Reason for transitioning to Direct Primary Care

One day or day one, you decide-Paulo Coelho

My why. I have been working in healthcare since 2009. I started out as an aid. Completed my RN and started in the ICU in 2011. In 2020 I finished my Family Nurse Practitioner degree and started working in the emergency department/observation unit doing hospitalist medicine. While working I have seen people struggle to be seen in a timely manner. Insurance rates increase every year and they cover less of the expense passing it on to the patient. Because insurance companies are reimbursing hospitals and providers less the pressure is on to see more and more patients. This results in less time spent with the patient.

Since providers are being pushed to see more patients per day it results in patients often not being able to get into their primary provider for a month or more. This results in more urgent care and emergency room visits again costing the patient money and results in the patient being seen by multiple different providers.

            I stumbled across Dr. Paul Thomas at Plum Health in Detroit Michigan and he is operating a Direct Primary Care clinic. Direct Primary Care Clinics operate under an affordable monthly membership that includes access to your provider via call, text, or email anytime. Direct Primary Care does not bill insurance and maintains a patient load of anywhere from 300-1000 patients. The typical provider has a patient panel of 2500-3500 patients. This reduced patient population allows the provider to spend more time with the patient, typically 30-60 minutes.

            It was typical for me to see 50-60 patients in a 12 hour shift in the urgent care. One day I saw 70 patients in one 12 hour shift. This was quickly leading to burn out and not what I envisioned when I got into practicing medicine. I went into this field wanting to help people and spending 3-4 minutes with the patient is not the way healthcare should be. We need to be advocates for our patients. Spend time listening to them and including them on their healthcare choices. After learning about Direct Primary Care I got a new passion and I knew where my future in medicine was.

            My family and I live in La Porte Indiana. It is known as Maple City. This inspired the name Maple Leaf Health and Wellness. The maple leaf has also carried significant spiritual meaning throughout time. For the Cherokee tribe the maple leaf symbolizes renewal. After a long winter the maple leaf is one of the first leaves to appear in spring. The Cherokee saw this as a picture of hope and a new beginning. This view of the maple leaf applied to me as well as I set out on this new journey. Direct Primary Care is a renewal of my faith in medicine and my spirit. I could not think of a more appropriate name than Maple Leaf Health and Wellness. We are thrilled that you are here and we look forward to having you follow us on this journey.