Last month I asked a large group of DPC doctors what their fears were about doing Direct Primary Care and what the reality turned out to be. Below are their answers. You will see that life is mostly a TREAT in DPC.

1. Fear: No patient will join. Reality: It takes work, time and patience but eventually you will fill. There is a 90% success rate of DPC practices. 
2. Fear: I can’t do business stuff. Reality: You are smart enough to be a doctor. You are smart enough to learn some business concepts. 
3. Fear: I can’t afford to not work while I build up my DPC practice. Reality: While you build up your practice you will have time to moonlight.
4. Fear: I’ll be isolated in a solo practice. I won’t have anyone to bounce cases and challenges off of and it’ll feel too lonely. Reality: the DPC community is so strong and supportive you won’t feel alone in this. We may not be by your side geographically, but we are ready, willing, and able to support each other.
5. Fear : no one gets this model . Reality : it takes education , once the patients join, they love it.
6. Fear : marketing is too expensive and it is . Reality : you can grow organically with social media and google reviews.
7. Fear: I won’t be able to opt out of Medicare . Reality: limit your patient panel until age 64 and create a waiting list for Medicare pts until you’re opted out.
8. Fear: Nobody will come, nobody likes me. Reality: DPC is very personal, they are coming because of YOU, not an insurance contract.
9. Fear: what will I do without health insurance, disability insurance, CME, mone. Reality: Sedera is affordable, disability insurance is not that expensive and CME is a business expense!
10. Fear: I can’t do it without a partner to help with call coverage. Reality: It’s worked out that another local DPC doc covers if needed but in reality the need is rare when I’m away. Patients for the most part respect my time away from the office. Some gentle boundary teaching was needed for some.
11. Fear: People won’t understand it; this is true but in Reality: once people taste it then DPC spreads.
12. Fear: will insurance powers kill DPC somehow? Reality: not yet.
13. Fear: I will hemmorhage money and slow down my retirement savings. Reality: I have the ability to invest my time, money, and energy in something sustainable and fulfilling.
14. Fear: I won’t be welcomed in the current medical/business community. Reality: I attended Chamber events to meet local business owners and I was completely wrong. They because my biggest cheerleaders.
15. Fear: Existing FFS patients will be upset and angry about the transition. Reality: many, even the ones who didn’t join the membership, congratulated me in making a change in our imperfect medical system.
16. Fear: I can’t open a practice with no staff because while I was taught in medical school, I hadn’t really done any venipunctures since. Reality: Watch a bunch of YouTube videos, practice on spouse, rely on resources from Labcorp, and then take a deep breath and just do it! I’m about 600 blood draws in and actually really enjoy doing it.
17. Fear: the day I open I won’t have everything I need. Like maybe I literally forgot in-office urinalysis testing supplies and my first patient has a UTI. Reality: correct you won’t have everything together and mastered the first day… and it’s not the end of the world and it will be fine.
18. Fear: self doubt and negative thoughts are pervasive (failure not other thoughts). Reality: Getting to the first 100 seems daunting but if I can get through med school and the hazing in residency I can survive. 4 down only 96 to go lol.
19. Fear: pediatric DPC won’t work because most children in the US have health insurance Reality: most insurance based pediatric practices suck and parents want the best for their kids
20. Fear: I can’t be a PCP (I’m EM). Reality: tons of people did way less school and training than you and put a shingle up on the day they graduated. You are intelligent, resourceful, and care about your patients, and this model lets you learn about everything you may not know.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!