Delta Health & Wellness direct primary care to exhibit at March 9 expo

Delta Health & Wellness will soon open a direct primary care practice at 17021 Old Orchard Road, Suite 4 in Lewes.

Led by Dr. Stacey Kuhfahl, a board-certified internal medicine physician, Delta Health & Wellness offers accessible, quality primary care to residents looking for a better alternative to traditional insurance-based care at a price point that is more reasonable compared to many area concierge practices.

Kuhfahl’s practice will be an exhibitor at the Delaware Resorts Health, Fitness & Leisure Expo set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 9, at Cape Henlopen High School on Kings Highway in Lewes.

Joining the direct primary care healthcare trend sweeping the nation, Kuhfahl aims to expand DPC options in Sussex County, first introduced by Dr. Christine Degnon of Coastal Direct Primary Care, also in Lewes. Degnon’s patients have enjoyed convenient, personalized primary care since 2018, evidenced by her robust wait list. Kuhfahl has modeled her practice offerings from Coastal Direct Primary Care and other traditional DPC practices.

A former hospitalist and academic professor, Kuhfahl is a longtime advocate for patients and has helped them navigate insurance coverage for hospitalizations for over 10 years. After relocating to Delaware with her family in 2020, she has chosen to help alleviate the primary care shortage while providing quality healthcare for Sussex County residents. Through combining her internal medicine and patient advocacy experience, she found direct primary care was the best model to eliminate red tape imposed by insurance companies and restore the patient-physician relationship.

Direct primary care practices provide primary care services to a small panel of patients through a monthly membership fee. Through not contracting with any insurance, DPC practices have the ability to eliminate time constraints and documentation requirements, which means extended appointment times, same- and next business-day appointments, and more accessible means of communication with one’s physician, such as secure text, email and video visits. Patients contract directly with their physicians in DPC with price transparency and without hidden costs.

Kuhfahl will include many common office procedures and tests as part of her monthly membership. She will also provide additional benefits available to direct primary care practices, including wholesale pricing of laboratory studies and prescription medications, with savings passed on to her patients. While this significantly helps those who are uninsured, Kuhfahl notes that these negotiated prices are often cheaper than any copays or deductibles required by insurance plans. Delta Health & Wellness will also be able to dispense many prescription medications in-office directly to patients, eliminating a trip to the pharmacy.

“Since relocating here with my family four years ago, I’ve been a firsthand witness to the challenges we face with access to quality healthcare,” said Kuhfahl. “I’m excited to be part of the solution and even more excited to offer the many benefits of direct primary care. I have the honor of providing comprehensive primary care and restoring the old-fashioned patient-physician relationship that I remember from childhood.” 

Kuhfahl said direct primary care is often referred to as concierge medicine at blue-collar prices. “Delta Health and Wellness will provide a concierge-like experience at a more affordable price without hidden costs or complicated membership tiers. There’s a reason why direct primary care is gaining the attention of both physicians and patients across the country, because it provides the perfect combination of convenient care in a rewarding, value-based model,“ she said.

For more information, go to DeltaPrimaryCare.com or call 302-329-8712.