Healthcare Innovations: Med Club Bartlesville

Med Club Bartlesville

Innovative Approach Uncomplicates Access to Care

“If my parking lot is full, I am doing something wrong or there has been a disaster!”

Those are the words of Dr. Kerri Williams, who sees patients in the office, but unlike most traditional primary care practices, she electronically communicates with patients online or through texts, too. She voluntarily provides patients her cell phone number, and all Med Club members are given access to emergency afterhours care via telephone.

It is hard to break the mindset of the traditional, insurance-based healthcare system. In the “system,” everything is centered around treating an existing illness. Most insurance companies only pay when patients are seen face-to-face. It is unusual for a doctor to get paid for detecting early warning signs of diabetes, or encouraging lifestyle changes to decrease risks of heart disease. Most healthcare insurance companies do not pay doctors for answering patients’ texts, emailing information links explaining their illness, or asking about their family!

Practically speaking, Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership model that uncomplicates access to quality primary care by removing those that stands between the doctor and patient: no insurance, no corporate healthcare system, no middlemen. Just doctor and patient! Since Dr. Williams has not signed a contract with Medicare, Medicaid, or any health insurance company, she can be transparent with your costs and never shares your personal information without permission. DPC is today’s straight avenue to quality, comprehensive healthcare from a doctor who has the time to know you. All for a low, flat, monthly fee.

A local manufacturing company sponsors their employee’s Med Club membership. The owner explained, “Even though my employees have healthcare insurance, many cannot afford to pay their deductible, copay, and medication. So, they put off going to the doctor. Then their illness progresses into something worse and they miss work.” Employee access to a quality primary care doctor is important to this business owner. He was impressed to know the number of employee healthcare insurance claims will potentially decrease, making the total cost of his company’s employee healthcare insurance premiums decreased too! It did not take him long to calculate that Med Club will help improve his bottom line!

What are the benefits of a Med Club membership? Simply put: ACCESS to a doctor that makes it a priority to keep patients healthy and takes the time to care! Primary care is supposed to be built on longterm relationships between clinicians and patients. A 10- minute appointment does not support that trusted relationship.

Med Club’s reasonably priced, flat, monthly membership fee covers excellent primary care by providing unlimited acute and chronic condition ambulatory care office visits, annual wellness exams, sports and school physicals, typical family medicine office procedures, and much more. Dr. Williams limits her practice to 750 patients. Also, Med Club members are offered deeply discounted medication and laboratory prices. A DPC membership is not an insurance plan; patients will still need healthcare insurance if they have a major health problem.

With over 20 years of medical experience, Dr. Williams provides healthcare to patients of all ages. She holds board certification in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine and has participated in an Emergency Medicine Fellowship program. The American Academy of Family Practice has recognized her with the distinguished honor of the “Degree of Fellow.” In 2016, she received a Master of Health Care Administration from Oklahoma State University. Strong medical experience and specialized business knowledge has provided her the confidence to leave the “system” and traditional medicine practice norms to become an innovator and medical economic leader.

Med Club of Bartlesville is located at 2301 SE Washington Blvd. (across Highway 75 from Washington Park Mall). Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with same-day and next-day appointments generally available. Members are given access to emergency afterhours care via telephone. For more information, call 918- 214-8200 or check out their website www.medclub.clinic.