Low-Tech Toolkit¶

Quick Summary: Everything you need to run a DPC practice for $0-50/month. No fancy software. No subscriptions. No vendor lock-in. Just tools that work.

Philosophy¶

The tech industry profits from your belief that you need their products.

You don't.

Physicians practiced medicine for a century with: - Paper - Phones - Filing cabinets - Their brains

Modern "essentials" are conveniences, not requirements.

The $0 Tech Stack¶

Scheduling: Paper Calendar¶

What you need: - A physical calendar or planner ($10) - Or: Google Calendar (free)

How it works: - Patient calls, you look at calendar, you schedule - Write it down - Done

When to upgrade: When you're double-booking because you can't keep track. (That's a good problem.)

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Calendly, Acuity, Jane ($25-100/month)

Patient Records: Paper Charts or Google Docs¶

Option A: Paper Charts

What you need: - Manila folders ($15 for 100) - Lined paper or printed templates - Locking file cabinet ($50-150 used) - Good handwriting or printed notes

How it works: - One folder per patient - Notes on paper, filed in folder - Alphabetical in cabinet

Legal? Yes. Physicians used paper charts for decades. Still valid.

Option B: Google Workspace

What you need: - Google Workspace account ($6/month) - BAA signed with Google (available for Workspace)

How it works: - One Google Doc per patient - Folder structure: Patients > Last Name, First Name - Template doc you copy for new patients

Simple template:

PATIENT: [Name]
DOB: [Date]
Contact: [Phone/Email]
Allergies: [List]
Medications: [List]
---
[Date] - [Note]
[Date] - [Note]

When to upgrade: When searching/organizing becomes painful, or you need e-prescribing integration. Usually 40-50+ patients.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Atlas.md, Elation, Practice Fusion ($0-400/month)

Phone: Google Voice¶

What you need: - Google account (free) - Google Voice number (free)

How it works: - Get a dedicated business number - Rings to your cell - Voicemail transcription - Text messages - Keeps personal/business separate

Setup: voice.google.com, takes 5 minutes

When to upgrade: Honestly, maybe never. Google Voice works fine at scale.

Fancy alternative you don't need: Phone systems, answering services ($50-300/month)

Secure Messaging: Signal¶

What you need: - Signal app (free, all platforms) - Patient downloads Signal (free)

How it works: - End-to-end encrypted - HIPAA-appropriate (encryption + access controls) - Text, photos, voice messages - Works like regular texting

Patient adoption: "Download Signal so we can communicate securely"

When to upgrade: When you want portal features, or patients resist installing an app.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Spruce, Klara, EMR messaging ($50-200/month)

Telehealth: Doxy.me Free Tier¶

What you need: - Doxy.me account (free) - Webcam (built into laptop) - Internet connection

How it works: - You get a URL: doxy.me/yourname - Patient clicks link, enters waiting room - You admit them - Video visit happens

Limitations of free tier: - No recording - Basic features only - Doxy branding

When to upgrade: When you want recording, custom branding, or multiple providers.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Zoom Healthcare, Teladoc platform ($100-400/month)

Email: Gmail or Custom Domain¶

Option A: Gmail (free) - yourname.dpc@gmail.com - Works fine - Less "professional" looking

Option B: Custom Domain ($20/year + $6/month) - dr@yourpractice.com - Google Workspace or similar - BAA available for HIPAA

When to upgrade: When you want to look more established. Low priority.

Billing: Spreadsheet + Venmo/Square¶

Tracking: - Google Sheets (free) - Columns: Patient, Start Date, Monthly Fee, Payment Method, Last Paid

Collecting: - Venmo (free, 1.75% for instant transfer) - Square (2.6% + $0.10) - Zelle (free, many banks) - Cash/check (0%, old school)

How it works: - Charge on the same day each month - Mark paid in spreadsheet - Done

When to upgrade: When manual tracking causes errors or takes too much time. Usually 50+ patients.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Hint, Stripe subscriptions, billing software ($50-200/month)

Website: Carrd or Google Business Profile¶

Option A: Google Business Profile Only (free) - Claim your listing - Add description, hours, photos - Shows up in search - Patients can find you - No website needed

Option B: Carrd One-Page Site ($19/year) - Single scrolling page - Your photo, what you do, how to contact - Takes 1-2 hours to build - Looks professional enough

What to include: - Your name and photo - What DPC is (brief) - What's included - Pricing - How to contact/sign up - Location/service area

When to upgrade: When you want blog, patient resources, or complex features.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: Custom WordPress, Squarespace multi-page ($100-5,000)

Forms: Word/Google Docs Templates¶

What you need: - Membership agreement (Word doc) - Patient intake form (Word doc) - HIPAA notice (Word doc)

How it works: - Print forms - Patient fills out on paper - You file or scan

Or digital: - Google Forms (free) for intake - Email PDF of agreement for e-signature (or just have them sign paper)

When to upgrade: When paper becomes annoying, or patients expect digital.

Fancy alternative you don't need yet: JotForm, IntakeQ, EMR forms ($25-100/month)

Prescriptions: Paper Rx or Free E-Prescribe¶

Option A: Paper Prescription Pads - Order from medical supplier - Write prescription, patient takes to pharmacy - Works for non-controlled

Option B: Free E-Prescribe Options - Some pharmacies offer prescriber portals - Practice Fusion (free tier) has e-prescribe - Check if your state has free options

Controlled substances: - Need EPCS (electronic prescribing for controlled substances) - Usually requires paid EMR - Consider: Maybe delay controlled substance prescribing until you have EMR

When to upgrade: When volume makes paper inefficient, or you need controlled substance e-prescribe.

Labs: Direct Relationship¶

What you need: - Quest or Labcorp account (free to set up) - Requisition forms (they provide)

How it works: - Fill out paper requisition or use their online portal - Patient goes to draw site - Results come back (fax, portal, mail) - You review and contact patient

Payment options: - Patient pays lab directly (simplest) - Bill through your practice (more work)

When to upgrade: When you want EMR lab integration for automatic results.

The Complete Low-Tech Stack¶

Total: $0-10/month

What Low-Tech Gives You¶

Freedom: - No vendor lock-in - No price increases - No features removed - No company going out of business

Simplicity: - Nothing to configure - Nothing to learn - Nothing to troubleshoot - Nothing between you and the patient

Focus: - Time spent on patients, not software - Money spent on what matters - Energy on medicine, not technology

When Low-Tech Breaks Down¶

Signs you need to upgrade:

1. Volume - You're making scheduling errors, losing track of patients
2. Time - Admin work eating into patient time
3. Expectations - Patients asking for features you can't provide
4. Errors - Manual processes causing mistakes
5. Growth - You're adding staff who need systems

The right time to upgrade: When the cost of staying simple exceeds the cost of the software.

Not the right time: When a vendor gives you a good demo.

Related Guides¶

• Minimum Viable Practice - The complete checklist
• Bootstrap FAQ - Common objections
• EMR Vendor Directory - When you're ready

[!TIP] Every tool here can be upgraded later. Nothing locks you in. Start with free, upgrade when free isn't enough.

The best technology is the technology you don't think about. Simple tools stay out of your way.