By: Jon Jablon, Esq.

In case you haven’t heard, COVID-19 is kind of a bummer. We’re all at home, and like my colleague Jen McCormick, I’ve got a toddler who wants nothing more at any given time than to go to a playground. Even after so many weeks of this, it still seems surreal to be able to say “sorry, buddy, but if we go to a playground, dad might go to jail!”

Anyway. This blog post is about direct primary care!

Some have expressed the view that the best feature of DPC is the personalization of care; others say the best thing about it is the flat fee. In my view, though – through COVID-19-colored lenses – the best thing about DPC is that direct primary care providers are already prepared to work from home.

When I text Dr. Tremblay, it doesn’t matter that his office is closed. It doesn’t matter that I could go to jail if I bring my son to a playground. No – all that matters is that during this crisis, my DPC provider is available to help me. Ironically, he may even be more available than usual, since he’s not burdened with that pesky office time.

I can’t speak to the ability to retain DPC care in the midst of this crisis, but if the benefits of DPC in normal times weren’t attractive enough, it’s definitely worth looking into now! In this time of need, individuals or even entire employer groups would do well to explore this option, and provide some much-needed additional security to their families.

This may sound like a sales pitch, but really it’s just my personal anecdote about how much more secure my wife and I are knowing that we can speak to a doctor at any time, and have prescriptions written for us, from the comfort of a playground. Or, uh, without ever having to leave the house, I mean.

Please continue to stay safe, everyone – including social distancing and access to care!