Hometown Family Health’s Declaration of Healthcare Independence

This month we celebrated the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How cool is that? We hope that everyone had an enjoyable and safe 4^th of July and was able to spend some time with family and friends.

We’ve also been watching a lot of soccer in the office this month. If you have been in the clinic at all, you may have noticed that the TV in our new conference room has been showing world cup matches nonstop. It has become my goal to make a sports fan out of Danny and Dr. Palmiscno!

One of the things that has been most enjoyable for me about the world cup is watching those from around the world discover the United States for the first time. I could watch videos all day long of foreigners reacting to the Costco food court or the marvelous expanse that is Bucee’s!!

It has reminded me that we live in a pretty awesome place. Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Do we enjoy a lot of freedoms? We absolutely do.

When we started Hometown Family Health five and a half years ago, at the core of what we wanted to provide had much to do with freedom. In that spirit, I would like to unveil Hometown Family Health’s official Declaration of Healthcare Independence…

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

1.       That the patient-doctor relationship should come first. We work with you, not your insurance nor your employer.

2.       That patients deserve time with their doctor. Health takes time. Just like there is no magic pill that cures all ill, there is no magic that can be done in 5 minutes. Visits should be as long, or as short, as they need to be!

3.       That healthcare costs shouldn’t be a mystery. How did we ever get scammed into accepting a service without knowing the price? You wouldn’t buy your groceries or gas this way, why do it with your healthcare?

4.       That each question shouldn’t require an individual visit. Do you want to ask a question about your ingrown toenail at the same time as your annual wellness visit? Please do. No need to come back at another time. And definitely no need to get charged extra.

5.       That patients are the ultimate decision makers. Who cares more about your health than you? Who then is most qualified to make health decisions? We act as expert guides, helping to understand your health and the risks and benefits of health choices. We make recommendations, but not decisions.

6.       That, while comfortable, patients shouldn’t spend too much time in the waiting room. Have you tried the new couch in the waiting room? Super comfortable. You may, from time to time, find us working from that couch. But please don’t get too comfortable. We know you have lives—errands to run, work to do, carpools to drive. Our goal is to get you taken care of and back to it.

We are not perfect. We continue to grow and learn, and we appreciate your support. We know DPC and Hometown Family Health may not be the right fit for everyone, but for many it offers something that has become increasingly hard to find—the freedom to know your doctor, reach your doctor, and make healthcare decisions together.