The Kitsap Sun reported on the opening of Bridge DPC, in Winslow, located off the coast of Washington State on Bainbridge Island. The practice is owned and operated by Payton Skawinski, MD. Dr. Skawinski is an example of another physician who is starting a DPC practice straight out of residency. Yes, it can be done! Dr. Skawinski saw the need for such a practice after a major disruption to medical care occurred on Bainbridge Island last year, Swedish Medical Group shuttered its Winslow primary care clinic. It was estimated that the clinic served nearly 8,000 patients.

I think that the primary care that’s delivered in bigger systems is not great, he said. It’s suboptimal. I firmly believe that’s not because of the doctors or anything, it’s because of the system that has evolved with American health care. It’s a system that’s predicated on money at the end of the day, and the bottom line. The system is complicated by other systems that get involved and also are focused on the bottom line, like health insurance companies and other players.

Dr. Skawinski was fortunate to have the mentorship of another DPC physician, Dr. Jared Hendler, who has practiced on Bainbridge Island for over forty years. The two connected after Dr. Skawinski cold-called Dr. Hendler, and now they are actually sharing a location off Madison Avenue in Winslow.

Best wishes to Dr. Skawinski on his new practices and to kudos to Dr. Hendler for providing mentorship. That’s how it’s done in the DPC World!