Why You Deserve Longer Visits With Your Doctor (And How DPC Makes That Possible)

Why You Deserve Longer Visits With Your Doctor (And How DPC Makes That Possible)

If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s appointment feeling like you barely scratched the surface of your concerns, you’re not alone. In traditional healthcare settings, patients often get just 10–15 minutes with their doctor—barely enough time to cover symptoms, let alone dive into root causes, prevention, or long-term goals.

You deserve better. You deserve time.

This is one of the most powerful promises of Direct Primary Care (DPC): longer, unrushed visits that prioritize your health—not your billing code.

Let’s talk about why longer visits matter, what you’re missing in the traditional system, and how DPC turns that around for you.

The Problem With Rushed Doctor Visits

The typical primary care appointment in a traditional insurance-based system lasts just 15 minutes. That short window includes:

·       Reviewing your chart and medications

·       Asking questions about your symptoms

·       Performing a physical exam

·       Explaining test results or treatment plans

·       Answering your questions (if there’s time left)

That’s not enough.

Doctors are often seeing 20–30 patients per day because they’re stuck in a volume-driven model. Insurance companies reimburse per visit, per procedure, not for quality or time. With decreasing reimbursement rates from insurance companies, doctors in the insurance based system are forced to see more and more patients per day, making thoughtful, in-depth care more difficult to deliver.

This often leaves patients feeling:

·       Unheard – "I didn't even get to mention my other concerns."

·       Rushed – "I had to explain everything so fast I forgot something important."

·       Unclear – "I’m not sure I fully understand my diagnosis or treatment."

Why Longer Appointments Matter

When doctors have more time, they can listen more, investigate deeper, and build a stronger relationship with you. Here’s what becomes possible:

1. Thorough Understanding

Longer visits allow for deeper conversations—not just “What’s wrong today?” but:

·       What’s your lifestyle like?

·       Are you under stress?

·       What are your goals for your health?

This holistic understanding leads to better diagnoses and more personalized care.

2. Preventive Focus

Short appointments tend to focus only on what's urgent. But real health transformation happens when there’s time to:

·       Review nutrition and exercise habits

·       Talk through sleep issues

·       Screen for early signs of chronic disease

Preventive care helps you stay healthy, not just treat problems after they arise.

3. Better Chronic Condition Management

Whether it’s diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, or anxiety, chronic conditions require education, adjustment, and follow-up. A longer visit allows us to talk through how you're actually doing—not just whether your numbers are “in range.”

4. Fewer Referrals, More Care in One Place

When visits are longer, more can be addressed in-house. That means fewer specialist referrals, fewer appointments elsewhere, and better continuity.

5. Stronger Doctor-Patient Relationships

Trust doesn’t happen in 10 minutes. But when we have time to truly talk, listen, and follow up regularly, it builds the kind of relationship where healing can really begin.

So, How Does DPC Make Longer Visits Possible?

At Florida Direct Primary Care, the model is different by design.

We don’t bill insurance companies. Instead, you pay a monthly membership fee—between $60–100/month based on your age. That covers unlimited visits, whether in person, by phone, or via text.

Because we’re not chasing reimbursements or packed schedules, we limit how many patients we care for—between 300–400, compared to 2,000+ in traditional clinics.

What That Means for You:

·       Appointments last 30–75 minutes (or longer if needed)

·       Same-day or next-day availability

·       More time to discuss ALL your health concerns

·       No more feeling like just another number

DPC doctors get to practice medicine the way it should be practiced: slowly, thoughtfully, and with real human connection.

👨‍⚕️ Real-World Example: The “I Just Want to Make Sure I’m Okay” Visit

A 62-year-old man walks in and says,

“I haven’t been to a doctor in about 10 years. I feel fine, but figured it’s probably time to get checked out.”

In the traditional system, this kind of visit might be limited to:

• A rushed physical

• Basic labs

• Maybe a quick warning about cholesterol or blood pressure

• A prescription or two, then “see you next year”

There’s little time to explore history, goals, or context—and often no real relationship gets built.

In a DPC setting, this visit becomes something deeper:

• We schedule a comprehensive 75-minute new patient visit.

• We take time to review his full health history — including surgeries, past injuries, and family risk factors.

• We talk about what matters to him: staying active, avoiding unnecessary meds, and being around for his grandkids.

• We do a thorough physical, screen for cardiovascular risk, cancer history, metabolic health, and mental well-being.

• We run labs and imaging that are appropriate for his personalized history.

• He walks out with a personalized plan:

• A few lifestyle tweaks to improve heart health

• Preventive screenings (like colonoscopy and AAA screening) lined up

• A clear explanation of what to monitor — and how often

• And a plan for regular follow-up, not just a once-a-decade drop-in

We also give him the option to reach out via text or email anytime questions come up. For the first time in years, he has a doctor he knows and trusts.

This type of visit wouldn’t fit into the traditional model — but in DPC, it’s exactly what we’re here for: proactive, preventive, relationship-based care.

More Time = More Value

It’s easy to assume that longer visits are a luxury—but they’re really a necessity. Rushed care often leads to:

·       Missed diagnoses

·       Poor communication

·       Over-prescription of medications

·       Increased ER and urgent care visits

Longer visits reduce all of that.

Even better: with DPC, longer visits don’t mean higher costs. In fact, patients often save money overall by avoiding unnecessary urgent care, specialist visits, and copays.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve Better Than a 15-Minute Visit

Your health is too important to rush. You deserve a doctor who has time to listen, educate, and work with you—not just treat symptoms quickly and move on to the next patient.

Direct Primary Care is making that possible—by giving doctors more time and patients more value.

If you’re tired of feeling rushed, overlooked, or confused about your care, it might be time to experience what healthcare should feel like.

Florida Direct Primary Care in St. Augustine

Dr. Bryant Wilson is a board certified internal medicine physician at Florida Direct Primary Care who develops individualized treatment plans that promote overall health and wellness, tailored to each patient’s unique health needs and goals. If you’re in the St. Augustine area and looking for a primary care doctor, contact us to learn more about our practice. Visit FloridaDPC.com, email us at info@FloridaDPC.com, or call 904-650-2882.

This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating individual health problems or diseases. Those seeking medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.

Ready to become a Florida DPC member? Click here to register.