Denton County Living Well Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 8

SPRING 2015

SPOTLIGHT

To an independent
doctor, I’m not just
a number, I’m
ultimately a customer.

Independent or Employed?
How Asking One Simple Question Can Empower Your Health
By Stacy Apple and Christina Crawford
Photos by Stacy Apple

Like many busy, working parents, Joe Duer knows he’s
put his own healthcare second to his family and career.
Joe is a professional actor, model, and dedicated baseball dad. His two boys play on select, city, and travel
teams, which means he’s running from the moment he
steps out of bed, but not without the help of a few
ibuprofen with his morning coffee. Joe suffers from a
degenerative knee condition which causes his joint to
lock and cause severe& Sports little time and lofty
Orthopedics pain. With Medicine
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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SPRING 2015

goals, Joe turns to an independent physician to help
him reclaim his health.
“The best piece of advice I can offer people is to ask
one simple question before scheduling a doctor’s
appointment,” says Joe. “Not many people even know
they should ask this, but it’s important to know if your
doctor is independent or employed.” Independent
doctors own their own businesses, or are have