How primary care providers are innovating in healthcare through the direct primary care practice model
As I discuss in the book Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare, many healthcare providers reach the point of burnout working in today’s healthcare system. High volume organizations, based on a fee for service revenue model push clinicians to see an ever-increasing number of patients each day. This leads to less direct, or face to face, time between clinicians and patients. It also means that many of our clinics and health systems fall into a rut of “slapping bandaids” on problems, rather than addressing root causes. If you don’t have enough time to dig deep, you simply can’t get to the heart of some issues like chronic disease management, healthy lifestyle habits, etc. That has driven some doctors to consider a Direct Primary Care practice model.
In this episode, I sit with Chris Habig from Freedom Healthworks, a company who’s mission is to help start as many Direct Primary Care Practice’s as possible across the US. He and I have a conversation about the Direct Primary Care practice model, its benefits, and differences between that model and the current fee for service model most practices (and insurance companies) use.
What we cover in this Episode:
- The problem with incentives in the current healthcare reimbursement models
- Managing a healthcare practice under the direct primary care model
- Some of the challenges with Recruiting team members and preventing burnout in the fee for service healthcare model
- Defining Direct Primary Care
- The importance of building relationships in healthcare
- Taking a biopsychosocial approach to healthcare
- Achieving Better Outcomes through empowering clinicians to “cut the cord”
We’re starting to create videos of certain podcast episodes, including this episode, which can find on the YouTube Channel.
Get Your Copy of My New Book Now!
Connect with Christopher Habig, MBA
For More:
If you enjoyed this episode: Join Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L (Rafi), principal of Rehab U Practice Solutions and host of The Better Outcomes Show as he explores the possibilities of a new healthcare. Guests range from clinicians trying new techniques and treatments to executives and entrepreneurs exploring new service delivery methods, business models, and organizational structures. You can sign-up to receive new episodes delivered directly to your inbox by filling out the form below. Learn more about Rehab U Practice Solutions by reading The Manifesto for a New Healthcare, or listen to Episode 000. Or, grab a copy of the book: Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare.
Are You Ready to Humanize Healthcare?
If you run a clinic or practice and are looking to develop a strategy that leverages best practices, new technology, and marketing/messaging in a way that returns the focus of healthcare to people, please reach out. We’d love to talk with you about how Rehab U Practice Solutions can help your clinic bring in more clients, retain them throughout their course of care, and create uniquely impactful experiences.
Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L (Rafi) is a healthcare consultant, speaker, and host of he Better Outcomes Show. He helps healthcare startups, SaaS platforms, and organizations craft clear positioning, humanize the patient experience, and go to market effectively. He’s the author of Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare and principal at Rehab U Practice Solutions. His work on Telehealth has been discussed in Forbes, and he’s advised on projects ranging from digital health product launches to multi-million-dollar healthcare transformation initiatives.
Today, Rafi helps innovative healthcare companies like technology startups, platforms, SaaS companies & innovative healthcare organizations develop effective positioning strategy and business development plans through his consulting work. He also leverages his experience as a professor and academic to speak and train on the topics around humanizing the healthcare experience & healthcare innovation. In addition, Rafi also owns and operates ProActive Rehabilitation & Wellness, a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic treating patients with musculoskeletal pain.
Sign up to get new episodes of The Better Outcomes Show delivered straight to your inbox!
Work With Me
Are you building something innovative in healthcare—like a digital health product, service, or platform that’s aiming to truly improve the patient experience?
I help healthcare startups, SaaS platforms, and forward-thinking provider organizations develop clear positioning strategies, identify high-value offers, and build go-to-market plans that actually resonate with both users and buyers.
Whether you're launching a new product, scaling an existing service, or navigating digital transformation, I bring 12+ years of experience across clinical operations, healthcare innovation, and strategic development.
How I help:
- Clarify your product/service positioning so customers “get it”
- Align your offer with real market needs
- Build a Digital Health Roadmap to scale your healthcare organization effectively
- Support business development with industry-informed strategy
I’ve consulted on projects from multi-million-dollar state initiatives to early-stage product launches. My work’s been featured in Forbes, and I also speak at healthcare events and conferences on topics like innovation, digital health, and humanizing care. I also speak and train at healthcare conferences, events, and organizations on topics related to technology-enabled care, healthcare innovation, healthcare positioning, and humanizing the healthcare experience.
Recent Comments