How do independent practices actually grow?
Design your practice around how you want to care for patients
Without starting from zero when you open
If you’re seeing 20–25 patients a day, finishing notes at night, and wondering how long this pace is sustainable,
you’re not the only one thinking about a different way to practice.
The question isn’t whether Direct Care works. It’s how to actually move forward.
Independent Practice Path helps physicians move from thinking about Direct Care to actually preparing to open, with a clear path and early patient interest already in place.
If you’ve been thinking about this for a while, this is likely your next step.
IPP is built for physicians who are serious about independent practice and want a clear, structured path instead of another year of late-night research.
The "Procrasti-learning" Research Trap
Most physicians who consider Direct Care or DPC start by researching logistics:
- LLC formation and legal structure
- EMR systems and patient portals
- office space, equipment, and staffing
- pricing models and membership tiers
Those details matter, but they're rarely the real barrier. The harder questions usually sound more like:
- How do I explain this model clearly to patients?
- When is the right time to start talking with patients about a future practice?
- How do I build genuine early interest without feeling like I’m selling?
- How will I know when it’s safe to leave employment?
Without clear answers, it's easy to stay in research mode for six months, a year, or longer... reading, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and still feeling unsure about when and how to move forward. Many physicians spend six months or longer thinking about direct care but never move forward because the path feels unclear.
If you recognize yourself in that pattern, you're not alone. It's a normal response for a physician who takes responsibility seriously and wants to make a thoughtful, ethical transition.
The "Procrasti-learning" Research Trap
Most physicians who think about Direct Care don't lack information.
They get stuck because they're unsure about the next step.
Questions start to pile up:
What should I say to patients?
What should I say about the membership fee?
What if patients do not follow me?
When should I leave my job?
What should I do first?
Without a clear path, many physicians stay in this stage for years... reading, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and still unsure how to move forward. Independent Practice Path is designed to help you move forward.
If you recognize yourself here, you're not alone. It's normal for a physician who takes responsibility seriously to want to make a thoughtful, ethical transition.
practice momentum Flywheel
This simple flywheel becomes the backbone of how we think about your practice: every activity in IPP connects to one part of this cycle so you're not guessing about what to do next.
Independent practices grow through a simple cycle.
Behind every stable Direct Care or DPC practice is a predictable, learnable cycle:
- Reach — people discover your future practice.
- Resonate — your message makes sense to them and fits their real concerns.
- Respond — curiosity turns into conversation, emails, and interest list sign-ups.
- Retain — patients stay, experience good care, and refer others.
Most physicians assume this cycle starts after the practice opens. In reality, you can begin Reach → Resonate → Respond → Retain months before day one. When you do this, opening a practice feels far less risky.
Introducing Independent Practice Path
A structured path from "thinking about it" to "ready to open"
Independent Practice Path (IPP) is an 8-week, small-group experience for physicians who are seriously considering Direct Care or DPC and want more than scattered advice. The program will guide you from thinking about independent practice to being ready to open with patients ready to enroll.
IPP focuses on the parts of the journey that most physicians worry about:
How and when to move forward
Clear, patient-friendly messaging
Building an early interest list without feeling "salesy"
Networking and outreach that feels natural
Setting up simple, right-sized systems - including Harmony Ops CRM - to track conversations and follow-up
The goal isn't simply to “launch a practice.” The goal is to open your doors with patients already interested, conversations already underway, and a realistic sense of how your first months will look.
Instead of Leaving With Just Ideas, You Leave With Systems
Most programs about starting a practice focus on information.
Independent Practice Path focuses on implementation.
During the program, we set up simple systems inside Harmony Ops so that your future practice already has infrastructure running.
By the end of the program, you'll have a basic patient growth system already in place.
This includes:
A way for interested patients to join your interest list
Automated follow-up messages
A simple system to track conversations and consultations
A way to identify early members preparing to enroll
You won't be building your practice systems from scratch.
We install them together during the program.
Instead of leaving with just notes and ideas, you leave with systems already working.
What Happens During IPP
IPP is not a course about medicine, billing, or coding.
It's a guided pathway forward to help you prepare for your future practice.
During the program you will:
Clarify the type of practice you want to build
Learn how to explain Direct Care clearly and simply
Practice real patient conversations
Begin building an interest list
Create messaging for email and your website
Build the patient acquisitions and communication systems that support your practice
Opening your practice becomes the next step, not the starting point.
What You Will Have By the End
By the end of the program you will have:
Clear messaging you can confidently use in real conversations
Simple ways to stay visible locally and remain top of mind as you begin building interest
Automations to capture interest from potential patients
A structured path for moving patients from interest to enrollment
Greater confidence in making decisions as a physician owner
Harmony Ops is included during the cohort, so you can implement everything in real time with guidance. (value $1300) After the program it continues at $329/28 days for those who want to keep their systems active and growing.
What Physicians Will Achieve in 8 Weeks
IPP is built around calm, steady progress. By the end of the 8 weeks, physicians will typically report two things above all: confidence and momentum.
Clarity & Communication
- Clearly explain your practice model in plain, patient-friendly language.
- Develop confidence talking with patients about Direct Care without feeling salesy.
- Know which conversations to have now and which can wait.
Early Interest & Outreach
- Begin building an interest list of patients who want to hear when you open.
- Use outreach strategies that align with your personality and ethics.
- Translate casual curiosity into real conversations and next steps.
Systems & Timing
- Set up a simple communication system, including Harmony Ops CRM, to track interest and follow-up.
- Clarify realistic timelines for transitioning out of employment.
- Leave the cohort with a grounded plan for the next 3–6 months, not just ideas.
Is Independent Practice Path Right for you?
This program works best for physicians who are ready to move forward, not just explore the idea.
IPP is a good fit if you are:
A physician seriously considering opening a Direct Care or DPC practice
Planning to open within the next 6–12 months
Already exploring the model but unsure how to move forward
Looking for a clear structure, not just more information
Ready to start building toward opening, even if everything isn’t fully figured out
If you’ve been thinking about this for a while but haven’t made clear progress, this is likely the right next step.
IPP is NOT a good fit if you:
Are only casually curious about Direct Care
Not planning to open in the foreseeable future
Looking only for a fully self-paced course without live interaction
Are not ready to engage in conversations or take action yet
Want a fully done-for-you outreach & marketing system
IPP is not a fit if you are:
- only casually curious about Direct Care with no real intention to explore it further
- primarily looking for a turnkey marketing agency to “do it for you”
- unwilling to have honest conversations about your financial and personal constraints
- not ready to commit time for weekly sessions and simple between-session steps
This clarity helps protect the group dynamic so that each cohort feels focused, progress-oriented, and genuinely supportive.
What Physicians Are Saying
IPP builds on work with DPC Women Connect, individual coaching calls, and physicians who have already transitioned to Direct Care. Here are a few ways they describe the experience.
“I had been reading and researching Direct Primary Care for almost two years. One cohort with this group helped me sort out what actually mattered, have a few key conversations, and finally choose a timeline that felt doable.”
— Internal Medicine physician, DPC Women Connect participant
“The biggest shift for me was realizing I didn’t have to have everything figured out before I talked with patients. The scripts and practice conversations made it feel natural and honest instead of like a sales pitch.”
— Family Medicine physician, 1:1 coaching client
“Having a small group of physicians walking through the same questions made all the difference. By the time I gave notice, I had a list of patients who had already said, ‘Please tell me when you open.’”
— Pediatrician, transitioned to Direct Care
Program Details: How IPP Works
IPP runs as a small physician cohort.
Each week includes:
a virtual group session once a week on Tuesday evenings for 1-1 1/4 hrs max
a clear action step
guided tools and exercises (1-2 hours of "homework" per week)
custom GPT's to help you refine your elevator pitch
discussion with other physicians on the same path
Cohorts are intentionally small so each participant can ask questions and receive feedback.
Physician Perspectives
Many physicians who explore Direct Care find themselves in the same place. They're interested in the model but unsure how to move from the idea of independent practice to actually preparing to open. Or they've already opened and aren't sure what to do to grow their practice.
Here are reflections from physicians who have worked with Dr. Gonzalez through those transitions.
Video reflection on transitioning to and growing an independent practice.
— Dr. Catherine Lok, Family Medicine
“I reached out to Anne fairly early on in my DPC journey when I just felt 'stuck'. I was working really hard, but without great return and had not yet hit that tipping point.
Anne showed such great kindness and wisdom toward me as she listened to my story, helped me to see my current circumstance through her objective vantage point, ran some numbers for me, and got me pointed in the right direction.
18 months later, my DPC is thriving. I have a substantial waitlist, and am looking to expand. I cannot say enough great things about Anne and her wisdom, expertise, and willingness to coach and encourage other DPC providers. She is truly one-of-a-kind!”
— Dr. Heather Doty, Family Medicine
About the Program Creator
Dr. Anne Gonzalez is a Direct Primary Care physician and the founder of Emerald Health Direct Primary Care & Aesthetics in North Carolina.
After years of working in traditional medicine, she opened a Direct Primary Care practice so she could spend more time with patients and build a different kind of healthcare experience.
Today she helps other physicians explore the path to independent practice. Through her podcast, DPC Life, and her work with Harmony Ops Health, she shares tools, systems, and practical guidance for doctors who want to step away from high-volume medicine and build a practice that fits their values and their lives.
Dr. Gonzalez believes that physicians should not have to choose between caring for patients well and having a sustainable career. Her work focuses on helping doctors move from uncertainty to clarity so they can build practices with intention and confidence.
Investment
Participation in Independent Practice Path is $2,500.
Many physicians spend one to three years thinking about and researching this transition.
IPP compresses that process into eight focused weeks.
In many future practices, enrolling just 10–15 members offsets the investment over just a few months.
The real value of IPP is not information. It's leaving the program with:
Clarity about your practice
Real interest already building
Systems already running and attracting new patients
This first cohort is priced at $2,500 while I refine the program. As it evolves, future cohorts will be priced higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Independent Practice Path?
Independent Practice Path is an eight-week program for physicians who want to start a Direct Primary Care or membership-based practice. The program helps you move from thinking about independent practice to preparing to open. We focus on clear messaging, early patient conversations, creating systems and automations, and building interest before your practice opens.
Who is this program for?
IPP is for physicians who are seriously considering starting a DPC or membership-based practice. Many participants are still working in employed jobs while preparing for the transition. The program is physician-only and works best for doctors who want to move forward with a clear plan.
Do I need to have everything figured out before joining?
No. Many physicians join while they are still deciding on timing, location, or other details. What matters most is that you are seriously considering independent practice and want help preparing for it.
What if I am still employed?
Most participants are still working in their current jobs during the program. IPP is designed so you can prepare for independent practice while continuing your clinical work. Physicians can use this time to clarify their message and begin early conversations about their future practice.
What if I want to work as an employed DPC physician instead of opening my own practice?
The program can still be very helpful. Learning how to explain the DPC model and build patient interest can make you a strong candidate for a DPC position. You will be able to network with potential patients and employer partners to grow the practice from the time you're hired. Your skills might even increase your base salary or bump up your salary sooner than expected.
What happens during the weekly sessions?
Each week we meet for a live group discussion. We work through messaging, patient conversations, and the early steps that help build and nurture interest in your future practice. The small group format allows everyone to ask questions and learn from each other.
What is the goal by the end of the program?
By the end of IPP, you should have clear messaging for your practice, systems in place to communicate with interested patients, and an interest list beginning to form. Many physicians also begin identifying early members who are already pre-enrolled when the practice opens.
How much time will this take each week?
The program includes one live group session each week. Most physicians spend about one to two hours per week outside of the session working on exercises or conversations related to their practice.
Why is the cohort kept small?
IPP is intentionally limited to a small group of physicians so everyone can participate in the discussions. This allows participants to ask questions about their own situation and learn from others who are going through similar decisions. Because of this, the number of spots in each cohort is limited to 6-8 participants.
If you're seriously considering Direct Care, this is the next step.
Before joining the program, physicians complete a short readiness reflection.
This helps clarify where you are in the process and whether DPC is the right fit.
After the reflection, you'll have the option to join IPP.
If you know Direct Care or DPC may be in your future, but you don't want to spend another year in research mode, complete the DPC Readiness Reflection. Takes just 3-5 minutes.
A more sustainable way to practice is possible
If you’re ready to move forward, you can enroll now
You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting.
What matters is that you’re at the point where you’re ready to begin building toward opening, rather than continuing to think about it.
Independent Practice Path is designed to give you structure, direction, and support over the next eight weeks so you can move forward with clarity.
This is a small cohort
The next group begins March 24 and is limited to 6–8 physicians.
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