The Direct Care Podcast For Specialists

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Are you offering free introductory calls in your direct care practice?

In this episode, I’m breaking down when these calls make sense, when you may not need them anymore, and how to use them to find the right patients for your practice.

I’ll walk you through my 5-part introductory call script—from framing the call and understanding their problem to uncovering the cost of doing nothing, helping them picture what they want, and explaining how you can bridge the gap.

If you’re building a direct specialty care practice, this is a skill worth practicing.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

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What if you shouldn’t listen to me?

In this episode, I’m sharing three reasons why I might not be the right person to guide you into direct care.

I’m not a guru with a perfect success story. I’m still evolving, testing ideas in my own practice, and learning from what works, and what doesn’t. I also don’t want the traditional version of success. I work about two and a half clinical days a week because I value freedom, time with my family, and having a life outside of medicine.

And I’m only eight years into private practice. But that means I still remember the fear, mistakes, and uncertainty that come with building a practice from the ground up.

If you’re a physician considering direct care, leaving insurance, or simply building a private practice that gives you more freedom, this episode will give you a clear look at my perspective, and whether it’s the right fit for you.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

Why do I answer my own phone?

Because I can.

And honestly, that’s one of the things I love about direct care.

I don’t need a big staff, layers of people, or a complicated system between me and my patients to run a successful practice.

In this episode, I’m talking about why I still answer the phone, collect payments, schedule patients, and keep my practice simple—and why the traditional idea of what a “successful” private practice looks like can actually get in the way of the freedom you’re trying to create.

More patients. More employees. Bigger office. Higher overhead.

None of those automatically mean more freedom or more profit.

If you’re thinking about building a direct care practice, this episode will help you rethink what your practice actually needs—and what you can let go of.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

Before you can build a direct care practice, you have to start thinking like a direct care doctor.

The insurance model has trained us to think that more patients means more money, that we should only offer what insurance covers, and that taking insurance is the “safe” choice.

But what if those beliefs are exactly what’s keeping you stuck?

In this episode, I break down four insurance mindsets you need to unlearn if you want to build a thriving direct care practice—and start thinking differently about your time, your expertise, your patients, and your money.

If you're thinking about leaving insurance or building a cash-pay practice, start here.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

What if the “safe” path in medicine is actually keeping you from practicing the way you want?

After nearly 20 years treating eating disorders, Dr. Lauren Hartman left the traditional healthcare system to build Aspen Grove Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine, a direct-care practice in Berkeley, California.

We talk about leaving security behind, betting on yourself, charging for your value, and designing a practice around time, autonomy, and the care patients actually need.

Dr. Hartman is a double board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, serves on the Eating Disorder Committee for SAHM, and is the author of Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales and Stigma, published by Routledge in March 2026.

Connect with her:

• Website: Aspen Grove
• Instagram: @laurenhartmanmd
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lauren-hartman-b4bab9a0
• Book: Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales, and Stigma

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a physician decides she’s done practicing medicine like a robot?

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Cheruba Prabakar about leaving employed medicine, building a direct specialty care practice, creating memberships, offering concierge-level surgical care, and hiring another physician.

We also talk about her journey to becoming The Fibroid Doc and the book she created to help women better understand fibroids and their treatment options.

A conversation about building a medical practice—and a career—that works for you.

Connect with her: 

• Personal Website: The Fibroid Doc
• Practice Website: Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery
• Instagram: @thefibroiddoc
• YouTube: @TheFibroidDoc

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I’m celebrating eight years in private practice—and sharing the real story of how I built the practice I actually have today.

When I opened my doors in 2018, I definitely did not have it all figured out. I started with an insurance-based model, struggled financially, navigated the pandemic, dropped Medicare, and eventually opted out of all insurance. Along the way, my practice, and my life changed in ways I never planned for.

I’m also sharing some of the unexpected challenges I faced in 2026, including major personal changes and uncertainty about my office space. And yes, there was a taco truck involved.

This is the final episode in my three-part series on building a profitable direct specialty care practice. My biggest takeaway? You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. You just need to take the next step, stay flexible, and keep moving forward.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

Once you leave insurance, you have to create your own patient acquisition funnel. But where should you actually spend your time and money—word of mouth, referrals, Google, paid ads, or social media?

In Part 2 of this series, I’m breaking down what I believe is the best way to bring new patients into a direct care practice. I’ll talk about building relationships, asking for referrals, connecting with local businesses, using social media to build trust, and when paid ads actually make sense.

Because sometimes, you don’t need more marketing. You need to find the leak in your funnel and fix it.

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

If you're ready to leave insurance or start your own direct care practice, don't make the mistake of selling visits. Sell the transformation. In this episode, I break down why every successful direct care practice needs one signature offer—the thing you're known for and the outcome your patients actually want. 

I'll show you why packages create more commitment, more predictable revenue, and a simpler business than charging per visit. You'll also learn the three-part framework I use to build offers that patients understand, trust, and gladly invest in. Start with one offer. Refine it over time. Simplicity is what helps your practice grow. 

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com

Send us Fan Mail

What if one podcast episode changed the course of your career?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Maria Bernal Riera, a triple board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine, and founder of Apex Endocrinology Health—a 100% cash-pay telemedicine practice providing endocrinology and obesity care to patients across Florida, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Dr. Bernal shares how discovering the My DPC Story podcast through a Facebook group inspired her to pursue direct specialty care immediately after fellowship. She discusses building a virtual practice from the ground up, combining expert endocrinology care with dedicated health coaching, and creating a business designed to grow beyond herself.

Together, they explore the realities of physician entrepreneurship, including developing a CEO mindset, creating a financial runway with locums work, marketing a cash-pay practice, and navigating the complexities of multi-state telemedicine. Dr. Bernal also explains why she founded the DPC Telemedicine Group on Facebook and launched The Cash-Pay MD newsletter—to provide the same sense of community and support that helped her build Apex Endocrinology Health.

Whether you're considering direct specialty care, telemedicine, or simply looking for a more fulfilling way to practice medicine, this episode is filled with practical insights and encouragement for physicians ready to build a practice on their own terms.

Connect with Dr. Maria Bernal:

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: Apex Endocrinology Health
📸 Instagram: @drbernalendocrinology
📘 Facebook: Apex Endocrinology Health LLC
👥 Facebook Group: DPC Telemedicine Group
📰 Newsletter: The Cash-Pay MD

Support the show

NEW 3rd Annual Mastering Private Practice Course hosted by SoMeDocs: includes Operational Systems That Prevent Physician Burnout by Tea Nguyen, DPM and many others. Buy tickets here

--> Direct Care Guide Download here

--> Build Your Signature Offer Before You Opt Out PDF here

Contact me here for an introductory call to see if you're ready to launch your Direct Specialty Care practice

---

Join the Direct Care Society, a private WhatsApp community here. Ads free!

• EMR I'm currently using in my Direct Care practice Simple Practice
• Find me on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/teadpm
• More resources teadpm.com