Just you and your doctor. Simple.
A membership cash-pay practice in Hickory. A clinician who knows you, unhurried visits, and transparent pricing. Memberships starting at $65/month.
Or call 828-544-1018
Most of our members have insurance and keep it. We simply do not bill it. We'll use it when that works better for you, although our prices are often lower than what insurance would have charged.
Just you and your doctor. Simple.
A membership cash-pay practice in Hickory. A clinician who knows you, unhurried visits, and 24/7 access to your doctor. Memberships starting at $65/month.
Or call 828-544-1018
Most of our members have insurance and keep it. Nothing about it changes, we simply do not bill it. We will use it when that works better for you, although our prices are often lower than what insurance would have charged.
Three Pillars of Care
Personalized
Primary Care,
Reimagined
Skip the rushed appointments and insurance headaches. At Emerald Health, our Direct Primary Care model gives you longer visits, real relationships, and care that sees the whole you
Feel Refreshed, Not
Overdone
Whether it’s skin rejuvenation, injectables, or body treatments, our aesthetic services help you look as vibrant as you feel, without overdoing it.
Perimenopause &
Menopause Care
Hormonal shifts can be confusing and isolating. We offer compassionate, expert care for women navigating through perimenopause, so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Three Pillars of
Care
Personalized
Primary Care,
Reimagined
Skip the rushed appointments and insurance headaches. At Emerald Health, our Direct Primary Care model gives you longer visits, real relationships, and care that sees the whole you
Feel Refreshed, Not
Overdone
Whether it’s skin rejuvenation, injectables, or body treatments, our aesthetic services help you look as vibrant as you feel, without overdoing it.
Perimenopause &
Menopause Care
Hormonal shifts can be confusing and isolating. We offer compassionate, expert care for women navigating through perimenopause, so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Our Four Promises to You
Time
Visits run 30 to 60 minutes with the same physician. Long enough for the whole story.
“It’s just a good feeling when you can actually sit down face to face and not feel rushed.”
Access
Same or next day appointments, telehealth when it fits, and 24/7 access to your MD on Platinum.
“I can call them even on the weekends. They are just very responsive.”
Price you can see
A published monthly price, labs and generics at our cost, and the number in front of you before you agree to anything.
“I got my annual labs for $50, instead of $250 at the hospital."
Concierge-level care, without concierge prices
Same or next day appointments, negotiated lab and imaging prices, and one clinician who already knows the history.
“Premium services at rates that are actually lower than what you’d typically pay through insurance.”
More Than a Doctor's Office
Direct Primary Care means you pay one flat monthly membership instead of billing insurance for every visit. That one change is what makes everything else possible: longer appointments, real access to your doctor, and pricing you can actually see.
Visits here run 30 to 60 minutes, not the 10 or 15 minutes you'd get elsewhere. That's enough time to actually explain what's going on and be heard, not rushed through a checklist.
What sets us apart:
Direct access to your doctor by text or call, with same-day or next-day appointments
Visits long enough to actually listen: 30 to 60 minutes, not 10
Labs and medications at a fraction of retail cost
One flat monthly fee. No insurance billing, no surprise charges
More Than a Doctor's Office
Direct Primary Care means you pay one flat monthly membership instead of billing insurance for every visit. That one change is what makes everything else possible: longer appointments, real access to your doctor, and pricing you can actually see.
Visits here run 30 to 60 minutes, not the 10 or 15 minutes you'd get elsewhere. That's enough time to actually explain what's going on and be heard, not rushed through a checklist.
What sets us apart:
Direct access to your doctor by text or call, with same-day or next-day appointments
Visits long enough to actually listen: 30 to 60 minutes, not 10
Labs and medications at a fraction of retail cost
One flat monthly fee. No insurance billing, no surprise charges
More Than a
Doctor's Office
Direct Primary Care means you pay one flat monthly membership instead of billing insurance for every visit. That one change is what makes everything else possible: longer appointments, real access to your doctor, and pricing you can actually see coming.
Visits here run 30 to 60 minutes, not the 10 or 15 minutes you'd get elsewhere. That's enough time to actually explain what's going on and be heard, not rushed through a checklist.
What sets us apart:
Direct access to your doctor by text or call, with same-day or next-day appointments
Visits long enough to actually listen: 30 to 60 minutes, not 10
Labs and medications at a fraction of retail cost
One flat monthly fee. No insurance billing, no surprise charges
Healthcare Designed for Real Small Businesses
Small businesses often need practical solutions, not complicated systems.
We work with local individuals, families, and businesses who want easier access to primary care and more direct communication with their doctor.
Whether you are self-employed or have a growing team, Direct Primary Care may be worth exploring.
What members pay.
Here's what our members pay for a handful of the most common items.
In-house lab
Our member price against the same tests at Catawba Valley, self-pay.
CBC, comp panel, TSH + free T4, lipid, vitamin D $50vs $508
CBC, CMP, TSH/FT4, c-CRP, vitamin D* $90vs $768*
RF, ANA with reflex, ESR* $60vs $399*
TSH + free T4, twice a year* $40vs $478*
Testosterone free + total, PSA, CBC* $50vs $780*
Comparison figures are the closest matching individual tests from Catawba Valley's self-pay pricing tool. Some panel components (for example NMR LipoProfile, Apo B, anti-CCP, and reverse T3) aren't listed there, so the real difference is likely larger than shown. Prices are current as of September 2026.
In-house pharmacy
Our member price against a typical GoodRx cash price for the same fill.
Comparison figures are approximate GoodRx cash prices for a matching fill, current as of September 2026. GoodRx pricing varies by pharmacy and updates often, so check goodrx.com for the latest pricing. Our own prices are also current as of September 2026 and subject to change.
Two tiers. One standard of care.
Gold
$65/month
Unlimited 30 minute acute care visits with Karen Gimblet, FNP
Online self-scheduling
Annual wellness visit
Member-priced labs and pharmacy
Platinum
$95/month
Medical management for chronic issues
Online self-scheduling and portal messaging
After-hours access to your doctor
Member-priced labs and pharmacy services
Why people switch
You could not get in.
The next opening was weeks out.
The visit was over too fast.
You left with questions you never got to ask..
Your deductible is so high you pay cash anyway
Or you have no coverage at all.
You want one doctor, not a new face every time
Someone who knows the history without reading it off a screen.
Healthcare Designed for Real Small Businesses
Small businesses often need practical solutions, not complicated systems.
We work with local individuals, families, and businesses who want easier access to primary care and more direct communication with their doctor.
Whether you are self-employed or have a growing team, Direct Primary Care may be worth exploring.
Meet us first. The visit is free.
1. Ask for a visit. Short form below, or call if you would rather talk with us.
2. We call you back within one business day.
3. Come in and decide later. No pressure to sign up during the visit.
How this works.
I have never ever had a Doctor to sit down and spend so much time with me without feeling rushed. I absolutely love Dr Kelly. She is kind and extremely knowledgeable. What a wonderful and caring personality she has. Thank you Dr. Kelly!
Google review--R.M.
We cap our panels on purpose, so we can keep the unhurried visits possible. We're accepting new members now, though panels fill quickly and then move to a waitlist.
Join Our Direct Primary Care!
Are you ready to try a new way of health care? We're enrolling new members for our nurse practitioner, Karen Gimblet. Please submit your info below to sign up and we'll contact you with next steps. Thanks for your interest!
We will never sell your information. You can always unsubscribe by replying STOP to any emails or texts.
Join Our Direct Primary Care!
Are you ready to try a new way of health care? We're enrolling new members for our nurse practitioner, Karen Gimblet. Please submit your info below to sign up and we'll contact you with next steps. Thanks for your interest!
We will never sell your information. You can always unsubscribe by replying STOP to any emails or texts.
Phone: 828-544-1018 | Fax: 828-348-0453
305 4th Street SW, Hickory, NC 28602
116 S. Sterling Street, Suite 100, Morganton, NC 28655
[email protected]
Copyright 2026. Emerald Health PLLC. All Rights Reserved.