One Year of Hearthstone Family Care: Why I Chose Direct Primary Care
🎉 Hearthstone Family Care is celebrating its first anniversary! 🎉
One year ago, I opened the doors to Hearthstone Family Care as a Direct Primary Care (DPC) micro practice.
Looking back on this first year, one word comes to mind: gratitude.
I’m grateful for every patient and family who has trusted me with their health. I’m grateful for the conversations we’ve had, the questions you’ve asked, the challenges we’ve worked through together, and the opportunity to practice medicine in a way that feels deeply meaningful.
Returning to Medicine Differently
Returning to medicine through the Direct Primary Care model has allowed me to practice medicine the way I believe it should be practiced.
Medicine needs time.
Time to listen.
Time to ask questions.
Time to explain what is happening.
Time to discuss options.
And time to work together on a plan that makes sense for the individual patient.
That is one of the things I value most about DPC.
The Advantage of Being Small
Hearthstone Family Care is intentionally small.
As a micro practice, I wear a lot of hats. I’m the physician, but I’m also the medical assistant, receptionist, business owner, billing specialist, and much more.
That can certainly be a challenge!
But there is also a tremendous advantage to being small:
When you call Hearthstone, you reach me.
There are no complicated phone trees or layers of bureaucracy between you and your physician.
Instead, the goal is to create a direct relationship between doctor and patient.
Hearthstone offers:
🩺 Same-day and next-day appointments when available
⏰ Visits of at least 60 minutes
📱 Direct communication with your physician
💻 Office, phone, and video visits
📧 Questions and follow-up through text or email
🌿 A holistic, functional, and personalized approach
❤️ Education, guidance, and support throughout your health journey
In many ways, it's like having your doctor in your back pocket when you need guidance.
Healthcare Should Be a Partnership
I don't believe healthcare should simply be about telling patients what to do.
I believe it should be about education and partnership.
That means meeting people where they are, listening to their concerns, explaining the available options, discussing the potential benefits and risks, and working together to make thoughtful decisions.
Every person is different.
Their health history is different. Their goals are different. Their circumstances are different.
Good primary care should recognize that.
More Than a Number
One of the things I appreciate most about practicing in a micro DPC model is that my patients aren't just numbers on a schedule.
I get to know the people I care for.
I learn their stories.
I celebrate their successes.
I work with them through difficult health challenges.
Over time, those relationships become something very meaningful to me. I consider the people I care for my second family.
That personal connection is one of the reasons I chose Direct Primary Care—and one of the reasons I’m so excited about the future of Hearthstone Family Care.
Looking Toward Year Two
The first year has been a journey filled with learning, growth, challenges, and incredibly rewarding patient relationships.
Most importantly, it has reinforced why I chose to return to medicine through Direct Primary Care.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Hearthstone Family Care during this first year.
Whether you are a current patient, a family member, a friend, a colleague, or someone who has simply followed along and supported what we are building—thank you.
I’m excited to see what the next year brings.
And if you've been looking for a different kind of primary care—one built around time, accessibility, communication, and a genuine doctor-patient relationship—I’d love to introduce you to Hearthstone Family Care.
Schedule a free meet & greet to learn more about Hearthstone DPC.
Here’s to year two! 🥂