Why am I becoming a direct primary care doctor?

I am leaving the comfort of a thriving practice at the Wray Clinic, not because of any conflict or dissatisfaction with any of the staff or my colleagues, but because after over six years of dreaming, I have finally mustered the courage to venture into a growing new healthcare model called direct primary care.  It has begun with my ongoing philosophical differences with the policies of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which seems to lead healthcare policy in America.  I believe that our current healthcare system is not sustainable as measured by a rational nation, yet healthcare reform to date primarily continues to attempt to legislate improved quality of care.  Instead of trying to reduce the cost of delivering healthcare, each new policy, regulation and quality measure increases the cost of delivering the same care, requiring more administrative personnel to attempt to count and measure quality.   

Direct Primary Care is a membership based system where patients will have ready access to a physician with the time and motivation to meet each member’s primary healthcare needs.  Membership does not cover emergency room, hospital and specialist care, so I still recommend people keep health insurance, but by not involving third party payers for primary care and keeping overhead low, my direct primary care membership prices will be comparable to what you would pay for cell phone service or internet.    For those of you who feel more comfortable with the traditional healthcare model, we are fortunate that Wray has a strong medical staff and although I’m hoping many of my patients will choose to follow me in my new venture, I understand completely that many people will stay with the Wray Clinic.  In fact I hope to remain a part of the healthcare team of this community and negotiate to be able to provide emergency and inpatient care at the Wray Community District Hospital outside of my direct primary care practice.

At the Wray Clinic, I have a panel of about 2400 patients.  Most of my patients know that I am frequently behind schedule, largely because especially when a patient has had to wait for me, I feel I owe that patient their full 15 minutes and perhaps more.  Direct primary care allows me to have 30 - 60 minute appointment times.  I believe I will be a better physician to the 600 members I hope to sign on to my new practice.  

There are some other reasons for my decision to open an office on Main Street.   I am excited about this grand experiment.   I believe direct primary care may be an answer to America’s healthcare crisis, and I want to see if it will it work in rural America.   Due to the obvious confidential nature of my profession, my family has little knowledge of my work and has not been involved in my life as a doctor.   Since starting on this endeavor, my wife, Missy, has designed my logo for the new practice, and has been in charge of the interior design aspect of remodeling the office and exam rooms.  She has even offered to assist me in any way that does not involve bodily fluids.  My son, Sam, has designed this web site.   My youngest son, Joey and I put down the tile for one of my exam rooms.  I expect to get in more quality family time before the remodel is complete.  I want my sons to see that if you believe in something, you have to be willing to take a chance.