But…I Don’t Use It Enough: The Real Value of Direct Primary Care
In today's commercialized healthcare landscape, the continued frustrations with the system are maddening and the allure of cash-pay options or membership-based models are gaining momentum. As Direct Primary Care starts emerging more for primary care services, theres a growing narrative that some members might think or even say, such as "I'm not using it enough" or "I don't go to the doctor enough" to justify it. Some may even say "well, that's a waste". But, as clinicians who have WORKED in the system for 8+ years, here's why we respectfully disagree with these statements.
Perceptions vs. Reality:
When something remains unused, it's easy to view it as a "waste". The same argument people often make against insurance. Whether that be health insurance, car insurance, many see insurance payments as futile when claims aren't made. Yet, insurance isn't about the desire to use it, but about the peace of mind it provides you.
Consider health insurance. It's a safety net, a reassurance. NOT needing it, is often good news because it means you're healthy, right? What about car insurance? Peace of mind, right? Would you complain about not utilizing your car insurance if you had a year accident-free? Or: would you say, "I'm so excited I got into this accident and my premiums went up." No, nobody would!
Direct Primary Care: A PROACTIVE Approach:
Let me ask you..Do you think the current healthcare system priortizes keeping you healthy? Or keeping you sick? Do you think the current healthcare system is all about preventative healthcare or provides a reactionary approach to medicine?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) aims to KEEP you healthy, instead of profiting from recurring diseases, medications or treatments. In an IRONIC TWIST: a "LITTLE" used DPC membership is actually a hallmark of SUCCESS rather than neglect.
Preventative care-like regular check-ups, screenings and wellness discussions inherently aim to reduce the need for extensive medical interventions, high costs, and medical debt. Avoiding a CRISIS before it happens, rather than managing one after it starts. Believe me: I don't have a whole lot of patients lining my doors saying "Sign me up for type 2 diabetes" or "I want to develop heart disease, what's the quickest way to get there." Why? Because my patients with chronic diseases KNOW how significantly it impacts not just their lives, but their families lives, their work lives, their finances, etc. No one WANTS to have a chronic health condition. The HALLMARK to successful preventative care is when you DON'T need medical interventions.
A Shift in Mindset
Imagine attending cancer screenings like a routine mammogram, colonoscopy or cervical cancer screenings (PAP smears) and all the results come back normal. What emotion do you feel? Relief right? Not regret. "I wish I had cancer so my screening was "Worth it", said NO ONE ever. Preventative tests coming back clean or "normal" are often celebrated, not mourned.
This mindset of valuing proactive care over reactive treatment is foundational to Direct Primary Care. It empowers patients with a long-term perspective, valuing health over sickness profits.
True Value: Peace of Mind & Health Preservation
With DPC: NOT needing frequent medical attention is VICTORY, NOT failure. Historically: The healthcare industry profits when you DON'T heal and profts off of chronic health conditions.
I recently asked my networking group this question:
- If you owned a business and you had the choice to sell two products, and product A gives you a net profit of 400 trillion dollars a year, but product B gives you a net profit of about $200 per person, which would you pick to sell? Most of us..if not 100% of us would pick product A. But what if I started the story with "product A is type 2 diabetes" and "product B is preventative medicine to keep you healthy". Would you change your mind then?
You guys! That is the reality of our current healthcare system. This comes directly off the NIH: The National Library of Medicine: "In a fee-for-service model (Insurance based system): Paying for a Diabetes Prevention Program without a means to bill and collect money from payers is not in the financial interest of the health system. Keeping the health system’s patients from developing diabetes is not a way to ensure a steady revenue stream. Managing diabetes once patients have developed it provides revenue to the health system through laboratory tests, physician visits, procedures and hospitalizations."
Our clinic dares to CHANGE that narrative, emphasizing well-being instead of VOLUME-DRIVEN services. By valuing health maintenance over crisis management, you're investing in sustained GOOD health.
Conclusion
While we've certainly had a few patients "cancel" their membership recently due to "not using it enough to justify the cost", I want to remind everyone what our clinic is aiming to do and what we stand for. PROACTIVE instaed of a REACTIVE approach to PREVENTION & medicine. This absolutely CAN mean fewer instances of "using" our services, but that doesn't mean its a shortcoming of the service we offer: it's a testiment to it's triumph. Embracing the proactive model of health ensures you enjoy more of life's moments in GOOD health.
Finding yourself not needing DPC continuously? Well..I call that a success-a life less interrupted by health issues. And to have us in your back pocket (yes: you really do get to call, text or email me directly!) when you need us and the peace of mind that offers..well, that's worth every penny but truly: it's PRICESLESS.
-Aly Dahl, PA-C
