The Best of Both Worlds
Direct Primary Care
The Best of Both Worlds
For many people the term ‘Direct Primary Care’ is something they have never heard of. Although the term itself may be new, the ideas behind it are tried and true. Our parents and grandparents remember a time when doctors would not only make a visit to someone’s home but would know everyone by name. There was a time when doctors had a list of services and associated prices so patients would know how much things cost right up front. There was a time when one medical office could handle most, if not all, of a person’s day-to-day health needs. It’s hard to believe this was the norm not so long ago.
The way we give and receive care has changed significantly in the past few decades. The modern doctor’s office is streamlined to accommodate large numbers of patients as efficiently as possible. Deciding what to charge for a medical visit has become so complex that most clinics hire specialists whose sole responsibility is to review medical notes to try and match a patient with a set of codes. In addition, providers are so far removed from the process of dispensing medications that all too often patients leave a pharmacy empty-handed when they find out a prescription their doctor has prescribed is too expensive or not covered by their insurance plan.
Over the same span of time there have also been some monumental advances in health care. We now have better and more far reaching ability to analyze and act on medical data for individuals and populations. We also have access to more evidence on which to base treatment decisions. There are studies being published every week comparing different medications and types of treatments, the results of which have the potential to help people live healthier and longer lives. Despite these advances, many people can’t help but feel neglected and left behind by the current medical system.
As a family doctor, I see Direct Primary Care (DPC) as the bridge between the old medical system and the new medical system. We can’t ignore the medical advances of the last century but at the same time, we can’t forget the incredible power of relationship-based care from a provider who knows you and takes the time to offer the best care possible. What this looks like in practice is smaller clinics with more time for doctors to give great care. If a medicine is prescribed, we can put it in your hand at an affordable price. It looks like full spectrum primary care for an up-front fee that is fair from both the doctor and the patient perspective. If something isn’t practical or safe to do in the office, it looks like having an advocate who will help navigate the medical system to find the best solution medically and financially, whether that means finding discount X-rays, MRIs or specialty providers who can give discount prices to DPC members. Direct Primary Care encompasses all of these time-tested ideas in a new package, giving patients and doctors the best of both worlds.