Susan G. Fisher, MD in Chattanooga: Family Medicine for New and Established Patients
Susan G. Fisher, MD operates a family practice in Chattanooga that accepts new patients and provides comprehensive preventive and acute care for adults and children in a single-physician setting. Her practice fits into Chattanooga's family medicine landscape as one of the smaller, independent offices, distinct from the larger affiliated group practices anchored to hospital systems like Erlanger and Parkridge.
What Fisher's practice actually is
Fisher runs a private family medicine office where she serves as the sole physician. The scope is general family medicine: annual physicals, chronic disease management, acute illness visits, preventive health screening, and basic office procedures. Patients see the same doctor across visits, a model that has become less common as consolidation in Chattanooga healthcare pushes practices toward multi-provider groups. This is not an urgent care clinic; it is appointment-based and geared toward continuity of care.
Services and insurance
Fisher provides standard family medicine services: office visits for illness and injury, preventive care including physicals and vaccinations, management of chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia), minor procedures such as suturing and skin biopsies, and coordination of specialist referrals. She accepts Medicare, most commercial insurance plans, and self-pay patients. Specific copay amounts and deductibles depend on your plan; confirm details with the office before your visit. Verify current insurance acceptance by calling directly, as accepted plans can change.
How this practice compares to other family medicine options in Chattanooga
Chattanooga's family medicine landscape divides roughly between independent practitioners like Fisher and large group practices affiliated with hospital systems. Erlanger Health System and Parkridge operate multi-location family medicine clinics with several providers at each site and evening or weekend hours; these offer scheduling flexibility and often same-day acute slots but less continuity with a single physician. CHI Memorial also staffs family medicine clinics within its system. Independent practices like Fisher's appeal to patients who prioritize a long-term relationship with one doctor and are willing to schedule further in advance for non-urgent visits. Choose an independent practice if you value continuity and minimal staff turnover; choose a large group if you need evening or weekend access or want multiple physicians to cover when your primary is unavailable.
Who this practice suits and does not suit
This practice suits adults seeking a family physician for ongoing primary care, preventive health, and management of chronic diseases in a stable relationship with one provider. It also serves families whose children's pediatric needs are integrated into family medicine (many Chattanooga families use pediatricians instead, but some use family doctors). This practice does not suit patients who require immediate same-day or walk-in urgent care; those should use urgent care clinics or emergency departments. It does not suit patients who expect evening or weekend hours or multiple-physician coverage if the primary physician is unavailable.
What the first visit involves
New patients typically complete a health history questionnaire, meet with Fisher for a full evaluation including past medical history, family history, and social history, and undergo a physical exam. Bring photo ID, insurance card, and any records from previous providers if transferring care. The appointment usually lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Fisher uses the visit to establish baseline health status and identify preventive and treatment priorities. Subsequent visits are shorter unless a complex issue is being addressed.
Hours, location, and parking
Confirm hours of operation by calling the office directly, as independent practices adjust scheduling seasonally or by demand. Fisher's office is located in Chattanooga; confirm the exact address and whether parking is on-site or street parking before the first visit. Most private practices in Chattanooga are centrally located or in established neighborhoods with accessible parking, but specifics vary. Verify that the office location is convenient to your workplace or home.
Fisher's single-physician practice preserves the continuity model of primary care that has largely disappeared from Chattanooga's corporate healthcare landscape, making it a practical choice for patients who prioritize a stable doctor-patient relationship over scheduling convenience.
