Core Family Practice: Refreshingly Different

Dr. Ricky Haug, after completing residency at Thomas Jefferson University, spent seven years practicing in West Grove and felt frustrated that patients were having to wait so long for appointments, and were offered limited time and access to the doctors. And beyond that, he recognized that his patients were spending excessive amounts of money on insurance premiums, medications, and lab testing. Inspired by the old-fashioned doctor-patient relationship he envisioned while at Temple Medical School, Dr. Haug decided to open a new kind of medical practice with a model called Direct Primary Care.

Core Family Practice was this vision brought to life and opened its doors in 2016 in downtown Kennett Square with a mission to offer each patient a caring, personalized experience.

Direct Primary Care means they do not accept traditional health insurance. Although most patients do have some kind of health insurance policy, Core Family Practice does not bill the insurance companies. Payment works like a monthly membership—similar to joining a gym or Netflix. By removing the insurance company middle man, Dr. Haug is able to practice the medicine he believes is truly best for the patient—unhurried time with each patient, easier access to the medical team, and appointments available within 24 hours or less.

As more patients have joined the practice, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Paul Yerkes to the team.

Paul Yerkes, MD graduated from Villanova University and, after practicing as an Engineer for five years, decided to pursue medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his Family Medicine residency at Christiana Care Health System where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Yerkes is passionate about serving the community in which he was born and raised and hopes to bring a return of the “town doc” feel by providing high-quality primary care built on a foundation of meaningful relationships, access, and trust. Dr. Yerkes pursued a job in direct primary care, as he believes the cost of health care should be transparent and insurance should not inhibit care. In addition to serving his community, Dr. Yerkes has also served his country as a Combat Engineer in the United States Marine Corps and has a passion for providing healthcare to veterans. Outside of medicine, Dr. Yerkes enjoys running, mountain biking, gardening, and spending time with his two daughters and his wife.