Personal cancer experience and lessons

"Whoever makes patient care more convenient is likely to win." - Chris Yarn

My guest this week is Chris Yarn, Founder of Walk On Clinic, who joins me to explain why convenience is the ultimate currency in healthcare. Chris shares his journey from insurance broker to building a direct primary care (DPC) model that brings care directly to the employee's doorstep - literally.

Chris breaks down the "Walk On" model, which combines mobile on-site clinics, near-site access, and virtual care to achieve utilization rates that are double the industry average. We discuss why traditional "near-site" clinics often fail to engage employees, how nurse practitioners are the key to scaling primary care, and why the human connection is what truly drives ROI.

We also dive into the hard numbers, discussing how to prove ROI with real claims data (not just fuzzy math), and Chris shares his personal battle with cancer in 2024 that reinforced his belief in the importance of early detection and primary care access.

Tune in to the first episode of 2026 to learn why the future of healthcare is hyper-convenient.

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!

ParetoHealth: ParetoHealth empowers midsize employers with a long-term solution to reduce volatility and lower overall health benefits costs. Visit ParetoHealth.com to learn more.

Samaritan Fund: A program that connects those who need help to the support they need. We are proud to offer the Samaritan Fund Program. Visit SamaritanFundProgram.com to learn more.

Vālenz Health: We're Vālenz Health, your partner in improving health literacy, reducing plan spend, and delivering high-value healthcare. Visit ValenzHealth.com to learn more.

Imagine360: Imagine360 helps self-funded employers save on healthcare with smarter health plans. Cut expenses by 20-30% with custom solutions. Contact us today at Imagine360.com.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Why Convenience is King in Healthcare 

(00:07:37) The Legend of "Frank Mic Dropper" 

(00:14:15) The "Walk On" Model Explained 

(00:19:38) Mobile vs. Near-Site: The Utilization Difference 

(00:26:24) Removing Barriers: No Build-Out Costs for Employers 

(00:32:06) Scaling DPC with Nurse Practitioners 

(00:39:27) How to Prove ROI with Real Data 

(00:47:53) A Personal Battle: Chris's Cancer Journey 

(00:53:09) The Future of Primary Care in America

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/