For nearly 20 years, I have had the opportunity to develop meaningful and lasting relationships with my patients here in middle Tennessee. This is the one aspect of the job I enjoy more than any other and feel it plays a vital role as I strive to completely fulfill my oath as a physician. However, over this same period of time, I have come to realize today’s business model of a primary care clinic is largely funded and shaped by insurance billing requirements and restrictions. It simply no longer permits the level of interaction I cherish with my patients. As you may know, a traditional primary care doctors’ only way to maintain their livelihood and achieve sufficient insurance-based revenues is by moving patients on a conveyor belt through the clinic as quickly as possible. After careful consideration, thought, and prayer, I am doing my part to put a STOP to what can feel like a less personal version of primary care. I am excited to tell you that I have started a new private direct medical practice model that will include a much smaller panel of patients. Each and every one of my patients deserve my sole focus without time constraints or pressure to move them out of the office and on to the next patient. Today’s traditional model simply does not allow me to fully deliver the version of care I want to provide. My new practice, McCollum Hometown Healthcare is based in Smyrna, TN. This practice style allows me the freedom and time with you in order to fully apply my medical expertise and meet your individual healthcare needs.
Here’s what this means for you as a patient:
This level of freedom, without pressure to move on to the next patient will not only allow me to “fix” what is ailing you, but more importantly will allow us the time to discuss in depth, a holistic approach to preventative care that will keep you feeling well! You will no longer be at risk for just being a number in a file with a few notes in it. You will be known and cared for as the special individual you are! This much smaller patient panel will also allow you same or next day in office appointments or virtual visits with me. You will no longer experience long delays sitting in a crowded waiting room due to an overloaded schedule. I will be available to you when you really need me and you will have convenient digital access to your health record. You will be connected directly to me for after-hours urgent issues and I will remain on staff at our local hospitals to be directly involved with your care should you need hospitalization. It will be like the days of long ago when you had a personal doctor!
Here’s how the practice works:
To be part of this experience there is a subscription fee that can be paid in one annual payment or broken out into quarterly or even monthly payments. This fee provides:
1) an annual routine diagnostic exam including a unique set of labs or other testing designed to keep you as healthy as possible all year,
2) along with immediate and ongoing annual exam-supporting electronic communication with my practice to help you achieve your health goals.
The subscription fee and included services are designed to qualify as a medical expense. Typically, this will allow you to use pre-tax HSA funds, or employer funded FSA/HRA dollars to pay the fee, if desired.
Of note, I will continue to accept most insurance plans and will remain in-network with Medicare so that I can continue to provide services covered by those plans as necessary. I will submit claims on your behalf to your insurance plan for services not included in your subscription fee when appropriate. Significant discounts are available for couples, children and families with multiple members as well as veterans, teachers, police and fire fighters.
Here’s how to become my patient:
I will be enrolling members based on a first-come/first-serve basis until I reach my capacity, then a waiting list will be established. Since a good number of my patients have already shown interest in this opportunity and enrolled, we are very near capacity already!
Therefore, I encourage you to assure your place now by joining my new practice in one of the following ways:
- Online at www.mccollumhealthcare.com
- By contacting Kayla, my Membership Coordinator, at 615-813-2200
For more information, you may visit our website at www.mccollumhealthcare.com or attend one of our virtual Information Sessions that you may enroll for from the website. I hope to have the opportunity to care for you and your family thoroughly for many years to come!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joshua McCollum
