It’s All Fun and Games Until Your Start Your Own Practice

Posted on by

This is part of the World’s Smallest Medical Book Series but every joke has a kernel of truth behind it. Do not expect your colleagues, who are still stuck in the system, to be happy for you. Hopefully, you find a couple that will still talk to you but my bet is you won’t. In my first book, I called this Death Row Syndrome:

So what is this Death Row Syndrome? Simple, all the guys on death row are buddies because they have same fate. When one guy gets pardoned, like you did when you left to do DPC, the rest of the death row inmates hate you. Why? Because they are still going to die. You are not.

How about the local hospitals or private practices? Will they be your friends? Probably not. No organizations are going to support you because you are competition for them. This includes local hospitals all way up to the AMA and AAFP . They may talk a big game, but trust me, you are on your own. In fact, don’t be surprised if their jealousy doesn’t cause them to try to sabotage you.

It’s dark and depressing but there is hope. More and more primary care doctors are leaving to do DPC. Also, many specialists are going into Direct Specialty Care. Let’s keep it all rolling!! Until then, watch your back. 🙁

Get our awesome newsletter by signing up here. It’s FREE!!! And we don’t share your email with anyone.

4

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.