Entrepreneurship in Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care with Dr. Sandy Stock

We are delighted to share our live stream interview with Dr. Sandy Valino Stock today. Sandy is a family medicine practitioner and founder of a concierge direct primary care practice called EnVogue Med and Wellness.

In our discussion, she shares her inspiring journey of moving through burnout to finding a practice model that reignited her passion for medicine by allowing her to use what she learned in the Pemba program to continue practicing medicine and bringing value and expertise to her patients.

Founding EnVogue Med and Wellness 

Sandy’s lingering desire to create a practice treating patients as consumers motivated her to found EnVogue Med and Wellness. Halfway through the Pemba program, she began to miss the clinical aspect of medicine. That led her to use the knowledge she gained from the program to return confidently to clinical medicine and establish her practice.

Core Services of EnVogue Med and Wellness 

The three core services offered by EnVogue Med and Wellness focus on an elevated patient experience, comprehensive primary care, and personalized medical weight management. Their unique approach involves longer appointments, direct messaging with doctors, and a membership structure covering non-insurance services.

Business Growth and Future Services 

Sandy’s plan for growing EnVogue Med and Wellness includes expanding to multiple Chicagoland locations to address the shortage of primary care providers and improve accessibility to quality healthcare. Future services may also include aesthetics, anti-aging, and personalized genetic medicine.

Comparing Work Environments

When comparing her workweek at EnVogue Med and Wellness with her previous workweeks in a traditional family medicine setting, Sandy says she prefers having the flexibility and varied responsibilities of her current workweek. As an entrepreneur, she wears many hats. That contributes to a more flexible and satisfying work-life balance.

Integrating Lean Six Sigma into Practice Processes 

Sandy explains that the organizational profile of Lean Six Sigma serves as a handbook, saving time and providing guidance. She believes integrating Lean Six into her medical practice will have a positive impact, as that approach helps her stay grounded as an entrepreneur and allows her to remain focused on her mission and vision.

Patient Care and Practice Growth 

As a new practitioner, about half of Sandy’s time involves direct patient care. She feels confident about the potential of the Direct Primary Care model to contribute to the healthcare landscape to eventually have a patient panel of 300 to 350, potentially expanding to 1000 patients.

Insurance Acceptance 

After initially opting out of Medicare, Sandy adapted to market demand and re-enrolled. Incorporating Direct Primary Care into her medical practice involved navigating legal structures to accommodate the different business models within her practice.

Business Model Modifications and Flexibility 

Sandy adopted an iterative approach to modifying her post-presentation business plan, experimenting with fee structures and remaining true to her mission. She highlights the importance of adaptability, employing a lean startup mentality, and continually tweaking the model to align with market needs.

Impacting the Physician Shortage 

Sandy envisions her model decreasing the physician shortage due to burnout by offering a more laid-back and consumer-centric approach. She anticipates it will retain physicians and positively influence the satisfaction of healthcare workers by contributing to a more sustainable and positive work culture.

After-hours services and Patient Retention 

Addressing the management of after-hours calls and services, Sandy includes boundaries and mutual respect in her membership contract. She has had a positive patient response, indicating their understanding and cooperation. 

The Emotional Journey of Transitioning Her Practice 

Driven by a need for a better work-life balance, Sandy shifted from running a not-for-profit organization to starting her practice. Her emotions during the transition were bittersweet because she was leaving an organization she loved but was excited about creating an efficient and patient-focused practice where she could implement changes quickly. 

Advice for Physicians Interested in Direct Primary Care 

When offering advice to physicians interested in DPC or concierge medicine, Sandy emphasizes the importance of following their hearts, staying true to their goals, and actively networking. She stresses the value of seeking mentors, as mentorship can prevent mistakes and significantly increase the chances of success in entrepreneurial ventures.

Links and resources:

Norm Chapin on LinkedIn

Visit our YouTube Channel 

EnVogue Med and Wellness