In 2001, (then) AAFP President-Elect Warren Jones, M.D., urged students and residents at the (then) AAFP National Conference of Family Practice Residents and Medical Students to "Be connected to high-tech, but don't ever cease to be high-touch." Saria Carter, M.D. -- an FP just one year out of residency -- lives by that advice.
Solo FP Integrates High-Tech, High-Touch Approach to Care
By News Staff
7/22/2005
That is absolutely how I strive to practice," Carter said of Jones' address at that meeting, adding that passionate words such as those spoken by Jones and other family medicine leaders "make an impression on impressionable minds."
The Miami Herald on June 16 splashed a story on Carter and her solo family medicine practice across its front page. "A Fort Lauderdale doctor vows to spend 20 minutes with each patient, always has a hug -- and makes house calls," one headline proclaimed.
Carter told the Herald her dream of being a doctor started in elementary school -- inspired by her father, an Air Force medic. As for entering family medicine: "I always knew I wanted to do primary care," Carter said in the story. "I love dealing with people."
Judy Frishman, one of Carter's Medicare patients, lauds the young FP's thoroughness in the story. "She spends 25 minutes with me," said Frishman. "I never felt she was rushing me out."
In addition to the passion she brings to patient care, Carter also is zealous about promoting the specialty from within. She jumped feet-first into Academy leadership as the resident chair for the 2002 - 03 National Conference and as resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors in 2003 - 04.
During her second year of residency at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Medical Center, the story noted, Carter set about ensuring she'd be able to practice family medicine on her terms. She doggedly pursued -- and secured -- funding from a new-physician support program offered by Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. The program guarantees Carter a set monthly amount for two years -- $16,000 -- so long as she agrees to practice in the area for at least two additional years. Any income she earns during the first two years is deducted from the $16,000 monthly amount.
Now in her ninth month of practice, the story said, Carter is at the halfway point, having earned $8,000 for the month. She told the Herald she's budgeted an $80,000 salary for herself this first year, allocating the rest toward paying back her student loans, setting up a modest office, covering her liability insurance premium, and investing in an electronic health records system to boost efficiency and enhance patient safety. Carter also has hired a single staff member (her mom) to help her run -- and clean -- the office.
Always quick with a hug, Carter leads her patients on weekly exercise walks, freely gives out her cell phone number to patients and makes house calls, the story noted. And she's vowed to keep up the personal rapport -- no matter what.
The key, Carter said in the story, is that she's not buying into the "rich doctor" scenario. "You have to do what makes you happy," she told the Herald. "This makes me happy."
The Miami Herald on June 16 splashed a story on Carter and her solo family medicine practice across its front page. "A Fort Lauderdale doctor vows to spend 20 minutes with each patient, always has a hug -- and makes house calls," one headline proclaimed.
Carter told the Herald her dream of being a doctor started in elementary school -- inspired by her father, an Air Force medic. As for entering family medicine: "I always knew I wanted to do primary care," Carter said in the story. "I love dealing with people."
Judy Frishman, one of Carter's Medicare patients, lauds the young FP's thoroughness in the story. "She spends 25 minutes with me," said Frishman. "I never felt she was rushing me out."
In addition to the passion she brings to patient care, Carter also is zealous about promoting the specialty from within. She jumped feet-first into Academy leadership as the resident chair for the 2002 - 03 National Conference and as resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors in 2003 - 04.
During her second year of residency at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Medical Center, the story noted, Carter set about ensuring she'd be able to practice family medicine on her terms. She doggedly pursued -- and secured -- funding from a new-physician support program offered by Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. The program guarantees Carter a set monthly amount for two years -- $16,000 -- so long as she agrees to practice in the area for at least two additional years. Any income she earns during the first two years is deducted from the $16,000 monthly amount.
Now in her ninth month of practice, the story said, Carter is at the halfway point, having earned $8,000 for the month. She told the Herald she's budgeted an $80,000 salary for herself this first year, allocating the rest toward paying back her student loans, setting up a modest office, covering her liability insurance premium, and investing in an electronic health records system to boost efficiency and enhance patient safety. Carter also has hired a single staff member (her mom) to help her run -- and clean -- the office.
Always quick with a hug, Carter leads her patients on weekly exercise walks, freely gives out her cell phone number to patients and makes house calls, the story noted. And she's vowed to keep up the personal rapport -- no matter what.
The key, Carter said in the story, is that she's not buying into the "rich doctor" scenario. "You have to do what makes you happy," she told the Herald. "This makes me happy."
