Self-Funded

The Physician Burnout Crisis: Why DPC Is The Only Way Forward

Feb 17, 2026
Guest
William Steelman
William Steelman, a board-certified internal medicine DO and founder of a direct primary care practice, left hospital medicine after COVID-driven burnout. He explains how DPC shrinks patient panels for longer visits, restores work-life balance, and uses lifestyle and ketogenic approaches to treat metabolic and mental health. They also cover pricing transparency, employer partnerships, and using AI to cut admin time.
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ANECDOTE

Burnout Brought To A Personal Crisis

  • William Steelman describes collapsing into sleep at his keyboard during COVID and his wife fearing he'd die at the computer.
  • That breaking point drove him to leave hospital medicine and start a Direct Primary Care practice.
INSIGHT

Smaller Panels Enable Real Medicine

  • Reducing a primary care panel from ~2,500 to ~600 lets physicians actually know patients and provide personalized care.
  • That deeper relationship shifts medicine from transactional to long-form, root-cause treatment.
ADVICE

Start With A 90-Minute Intake

  • Schedule long first visits (Steelman uses 90 minutes) to gather a complete history and build trust.
  • Use voice-to-text during visits so you maintain eye contact while documenting accurately.
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