The above image was found on the internet without a source to give credit. It cracked me up. It took a while to sink in. This is a reality check for future doctors. The job can absolutely suck. Burnout is sky-high. We lose one doctor a day in this country from suicide. The ONLY physicians that I know who are happy are DPC docs. No job is perfect and some issues can even burn us out but it is light years from working in the system. Why? Well, here are some of the benefits of doing DPC:
You are the boss
Control
Fewer patients
Fewer hours
More money (possibly)
No insurance hassles
No administrators
You get to know all your patients
You get to fire some of your patients
You own the business
You can smile again
Other DPC docs who are friends
I am just going to leave this as a start. Can you put some other benefits as a comment below? Let’s grow this list! Thank you in advance for doing so.
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.
Long-lasting relationships with your patients. As my 8th anniversary is this week, I was looking at photos from our one year anniversary party. The patients that were in the room that day are still patients and are big supporters of my practice.
Learn MORE than in traditional practice.
Long-lasting relationships with your patients. As my 8th anniversary is this week, I was looking at photos from our one year anniversary party. The patients that were in the room that day are still patients and are big supporters of my practice.