Evergreen Primary Care Clinic Brings DPC to Saint Paul

Evergreen Primary Care Clinic in Saint Paul, MN, is redefining primary care by bringing direct primary care to the Twin Cities area.

Evergreen Primary Care Clinic

Founded on the belief that strong patient-physician relationships are needed for exceptional care, Evergreen Primary Care offers an inclusive, personalized, and transparent approach to patient care… with a twist:

Evergreen Primary Care does not bill insurance. Instead they use the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model.

That means that instead of accessing primary care services through a traditional health insurance company – an inefficient and expensive model that adds a lot of cost without bringing much value at the primary care level – patients simply pay an affordable flat monthly fee, like a gym membership.

In return, patients get as many appointments with their primary care physician and staff as they need.

No deductibles, no co-pays, no red tape, and no surprise bills.

The three women doctors who founded the clinic – Anita MacDonald, Shary Vang, and Leslie Surbeck – chose to open a direct primary care practice because they were increasingly frustrated by the poor care and level of service under the traditional insurance-based model.

Dr. Leslie Surbeck says she was getting tired of constantly having to apologize to patients for being unavailable due to her fully-booked schedule, running late for appointments, and for abbreviated appointments. 

“We all had independently been looking at the DPC model for a while because of our frustrations with corporate-based health care, where increasingly more and more of our time was spent doing things for insurance companies,” says Dr. MacDonald.  “There’s a pressure to see more patients and a feeling like we had lost our autonomy. We were not able to provide the kind of care we like to provide because we’re just going from patient to patient.”

Read More: The Complete Guide to Direct Primary Care

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Why Direct Primary Care Works

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a modern healthcare approach centered on prioritizing the patient’s experience.

Unlike traditional fee-for-service models that rely on billing insurance companies, DPC practices opt for a flat monthly or quarterly subscription fee, similar to “concierge medicine.”

However, the significant distinction lies in how these practices handle billing: While concierge practices bill insurance alongside subscription fees, DPC practices eliminate insurance billing entirely, sustaining themselves solely through subscriptions.

By doing away with private insurance billing, DPC practices significantly reduce overhead and administrative costs.

This, in turn, leads to smaller patient loads.

Consequently, subscribing patients gain access to a comprehensive range of primary healthcare services without extra charges.

DPC Advantages

This model brings several benefits for patients: 

Personalized Care. DPC practices operate with fewer patients than traditional insurance-based practices, allowing doctors to dedicate more time to each appointment. This fosters stronger doctor-patient relationships and enables tailored healthcare.

Cost Transparency. The fixed monthly subscription covers all primary care services, ensuring no unexpected bills or additional charges per appointment. Members have a clear understanding of their healthcare costs.

Convenient Access. DPC practices often offer extended hours, same-day appointments, and 24/7 telemedicine options, ensuring easy, accessible, and cost-effective care.

DPC embraces a holistic approach that emphasizes wellness, patient education, and overall health enhancement.

For example, where the average primary care appointment involves less than 20 minutes of face time with the MD-level provider, appointments with Evergreen Primary Care and other DPC 

Serving Immigrants and Underserved Communities

In addition to its direct primary care activities, Evergreen Primary Care has a special focus on supporting minority communities and immigrants.

Dr. MacDonald and her staff of primary care physicians are experienced at providing immigration physicals that meet INS requirements. They also have a flat rate menu of services for uninsured and underinsured patients with affordable rates for as-needed care.

What’s Included in the Evergreen Primary Care Monthly Subscription?

Comprehensive Primary Care

In-Office Procedures

Meet The Evergreen Primary Care Physicians

Anita MacDonald, MD

Board certified in Internal Medicine (adults age 18+)
Dr. Anita MacDonald obtained her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio in 1997.

She completed her residency at Forbes Family Practice in 2000 and has enjoyed helping patients as an attending physician for over twenty years.

Dr. MacDonald has an extensive history of service as a Primary Care Physician at HealthPartners Health Center for Women from 2004 to 2020, where she also served as Clinic Medical Director.

Dr. MacDonald values strong relationships with her patients. In her practice, she listens attentively, collaborates on care plans, coaches and empowers patients, and advocates for their well-being.

Beyond her medical practice, Dr. MacDonald finds fulfillment in spending time with her family and embracing the natural world.

Shary Vang, MD

Board certified in Family Medicine (patients age 16+)

Dr. Shary Vang, MD,  pursued her medical education at the University of Minnesota –  Minneapolis, followed by a residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Dr. Vang strives to create a compassionate and safe environment for patients, ensuring they feel heard and valued. 

Patient advocacy is a passion for Dr. Vang, and she enjoys helping patients navigate our complex healthcare system.

Dr. Vang devotes much of her time to treating patients with diabetes, hypertension, stroke, thoracic outlet syndrome, piriformis syndrome, ADHD, and complex medical care.

She also places a special focus on refugee and immigrant health.

Beyond her medical practice, Dr. Vang cherishes spending quality time with her husband, three children, and their extended family. She finds enjoyment in listening to podcasts like “Terrible, Thanks for Asking,” and “Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel?” 

An enthusiastic pickleball player, she actively supports her husband’s company, PikNinja Sports.

Leslie Surbeck, MD

Board certified in Internal Medicine (adults age 18+)

Dr. Surbeck earned her medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 2004.

She completed her residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where she also served as Chief Resident from 2007 to 2008.

With a dedication to personalized care, Dr. Surbeck values understanding each patient as an individual and collaboratively finding tailored solutions.

She approaches medical situations with an open-minded perspective, believing that evidence-based medicine should never be one-size-fits-all.

Her medical interests span various areas, including anxiety, depression, hypertension, diabetes, chronic illnesses, and preventative medicine.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Surbeck enjoys spending quality time with her two daughters and finds relaxation and balance through activities like yoga and walking.

Pediatric Services

For pediatric services, Evergreen Primary Care partners with Dr. Michele Peterson, MD, owner and founder of Complex Care Pediatrics.

Dr. Peterson is a dedicated professional with a rich background in pediatric care.

Graduating with an MD from the University Of Minnesota in 1997, she furthered her training with a  residency in pediatrics at the same institution in 2000. Dr. Peterson’s career spans over two decades in general pediatrics within the Twin Cities.

Her passion for providing specialized care led her to establish Complex Care Pediatrics, an independent direct care practice originally catering specifically to children with complex medical needs.

Dr. Peterson has recently expanded her patient base to include all children, and is deeply committed to the families she serves. Dr. Peterson sees patients from infancy to 18 years old.

While primarily available at the Evergreen Primary Care office twice a week, she also extends her services through home care visits.

Evergreen Pricing and Services

Membership Pricing

A  $40 one-time enrollment fee applies.

Discounts are available for families and for employer plans and other groups. 

Non-Member Pricing

Special Immigration Services 

Contact Evergreen Primary Care Clinic

Location: 570 North Asbury St., Suite 208,  Saint Paul, MN 55104
Website: epcmn.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-376-3484 – Fax: 651-349-0005
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

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