In the latest aired episode of My DPC Story Podcast, hosted by Dr. Maryal Concepcion, you’ll hear an insightful discussion with Dr. Jlyn Pritchard, who sheds light on her journey toward establishing a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice. Dr. Pritchard’s dedication to autonomy, personalized care, and the well-being of her community is transforming the healthcare experience in Spokane, WA, at her practice, Thread Health.

The Journey to Job Satisfaction and Personal Fulfillment

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Pritchard draws a candid picture of the obstacles faced within the limitations of conventional medical structures. Her experiences in various healthcare settings, from private practice to corporate environments, highlighted the pressing need for a model that supports both practitioner and patient autonomy. Thread Health, born out of the desire for a more hands-on approach, is her answer to this industry-wide challenge. Using intuitive technologies. They ensure that her practice operates with the efficiency required to maintain the direct and personal connections that are the hallmark of DPC.

The Art of Connection: Stitching the Social Fabric

Social media turned out to be a valuable tool for Dr. Pritchard, not only for marketing her practice but also for establishing a genuine connection with her audience. Through authentic interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic, she built a strong online presence, which catalyzed the inception of Thread Health. The podcast episode delves deep into the nuances of balancing patient member growth with practice management, authenticity with professional branding, and the emotional resilience required to navigate the turbulent waters of patient cancellations and engagement.

Revolutionizing Practice Management: Technology’s Role in Streamlining Care

Technology selection has been crucial for Dr. Pritchard’s practice, as it impacts daily operations and the overall patient experience. She discusses her criteria for an EMR system and her use of Text Expander to enhance efficiency. The goal was to find tools that allow for clear and convenient patient communication without sacrificing the personal touch that DPC is known for. Dr. Concepcion and Dr. Pritchard converse about the rationale behind technology implementation, underlining the importance of having a system that aligns with the practice’s ethos.

Striking the Work-Life Balance: DPC as a Conduit to Authentic Living

Dr. Pritchard shares the profound personal transformations she experienced since transitioning from the corporate medical world to DPC. The autonomy gained through DPC not only improved her professional life but also her personal well-being. She speaks about the use of her Peloton bike as a coping mechanism for postpartum depression and the realization that drastic changes were needed for her mental health.

Her dedication to balance and authenticity shines through as she outlines her part-time schedule. It allows her to nurture both her family life and her passion for medicine. Dr. Pritchard’s approach of living authentically is at the core of DPC’s values, which she promotes wholeheartedly.

Embracing Market Challenges: Finding Strength in Community

Within the podcast, Dr. Pritchard addresses the apprehensions that accompanied her decision to start a DPC practice, especially in a region impacted by the closure of two similar practices. However, bolstered by a thorough market analysis and the support of the DPC community, she took the leap of faith.

Her practice, Thread Health, serves as a beacon of hope for sustainable healthcare, presenting a model that counters rising premiums while emphasizing consistency, accessibility, and personalized care. Dr. Pritchard’s journey exemplifies the spirit of DPC and provides invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, courage, and humanism in medicine.

Conclusion: The Ripple Effect of DPC Stories

The MyDPC Story Podcast holds a mirror to the experiences of physicians like Dr. Jlyn Pritchard, who innovate within the healthcare landscape. By sharing her story, Dr. Pritchard inspires both her peers and patients to consider the far-reaching benefits of DPC, while Dr. Concepcion’s thoughtful interrogation underlines the nuances of this practice. It’s clear from their conversation that DPC is not just a healthcare model; it’s a movement towards a future where medicine is as much about comprehensive care as it is about community.

From Dr. Pritchard:

I’m Dr. Jlyn Pritchard – a Mom to 3 wild humans, wife to Jon, & Family Physician in Spokane, WA, practicing Integrative Family & Obesity Medicine. I dreamed of being a doctor when I was a kid & was inspired by my step-father’s dedication to the ER as a physician.

I attended Gonzaga University, then moved to West Virginia to attend the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. During that time, my now-husband Jon served in the Army at Ft. Bragg. We lived in separate states (and countries, during his deployment) for the duration of medical school, finally moving in together over 3 years after we got married.

Residency was here in Spokane at a great community-based program that provided true full spectrum & rural training. I quickly found, however, that the landscape change that occurred in healthcare during my time in training meant that the life & practice I had envisioned for myself wasn’t exactly possible.

I made a commitment to myself my senior year of college that I would never lose my “art”. I wrote poetry in high school. In College, I ran a solo photography company in my spare time – a journey that continued through medical school & into residency. I discovered writing was cathartic for me during residency, helping me process all my experiences. It felt like ever-so-slowly, my creativity was being drained as I practiced medicine; or perhaps smothered by other things deemed more important.

Finding the possibility of DPC has restored some of that creativity. Restoration is going to look different for everyone. For me, right now it looks different than it did 5 years ago. And maybe that’s the beauty in all of this: evolution. DPC as a movement has seen the need in healthcare & stepped in to meet them; as an individual I’ve seen the gaps in my own life & made intentional changes to remedy them.

Thread Health just opened in October 2022. I’m a novice when it comes to experience here. But DPC has allowed me to find little bits of myself again, to lean into my values, & the inception of Thread has been the scariest, most satisfying decision in my career.

CONTACT/SOCIAL HANDLES:

Facebook: Jlyn Pritchard

Instagram: mamamedicinedropper, Thread Health

TikTok: JlynPritchard