How Direct Primary Care Physicians Help Patients Feel Better, Be Healthier, and Save Money On Medical Costs
Preventative care and wellness are cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle, yet they can be overlooked in traditional healthcare settings where the primary focus is usually treating an illness or acute injury.
When considering how long it takes to see a traditional primary care physician these days – as long as three weeks, in some cases – patients have become more reactive instead of proactive when it comes to their healthcare. Increased out-of-pocket medical expenses also give patients pause when planning trips to the doctor for preventative purposes.
However, in the direct primary care (DPC) model, preventative care takes center stage. Direct primary care physicians emphasize the importance of prevention and maintaining overall wellness, offering a patient-centered approach that promotes better health outcomes and reduced medical expenses.
The Importance Of Preventative Care
Why do we spend time and money getting oil changes and other basic maintenance services for our vehicles? Because we know that maintaining a vehicle costs significantly less than paying for a major repair.
Preventative care under the DPC model follows the same line of logic. Rather than treating conditions as they occur, direct primary care physicians focus on minimizing health risks and improving timely disease prevention. Preventative care helps identify potential health issues in the earliest stages when they are easier to treat or keeps them from occurring altogether.
This is the ideal approach to reduce the risk of serious chronic conditions, which are often the leading causes of death and disability.
Preventative Benefits Of Direct Primary Care
When patients commit to a proactive approach to healthcare, they benefit in numerous ways.
- Early detection: Routine screening tests can identify diseases in their early stages when they are less likely to cause severe complications. For example, Stage 0 cancer is considered highly treatable because the cancer has yet to spread to nearby tissues and organs.
- Health maintenance: Regular check-ups and wellness visits help monitor and manage existing health conditions, preventing them from increasing in severity.
- Cost savings: Preventative care can save patients significant amounts of money by reducing the need for expensive treatments, hospitalizations, and emergency care.
- Improved quality of life: By addressing health issues early and promoting healthy lifestyle choices, preventative care helps individuals maintain a higher quality of life and avoid the debilitating effects of chronic diseases.
Key Types Of Preventative Care
Preventative care encompasses a wide range of services designed to maintain health and prevent disease.
Counseling and Lifestyle Interventions
Behavioral counseling is an integral part of preventative care, helping patients adopt healthier lifestyles to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Key areas of focus include:
- Quitting smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including lung cancer, cervical cancer in women, heart disease, and stroke. Counseling and support for quitting smoking can significantly reduce these risks.
- Losing weight: Obesity is linked to a wide range of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Weight loss counseling can help patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
- Eating healthy: A balanced diet is essential for good health. Nutritional counseling can help patients make better food choices, reduce their risk of chronic diseases, and manage existing conditions.
- Reducing alcohol use: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and certain cancers.
Screening Tests
Screening tests are a vital part of preventative care’s approach, helping to detect diseases in their early stages. Important screening tests include:
- Blood pressure: High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Regular monitoring contributes to the prevention and management of hypertension.
- Cholesterol: High cholesterol levels can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Screening helps identify high-risk individuals who may benefit from lifestyle changes or medication.
- Diabetes: Early detection of prediabetes allows for prompt intervention, which can prevent the progression to diabetes and its associated complications.
- Cancer: Screening tests for cancers such as breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer are crucial for early detection and treatment.
- Hepatitis B and C: Screening for these viruses is important as they can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer if left untreated.
Vaccines and Immunizations
Vaccinations are a key preventative measure that protects individuals from infectious diseases and prevents outbreaks within the community. Essential vaccines include:
- Influenza vaccine: Annual flu shots help prevent the spread of the flu virus, which can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine: This vaccine protects against three serious bacterial infections that can cause severe illness or death.
- Shingles vaccine: Recommended for adults 50 and older who have had chicken pox, the shingles vaccine helps prevent shingles, a painful rash that can lead to long-term nerve pain.
- Childhood vaccinations: DPC providers treat young children, which means they can provide essential vaccinations for chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio.
How Direct Primary Care Excels In Preventative Care
Unlike traditional healthcare models, where doctors often have limited time to spend with each patient, the DPC model emphasizes close doctor-patient relationships, resulting in better patient outcomes, cost savings, and enhanced quality of life.
Cost Savings and Accessibility
One of the significant advantages of direct primary care is that it eliminates many of the out-of-pocket costs and fees that are common in traditional healthcare models. DPC memberships at ProPartners Healthcare cover office visits under an affordable, flat monthly fee, which means:
- Enhanced accessibility: Under the DPC model, doctors maintain a limited patient roster to maximize their availability. DPC members can access their physician 24/7 by text, email, or phone. Plus, direct primary care physicians can offer same-day and next-day appointments.
- No copays or coinsurance: DPC memberships aren’t run through traditional insurance, which means patients are only responsible for paying their monthly membership fee, no matter how many doctor’s visits they need. This structure encourages patients to seek preventative care without worrying about additional costs.
- At-cost or discounted diagnostic testing: DPC practices like ProPartners can provide diagnostic and ancillary tests such as blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI at a discount or at-cost.
Close Doctor-Patient Relationships
In the direct primary care model, doctors have more time to get to know their patients, including their unique health risks and lifestyle factors.
- Personalized care plans: By having an in-depth understanding of a patient’s health history, risk factors, and lifestyle, DPC doctors can create personalized preventative care plans that target specific concerns.
- Early intervention: Close monitoring and regular communication between doctor and patient enable early intervention, preventing minor issues from escalating into major health problems.
Long-Term Health and Wellness
The emphasis on preventative care within the DPC model leads to better long-term health outcomes. Patients are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, adhere to recommended screenings, and effectively manage chronic conditions, resulting in a higher quality of life and reduced healthcare costs over time.
How to Sign Up For a Direct Primary Care Membership
Preventative care is essential for maintaining health, avoiding the development or worsening of chronic diseases, and improving overall wellness. The direct primary care model excels in delivering optimal outcomes by offering personalized attention, cost-effective services, and close doctor-patient relationships.
If you’re looking for a healthcare model that prioritizes your long-term wellness, consider signing up for a direct primary care membership.
ProPartners memberships are offered at the individual, family, and corporate level, which enables our direct primary care physicians to deliver the highest level of personalized care, regardless of age or preexisting healthcare conditions.
Call us at (913) 451-5709 to learn more or to schedule a free “Meet the Doctor” visit with one of our physicians.