Dekalb MD, a growing regional network of primary care clinics, has opened a second clinic in Chattanooga. After opening its first Chattanooga location on the North Shore in June, the second clinic on Shallowford Road aims to provide a convenient location for residents of East Brainerd, Brainerd, East Ridge and Hixson.
Dekalb MD Shallowford will celebrate its official grand opening on Tuesday, from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at 6150 Shallowford Road, Suite 104, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Dr. Chad Williamson, a north Alabama native, opened his first clinic in Fort Payne two years ago. Since then, the Dekalb MD network has grown to include three affiliated clinics in Dekalb County, as well as two clinics in Chattanooga.
In the direct primary care model, individuals or employers pay a monthly fee for unlimited and near-immediate access to their provider. Each clinic has its own pharmacy onsite, and prescription drugs and lab tests are done at pass-through costs, meaning they are a fraction of normal costs. They can even make house calls.
“Our model focuses first and foremost on the doctor-patient relationship,” said Dr. Williamson. “With Dekalb MD, people can call and see their doctor the same day. Our clients have our cell phone numbers and email addresses, and we are available any time they need us, day or night.”
“Healthcare in America has gotten to the point that people are more afraid of going to the doctor because of the bill they’ll get instead of the shot they’ll get,” said Dr. Williamson. “With our model, the monthly fee covers as many visits, phone calls and texts as you need, so our clients don’t need to worry about the bill. It never shows up.”
But the model extends beyond just the doctor-patient relationship, according to Austin Jett, an Employee Benefits advisor with Russ Blakely and Associates in Chattanooga. Employers have a lot to gain as well.
“Forward-thinking employers are always searching for ways to bend the cost curve while providing better benefits for their employees,” said Mr. Jett. “Many large employers provide onsite clinical care for employees and their families because it improves the quality of care and helps to control costs over time. This type of approach brings the upside of an onsite clinic to small and midsize employers, but in an affordable near-site model.”
According to Mr. Jett, these models of care do not replace insurance, but instead work to address the issues that drive up insurance and healthcare costs over time.