Work Type
Poster
Abstract
The United States healthcare system continues to face major challenges, including limited access to care, rising patient costs, and increasing clinician burnout. Primary Care Providers (PCPs) play a critical role in managing chronic disease and improving patient outcomes, yet they are often constrained by heavy administrative burdens and brief, insurance-driven appointment times. These limitations can lead to fragmented care, decreased patient satisfaction, and provider fatigue.
In response, alternative primary care delivery models such as concierge medicine and Direct Primary Care (DPC) have emerged. The DPC model allows patients to pay a monthly membership fee directly to their provider, eliminating traditional insurance billing and enabling more accessible, personalized care. While DPC has been proposed as a solution to many flaws seen in traditional primary care, there remains a gap in understanding its long-term sustainability, scalability, and impact on both patient outcomes and provider well-being.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the DPC model as an innovative approach to addressing systemic issues in insurance based primary care, including access barriers, clinician burnout, and patient dissatisfaction. This topic is particularly meaningful as future healthcare providers, including physician assistants, must navigate an evolving healthcare landscape and advocate for models that prioritize both patient-centered care as well as provider sustainability. By examining the strengths and limitations of DPC, this study aims to contribute to discussions about improving the future of primary care delivery.
Publication Date
5-15-2026
Citation Information
Veltien, Anna, "Direct Primary Care: An Evolving Model of Primary Healthcare Delivery" (2026). Student Works Physician Assistant. 52.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/stu_pa/52
