Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Dangond.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a board certified Family Medicine physician and always wanted to have my own practice. While in my training years it became incredibly clear that private practices in the primary care space struggle to stay open before they are absorbed by large systems or groups because of costs associated with the health insurance industry. During my training I was introduced to the concept of Direct Primary Care and so I decided to make it my mission to learn as much about it as possible so that I could run my practice following this model. Today, I am proud to say that I have opened my doors and that my practice is growing – in part because the model allows me more time with my patients and so the care can be more personal and also because my patients know exactly what the costs of their care will be due to absolute transparency with pricing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The setup of the actual practice was pretty smooth. The doctors that have decided to step away fro the insurance model and go the DPC route have banded together in a very fraternal way and so there is always someone to ask questions to or ask for help. The beautiful part of DPC is that it requires very little overhead or equipment to start and so it just a matter of getting organized and believing that you can do it. The biggest struggle for any DPC initially is the growth phase. Word of mouth remains our most powerful referral source and so once you have enough patients, they eventually start to spread the word. For me so far, finding the time to balance my moonlighting and the practice growth has been the biggest struggle but at the same time it has been incredibly rewarding to watch it grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Dangond Direct is my practice. It follow the Direct Primary Care model (DPC). For a reasonable, recurring monthly fee, our patients enjoy direct communication do their doctor via text, email, phone, video, or in-person. Appointments are available for same or next day and are usually 30mins to an hour depending on patient needs. There are no copays, deductibles, or surprise billing for visits. We don’t want people to feel like their care is transactional because in DPC it’s not. Total patient panel is limited compared to a traditional panel and so I can be more available and deliver more personal care that feels how old-timey medicine used to feel. We offer discounts of blood work through special contracts with Quest or Labcorp. For instance, a TSH, which is how we screen for thyroid disorders costs my patients $3.03 where the estimated self pay rate otherwise would be $149.28. We have negotiated cash pricing on imaging and medications as well. Ultimately, what we are most proud of is that through this model we can deliver incredibly personal, time-efficient, cost-effective care to our patients for a reasonable monthly fee. I want people to know they can get quality primary care that works for them and their pockets without having to use their health insurance.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Ask for help and ask for advice. There are many doctors joining the DPC model now and so there is definitely someone within your state willing to help you get started. Believe in yourself. If you could make it through medical school and residency then you can learn how to run your own practice.
Pricing:
- 18-54 for $89
- 55+ for $109
- 14-18 with active adult member for $40
- Employer packages available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dangonddirect.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dangonddirect/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dangonddirect
