We were lucky to catch up with Christina Ralko recently and have shared our conversation below.
Christina, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic is grounded in several key principles and influences.
First and foremost, my dad has been my biggest influence. Growing up, he was working 2-3 jobs at a time making sure our family had a roof over our head and food in our belly. Despite working many hours, his number one goal was to make sure he provided for his family and we always had what we needed. Growing up, I unfortunately had many medical bills that flooded my parents in debt due to being born 24 weeks prematurely. I had many surgeries at birth and the years to come. My father never gave up and always fought for me and made me the hard worker that I am today. He showed me the importance of commitment to helping others. To this day, he reminds me to “Always get back to people no matter what!.” Observing my fathers dedication and approach to always thrive to do the best job you can do has been highly motivating.
Secondly, the well-being of children motivates me knowing that my work directly impacts children’s health and future, leading to a strong sense of duty and commitment.
Third, my own personal values such as empathy, compassion, and a desire to make a positive impact on society contribute to a strong work ethic. These values drive me to go above and beyond for my patients.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Your Way Pediatrics is on a mission to deliver top-notch pediatric care directly to patients in their homes, making healthcare accessible and affordable while prioritizing the well-being of the youngest patients. The goal is to break down barriers to healthcare, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. Your Way Pediatrics is revolutionizing healthcare by bringing it directly to you.
Families have two options: a monthly membership or a flat fee per visit, chosen to provide the best quality healthcare. A monthly membership grants access to scheduled well-visits, unexpected sick visits, and consultations for pediatric concerns. Virtual visits are also available for accessible healthcare, even during vacations. With direct contracting, I offer high-quality, personalized care, including well-child checks, sick visits, mental health, telemedicine, and direct access via text, phone, or email between visits.
This unique practice provides pediatric primary and urgent care in the privacy and comfort of your home, catering to patients of all ages, from newborns to adolescents. In your child’s familiar surroundings, I offer comprehensive services typical of traditional pediatric primary care, with more extended visits, predictable costs, minimal wait times, and direct provider access, reshaping the healthcare landscape.
No intermediaries stand between you and your provider. I am always your point of contact when you have a question or concern – there are no gatekeepers here. I maintain a dedicated phone line for direct patient communication, utilizing Jane EHR to access records, prescriptions, billing, and more easily.
Your Way Pediatrics ensures healthcare revolves around your family, consolidating well visits, sick visits, blood draws, diagnostic testing, and instant medication prescriptions at one location and with one provider. The motto “Because every parent should have the final decision in their kids’ care” reflects my commitment to empowering patients and parents. I provide knowledge and recommendations, allowing them to make the final decision on healthcare without judgment. I encourage parents to take control of their child’s healthcare, free from the constraints of insurance dictation. When I lack answers, I facilitate outside consultations in a timeframe that suits your needs, eliminating the weeks of uncertainty often associated with referrals.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Along the way during my journey thus far, I believe encompassing a holistic approach while still offering conventional medicine has been impactful, as well as being accessible, and a great advocate for families.
Ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, is my core value. I often advocate for policies that support children’s health and work to reduce healthcare disparities. I recognize that a child’s development is multifaceted. I am concerned not only with physical and mental health but also with social and cognitive development. This involves tracking milestones, offering nutrition guidance, and addressing developmental delays.
Building solid relationships with families is crucial to my practice. Understanding the family dynamics, cultural background, and socioeconomic factors helps me tailor my approach to better support the child’s overall development. Collaboration with parents and caregivers is essential for optimal outcomes. Beyond treating illnesses, I am passionate about preventive care and health education. This includes promoting healthy lifestyles, providing guidance on nutrition and exercise, and offering resources for parents to make informed decisions about their child’s health.
As a solo provider, I wear many hats, and with that comes many responsibilities, but I am always available for my patients and families no matter what. If your child needs to be seen at 10o’clock at night – that’s okay. A typical 9-5 office schedule doesn’t work well for everyone; this is where I bridge the gap. I am available 7 days a week no matter what. If I can save a concerned mom from taking an unnecessary trip to the emergency room at 3am by providing reassurance on a phone call – I will do it. What does a parent do on a holiday if your child is sick; your options are usually being seen urgent care or a hospital right? Now, there is Your Way Pediatrics; yes, we are open on holidays! Just because it is a holiday or a weekend or 10’o’clock at night doesn’t mean your provider shouldn’t respond. I pride myself on being responsive as much as possible. No question is ever considered “stupid.” It’s never “too late at night” to call me. I always get back to my patients and families and it’s on the same day. There is no receptionist that you must leave a message with and then wait until the next day for the provider to receive that message; it’s just me. You get direct access to your provider.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Navigating insurance reimbursement is a challenging aspect of direct primary care for not only providers, but patients as well. The current healthcare system’s insurance barriers often impede the availability and accessibility of direct primary care providers or providers who do not accept health insurance like myself. One significant challenge is the complex and time-consuming process of obtaining reimbursement from insurance companies for direct primary care services.
For providers who are out-of-network, the reimbursement process can be frustrating and discouraging. Insurance companies typically have strict guidelines and requirements for reimbursement, necessitating extensive paperwork, documentation, and lengthy waiting periods. This process can be tedious and burdensome for providers who are already managing a heavy patient load.
Moreover, insurance companies may not recognize direct primary care as a legitimate care model, further complicating reimbursement efforts. Many insurance policies are designed around the traditional fee-for-service model, which does not align well with the direct primary care approach. This lack of recognition and understanding creates additional barriers for providers who aim to provide high-quality, personalized care to their patients.
On the patient side, insurance reimbursement challenges can also be significant. Many patients depend on insurance coverage to help offset healthcare costs. Providers such as myself do not participate in insurance networks, which means patients may be unable to receive reimbursement for the services they receive. This can deter patients from seeking direct primary care and contribute to the provider shortage in this field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourwaypediatrics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourwaypeds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourWayPeds/
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