Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Paull, MD.
Dr. Paull, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was 14, I broke a bunch of bones while skiing, and the orthopedic doctors put me back together. It was then I decided I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Fast forward through college, medical school, and residency and I found myself looking for a job. When I finally pick my head up from the grindstone, I became disillusioned with the US healthcare system. Doctors are unhappy with insurance companies and hospital administration telling them what to do, while also making them see as many patients as humanly possible. Patients are dissatisfied with the seven-minute visits they get with the doctor. Medicine is a relationship-based business, and the relationship part has been removed.
I have a friend I met in medical school who started a house call practice down in Florida that didn’t take insurance. He was happier than anyone else I knew from my med school class. It was at this point I decided to take a chance, move out to Colorado Springs where my wife is from, and start the first orthopedic house call practice.
Has it been a smooth road?
If taking a job with a large private practice group or hospital system is a newly paved road. The road I decided to take is more like a neglected cobblestone street. The kind with the odd cobblestone that sticks out and makes you think you may have busted a tire.
Since this is the first practice of its kind, I’ve had to figure out everything. From medical supplies to medical records, I’ve had to flush out every detail on my own. I even learned how to do my own website maintenance and SEO. I’ve had to find which other docs I want to refer on, and have had to be creative to grow my referral base. Compare this with my former co-residents who took a job straight out of training that did all that stuff for them. Overall, I’m much happier being able to spend more time with my patients and not having to deal with insurance or hospital administration.
Please tell us about your practice.
My company is called Easy Orthopedics and it’s a direct orthopedic care practice that does house calls. We practice relationship-based care, meaning that appointments are 45 mins to an hour and no one feels rushed. Communication is also very important to me, my patients have my cell phone number. I personally am an orthopedic surgeon. Surgeries are done in a surgery center, but I have everything on me to do steroid injections, suturing, casting, and splinting at the home. I am most proud of creating a medical practice that gets back to the roots of good medical care, spending time with my patients and building a relationship. It’s an old school house call practice with the benefits of modern medicine.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like how collaborative people are here. Some places have the mentality of every man for themselves. Here, people want to get to know you and help you. This has been super helpful with the growth of my business. The beautiful mountain views and hiking are an added plus. I would say what I like least is how domineering these hospital systems are. They make it difficult for the little guy to make it on his own.
Contact Info:
- Website: easyorthopedics.com
- Phone: 719 297 5484
- Email: drp@easyorthopedics.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/easyorthopedics
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