machinist, cabinetmaker and welder. He also likes to sail and fish.

Lyon is a member of the North Mason Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club of North Mason, and is doing volunteer work in his newly adopted community.

The doctor sees patients in his office at 23460 B State Route 3 in Belfair four days a week, setting aside Wednesdays to make house calls. He is still accepting new patients, and may be reached at (360) 275-9833.