"ThriveDPC was established in order to be able to practice medicine the way it should be, between the patient and doctor. In a fee-for-service, insurance based practice doctors are compensated for physically seeing patients in the office, and therefore are encouraged to see more patients per day. This has led to large patient panels (2,000-3,000 per physician) with shorter office visits (the average visit is 7 minutes in face to face time with the physician). A relationship with the computer screen and hamster-wheel medicine was not why Dr. Town became a doctor. She wanted to establish ongoing relationships with her patients and to be able to offer the best care she was able. Seven minutes to accomplish this was not going to work. At ThriveDPC patients pay a monthly fee which covers a comprehensive annual physical as well as the ongoing care needed throughout the year (coughs/colds/UTIs, chronic condition management, weight management counseling) with no copays, ever. This also includes many procedures that can be done in the office such as sutures, incision and drainage of an abscess, skin biopsies, skin tag removal, wart removal, strep test, urine pregnancy testing, flu test, urinalysis, EKGs and lung function testing, all at no additional charge. We are able to spend more time with our patients, with visits lasting 30-60 minutes if needed. Because we are able to spend more time in the care of each patient there are fewer referrals to specialists. This not only saves patients time and money but allows for continuity of care. Patients are given Dr. Town’s cell phone number so if there is an urgent need after hours they have access. We are also able to text, email and video conference. There are often needs that arise that do not require a visit to the office and can be handled through text/email."
