This week CEO visited Central Illinois Direct Care at Kickapoo Centre. Our young entrepreneurs learned about the direct care model of healthcare with Dr. Dru Hauter and Dr. Marcia Hauter. This model offers care to patients for a flat monthly fee and does accept insurance or work with outside entities to manage care or arrange payment.

Having spent decades in various managed practice settings, the Hauters were introduced to direct care by their son, Dr. Ben Hauter of Petersburg. Having more time to see patients (up to an hour, if needed), flexibility in schedule, and operating more efficiently without a middleman was very appealing for the Hauters. "This style of medicine is the fix for a broken medical system," says Dr. Dru. He decided to come out of retirement in 2019 to start the practice and Dr. Marcia joined him 6 months later.

The Hauters are the only staff at the practice, which means in addition to patient care, they are also responsible for all phone calls, paperwork, blood draws, cleaning, etc. For patients, this model also means direct access to their doctor. When a patient calls or texts, they talk directly to Dr. Dru or Dr. Marcia.

When they first opened their doors, they waited for business to trickle in. But word spread quickly and they have steadily built the practice over the last few years, mostly by word of mouth.

After discussing their career paths and how much time is required to become a doctor, one student asked "Was it worth it?" Dr. Marcia replied, "Absolutely. I am still excited to come to work. This work can be hard, but it is so rewarding to work so personally with patients."

Thank you for taking time to talk with CEO!