Is There a Doctor in the House?

Anyone new to Southern Maryland knows how difficult it is to find a new doctor. There just plain are not enough quality medical care professionals to go around. All indications are that the trend is going to get worse before it gets better.

In the ‘Spotlight on the Economy’ series, The Bay Net has reported on certain aspects of efforts to recruit qualified technical people to the area. The problem of enticing medical professionals to the area is magnified exponentially.

Opportunities for doctors, nurses, surgeons and other medical personnel are far more widespread in major metropolitan areas than they could ever be in Southern Maryland. The area below the beltway just does not have the population base to attract qualified physicians.

However, occasionally Southern Maryland is blessed with hope. On June 5, a new family practitioner hung up her shingle in Charles County and opened Waldorf Primary Care.

Welcome to Dr. Karlene Ross, Board Certified Family Physician. Dr. Ross spent the past 10 or so years practicing in Manhattan, NY, serving people in Washington Heights and Harlem. When asked why she decided to move Southern Maryland, Ross stated, “We came to be closer to family.”

Waldorf Primary Care is planned to be a different kind of medical facility. According to Ross, she insists that her staff be courteous, friendly and professional and that all patients be treated with respect. Ross intends to honor her appointment times and schedule patients so as to be able to take the time with each to be able to listen and hear what they have to say.

“Whenever patient’s need us – after hours, urgent care, or routine check up – [Waldorf Primary Care] will be the patient’s medical home,” said Ross. She went on to say that she plans to make an effort to treat the underserved in the community.

For a community that is woefully underserved, that is very good news indeed.

Waldorf Primary Care has hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 to 5 and on Friday from 9 to 12:30. To make an appointment with this family care facility, call 301-638-0001 or visit www.waldorfprimarycare.com.