by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer
Dr. Krista Schwarz and Mike Eskew, DNP, APRN, of Primary Health Partners recently opened a medical office January, 2019. At Primary Health Partners the focus is back where it belongs, on the patient, and how to provide the best care possible to the person in front of you at that moment.
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based delivery model in which partners pay a monthly or annual fee for comprehensive primary care services and direct access to their physician. Payment is simple, no coinsurance bills. Our practice is limited to a small number of patients than typical primary care practices to enable better access, longer appointment times, and extended services.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Eskew. What an outstanding individual! “Direct Primary Care is new for some people. The original Direct Primary Care was started in Yukon, OK. Since then, we have a DPC in Edmond, this one (as of January 2019) and a new DPC to be built in the summer of 2019. Our plan here is a little different from other doctors’ offices,” said Eskew. With DPC, you have a membership fee that is like a subscription for the year. You would pay $79.00 to see Dr. Krista Schwarz or $69.00 to see Mike Eskew, the Nurse Practitioner.
“Here, we are not concerned about how fast the patients come in and out, but the care the patients are getting. Once the provider is chosen, you will see that provider each time. No more guessing work of which doctor you will see, or when you can schedule an appointment that day. No more waiting two weeks before the doctor can work you in. A lab is located here, plus an onsite pharmacy where you can get your prescriptions for wholesale prices. This means more time for the patient to spend with the provider, eliminating the red tape that deals with insurance issues. We don’t deal with any insurance matters because the monthly membership fee takes care of that. We offer a higher level of quality,” Mike explained.
When Mike was little, he wanted to be a veterinarian. He had a special gift of caring. After he became a nurse, he worked in ICU at OU Medical Center. Through the years, his jobs consisted of high school science teacher and girls’ basketball coach. Mike went back to school, attending Duke University for his BSN, Masters and Doctrine. He continued with his Masters; teaching nursing at Southern Nazarene University. After that he was asked to join Dr. Krista Schwarz at Primary Health Partners.
What is your favorite part of your job? “When I take care of a patient and if that patient leaves completely satisfied, I know that I have done a good job. It makes me feel good to know they are satisfied with me,” Mike replied.
In your opinion, what qualities make a good nurse? “I think a nurse needs to have a positive influence on others. I think it is very important for a nurse to know how to teach. If there is no teaching on the nurse’s part, the learning will be temporary. Without the knowledge of teaching, they are missing interaction with a very important component. If there is teaching, it will be with them permanently,” Mike answered.
Asking Mike to describe himself, he answered, “I’m a well-rounded individual that likes to care for others. I love the study of science and I love the beauty of nature; I just enjoy being outdoors.” Mike’s biggest asset at work is his ability to communicate with his patients. “I think communication is one of the most important things a doctor and a patient can have,” he said.
What advice would you give to someone if they were thinking about going into the medical field? “The medical field is a wonderful field to go into and we will always need good health care providers. They can expect challenges along the way but they need to remember, primary health care is part of the solution. I would encourage people to be a part of health care but also to choose a specific area of health care that contributes to the solution and not the problem,” Mike replied.
Summing up Mike’s life in one word, “Blessed.”
For more information visit: www.primary-healthpartners.com
NOW HIRING Full-time and PRN Therapists, Assessment Therapists, RNs and LPNs
Oakwood Springs Career Fair
Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
13101 Memorial Springs Court. Oklahoma City, OK 73114
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405.438.3000
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