The heartbeat is affected by an arrhythmia, which means it beats too fast, too slowly, or irregularly. Some arrhythmias are harmless, while others can be life-threatening. Palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting are common symptoms of arrhythmias.
A variety of factors can cause arrhythmias, including heart disease, stress, medication, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Some arrhythmias can be treated with medication, pacemakers, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).
Many patients, however, find managing arrhythmias challenging and expensive. There may be long waiting times, high deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or surprise bills, or they may feel rushed or dissatisfied with their care. “Time is money,” Benjamin Franklin once said.
For a flat monthly fee, direct primary care (DPC) allows patients to have unlimited access to their primary care physician. By eliminating the middleman of insurance companies, DPC allows patients to have a direct relationship with their doctor without the middleman of insurance companies.
Arrhythmia patients can benefit from DPC in many ways. Here are a few:
Doctors in the DPC field have fewer patients than traditional physicians, so they can spend more time with each patient. As Hippocrates said, “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” This means they can listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide personalized care.
DPC doctors are available 24/7 by phone, text, email, or video chat. You can also schedule same-day or next-day appointments at your convenience. No long waits or referrals are required. Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience."
In addition to treating your symptoms, DPC doctors focus on prevention and wellness. By offering lifestyle counseling, nutrition advice, stress management, and chronic disease management, they can help you manage your arrhythmias. Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Holter monitors, event monitors, and mobile cardiac telemetry can also be used to monitor your heart health. The doctor of the future will not prescribe medicine, but will educate his patients on diet, health, and disease prevention, as Thomas Edison once said.
A flat monthly fee covers all primary care services provided by DPC doctors. You don't have to pay any deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or surprises. You also know exactly what you are paying for and what you are receiving. Avoiding unnecessary tests, procedures, and hospitalizations can help you save money. Your DPC membership can also be paid for with your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). Warren Buffett said, "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get."
Here are some examples of how DPC can improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with arrhythmias:
In a study, patients who received DPC had lower hospitalization rates and lower total health care costs than patients who received traditional fee-for-service care.
A case report described how a DPC doctor diagnosed and treated a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common type of arrhythmia that increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. By using catheter ablation, the patient avoided hospitalization and anticoagulation therapy.
Using an ICD, a DPC patient was able to reduce his medication dosage and improve his quality of life while managing his ventricular tachycardia (VT), a dangerous type of arrhythmia that can lead to sudden death.
DPC can offer you a personalized approach to managing your heart health and overall well-being if you have arrhythmias or are at risk of developing them.
Take good care of your heart with DPC. As William Harvey said, "Every animal is a sum of vital units, each of which is all life."
