Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Springston.
Hi Christa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello, my name is Christa Springston. As a board-certified Internal Medicine medical doctor (M.D.), I have a desire to offer improved care for people and their health outside of the conventional healthcare system. HealthSprings Internal Medicine was born in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic opened my eyes to the benefits of telemedicine and need for more flexibility for myself, my family and my patients. Increasingly disenchanted with insurance companies’ red tape interfering with my relationships and connections to patients, the Direct Primary Care model of practice seemed a natural progression.
As an advocate for whole-body health, I will help guide you in behavioral, dietary and habitual improvements to maximize your energy and functionality as well as to prevent life-altering disease processes. I practice medicine based on continually evolving scientific evidence, safety and efficacy while always taking into consideration the entire individual in front of me.
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a bachelor of science in biology and received my medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2006. I was residency trained at Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware and SSM St. Mary’s Health System in St. Louis, Missouri. At St. Mary’s, I was given the opportunity to stay on and teach as a fourth-year chief resident and teach the current doctors-in-training.
Through many cross-country moves with my (now retired) husband’s military career, I have had the opportunity to experience and hone many different types of medical care. I have worked as a hospital medicine doctor (hospitalist), intensive care unit physician (intensivist), occupational medicine provider, acute and urgent care physician and primary outpatient Internal Medicine provider.
I am certified to perform Class 1, 2 and 3 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Exams and Department of Transportation (DOT) exams. Continuing education is important to me as a participant in the Maintenance of Certification program through the American Board of Internal Medicine, most recently taking and passing my board exams in November 2020.
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, I have called Georgia home since 2015. I enjoy time with my family, Horned Frog football and especially, living and working through Him.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of biggest challenges was starting a small business with ZERO business education or background. Sometimes I wonder if they don’t include that in medical training intentionally to keep you in “the system”. Payroll, taxes, licensing, building codes were all taken care of by someone else before, and now it was on me to learn, implement and maintain everything. The other thing that was challenging was learning and honing the skills of medical assistant, pharmacist, laboratory technician, office manager, administrative assistant, financial coordinator, and I.T. expert that comes with starting a solo medical practice. By doing these jobs, and relying a lot on automation and an online patient portal, I am able to keep the overhead costs down and relay those savings to my patients. Overall, the biggest hurdle is explaining the amazing benefits of Direct Primary Care to people who are not accustomed to working outside of the traditional (read: broken) fee-for-service insurance model for healthcare. It’s almost like a security blanket that is costing a lot more money than people realize without providing the quality medical care they deserve.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about HealthSprings Direct?
HealthSprings Direct is part of the burgeoning yet flourishing field of medicine called Direct Primary Care. My practice is small, personal, and the kind of care people been searching for.
Working as an associate Internal Medicine physician in a traditional, insurance-based practice in the area for the past five years, I’ve realized there is a better way to care for people. Thus, my interest in the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model. Essentially, you pay a reasonable monthly membership fee to receive convenient, thorough, affordable and personalized care not found in the typical doctor’s office. You may learn more about this at my website www.HealthSpringsDirect.com. With your membership, you’ll receive:
More time with your provider with relaxed, unhurried visits
Efficient, effective “whole-health” care
Little or no wait times
Proactive, not reactive, collaborative care
Healthcare for you, not your what insurance requires
Telehealth and in-Home visits if needed
Same-day visits in most cases
Around the clock access to communicate with me for urgent issues
This affordability, accessibility and attentiveness is what sets Direct Primary Care apart from traditional medical practices. I can see people quickly if needed, but many things can be taken care of with a phone call, email, patient portal message or text. My patients have my cell phone number and are encouraged to call with urgent matters instead of having to go to Urgent Care because they otherwise couldn’t get in to see their doctor.
Patients that haven’t seen me for a while can see the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders in this new model. I’m finally able to fully care for the person in front of me in the room, instead of working for their insurance company. Being able to spend the time to listen and fully understand the nuances of a person’s medical issues is finally attainable and I’m able to achieve the goal from when I applied to medical school….to help people.
While insurance is important, especially for catastrophic events, I would ask your readers to really examine how well their current coverage pays for primary care, screening tests and exams. In comparison, car insurance doesn’t pay for routine maintenance and care like oil changes and gasoline. With higher deductible insurance coverage + Direct Primary Care, many patient’s find that they are actually saving money each year versus enrolling in a ‘platinum’ health insurance plan.
What matters most to you? Why?
Making connections with people, families and the entire community. Allowing them to improve their physical and emotional health on their own through a multidisciplinary approach including lifestyle modification, medical treatments and procedures.
Pricing:
- Ages 14-22 $50/month
- Ages 23-64 $90/month
- Ages 65+ $120/month
Contact Info:
- Email: christa@healthspringsdirect.com
- Website: www.HealthSpringsDirect.com
- Instagram: @HealthSpringsDirect
- Facebook: @HealthSpringsDirect
- Twitter: @HealthSpringsDirect
