Burds Family Practice — Patient Guides

Know More.
Get Better Care.

Healthcare decisions are easier when you understand your options. These guides cover the questions we hear most — written plainly, without the runaround.

Care Models Your Health Occupational Health Weight Management Quick Questions

Our Mission

Bringing quality healthcare
to the community
we call home.

Burds Family Practice is independently owned and operated in Peosta, Iowa — not part of a hospital system, insurance network, or corporate entity. We answer to our patients and our community, full stop.

These guides exist because we believe informed patients make better decisions about their care. Read what's relevant to you, then come talk to us.

Understanding Your Care Options

Not all primary care is the same. Who owns the practice, how you pay, and where you go all affect your experience and your health. These guides help you understand what you're actually choosing between.

Care Model Guide · Most Asked

Insurance-Based vs. Direct Primary Care vs. Concierge Medicine — Which Model Is Actually Right for You?

Three very different ways to access primary care — and three very different patient experiences. Burds offers both insurance-based and DPC. Here's an honest breakdown of all three, including what insurance-based care really costs when you count the premium.

Read the guide

Comparison Guide

Independent Practice vs. Large Health Systems — Who's Making Decisions About Your Care?

Who owns your doctor's office affects more than you might think — visit length, provider continuity, facility fees, and whether clinical decisions answer to you or to a system. The research is clear.

Read the guide

Decision Guide

Urgent Care vs. Primary Care vs. ER — Where Should You Actually Go?

ER visits average $1,500–$3,000, even for non-emergencies. A symptom-by-symptom decision guide — plus when to call Burds first instead of driving anywhere.

Read the guide

Understanding Your Health

Clinical questions patients ask every day — answered plainly so you can make better decisions about your own care.

Patient Education · Highly Searched

Viral vs. Bacterial Infection — What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

Antibiotics only work on bacteria — they have zero effect on viruses. Here's how to tell the two apart, what each is treated with, common examples, and the clear signals that tell you it's time to call your provider.

Read the guide

Patient Guide

Telehealth vs. In-Person Visits — Our Honest Take

Burds is an in-person practice first. We use telehealth for a limited set of visit types — weight loss follow-ups and select mental health medication check-ins. Here's why we default to seeing you in person, and when that actually matters.

Read the guide

Patient Guide

Mental Health at Your Primary Care Provider vs. a Specialist — Who Should You See?

Burds treats mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and ADHD, and manages stable mental health conditions. More complex diagnoses go to psychiatry — with a warm handoff to trusted local providers. Here's exactly where we draw the line.

Read the guide

Patient Education

Preventive Care — What's Covered, What Costs Money, and Why It Matters

Most people leave free healthcare on the table because they don't know what their insurance covers at no cost. The ACA requires coverage of dozens of screenings and immunizations — and the Supreme Court upheld that mandate in June 2025. Here's what to know before your next appointment.

Read the guide

Occupational Health for Employers

Burds Family Practice offers a full occupational health menu for employers throughout Peosta, Dyersville, and the greater Dubuque area — DOT physicals, drug testing, workers' comp, OSHA compliance, flu clinics, and more.

Employer Guide

In-House Occupational Health vs. Third-Party Clinics — Why Where Your Employees Go Matters

A standalone clinic can run a drug screen. What it can't give you is a provider who knows your workforce, communicates directly with your HR team, and connects occupational health to the employee's broader medical picture. Here's what changes when you work with a local practice instead.

Read the guide

Weight Management & GLP-1 Therapy

GLP-1 medications have changed weight management significantly. But with online subscription programs multiplying fast, the question patients should be asking isn't just "can I get a prescription?" — it's "who is managing my care while I'm on it?"

Treatment Guide

GLP-1 at a Local Primary Care Office vs. an Online Program — The Difference Is the Care, Not the Medication

Online programs can get you a prescription quickly. What they can't provide is a provider who has reviewed your full history, monitors your labs, adjusts your dose over time, and coordinates with every other condition you're managing. 67% of primary care physicians say online GLP-1 programs put patient health at risk.

Read the guide

Medication Comparison

Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide — What's the Difference and Which One Is Right for You?

We carry both — and we tend to prescribe tirzepatide first. In the first head-to-head clinical trial (NEJM 2025), tirzepatide produced 20.2% weight loss versus 13.7% with semaglutide. Here's the science behind the difference and when each one makes sense.

Read the guide

Quick Questions

The most common questions we get — with links to the full answers in our guides above.