Healthcare in the United States has become a hot topic. People are always talking about it and usually complaining about it. Whether at the water cooler, in the political arena, or on the news. We pay so much money every year and it just keeps getting more expensive. And the care we seem to get is less.
We pay our expensive insurance premiums, go to the doctor and have to pay a copay. Sometimes we even get more bills after the visit.
Healthcare is a multi-trillion dollar industry.
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Convenient cares and urgent care facilities have grown exponentially in the past decade. This trend shows that we are nurturing a curative healthcare lifestyle — not a preventative one.
Curative care is when we go to the doctor seeking a cure for our ailment. We go because we have to go — something is wrong and we need it fixed now.
Most likely when you think of preventative care you think about eating healthy foods, exercising, not smoking, and not drinking too much — right? Those are just some of the steps that we can take to embrace a preventive lifestyle.
But there are other ways too. Did you know that getting a flu shot, getting an annual physical, and going to the doctor when something starts to ail you — instead of when you have to go — are also ways to embrace a preventative lifestyle?
When was the last time — as an adult — you went to the doctor to get an annual physical?
No really. Not because something was wrong. You went to the doctor so they could take blood, spend at least an hour talking and giving you tests, and giving you a baseline EKG (if you’re over 50) — because it is that time of year.
If you are like most Americans, this doesn’t happen. But it should.
Primary Care and Preventative Care — They Go Hand In Hand
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
According to the CDC, six out of ten adults in the United States have a chronic condition and four out of ten have more than one.
Let’s say that again, four out of every ten adults in the United States has more than one chronic condition.
Unfortunately, it’s not just living with these conditions — they are killing us. Seven out of ten deaths in the United States are caused by chronic diseases. And one out of every two deaths is caused by heart disease or cancer.
Preventing chronic conditions, or at the very least managing them, can not only save your life it can help you live a longer and more fulfilling life.
But how do we do that with a fast paced busy lifestyle?
First, it is finding a doctor that you feel comfortable with. A doctor that spends time with you and gets to know you. A doctor that you can check in with when you need them.
Per an article in AARP, having one consistent primary care physician can help you live longer, have fewer ER visits, and make you happier with your care.
With our current model of care we have to make an appointment and get to the Doctor’s office to talk to them. Very rarely can we call them up and have a phone conversation about what is going on. We have to go through a nurse who relays messages from us to them and vice versa. The only way to talk to them is by making an appointment and going to their office to see them face to face.
But what if there was a different way?
What if you notice something different in your health and instead of having to make an appointment, pay a copay, and make time for the appointment — you just message your doctor...directly.
What if you could go to the doctor and know that the physical exam is included in a low monthly fee that you already pay? What if you didn’t have to worry about getting unexpected invoices?
What if you are trying to eat healthier, quit smoking, quit drinking, exercise more and your primary care physician could help you on that journey? They could give you suggestions, cheer you on, and help track your progress.
What if you could have your doctor help prevent and/or manage chronic conditions?
This model of care is called Direct Primary Care (DPC).
With Direct Primary Care insurance is removed from the equation. You have a true doctor patient relationship.
In this relationship you are able to talk to them when something starts. This is different from the model we are used to — waiting until something is so bad you can’t take it anymore.
With direct primary care you simply message or call them. You two will decide your next steps whether it is resolved over the phone, through a video conference, or an in person visit.
Part of preventive care is talking to your doctor regularly.
Per the World Health Organization, detecting cancer early increases the chances of successfully treating it.
Finding and treating chronic conditions in the early stages also helps prevent the disease from progressing which also saves you money.
Dimensions Direct Primary Care
At Dimensions Direct Primary Care, Dr. Sheila Chen emphasizes the importance of an annual wellness checkup for people at the age of 20 and over.
She schedules these appointments for a minimum of an hour so that she can do a thorough physical examination. She does a blood panel and if you are 50 or older she does an EKG. Annual flu shots are also included in your monthly membership fee.
She follows preventative care guidelines based on age. Therefore she does do annual gynecological exams for women 21 and over or as needed.
If you are a member, you have access to Dr. Chen through a protected portal. She has office appointments available during the week but she also sees her patients through telehealth (video) visits. And she talks to patients via phone as well.
All of these services are less than $2.64 per day. You pay a monthly membership fee and, in turn, you receive access directly to your doctor. You receive a doctor patient relationship without the middleman — insurance.
Start your wellness journey with preventative care by developing a true relationship with a physician that can help you and track your progress.
Quality healthcare at an inexpensive price — this is healthcare you brag about!
Sign up today by contacting Dimensions Direct Primary Care at 571-229-9183.