Looking for direct primary care near you in Winston-Salem, North Carolina? Segno Primary Care offers personalized adult medical care through a monthly membership. Patients receive longer appointments, easier access to their physician, and no copays for included services. Dr. Sally M. Lambeth provides comprehensive internal medicine focused on lasting relationships, prevention, and continuity.
What Is Direct Primary Care?
Imagine having a primary care physician who has time to listen to your concerns, knows your medical history, and doesn't make you feel rushed when you come in for an appointment.
That is the idea behind Direct Primary Care (DPC). It sounds new, but it’s not.
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based approach to medicine. Instead of billing insurance for each office visit, patients pay a predictable monthly fee directly to their physician's practice. Sound familiar? It should. In many ways, it’s a return to how medicine was practiced for generations.
That monthly fee covers the primary care services outlined in the practice membership agreement, without copays or additional charges for covered visits.
But the biggest difference isn't necessarily financial.
It's the relationship.
Traditional primary care practices often care for thousands of patients per physician. Direct Primary Care practices typically maintain much smaller patient panels, allowing physicians to devote more time and attention to each person.
At Segno Primary Care in Winston-Salem, NC, this is the foundation of the practice and the reason it was built.
Dr. Sally M. Lambeth, a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than 20 years of clinical experience, founded Segno around a simple belief: excellent primary care requires time, attention, and a meaningful relationship between physician and patient.
Segno's philosophy is simple: A return to personal medicine.
Why Are Winston-Salem Patients Choosing Direct Primary Care?
Finding a primary care doctor may seem straightforward. Finding one who has the time to really know you can be much more difficult.
Maybe you've experienced some of these frustrations:
Waiting weeks for an appointment when you're sick.
Spending more time in the waiting room than with your physician.
Feeling pressured to discuss only one medical concern.
Repeating your medical history to someone new at each visit.
Struggling to reach your doctor with a simple question.
Receiving bills weeks after an appointment without having been told beforehand how much you’d owe.
These frustrations aren't necessarily the fault of individual physicians. Many doctors working in traditional healthcare systems face enormous demands on their time. And the data shows that just continues to get worse and will continue to get worse.
Direct Primary Care offers a different structure.
By caring for fewer patients and eliminating insurance billing for included primary care visits, DPC physicians can spend more time doing what they were trained to do: practicing medicine.
At Segno, appointments are generally scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes. I know- you think this is a typo. And sadly, many people have become accustomed to and resigned to appointments that feel like they are over almost before they’ve begun. You’re just getting to the main reason you came to the doctor and your doctor is halfway out the door. Please hear me, I am not blaming those doctors and other providers. They are practicing within a SYSTEM that often leaves them little choice.
At Segno, same- or next-business-day appointments are generally available when medically appropriate, subject to scheduling. Even those appointments are not rushed, and you can bring up other issues if you need to.
For busy Winston-Salem professionals, adults of all ages managing multiple medical conditions, and people who simply want a more personal experience, this can make a meaningful difference.
Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Primary Care
| Feature | Traditional Primary Care | Segno Primary Care |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Insurance billed for visits | Predictable monthly membership |
| Office visits | Copays or deductibles may apply | No copays for included visits |
| Appointment length | Varies by practice | Generally 30–60 minutes |
| Sick appointments | Availability varies | Same- or next-business-day appointments generally available |
| Physician | May vary by appointment | See Dr. Lambeth |
| Communication | Usually through office staff or portals | More direct physician communication |
| Visit frequency | Depends on scheduling and coverage | No fixed annual limit for included visits |
| Care coordination | Varies by practice | Ongoing physician involvement |
Both traditional primary care and Direct Primary Care can provide excellent medical treatment. The difference is largely in how care is organized, financed, and delivered.
The goal isn't to suggest that every traditional primary care practice provides rushed or impersonal care.
Rather, Direct Primary Care gives physicians a different framework—one that makes more time, continuity, and accessibility possible.
What Does Direct Primary Care Cost in Winston-Salem?
One of the most appealing aspects of Direct Primary Care is knowing what your primary care membership costs.
At Segno Primary Care, the planned monthly membership rates are:
Individual adult: $125 per month
Two adults in the same household: $225 per month
Additional eligible adult household members: $100 per month
For an individual, that is $1,500 per year for the primary care services included in the membership.
A one-time $150 enrollment fee normally applies, but Segno is waiving that fee for its first 50 Founding Patients.
There are no copays for included primary care visits, and there is no fixed annual limit on how many medically necessary visits you may have.
Does Direct Primary Care Replace Health Insurance?
No. And this distinction is important.
A Direct Primary Care membership is not health insurance.
Health insurance remains important for services outside the practice, including hospitalizations, emergency treatment, specialist visits, imaging, medications, and other services not covered by the membership.
Some patients may have employer-sponsored health insurance, marketplace coverage, or Medicare.
At Segno, the goal is to complement appropriate insurance coverage by providing accessible, comprehensive primary care.
For many laboratory tests, imaging studies, and medications, a transparent cash price may be less expensive than the patient's insurance-based cost. When appropriate, Dr. Lambeth aims to help patients understand and compare these options. DPC can be particularly appealing to patients with high-deductible insurance plans (HDHPs). When available, transparent cash pricing for laboratory tests, imaging, and medications may help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Savings are not guaranteed, but understanding the available choices can make navigating healthcare less confusing.
What Is Included in a Segno Primary Care Membership?
Segno provides comprehensive primary care for adults, from routine preventive medicine to complex chronic conditions. (Yes, even you with your 14 medical conditions, 8 specialists, and 21 medications!)
Membership is designed to include:
Preventive care and wellness
Annual wellness evaluations, age-appropriate screening recommendations, assessment of cardiovascular risk, comprehensive medication reviews, and discussions about maintaining long-term health.
Chronic disease management
Ongoing care for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, high cholesterol, asthma, and many other medical concerns.
Sick visits and new medical problems
Timely evaluation of new symptoms and illnesses, with same- or next-business-day appointments generally available when appropriate.
Longer, unhurried appointments
Visits generally scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes, allowing time for questions, medical decision-making, and multiple concerns when appropriate.
Care coordination
Reviewing laboratory results, imaging, specialist recommendations, and medication changes to help patients understand how the different parts of their medical care fit together.
Virtual care and physician communication
Phone, secure messaging, and virtual visits when clinically appropriate.
Selected in-office testing
Services such as EKGs, urine testing, blood glucose testing, and rapid testing for certain infections are planned to be included as described in the membership agreement.
Other laboratory testing, imaging, medications, and services outside the membership may involve additional charges. Whenever Segno arranges these services directly, my goal is to offer them at cost, without a markup. For services provided by outside facilities, I’ll help patients understand their options and find affordable pricing whenever possible.
The purpose isn't simply to provide more appointments.
It is to provide thoughtful medical care built around the needs of each individual patient.
Who Benefits Most From Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care isn't just for people with complicated medical conditions. In fact, many people who benefit most are generally healthy adults who want a physician who knows them before a serious medical problem arises.
Busy Professionals and Working Adults
When you have work deadlines, meetings, and family responsibilities, spending hours trying to arrange a routine medical appointment can be frustrating.
Direct Primary Care can offer easier scheduling, longer visits, and the option to address some concerns virtually when appropriate. Many issues can also be easily addressed through secure messaging and/or phone calls, further saving you time and money. But I also believe these conveniences should not take the place of an office visit when an office visit is what is really needed.
Adults Managing Chronic Medical Conditions
If you have multiple prescriptions, medical diagnoses, or specialists, continuity becomes especially important.
Your primary care physician should be someone who sees the whole picture—not just a single diagnosis.
Having practiced medicine in both hospitals and outpatient settings for more than 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how importance of something I call TWP - The Whole Picture. You’re a whole person, after all, with a whole body, a whole life, and a whole experience. Your doctor should see you as such, not just a collection of organs. My goal at Segno is to bring that perspective to every patient I care for.
Adults Approaching Retirement or Enrolled in Medicare
As medical needs change with age, having a physician who understands your history can become increasingly valuable.
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for Segno membership under a separate Medicare private contract. Segno does not bill Medicare for services provided by Dr. Lambeth under that contract.
Patients retain their Medicare coverage for eligible services provided elsewhere, subject to that plan’s applicable coverage requirements.
Adults Who Want a More Personal Relationship With Their Doctor
You don't need to be sick to want a better primary care experience. You don’t have to wait until something comes up that needs urgent attention and then scramble to find someone who will care for you. You can have a doctor who will be there alongside you from the beginning. One that will explain all those specialist recommendations, why they started that medicine that starts with a “B.”
Being admitted to the hospital shouldn’t mean losing touch with the doctor who knows you best. If you are ever hospitalized, I won’t disappear from the picture. Although I won’t be your treating physician in the hospital, I can help coordinate your care, communicate with your hospital team when appropriate, and follow your progress from admission through discharge and beyond. I’ll help make sure that important details of your medical history aren’t overlooked and that you understand what happens next - all while remembering you are just as much a part of the decision making process as anyone.
I have the unique perspective of having been both a hospitalist physician and a primary care doctor. As a hospitalist, I always appreciated hearing from my patients’ primary care doctors. Their years of experience caring for those patients provided valuable insight into my treatment decisions.
And now, as a primary care physician myself, I know how important it is to understand exactly what happened during a hospitalization, what medications were changed, and what needs to happen after discharge.
Perhaps you simply want to ask questions without feeling rushed, discuss preventive care in detail, or see the same physician consistently over time.
Those are all good reasons to consider Direct Primary Care.
Direct Primary Care in Winston-Salem and Surrounding Communities
Segno Primary Care is being established in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to serve adults throughout the greater Winston-Salem area and surrounding Piedmont Triad communities.
Patients may come from neighborhoods and communities such as Ardmore, Buena Vista, West End, Sherwood Forest, Old Town, and the Country Club Road corridor, as well as nearby Clemmons, Lewisville, Pfafftown, and Advance.
And you don’t have to call Winston-Salem home to call Segno home! I welcome adults from throughout North Carolina who are comfortable traveling for occasional in-person appointments, with virtual care and direct communication helping us stay connected between visits.
Office location and parking: Segno is finalizing its permanent Winston-Salem office location. Once confirmed, the practice will provide the address, parking information, accessibility details, and directions for in-person visits.
Office visits and after-hours communication: Segno's model includes easier communication with Dr. Lambeth, including between appointments. Specific after-hours availability, response times, and contact procedures will be explained to members. After-hours communication is not a substitute for emergency services.
In a medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency care.
For patients who have spent years navigating large healthcare systems, the goal is to make primary care feel personal again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Direct Primary Care in Winston-Salem
1. Is there direct primary care near me in Winston-Salem, NC?
Yes. Segno Primary Care is a Winston-Salem-based Direct Primary Care practice founded by Dr. Sally M. Lambeth, a board-certified internal medicine physician. Segno is preparing to provide comprehensive adult primary care through a monthly membership, with longer appointments, greater continuity, and easier physician access.
2. Can I use Direct Primary Care if I already have health insurance?
Yes. You can and should maintain your existing health insurance while joining a Direct Primary Care practice. Your membership covers the primary care services included in your agreement, while your insurance can be used for eligible services outside the practice, such as specialist visits, hospitalization, and more advanced imaging.
3. Can I join Segno Primary Care if I have Medicare?
Medicare beneficiaries may join Segno under a separate Medicare private contract. Medicare will not reimburse either Segno or the patient for services Dr. Lambeth provides under that contract. Medicare coverage may still apply to eligible care received elsewhere, subject to Medicare’s applicable rules.
4. Can I get a same-day appointment with my Direct Primary Care doctor?
Segno is structured to provide same- or next-business-day appointments when medically appropriate and generally available. Exact appointment availability depends on scheduling and the nature of your medical concern. Direct communication may also help determine whether an office visit, virtual appointment, or another level of care is appropriate.
5. Are there copays or additional charges for visits?
There are no copays or per-visit charges for primary care services included in Segno's membership. Certain laboratory tests, imaging studies, medications, supplies, and outside medical services may involve additional costs. These distinctions are explained in the membership agreement.
6. How do I know whether Direct Primary Care is right for me?
The best way to decide is to learn how the practice works and consider what matters most to you. If you value longer visits, consistent access to the same physician, preventive care, and a doctor who understands your medical history, Direct Primary Care is likely a great fit. I encourage you to schedule a complimentary virtual Meet & Greet with me, so you can ask questions before making a commitment.
Experience a Return to Personal Medicine
Finding the right primary care physician is about more than locating the nearest office or choosing a name from an insurance directory.
It's about trust.
It's about knowing that when something changes with your health, you have a physician who knows your history, listens carefully, and has the time to help you understand your options and decide what comes next.
That is why I created Segno Primary Care.
After more than 20 years of practicing medicine, I've come to believe more strongly than ever that good medicine requires more than medical knowledge. It requires time, trust, continuity, and a genuine relationship between a physician and the person sitting across from them.
That's the kind of medicine I've always tried to practice, even within the constraints of the traditional healthcare system. But after years of wishing I had more time to give my patients, I decided to stop wishing and create a practice where that time is built into the very foundation of care.
Because, let’s be honest. That’s the way it should be.
I'd love to meet you.
If you've been looking for a different kind of primary care experience in Winston-Salem, I invite you to schedule a complimentary virtual Meet & Greet.
No pressure. No obligation. Just an opportunity for us to get to know each other, talk about how Segno works, and decide whether it's the right fit for you.
Schedule Your Complimentary Meet & Greet
Segno Primary Care — A return to personal medicine.
Meet & Greet appointments are introductory conversations and do not constitute medical advice or treatment.
