Time to be thorough
Longer visits leave room to talk about the whole picture — not just today's single symptom — so nothing important gets rushed.
Opening September 1, 2026
Primary care with time to listen — right here in San Diego.
Pacora is a Direct Primary Care practice for adults in Mission Valley. One flat monthly fee covers your everyday health, with longer visits, same & next-day access, and a care team you can reach directly.
Image placeholderBright, warm hero photo: a provider seated at eye level with a patient, natural light, calm and welcoming clinic setting. Client to supply.
A simpler way to get care
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a simple model where you pay your practice a flat monthly fee for your everyday care. Because we aren't billing insurance for each visit, we can keep our patient panel small — which means longer appointments, faster access, and a provider who actually knows you.
The American Academy of Family Physicians describes DPC as a model where patients pay directly for a defined set of primary care services, often with enhanced access like longer visits and real-time communication.1
DPC is not insurance — it works alongside your health plan
Illustration placeholderFriendly diagram: “Your care plan” (everyday care, direct access) beside “Your insurance” (hospitals, specialists, emergencies) — two tools, two jobs.
Why patients choose DPC
Care built around access and relationships
A handful of practical differences add up to a very different experience — calmer, faster, and more personal.
Same & next-day access
Because our panel is intentionally small, same-day and next-day sick visits are realistic rather than rare.
Reach us directly
Message, call, or video with your own care team between visits — often for the kinds of questions that don't need a full appointment.
Predictable pricing
You know your monthly cost up front — one flat monthly fee, no per-visit copays, and no surprise bills for your primary care.
Focus on prevention
Time to catch small issues early — routine screenings, lifestyle guidance, and steady management of ongoing conditions.
A real relationship
One provider who knows your history and your goals — continuity that makes every future visit easier.
Why the time matters
Fewer patients means more of your provider
In the traditional model, a single provider is often responsible for a very large number of patients. Research on “panel size” estimates the average primary care provider manages roughly 2,000 to 2,500 patients — and one widely cited analysis calculated it would take about 21 to 27 hours in a single day to deliver all recommended care to a panel of 2,500 people.2
Direct Primary Care changes that equation. With a much smaller panel, we can give each person real time and attention — the way primary care is meant to work.
Source: Altschuler et al., Annals of Family Medicine, via NIH / PMC.
Available at launch
What your care plan covers
We're a general adult primary care practice serving patients 18 and older. Your care plan is designed to cover the everyday care most adults need.
A handful of more involved in-office procedures carry a small additional charge for materials — and we always tell you the price before we proceed, so there are no copays or surprise bills for your care.
See everything we offer- Annual wellness visits, preventive care & cancer screening (USPSTF-guided)
- Same-day & next-day sick visits for colds, infections & minor injuries
- Chronic disease management (blood pressure, cholesterol & more)
- Women's health & men's health, including well-woman services
- Weight-loss management, nutrition & lifestyle medicine
- Mental & behavioral health support
- Minor wound care, dressing changes & simple suturing
- Telehealth for California patients & direct messaging between visits
Simple by design
How Direct Primary Care works
You join
Enroll directly with the practice and meet your care team — no insurance middle-step for your visits.
Your care covers the everyday
Your care plan covers your office visits, sick visits, telehealth, and direct access to your care team — with longer visits and easier scheduling, often same or next day.
Insurance covers the big stuff
For a hospital stay, surgery, or specialist, your health plan handles it — DPC and insurance work together.
Transparent pricing
One simple care plan
You're paying for time and access — not a separate charge for every visit. Care plans become available when we open on September 1, 2026.
Most popular
Adult care plan
$100 / month
For patients 18 and older. Everyday primary care, sick visits, telehealth, and direct access — no per-visit copays.
Join the waitlist
Students
College semester option
$75 / month
Locked in for the semester with proof of enrollment — quality care while students are away at school.
See plan details
Employers
For your team
Contact us for pricing
Offer employees affordable, same-day primary care and predictable costs. We'll build a plan around your team — reach out and we'll take it from there.
Get in touchDirect Primary Care is not insurance and does not replace it. Many members pair their care plan with a high-deductible or catastrophic health plan for hospital stays, specialists, and emergencies.
Meet your care team
Experienced San Diego providers
Care that starts with listening — from a team that practices what it preaches.
PhotoDr. Nicholas Schmidt, MD — warm professional headshot.
Nicholas Schmidt, MD, MHS
Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician
Dr. Schmidt takes time to sit and listen — to learn who the person is behind the patient. Trained at Johns Hopkins, Loma Linda, and Scripps, he believes prevention is the best medicine: catching problems early so patients can live long, healthy, active lives.
ABIM Board-Certified
Johns Hopkins
Scripps-trained
Licensed in California
PhotoDerek Rogoz, PA-C — warm professional headshot.
Derek Rogoz, PA-C
NCCPA-Certified Physician Associate
Derek explains things in plain language, so patients leave knowing exactly what's happening and why. With experience across primary care, dermatology, and wound care — and disaster-relief work abroad — he's especially good at helping people navigate a complicated system.
NCCPA-Certified
Rush University
Primary & wound care
Licensed in California
“What a healthy life means to you may be different from ours, your neighbor, or the textbook — and that's the point. We're here to champion you in living a long, happy, and meaningful life.”
Nicholas Schmidt, MD · Founding Physician, Pacora
Before you ask
Opening & getting started
When does Pacora open?
We open September 1, 2026 in Mission Valley, San Diego. You can book a virtual Meet & Greet now or join the waitlist to be among the first to establish care.
Are you accepting patients yet?
Not quite yet — we open September 1, 2026. Before then, you can book a virtual Meet & Greet to learn how we work, or join the waitlist so you're first to know when enrollment opens.
What is a virtual Meet & Greet?
A free, no-pressure video conversation with our team. It's a chance to see whether Direct Primary Care is right for you, ask questions, and learn exactly what's included in the care plan.
Is Direct Primary Care insurance?
No. DPC is a flat monthly fee for your everyday primary care — it is not insurance and does not replace it. Many people pair it with a high-deductible or catastrophic health plan that covers hospital stays, specialists, and emergencies.
Can I use my HSA to pay for my care plan?
As of January 1, 2026, federal rules changed to allow many people to use HSA funds toward qualifying DPC fees. FSA eligibility depends on your specific plan, so check with your FSA administrator or tax professional.