Total Access Medical - Direct Primary Care Blog

In an article posted by The Washington Post, we learn that residents of some of the country’s most prominent cities are experiencing prolonged wait times when they try to schedule an appointment with their physician. The study found that out of the 15 cities researched, 12 of them had patient wait times of 14 days or longer. The article's principal point is that "the average wait time for a new patient to see a physician in five medical specialties is 18.5 days." This means that someone identified a concern they have about their health and then had to wait more than two weeks to get answers.

Direct primary care is when individuals or employers pay directly for primary care. Because of this form of direct care, excessive overhead, prior authorizations, billing, extra office space, and unnecessary staff is removed from the business equation. The savings attained are passed on to the patients in the form of lower fees. Doctors are less dependent on third party payers, and end up working in the best interests of patients, not insurance companies.

If you're like most Americans, you have to wait at least 20 minutes in the waiting room before you see your doctor. This wait time has become a serious frustration for many people and it has led to the rise of other forms of primary care such as direct primary care and concierge medicine.

You call your doctor's office and schedule an appointment. How long do you have to wait? When you consider how important timing can be for catching and preventing certain illnesses, a long wait time is especially nerve-wracking. But, that seems to be the most common past time for ailing Americans. In some cities across the U.S., patients have to wait between three to six weeks just to see their primary care doctor. 

"When you have health insurance, you are already paying twice. The first time you pay is when you pay your premiums, and the second time is when you pay anything in addition to those premiums, like co-pays, prescriptions, etc. Direct Primary Care is a way to decrease how much you shell out for the second payment, while providing high-quality, easily accessible primary care." - Rich Stamps, President & CEO

Dealing with the temporary pain and aggravation of a broken bone isn't easy but at least it's short-lasting. This is not true for high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and other chronic conditions which have no "cure" in sight. Chronic conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, require ongoing medical attention and can significantly limit daily living activities. The health status of a person living with a chronic condition can improve, deteriorate, or shift in either direction. 

We live in a stress-filled, fast moving world in which remembering daily / weekly tasks can be difficult. Whether you're a student studying (or cramming) for exams, a working professional interested in doing all you can to stay mentally sharp, or a senior looking to preserve and enhance your brain power, there are lots of things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance. It's a well known fact that a strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain.

In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 595,690 people will die from the disease. Although a few patients diagnosed with cancer can attribute their illness to a hereditary abnormal gene, most people believe their cancer was a result of a DNA mutation possibly caused by a handful of external factors such as environmental radiation, toxins, and poor diet. However, this may not be the case, as some bouts of cancer may be linked to the manner in which cancer cells produce energy.

"Insurance-based primary care has grown increasingly complex, inefficient, and restrictive, driving frustrated physicians and patients to seek alternatives. Direct primary care is a rapidly growing form of health care that not only alleviates such frustrations, but also goes above and beyond to offer increased access and improved care at an affordable cost." - Dr. David Perkins