EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine February 2018 | Page 13

Q & A
WITH CEO & FOUNDER OF FAMILY
FIRST HEALTH CENTER
Dr. Delicia Haynes
by Elesha Mavrommatis
I
f you want your business
that’s here today, to be here
tomorrow, embracing change
is key. Dr. Delicia Haynes, CEO
& Founder of Family First Health
Center in Daytona Beach answered
our questions about the Direct
Primary Care movement and how
implementing this innovative model
of care has changed her business.
Tell us about the “Direct Medical
Care” movement and why you
made the decision to transition
your practice into this model of care?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an innovative way of providing
highly personalized primary care and simplifying health care
delivery. Patients sign up as members to a DPC clinic and get
unlimited primary care services (physicals, sick visits, chronic
disease management, well-woman exams, etc.) at a predictable
monthly investment. There are no co-pays, deductibles
or insurance hassles. Our patients enjoy same or next day
appointments, longer 1:1 time with the Doctor, convenient virtual
visits and more. It even includes basic lab work!
Do you believe this is the model of the future and if so, why?
I believe this model of providing direct care is the future of
health care delivery. When we are able to cut out the “middle
man” for routine primary care, we can lower the cost of care,
increase cost transparency, and keep the patient in charge.
Insurance is important to have for unexpected catastrophic events
(i.e. hurricane damage, car wrecks, major surgery), but it’s not
needed for more routine life events (i.e. broken windows, oil
changes, sinus infections). When you file insurance claims for
every little thing, it drives up the cost. Health insurance is not
health care.
Even specialists like the Oklahoma Surgery Center are
offering transparent fee schedules available online
www.surgerycenterok.com.
What were the business decisions that led you to move to this
model of care?
In 2014, I was at a crossroads. The area’s largest insurance
company threatened a 40% pay cut and my biller was pouched by
a larger organization. I Knew in order to stay in business I would
either have to double the number of patients I saw per day, fire
staff, sell to a larger organization and risk not being able to practice
medicine in line with my values, leave clinical medicine altogether,
or change my business model. I had built an outwardly successful
fee-for-service insurance based practice but was feeling like I had
to work for the insurance companies instead of for my patients. In
2015, I took a stand for the doctor patient relationship and became
the area’s first Direct Primary Care Clinic.
How does providing this model of care impact the way you run
your business?
DPC has greatly simplified the running of the practice and
enhanced the patient and employee experience. Member fees are
sent monthly and patients have enhanced access to the clinic. We
spend 30 minutes to an hour with patients. DPC reduces the need
for administrative overhead. The business side of medicine is
running in the background and providing top quality care is our
#1 focus.
How are you planning for growth?
We are planning to grow by adding satellite locations and
additional doctors as our membership grows. Members are
surveyed on what they want and those results fuel additional
services. We have partnered with area businesses to provide high
quality comprehensive primary care for their team that is cost
effective. Business owners can offer our service as a meaningful
health benefit allowing them to attract and retain talent, decrease
absenteeism, increase productivity, create a healthier workforce,
and decrease their overall health care spend. Employees can get
care without having to leave work.
What factors will allow you to be successful over time?
Keeping the patient‑doctor relationship at the forefront keeps
us successful. I draw on the negative experience I had as a patient
to create the type of practice I wish I had. We are fierce patient
advocates. At the end of the day, people want to know that you are
going to take care of them. We are tired of spending a lot on health
insurance and not being satisfied with our health care.
What other emerging trends do you see in the way in which
medical care is delivered?
Tech should never fully replace touch, but I see that we will
continue to leverage technology to enhance care. Wearable devices
allow for easier transmission of data to physicians who can
then intervene early on. It can also improve accountability and
communication in between office visits.
Elesha Mavrommatis is the Managing Editor of
EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine.
She launched her career at ABC News in New York
before moving to the non-profit arena as a front
line fundraiser, grant writer and communications
manager. She is currently working as a freelance
writer and consultant to non-profits.
FEBRUARY 2018 | 13 |