Are DPCs Looking Into Getting an Electronic Health Record System or App?

Many Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices are exploring ways to make sharing information easier, but their approach is often different from large hospital systems.

DPCs tend to avoid traditional electronic health record (EHR) systems like MyChart because those platforms are built for insurance billing and can be expensive and cumbersome. Instead, many DPCs:

• Use lighter, more flexible EHR systems designed for smaller practices.
• Rely on secure messaging, texting, or simple portals to share lab results, visit notes, and prescriptions.
• Are gradually adding patient-facing apps or portals to improve convenience, though the functionality varies by practice.

There isn’t a single system used by all DPCs, and adoption levels differ from clinic to clinic. Over time, many DPCs are moving toward more streamlined digital tools, but their priority remains keeping care personal, accessible, and free from the complexity of insurance-driven systems.