One of the most common questions I have received recently is why Hushed and Unheard Medical & Wellness offers both Enhanced Access and Direct Primary Care.
The answer goes back to the reason this practice was created in the first place.
When I opened Hushed and Unheard, I did not set out to build the largest practice in town. I set out to build the kind of practice I felt had become increasingly difficult to find.
Over the years, I have listened to patients describe feeling rushed through appointments, leaving with unanswered questions, and feeling as though they were simply another name on a schedule. As both a healthcare provider and a patient myself, I understood that frustration. I knew there had to be a better way.
Hushed and Unheard was built on a simple belief: people deserve to be heard.
That belief remains at the center of everything we do today.
What Makes Hushed and Unheard Different?
One of the things patients tell me most often is how much they appreciate having time during their appointments.
That is intentional.
Many visits in our practice are scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes because meaningful healthcare conversations cannot always happen in a rushed environment. Good medicine takes time. Education takes time. Building trust takes time.
The care provided at Hushed and Unheard extends far beyond the appointment itself. It includes reviewing records, coordinating care, following up on concerns, answering questions, managing results, and maintaining enough availability so patients can access care when they need it.
Those things matter.
They are part of the reason patients seek out our practice, and they are part of the reason I am committed to protecting the model on which this practice was built.
Why We Created Enhanced Access
As our practice has grown, I have spent a great deal of time praying, planning, and reflecting on how to continue providing the level of care our patients have come to expect while remaining faithful to the vision on which this practice was founded.
That process led to the creation of our Enhanced Access Program.
The Enhanced Access Program was designed for BCBS patients who value the personalized approach, longer appointments, and accessibility that have become part of our practice. It allows patients to continue utilizing their BCBS insurance for covered medical services while supporting the additional time, communication, and access that traditional insurance reimbursement was never designed to provide.
This program does not replace insurance. It works alongside insurance.
For many patients, it serves as a bridge between traditional healthcare and the more relationship-based model that Hushed and Unheard was founded upon.
What Does Enhanced Access Include?
Enhanced Access was created for patients who desire a higher level of accessibility and a more personalized healthcare experience while continuing to utilize their BCBS benefits.
Depending on individual needs, Enhanced Access may include:
• Longer appointments when clinically appropriate
• Greater accessibility to your provider
• Enhanced communication options
• More personalized care planning and follow-up
• Increased appointment availability for established patients
• A healthcare experience focused on relationships rather than volume
Most importantly, Enhanced Access helps preserve the unhurried, relationship-based approach that has become the foundation of Hushed and Unheard.
Why Not Simply Accept Unlimited BCBS Patients?
This is where I want to be transparent.
Many people are choosing Hushed and Unheard because they are looking for something different. They want longer visits, more accessibility, and a stronger relationship with their healthcare provider.
I am honored by that trust.
However, the very things that make this practice different require time and availability.
If I allow the practice to grow without protecting those things, eventually the experience that patients came here for begins to disappear. Appointments become shorter. Accessibility becomes more difficult. Relationships become harder to maintain.
That is not the future I want for Hushed and Unheard.
For that reason, enrollment for traditional BCBS patients may be limited as our Direct Primary Care membership continues to grow. This decision is not about excluding patients. It is about preserving the quality of care, accessibility, and patient experience that define this practice.
What Is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care, often referred to as DPC, removes insurance from the primary care relationship.
Rather than billing insurance for office visits, patients pay a simple monthly membership directly to the practice. This model allows healthcare decisions to be driven by the needs of the patient rather than the limitations of an insurance contract.
Direct Primary Care allows for longer appointments, greater accessibility, a stronger provider-patient relationship, and a healthcare experience focused on people rather than volume.
In many ways, Direct Primary Care reflects the original vision that inspired Hushed and Unheard from the very beginning.
Looking Ahead: Medicare and Direct Primary Care
I am excited to share that we anticipate opening Direct Primary Care enrollment to Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older beginning July 1, 2026.
This has been a long-awaited goal and one that has required significant planning, patience, and prayer. I look forward to expanding access to a healthcare model that prioritizes relationships, accessibility, and individualized care for more members of our community.
Considering Hushed and Unheard for Your Care?
If you are currently a BCBS member and are considering transferring your care to Hushed and Unheard Medical & Wellness, I encourage you to contact our office to learn more about our care model, including both our Enhanced Access Program and Direct Primary Care options.
Every patient’s needs are different, and we believe you should have a clear understanding of your choices before making healthcare decisions.
Our team would be happy to answer your questions, explain the available options, and help determine which path may be the best fit for you. Because we are committed to preserving longer appointments, accessibility, and relationship-based care, enrollment availability may be limited.
A Final Thought
Every decision made at Hushed and Unheard comes back to one simple question:
How do we continue caring for people the way they deserve to be cared for?
The Enhanced Access Program and our continued transition toward Direct Primary Care were both born from that question. They were not quick decisions. They were made through prayer, careful planning, and a commitment to staying true to the mission on which this practice was built.
My promise remains the same today as it was on the day we opened our doors: to create a place where people feel seen, heard, valued, and cared for.
With gratitude,
Kirstie Ferrell, FNP-C
Founder, Hushed and Unheard Medical & Wellness
727 S. Fayetteville Street, Suite C
Asheboro, NC 27203
336-628-8735
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