Innovative clinic helps doctors avoid burnout and makes healthcare more affordable
by PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour highlighted the Birchwood Family Medicine direct primary care clinic which is run by one of our fellows, Kristen Dall-Winther, MD.
Here is Kristen reflecting on the journey that led her to this practice. It highlights the ways that industrial healthcare harms clinicians as well as patients. “After this aired, I wept for quite awhile as I reflected on the journey to bring BWFM to life. I had always hoped to have my own practice, but $160K in student loans & 2 children under 2 required that I go mainstream after training.
At 28, I didn't recognize my worth, so I aimed to be the best. At first, I killed it. After 8 years, I had worked myself nearly into the grave; I was diagnosed with an advanced sarcoidosis. To my naïve surprise, there was little regard or concern for my advancing illness. Gradually, I became a problem at work - my tattoos & how I dressed were a problem, I was too aggressive and was told to be more demure & ladylike. My illness was transparent, yet invisible.
My Dad died suddenly the next year and I resigned the year after that. I was heartbroken because I naïvely thought that I mattered. Immediately thereafter and transparently sick, I took a job advertised to be "easier." Eleven months later, I was put on work restrictions of 6 hours/day and 8 days later, I was terminated without cause. Categorized as "terminal" at that point, I was given SSDI. After 3 years of prednisone, I had gained > 100 lbs & my purpose is medicine. This was 2019 and I had hit the bottom; I felt suicidal at times. I started working telemedicine here & there and a better work-life balance helped drive the sarcoid into remission (w/ infliximab, ofc). With the support of my incredible husband, as I improved, I dared to make my dream come true & open a clinic.
However, during the 2 years of telemed, I got newly licensed in 45 states. When applying for the 46th, a form was filled out by someone outside of HR who opined that I was "unprofessional w/ staff but never w/ patients." Because I attested to never having misbehaved professionally, they subsequently reported me for this "ethics violation" of "lying." That straw broke this camel's back & catapulted me into business. The first year, I continued to work full-time telemedicine and was simultaneously investigated by the dozens of other medical boards because of that ethics report. None found wrong doing. My clinic turned two years old yesterday. I now have staff, the clinic can support itself & tonight, we were featured on PBS. Since opening, I've lost 70 pounds (20 since filming!) and life is good. I share this for those of you still stuck in the system.”
