Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily McKinley.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been working in hospitals for roughly 15 years, primarily in endocrinology, and throughout that time I noticed a recurring and heartbreaking pattern. Some patients weren’t coming to the hospital because they needed emergency care, they were there because they had run out of medications and couldn’t afford a doctor’s visit for a refill, didn’t have insurance, or lived in rural areas with limited access to care or transportation. I regularly saw patients stretching insulin or diabetic supplies just to get by.
I started helping one at a time, doing what I could to prevent unnecessary ER visits simply for refills. Over time, that help extended naturally to people around me including hospital housekeepers I had built relationships with and eventually to their families and friends. Word spread, and more people reached out because they needed affordable, accessible care.
That experience made it clear there was a significant gap in my community. McKinley Medical was created to fill that gap. I wanted to offer straightforward, affordable healthcare without the usual barriers, so I began offering telehealth visits for uninsured and underinsured patients at a flat $35 fee, no hidden costs. I don’t accept insurance so I can keep pricing transparent and consistent.
While I don’t bill insurance, patients can still use their insurance at the pharmacy if they have it. For those who don’t, I help connect them with medication savings programs, low-cost lab and imaging options, and other resources to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. I also serve as a bridge for patients who struggle to get timely appointments with a primary care provider, helping prevent dangerous gaps in treatment.
McKinley Medical grew organically from real patient needs, and it continues to be driven by the same purpose it started with: making healthcare accessible, affordable, and compassionate for people who are too often overlooked.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges has been that I continue to work a full-time job while building McKinley Medical on the side. Keeping prices intentionally low so care remains accessible means this work alone can’t always sustain itself as a full-time role, at least not in the traditional sense. That requires a lot of early mornings, late nights, and careful time management.
To keep care affordable, I’ve also taken on most of the operational work myself, everything from scheduling and patient communication to workflows and administrative tasks, so overhead stays low. While that can be exhausting, it’s been essential to staying true to the mission.
As McKinley Medical grew, I realized that sustainability didn’t mean changing the pricing or the values, it meant expanding thoughtfully. I began onboarding other autonomous practice nurse practitioners who share the same morals and commitment to accessible care and who are willing to honor the same pricing structure. This model allows us to reach more patients without compromising affordability.
It’s also opened the door for something I didn’t initially expect: mentorship. I now get to support and guide other autonomous providers as they grow clinically and professionally, while ensuring patients continue to receive consistent, compassionate care even when my own availability is limited.
The road has required sacrifice and creativity, but every challenge has reinforced why McKinley Medical exists in the first place.
We’ve been impressed with McKinley Medical, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
McKinley Medical is a telehealth medical practice built specifically to serve uninsured, underinsured, rural, and access-limited patients who often fall through the cracks of the traditional healthcare system. We provide straightforward, affordable medical care with a strong focus on chronic disease management, medication refills, preventative care, and bridging gaps when patients can’t get timely access to a primary care provider.
What we’re best known for is our transparent, flat-fee pricing model. Most visits are offered at a $35 flat rate with no hidden costs. We don’t accept insurance, which allows us to keep prices low, predictable, and accessible. Patients can still use insurance at the pharmacy if they have it, and for those who don’t, we actively help connect them with medication savings programs, low-cost labs, imaging resources, and other cost-reducing options.
Clinically, McKinley Medical has a strong foundation in endocrinology and chronic disease management, particularly diabetes and metabolic conditions, but we also address common acute and primary care needs. A large part of our work is preventing unnecessary emergency room visits by helping patients maintain continuity of care, whether that’s refilling medications, managing labs, or simply being available when they don’t know where else to turn.
What truly sets McKinley Medical apart is that it was built from real patient needs, not a business plan. Every decision, from pricing to workflows to partnerships, is made with accessibility in mind. We intentionally keep overhead low so care stays affordable, and we focus on relationships, education, and practical solutions rather than volume-based medicine.
As the practice has grown, we’ve expanded thoughtfully by onboarding autonomous nurse practitioners who share the same values and commitment to ethical, compassionate care. This allows us to reach more patients while maintaining consistency, quality, and affordability. It has also created an opportunity to mentor other providers who want to practice medicine in a way that aligns with their values while serving their communities.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is trust. Patients know exactly what they’re paying, what to expect, and that they’ll be treated with respect. McKinley Medical isn’t about maximizing profit, it’s about meeting people where they are and making healthcare feel human again.
What I want readers to know is that McKinley Medical exists for people who think healthcare is out of reach. Our goal is simple: remove barriers, provide honest care, and ensure that cost or geography never stands in the way of someone getting the help they need.
What are your plans for the future?
Growing McKinley Medical intentionally while staying true to its mission. Rather than rapid expansion, I plan to continue onboarding like-minded autonomous nurse practitioners who share the same values around affordability, transparency, and patient-centered care, allowing us to reach more patients without increasing costs.
I’m also looking forward to strengthening partnerships that help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients, particularly around medications, labs, and imaging. Just as important, I’m excited to continue mentoring other providers and creating a care model that supports both patients and clinicians.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mckinley-medical.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckinleymedical/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/McKinley-Medical-61550091296313/
