Dr.C.Johnson

Episode 17 - Leaving the ER for DPC: How Dr. Chelsea Johnson Built Kidz MD to Keep Kids Out of the Hospital

DPC| Primary Care| DPC Podcast
December 12, 2025•2 min read

Welcome to a transparent, real-world coaching session with Dr. Chelsea Johnson, the founder of Kidz MD Pediatric Direct Primary Care (DPC) in Liberty, Missouri. After a dynamic career in academic medicine and locums work, Dr. Johnson shares why the DPC model was the only way she'd practice primary care, seeing it as her "off-ramp" to keep children out of the emergency room. This episode dives into the crucial logistical and marketing hurdles of starting a new DPC practice, including her strategy for solving the vaccine purchasing challenge and how she targets her ideal suburban mom patient.

What You Learn

  • The "Off Ramp" to DPC: Dr. Johnson details her transition from a high-mobility career (academic medicine, emergency/urgent care, consulting) into founding her own pediatric DPC practice, stating it was the only model that appealed to her for primary care.

  • Solving the Vaccine Challenge: Learn how Dr. Johnson utilized a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) like Freedom Health Works to bridge the gap and access vaccine services like VaxCare until she can meet the requirements for a direct contract.

  • Marketing on a Budget: Discover low-cost patient acquisition strategies, including leveraging the local Chamber of Commerce for marketing opportunities, such as potential free billboard space and social media promotion.

  • Refining Your Ideal Patient: Dr. Johnson defines her target patient as the busy suburban mom with multiple children who prioritizes superior access and a pediatrician who can manage more in-office procedures to avoid unnecessary ER visits.

What Is This For

This episode serves as a practical, actionable guide for physicians, especially pediatricians and family medicine doctors, who are considering or launching a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice. It provides concrete advice on overcoming significant logistical barriers like securing vaccines, developing cost-effective patient acquisition strategies, and defining a mission to improve family access to care.

Guest Links

Guest: Dr. Chelsea Johnson

Website: https://kidzmd.com/

Email: [email protected]


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Dr. Gonzalez was born in NYC, but grew up in Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School before completing her Family Medicine residency and Geriatrics Fellowship in 2002 at USC in Columbia, SC. She worked in Morganton, NC for 5 years at Burke Primary Care. After that, she headed the Primary Care Department at A Woman's View for 13 years and taught part time at the Geriatrics Fellowship in Morganton. She appreciates the privilege of working with her patients to improve their health, independence, and quality of life. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics.

Anne Gonzalez

Dr. Gonzalez was born in NYC, but grew up in Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School before completing her Family Medicine residency and Geriatrics Fellowship in 2002 at USC in Columbia, SC. She worked in Morganton, NC for 5 years at Burke Primary Care. After that, she headed the Primary Care Department at A Woman's View for 13 years and taught part time at the Geriatrics Fellowship in Morganton. She appreciates the privilege of working with her patients to improve their health, independence, and quality of life. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics.

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