Doctor sets up unique practice in Wilson

April 05--Area residents interested in seeing a doctor without dealing with insurance companies now have an option in Wilson.

Dr. Ashley Parker recently opened a direct primary care practice at Freedom Family Medicine, located at 2519 Airport Blvd.

Freedom Family Medicine is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The business allows patients to pay a monthly fee for full access to the doctor, including 24-hour access through email or phone, on an annual basis.

Patients not signed up to pay monthly, can still see the doctor through an acute visit, which costs $50 for children age 18 and younger and $60 for adults. Non-member sports, work, camp and college physicals and wellness physicals are also available to anyone.

Parker opened the business after working almost 13 years as a doctor at the Rocky Mount Family Medical Center. Parker earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his medical degree from the East Carolina School of Medicine, in 2000.

"I came here for several reasons," Parker said. "The main push was getting out of traditional medicine . . . and the way it pushes physicians to see more and more patients and spend less and less time with them."

Parker is able to work more stable hours, spend more time with patients and provide care without dealing with insurance companies, he said. Before he made the change, he often worked 12-hour days, which allowed little time, if any, for lunch or dinner breaks. He consistently felt pressure to see more patients in an effort to boost profits.

"Transitioning from traditional medicine to direct primary care is allowing me to be the doctor I studied to be and the doctor I want to be," Parker said. "It's allowing me to take care of patients the way they deserve to be taken care of.

"The way I look at it is practicing more like it used to be with a doctor your parents or grandparents remember that has the time to take care of you like you deserve."

Direct primary care is a type of primary care billing and payment arrangement made between patients and providers, without sending claims to insurance providers.

Customers who sign up for the monthly payment plan, which costs $39 per month for adults, are able to see the doctor as many times as they want. Each visit includes a $20 scheduling fee and 45 minutes with the doctor. The payment plan also covers the majority of the cost, 90 percent, of any lab work.

"It's an all inclusive fee," Parker said. "There's no new patient fee. There's no new enrollment fee or other fees. That $20 scheduling fee covers at least 90 percent of your labs. You can come as many times as you want."

The monthly fee for children age 18 and under is $20, couples pay $70, and family plans cap at $100 per month.

A list of service fees that go beyond normal medical visits are provided. The medical practice also has a list of specialists that accept cash payments at reasonable prices, he said.

"I have a list of specialists and services, like mammograms, bone densities, X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs," he said. "If you have to pay out-of-pocket, it's going to save you money."

Freedom Family Medicine offers a range of primary care services, as well as orthopedic care, women's health and other office treatments and procedures.

Patients who don't have prescription medical coverage are assisted through discount cards, samples and manufacturing company offers.

The medical practice is focused on providing quality health care, time with patients, assistance in coordinating health care needs and accessing affordable medicines, Parker said.

Freedom Family Medicine will see patients whether or not they have medical insurance.

Parker's wife, Dr. Holly Parker, plans to join the medical practice in June. She will focus on women's health.

Freedom Family Medicine can be reached at 991-6800. The company's website is at www.freedomfamilymedicine.com.

"There are a lot of places I could have gone," Parker said. "Wilson is growing. Just what I know of the Wilson community and some of the growth in the Wilson community was attractive from the business standpoint."

[email protected] -- 265-7818

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