An Investigation of Community Members' Knowledge and Willingness to Consider the Alternative Pay Model for Direct Primary Care, Provided by a Nurse Practitioner

This researcher described the current Fee for Service (FPS) Model to gain information regarding Nurse Practitioner Service awareness in Pennsylvania and introduced the practice model of Direct Primary Care (DPC). The respondents provided information related to the research question of: What are community members' knowledge of alternative pay models for primary care services provided by a Nurse Practitioner? What are community members' willingness to participate in alternative pay models for primary care services rendered by a Nurse Practitioner? The research showed access problems as >70% of respondents indicated difficulty to scheduling an appointment taking more than 24 hours. It was determined that >28% of respondents found the DPC model more attractive than their current care model, an example of perceived value. This research showed scalability potential meaning other Nurse Practitioners who wish to pursue the DPC practice model in their geographical area could reproduce similar data collection efforts to learn the perception in their state or locality. It is believed that burnout associated with healthcare providers is high and DPC provides an alternative practice model to curb burnout, engage patients and heighten health outcomes while focusing efforts on a smaller practice size.