Welcome to another edition of the Doctor’s Note where we talk about what’s on our minds when it comes to your health. This week I am excited to talk about Direct Primary Care (DPC) Pediatrics: what it is, how it works, and why it is gaining popularity in the United States.
Joining me on the podcast is Dr. Jenny Rose, a young pediatrician on the cusp of launching this model into her own pediatric practice. I love talking to entrepreneurs! As you know, I hung my PM shingle in 2007 using the cash only model. I believe strongly that it makes the patient a better patient and the doctor a better doctor.
Dr. Rose is on the same page. With insurance based medicine, you are rushed by the clock and bound by the codes, making it nearly impossible to give your patients the best care. Direct Primary Care is changing that. It’s giving physicians the opportunity to take back the practice of medicine by returning to the old-school, doctor-patient relationship that allowed physicians to practice common sense.
There are over 2,000 Direct Primary Care practices across America and Dr. Rose is now one of them! It’s so important for patients to know that these new models of care exist, especially when it comes to pediatrics! Your children deserve the best care and DPC Pediatrics (in my opinion) is the best of the best. I encourage all of you to listen to our conversation. You will LOVE Dr. Rose!
PODCAST NOTES
- Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model that focuses on strengthening the physician-patient relationship by eliminating the complexities and intermediaries typically associated with health insurance.
- In a DPC clinic, a patient pays a monthly or annual fee directly to the clinic which covers a wide range of primary care services. This model allows for more personalized attention, longer consultations, and a focus on preventative care.
- This model also exists for pediatric patients! Dr. Rose’s membership includes well-child visits, sick visits, necessary vaccines, developmental screenings, and education. Visits can last up to an hour, PLUS you can text directly to the practice.
- Dr. Rose talked about the concept of the exam room feeling “crowded”. Not by people, but by the overwhelming presence of administrative burdens and insurance related constraints that affect traditional medical practices. She contrasts this with her direct primary care practice, where the focus is solely on the patient, allowing for more meaningful interactions without the intrusion of unnecessary third party influences.
- Addressing complex family dynamics and increasing issues such as pediatric obesity, requires a more integrated approach, incorporating dietary advice and psychological support. The DPC model accommodates these issues more effectively.
- It’s tough being a parent! Dr. Rose is passionate about educating parents about nutrition and how unhealthy some of the “convenient” foods are. She loves helping families make “doable” changes in regard to what your kids eat! I love this!
- A doctor’s overall demeanor (presence, attitude, disposition) is so important! I think most doctors are stressed and that carries over into their practice.
- Dr. Rose thought she was going to “fly solo” (like many DPC physicians do) and manage the whole practice herself (phones, nursing, billing, etc), but her intuitive said to hire an RN, and she’s very glad she did!
- Dr. Rose has been a patient in the system, which has become a big part of her story. Jenny is a cancer survivor and during treatment she experienced the shortcomings of the insurance model. You can hear more about that in the podcast, but the impact it had on the way she wanted to practice medicine was profound. She started looking into the DPC model, and the rest is history.
Milestone Pediatrics, founded by Dr. Jenny Rose in 2024. You can check her website, milestone-kids.com, starting May 1. An amazing pediatrician, an amazing young woman. I was so encouraged by her passion for helping patients.
In closing, I encourage you to do your own research on Direct Primary Care (DPC). We need more practices like this in our country. It is the future of healthcare.
Stay educated. Stay healthy.
Till next week!