Trailhead Clinics’

The first time I entered Grand Junction’s Trailhead Clinics, I was struck by the nonclinical, warm atmosphere of the waiting room with its turquoise-accented walls and furniture, and elegant chandelier. Plus, patients can enjoy an ice-cold glass of water while they wait for their appointment. At 235 N. 7th Street in downtown Grand Junction, the clinic is centrally located between Grand and Main Street.

Board certified family physician, Dr. Robert Boyer, became interested in integrative medicine while attending medical school. As a child growing up he watched close family members suffer from both physical and psychiatric health issues. He eventually noted what he saw as deficiencies in the traditional medical model of care. “Western medicine is great in some areas, and the medical advances have been extremely neat to watch but when it comes to certain diseases, medication or surgery does not always solve the underlying issue,”

Board certified family physician, Dr. Robert Boyer, became interested in integrative medicine while attending medical school. As a child growing up he watched close family members suffer from both physical and psychiatric health issues. He eventually noted what he saw as deficiencies in the traditional medical model of care. “Western medicine is great in some areas, and the medical advances have been extremely neat to watch but when it comes to certain diseases, medication or surgery does not always solve the underlying issue,” Boyer says. While they do practice traditional medicine, for certain illnesses, Boyer and his team, including Dr. Kathy Howe, focus on lifestyle changes, as well as herbal remedies, and other modalities such as acupuncture and homeopathy. “It is about taking a more complete view of someone’s health and not believing that one philosophy can answer all of the issues.”

Boyer has a distinct and interesting financial model, known as Direct Primary Care (DPC) that allows him to spend more time with his patients – which is essential when addressing health issues holistically. By seeing only a third to half the number of patients as a typical family physician, Boyer can spend more time with his patients. A monthly fee of $69 allows Trailhead Clinics patients unlimited care. Dr. Boyer and his team are currently accepting new patients.

“One problem in the traditional practice is the idea that you are bound by what people’s insurance will pay for,” Boyer says. “The amount of time you have with the patient is really dictated by that as well.” Boyer contends that in family medicine, doctors need plenty of time with their patients, to listen fully, and assess their symptoms, in order to treat them in the best way possible. “Reducing treatments to about fifteen-minute appointments will usually lead to dissatisfied patients and it doesn’t allow me to practice the full scope of what I have been trained to do,” he says.

Trailhead Clinic’s membership model allows Boyer to give patients the time they want and deserve, while still being able to make a living. “I can easily support my family, the people that I hire; and the overhead is much less than the traditional practice. All of that savings is for the patient because they are not relying on insurance to pay for their family medicine. That is like using your car insurance for oil changes and fuel pump replacement,” he explains. “Insurance is for the big stuff that is really costly.” Under this membership model, people know what is covered and do not have copays.

Dr. Boyer has found that the Direct Primary Care model encourages people to visit the doctor more often because they don’t have to worry about what the charge will be, or if they’ve reached their deductible or not. Downstream medical costs, such as urgent care and visits to specialists, go down by nearly 30 percent when families have easier access to their primary care doctor, says Dr. Boyer. “The direct primary care model has created an opportunity for family physicians to get back to why they wanted to practice medicine – because their passion is in taking care of people. But to practice good medicine, you need time with patients; most of what we do is listen to people and serve as a sounding board for them.”