Calgary Herald

Busy executive with a penchant for injuries finds the care he’s been looking for

- BARB LIVINGSTON­E

John MacInnes seems to have a habit of “injuring myself significan­tly.”

Luckily, for the avid skier and hiker, his decision three years ago to join Copeman Healthcare has made rehabilita­tion for the busy chief executive officer relatively easy.

The top executive for two companies — Print Audit and Payroll Rewards — had not previously been a regular at doctors’ offices.

He disliked the long waiting room waits for short doctor visits, the fact no thorough, annual checkup was ever scheduled, and “everything was always really rushed.”

But it was a panel discussion of executives talking about their cancer journeys that really spurred MacInnes’ decision to be proactive about his health.

A couple of friends and business associates had already joined Calgary’s Copeman and recommende­d it.

In 2015, the then 45-yearold, who was “a little overweight but generally healthy,” decided “if I want to live forever” he had to take action.

And MacInnes immediatel­y found exactly what he was hoping for.

“I had four different appointmen­ts, doing everything from blood work to stress and nutrition testing to a nurse and doctor visit. It was comprehens­ive and proactive.”

What that gave him was a baseline health report that has kept him on track for any issues that might need to be addressed.

While he already knew he needed to lose some weight, the report told him what it was doing to his body and Copeman came up with a program to deal with both his weight and cholestero­l levels.

“It wasn’t a massive change and I lost the weight on my own, but it drew my attention to it.”

And his habit of scoring injuries in his mountain pursuits has also benefited from his Copeman membership.

In April, the now 48-yearold crushed a disc in his back and, luckily, did not have to have a cast. Instead, he was able to do physiother­apy and massage all in one place at Copeman, with each therapist able to connect with the other on his progress.

While his wife did not join Copeman — “she has a doctor she is happy with, though she did press to get some of the tests I have had” — his 13-year-old son, Bayne, is a member.

“It was inexpensiv­e to add him and I know he will have regular checkups and we can do weekend calls if necessary, plus we can get same day or next day appointmen­ts.”

It’s that promptness of service that is key to MacInnes and his family.

“I travel a lot and my schedule is crazy. So for a doctor to say, ‘we’ll see you in two weeks and then maybe call you when?’ that doesn’t work.”

One of the key benefits for the businessma­n is Copeman’s travel clinic.

“I can phone them up and they will say, ‘here are the dangers for the region, this is what you have, this is what you need to know and these are the shots you need.’ Before, doctors I had gone to had no idea what immunizati­ons I needed.”

That is a huge advantage for MacInnes who this year alone will travel to Taiwan, Morocco, Costa Rica and South America, in addition to numerous American, Canadian and European spots.

For him, the financial cost of a private clinic is money well spent.

“I understand it is a privilege, but the convenienc­e is huge” and, as a business leader, “there are a lot of people depending on me. It’s a problem if I am not available.”

Having Copeman behind him, says MacInnes, “is worth a fortune to me.”

 ?? WIL ANDRUSCHAK , POSTMEDIA CONTENT WORKS ?? John MacInnes and his son Bayne both make use of the services offered at Copeman Healthcare.
WIL ANDRUSCHAK , POSTMEDIA CONTENT WORKS John MacInnes and his son Bayne both make use of the services offered at Copeman Healthcare.

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