Frequently Asked Questions
What is Direct Primary Care?
-- Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new concept in health care where individuals bypass the insurance treadmill. They pay a monthly fee and enjoy more personalized, comprehensive care. They have more time to spend with their doctor who will in turn spend more time listening and developing treatment options that are acceptable to everyone.
What does the monthly fee cover?
-- The monthly fee covers all office visits, including physicals, sick visits, paperwork visits and most procedures.
What is not covered in the monthly fee?
-- Laboratory testing including blood work and any biopsies, and radiology studies such as x-rays and mammograms. There will be a significant discount, however for our patients. If there is a service that we cannot provide, I will find the most cost effective alternative.
Should I cancel my insurance?
-- NO! I strongly encourage you to keep your health insurance. I will not be billing insurance for my services. I also encourage you to talk to your insurance company to see if they will reimburse you for your monthly payments. I cannot do this myself. I cannot tell you if they will or not. Every company is different.
What if I have Medicare?
-- I accept Medicare and the supplemental plans, and most advantage plans.
How can I pay my bill?
-- I will be accepting cash, checks and credit or debit cards, and HSA account cards. Cards will be automatically charged each month on the day selected by the patient or guardian. Cash and checks can be mailed or paid in person.
What is a DO? (click to know more)
-- A DO, or Doctor of Osteopathy, is a fully licensed medical physician. We attend a 4 year medical school after obtaining a 4 year college degree. We then spend at least 3 years in "Residency", learning about our specialty. This is the same thing that MDs do, except we also learn a little more about the musculoskeletal system, and learn about Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy.
What is OMT?
-- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment was developed by the founder of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still, MD. OMT and Chiropractic Treatments developed alongside of each other. They are very similar, but DOs learn to use OMT as a modality of treatment in a more medically sound context.
Why "Avalon"?
-- Growing up in Southern California, Santa Catalina Island was only "26 miles across the sea" by boat. My family and I often went for the day. Later, my best friend and I backpacked across the island twice. The final destination for all of the trips was the city of Avalon. My memories there are golden. As an adult, in Pennsylvania, I have now spent wonderful times near Avalon, New Jersey with dear friends. To complete the circle, "Avalon" is an island in the Legend of King Arthur. It is a mystical island filled of healing fruit trees. My logo represents the trees there, the "Chalice" of the people there, and the mighty sword of Excalibur.
