premium tier

The Premium DPC Tech Stack

Maximum capability for high-performing DPC practices

$1,000/mo
per month · Total: $985/mo (plus one-time hardware costs)

Ideal for: Established practices with 400+ patients, multi-provider groups, practices pursuing employer contracts, physicians who want the most advanced available technology

About This Stack

The Premium DPC Tech Stack is designed for practices that have moved beyond the startup phase and are ready to invest in the full spectrum of available technology to deliver the best possible care experience and operate at peak efficiency. The software foundation remains Hero EMR, whose comprehensive capabilities only become more valuable as practice complexity increases. What distinguishes the Premium stack is the addition of hardware-based capabilities, particularly point-of-care testing and remote patient monitoring, that transform your practice from a place patients visit when they are sick into a continuous care platform that monitors health, catches problems early, and delivers same-visit diagnostic answers. The point-of-care testing investment deserves particular emphasis because it changes the fundamental patient experience. When a patient presents with a sore throat and walks out fifteen minutes later with a confirmed strep diagnosis and a prescription already sent to their pharmacy, that experience creates the kind of word-of-mouth advocacy that no marketing budget can replicate. The remote patient monitoring capabilities extend that care relationship between visits, with connected devices feeding data into Hero EMR's monitoring dashboards and enabling proactive outreach when a patient's blood pressure trends upward or their weight changes unexpectedly. The total monthly cost of approximately $985, plus the one-time hardware investments, represents a significant commitment, but for practices with 400 or more patients generating $30,000 or more in monthly membership revenue, these investments typically generate positive returns through ancillary revenue, reduced overhead, improved patient retention, and the ability to attract new patients through a demonstrably superior care experience.

What's Included

EMR + Practice Operating System $249/mo

Hero EMR

Hero EMR remains the foundation at the premium tier, and everything that makes it the centerpiece of the Standard stack applies here as well. At this level, practices will leverage Hero EMR's more advanced capabilities including remote patient monitoring integration, the full depth of Guideline Hero's clinical decision support, and the platform's API for connecting with the additional specialized tools in this stack. The ambient AI scribe, Agentic Inbox, and 24/7 phone agent continue to drive the core efficiency gains, while the billing engine's 98% first-pass claim rate and automated insurance eligibility verification become increasingly valuable as practices at this tier typically handle more insurance encounters alongside their DPC membership base.

Read Our Review
Point-of-Care Testing ~$150/mo (consumables, amortized hardware)

Abbott ID NOW + i-STAT Alinity

Adding point-of-care testing capability is the single highest-impact upgrade in the Premium stack. The Abbott ID NOW handles rapid molecular testing for influenza, strep, COVID, and RSV with results in minutes, while the i-STAT Alinity extends your diagnostic reach into metabolic panels, cardiac markers, and blood gases. The upfront hardware investment of approximately $12,700 is significant but typically recoups within 12 months through ancillary test revenue. Monthly consumable costs vary by volume but average roughly $100 to $150 for a practice running 30 to 50 tests per month. The integration with Hero EMR's Results Hero feature creates a particularly smooth workflow where in-office results flow directly into the patient chart and trigger intelligent interpretation.

Alternatives: Abaxis Piccolo Xpress ($9,500, chemistry only) | Sofia 2 ($5,000, limited test menu)
Read Our Review
Remote Patient Monitoring $200/mo (platform + device subsidies)

Withings Health Solutions

Withings Health Solutions provides a suite of connected health devices including blood pressure monitors, smart scales, pulse oximeters, and activity trackers, along with a practice-facing dashboard for monitoring patient data between visits. For DPC practices, remote patient monitoring deepens the care relationship, enables proactive intervention, and can generate additional revenue through RPM billing codes for patients with qualifying insurance coverage. Hero EMR's remote patient monitoring capabilities integrate with Withings data to surface trends and alerts within the clinical workflow.

Alternatives: Bodytrace ($150/mo) | Rimidi ($175/mo)
Email, Calendar, Storage & Collaboration $18/mo

Google Workspace Business Plus

The Business Plus tier adds enhanced security features, 5TB of cloud storage, and advanced endpoint management that becomes relevant when a practice has multiple providers and staff members using various devices. The additional storage accommodates the growing volume of practice documentation, training materials, and operational files that accumulate in a maturing practice.

Alternatives: Microsoft 365 Business Premium ($22/mo)
Telehealth & Virtual Meetings $16.66/mo

Zoom Healthcare

The same Zoom Healthcare subscription from the Standard stack continues to serve its role as a supplementary telehealth platform and the primary tool for non-clinical video meetings, group health coaching sessions, and community events.

Practice Accounting $60/mo

QuickBooks Online Plus

The Plus tier of QuickBooks adds inventory tracking (useful for managing POCT cartridge inventory and medical supply costs), project-based tracking for employer contract profitability analysis, and more detailed reporting that supports the financial complexity of a premium-tier practice. Class and location tracking helps multi-provider practices understand profitability by provider, service line, or location.

Alternatives: Xero Growing ($42/mo)
Patient Communication & Marketing $20/mo

Mailchimp Standard

At the premium tier, a dedicated email marketing platform enables sophisticated patient engagement campaigns, health education newsletters, seasonal wellness reminders, and practice news updates. Mailchimp's automation features let you create sequences triggered by enrollment dates, annual wellness visit reminders, or seasonal health topics without manual effort. The platform's analytics provide insight into which content resonates with your patient population.

Alternatives: ConvertKit ($15/mo) | Constant Contact ($20/mo)
Content Creation $30/mo

Canva Pro + Loom

Canva Pro handles visual content creation while Loom enables you to create personalized video messages for patients, record procedure explanation videos, and produce health education content. The combination supports a content-forward practice presence that differentiates your DPC offering and provides genuine value to patients between visits.

Offsite Data Backup $15/mo

Backblaze B2 + Arq Backup

The same backup solution from the Standard stack with expanded storage allocation to accommodate the larger data footprint of a premium-tier practice.

Ready to Upgrade? This is the top tier of our curated stacks. Practices with needs beyond this configuration are typically large enough to warrant custom technology consulting and enterprise-grade solutions that fall outside the scope of our standard recommendations.
View All Stacks