Carytown Direct Primary Care Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick rundown:

You pay a membership fee that covers unlimited same or next day appointments, calls, texts. You get a direct phone number for your doctor that you can call or text and just have a "telemedicine visit" on the spot. Basic labs are included. You pay extra for office procedures and additional labs and imaging BUT these are usually cheaper than if you went through your insurance company.

What is DPC?

Direct primary care (DPC) is an innovative healthcare model that fosters a more personalized and accessible approach to patient care. By bypassing traditional insurance complexities, DPC allows patients to establish a direct relationship with their primary care providers. This enables doctors to focus more on patient needs and spend more time with them, as opposed to focusing on the needs and demands of the insurance companies.

With transparent pricing and minimal administrative barriers, patients feel empowered to seek medical advice without the fear of unexpected costs. DPC promotes preventative care and wellness, fostering a proactive approach to health management. Ultimately, this model not only enhances patient satisfaction but also contributes to healthier communities through better access to care and stronger relationships between patients and their healthcare providers.

I am young and healthy. How can direct primary care save me money?

By avoiding this scenario: You develop abdominal pain and schedule an appointment with your PCP in several days. The symptoms worsen and you call the clinic but the secretary tells you they can't get you in any sooner. You are concerned and go to the ER. You are diagnosed with colitis and sent home with antibiotics and pain medication. Several weeks later you get a bill for $5000 (if you're lucky) for the CT scan of your abdomen they did in the ER. Sadly, this is a common scenario.

With DPC, your appointment would have happened on the same or next day. If your symptoms worsened in the interim, you could have called your doctor directly, and due to the urgency, your doctor would have brought you in to be seen immediately. You would have been diagnosed and treated before the problem worsens enough to require an ER visit.

Direct primary care is not right for me. Do you have any advice on how to get more from my traditional primary care provider (PCP)?

Your approach should depend on your health needs and priorities, but in general: 1) Utilize your patient portal to keep up with your labs and to contact your doctor when needed. 2) Find a clinic with a high number of MD's and DO's. Five or more is ideal. 3) If you are a complex patient with several comorbidities, try to pick an MD or a DO as your PCP to have more of your issues addressed in-house and avoid excessive referrals. 4) The younger your PCP, the better. 5) Be pleasant to your PCP and the rest of the clinic staff.

Some of the above advice may be controversial. This is a complex question that I intent to write an article about. I will try to remember to link it here when I have done so.

How much is your membership fee?

Click here to be redirected to our "Membership & Services" page.

How is DPC different to concierge medicine?

Concierge medicine clinics charge a membership fee, in addition to billing insurance companies. This is makes them significantly more expensive than DPC, as they have to allocate significant resources to billing services and interfacing with insurance companies. In addition to the higher membership fees, patients still have to pay insurance copay with every visit. Some, but not all concierge clinics may offer expensive but non-evidence-based treatments or tests to their patients, in order to increase their cash flow.