Making Donations as a Direct Primary Care Practice

Making donations as a direct primary care practice

This year, we made many donations to local charities in our community, from $100 to $1,000, gifts can be impactful and go a long way, especially in a small town or a close-knit community. As physicians, we have an obligation to give back, to enrich the lives of others. Some of my favorite categories to give to include health and wellness, children and families, and recreational activities.

A shout out from a company that we donated to this year.

For your direct primary care practice, donating to a local charity can build good will for your practice in several ways. First, it demonstrates that your DPC practice is invested in the community and cares about the well-being of its residents. This can help to create a positive image for your practice and your physicians and improve your overall reputation.

Additionally, by supporting a local charity, your DPC practice may be able to build relationships with community members who may become customers or advocates for the business. Even if the folks at the charity don’t sign up for your practice, they will likely spread the good word about your practice to the people that they serve.

Finally, it can also show employees that your DPC practice is socially responsible and that you care about making a positive impact. This can help to boost employee morale and engagement. It’s a great way to boost engagement to work with your teammates, physicians, and staff to pick a local charity that you want to support. You could have everyone chip in and provide a match in addition to a baseline gift.

Good luck with your DPC practice, and happy giving!

-Paul Thomas, MD with Startup DPC

What are the biggest challenges to starting a Direct Primary Care Practice?

The Biggest Challenges when Starting a Direct Primary Care practice

There are several challenges that doctors may face when starting a direct primary care practice. These may include:

1. Financial risks: Starting a new business always carries some financial risk, and this can be particularly true for direct primary care practices. These practices are often small, and may not have the financial cushion that larger practices have.

2. Marketing and outreach: Direct primary care practices may have a harder time getting the word out about their services, as they are not affiliated with a larger hospital or health system. Doctors may need to be proactive about marketing their practice in order to attract patients.

3. Legal and regulatory issues: Direct primary care practices operate outside of the traditional insurance model, which can create some legal and regulatory challenges. Doctors may need to be familiar with state and federal laws governing the practice of medicine, as well as any additional regulations that apply to direct primary care practices.

4. Managing patients' expectations: Some patients may be unfamiliar with the direct primary care model, and may have expectations that are not consistent with how these practices operate. Doctors may need to spend time educating patients about the benefits of direct primary care and how it differs from traditional primary care.

How to Overcome These Challenges

Fortunately, all of these challenges are manageable and can be overcome with the right mindset and the right tools. Here are a few ways that doctors can address the challenges of starting a direct primary care practice:

1. Seek out resources and support: There are a number of organizations and groups that offer support to doctors starting direct primary care practices. These may include professional associations, business development organizations, and other resources. We’re glad that you’re using Startup DPC as one of those resources! When it comes to reaching out to patients, take a look at our course on attracting new members, here.

2. Carefully plan and budget: It is important to carefully plan and budget when starting a new business, and this is especially true for direct primary care practices. Doctors should have a clear idea of their financial needs and how they will cover them. I would work with another direct primary care doctor or another local business person in your community - have them review your business plan! We created a business plan course as a part of our Startup DPC resources, because doctors don’t often have experience writing a business plan or creating a clinic budget. This is one of our top resources on our site and our business plan course includes a sample budget!

3. Educate patients: It is important to educate patients about the direct primary care model and how it differs from traditional primary care. This may involve explaining the benefits of the model, such as longer appointment times and more personalized care. If you try to do this on a one-on-one scale, this will be difficult. But, if you leverage tools like YouTube or a great website, your patients can watch videos and read blog posts on your site to educate themselves. Make the type of service that you provide in your practice clear on your website. For an example of what this might look like, check out our clinic’s FAQ or Frequently Asked Questions page. We have media interviews, YouTube videos, and written content to explain our services clearly.

4. Stay up to date on legal and regulatory issues: It is important for doctors to stay up to date on state and federal laws and regulations that apply to the practice of medicine, as well as any additional regulations that apply to direct primary care practices. This may involve seeking out legal or regulatory guidance from professional associations or other resources.

Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your DPC practice!

-Paul Thomas, MD with Plum Health DPC

P.S. Our direct primary care practice, Plum Health DPC, recently celebrated SIX YEARS in businesses - I love teaching other doctors how we’ve been so successful at our DPC practice in Detroit. I sincerely wish you the same or greater success - we need excellent doctors like you to create value for patients and create a better health care system.

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Recent Review for Startup DPC Book

Startup DPC Book Reaches 103 five star reviews

This week, the Startup DPC book reaches 103 five star reviews. Here’s one of our recent reviews:

This book is a must read for those interested in direct primary care. Very well written to the point while not missing out on any details. It will prepare even those with absolutely no knowledge or background in business (like myself) to be able to successfully start a DPC clinic.

Startup DPC reaches 103 five star reviews this week!

Also, here’s a very kind email that I received from one of our readers:

Hi Paul,

My name is [Doctor]. I'm a primary care physician and owner of the newly formed clinic [a} Direct Primary Care. I just wanted to send you an email of thanks. I've read your book twice now in the lead up to starting this company. Once, about 2 years ago when it first came out - I was incredibly inspired, but at that time, I was an employed physician and had a lot of self-doubt about whether I could really do it. This time around, I read it about 3 weeks ago in about 3 days after I left that same employed job after I was just fed up with feeling run down, anxious, depressed, and like a glorified employee - I read it the second time, not because I wanted to do DPC, but because I HAD to do DPC. I found my why and I credit your book with a lot of the momentum I am gaining in the community. We just launched our pre-enrollment today and already have 5 patients signed up. You have inspired me more than you can imagine. And I just wanted to say I appreciate you and everything you do for physicians.

Have a great day!

[Doctor]

All that’s to say I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the doctors in this Direct Primary Care movement and I’m so happy and grateful that this Startup DPC book is a key resource for starting and growing a direct primary care practice.

-Dr. Paul Thomas with Startup DPC

Are Dachshunds the Unofficial Mascot of the Direct Primary Care Movement?

Maybe this is the pandemic fatigue talking, but perhaps Dachshunds are the perfect dog breed for an aspiring Direct Primary Care doctor. Perhaps I’m biased, as we have three dachshunds in our family, but I got an amazing email from an aspiring DPC doctor this week that may make the case for dachshunds as the unofficial mascot of the DPC movement.

Here’s our guy, Mr. Fritz, reading his copy of Startup DPC. Fritz is courageous, loyal, and always does the right thing - great qualities for a DPC doctor as well!

According to the internet, the dachshund, is also known as the wiener dog, badger dog, and sausage dog. It’s a short-legged, long-bodied, hound-type dog breed. The Dachshund is described as clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness. They’re bred for perseverance, which is another way of saying that they can be stubborn. Dachshunds have a reputation for being entertaining and fearless, but what they want most is to cuddle with their people.

Whenever people pick up a course via our Startup DPC website, I always send a thank you note via email. This time, I got the most delightful response:

Thanks Paul. Not sure if this is an automated email but got your book last year- really well done. Saw you had a dachshund. Here’s a pic of mine reading your book.

Here’s Bella reading Startup DPC - dachshunds are loyal, clever, and lively!

Well, obviously this blog post is just for fun - send your pic of your dog reading a copy of Startup DPC, and we’ll feature them on the next post!
Have a great week,

-Dr. Paul Thomas with Startup DPC

PS. Our Startup DPC book just hit 92 five star reviews on Amazon! Here’s the latest review:

I cannot express enough how helpful this book has been for me and my future plans as a DPC physician. Dr. Thomas explains simply and clearly the steps you need to successfully understand the ins and outs of a DPC practice. Super glad I found and read this book! 10/10 recommend

Our most recent review for the Startup DPC book.

Startup DPC Book Reaches 82 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reviews

Startup DPC Book Reaches 82 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reviews

Today, the Startup DPC Book reached 82 five star reviews! I’m really excited about this because it has helped so many doctors start and grow their own direct primary care practices. I really love seeing doctors pick up this book and use it to build their own practices and take care of patients on their own terms. I’m especially excited that more and more doctors are making health care more affordable and more accessible for people in their communities.

Here’s what some of our most recent reviewers had to say:

5.0 out of 5 stars DPC for the win

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is the third book I have read to help me get started on my DPC journey and it’s by far the most complete. Thank you so much for putting pen to paper and really getting the most information into one book. Learned quite a few things I did not know. Definitely a great book for anyone considering DPC

Only Book Necessary to Start a DPC

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2021

Verified Purchase

Fantastic and comprehensive guide to starting your own DPC. Whether you are coming out of the gate from residency or converting your current practice, Dr. Paul Thomas has written an easy to follow strategy to set you up for success. My copy has so many sticky notes of great advice and further resources to dive into also. This is the one book you need to help you begin a thriving DPC practice and see it grow. Highly recommend this and will be referencing back to it often!

Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping us get to this milestone!

The Startup DPC Book Reaches 82 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reviews - thank you for helping us reach this milestone!

Here’s what I wrote about the book when I first published it on May 5th, 2020. I believe that it still holds true today:

We all know that our current healthcare system is broken, especially for primary care doctors and their patients. Primary care physicians have to see more and more patients in less and less time in order to keep up with declining reimbursement from insurance companies. This leads to rushed office visits, missed opportunities for genuine connections between doctors and their patients, frustrated patients, and burned out doctors. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Direct primary care offers a real opportunity at a fulfilling practice of medicine. It’s a golden opportunity to restructure your time, build the practice of your dreams, and spend your best hours taking care of patients and prioritizing your family life, rather than wasting time as a data entry clerk for an insurance company. In short, direct primary care gives you the opportunity to become the doctor that you're meant to be.

But how do you get this done? How do you go from a less-than-fulfilled doctor in the dysfunctional fee-for-service system to an empowered, entrepreneurial direct primary care physician capable of starting their own successful DPC practice?

The answers you're seeking are in this book!

My name is Dr. Paul Thomas, and I'm a Board Certified Family Medicine Doctor - I launched my own direct primary care practice straight out of residency in Southwest Detroit with over $100,000 in student loan debt. In my first month of practice, I had 7 patients. A few years later, we have over 700 patients, and I've hired a medical assistant and a second family doctor to help me manage the growing demand for our services.

I was named the entrepreneur of the year in 2018 by the Detroit Vanguard Awards, I gave a TEDxDetroit talk on direct primary care, and I've been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Reason Magazine, CBS Radio, Detroit's ABC affiliate WXYZ, Detroit's NBC affiliate WDIV, and Crain's Detroit Business. I've also been a speaker multiple times at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) DPC Summit, the Direct Primary Care Nuts and Bolts Conference, and the Hint Health DPC Summit.

In this book, I'm going to teach you everything I know about direct primary care and about starting a successful direct primary care practice. Here's a smattering of the topics that we'll cover:

- How to have the right mindset to be successful in your direct primary care journey
- How to become the doctor you're meant to be
- What a typical day looks like for a direct primary care doctor
- How to finance your direct primary care startup
- How to raise money for your DPC practice
- How to overcome a lack of business training in medical school and residency
- How to construct the perfect timeline for starting your DPC practice
- How to write a business plan for your direct primary care clinic
- How to start a direct primary care practice straight out of residency
- How to convert an existing fee-for-service clinic to a direct primary care practice while remaining profitable
- What's the difference between direct primary care and concierge medicine
- How to hire a second doctor for your DPC practice
- How to find a profitable location for your DPC practice
- How to negotiate a lease deal for your medical practice
- How to build out the medical office of your dreams
- How to attract patients to your direct primary care practice
- How to brand your practice so you stand out in your marketplace
- How to build your personal brand to grow your direct primary care practice

And so much more!

By picking up this book, you may be taking your first step in starting your direct primary care practice, or you may be taking the next big leap in growing your direct primary care practice. I know that whoever you are, and whichever stage you're at in your DPC journey, this book will inspire you and demonstrate in concrete methods how you can be even more successful.

Here's to your success in the growing DPC movement! - Dr. Paul Thomas

If You're A Burned Out Physician, Try Direct Primary Care

Is Direct Primary Care the Cure for Burnout?

If you graduated from medical school, completed residency, and chose a primary care specialty, you are in the top 1% of compassion, intelligence, and resilience. If you're feeling burned out, tired, and beat up by the system, it's not your fault - it's the healthcare system that is fundamentally broken, not you. You're not the one with the problem, it's the system that is fundamentally broken. Direct Primary Care can be your bridge to a fulfilling career in medicine, so take the next step.

The Startup DPC book by Dr. Paul Thomas. If you’re a burned out physician, try Direct Primary Care - you can do this!

While direct primary care is not a perfect system, it’s certainly closer to the truth than the typical fee-for-service system of delivering care. With direct primary care, doctors have about 30 minutes to an hour to spend with each patient. Doctors and patients can invest in a meaningful relationship, and that relationship-based form of medicine can be sustaining for both parties. Doctors feel like their work is valued and valuable, and patients feel heard and understood, and not just another number.

For these reasons, direct primary care can be a reasonable treatment for physician burnout. It comes with a different kind of stress level and a different kind of workload, but one that is ultimately manageable and fulfilling for doctors and their patients.

Thanks for reading,

-Dr. Paul Thomas

STARTUP DPC - DIRECT PRIMARY CARE MASTER CLASS

Because there are no in-person conferences this year, we are hosting an intimate gathering of Direct Primary Care doctors who are looking to start and grow their DPC practices. We did this last year, and it was a rousing success! Join our Direct Primary Care Master Class on August 20th and 21st, 2021 at our Plum Health DPC office in Detroit, Michigan and accelerate your growth as a DPC doctor.

Paul Thomas MD at the AAFP National Conference 2021

Dr. Paul Thomas Speaks at the AAFP National Conference 2021

Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC is speaking at the AAFP National Conference today, Saturday July 31st, 2021. The topic is Direct Primary Care as you’ve already guessed, and how it works to make health care more affordable and accessible in the United States.

Best Label Printer for your Direct Primary Care Practice

Which is the Best Label Printer for your Direct Primary Care Practice?

We get all sorts of random questions about our practice, like this one!

Good day Dr Thomas,

I am finally about to start seeing patients at my direct primary care practice and I am wondering what software/template you use to print your prescription bottle label?

Sincerely,

A soon-to-be DPC doctor

Our answer: We love using the Dymo Printer, that you can purchase on Amazon.

The Dymo printer LabwlWriter 450 Twin Turbo works well because you can print labels for your medication bottles and you can print labels for your lab work.

Best of luck in your DPC practice!

-Dr. Paul Thomas with Startup DPC and Plum Health DPC

Another Amazing Review for the Startup DPC Book

Another Five Star Review for the Startup DPC Book

We love our readers! Thank you to Akilah De Aza for your recent review of our Startup DPC book! We appreciate you!!!

Akilah De Aza

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read if considering opening your own DPC practice.

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

I have not yet started my DPC practice, so I do not know what, if anything, this book might be missing. That said, I feel extremely comfortable following the directions in this book to maximize my chances of having a successful practice. Dr. Thomas wrote this book in a very approachable, easy to read manner that allows the reader to feel comfortable with what they don’t know. He has made sure to be respectful to everyone in all respects in this book. He has referenced other books for additional information. He has outlined exact dollar amount for expected costs. He has shared specific details about how he obtained money to start his own practice, some thing that was very helpful to me, and quite generous and forthcoming of him. 6 stars for this book! I could not be more grateful. I’m not even done reading it yet.
This is a must read for anyone considering starting a DPC practice and I even want for my family members to read the book so that they understand why I feel so confidently about something so brand new to me. Dr. Thomas and this book are Godsends.

Direct Primary Care Master Class

Last month, we hosted an inspiring conference with doctors from across the country who want to start and grow their own Direct Primary Care practices!

It was amazing to work with them, and I cannot wait to see the impact that they make for the people they serve.

We're hosting another DPC Master Class on August 20th and 21st to help more doctors free themselves from insurance contracts and practice medicine on their own terms.

Join us! https://www.startupdpc.com/masterclass

#StartupDPC #DirectPrimaryCare #FamilyMedicine #DPCMasterClass #DPCConference #DirectPrimaryCareConference

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