Peach Blossom Pediatrics

A New Standard & Style of Care

By Jennifer Paire

Dr. Whitney Fose takes a “ginormous leap of faith” this month, as she opens the doors to her direct primary care practice, Peach Blossom Pediatrics, in Woodstock.

After more than 15 years in corporate medicine, where office visits are short and patient quota requirements are long, Dr. Whitney as she prefers to be called, is going rogue to offer better care to her young patients.

“I’m famous for spending time with the families who need it — to the detriment of my schedule,” she said. “I want to be able to take my time, and I want people to be heard.”

Dr. Whitney is scheduling meet-and-greet appointments to get to know families and educate them about the benefits of direct primary care (DPC). The concept aligns with the ongoing revival of the doctor-patient relationship and many physicians’ desire to spend more time with patients for better results.

On the financial side, the model addresses frustration for families paying thousands of dollars on insurance plans only to spend 10 minutes with a doctor. DPC’s affordable monthly fees give patients unhurried office visits and 24/7 access to the pediatrician via text, phone call, or email.

“Some people ask, ‘Why would I want to do that when I have insurance?’” Dr. Whitney shared. “It’s because you’re going to get better care. So many with high deductibles are already paying, why wouldn’t they use that money for care they really deserve? Insurance won’t be billed, so there won’t be any fees they don’t know about upfront.”

Medical Economics Journal reported findings of a study by DPC software provider Hint Health in 2022 that showed 63% of private healthcare recipients rank healthcare costs as the most dissatisfying part of their experience. Meanwhile, DPC memberships increased an average of 36% annually between 2017 and 2021 — a total growth rate of 241% — while the median retail cost for an individual membership only increased by about $75.

DPC allows Dr. Whitney to bypass traditional insurance systems, which gives her more time with patients, leading to better and more timely diagnoses.

“I love my patients, I love the families, and I love my work. I just haven’t loved the job,” Dr. Whitney said.

From Seedling to Bud to Flower to Fruit

Peach Blossom Pediatrics offers a one-stop shop with a wide range of pediatric services that Dr. Whitney administers personally. These include:

Core Membership provides unlimited, unhurried well-child and acute-care visits, telehealth, two in-home visits per year, and a 25% discount on additional services such as ear piercing and autism assessment. Parents have 24/7 access to Dr. Whitney via talk, text, or email. Discounts are applied to families paying annually, and those with multiple children will never pay more than $300 each month.
Peach Blossom’s Standard Fourth Trimester Package includes comprehensive care for newborns up to three months, prenatal lactation assessment, newborn assessment, two follow-up in-home lactation visits, a home visit at one month, and an office visit at two months.
A la carte services for nonmembers such as acute care visits, sports physicals, second opinions, ear piercings, lactation help, tongue-tie evaluation, and assessments for ADHD and autism.

A Family Affair

Dr. Whitney is not just a physician. She is also mother to Penny, 7, and Sadie, 4, and wife to Vince, a native of Marietta and Alpharetta.

She grew up in Chicago and earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College. After a residency at Children’s Hospital in Wisconsin, she joined a large group practice for 14 years where she began to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction.

Desiring a change, about 18 months ago, the family decided to move closer to Vince’s home for a fresh start and better weather. Dr. Whitney joined a smaller practice in the area before deciding to build her approach into a solo practice.

“Part of this is slowing things down, so I can see fewer patients each day and have more control over my schedule, so I can go to Muffins with Mom and the Fun Run and do all the things I have had to miss,” she said.

Dr. Whitney has given much thought to the administration of Peach Blossom Pediatrics. For telehealth visits, membership patients will be provided with a Nonagon kit, which is a set of FDA-cleared devices used with a smartphone to collect details that help her diagnose and manage acute problems on the spot.

“When I do a house visit for the Fourth Trimester Package, I will bring my scale and all of my handy dandy tools,” she said. “I have this vision in my head of taking some of the teenagers out for a little walk for those hard conversations, especially with mental health. Those can be a lot easier when you don’t have to look each other in the eye.”

For more information about Peach Blossom Pediatrics, give them a call or visit the website.

1007 Weatherstone Parkway, Suite 210
Woodstock, GA 30108
470-203-0006
PeachBlossomPediatrics.com