Pros & Cons of Direct Primary Care Through Optimum Direct Care

Many people are becoming increasingly frustrated with the traditional health care system, which typically requires a long wait for an appointment followed by a precious few minutes with a doctor and a never-ending hassle with an insurance company. In response to these concerns, a new health care model – direct primary care (DPC) – has emerged.

Based on a membership-only structure, a DPC practice does not accept health insurance or work with any other third-party payers. Rather, in exchange for a predictable monthly fee, a patient receives unlimited access to a doctor he or she knows and trusts.

If you’re considering your primary health care options and wondering whether DPC is right for you, you might find it helpful to consider these pros and cons:

Advantages for Patients

With DPC, you can benefit from:

Knowing ahead of time exactly how much your primary health care will cost
A more relaxed and streamlined health care experience
A productive and enduring doctor-patient relationship
Extended appointment availability, including same-day or next-day availability
Unrushed face time with your doctor, as well as the freedom to discuss more than one health issue during a single appointment
Telemedicine consultations via voice, video conferencing, and SMS text
On-site tests and procedures performed at no extra cost, and off-site tests and procedures available at discounted rates
Free generic prescription medications from the office formulary
Access to multiple expert opinions via RubiconMD

Disadvantages for Patients

DPC completely eliminates third-party insurers from the primary health care equation, and many patients view this as a welcome change. However, it is important to keep in mind that a DPC doctor only provides primary health care services. Therefore, as a DPC member, you are still encouraged to carry health insurance to cover the costs of life-threatening emergencies, hospitalizations, and specialist care for complex illnesses and injuries.

Additionally, while the DPC model continues to grow in popularity, it can still be difficult to locate a DPC provider. Many patients find their DPC doctor through word of mouth, which is actually the best endorsement a doctor can receive.

Optimum Direct Care

At Optimum Direct Care, a DPC practice located in the Orlando, FL, area, Dr. Toni “Muzzi” Muzzonigro delivers health care that is always in the best interest of her patients. If you’re interested in becoming a member of our practice, contact us for more information.

“My husband and I were in search of a new physician when my neighbor mentioned that we should meet Dr Toni Muzzinigro who was a “Direct Primary Care” physician. We were not familiar with the term and were very intrigued. We made an initial appointment with her and learned so many things that we didn’t think existed anymore. Her main focus is on the patient and not the insurance companies! When she doesn’t have to worry about the bureaucracy and red tape of insurance companies, she has so much more time to listen to the patient and come up with a truly great level of care. The patient comes first and foremost. Our initial appointment was so thorough. She wanted to know every aspect of our past records. I felt like she really cared about us and her main goal was to keep us as healthy as possible. During our annual appointments, Dr. Muzzi schedules enough time to go over every concern you may have. Her explanations of test results are very thorough, and she is very knowledgeable of up to date medical breakthroughs. There have been some times during the year that we needed a doctor’s advice quickly. She is available to us basically 24/7. You can get in touch with her via phone, text, or video conferencing. Many things can be handled in a quick and timely manner. However, if there is a need to see her personally, getting in to see her doesn’t take weeks. Usually, you can make an appointment the very next day. How comforting is it to know that your doctor is always available to you and truly cares about your wellbeing! That is worth its weight in gold! Her staff are an added bonus! They run the office efficiently and take care of any other needs we may have. Another great advantage is that Dr. Muzzi has a network of specialists, labs, and resources available to us and at a discounted rate and free generic prescriptions. Personally, we like the fact that someone can help us navigate the medical system and direct us in the right direction. I simply can’t say enough. Dr. Muzzi has become our doctor as well as a good friend. She will always have our best interest at heart and her main goal is to provide the highest level of care. We are so thankful to have found Dr. Muzzi and Optimum Direct Care.”
Bambie A.

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