DeKalb MD is continuing to grow its regional network of direct primary care clinics with the opening of its second Chattanooga clinic, located on Shallowford Road.
With the direct primary care health care model, patients or their employers pay a monthly membership fee for unlimited access to their primary care provider without having to deal with insurance.
At DeKalb MD, patients can typically schedule same- or next-day appointments with their provider, whom they can access 24/7 via cellphone or email. Providers also make house calls, and prescriptions can be filled at wholesale costs at the clinics' on-site pharmacies. Over-the-counter drugs are available at the clinics for as much as 95 percent less than they would cost elsewhere, said DeKalb MD owner and President Dr. Chad Williamson.
Williamson, a north Alabama native, opened his first clinic in DeKalb County, Alabama, two years ago. In May, he expanded the business to Chattanooga with the opening of his North Shore clinic.
Williamson said he saw a need in Chattanooga for a direct primary care facility, which allows smaller companies that don't have the luxury of operating their own health care clinics to reap some of the same benefits.
"It's going to provide better care from the employers' and employees' standpoint," he said.
Patients have direct access to their doctor and don't have to fear unexpected costs associated with care, he explained. Direct primary care can also help individuals and employers curb costs such as expensive emergency room visits and pricey lab work, as providers are always on-call and lab work is performed in-house at a fraction of the cost. Providers can also take care of many issues over the phone, avoiding the lost productivity of leaving work to visit the doctor, he said.
The cost per month for individuals is $60 for adults and $10 for children, and the monthly cost for employers is $50 for adults and $10 for children.
The providers at DeKalb MD can take care of all routine health care needs and checkups, and they also have access to a network of 120 subspecialists across the country to assist with diagnoses and provide consultations. While this covers a wide range of health care needs, Williamson still recommends that patients have insurance coverage as well.
Pam Ogle, patient care coordinator for the North Shore clinic, said that location has been a good entry point into the Chattanooga health care market for DeKalb MD, although it has fewer patients than the other two clinics. She said more local patients likely use the Shallowford Road clinic because many of the employers that have contracted with DeKalb are in that area.
Williamson said the Shallowford Road location was opened in September to provide more convenient access for DeKalb MD's growing membership in Chattanooga, where the majority of patients are paid for by their employer. He said he's considering opening additional clinics in the area, with possible locations including Hixson, Cleveland and Northwest Georgia.
To find out more about DeKalb MD, visit dekalbmd.com or email info@dekalbmd.com. The North Shore location is at 13 W. Kent St., Suite 103, and can be reached at 551-6555. The new location is at 6150 Shallowford Road, Suite 104, and can be reached at 551-6538.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.