According to one recent survey, only 40% of Americans trust their doctors. The cause of this erosion in trust is widely varied, but one factor here is that most patients experience healthcare in an insurance-driven environment, which limits the time a doctor can spend with patients. And that’s a significant issue: it’s hard to build trust in your doctor when it doesn’t seem like your doctor has the time to get to know you.

At most traditional primary care clinics, appointment times are significantly limited–doctors just have too many patients to see in a single day. But that’s not the case in a Direct Primary Care setting.

In a Direct Primary Care setting, physicians typically see fewer patients every day, allowing them to spend more time interacting with each one. Additionally, appointments are available to schedule and doctors are easier to communicate with. Over time, this system presents a stronger opportunity to build trust between patients and physicians. And that trust can help improve care and outcomes.

How Does a Direct Primary Care Clinic Build Trust?

Traditional primary care facilities will often see as many patients as possible. In contrast, Direct Primary Care clinics operate on a membership-driven model, not a fee for service model, which incentivizes physicians to see more patients. The membership model allows physicians to spend more time with each patient. And because patient panels are smaller, patients generally receive more attention. The Direct Primary Care model will broadly offer patients the following benefits:

Longer visits: Most appointments in a traditional primary care setting are limited to less than 15 minutes or so with your doctor (and, in some cases, less). When you only see your doctor once or twice a year, there isn’t a lot of time to cover all of your healthcare questions and concerns. At a Direct Primary Care clinic, however, these appointments tend to be significantly longer. Your physician doesn’t necessarily have to rush to the next appointment. As a result, you have more time to have your concerns and any related issues addressed.
Your physician gets to know you better: When your primary care appointments aren’t rushed, discussions with your physician can be longer and often more thorough. You will have the chance to address more of your healthcare questions and concerns. As a result, most patients will feel more seen and more heard, and, as a result, their healthcare issues are often more successfully addressed. This can also lead to patients feeling more comfortable discussing new issues with their doctor. Over time, this leads to greater familiarity with patients, their healthcare needs, and their unique wellness goals.
Easier to get an appointment quickly: At a Direct Primary Care practice, their schedules are typically less crowded and more flexible. This means that when healthcare issues arise unexpectedly (such as accidents or illness), you can be seen by your physician more promptly. Physicians are also more easily available via phone and telehealth. This means acute and sudden conditions can be treated by a physician who is familiar with you and your health.

When patients feel seen, heard, and cared for, they will often develop a better and more trusting relationship with their physician. While there is some individual variability from patient to patient and doctor to doctor, the Direct Primary Care system is well suited to encouraging this trust.

Healthcare Benefits of Improved Physician Trust

While every patient should advocate for the best outcomes possible, if you don’t trust your physician, it’s more challenging to receive the care you may need. This is true in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including primary care. Improved trust in primary care can have the following benefits for your health:

Problems are Detected Earlier: Patients who trust their doctor are more likely to bring new issues to their physician sooner. In general, issues that are spotted sooner can be treated faster and, often, less invasively. This can reduce the amount of time patients spend receiving more intense care (for example, patients who are members of Direct Primary Care clinics often require less frequent and shorter duration hospital stays).
You are More Likely to Receive Personalized Care: When you trust your physician, you’re more likely to be honest and transparent, which means your doctor will get a better sense of your health over time. When your doctor is more familiar with your health, they’re better able to devise treatment plans that work uniquely for you. Your primary care doctor will also be able to more effectively coordinate care among specialists when required, and even help you interpret results that come from those specialists.
Patients are more likely to follow their physician’s advice: When you trust your doctor, you’re more likely to listen to your doctor. This can include taking prescribed medications (or avoiding ineffective medications), following diet and exercise advice, and getting vaccinated when appropriate. When a patient and physician trust each other, you can work together on your health!

Healthcare is a two-way street, and trust is an essential ingredient in positive outcomes. At a Direct Primary Care clinic, patients and physicians alike typically find it easier to build that trust than in traditional settings. And this can have a significant impact on your wellness.

If you are interested in becoming a member at Progressive Health Primary Care, contact us today to start the process!