As both a Board Certified Family and Sports Medicine physician for over 12 years, I hear a lot of complaints with the healthcare system, especially when it comes to receiving quality, affordable primary care services. A Primary Care Physician should be the point person for a health tune-up, with a focus on wellness and prevention, but I often hear people say that most primary care physicians, treat their patients more like cattle than people. I hear complaints about costly acute care clinic and ER visits, and all that time off work just to wait for hours to be referred to back to a primary care physician for follow-ups. I even hear complaints about primary care physicians using prescriptions to treat symptoms versus taking the time to actually help people get better. Oh, and the hidden fees. I could go on, but thankfully, my practice offers an affordable solution that addresses each of those complaints and it’s called, Direct Primary Care. Direct Primary Care is an innovative healthcare approach that just might be the answer to your family’s health and well-being. After reading this, if you still have questions about how it works or how it can help you, please don’t hesitate to call or stop in our office anytime.

Why Do We Offer Direct Primary Care?

When I opened Balanced Physician Care in Ponte Vedra, Florida about a year ago, I set out to make a difference in the primary care system throughout Northeast Florida. After looking at the numbers, I noticed a shortage of primary care physicians in the area. The shortage was causing a strain on the Jacksonville community, and the providers were no longer effectively able to maintain the community’s health and well-being. By having a private practice that focuses on Direct Primary Care, a fee-based primary care service, at Balanced Physician Care, we are able to work directly with our patients to build a personal relationship that effectively manages the acute needs for their family (cold, flu, etc.), while also helping them manage their chronic issues with a treatment plan focused on wellness. Because of its white glove approach, Direct Primary Care is shown to improve outcomes, which means people are healthier, spend less time in the hospital and ultimately, less on healthcare.

How Does Direct Primary Care Work?

Direct Primary Care is a monthly membership that offers easy access to a Primary Care Physician, annual exams, labs, women’s health visits, and a host of other benefits listed here. Each member is billed on a monthly basis. There is no requirement to come to the office to see us; in fact, we offer remote office visits through a private and confidential telemedicine portal.

Who Should Consider Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care is perfect for busy professionals and athletes who are looking to stay at the top of their game, and want consistent care from the same professional while on the go (we even provide our docs cellphone numbers and email addresses). Direct Primary Care also works great for anyone looking for a closer coordination of care to improve women’s health issues, sports injuries, weight loss, fitness levels, and more.

How Much Does It Cost?

We work directly with our patients, rather than through insurance companies. This allows us to keep our overhead costs down, while also offering 100% transparency in what you should expect to pay for the services we provide. We currently offer two Direct Primary Care memberships for $129/month for an Adult Premier Membership and $69/month for an Adult Basic Membership. We also offer special pricing for families and couples.

How Does Direct Primary Care Work with Insurance?

Direct Primary Care membership works great for those who are forced to take a high deductible health plan, or any Affordable Care Act Exchange Plan. While we do not work with insurance companies, we can provide a bill for services rendered that you can provide to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

What Sets Balanced Physician Care Apart From Other Direct Primary Care Providers?

At Balanced Physician Care, we are highly trained in integrative medicine (holistic medicine) and offer Acupuncture visits as a service in our membership. If you want a natural path to wellness, we are the place to join. We offer advice on diet, supplements and alternatives to prescription medications. We are also highly trained in sports medicine. I played basketball in college, served as team physician for the Chicago Marathon, and served as team physician for the Chicago Red Stars, so I know what it takes to stay in the game, how to train to prevent injuries and how to prolong the need for surgery.

If you think Direct Primary Care is right for your family, contact Balanced Physician Care today at
904-930-4774 or email us at membership@balancedphysiciancare.com.