More than a year ago, Dr. Aisha Harris opened a unique kind of clinic in Flint called Harris Family Health. Unlike traditional clinics, this one runs on a direct care model allowing patients to pay a monthly fee to access care instead of waiting on insurance.
“Back in 2020, I was practicing medicine with a family doctor in Flint caring for patients while experiencing barriers in care,” says Harris. “I felt that these patients deserved quality time and access to affordable care and decided that opening my own clinic was the best opportunity I had to shape our medical landscape in an impactful way.”
Through the direct care model, Harris can provide flexibility for her patients. With membership to Harris Family Health, patients pay a monthly fee to have full access to their doctor without having copays or coinsurance. They also have access to wholesale labs and medication through the clinic.
“This model empowers the patient and me to build a relationship and not have a rushed appointment,” says Harris. “It helps me be patient-focused instead of appointment-focused.”
This model may be new to the area, but it isn’t a new concept. Harris learned about this model while she was in medical school, and when she was ready to start her own clinic, she started connecting with others doing the same thing.
“I wanted to bring this to Flint to show the community there is a different way to access care,” says Harris. “Flint deserves to the opportunity to see what can happen with membership-based care.”
Why did you start this practice in Flint?
When I was in medical school and during my residency, I wanted to absorb as many fields as possible to be a resource for my friends and family. It was sort of a “thank you” to Flint for raising me. I am excited by how Flint is being built up and wanted to be part of the journey.
What is your business philosophy?
Treating people how I want to be treated and building a space to grow and be healthy.
How is Harris Family Health involved in the community?
I love being a community resource. I would love for Flint to be as healthy as possible, that is one of the goals of Harris Family Health. I do that through outreach for health literacy and education and helping to strengthen the health career pipeline. I am part of the board of the Genesee County Prevention Coalition. I also give talks to local nonprofits and schools about health topics from the perspective of a primary care family doctor.
When you’re not working, where do you like to spend your time in Flint & Genesee?
I spend a lot of time in downtown Flint. My favorite restaurant is Soggy Bottom Bar. I go to different events in the downtown area. I live near the Flint Cultural Center, so I go to the Flint Rep, the Whiting, and the Flint Institute of Arts a lot.
Why did you decide to join the Flint & Genesee Chamber?
I decided to join when I started my business because I had medical knowledge but not the business side. The Chamber let me connect with people locally who were business-minded and helped me get connected to different resources. Networking with people became a constant loop of strengthening what I already knew and finding opportunities that made me become a better person both professionally and for my business.
Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting HarrisFamilyHealth.com.