How to Identify Hidden Revenue in Your DPC Panel: The 20% You're Probably Overlooking
Most DPC Practices Miss This Revenue Insight
If you’re running or scaling a DPC practice, you likely analyze revenue through a simple lens: number of members multiplied by monthly fee. But that model flattens your panel and hides something critical:
Not every patient contributes the same value to your practice.
And if you’re not applying a robust patient segmentation analysis, you’re likely undervaluing the 20% of your members who drive outsized impact.
What Real-World DPC Patient Segments Look Like
Let’s say your panel has 1,000 members at $75/month. Most DPC operators assume uniformity. But real-world engagement data tells another story based on detailed patient segmentation analysis:
- 10% are low-touch and at-risk of churn. They rarely book appointments or message you. While healthy, they may not fully grasp your value and can leave quietly.
- 20% are highly engaged and loyal. They show up, ask thoughtful questions, follow through on care plans, and often refer new patients.
- 20% are high-need patients. They might have unmanaged chronic conditions or barriers like transportation or health literacy. They take more time, but they save the system thousands by avoiding ER visits, polypharmacy, and unnecessary referrals. Most practices forget to quantify their long-term ROI.
- 50% are moderate-engagement members. They come in a few times a year, follow up when needed, and quietly support your panel.
So what’s the issue?
You’re likely not tracking or marketing the true ROI of your high-need population because your patient segmentation analysis is incomplete or superficial.
Why You’re Undervaluing High-Need Patients
These high-utilization patients may seem costly. But in a traditional system, they would generate $5,000 to $15,000 per year in downstream healthcare costs.
Your DPC practice is preventing that spend.
If you're working with employers or community health groups, that’s a quantifiable value story, but only if you’re tracking and reporting it with thorough patient segmentation analysis.
Without segmenting for engagement and cost-avoidance, you’re leaving money and mission on the table.
Track What Matters: Beyond Monthly Fees
Here’s what leading direct primary care operators are doing to grow more sustainably:
- Segment their patient panels. Use real data to label members by engagement type, churn risk, and resource usage through deep
patient segmentation analysis.
- Identify downstream savings. Document how high-need patients avoid ER visits, duplicate tests, and unnecessary procedures.
- Balance workloads. Tools like Health Compiler help surface where time is going and where AI support can reduce inbox overwhelm.
- Use data in employer pitches. Employers want to hear outcomes. Showing how you’re managing high-risk populations is a differentiator for your
DPC employer value.
What’s the Business Case?
- Retention boost: Engaged patients stay longer. Low-touch patients need nudging to remember your value. That’s your
DPC retention strategy.
- Growth insights: High-referral members should be nurtured.
- Staff sustainability: If 10% of members are driving 40% of message volume, something has to change.
- Better employer storytelling: ROI for employers is not just about how many flu shots you gave, but how many crises you quietly prevented.
Make This Easy with Health Compiler
Health Compilerhelps DPC clinics track member engagement, segment patients, and highlight invisible value, especially in high-need populations. Our platform empowers you with clear, actionable patient segmentation analysis so you can demonstrate your true impact to patients, staff, and partners alike.
When you can see where your real value lives, you don’t just run a better practice. You build one that thrives, for you, your team, and your members.
