Here are a couple of reminders for our Direct Primary Care members and prospective members for the upcoming weeks.
Saturday Walk-in Clinic:
- Dr. Hone, our Maryville office DPC physician, will be staffing the Saturday walk-in clinic this weekend at Trinity’s Fort Sanders West office.
- DPC members may utilize the Saturday walk-in clinic as part of their membership whenever Dr. Hone or Dr. McColl are staffing the clinic.
- Walk-in clinic hours are Saturday 8:30-11:30am.
- We will continue to post which clinics are staffed by DPC physicians.
- All patients of Trinity are welcome to use the walk-in clinic for sick care as the need arises.
Direct Primary Care Presentation
- Dr. McColl and Dr. Hone will host the next DPC presentation this Saturday at 10am in the main lobby of Trinity’s Fort Sanders West office.
- They will discuss the DPC program for anyone interested in understanding how it works and the benefits of having a low-cost, insurance-free, full service primary care membership.
- They will also update you on the legislative efforts that support placing the patient back at the center of health care policy and decision making. There has been some good progress at the state level this year already.
Advantage: Patient. The benefits of DPC membership in getting things done.
by Mark B McColl, MD
In a traditional primary care office the pace can be incredible. Trinity is known in the community as an office that doesn’t have an enormous volume of daily patients. Due to the wisdom of our founding physicians, Dr. Allsop and Dr. Pardue, we have set the standard in our office to take nearly twice as long with each patient as the national average. We have fought to protect that time with our patients for nearly 25 years. Even with that extra allotment, it is very difficult to ensure that the unique needs of each patient can be addressed in the midst of busy work day.
Many times I would find myself only able to perform tasks for patients if they were face to face with me at an office visit. I’m sure many of you over the years have probably watched me type out you a letter you needed while in the exam room. I simply didn’t have the time to attend to any tasks outside of the scheduled office visit.
Direct Primary Care has changed all of that for me. Since the start of the program I have been able to do much more for my patients without them having to be present. I have coordinated three out-of-town specialist consultations for patients with unique medical concerns. I have worked through two insurance prior authorizations that required a peer-to-peer review. (This is a tactic used by insurance companies to deny payment for an ordered test or service until I get on the phone and argue my case with their hired doctor.) I have been able to arrange a records review from an outlying hospital and then coordinate further testing for that patient on a potentially life altering condition. Lastly, I have been able to personally answer the phone and provide a medication refill for Mrs. ________ in about 30 seconds, twice.
I am thrilled at what I can now do for my patients. I can meet them at the point of their need and focus my energy on solving their problem. I consider that a win for patients and for me too.
mbm