Exploring Life & Business with Zachary Inman of Promise Direct Primary Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zachary Inman

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?
During medical residency, I resolved to never work in a primary care clinic. My experience of outpatient medicine was typical of most primary care practices — five minutes per patient visit, always running behind, never any time to delve into underlying issues. This wasn’t the way I wanted to practice medicine.

And so, the first eight years of my professional career were spent as an employed hospitalist (a hospital staff doctor). I enjoyed the work, but it always felt like “a job” and not my calling. I wanted to build something I could be proud of. I wanted to devote my energies toward keeping people out of the hospital in the first place. But could I really see myself working in a stuffy clinic?

The solution came from a where I’d least expected it. My younger sister, also a primary care physician, had launched a very successful outpatient clinic, but the operating model was vastly different from anything I had ever experienced. Her practice did not bill medical insurance, but instead contracted directly with patients for a low monthly fee. This allowed her to set a limit on the number of enrolled patients and ensure that she always had 45 minutes per office visit. She agreed to mentor me and assist with launching my own independent Direct Primary Care practice.

By the next autumn, I had found a location and outfitted the clinic. Promise Direct Primary Care opened for service in November 2023, and since then I have become reinvigorated by the practice of medicine.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a DPC clinic from scratch has been a labor of love, but I can’t say that it’s been without its challenges. It’s been a gradual process. Until the clinic census reaches about half-capacity, I’m still moonlighting as a hospitalist on the weekends. Time management has been tough. Balancing the demands of hospital medicine with those of a growing clinic has been a challenge, but it’s been so encouraging to see the clinic growing steadily.

Another challenge has been the need to shift my mindset and approach to medicine in general. Hospital work tends to focus on acute episodic care, but my emphasis in the clinic is on preventative care. The transition from “reactive” hospital treatment to “proactive” outpatient medicine has required a bit of a mental adjustment, but I’m energized by the opportunity to learn about new topics and build lasting relationships with my patients.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Promise Direct Primary Care?
At Promise DPC, we provide a patient-focused healthcare experience that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and personalized care. Unlike insurance-based clinics, our Direct Primary Care model operates on a membership system, which covers most primary care services for a low monthly fee. My patients enjoy same-day or next-day appointments, extended office visits, and direct access to me via text, phone, or email.

What sets my clinic apart is my commitment to truly understanding my patients, and offering a level of continuity and attention that’s been lost in larger bureaucratic healthcare systems. By refusing to deal with insurance middlemen, Promise DPC shifts the attention back to the patient/physician relationship and simplifies healthcare. It’s my goal to build long-term relationships focused on prevention, wellness, and personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Some of the best resources for launching and growing my clinic have been online forums and Facebook groups of other DPC physicians across the nation. Here, we chat about best practices, share business and marketing tips, and offer encouragement to one another. Direct primary care physicians tend to be fiercely independent, but we all share the common spirit of putting our patients first and increasing healthcare access by lowering costs and improving transparency.

Pricing:

• Monthly membership = $90

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.PromiseDPC.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/promisedpc/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@promise.dpc