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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 25 Q: Magnolia Pediatrics is a direct primary care (DPC) provider. What does that mean? Is DPC the same thing as concierge medicine? Concierge doctors take insurance plus extra money on top for extra care. DPC doctors take a flat fee per month that covers all doctor vis- its, texts, phone calls and in-office tests and medications. There is no co-pay for these services, they are all covered by that flat fee. You still need insurance for labs, vaccinations, imaging and prescriptions. Q: Why did you choose this model? One of the first messages you see on my website is, "Children come first," and that really sums up why I chose this model. Because I am not spending time and resources billing insurance, I am able to give my patients my direct attention—no need to go through a phone tree or be on hold with a receptionist—and almost always offer same-day appointments. Patients can text me directly, and I can help them determine whether they need to come in to see me, or whether I can offer information that can keep them from having to bring a child into the office. They can also rest assured that they'll see me—not another provider—every time they come in. It's more like the old-school model of seeing one doctor and really developing a relationship with that medical provider. Q: Is this kind of care more expensive than traditional insurance-based care? It's not as expensive as people tend to think it is. What many people have trouble understanding is how much they are already paying. If you add up the charges for co-pays, in- office swabs and tests, and the higher urgent care co-pays when you can't get to your regular provider, it becomes clear that two sick visits under the traditional model can easily cost more than our $120 monthly fee per child (we offer multiple-child discounts). With newborns and young children, it is normal to have a lot of questions. Babies don't come with instruction manuals. If you think about how many times you are going to the doc- tor with a child, how many tests for strep, for ear infections or other conditions—this is all included in your subscription cost with Magnolia Pediatrics. You can focus on getting the information you need about your child's care—in the manner (text, phone, in person) that is most convenient to you— instead of worrying about what you'll be billed for. Q: Do you meet with expecting parents? I love meeting with expecting parents! I talk them through what the hospital situation will look like where they are planning to deliver, who will see them in the hospital and when they would first see me, based on what the hospital pediatrician says. I try to walk them through what they need at home versus what they don't need, some of the basics of newborn care, and I really let them guide the conversation. I want to know what their questions are, what they are look- ing for in a pediatrician. From there we can start a conversa- tion about whether they would like to enroll for care with me, and how that works. Q: How has serving patients under the DPC model impact- ed your life as a physician? A: It's making me so happy, and really bringing me back to what I love about pediatrics and why I went into medicine in the first place. I can slow the pace down, talk and engage with my patients. And it's gratifying to see how positively the families I work with respond. They love the convenience. Once they start using this model they say, 'I love this so much' and they tell their friends. Direct Primary Care (DPC) doctors take a flat fee per month that covers all doctor visits, texts, phone calls and in-office tests. To learn more about Dr. Margaret Patterson and Magnolia Pediatrics, visit magnoliapediatricsofva.com. The peace of mind factor is also important to consider.