Our Values | Dr. William Burkhart DFC

NEW APPROACHES TO OLD IDEAS

The Legacy Physician-Patient Relationship Defined

The foundation of good medicine has always been the relationship between a patient and their physician. It is built on trust, respect, open communication, and a shared goal: helping each person achieve lasting health and a meaningful life. At Burkhart Direct Family Care, Dr. Burkhart embraces this timeless ideal, placing the relationship at the center of every encounter.
Over time, corporate interests and insurance-driven models have eroded much of that trust. Patients who once turned to their physicians with confidence now find themselves navigating a system that feels rushed, impersonal, and transactional. Dr. Burkhart, along with colleagues in the Direct Primary Care movement, believes strongly that healthcare should return to its roots—a model where patients are known, heard, and guided with genuine care.
Dr. Burkhart’s vision for medicine is shaped by his own family’s legacy. His grandfather practiced medicine in an era before cell phones, email, or electronic records—when charts were handwritten, blood work was read under a microscope, and patient care relied heavily on skill, intuition, and compassion. Though modern medicine now benefits from advanced technology and tools, the essence of care should remain unchanged: thoughtful listening, careful examination, and a commitment to healing the whole person.
Drawing from both the wisdom of the past and the innovations of today, Dr. Burkhart delivers care that is personal, practical, and deeply respectful. He sees every patient as an individual with unique values, beliefs, and goals, and he uses that understanding to guide each person toward better health. His approach is both modern and timeless—anchored in tradition, yet empowered by today’s best medical knowledge—ensuring that the physician–patient relationship remains the cornerstone of care at Burkhart Direct Family Care.

Right to Privacy

Patient privacy is paramount to achieving optimal health outcomes. Patients at Burkhart Direct Family Care can know their private and personal information is safe. The Privacy Policy can be viewed here.

Non-discrimination

All patients are accepted at Burkhart Direct Family Care regardless of age, race, sex/gender, religious creed, or other personal beliefs, including those regarding the use of alternative healthcare modalities. This policy has financial implications as well: patients are not charged more for membership because of extensive past medical histories or complications.

Bodily Autonomy

Patients have a right to choose the things they do and do not subject their bodies to, including medications and vaccines. As an extension of the shared decision-making process, patients in the practice will always be able to choose how to proceed with management of their healthcare needs.

Technology

The practice embraces new technologies to enhance the patient experience and open new possibilities that enhance the physician-patient relationship. The elimination of barriers to patient communication is noticeable to all patients. New medical technology (handheld ultrasound for example) is embraced to increase the scope of practice and efficiency offered at Burkhart Direct Family Care.

Scope of Practice

An active state medical license gives physicians broad capacity to practice medicine how they choose. While the corporate healthcare model incentivizes providers to specialize, subspecialize, and increase revenue by generating more patient encounters, the DPC movement does the opposite. Dr. Burkhart practices medicine at the highest level his license will allow. Patients can expect his specialist referrals to be high-yield uses of their time and money.

Efficiency

Efficiency is defined differently at Burkhart Direct Family Care. In this practice the aim is to arrive at the correct diagnosis quickly, reasonably, and safely, with as little monetary cost and use of finite resources as possible.

Sustainability

Dr. Burkhart is personally committed to lessening the toll healthcare services take on the environment, especially in the use of disposable medical waste products. When ancillary services such as bloodwork are recommended, patients can be confident that only those tests that are necessary and will effect medical decision-making will be ordered.

Transparency

Patients are entitled to know how much the services recommended to them will cost. At Burkhart Direct Family Care, great care is taken to accurately communicate costs in advance of receiving a service. Patients are also able to verify the costs of bloodwork or use of other supplies and products, should they desire.

Fiduciary

A strong correlation exists between a patient’s physical/mental health and their financial health. It is for this reason that patient’s financial situations are relevant parts of their health history, and all the more reason why healthcare decisions are made jointly, with the patient’s health and financial wellness in mind. The lowest costs are always sought and delivered without sacrificing quality.

Healthcare Freedom

Patients have a right to choose their provider, and also have a right to select another. Patients are never locked into a contract term and may cancel their membership at any time without a severance penalty.

Education

The word doctor comes from the Latin “docere” which means “to teach.” Dr. Burkhart is and has always been an educator, and patients in the practice can expect to learn new things about themselves.