Total Access Medical - Direct Primary Care Blog

Clear Benefits of Concierge  Primary  Physician Care Practices

Oct 05, 2017 by Cynthia Kuper, Ph.D.

Stephen C. Schimpff, M.D. Shares with us, in his blog last month in Medical Economics, the importance of the amount of time your primary care physician (PCP) spends with you, the reasons why they spend too little time and the serious consequences of that situation.  At Total Access Medical we share Dr. Schimpff's views and utilize this call to action by giving our patients the time and attention necessary to achieve the best outcomes of their over all health.

Read More

The Consequences of Emergency Department Overuse

Jan 02, 2017 by William Kirkpatrick

Hospital emergency departments are a critical and indispensable component of the U.S. health care system which is why overuse has become a national concern and worry amongst hospitals, policy makers and healthcare providers. 

Read More

Top Reasons Why Patients Love Direct Primary Care

Nov 11, 2016 by William Kirkpatrick

It has been studied that patients enrolled in direct primary care experience a 50% reduction in emergency department visits, specialist visits, advance radiologic testing, and surgical procedures compared to patients enrolled in traditional primary care. The only number that increased is the number office visits, which more than doubled from an average of 2 visits to an average of 4 visits per year. Moreover, patients enjoy an improvement in health outcomes while saving on overall health expenditures when compared to those navigating the traditional health insurance system.

Read More

Primary Care: Rushed Doctors & Dissatisfied Patients

Oct 24, 2016 by William Kirkpatrick

Doctors practice in an environment where treating patients with insensitivity and impatience has become the norm, and they are forced to spend an hour per day on insurance paperwork. According to the Wall Street Journal article titled, "Why Doctors Are Sick of Their Profession," there is a growing discontent among physicians due to insurance and administrative overhead causing rushed visits and ultimately, a growing number of dissatisfied patients. As doctor and patient dissatisfaction escalates, satisfaction within American health care system slowly deteriorates. 

Read More

Why Can't I Spend More Time With My Doctor?

Oct 12, 2016 by William Kirkpatrick

You call your doctor's office for an appointment and are told it'll be about 3 weeks. You arrive on time only to sit in the waiting room for 30 minutes. Finally you get to see your primary care doctor and you begin to explain why you came in. The doctor asks a few questions, does a brief exam, gives you a prescription, suggests you see the specialist and within 10 minutes, you're out the door. No time for delving deeply into your issues. No time to build trust. No time for compassion. No time for actual healing.

Read More

A Checklist For Your Next Doctor's Appointment

Sep 09, 2016 by William Kirkpatrick

A common issue regarding healthcare today is that people feel that their doctor’s appointments are rushed. Many people say that they don’t get enough time to ask questions and, consequently, do not fully understand the instructions their doctor gave them. Everyone gets about 15 minutes of face time with their doctor (unless you're a member of a direct primary care practice), so it’s often difficult to remember everything you wanted to bring up or that was discussed. Being prepared beforehand with a list of questions for your next doctor’s appointment will help ensure a more productive visit and increase the potential for a more effective outcome. Use these tips to prepare yourself for your next office visit:

Read More