When the Spotlight Misses the Mark: Why Direct Primary Care Deserves Attention

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Lately, I’ve been noticing a trend that frankly, annoys me. High-cost “concierge” medical practices get all the attention in glossy magazines, while more inclusive and accessible models like Direct Primary Care (DPC) are overlooked. It’s frustrating because the evidence suggests DPC is on a much steeper growth curve than many people realize.

The number of DPC practices has tripled over the past decade. Membership growth is sometimes reported at 30–40% per year, and market forecasts indicate that DPC will expand at 6–7% annually. Because concierge models are less transparently documented, it’s difficult to compare directly — but from where I stand, DPC is climbing fast, and it deserves a spotlight.

Recently, I came across the October–November 2025 issue of a local women’s magazine. The focus was on celebrating women leaders in West Michigan. Lovely in concept, and the execution? Disappointing. The issue lacked diversity—no women of color, no stories of those working with underserved communities, and it only featured concierge care. In other words, the perspectives highlighted were as exclusive as the care being promoted.

So, I decided to get a little sassy. I sent an email to the editors, pointing out that this narrow lens does a disservice to the very women they claim to celebrate. I reminded them that our community encompasses voices from all backgrounds, and excluding them weakens the impact of the message.

And I didn’t stop there. I also suggested they shine a light on the growing Direct Primary Care movement. DPC is revolutionizing healthcare by offering the advantages of personalized, patient-centered care—without the financial gatekeeping of concierge medicine. It’s an innovation led by women right here in West Michigan, and it’s making healthcare more inclusive, not less.

For me, this isn’t just about frustration. It’s about advocacy. I run Direct Primary Care of West Michigan, where my mission is to make care accessible and relationship-based for patients who are often overlooked by the traditional healthcare system. Beyond the clinic, I host the Lifestyle MD podcast and lead a monthly Walk with a Doc event, bringing health education and connection directly into the community.

So yes, I’m annoyed when exclusivity gets the spotlight while inclusivity gets ignored. And I’m also hopeful. By speaking up, by sending that email, and by continuing to amplify what’s happening in DPC, I believe we can reshape the conversation—locally and nationally.

Ultimately, healthcare should not be about who can pay the most. It should be about who can benefit the most. And that’s where DPC shines.

 Sources

  • American Academy of Family Physicians survey (via Drexel University, 2024)
  • DPC Frontier Mapper (Phil Eskew, MD, JD, MBA)
  • Journal of General Internal Medicine (Phillips et al., 2024)
  • Forbes – “How Direct Primary Care Works for Patients, Providers and Payers” (May 2025)

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About Angela Andrews, MD

Dr. Angela Andrews is a board-certified Internal Medicine and Pediatrics physician, health coach, wife, mom, and lifelong athlete. When not spending time with her family or caring for her patients, she is training for her next competition. Dr. Andrews graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering and worked at General Electric Healthcare Wisconsin for nearly five years before returning to her dream of becoming a doctor. She received her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She completed her Med-Peds residency at the Detroit Medical Center & Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, MI. After 8 years in the system, Dr. Andrews opened Seeds of Health Direct Primary Care in Grand Rapids, MI in February 2014. Her personal journey with fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine training was a key factor in her decision. She spent years trying to figure out how to incorporate this experience into a “standard” clinical practice, before finding a natural fit within Direct Primary Care. Dr. Andrews is passionate about helping patients address the root cause of their mental and physical conditions and guiding them to cultivate healthy habits around exercise, good nutrition, and mental well-being. Dr. Andrews lives in Byron Center, Michigan, with her husband and exercise companion, Joseph VanEss, their son, Myles, and her two bonus children, Griffen and Quinne. She engages in various fitness activities (CrossFit, running, swimming, yoga, and bodybuilding) and enjoys gardening, tackling projects around the house, and building things out of wood.