Get to know Rebecca Coats, MD, physician, owner and founder of Ally Direct Care, PLLC.

 

Her goal is to meet the needs of a full spectrum of families and patients where they are, regardless of need, and when they need help the most.

 

Dr. Coats is a Texan, having lived in this great state since the age of 5.  She grew up in Temple, TX and graduated from Temple High School. After a gap year working and living on her own, she attended college in Austin at St. Edward’s University.

 

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Edward’s in 1990. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology through the Honors Program.  She earned several awards, including the Presidential Award, the Biology Student of the Year award, and others to honor her academics and extracurricular achievements.  Her undergraduate research included work on Lyme disease, access to healthcare and doctor-patient communication in healthcare.

 

Dr. Coats earned her Medical Degree at the McGovern / University of Texas Medical School in Houston in 1994.  She attended on scholarship through the National Health Services Corps with the intent of working for indigent rural populations once she finished her training.  She then matched to the prestigious Oregon Health Sciences University pilot Rural Family Medicine program.

 

While in residency, she worked with a variety of specialists and acquired a broad range of skills caring for patients of all ages, from birth to end of life.  She found her particular interests included women’s health and obstetrics, pediatrics, ER, wellness and holistic medicine.  She also became skilled performing outpatient procedures such as cosmetic and dermatologic minor surgeries, gynecologic procedures, orthopedics and more.  She developed a gift for coaching patients through lifestyle and nutrition education. She became an a mentor and advocate for her patients as they embarked on their wellness journey.

 

Dr. Coats also did research as a resident.  Her first study was in the use of biofeedback for modulating the pain response.  The other area of research was a study on acupuncture and recovery from rotator cuff repair.  These opportunities impacted Dr. Coats tremendously as they opened up alternatives to care not normally taught in traditional medical settings.

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After residency was completed in 1997, Dr. Coats returned to Texas to work for a community health center in Gonzales and eventually to develop her own private practice.  She delivered over 500 babies during those years.  She also managed hospital patients of all ages, worked in the ER and ran her own practice, all while getting married and growing her family.

 

Dr. Coats worked extensively throughout rural Texas until she was offered a job as a general practitioner in rural New Zealand.  She moved her young family to Tuatapere, South Island, and lived there for several years before returning to Texas to be closer to her aging mother, friends and extended family.

 

While her 3 kids were growing up, Dr. Coats lived and worked in southwest Austin.  She worked in urgent care, ER and occupational medicine, all while managing a small private practice that included newborns through all life stages.  This small practice has remained the inspiration for Ally Direct Care, PLLC, and set the foundation for the business she owns today.

 

Having had all three of her children delivered by midwives, two at home, one at a birthing center, she developed close ties to the midwifery community. Through this, she has become an advocate of birth choice and natural approaches to prenatal care, birth and family wellness.

 

After her youngest child graduated from high school in 2022, leaving her with an empty nest, Dr. Coats moved to North Texas to explore life on her own.  She decided to pursue a lifelong dream of owning and raising horses.  She now has several horses and a cat, but would love to raise fiber animals, chickens, and other animals.  She is a lifelong learner and loves a variety of creative endeavors, from knitting to multimedia art. She also has a love of plants and indoor gardening. She enjoys liberty work with her horses.

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Embarking on the venture that has become Ally Direct Care has been a wonderful next step in Dr. Coats’ professional journey.  It allows her to practice full service family medicine as well as employee health, preventive medicine, urgent care, pediatrics, women’s health, hormone management, weight loss, and wellness.

 

She has been able to broaden her horizons by working within a flexible practice style, the Direct Primary Care model.  This allows patients 24/7/365 access to their doctor through a subscription or membership plan.  It also provides competitive prices for one-time visits for those not needing the membership option.

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Dr. Coats' commitment to her practice is shown by offering multiple practice locations throughout the Austin area, surrounding rural communities, as well as via telemedicine and home visits.

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To get to know Dr. Coats and Ally Direct Care, PLLC better, please reach out through our online scheduling system or our contact form at, www.allydirectcare.com.  You can also call us directly at 512-468-4869 or email at rcoatsmd@allydirectcare.com.

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We look forward to getting to know you!