People from all over the world seek specialized medical treatment in Houston. But for people who call the Bayou City home, getting the primary and preventive care to stay healthy can be challenging due to various hassles: getting an appointment when you need it, long waits for brief consultations with doctors and taking time off work to visit labs and clinics. One Medical provides primary care that disrupts the broken model of traditional health care.

With five locations in the Houston metro, One Medical is a membership-based primary care practice soothing the pain points experienced by patients trying to get care. Primary care is the first place you go when you’re sick, but at One Medical, you can also get ongoing support for women’s health, men’s health, chronic illnesses, mental health concerns and more. Three of its Houston offices are family care practices, serving babies to grandparents.

• Ready for a fresh take on health care? Get a 30-day free trial membership to One Medical at onemedical.com/care/houston.

“We love focusing on people holistically,” said Dr. Rekha Avirah, who provides family medicine in One Medical’s Sugar Land location. “Our patients see extreme value in partnering with a trusted provider. They say it motivates their engagement with their health, leading to healthier outcomes.”

Avirah emphasized that building relationships and fostering inclusiveness are core values of One Medical, regardless of whether patients visit one of the Houston facilities or one of their locations in 19 other major cities across the nation.

One Medical addresses patients’ top frustrations with typical primary care:

Appointments when you need one, not in a few days or weeks after you call. 
Getting sick is never convenient, but One Medical makes getting care as accessible as possible. Members can conveniently get same-day/next-day appointments in person or video consultations. Members can also use the One Medical app for 24/7 virtual care messaging and video at no extra cost. And if you get sick in Atlanta or New York or another U.S. metro while traveling? You can seamlessly book an appointment with the local One Medical office. All One Medical offices are committed to appointments that start on time.

Care in your community; skip the freeways.
One Medical currently has locations in the Heights, Upper Kirby, Sugar Land, Shadow Creek Ranch and The Woodlands. If traffic or timeout of your busy life is a challenge, telehealth care is a convenient alternative.

Time with your doctor to talk about your health concerns and goals for well-being.
One Medical allots more time for real conversation between doctors and patients. Avirah said this approach attracts top primary care doctors to work at One Medical. Many doctors choose primary care because they want to understand their patients thoroughly, including their medical history, social circumstances and other factors affecting their health. The typical model of a 10-minute appointment for one issue doesn’t allow for that kind of relationship, leaving doctors and patients dissatisfied. If patients need specialty care, One Medical partners with Houston Methodist to streamline referrals. However, Avirah said they can also support patient choice in referrals to other specialty providers.

Reduce anxiety and discomfort with offices designed to be human-centered.
Hard seats and claustrophobic exam rooms are part of the unpleasant experience in many traditional clinics. One Medical offices are designed for humans, not widgets. You’ll find clean, calm and comfortably designed spaces. Each location has a lab on-site.

The One Medical experience stands apart due to its distinctive model. There is an annual membership fee of $199 per person, typically paid out of pocket, offering priority access to care. Clinic and telehealth visits are billed to your insurance (including Medicare) just like at a typical doctor’s office. Connect to care 24/7 at no extra cost through messaging with the virtual health team. Because the mission of accessible quality care is so important to One Medical, some patients may qualify for financial assistance to meet the membership fee or other services. Care expertise includes prevention, common health issues, chronic conditions, mental health concerns, reproductive and sexual health, urgent injuries and illnesses as well as LGBTQIA+ services.

“We are here for patients’ entire health journey, so they feel cared for and listened to as individuals,” Amirah said.

Learn more about One Medical at www.onemedical.com. Become a member today with a 30-day free trial membership at onemedical.com/care/houston.