Are You the Right Person for the Job?

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Not everyone is meant to do Direct Primary Care. Some don’t have the personality, desire, guts, or aptitude for it. This does not make them bad people or bad doctors. Hell, I worked for two hospital systems for over 15 years before I made the jump. Then I had an epiphany. What I realized is that I could not handle being bossed around by snot-nosed hospital administrators, fresh out of college, anymore. The job of being a physician is tough enough even without all the administrative drag (metrics, indicators, EHRs, Press-Gainey surveys, etc.)holding us back. For me, it was DPC or quit medicine. How about you? Do you want to be called in by your hospital administrator’s office to be scolded for:

  • Spending too much time with patients?
  • Feeling burned out and needing a day off?
  • Not doing well enough on patient satisfaction surveys because one person was mad you didn’t give her an antibiotic and another was angry because you didn’t give him a narcotic?
  • Not clearing your inbox of meaningless documents?
  • Missing too many useless meetings about nothing that you are required to attend?
  • Being upset that you didn’t get a bonus because the RVU system is made for proceduralists?

You have choices in this world. You can work for a dumb hospital administrator or you can work for yourself. Which one do you think will make you happier?

About Douglas Farrago, MD

Dr. Farrago is a retired family physician based in Forest, Virginia. Since 2021, he has run DPCnews.com, a leading resource for the Direct Primary Care (DPC) movement. He is the author of three best-selling books on Direct Primary Care: The Official Guide to Starting Your Own Direct Primary Care Practice The Direct Primary Care Doctor’s Daily Motivational Journal Slowing the Churn in Direct Primary Care (While Also Keeping Your Sanity) In 2016, Dr. Farrago conceived the idea for the Direct Primary Care Alliance and co-founded the organization alongside other pioneering DPC physicians. He is widely recognized as a leading expert in the DPC model and frequently lectures to medical students, residents, and practicing physicians on how to successfully start and run their own DPC practices.Dr. Farrago sold his Direct Primary Care practice in October 2020 but continues to receive care there as a patient.