Welcome Health
Contact: Brooke Willis
Phone: (706) 504-9321
Website: Welcome Health
Address: 119 Davis Rd, Suite 4A Augusta, GA 30907
Welcome Health, a pioneering leader in direct primary care, is dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience for both individuals and businesses. With three convenient locations in Augusta, Evans, and Waynesboro, Welcome Health operates on a unique model that offers high-quality, accessible care through a flat monthly rate, bypassing traditional insurance billing. Welcome Health is committed to providing comprehensive primary care services, including tailored business plans that help companies enhance their employee benefits while reducing healthcare costs.
Dr. Rob Lamberts founded the first direct primary care service in the CSRA in 2013. Partnering with Dr. Ed Boland and Davis Mellick, PA-C, they established Welcome Health, a primary care practice that operates on a flat monthly rate rather than billing insurance. Their focus includes expanding corporate memberships and integrating their services into employee benefits. Joining them are Rachel Mellick, PA-C, Dr. Mittal Patel, and Kelsey Clegg, PA-C, as well as Sherwin Goering, DNP, who opened the Welcome Health Waynesboro location in September 2023.
Monthly individual costs range from $50 to $90, with a family of five costing $250 per month and $15 for each additional child. Business owners can join for $75 per employee, $65 for a spouse, and $55 per child. Unlike traditional practices, Welcome Health does not charge extra fees for office visits, routine lab tests, and many medical procedures. Patients also benefit from discounted medications, available at the office.
Dr. Lamberts emphasizes, “What you’re paying for is access, not future services.” This includes office visits for urgent medical issues and access to the Spruce app, allowing patients to text their provider with questions or concerns.
Welcome Health currently operates three offices:
- 119 Davis Road, Suite 4A in Augusta
- 418 Town Park Blvd., Suite 1A in Evans
- 122 Seventh Street in Waynesboro
Dr. Lamberts notes, “We’d love to expand to Aiken, North Augusta, and Thomson; we’re keeping our eyes open for future growth.” The goal remains to enhance access to direct primary care.
Before starting Welcome Health, Dr. Lamberts worked in traditional practices, including Evans Medical Group, where he served patients for nearly 20 years. He transitioned to direct primary care due to burnout and dissatisfaction with traditional models, finding greater job satisfaction and lower stress with the new approach. Currently, Dr. Lamberts manages around 750-800 patients, enjoying a more balanced schedule and reduced overhead costs due to the streamlined direct primary care model.
Brooke Willis from Welcome Health will be available at the ABD Expo to discuss their business model and its benefits. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of Welcome Health’s providers at the Augusta Business Daily Conference and Expo.
Despite the surge in direct primary care practices over the past decade, some patients still find the model confusing. “We call it Welcome Health because we want people to feel welcome when they come into our offices,” Dr. Lamberts says. “We’re no longer apologizing; we’re saying, ‘you’re welcome.’”
