Frank Calhoun MD at Min Grace Clinic in Chattanooga: Family Medicine for New and Established Patients
Min Grace Clinic operates as a primary care practice accepting new patients for family medicine, internal medicine, and routine preventive care. Dr. Frank Calhoun leads the practice, which sits in Chattanooga's healthcare landscape as an independent family medicine office focused on continuity of care rather than episodic urgent visits.
What Min Grace Clinic Actually Is
Min Grace Clinic is a physician-led family practice, not an urgent care or hospital-affiliated clinic. The practice handles preventive health, chronic disease management, physical exams, vaccinations, and referrals to specialists. Dr. Calhoun holds an MD credential and specializes in family medicine, serving both adults and some pediatric patients depending on age. The clinic operates independently and is not part of a larger health system, meaning referrals and testing coordination may require direct communication between your primary care doctor and specialists rather than internal system transfers.
Services and Insurance
The clinic provides standard family medicine services: annual preventive exams, management of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions, immunizations, minor acute care (sore throat, upper respiratory infections), and physicals for employment or sports. The practice accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most major private insurers. Specific copays and deductibles depend on your individual insurance plan; contact the clinic directly to confirm your plan is accepted and to understand your out-of-pocket costs before scheduling.
Lab work, imaging, and specialist referrals are arranged through the clinic and billed separately through external providers, not as part of office visit fees. If you require tests or imaging, ask the clinic staff which facilities they work with most frequently and whether your insurance has preferred providers among those options.
How It Compares to Chattanooga Family Medicine Options
Chattanooga offers both independent family practices and large health system primary care clinics. Systemwide practices, such as those affiliated with Erlanger Health System or CHI Memorial, typically have same-day or next-day appointments and integrated electronic records across multiple locations; they excel if you need rapid access or frequent specialist referrals within one network. Independent practices like Min Grace Clinic typically offer continuity with a single doctor, longer appointment times for complex issues, and less administrative overhead. Choose an independent practice if you value seeing the same physician over time and prefer a smaller-practice environment; choose a system clinic if you prioritize schedule flexibility and seamless specialist coordination.
Who This Practice Suits
Min Grace Clinic suits patients seeking an established primary care home with one doctor, those comfortable with a smaller office setting, and people who do not require immediate same-day care. It works well for preventive health management, chronic disease follow-up, and patients with stable conditions who do not need frequent system referrals. The practice does not provide urgent walk-in care for acute injuries or severe symptoms; those patients should visit a dedicated urgent care clinic or emergency department.
Patients with complex multi-system problems, those requiring frequent specialist coordination, or those who cannot wait for a scheduled appointment should choose an urgent care center or system-affiliated primary care clinic instead.
What Your First Visit Involves
Initial appointments typically include a full history and physical, completion of new-patient paperwork, review of your insurance information, and discussion of any current health concerns or preventive goals. Bring your insurance card, a list of current medications, and your vaccination history if available. The visit length is usually 45 to 60 minutes to allow thorough evaluation. The clinic will discuss which routine screening tests (blood work, blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol panel) are appropriate for your age and health history.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Verify current hours directly with the clinic by phone or website, as primary care practices adjust schedules seasonally and may offer limited hours on some days. Most independent family practices operate Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with limited or no weekend availability. Ask about parking when you call; most small practices offer lot or street parking at their location.
Bring your insurance card and photo ID to every appointment. If you need records transferred to a specialist, request them at your visit and allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.
Min Grace Clinic fills a specific role for Chattanooga patients who prioritize continuity of care and physician relationships over convenience and rapid access, making it a practical choice for those building a long-term primary care relationship.
