Dr. Gary Patton ambles quickly throughout his Hamburg office, smiling and chatting without breaking stride. His practice is gradually growing and expanding, attracting clients and patients from all walks of life who come for everything from help with addiction to grief over the loss of a loved one to simply the stress of everyday life. Patton readily embraces each case. He has tagged the motto “the art of living well” for the business because, as he sees it, every life can use a little touch-up.
“We all deserve a better life,” Patton said with a smile.
The moves Patton has made in recent years give his words credibility.
The 53-year-old Pikeville, Ky., native opened Patton Clinic in September 2011. Patton said the clinic’s goal is to treat addiction and substance abuse — as well as other issues — without the use of medication, a problem he says has given his profession and much of the medical community (especially in rural Appalachia) a black eye. He said medication is still sometimes used, though those instances are secondary to other initiatives to “repair or heal” his patients.
While some traditional therapy practices are integrated into the overall treatment plan Patton customizes for each patient, those methods are usually complimentary to more expressive approaches, he said. Tai chi, acupuncture, reiki and various skill-building courses are all on a menu that seems better suited for a spa than a therapist’s office. Even a form of writing therapy is offered, another option that keeps in line with Patton’s philosophy.
“I want to continue to develop the other services that give people the chance to prevent becoming sick and dealing with stresses,” Patton said. “Stress and grief are more than emotional; stress causes everything from cancer to autoimmune disorders. The levels of stress are getting so high [that] people are getting sick in new ways. So many people are here who have been to 25 specialists and no reason [for their illness] is found. We want to prevent that from the start.”
Patton spent the previous 22 years working in a private practice that transitioned into a hospital-based position with St. Joseph Hospital. He managed a behavioral health clinic while also teaching part time in the University of Kentucky’s physician assistant program. The work was steady, but rewards were tough to come by. Patton said because of insurance regulations and restrictions, he felt as if he were working on an assembly line rather than at a job focused on helping people. Patton said he would see patients every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., often meeting with 30 people per day.
After more than two decades, and following some “dramatic changes” that occurred in his personal life, Patton came to the conclusion he had had enough.
“It was a decision to have a better quality of life with my own work,” Patton said. “I practiced in an insurance-dictated model, but you just don’t have the time you need. Insurance only allows so much time, and you can’t help people like that.”
He then decided to open Patton Clinic, setting up shop in suite 230 at 2704 Old Rosebud Road. The initial line on Patton’s business model stated that insurance would not be accepted. An initial visit (which lasts an hour) costs $285, with 30-minute follow-up sessions at a cost of $100. One-hour tai chi courses are $10, with acupuncture costing $110. One month of addiction treatment, which includes four visits, is priced at $300.
The cash-or-credit-only revenue streams have been steady, though the absence of insurance income has kept the practice contained from massive growth. That’s also meant limited overhead costs, however. There are no negotiated fees to deal with and no need for a large staff that Patton says can cause distractions. He said the result has been limited costs, but unlimited access to care.
“I set our fees to give them optimal time,” Patton said. “One patient told me it costs her no more in the long run than if she used her insurance and she’s getting better quality care. What better testament is [there]?”