Direct primary care: The key to cost savings and improved health?

Employers don’t turn to direct primary care just because it’s a better experience–it also provides an opportunity for significant cost-savings for self-funded plans. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Decades ago, when a patient was too sick to go to the doctor’s office, the doctor made a house call. Though this practice seems old-fashioned now, most people would agree that the current system often leaves much to be desired. The exception could be the emerging concept of direct primary care and integrated health.

These days, when someone gets sick, they call their primary care doctor and, sometimes days later, they have a 15-minute appointment, which leaves little time to ask difficult questions or build a connection. The current system also does little to connect various different physicians, nurses, imaging centers, hospitals and beyond to each other, making the health care journey less efficient, less personal and more costly. A more personalized health care experience could improve the health and well-being of most people—and save employers money. Direct primary care could help us get there.