New Hollister clinic offering direct primary care holds grand opening and ribbon cutting

A new health care clinic in the area is serving the needs of individuals and families alike. Wolf and Willow Direct Primary Care opened in mid-June with a soft opening, and had a grand opening and ribbon cutting a few short weeks later on August 19.

The medical providers at Wolf and Willow Direct Primary Care are Bryce Burtless DNP, FNP - BC and Kinsey Vogt MSN, FNP - C.

Said Burtless, "I was born and raised in the Branson area and am passionate about serving the community that shaped me. After graduating from College of the Ozarks with a Human and Molecular Biology Degree, I earned a degree in nursing, and my Doctorate as a Nurse Practitioner from Missouri State University. I have been in healthcare since 2018, working in phlebotomy and emergency medicine. I'm committed to providing accessible, personalized, relationship-centered care through Direct Primary Care."

Burtless continued, "Kinsey's passion for serving others was inspired by her upbringing in ministry and missions. A 2018 College of the Ozarks nursing graduate, she brings nearly eight years of experience in pediatrics, mother/baby care and emergency medicine. Kinsey is committed to accessible, compassionate, relationship-based care focused on prevention, education and trust."

Other key staff members include Kyle Sheppard (BSN), Lexie Sheppard (BSN), Makenzie Burtless and Dr. Todd Baker.

Burtless explained, "Kyle is co-owner of this clinic, and a nurse. He is completing his Nurse Practitioner degree currently and will be excited to take patients in the future. He spends many hours focusing on how we can improve as a clinic to ensure we have services that are appropriate for the community to fill their needs. He is also involved in things such as Hollister Rotary and Hollister Chamber of Commerce to engage in the community and help our outreach."

Lexie Sheppard is a nurse who ensures everything is in place to create a great experience for Wolf and Willow's patients and their care. She is also responsible for making the clinic's atmosphere homey and welcoming.  

Makenzie Burtless has taken on the role as Community Outreach Coordinator. Makenzie contacts local businesses and community members to educate them on the clinic and look for ways Wolf and Willow can help meet community needs,

"Dr. Todd Baker is our Medical Director, and even though he is not taking patients, he has been a huge supporter for us in the process of building this clinic," said Burtless. "He is always there for us as a mentor and educator in all aspects of this clinic development."

The clinic's focus is Direct Primary Care, a healthcare model that allows for a direct relationship between the patient and their primary care provider, without relying on insurance for primary care.

Burtless explained, "Instead of paying copays or receiving a bill for every visit, patients typically pay a simple monthly membership fee of $69 that provides access to their provider and a broad range of primary care services, including same-day and next-day appointments, direct access to your provider by phone, text, email or virtual visits, longer, unrushed appointments and no copays for included visits." Wolf and Willow currently take walk-in patients if they do not have a Direct Primary patient on the schedule, at a cost of $99 per person. 

Also included in Direct Primary Care are affordable labs and medications, preventative and chronic disease management, urgent and routine primary care, and a focus on building a long-term relationship with your provider.

"The goal is simple: make healthcare more accessible, personal and affordable, while giving providers the time to actually get to know their patients. It is not only for uninsured patients, "Burtless explained. "Several of our patients have insurance. The goal is affordable care and to allow more time and energy with our patients. Insurance has made that nearly impossible with primary care. Because insurance reimbursements are so little, clinics are having to see 20-plus patients a day per provider to keep the lights on. In direct primary care, we do not bill insurance for visits, rather patients pay the clinic a fee of $69 a month for all basic services. The big confusion is, yes, you can still use us if you have insurance. You can use insurance for things such as imaging, labs, etc. just as they normally would. But what we're finding out is, even with insurance our costs are much cheaper."

"At our clinic in Direct Primary Care, all of my patients have a number that goes directly to me. No front office, no nursing staff, just a number that goes from my patients to me for any of their needs," said Burtless. "And, yes, I have sent messages to patients at 9 p.m. some nights when they have questions because that is what being there for your patients looks like. Patients love the access to their provider in Direct Primary Care."

Wolf and Willow Direct Primary Care treats the same conditions or illnesses as any primary care facility—chronic care management like diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid issues; acute issues such as lacerations, rashes and viral illnesses. While they do not recommend you visit them for chest pain, severe shortness of breath or loss of consciousness, they all have emergency medical experience and can direct you to the nearest emergency room if they feel the need.

To sign up for Wolf and Will Direct Primary care, visit their website, wolfandwillowdpc.com and click Sign Me Up or call their office at 417-559-2220 to discuss signing up and any questions you might have.  

Wolf and Willow Direct Primary Care is located across the street from College of the Ozarks, next to Tri-Lakes Dental, 10998 Historic Highway 165 in Hollister. The office is currently open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only. Beginning the week of September 14, the office will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can visit Wolf and Willow Direct Primary care online as well. Their website is wolfandwillowdpc.com. On social media, they are most active on Facebook, but also enjoy posting videos on Instagram and TikTok. A search of Wolf and Willow can find them on most social media sites.

When asked about their recent grand opening, Burtless noted, "It was wonderful. We truly felt the love and support from the Hollister and Branson community. We had a full waiting room that had to eventually start migrating down the hall to get everyone out of the heat. We had several individuals interested, and mentioned after discussing the clinic with us, the model 'just makes more sense now.' "

Burtless added, "We are trying to bring back the old way of medicine. Where your primary care provider knew you by name, not just another number. We truly value the time we are getting to spend with our patients. It is showing that this clinic has made an impact in the patients we already have, not only financially, by saving on visits, labs and imaging, but also by the care they are receiving."

To sign up for Wolf and Willow's Primary Direct Care, visit their website, wolfandwillowdpc.com and click Sign Me Up, or call their office.