A new family medicine clinic opening in Coralville this fall is taking a different approach to primary care.
Prairie Rose Family Medicine, founded by Dr. Katie Dunbar, will open in September and operate under a direct primary care model. Instead of billing insurance, the clinic charges a flat monthly or annual membership fee that covers unlimited monthly visits, same- or next-day appointments and direct physician access. The first 50 patients to join will have their $150 enrollment fee waived.
Supporters of the model say it allows for smaller patient panels and more time with each patient and provides “personalized relationship-based care, longer appointments, unlimited sick visits, and preventative care without co-pays or surprise bills,” a release stated.
To accomplish this, Prairie Rose plans to cap enrollment at about 200 to 300 patients, compared with the 2,500 or more typically seen in traditional practices.
“We want to restore the doctor-patient relationship by removing unnecessary barriers to care,” Dr. Dunbar said. “Our goal is to give people the time, access, and trust they deserve.”
A University of Iowa graduate with more than a decade of experience in family medicine and public health, Dr. Dunbar will provide preventive care, chronic disease management and basic in-office procedures.
An open house is planned for October at the clinic’s location, 1101 Fifth St., Suite 102, in Coralville. , and the clinic will be open for tours. The date will be announced later.
