How 4Health Family Medicine Built a Thriving DPC

How Did 4Health Family Medicine Build a Thriving DPC?
By Putting Patients First.

Physician burnout and patient dissatisfaction often feel like inevitable byproducts of modern healthcare, and as a result, a growing number of clinicians are opting out of the system altogether. For Dr. Su-Anne Hammond, founder of 4Health Family Medicine, that decision wasn’t impulsive—it was the culmination of nearly two decades of experience, frustration, and ultimately, clarity.

What she built instead is not just a practice, but an example of what happens when care is redesigned around trust and simplicity.

A Practice Born from Friction

4Health Family Medicine, a direct primary care (DPC) practice based in Windham, Maine, opened its doors on April 1, 2024, with just 50 patients. One year later, it has grown to over 400 patients, well ahead of its projections.

For Dr. Hammond, the journey to opening her own clinic began long before launch day.

After 17 years working within large health systems, she found herself facing a familiar tradeoff: stability and benefits on one hand, and meaningful patient relationships on the other. Like many physicians, she initially chose to stay in the larger hospital system, working part-time while raising her children, then returning to full-time practice in 2015 with a renewed focus on improving care delivery from within.

But the structural limitations of traditional healthcare proved difficult to overcome.

“I reached a point where I just couldn’t spend the time with patients that I felt they deserved,” she explains. “That’s when I started seriously thinking about doing something different.”

The turning point came when she watched a colleague successfully launch a DPC practice in Pennsylvania. Inspired, Dr. Hammond spent a full year researching the model, connecting with mentors, and building a business plan tailored to her community.

Her projections were conservative: 100 patients in year one, 300 by year three, and a cap at 500 to preserve care quality.

She surpassed those benchmarks almost immediately.

Filling a Gap in Care

When 4Health Family Medicine opened, it was the only DPC practice in Windham, and one of very few serving the broader lake region of Maine.

The demand was there.

Patients, many of them young and self-employed, were struggling to find good care with traditional insurance models. They wanted transparent pricing, direct access to their physician, and a healthcare experience that didn’t feel rushed or transactional.

Dr. Hammond’s model was straightforward: $1,200 per year for comprehensive primary care. 

“It’s affordable for a lot of people, especially those who don’t want to pay into insurance plans they rarely use,” she says.

The simplicity resonated. Word spread quickly, and within months, her panel began to fill. She officially closed to new patients at 400, but demand hasn’t slowed. Today, the practice sits at 430, largely through referrals from existing patients.

Choosing Technology That Doesn’t Get in the Way

While the DPC model removes many administrative burdens, it doesn’t eliminate the need for technology. In fact, choosing the right electronic health record (EHR) system was one of Dr. Hammond’s most important early decisions.

This would be her first time implementing an EHR independently—a stark contrast to the six different systems she had used in large hospitals. Her criteria were clear: ease of use, strong customer support, and affordability.

“I didn’t want something bloated or overly complex,” she says. “I needed a system that worked for me — not the other way around.”

After evaluating alternatives, she turned to a word-of-mouth recommendation from a fellow physician in northern Maine, which led her to Akute.

A Seamless Transition, Built for Speed

Unlike traditional EHR implementations, which can take months and require extensive training, Dr. Hammond’s transition to Akute was notably frictionless. 

“It didn’t take a lot of time to onboard,” she says. “It’s very intuitive.”

The platform allowed her to go live quickly, without disrupting patient care or adding operational strain, which is critical in the early days of building a practice from scratch. The real value emerged in day-to-day use.

Efficiency Without Compromise

For Dr. Hammond, documentation has always been a point of tension. Like many physicians, she prefers narrative flexibility over rigid templates and checkboxes. Akute’s customization features (particularly its dot phrases and slash commands) proved to be a perfect fit.

“I don’t like checking boxes,” she explains. “With dot phrases, I can type something like .cpe and have a full note populate instantly. That’s huge for me.”

The ability to template treatment plans, prescribe directly within the platform, and streamline workflows has significantly reduced the time she spends on administrative tasks.

The result is not just increased efficiency, but a return to focusing on her patients.

A Partnership, Not Just a Product

Beyond the software itself, Dr. Hammond points to the responsiveness of the Akute team as a key differentiator.

“They’re constantly checking in,” she says. “And they’re receptive to feedback and updates, which makes a big difference.”

In a healthcare landscape where vendors often feel distant and inflexible, that level of engagement stands out.

“They’re a really great team,” she adds. “I love working with them.”

Scaling with Intention

Despite her rapid growth, Dr. Hammond remains committed to a deliberate approach.

Her long-term goal is still to cap her practice at around 500 patients — a number that allows her to maintain the level of access and personalization that defines DPC care.

“I want to make sure it continues to work for me and for my patients,” she says.

It’s a measured perspective, especially in a culture that often equates growth with success.

Redefining What’s Possible in Primary Care

In just over a year, Dr. Hammond has built more than a thriving practice—she’s created a model of care that challenges the assumptions of modern healthcare.

It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always require new technology or complex systems. Sometimes, it’s about removing what no longer works, and choosing tools that support, rather than dictate, how care is delivered.

For physicians considering a similar path, her experience offers both validation and a roadmap.

And for patients, it offers something even more valuable: time, attention, and a healthcare experience that feels human again.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Looking to launch or grow your DPC practice?
Book a demo with us to see Akute in action!