Meet Marion Woerner | MD, FAAP – Owner, Pediatrician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marion Woerner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marion, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business after experiencing barriers to comprehensive pediatric patient care, both personally as a mom and in my practice as a physician. My vision in creating Dot’s Place Direct Pediatrics was to provide a more accessible & personal service to patients and families.

Dot’s Place is a Direct Pediatric Care Practice founded to provide quality evidence-based family-centered care, built on service & trust. Dot’s Place is a unique model, which allows Dr. Woerner and her patients to “get back to the basics;” focusing on the doctor-patient relationship. We aim to provide an alternative way for families to receive pediatric care; a way that is reliable, efficient, accessible, & convenient.
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Dot’s Place has set a low maximum patient volume in order to ensure accessibility for appointments & to Dr. Woerner (via text, phone, & email), longer patient appointments (30-60 minutes), & virtually no wait times (we don’t even have a waiting room!) for members.
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Dot’s Place has implemented a membership style payment structure that is transparent and allows for patient specific care without the confines of third party insurance company restrictions.

I love the personal healthcare system Dot’s Place provides. It truly allows me to care for patients as if they are a part of my family.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The process of starting a new pediatrics practice from scratch & doing things a different way was not easy. I sincerely believe that the product I offer is more comprehensive & accessible than a traditional patient care model and this allows for an elevated level of care. The accessibility alone, via 24/7 text and phone access allows for patients to have issues & questions addressed with efficiently

Dot’s Place is a Direct Pediatrics Care practice. Members pay a monthly membership service fee, beginning at the time of enrollment.

Plans
Why a Membership Model?
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Our membership-style payment structure is transparent and allows for patient specific care without the confines of third party insurance company restrictions.
We will never charge you a copay. You will never receive surprise or additional bills from us.
We do not spend time on administrative tasks such as filing claims or negotiating with insurance companies for network inclusion. Therefore, Dr. Woerner has more time to spend with her patients and their families.
Dr. Woerner is able to enroll fewer patients, which enables her to provide more comprehensive and personalized care.
This membership model allows for flexibility and portability. Should you switch jobs or move to a new location, you can remain a member.
Dr. Woerner loves being able to practice as a part of this membership model! By having longer appointment times and a low patient panel size, she is able to focus on the doctor-patient relationship, which can improve patients long-term health.

Members Receive:
24/7 Access (text, email, phone)
Little to No Wait Times
Home Visits
Fewer Urgent Care Visits
Extended Appointments (30-60 mins)
Same & Next Day Appointments
Chronic Care
Prenatal Consultation

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston has an amazing restaurant scene. There is delicious food in all genres. Additionally, the arts (symphony, ballet, theater) & museums here are world class.

You will often find me in the Rice Village & West University areas; close to home. Rice track is a beautiful tree lined track for exercise. Rice Village offers restaurants & shopping.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Kyle, & family for their unwavering support as I took a risk and a leap. My colleague and friend, Sonia Singh, MD, for educating me further on the concept of DPC medicine & her commitment to thorough and compassionate patient care.

My dearest friends: Lisa Meeks, for her support, presence throughout the opening process, & detail oriented vision. Amy Grabein for her PR and business plan services. Laura Farach for her medical business planning skills.

Website: https://www.dotsplacepediatrics.com

Instagram: @drmwoerner