What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is Family Medicine, but better. It aims to help patients connect with doctors on a more personal level. DPC does not bill or file insurance, instead patients pay a flat monthly membership fee. It cuts out the middle man (insurance) and thereby allows doctors to spend more time with patients to develop a better relationship. This means more time discussing what matters to the patient with their healthcare as well as creating more detailed health goals and plans.
Direct Primary Care
- longer appointment times
- 30-60 minutes, up to 90 min for new patients - less wait time for appointments - same or next day
- less wait time at your appointment
- direct contact with the doctor or nursing staff
- by phone, text or email - less total patients gives more time for each patient and allows for more personalized care
- appointments with a doctor every time
- after hours access for urgent issues
- transparent prices
- labs and imaging at much more affordable prices
Traditional Primary Care
- short appointment times
- 10-15 minutes
- can take weeks for an appointment
- can often wait 30-60 minutes in a room before being seen
- phone tag with receptionists and nursing staff
- limited or no text or email
- 1,000’s of patients per doctor - means each patient can get lost in the shuffle
- often scheduled with a PA or APN
- urgent care or ER for urgent issues
- uncertain coverage and billing times
- labs and imaging priced high to get the best reimbursement from insurance
- uncertain medication copays and pharmacy comparisons