What is Family Medicine Direct Primary Care?
Lets start with Family Medicine:
It is a medical specialty that provides general medical care and preventative care (a.k.a. primary care) for all ages. It includes general pediatrics, adult medicine, women’s health, travel medicine, musculoskeletal care, geriatrics, general dermatology, and many office based procedures.
Family physicians also coordinate speciality care, and oversee patients’ care throughout the healthcare system.
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
It is a medical practice model owned and run by the doctor herself who expertly cares for a small panel of patients and does not bill insurance but is paid directly by patients via a monthly membership fee. Enrolled patient members are able to access primary care services or communicate with their doctor whenever needed as opposed to a fee-for-service model that charges per individual appointment, lab, and service.
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner
How is Direct Primary Care different from insurance based primary care?
1) Time: I can spend more time and energy listening in the appointment and formulating care plans and coordinating your care outside of the appointment.
2) Access: Same-week appointments for non-urgent concerns (generally), and next or same day for urgent needs.
3) Relationship: As your Doctor, I truly get to know you and your family like the good old days of medicine.
4) Responsive in-between care: I answer your concerns promptly and save you trips to the office whenever possible. I only request an appointment when there is something I need to physically examine or have a more in depth conversation about.
5) Proactive Healthcare: My practice is built to proactively manage your health. I’m your healthcare project manager!
6) Care Team Stability: You get to see me every time!
7) Cost of Care is known up-front and transparent.
“I am pretty healthy and don’t see the doctor much, should I join?”
Many healthy people have medical concerns that have never been addressed. There are a lot of preventative things that are important to do even as a young healthy person. Having a good doctor is a really great investment in your future health!
“I have a number of health issues and see specialists for them, what does a DPC doctor add?”
Care Coordination is a central piece of complex care. Your primary care doctor is your home base. She reviews and collates specialist recommendations, explains their notes and plans, and fills in the gaps. A solid primary care doctor advocates for you and helps you to stay on top of preventative health, even when things are busy.
“Why a DPC membership vs other types of care like Concierge Medicine?”
Short answer: Nearly all of my services are offered as a part of your membership fee, versus a concierge practice where the membership acts more like a retainer, with most services still being billed through insurance.