The fast-growing trend in the world of medicine known as DPC, or Direct Primary Care, is driven by the desire to better meet patient needs, both medically and financially, in today’s challenging healthcare environment. This desire has spawned a number of alternative practice models. Several are membership-based, although they do not all work the same way. Weisz Concierge Medicine operates on the Direct Primary Care model which is based on the classical concept of building a close personal relationship between doctor and patient without the involvement of the government or insurance companies.

Direct Primary Care versus Traditional Primary Care

Here are the five major ways a DPC practice is different from a traditional primary care practice:

 (1)  Membership Fee: In a traditional practice, payment is made on a fee-for-service basis. Every time you visit the doctor, you (or your insurer) face an additional charge. As a member of a DPC practice, you pay one monthly fee and are entitled to consult with your doctor as frequently as needed for all of your basic primary care needs. At Weisz Concierge Medical you may pay your membership fee monthly (after making an initial 3-month payment), quarterly or annually.

(2)  Coverage: In addition to unlimited visits, your DPC fee covers an in-depth comprehensive physical with screenings that go beyond what traditional insurance or a government program would support.

 (3)  Third Party Payers: Most traditional primary care physicians accept insurance plans and government programs (Medicare). In DPC, the doctor does not accept third party reimbursements. The membership fees paid by the patients cover all basic primary care needs visits as well as minor office procedures.

(4) Referrals: A traditional primary care physician is generally affiliated with insurance networks and, therefore, can refer patients to specialists who are also within that doctor’s network. A DPC doctor is an out-of-network provider, so is able to refer a patient to any specialist.

(5)  Patient Count: According to the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) the average traditional primary care doctor carries a panel of 1000 to 3000 patients. Most DPC practices limit their patient group at around 350. This smaller patient count results in an enormous difference when it comes to the quality of care a DPC physician is able to provide. A typical office visit in a traditional practice lasts less than five minutes, while a DPC visit averages about 60 minutes. The additional time afforded to the doctor by this reduced caseload means that he or she is much more easily accessible during non-office hours.

As a Weisz Concierge Medical member you will soon discover that there are many more advantages and benefits to the DPC model and that they all add up to better quality healthcare, at an affordable price, for you and your family.