Buckle up, this is a long but worthwhile read...

Question: Who is in charge of healthcare in America? Or your healthcare for that matter? Is it you? Your doctor? Most likely, it is your insurance company. Well, Direct Primary Care (DPC) takes that middleman back out of healthcare and places health back in the hands of patients and their doctors. Can you imagine having a relationship with your doctor where you are able to discuss diagnostic and treatment options and choose the best route for you, without having to jump through hoops, red tape, prior authorizations, and denied claims?

That's DPC in a nutshell.

It's clear that the current system is not set up for patients nor doctors. Have you ever sat on hold for 30 minutes to speak with an appointment scheduler, only to find out the next available appointment is months away, then arriving to sit in the waiting room for an hour, only to be followed by an unsatisfying 10 minute doctor visit? Your doctor has good intentions, but a waiting room full of patients, and none of your questions are answered. Neither of you leave satisfied.

DPC is different.

As a DPC patient, you establish a relationship with a doctor that knows you. No more scheduling months in advance; your DPC doctor is at your fingertips. If you need an in-person visit, you can usually book one for the very next day. Your doctor will stay on top of your health as best as possible - the point is to focus on establishing and maintaining health whenever possible rather than waiting for an issue to arise. We monitor growth and development, run preventative tests, diagnose when you're sick, prescribe medications (and often dispensing them to you directly at wholesale prices — no extra trip to the pharmacy and no copay!), negotiate low prices on blood tests and scans, quickly address any health concerns or questions you have, and—if necessary—coordinate your care with specialists and hospitals. The vast majority of DPC doctors (including Dove Peds) give you their cell phone number so you can text them with any questions!

How is this possible? By cutting insurance out of the picture. Insurance is great for emergencies and catastrophic illness. But it is fundamentally incompatible with providing comprehensive, compassionate primary care. When a doctor bills your insurance, they are forced to submit an itemized list of each and every medical service they provided. If they don't, they won't get paid. Can you imagine only getting paid if you submitted an itemized list of every thing you accomplished each day? And sometimes, your employer deciding some of the tasks you completed (that cost you time and money) are not worth them paying you for?! And surprise - no insurance company will pay a doctor for answering your texts, filling out school paperwork, spending extra time working through your child's difficult behavior, answering simple questions via secure email to save you the inconvenience of a visit, opening the door for you when you arrive at the office, or asking about your family!

In DPC, you pay a flat monthly membership fee, usually less than your cell phone bill. It allows your doctor to spend the time you deserve on your health. You can pay with your credit card and the best part - no more clipboards with pages of insurance paperwork!If it seems like everything is a subscription these days, that’s because it’s the best way for a business to offer a high-quality service and excellent support over a long period of time. What if Netflix nickel-and-dimed you for every episode of Stranger Things you watched? It would be awful, that’s what. DPC is like Netflix: you get access to nearly unlimited care for one low monthly price.

This is healthcare like you've never experienced it. It's like having a doctor in your pocket.

Want to learn more? Reach out to Dove Peds to get started!