Dr. Chad Williamson, MD, DeKalb MD – Featured
Practice Location: Fort Payne, AL
Written content: Breanne Brazeale
Videography: Don Redman
This video is an interview Dr. Frannie Koe conducted with Dr. Chad Williamson. Dr. Williamson’s DPC, or Direct Primary Care, clinic was the first of its kind that is still in business today in Alabama. Dr. Williamson learned about Direct Primary Care during his residency, and by his third year, he knew it was the way he wanted to practice.
DeKalb MD opened in Fort Payne, AL in 2016, and Dr. Williamson has since opened several satellite DPC clinics, including two in Chattanooga, TN and one in Suwanee, GA. His clinics frequently partner directly with businesses who are seeking affordable health care access and services for their employees.
Dr. Williamson’s clinic is one of four DPC practices in northern Alabama. Dr. Koe asked him what sets his clinic apart, because all the practices have a focused specialty or offer something different to their patients. Besides access to wholesale medications and reduced rates for imaging, Dr. Williamson offers a fully equipped, 24-hour onsite gym to all of his patients, and he includes the membership in their DPC fee. The gym has showers, modern equipment, and even has yoga classes.
When asked what his patients valued most about his Direct Primary Care practice, Dr. Chad Williamson responded it was the quick and easy access to a care provider. Through DPC, he can make sure that all patients who call in receive a same-day appointment if needed, get a response from a provider within one hour of a call or text, and are seen in his clinic within 5 minutes of their appointment time. DeKalb MD currently employs three nurse practitioners who can have a maximum of 600 patients each. Dr. Williamson limits it to this number in order to make sure everyone can get quality care in a timely manner. He also added that patients deeply appreciate the quick access to their care provider, especially after hours, which can help patients avoid costly trips to urgent care or the emergency room in many situations.
Dr. Williamson can’t imagine practicing any other way. His favorite part of running a Direct Primary Care medical practice is the fact that there are no barriers or red tape that you might find when you are running a traditional insurance-based medical practice. Dr. Williamson shared he has DPC patients who are millionaires and some who are there because their church or community has sponsored their yearly clinic fee. Everyone equally deserves quality medical care, and he credits the DPC clinic for allowing him to provide medical access without discrimination.
Dr. Chad Williamson received his medical degree from UAB in 2013 and is a native of Fort Payne, AL. The father of three completed his Family Medicine Residency at Floyd Medical in 2016 and has been the practicing physician at DeKalb MD since 2016 as well.
If you are curious about Dr. Chad and his practice, you can learn more at https://www.dekalbmd.com/. As of the time of this article, Dr. Williamson still had openings available. If you have other questions about whether DPC is right for you, please contact us.