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Accepting New Patients Statewide

Thurston County Direct Primary Care Doctor | Virtual Medical Care for Adults

Transparent, Insurance-Free Care in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm

Prescriptions sent electronically to your local neighborhood pharmacy in Olympia, Lacey, or Tumwater.

🔒 HIPAA-Compliant & Secure🌲 Washington State-Licensed MD🚫 Cancel Anytime

Raj Patel, MD

Raj Patel, MD

Board Certified, Internal Medicine

At a Glance

Thurston County adults face a gridlocked primary care landscape, as insurance network disruptions have displaced thousands of patients while regional clinics sit at maximum capacity with long waitlists. VirtualMD bypasses local insurance politics and clinic bottlenecks, delivering same-day or next-day Internal Medicine care to adults across Olympia and all of Thurston County entirely virtually.

Core Medical Focus

What We Manage in Thurston County

Chronic Condition Stability

Reliable, long-term high blood pressure maintenance and steady cholesterol control.

Routine Health Checks

Proactive preventative screening oversight to keep your body running perfectly.

Prescription Continuity

Seamless, hassle-free prescription management and regular health check-ins.

Acute Acid Reflux Relief in Olympia, WA

When reflux flares up suddenly, we get you fast relief and a short-term treatment plan without needing a same-day clinic visit.

Local Access Crisis

The Reality of Healthcare Access in Thurston County

Thurston County access data6 indicators

HPSA Designation

North & South Thurston County

Clinician Deficit

18 FTE primary care clinicians needed in North Thurston

Patient To Provider Ratio

Worse than 3,500:1 in shortage subareas

3,500:1

Community Priority Rank

2nd highest factor affecting well-being (53% report strict lack of resources)

53%

Hospital Admitting Privileges

Only 46% of practicing primary care providers hold them

46%

Vulnerable Population Capacity

Only 20% of clinics handle unhoused programs; 39% of providers speak a non-English language

20%

Pricing

Simple, Transparent Pricing

One monthly subscription covers your primary care. No insurance required. No hidden fees. Just honest, accessible healthcare.

Ages 18–40

$83/mo

Full virtual primary care access for Adults.

Under current federal law, eligible HSA holders can use HSA funds to pay for qualifying Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership fees.
  • Unhurried visits
  • Same day or next day appointments
  • Wholesale pricing on labs, medications and imaging
  • Unlimited video, text to your personal doctor
  • Internal Medicine primary care services
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Most Popular

Ages 41–64

$113/mo

Comprehensive care tailored for mid-life health needs.

Under current federal law, eligible HSA holders can use HSA funds to pay for qualifying Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership fees.

Includes Tier 1 services plus:

  • Premium, complex internal medicine oversight
  • Longevity planning
  • More proactive management for ongoing health concerns
  • Personalized support for prevention and optimization
Join VirtualMD

Registration

$99one-time

One-time onboarding fee to get you started. Establishes your medical chart.

  • Initial health history review
  • Longevity & wellness planning
  • Direct digital portal setup
  • Dr. Patel's review of records
  • Prevention & optimization focus
  • Kickstarts custom care plan
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The Real Numbers

What You Actually Pay

No estimates, no fine print — the wholesale pass-through prices behind every lab, prescription, and scan.

Diagnostic Lab Pricing

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Retail$50–$100
VirtualMD$6–$8
Savings~85%

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Retail$30–$60
VirtualMD$4–$5
Savings~85%

Lipid Panel (Cholesterol)

Retail$50–$90
VirtualMD$6–$8
Savings~85%

HbA1c (Diabetes Tracking)

Retail$40–$80
VirtualMD$6–$8
Savings~85%

TSH (Thyroid Screen)

Retail$60–$120
VirtualMD$8–$12
Savings~88%

Full Annual Blood Panel (Combined)

Retail$230–$450+
VirtualMD$30–$40
Savings~$200–$400+

Common Medication Pricing

Cholesterol (Statins – Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin)

Retail$10–$40 / month
VirtualMD$3–$10 / month
Savings~75%–85%

Blood Pressure (Lisinopril, Amlodipine)

Retail$15–$50 / month
VirtualMD$3–$8 / month
Savings~80%

Diabetes (Metformin ER 500mg)

Retail$10–$30 / month
VirtualMD$1–$6 / month
Savings~85%–90%

Mental Health (SSRIs – Sertraline/Zoloft 50mg)

Retail$15–$45 / month
VirtualMD$4–$9 / month
Savings~75%–80%

Acid Reflux / GERD (Omeprazole, Pantoprazole)

Retail$30–$45 / month
VirtualMD$5–$9 / month
Savings~80%

Thyroid Management (Levothyroxine)

Retail$15–$35 / month
VirtualMD$5–$10 / month
Savings~70%

Annual Daily Medication Average

Retail$360–$800+ / year
VirtualMD$70–$150 / year
Savings~$300–$650+ / year

Diagnostic Imaging Pricing

X-Ray (2 Views)

Retail$150–$300
VirtualMD~$25
Savings~80%

Ultrasound (Most Body Parts)

Retail$300–$700
VirtualMD~$88
Savings~65%–80%

CT Scan (Without Contrast)

Retail$500–$1,500+
VirtualMD~$130
Savings~75%–90%

Mammogram (Screening/Diagnostic)

Retail$300–$600
VirtualMD~$140
Savings~55%–75%

MRI Without Contrast (Knee, Spine, Brain, Abdomen)

Retail$1,000–$3,000+
VirtualMD~$265
Savings~75%–90%

Note: Sample pricing shown. VirtualMD offers direct wholesale pass-through pricing on hundreds of additional diagnostic labs, generic medications, and advanced imaging studies.

Washington Care Network

Local Diagnostic Infrastructure & Care Continuity

Thurston County Labs, Imaging & Pharmacies

While your visits are entirely virtual, your physical diagnostics are ordered locally.

Bloodwork can be drawn locally at Labcorp (Lilly Rd / Corporate Center Ct / Black Hills Ln / Tahoma Blvd), Quest Diagnostics (Cooper Point Rd NW), Laboratories Northwest (Ensign Rd NE), or Providence Laboratory Services (West Olympia / Lacey) serving Olympia and Lacey.

Advanced radiology, X-rays, and MRIs are routed directly to TRA Medical Imaging (On Lilly), South Sound Radiology, or MultiCare Imaging (McPhee Rd).

We coordinate your diagnostic scans directly with TRA Medical Imaging (On Lilly), South Sound Radiology, and MultiCare Imaging (McPhee Rd).

Care Coordination

If your clinical situation requires an in-person physical assessment, specific procedures, or hospitalization, Dr. Patel will directly coordinate your medical records and summaries with local hospital networks, including Providence St. Peter Hospital or MultiCare Capital Medical Center.

For urgent or same-day in-person needs, Providence St. Peter ER, MultiCare Capital Emergency Dept, MultiCare Emergency - Lacey (Freestanding 24/7), Kaiser Permanente Olympia Urgent Care Triage, or Mary Bridge Children's Urgent Care provide additional triage options nearby.

Insurance Boundaries

You do not need health insurance to be a member of VirtualMD.

However, you can freely maintain and use your existing insurance plans, health savings accounts (HSA), or flexible spending accounts (FSA) to cover external costs like local specialist referrals, prescription medications at pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertsons, Haggen, Costco, Walmart, Hawk's Prairie Health Mart, Samy's Health Mart, NW Remedies, Arow Pharmacy, West Olympia Pharmacy, Ralph's Thriftway, or Tim's Pharmacy, or major hospitalizations.

Local Access

Where you'll actually go in Thurston County

Care is virtual, but bloodwork, prescriptions and emergencies still happen somewhere physical. These are the places near you.

Thurston County care network4 labs · 16 pharmacies · 2 hospitals · 5 ER options

Bloodwork & lab draws

Ordered electronically at wholesale rates, routed to the partner site nearest you.

  • LabcorpLilly Rd / Corporate Center Ct / Black Hills Ln / Tahoma Blvd
  • Quest DiagnosticsCooper Point Rd NW
  • Laboratories NorthwestEnsign Rd NE
  • Providence Laboratory ServicesWest Olympia / Lacey

Prescriptions

Sent to whichever pharmacy suits you — or mail-order when that is cheaper.

  • Walgreens
  • CVS
  • Rite Aid
  • Fred Meyer
  • Safeway
  • Albertsons
  • Haggen
  • Costco
  • Walmart
  • Hawk's Prairie Health Mart
  • Samy's Health Mart
  • NW Remedies
  • Arow Pharmacy
  • West Olympia Pharmacy
  • Ralph's Thriftway
  • Tim's Pharmacy

Referral hospitals

Where Dr. Patel refers when care needs to be hands-on.

  • Providence St. Peter Hospital
  • MultiCare Capital Medical Center

In an emergency

Call 911 or go straight to the nearest ER — virtual care is not for emergencies.

  • Providence St. Peter ER
  • MultiCare Capital Emergency Dept
  • MultiCare Emergency - LaceyFreestanding 24/7
  • Kaiser Permanente Olympia Urgent Care Triage
  • Mary Bridge Children's Urgent Care
Raj Patel, MD

Meet Your Dedicated Doctor

Dr. Raj Patel

Founder of VirtualMD & Advocate for Accessible Washington State Healthcare

“I built VirtualMD because you deserve a doctor, not a system.”

— Dr. Raj Patel, Founder of VirtualMD

Medicine at its core is a sacred bond. It belongs to just two people: the patient and the healer. Somewhere along the way, corporate middlemen, endless red tape, and crowded waiting rooms broke that alliance. They commodified your health into a transaction and treated your time as an afterthought.

I refuse to practice medicine that way.

By cutting out the noise and the insurance games, I work directly and exclusively for you. No unnecessary barriers. No rushed visits. Just thoughtful, data-driven care and direct access to me.

You are not an administrative data point, and you should never have to fight a system just to feel better.

This is your healthcare, restored. Welcome to VirtualMD. Let's walk this path together.

Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)

Internal Medicine — Inpatient Hospitalist Medicine

Board Certified by the American Academy of General Physicians (AAGP)

General Primary Care Medicine

Licensed Washington State Physician

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Now Accepting New Patients in Yelm, WA: Meet Your Own Virtual Doctor

VirtualMD with Dr. Raj Patel: Consistent, Personalized Internal Medicine Care Without the Wait.

Cities & Areas Served

VirtualMD provides virtual primary care to adults located in:

Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Bucoda, Rochester, Grand Mound, and all surrounding Thurston County communities

About VirtualMD

What VirtualMD Is

VirtualMD is a modern, digital-native Direct Primary Care practice built for Washington adults who want fast access, transparent pricing, and a physician who actually knows them. You get a single dedicated doctor, unlimited access, and comprehensive internal medicine care — all delivered virtually.

Medical Weight Management in Lacey, WA

Get a personalized, physician-guided weight loss plan built around your labs, metabolism, and health history, not a generic calorie chart.

Now serving all Washingtonians

How It Works

Monthly Subscription

Pay one flat, predictable monthly fee. No insurance needed. No copays.

Direct Digital Access

Text, call, or video chat your doctor directly. Skip the clinic visit entirely.

Comprehensive Virtual Care

Get diagnoses, treatment plans, and specialist referrals right from your phone.

Medications / Imaging / Labs

We provide medications, imaging, and lab work at wholesale cost from our statewide partners.

Getting Started

How VirtualMD Works

  1. 1

    Join VirtualMD Instantly Online

    Select your flat-fee monthly membership and complete our secure checkout in under 5 minutes. No insurance required, no enrollment fees, and no long-term contracts.

  2. 2

    Meet Dr. Raj Patel via Secure Video

    Schedule your comprehensive, unhurried 30-minute introductory video visit. Together, we will review your complete medical history, address your immediate health concerns, and set up your personalized laboratory orders.

  3. 3

    Message Dr. Patel Directly

    Skip the frustrating clinic phone trees. Use our secure patient app to message Dr. Patel directly during practice hours for a prescription refill, a lab result breakdown, or a question between visits.

The Old Way

Traditional healthcare is broken, trapping you in a cycle of weeks-long waiting rooms, rushed 10-minute appointments, and surprise medical bills.

Our 100% virtual Direct Primary Care model completely tears down those walls, giving you an unlimited, direct line to your personal doctor right from your phone.

By eliminating insurance middlemen, we replace bureaucratic headaches with direct text messaging, unhurried video visits, and transparent pricing.

It is healthcare precisely how it should be: deeply personal, genuinely accessible, and entirely built around your life—not around a waiting room.

The VirtualMD Way

Why Corporate Telemedicine Fails You

Traditional corporate telemedicine promises convenience but delivers a digital assembly line.

Every single time you book an appointment, you get a completely different doctor who has never met you before.

You are trapped in a rotating pool of random, faceless strangers, forced to repeat your entire medical history from scratch during a rushed five-minute video call. It is cold, transactional, and exhausting.

Our Virtual Direct Primary Care model completely shreds that broken corporate system.

Instead of a tech-monitored pool of strangers, you get one dedicated personal doctor who actually knows your name, remembers your history, and picks up right where you left off.

We traded the corporate assembly line for a lifelong relationship, giving you a true medical partner who is just a text away—every single time.

The Difference

VirtualMD vs. The Status Quo

VirtualMD

Your Personal Virtual Primary Doctor

  • Same-day or next-day virtual visits from home or work
  • Direct text, call, or video straight to Dr. Patel
  • One flat, transparent monthly fee. Zero copays
  • Direct wholesale cash pricing on labs, imaging, and medications
  • Unhurried, comprehensive internal medicine with your doctor
  • 100% virtual care. No driving. No parking, no waiting rooms.

The Status Quo

Insurance Primary Care Medicine

  • Weeks of waiting to get a 10-minute appointment
  • Trapped in automated phone trees and receptionists
  • Hidden costs, surprise bills, and stressful insurance copays
  • Massive insurance price markups on simple blood tests
  • Rushed, transactional care from a rotating door of providers
  • Traffic, long drives, long waiting room times for a rushed 10-minute visit

Scope of Care

Conditions We Manage

What You Get

Membership Benefits

Everything included in your flat monthly membership — no surprises, no add-ons, no hidden fees.

  • Unlimited virtual visits
  • Unlimited texting with your doctor
  • Same-day or next-day appointments
  • Wholesale labs, imaging, and medications
  • Personalized chronic disease management
  • Preventive care & longevity planning
  • No insurance, no copays, no hidden fees
Raj Patel, MD

Get Started

Reclaim Your Wellness

Thurston County residents deserve a primary care experience that respects their time, their budget, and their health.

Join VirtualMD

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for Thurston County

Do I need health insurance to use this service in Thurston County?

No, insurance is never required. We operate entirely on a transparent, monthly flat fee.

This makes our care perfect for Thurston County residents who are uninsured, have high-deductible health plans, or use an HSA/FSA to manage their healthcare out-of-pocket.

How do lab orders and prescriptions work if everything is virtual?

Dr. Patel sends prescriptions electronically to your preferred local pharmacy in Olympia or surrounding areas, or have it delivered to your doorstep through our wholesale program.

For blood work, we order your tests directly to local Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics, and our statewide lab partners for wholesale prices right here in Thurston County.

You simply walk in, get your blood drawn, and we review the results together over video.

Can you replace my local urgent care or emergency room?

We handle roughly 80% of everyday adult medicine—including urgent needs like respiratory infections, minor rashes, and fast prescription refills—safely over text and video.

However, we are not an emergency room.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, you should bypass virtual care and go directly to Providence St. Peter Hospital or dial 911.

Will I see a different provider every time I log on?

Never. Unlike massive national telehealth corporate chains where you get a random chat operator, we provide true direct primary care.

You get Dr. Patel, a board-certified doctor who gets to know you, your medical history, and stays with you long-term.

Can I use my HSA to pay for my membership?

Yes. Under current federal law, eligible HSA holders can use HSA funds to pay for qualifying Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership fees.

HSA eligibility and tax treatment depend on your individual circumstances and applicable federal requirements. Please consult your tax advisor if you have questions about your specific situation.

What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see an in-person specialist?

VirtualMD covers your comprehensive primary care, but it is not insurance.

I highly recommend maintaining a high-deductible insurance plan or healthshare plan to cover major emergencies, surgeries, or unexpected hospital stays.

Do you prescribe controlled substances?

No. VirtualMD does not prescribe controlled drugs under DEA classifications (II–V).

These specialized medications require in-person clinical monitoring and are best managed by a local physical clinic.

How do wholesale labs and imaging work?

I order your bloodwork or scans electronically to our wholesale partner facility nearest to you in Washington.

Because we bypass insurance markups, you pay the heavily discounted wholesale cash price directly to the facility, saving up to 80-90%.

How can a doctor perform an exam completely virtually?

Modern internal medicine relies heavily on high-fidelity clinical data, advanced diagnostics, and targeted symptom analysis.

During our video visits, I utilize guided visual inspections, real-time physiological assessments, and data from your wearable health devices.

A comprehensive telemedicine assessment gives me a detailed clinical picture for the vast majority of primary care needs.

What technology do I need for our video appointments?

All you need is a standard smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and a stable internet connection.

When it is time for your visit, you will receive a secure, encrypted link via text or email.

There are no complicated software downloads or tech barriers—you just click the link and instantly enter our private virtual exam room.

What happens if my medical issue requires a physical, hands-on touch?

If you experience an acute physical emergency, you must call 911 or visit an emergency room immediately.

For non-emergency situations where a hands-on physical exam is clinically necessary (such as an advanced orthopedic injury or a specialized palpation), I will seamlessly coordinate your care, write the necessary orders, and refer you directly to a trusted local, in-person specialist or imaging center in your area.

Is my personal health data and video feed secure?

Absolutely. Your privacy is legally protected.

All video consults, phone calls, text messages, and digital medical charts are conducted through a secure, fully encrypted platform that strictly complies with HIPAA regulations.

Your private medical data is completely shielded from insurance companies, corporate networks, and outside tech platforms.

Can I join VirtualMD if I have Medicare?

Yes, if you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and otherwise eligible for membership. Some people under 65 qualify for Medicare because of disability or other circumstances.

VirtualMD is a private-pay Direct Primary Care practice and does not bill Medicare for services provided under our private membership arrangement. Medicare beneficiaries who join VirtualMD must sign the required Medicare private contract acknowledging that VirtualMD will not bill Medicare and that Medicare will not reimburse them for these services.

VirtualMD membership is limited to adults ages 18–64.

Is there a long-term contract, and how do I cancel?

There are zero long-term commitments. VirtualMD operates on an honest, transparent month-to-month membership.

You can cancel your subscription at any time with a simple 30-day notice.

However, because I deliberately cap my total patient list to protect unhurried, high-bandwidth care for active members, re-enrollment after canceling is subject to clinic availability and a new registration fee.

Can I join VirtualMD if I live outside of Washington State?

No. Because medical care is governed by the physical location of the patient, I only provide care to individuals who are physically located within Washington State at the time of our visit.

You must be a Washington resident or be physically inside state borders during our digital consults.

How do we handle routine physical forms or paperwork?

I handle them completely digitally.

I can review, complete, and sign standard medical documentation—such as employer wellness forms, DMV health questionnaires, or non-acute specialist referrals—based on your comprehensive digital medical chart and recent wholesale lab diagnostics.

Your Dedicated Virtual Doctor in Rainier, WA

One physician, one relationship — Dr. Raj Patel provides continuous, personalized Internal Medicine care to Rainier residents, entirely online.