James Bailey, MD

"My career in medicine was first inspired by my late mother who was the pediatrician for the small community I grew up in. Seeing how grateful her patients were for the care she provided made me want to give that same gift to patients of my own. I attended the University of Washington for my undergraduate education where I majored in neurobiology. For medical school I attended the University of Michigan where I received the Dean’s scholarship, a full scholarship given to students who demonstrate academic and leadership excellence. My time at Michigan was great but I wanted to return to the Northwest where I grew up. I completed my Family Medicine Residency training at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene. During residency I observed the negative impact that bureaucracy, insurance companies and corporate profits were having on my freedom to deliver the quality of care I desired to provide. When I learned about the Direct Primary Care model and met my partner and mentor Dr. Jacobsen I had the “ah ha” moment that started me on this career path. I am trained in comprehensive primary care, and my particular medical interest and expertise include mental and behavioral health, adolescent medicine, hormone therapy, and preventative health. When not working, you can find me spending time with my wife and kids. I love being on or in the water in our beautiful lakes, playing board games, and camping. With my limited panel of patients and without insurance company interference my hope is to provide the small-town, personal care I witnessed my mother providing to her patients. I look forward to joining you, the patient and focus of my care, in this endeavor."

"At Artisan Primary Care, we combine quality medicine with a positive patient experience. Rather than “factory medicine”, we take an individualized approach to care. With the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model we can spend more time with you, the patient, and focus on what is most important. A typical Family Medicine physician in the insurance market has thousands of patients to look after. At the same time, insurance companies made it so a physician can only spend about 15 minutes with patients. And on top of all that these third parties have their own checklist of items that have to be addressed in each visit, even if they are not relevant to a patient’s needs. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a model created and practiced by physicians that don’t accept these imposed barriers to a good Doctor-Patient relationship. With DPC, the physician doesn’t get paid by the patient’s insurance at all. Instead patients pay a monthly membership similar to joining a gym or health club, and don’t pay anything extra for office visits and medical services. That means no more co-pays, unexpected charges, or different quality of care based on what insurance you have. It also allows physicians to have a smaller panel of patients, and that translates to more time and individual attention for your needs. Services unheard of in an insurance practice such as longer appointments, the ability to contact your doctor directly, personalized lifestyle improvement education and support/coaching, proactive health planning, and consultation on supplements and alternative medical therapies become standard parts of the quality care you will receive."