In this episode, Jack and Dave dive into the economics, culture, and structure of primary care in America.
They unpack why so few medical students choose family medicine, how RVUs shape physician incentives, and the burnout that stems from misaligned systems.
Dave shares why he left a major health system to launch a direct pay primary care clinic and what he’d tell other physicians who feel stuck.
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to get good primary care, this episode connects the dots.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(00:29) Challenges in Primary Care
(01:36) Understanding Primary Care Specialties
(03:15) Family Medicine vs. Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
(05:12) The Role of OB-GYN in Primary Care
(06:48) Shortage of Primary Care Physicians
(07:39) Personal Journey into Primary Care
(10:13) Financial and Structural Issues in Primary Care
(12:09) Impact of Big Systems on Primary Care
(18:25) The Role of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
(19:16) Patient Perception and Systemic Issues
(26:10) Primary Care Physician Burnout
(28:44) Understanding Burnout in Healthcare
(29:23) Impact of the Affordable Care Act
(30:07) Exploring Direct Pay Primary Care
(30:46) Personal Journey and Challenges
(32:24) Financial Considerations and Family Impact
(33:37) Negotiating Contracts and Non-Compete Clauses
(40:00) The Importance of Market Understanding
(42:17) Building Trust and Transparency in Practice
(46:07) Creating a Sustainable Practice Model
(47:51) Future Discussions & Outro
Episode #03.
LINKS
The Treatment Plan on YouTube
The Treatment Plan on Apple Podcasts