Direct Med Clinic Collaborates with RubiconMD

Table of Contents

1. What is RubiconMD?
2. Is Access to a Specialist Important?
3. What Problem Does Direct Med Clinic and RubiconMD Solve With Speciality Care?
1. Eliminating Barriers of Care With RubiconMD
2. What Are Barriers to Care That Prevent Specialty Care?
4. What Are the Specialty Services RubiconMD Provides?
5. What Is the Impact of Direct Med Clinic Using RubiconMD for Employers?

What is RubiconMD?

RubiconMD functions as a bridge between primary care providers and secondary care providers or specialists. Our providers can choose from over 150 different specialties and subspecialties, such as dermatology, endocrinology, orthopedic surgery, and even mental health services through a digital platform. We have always wanted to provide a solution for members that need more than primary care. Now, RubiconMD links Direct Med Clinic providers directly to specialists for quick access to medical expertise on our members’ cases. When our clinicians want more insight into a member’s health situation that cannot be solved with a day-to-day visit, they can ask a medical expert in the field and receive a response within hours. Together with RubiconMD, Direct Med Clinic is changing healthcare delivery by securing relevant specialist expertise without the high cost.

Is Access to A Specialist Important?

Yes, access to a specialist is important to bridge the gap between primary care providers and patients. As a first or primary point of contact, a primary care provider will establish a rapport with a patient and generally care for their routine visit or chronic condition that can typically be treated within the office. When there are services that require secondary or tertiary treatment, special equipment, or expertise, access to a specialist is important to achieve the best health outcomes on time. Workers that need physical therapy from an accident or injury could also need mental health services to recover from trauma or an array of specialty services that primary care providers do not offer. Much like primary care, lack of specialty care can contribute to delayed care, inappropriate care, financial burdens, preventable Emergency Room visits, or hospitalizations. Bundling specialty services with primary care not only improves employee health outcomes but increases employee retention rates.

What Problem Does Direct Med Clinic and RubiconMD Solve With Speciality Care?

Collaboration with RubiconMD reduces lost worker productivity and saves costs for self-funded employers. Even though specialty care is important, specialists are often costly, unavailable due to high demand, out-of-network, or unavailable through direct access because they are not independent. This means specialists are unable to modify their method of delivery or payment structure. For providers at an onsite clinic, specialty expertise may be necessary to assist workers right away by confirming or identifying best care accurately and timely. Direct Med Clinic can negotiate without the web of insurance that will not allow flexibility on where to go when to go, and whom to see on specific health plans.

As a clinic that embraces the Direct Primary Care model, our healthcare providers believe in integrated health and comprehensive care. Part of our patient advocacy is removing the barrier of access to specialty services. We negotiate for the best price and quality of care for our patients, understanding the impact of physical, social, and mental health on the quality of life.

Eliminating Barriers of Care With RubiconMD

Direct Med Clinic eliminates barriers to care like wait times and costs with RubiconMD, an electronic specialty consultant (eConsult). As a result, we have a solution to helping patients access the specialty care they need. Members no longer need to go to a specialist alone. Our trusted primary care providers partner with members to mitigate high out-of-pocket costs, long wait times, unnecessary referrals, and costly Emergency Room visits. We explain the illness and solutions while keeping in mind patient history because of our direct-patient relationship. Direct Med Clinic also dispels the disparity in not having a regular place to see a specialist. We consult on behalf of the member, including price-hunting and negotiating.

What Are Barriers to Care That Prevent Specialty Care?

A barrier to care is any limitation that prevents patients from receiving health services.

1. Affordability

Direct Med Clinic reduces out-of-pocket costs by searching with RubiconMD for the best price at the best quality.

2. Accommodation

When Direct Med Clinic providers collaborate with RubiconMD at onsite and near-site clinics for clinical expertise, employers avoid hours of lost worker productivity.

3. Availability

RubiconMD connects Direct Med Clinic to specialists immediately that give responses within hours, allowing providers to act with the best care in a timely manner with same-day insights.

4. Accessibility

When Direct Med Clinic coordinates with specialists at onsite and near-site clinics, time and money are saved by enabling easy access to clinical expertise. We send workers back to work safely as soon as possible.

5. Acceptability

Since there is continuity of care, Direct Med Clinic leverages patient relationships with specialists, and employers are assured the best interest is taken for their employees’ health.

Carlos Reines, COO, and co-founder at RubiconMD, explains the solution in this way: “We solve that problem by allowing primary care providers to access e-consults with top specialists from over 150 specialties within 24 hours, and based on the guidance or the input they’ve received from the specialists they are able to improve patient care and solve access problems.”

What Are the Specialty Services RubiconMD Provides?

What Is the Impact of Direct Med Clinic Using RubiconMD for Employers?

Direct Med Clinic fills a unique role in helping employers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Direct Primary Care model, members have unlimited access to our providers over the phone, text and virtual care, and even after-hours. Yet, for employers who need their workers to have access to specialists and hospitalizations, we can keep their most valuable employees from leaving by providing benefits they can actually use. Employee retention comes from employee happiness. Happiness leads to increased worker productivity through speed, the competitive edge that you need against your competitors. RubiconMD can save employees from an unnecessary drive to a specialist that may be hours away and reduce absenteeism by providing adequate care on time. Our providers can deliver better care with specialist insight now with RubiconMD, saving weeks of wait time, hours of seeking care, and preventing outrageous out-of-pocket expenses. Employees can have better patient experiences with no copay or long wait times, and employers are increasing worker productivity while reducing costs and eliminating healthcare waste. RubiconMD helps Direct Med Clinic to continue to produce better community health outcomes for workforces across San Antonio.

Contact us now to set up a membership today.