EQ2 offers memberships and a ‘holistic approach’
By Fred Afflerbach | Photography contributed
Two Bell County healthcare professionals have teamed up to offer area residents an alternative to healthcare access.
Rather than waiting for insurance approval and dealing with co-pays and deductibles, Equilibrium Squared (EQ2) is a direct primary care provider. It’s sort of like a gym membership where you pay monthly dues, but instead of gaining access to treadmills and elliptical machines and barbells you have a nurse practitioner and a primary care physician at your disposal 24-7.
EQ2 is a membership-based holistic practice that also specializes in sports medicine. They accept pre-existing conditions, but don’t take insurance.
Co-owner Kelli Dudley says their monthly fees are affordable and an alternative for the self-employed, unemployed, and people who feel their insurance premiums are too expensive. Dudley’s partner, Dr. Ryan Fowler, says a monthly membership fee could be less than a co-pay with a typical doctor. And there is no limit on the number of visits, whether in person, or via phone call, text or telemedicine.
Dudley partnered with Fowler in December 2019 because, through their doctor-patient relationship, she realized they both saw a need to redefine typical healthcare. Both wanted something different, something that gave the patient more alternatives.
Dudley said EQ2 is an enigma. “We do a couple of different things. We do mainstream medicine, family practice, and also holistic medicine. Almost everything we do has a holistic slant to it. If we can help someone change their thought process, change their lifestyle, and reach a goal without having to give them pharmaceuticals, then that’s ideal.
“If we can get them to walk a little bit, cut the carbs a little bit, do things with their lifestyle that will improve their health, that’s always been the goal,” Dudley said. “If we have to prescribe pharmaceuticals for blood pressure or migraines or something like that then that’s what we’re going to do. God gave us antibiotics for a reason so we have no problem prescribing them when we need them. But our inclination is always going to be more of a holistic treatment. And then we have the added benefit of Dr. Fowler’s sports medicine.”
Belton business owner Kayla Potts has been living with lupus and an array of autoimmune disorders for several years. She’s battled rashes, inflammation and debilitating fatigue since 2012. And because she is self-employed, her health insurance company and doctors changed almost yearly. At one point, she was taking about nine different medications with little relief. After friends recommended EQ2, she signed up.
“He (Dr. Fowler) is a very traditional doctor but he’s willing to look outside the box,” Potts said. “I felt like doctors were just shoving prescriptions down my throat. And they weren’t working. They weren’t helping. And I really wanted to get away from that style of medicine. That’s been a huge blessing, to have a doctor that listens. He’s trying to get answers for me when no one else would. That’s made a big difference for me, in my overall wellbeing.” Potts says she now takes only a few prescription medications and, although there is no known cure for lupus, she feels much better overall.
The direct primary care model is nothing new to the medical field; it was founded by three doctors about 20 years ago. Today, the concept seems to be picking up steam. According to the website DPC Frontier Mapper, there are currently about 1,300 DPC providers in the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. Experts say although there are advantages of going the DPC route, members may still need health insurance to cover specialized care or complex medical issues.
Dr. Fowler says that because EQ2 doesn’t accept insurance he has more time to spend with patients, rather than manage billing and collections. That, in turn, also keeps overhead low, which leads to cheaper monthly premiums.
“Because we don’t have many layers, we have much more personal care,” Dr. Fowler said. “When you get a test result, I’ll call you directly, or text you. If you have a problem, same thing, text me directly. It takes all the in-between stuff out. It basically comes down to the patient and the doctor. That’s where all the good stuff happens anyway.”
Dr. Fowler, board certified in integrative and holistic medicine, said that much like a general practitioner, EQ2 does a little of everything: removes moles, stitches up cuts, treats abscesses. They also attend to people with thyroid and immune conditions, blood pressure problems, and folks who are concerned about heart disease. And nurse practitioner Dudley performs blood work; she takes samples and sends them to a laboratory for processing.
Making people healthier comes first, Dr. Fowler said, and that can often be done without using prescription drugs. Fowler uses both Eastern and Western approaches to medicine.
“I like to evaluate the entire person, spiritually, mentally, physically, nutritionally . . . all of those things,” Fowler said. “I take a holistic view and then I use any means necessary to treat them, which could be sleep, diet, exercise, supplements, simple things before I want to throw pharmaceutical medicine at them that has a list of side effects as long as your arm that may, or may not, help them.
“This is a shared decision making. People don’t come in here and dictate what to do. We have a discussion on what I think is wrong with you and here’s what I think will help. If we’re not happy with that we can look at other options.”
EQ2 has also tested patients for COVID-19 and treated some with mild symptoms with a vitamin C infusion. Patients are screened for symptoms while booking an appointment. Both Dudley and Fowler wear masks and sanitize high touch areas before and after each visit.
First-time visitors at EQ2 may be surprised that the person who checks them in will probably be the nurse or doctor that will examine them. And they will likely be the only one in the lobby. And that’s a good thing, says lupus patient and businesswoman Potts. “It’s really nice to have that small town doctor feel. That’s not something I’ve had in a long time.”
