Ep. 50: Direct primary care with Maryal Concepcion, M.D., FAAFP

Maryal Concepcion, M.D., FAAFP, the owner and CEO of Big Trees M.D., joins the show to talk direct primary care with Medical Economics Editorial Director, Chris Mazzolini. Concepcion shares the story of her own personal transition from traditional, fee-for-service medicine, to starting her own direct primary care practice.

Check out our previous episodes about MGMA's policy wishlist under the Trump administration, top risks to practices, weight loss drugs and social media health information.

Music Credits:
A Cup Of Warm Tea by JO.BITE - stock.adobe.com
COCKTAIL by Mythical Audio - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

Introduction to Direct Primary Care (00:00:00) 
Maryal Concepcion, M.D., FAAFP, shares her vision of primary care as it relates to direct primary care (DPC).

What is Direct Primary Care? (00:01:01)
Concepcion explains DPC and its differences from traditional fee-for-service medicine.

The Community Aspect of DPC (00:02:42)
Discussion on the importance of community relationships in DPC and patient care.

Challenges in Traditional Medicine (00:04:41)
Concepcion reflects on her experiences in traditional fee-for-service medicine.

Journey Through Medical Training (00:05:02)
Overview of Concepcion's medical education and her transition to attending physician.

Experience in Fee-for-Service (00:06:39)
Concepcion describes the limitations and frustrations in her fee-for-service practice.

Impact of Corporate Medicine (00:08:47)
Insights on corporate practices and the challenges faced by physicians.

Creating a Podcast for Healing (00:10:47)
Concepcion discusses starting a podcast as a way to share experiences and heal.

Describing the DPC Practice (00:13:00)
Concepcion explains how her DPC practice operates and its patient-centered focus.

Setting Up a DPC Practice (00:17:16)
Discussion on the steps taken to establish her DPC practice from scratch.

Marketing and Communication in DPC (00:20:07)
Concepcion talks about the importance of marketing and patient communication in DPC.

Elevator Pitch for Patients (00:20:59)
Overview of how Concepcion introduces DPC to patients and addresses their concerns.

Understanding Patient Needs (00:22:06)
Discussion on the importance of listening to patients and addressing their needs in healthcare.

Transitioning to Direct Primary Care (00:23:03)
Advice for listeners on taking the first steps toward transitioning from fee-for-service to DPC.

Resources for DPC Transition (00:23:33)
Introduction of various resources available for those interested in starting a DPC practice.

Support and Community in DPC (00:25:13)
Emphasis on the supportive community available to DPC practitioners across the United States.

Closing Remarks (00:26:27)
Thanking Maryal Concepcion for her insights and contributions to the discussion.