What is Direct Primary Care?

Welcome to Direct Primary Care.  I believe you will find a greater value in your relationship and trust in me as your physician with this innovative model for care delivery.  Your health depends upon many factors and whether it be an acute injury or a routine preventative exam, your access to me as your provider is the first step in keeping you healthy.  My dedication comes in the way of direct contact via my office, phone, email or messaging to allow you a prompt solution for whatever comes our way.

Direct Primary Care is a membership based practice that differs from the traditional “fee for service” model you are used to.  The patient pays a monthly membership fee in exchange for enhanced access to their personal physician. This comes in the way of extended visit times if needed, same day or next day guaranteed office visits as well as the ability to contact their physician directly outside of the typical office hours.  The practice no longer bills your insurance company and/or Medicare for payment.  You will NOT be charged a “co-pay” for your visits to the office.  You will NOT have any service under the care of Dr. Patterson applied to your deductible or co-insurance.

The average primary care practice physician has 2,500-3,000 patients.   In our rural area which is Federally designated as a “Healthcare Physician Shortage Area”, this number gets even higher.  At Gold Country D.P.C., we limit our patient panel to 600 patients to ensure the important points above are met each and every time with everyone of our patients.

Your membership fee allows several things beyond “the office visit”.  It is the assurance that you or I will never feel rushed during your visit.  Management of multiple medical issues will not require 2-3 visits to accomplish what an extended visit can do in one, even if it takes an hour.  No longer will you have to worry about “is it covered” under your plan or what your deductible may be for the service.  It is peace of mind knowing that whether you and I are face to face or texting back and forth, our undivided attention to you will not be pervaded by the constraints of a traditional “fee for service” practice.