Howard County residents looking for a new physician because their doctors' offices are changing over to "boutique medicine" will soon be able to access a one-stop shopping list of primary care practices accepting new patients.

The county Health Department and Howard County General Hospital are surveying physicians in an effort to help residents in the market for a new primary care physician, said Dr. Peter Beilenson, county health officer.

The list they compile as a result will be available on the hospital's Web site at www.hcgh.org, said Victor Broccolino, the hospital's chief executive officer and president, and will be published in local papers.

"Vic and I are also writing an open letter to the community, explaining what has prompted a number of doctors to make this change," said Beilenson, a former family practitioner.

The survey will ask area practices whether they have the capacity for new patients, how quickly a patient needing urgent care could be seen and how soon a new patient seeking routine care could be accepted, Broccolino said. Doctors also will be asked whether they plan to switch to boutique medicine and when that might occur.

"It is important to note that neither the county nor the hospital is endorsing the doctors on this list," Broccolino said. "We just think it's important to get this information out there."

— Janene Holzberg

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