PHILADELPHIA, PA — A new partnership between Vitable Health and clinician staffing platform DirectShifts aims to address a growing paradox in American healthcare: many of the professionals delivering care struggle to access affordable, convenient care for themselves.
Vitable Health said it will provide DirectShifts clinicians nationwide with access to its virtual primary care memberships and personalized insurance guidance, expanding healthcare access to nurse practitioners, physicians, CRNAs, nurses, behavioral health professionals, and medical assistants working across all fifty states.
Under the arrangement, clinicians using DirectShifts can enroll in Vitable’s primary care membership for a flat monthly fee, gaining access to unlimited virtual visits, routine lab work, and a broad formulary of prescription medications at no out-of-pocket cost. The program also includes preventive and chronic care services, annual wellness visits, health coaching, and assistance from licensed benefits advisors to help members select and enroll in individual insurance plans.
Vitable Health Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kitonga said the partnership is designed to remove cost and access barriers that persist even among healthcare professionals. He said clinicians often face scheduling constraints, high costs, or coverage gaps that discourage them from seeking routine or preventive care, despite spending their careers treating patients.
Industry research supports that concern. Studies show healthcare workers experience higher rates of chronic conditions than other occupations, while more than half of physicians report difficulty finding time or access for personal medical care. Separate research has found that nearly half of nurses self-treat illnesses rather than consulting another provider, a practice linked to burnout and limited access.
DirectShifts Chief Executive Officer Sai Kumar Thumuluru said those challenges are visible across the platform’s national user base, which includes more than one hundred thousand clinicians. He said many delay or skip medical visits because of cost pressures, time constraints, or exhaustion, creating long-term risks for both providers and the healthcare system.
The companies say the partnership is intended to help clinicians manage their own health more proactively, enabling earlier intervention, better chronic care management, and routine preventive services without unexpected bills or administrative complexity. By offering care through a virtual-first model, the program is designed to fit into irregular schedules common in clinical work.
Both firms describe the initiative as an extension of their broader missions. DirectShifts focuses on simplifying how clinicians connect with job opportunities, while Vitable Health targets affordable care models for caregivers and hourly workers. Together, they are betting that supporting clinician health will translate into greater workforce stability and stronger patient care outcomes.
The companies said enrollment is now open to eligible DirectShifts clinicians, positioning the program as a national effort to ensure that those caring for patients are no longer forced to neglect their own health.
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