Making Healthcare Human Again

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model built on an ongoing relationship between patients and their care team. Patients pay a flat monthly membership fee that covers primary care services provided during regular business hours, without billing insurance.

This model emphasizes preventive care, management of acute and chronic conditions, and long-term health maintenance, allowing clinicians to focus on personalized, proactive care rather than insurance-driven visits.

Membership at Lowcountry Wellness Center is a simple monthly subscription that provides access to comprehensive primary care services during regular business hours. This includes office visits, annual physical exams, lab testing, wellness care, and more.

Our membership model is designed to be transparent, affordable, and relationship-based, allowing us to focus on proactive, personalized care without the constraints of traditional insurance.

Lowcountry Wellness Center does not provide medical care, advice, or provider access outside of regular business hours.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For urgent medical concerns that cannot wait until business hours, please visit an urgent care facility for in-person evaluation.

Messages left after hours will be reviewed and addressed during regular business hours.

Lowcountry Wellness Center offers two membership options to meet different care needs:

Foundational Plan

Designed for basic primary care needs, this plan includes routine visits, preventive care, and ongoing support for common health concerns during regular business hours.

Health Optimizer Plan

This plan includes everything in the Foundational Plan, plus a more in-depth, root-cause approach to health. It may include advanced assessments, whole-body detox support, and a deeper focus on functional and lifestyle-based medicine.

Both plans are designed to support proactive, personalized care within a relationship-based primary care model.

Lowcountry Wellness Center does not offer individual or one-time visits. We exclusively care for active members through our membership model, which is designed to support ongoing, relationship-based primary care.

Membership allows us to focus on proactive, comprehensive care rather than episodic visits, creating better outcomes and a more personalized experience for our patients.

Health insurance is not required to become a member of Lowcountry Wellness Center. Our membership covers primary care services provided through our practice.

However, we strongly recommend that members have additional coverage for services outside the scope of primary care, such as hospitalizations, surgeries, emergency care, and specialist services. This may include traditional health insurance or a health-sharing plan.

Pairing a DPC membership with outside coverage helps ensure you are protected in the event of unexpected or high-cost medical needs.

In many cases, yes—Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships may be eligible for payment using HSA or FSA funds. Eligibility can vary based on your specific plan and current IRS regulations.

We recommend checking with your HSA/FSA administrator or a qualified tax advisor to confirm whether your membership qualifies.

Our approach focuses on caring for the whole person—not just individual symptoms. We take time to understand each patient’s lifestyle, nutrition, stress levels, and overall health goals.

Care plans may incorporate preventive care, lifestyle and nutrition guidance, stress management strategies, and evidence-based treatments tailored to each individual. This personalized, whole-person approach supports long-term health and sustainable wellness.

No. Vaccinations are not required for children to become patients at Lowcountry Wellness Center.

We support informed parent choice and provide education on the risks and benefits of vaccinations. While we do not carry vaccines in our office, our Nurse Practitioner is available to discuss vaccination questions as part of your child’s care.

Vaccination decisions do not affect patient acceptance or continuity of care in our practice.

Patients communicate with the practice during regular business hours via phone or secure messaging. Messages are reviewed and addressed by the care team during business hours.

There is no provider access after hours. Emergencies should be directed to 911 or the emergency department, and urgent concerns should be seen at urgent care.

Yes. When specialty care is needed, we can help guide referrals and coordinate care to support continuity between your primary care and specialist treatment.

Specialist services are not included in membership and are arranged outside of our practice.

Yes. Nurse Practitioners at Lowcountry Wellness Center are licensed in South Carolina and have prescriptive authority, including for controlled substances when clinically appropriate.

Medication prescriptions and refills are managed as part of your ongoing care and are handled during regular business hours.

Lowcountry Wellness Center is led by Nurse Practitioners, including Dr. Penni, who holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with graduate-level education and extensive clinical training. In South Carolina, Nurse Practitioners are licensed to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, manage chronic and acute illnesses, and prescribe medications independently.

While our providers are not medical doctors (MDs), they are highly qualified clinicians who provide comprehensive, personalized primary care within our practice model.

Yes. Lowcountry Wellness Center serves as your primary care provider.

Through our Direct Primary Care (DPC) model, we provide comprehensive primary care, including preventive care, management of acute and chronic conditions, and coordination of care when specialty services are needed. There is no requirement to keep another primary care provider, though some patients choose to do so based on personal preference or insurance arrangements.

We focus on being your primary point of contact for healthcare needs during regular business hours.

Children and Adolescents

Newborns to age 12:

The first appointment is 60 minutes and includes a wellness visit and health history intake.

Ages 12 to 21:

The first appointment is a 60-minute history intake, followed by a separate 60-minute wellness visit scheduled afterward.

Adults (21 and older)

The initial onboarding process includes two separate 90-minute appointments:

First visit: A comprehensive intake focused on your health history, current concerns, and health goals

Second visit: A comprehensive physical exam, including fasting laboratory work

These two appointments are scheduled separately and cannot be combined.

Urgent concerns may include symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, high fever, or sudden worsening of symptoms. These should be evaluated at urgent care or the emergency department after hours.

Non-urgent concerns include medication refills, lab questions, chronic symptom updates, scheduling requests, or general health questions. These will be addressed during regular business hours.

No. All membership plans include the same access to care during regular business hours. Differences between plans are based on the depth and focus of services provided—not availability outside of business hours.

Our after-hours policy exists to protect both patient safety and staff wellbeing. Repeated non-urgent after-hours messages may prompt a review of expectations to ensure our practice is the right fit for your care needs.