What Clinical Services To Offer

One of the benefits of the DPC model for both patients and doctors is the simplicity of the model. Most DPC practices work with local businesses to negotiate cash-prices on labs, imaging, counseling, PT and a host of ancillary services. This improves price transparency and adds benefits to your DPC membership that patients cannot necessarily access on their own. The basic idea here is to add as much value as you reasonably can for your potential members.

Ideas for clinical services to include in your practice model are:

• In house lab draws (many DPC docs ‘relearn’ phlebotomy, can use MA or nurse)
• Basic in-office tests: flu, strep, EKG, urinalysis, pregnancy, audiometry
• Splinting and casting
• Procedures: laceration repair, biopsies, joint injections, toenail removals, I&D, aesthetics
• Cash priced imaging
• Wound care services/materials
• Nebulizer treatments
• In-house medication dispensary (aka pharmacy) and/or relationship with mail-order pharmacy.
• DME: wrist splints, ankle braces, post-op shoes
• OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment)
• Loaner equipment: wheelchair, knee scooter, crutches, BP cuff
• In house therapeutic phlebotomy
• Inpatient care
• Obstetrics

Start with a basic list of services and procedures, and add more over time as your time, interest and budget allow. Expanding this list is a great way to add value for your patients while growing and learning professionally.

This article was originally created by a group of volunteer writers in September 2019. It may have been subsequently edited.