Jacquelynn Dunn, DO, is a family medicine physician for Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, and the site medical director for Trinity Health Academic Family Medicine – Brighton, a primary care office that provides resident physicians real time, on-the-job training. In this Q&A, Dr. Dunn discusses the access to care the practice provides patients, other patient benefits, and much more.
Q: What kinds of patients and conditions do you typically treat?
Dr. Dunn: We see patients at every stage of life, whether they are women expecting a child, newborns, children, teens, adults, or older adults. We also perform a wide range of in-office procedures, including skin procedures, gynecologic care, and joint injections, to name a few.
One unique aspect of our practice is we perform osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), which is a hands-on approach that helps the body heal itself. While it’s commonly used for back pain, we also use OMT for conditions like ear infections, sinus issues, acid reflux and even Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It’s a great complement to medications and physical therapy and gives us another way to help patients get back to living their best life.
Q: Can you explain what an academic family medicine practice is and how it works?
Dr. Dunn: After medical school, physicians must complete at least three years of specialty training, and our residents are here for those three years learning family medicine. They train across a variety of settings, providing them with real-time training to prepare them for the rest of their career.
When a patient comes in, a resident physician will usually see them first. They will review your case alongside a supervising physician and discuss your care plan together. We have also expanded services like procedure visits, in-office biopsies, ultrasounds, and specialized expertise such as sports medicine, addiction medicine, and breastfeeding medicine.
Q: Why should someone choose an academic practice like yours for primary care?
Dr. Dunn: Choosing a primary care provider is a very important decision, and what we hear from our patients at Trinity Health Academic Family Medicine – Brighton is that they value being part of the training process for our resident physicians. They feel like they’re helping shape the next generation of doctors, all while benefiting from a team-based approach and highly engaged, enthusiastic young professionals.
We are also very accessible. Whether it’s a child who needs a physical exam, a teenager dealing with a sports injury, or an adult managing chronic conditions, we have the resources and expertise to provide high-quality, comprehensive care.
Q: Can you expand on that a bit more? How quickly can a patient be seen?
Dr. Dunn: It depends on the type of visit, but our average wait time for new patients is one week, and we can oftentimes get them in even sooner than that. In many cases, we can schedule appointments within two weeks, or even on the same day if there are openings. For established patients, we make every effort to accommodate urgent needs as soon as possible.
Q: Is there anything else you want patients to know?
Dr. Dunn: What ultimately makes our practice special is the people. We have a dedicated, experienced staff of physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and medical receptionists who build meaningful relationships with our patients, all while training our resident physicians to become a part of the future of health care. Trinity Health Academic Family Medicine – Brighton is a place people enjoy coming to work, and that translates into compassionate, patient-centered care every single day.
Trinity Health Academic Family Medicine – Brighton is located at 7575 Grand River Road, Suite 210. Book an appointment by calling 810-844-7950 or by going to https://www.trinityhealthmichigan.org/location/trinity-health-academic-family-medicine-brighton.
I have been a patient at Trinity Health Academic Family Medicine–Livingston since 2015, and at age 74, I can honestly say that I love this practice.
Some of my friends are skeptical of the academic model because resident physicians eventually complete their training and move on. They prefer the idea of having the same doctor for many years. I understand that perspective, but my experience has been quite the opposite.
Over the years, I have worked with a number of residents. The vast majority have been very good, a couple were less impressive, and several were outstanding. Had I been in a traditional practice, I never would have had the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication of these exceptional young physicians.
In fact, I believe this system has helped me avoid a few serious health issues because concerns were identified and addressed early. I sometimes wonder whether those same issues would have been caught as quickly in a more traditional setting.
What gives me the greatest confidence is the built-in collaboration. Major medical decisions and patient interactions are reviewed by an experienced supervising physician. In my view, having another highly qualified set of eyes involved in my care is a significant advantage rather than a drawback.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention Epic’s MyChart patient portal. It is comprehensive, intuitive, and makes communication with providers as well as access to medical records, test results, and appointments remarkably easy.
I simply cannot say enough positive things about this healthcare system. For me, the academic family medicine model has provided outstanding care, and I am grateful to have it available in our community.