Frequently Asked Questions

 

How This Practice Works

These are the questions many patients ask when considering a Direct Primary care practice- and thoughtful questions are encouraged.

 

This sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch?

 

There is no catch—but there is a different business model.

 

Traditional medical practices are built around insurance billing, which rewards short visits, high volume, and administrative complexity. This practice is built around Direct Primary Care (DPC), where patients pay a transparent monthly membership and receive care directly from their physician.

 

That means:

  • No insurance billing games

  • No rushed visits

  • No incentives to over-test or over-refer

 

The tradeoff is simplicity: fewer patients, more time, and care guided by medical judgment rather than billing codes.

If this is so good, why haven’t I heard of it? Is this a passing phase?

 

Direct Primary Care is still rare, which is why many people haven’t heard of it.

 

There are approximately 2,000 DPC practices in the United States. Even if every one of them were completely full with 1,000 patients each, that would amount to about 2 million patients total.

 

In a country of more than 330 million people, this represents well under 1% of healthcare patients receiving care through a DPC model.

 

DPC has grown quietly, physician by physician, without corporate backing or large advertising campaigns. It does not benefit insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, or large hospital systems—so it spreads primarily through word of mouth and patient experience, not marketing.

 

It is not a passing phase. It has been steadily growing for more than a decade.

Do patients actually like this model?

 

Yes—very much so.

 

Across independent surveys, reports, and patient testimonials, Direct Primary Care patients consistently report:

  • Higher overall satisfaction

  • Much better access to their physician

  • Longer, unrushed visits

  • Greater trust and continuity

  • Clearer explanations and shared decision-making

 

Common patient-reported benefits include:

  • Same-day or next-day appointments

  • Direct communication with their physician

  • Fewer unnecessary referrals and tests

  • Less confusion about results and next steps

  • Lower total out-of-pocket healthcare costs over time

 

Physicians practicing in this model also report lower burnout, which directly benefits patients through attentiveness, continuity, and availability.

 

Many patients describe Direct Primary Care as the most satisfying healthcare experience they’ve had, especially for ongoing, day-to-day medical care.

Common Situations & Real-World Questions

 

My spouse and I are trying to get pregnant. How does this model help us with family planning, pregnancy, and early care?

 

This model is particularly well suited for couples planning pregnancy and for early pregnancy care.

 

Before conception, I can:

  • Provide pre-conception counseling

  • Review medications and supplements for safety

  • Optimize chronic conditions (asthma, thyroid disease, anemia, blood pressure, diabetes)

  • Order and interpret appropriate laboratory testing

  • Coordinate care with obstetrics or fertility specialists

 

During early pregnancy, many women require frequent visits, especially in the first 20–24 weeks—often for issues that fall outside routine obstetric care:

  • Nausea, vomiting, dehydration

  • Respiratory infections or asthma flares

  • Urinary symptoms

  • Blood pressure concerns

  • Medication questions

  • Minor trauma or acute illness

 

As a physician trained in emergency medicine, I am accustomed to evaluating pregnancy-related complaints safely and efficiently. Many issues that otherwise lead to urgent care or emergency department visits can be managed promptly and conservatively in the outpatient setting.

 

Obstetric care, imaging, and delivery remain with your obstetrician and are typically covered by insurance. This practice provides continuity, access, and coordination, especially during the early months when visits are frequent and questions are common.

What if I need a specialist?

 

Specialists are involved when medically appropriate, not reflexively.

 

Because I perform a careful initial evaluation, referrals tend to be:

  • More focused

  • Better prepared

  • More efficient

 

I help patients select appropriate specialists, send relevant records, and understand recommendations. You remain under my care before, during, and after specialist involvement.

 

Many patients go years without needing specialty care.

What if I need lab tests you don’t perform in the office? Who pays? How often does that happen?

 

Most routine and many advanced laboratory tests are performed in-office.

 

When a specialized test is needed:

  • The test is sent to a reputable reference laboratory

  • You may use insurance or pay a transparent cash price—whichever is more cost-effective

  • Costs are discussed in advance whenever possible

  • Results are reviewed directly with you

 

How often does this occur?

For most patients, infrequently. Outside testing is most common during an initial diagnostic evaluation or when assessing an uncommon condition. Once a diagnosis is established, care usually returns to routine monitoring.

What if I need X-rays, CT scans, or MRI?

 

Advanced imaging is arranged through local imaging centers or hospital outpatient facilities.

 

These studies are typically covered by insurance or available at transparent cash rates. I help determine the appropriate study, avoid unnecessary imaging, and review results with you.

What if I need a procedure like a colonoscopy or cystoscopy? Then what?

 

These procedures are performed by specialists and are usually covered by insurance, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans.

 

I:

  • Determine when procedures are truly indicated

  • Refer to appropriate specialists

  • Help coordinate preparation and timing

  • Review results and ensure appropriate follow-up

You focus on outpatient care—but a lot of medicine isn’t surgery. What about everything in between?

 

That “everything in between” is where this model provides the greatest value.

 

Most healthcare involves:

  • Managing chronic conditions

  • Evaluating new symptoms

  • Interpreting labs and imaging

  • Adjusting medications

  • Preventive care and counseling

 

With proactive, accessible primary care:

  • Problems are addressed earlier

  • Fewer unnecessary referrals are needed

  • Many patients avoid urgent care and emergency department visits

 

Insurance remains important for hospitalizations, surgery, and emergencies. This practice is designed to work with insurance, not replace it.

Who tends to do best in this type of practice?

 

This model works particularly well for patients who value immediate answers and “one stop shopping”:

                  •               Time with their physician

                  •               Direct access and continuity

                  •               Thoughtful evaluation rather than rushed visits

                  •               Clear explanations and shared decision-making

                  •               Fewer unnecessary tests and referrals

 

It is especially well suited for:

                  •               Adults managing chronic conditions

                  •               Professionals with limited time who likewise want professional answers and plans

                  •               Couples planning pregnancy

                  •               Patients frustrated with fragmented or rushed care

Contact Us

 

If you’re unsure whether this model is right for you, that’s reasonable—and encouraged.

 

📞 Phone: (316) 737-5657

📧 Email: brenner@andoverinternalmedicine.com

📍 Location: Andover, Kansas

 

Clear answers. Thoughtful care. Long-term relationships.


 

Direct Primary Care isn’t different because it’s new—it’s different because it restores time, access, and judgment to medicine.