Practice Design: Caritas Family Medicine is modeled after a growing trend of solo private practitioners that are attempting to recapture traditional values of the doctor patient relationship in our ailing medical system.
Most medical practices stay financially viable by trying to see as many patients as possible as efficiently as possible. They employ many people to assist the physician to absorb the office workload so the physician can focus on seeing patients. Typical physician schedules allow 10 to 15 minutes of actual physician time per visit. While this model of medical practice may thrive financially, it does so at a very high price. Practice overhead costs sometimes reach greater than 70% of practice income. Patients are often dissatisfied with the quality of care they receive. Doctors are often frustrated with the restrictions this model puts on the doctor-patient relationship.
Caritas Family Medicine is a practice designed to enhance the doctor-patient relationship by providing personalized, hands on, accessible health care, within the parameters of the current medical system. This is accomplished by a drastic reduction in practice overhead costs. Dr. Speach practices independently, without any employees. By utilizing readily available technologies such as the internet, electronic health records (EHR), and a small patient registry, (approximately 400 patients), Dr. Speach is able to simplify the office tasks that traditionally would require employees.
On-line Appointment Scheduling By using the links on this website, patients are able to schedule their own appointments without having to call a secretary.
Open Access Scheduling Each day, approximately half of the appointment times will be opened for patients that are acutely ill and need to be seen that day. These appointments are made available daily on-line. If the daily allotted appointments are filled, Dr. Speach should be called directly to schedule an appointment to be seen within the next 24 hours.
24 Hour Telephone Access All registered patients will have access to Dr. Speach's cell phone number to be used in case of medical emergency. With the exception of periodic vacations, Dr. Speach will remain on call for registered patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When Dr. Speach is not available, appropriate coverage will be provided by another physician.
Secure E-Mail Caritas Family Medicine, in compliance with information privacy legislation offers access to a SECURE- ENCRYPTED Email system. This system makes it possible to share sensitive medical information via E-mail while protecting your personal privacy and complying with HIPPA privacy. Patients that choose to use regular email may do so after signing a simple waiver form when they register with the practice
