4 Things Patients Want From Their Healthcare Providers

Do you ever feel like you don’t really know your doctor? Are you prone to seeing just any of the partners rather than having one specific doctor you see regularly? Perhaps the visits feel too hasty, impersonal, and surface level. You probably get to know your nurse in the pre-evaluation stage better than you’ll ever get to know the physician. What’s up with that? 

You should be more than just a name on a chart or a number on a schedule. That’s where direct primary care comes into play. If you’re wanting a more 1:1 relationship with your doctor, a more personalized experience, and generally, better care, DPC might be a good alternative to traditional healthcare. Stick around to see our list of the top 4 things people want from their healthcare providers that you may be missing. 

1. Time

So often, people feel rushed when visiting their healthcare provider. Though it’s probably not their intention, traditional doctors tend to make patients feel like timeslots rather than people, and that’s something that needs to change. The #1 thing people want from their healthcare providers is their time. With more 1:1 visits, a patient receives more detailed and personal care, which tends to result in more accurate diagnoses or prescriptions. 

One way the direct primary care model counteracts traditional practices is by allowing 24/7 access to the doctors via call, text, or email. There’s also no limit to how many visits you can have, and your time is almost entirely with the doctor instead of sitting and waiting for the nurses or doctors. If your appointment is at 8:05, rest assured it will start on time, rather than you having to sit around for an undisclosed amount of time waiting for who knows what. 

2. Clarity

Insurance is tricky, right? You never really know what’s covered or how much you’ll have to pay in addition to your copay, let alone what prescriptions might cost (should you need them). Plus, the insurance companies are the reason why traditional doctor’s visits are so hasty; the paperwork takes up the allotted time! 

At DPC clinics, you know exactly what you’re paying for. There’s a sign-up fee, and then monthly membership fees, but everything else is clearly laid out on price sheets offered by the clinics. There’s no waiting period for charges to appear and no wondering what you’ll owe.

For a full list of Elevated Health services and prices, click here. 

3. Understanding

As a non-medical industry worker (or even if you understand some of the jargon), you want to understand what you’re hearing. You won’t necessarily know that varicella is chickenpox if a doctor just spouts off the scientific terminology for the condition, and you shouldn’t have to try to remember everything they said only to look it up later. While you aren’t ignorant by any means, sometimes, especially with medical conditions and terminology, you’d probably prefer layman’s terms. Also, you don’t want your doctor to talk down to you if you ask clarifying or follow-up questions. 

Direct primary care practitioners are, in our completely unbiased opinion, some of the nicest and most understanding in the industry. They’re happy to explain anything to you, from the DPC model and why they chose to work that way to your diagnosis, potential side effects, and so on. You’re not going to get patronizing tones or funny, condescending looks from any of our practitioners. We pride ourselves on our dedication to open communication, so we hope our patients take notice and appreciate it. 

Meet the Elevated Health team and learn more about them by clicking this link.

4. Attention

Have you ever gotten more than a second glance during your doctor’s visit? Do you feel like they’re glued to their clipboard or computer the whole time they’re in the room with you? That goes back to the fact that a traditional doctor’s office tends to treat patients as a number on their queue rather than a human being. 

Eye contact is hard to come by nowadays, with “old-fashioned” gestures like handshakes, direct eye contact, and holding the door or elevator for others going out of practice. Our DPC physicians work hard and make a conscious effort to make eye contact and make their patients feel valued. Taking notes is important, of course, and we don’t want to discount those doctors who take the most detailed notes during your visit, but we think connecting with your patient takes precedence. 

To learn more from our team, check out the Elevated Health blog here.

 Elevated Health Is All About DPC 

Direct primary care is relatively new, but our doctors, nurses, and office specialists have been around the block a time or two and know the ins and outs to healthcare. We understand why traditional models fail patients, and we strive to do better than what else is out there. If you’re interested in learning more about DPC or have any questions, reach out to us through our contact form here. We’re happy to help in any way that we can!