Monique Golding, MD in Chattanooga: Solo Family Medicine Practice with Same-Day Availability

Monique Golding, MD operates a solo family medicine practice in Chattanooga that accepts most major insurance plans and prioritizes same-day or next-day appointment availability for acute care. Unlike larger multi-provider clinics, this practice handles continuity of care through a single clinician and maintains a roster small enough that new patients can typically schedule within days rather than weeks.

What This Practice Actually Is

Dr. Golding runs an independent family medicine office without hospital affiliation, meaning she manages primary care for adults and children but refers specialty needs and admissions elsewhere. The practice operates out of a single location in Chattanooga and handles preventive visits, acute illness, chronic disease management, and minor procedures (suturing, injections, basic wound care). This setup differs from urgent care centers (which do not provide continuity) and from large primary care networks (where appointment delays and rotating providers are standard).

Services and Typical Insurance Structure

The practice covers standard family medicine: annual physicals, sick visits, blood pressure monitoring, diabetes and hypertension management, preventive counseling, and immunizations. Lab work is drawn in-office when possible, with results typically available within 24 to 72 hours. Dr. Golding accepts Medicare, most major commercial plans (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United, Aetna, and others), and Medicaid; verify your specific plan coverage before scheduling. Copay structures vary by plan; expect $25 to $50 for most in-network visits. For uninsured patients, ask about the practice's self-pay rate, which is often lower than standard copay amounts.

The practice does not perform complex procedures or inpatient surgery; those needs are referred to appropriate specialists or hospital-based services. If you need imaging beyond basic X-ray or advanced lab work, Dr. Golding coordinates referrals to Chattanooga facilities.

How This Practice Fits in Chattanooga's Primary Care Landscape

Chattanooga's primary care options fall into three tiers. Large health systems like Erlanger and CHI Memorial operate primary care clinics within their networks, offering depth of subspecialty referral but often 2- to 4-week appointment waits and rotating providers. Urgent care centers (CarePoint, FastMed, and others) provide same-day access to basic acute care but no longitudinal medical record or continuity. Solo or small-group family medicine practices like Dr. Golding's occupy the middle ground: shorter appointment waits, continuity with a single clinician, but with fewer built-in resources and limited on-site specialist backup. Choose Dr. Golding's practice if appointment availability and provider consistency matter more to you than access to in-house subspecialties. Choose a large health system clinic if you have complex medical needs requiring frequent specialist input or if your insurance plan restricts you to network providers within a larger system.

Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not

This practice works well for patients seeking a stable primary care home without long wait times, patients with stable chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, asthma) managed at a routine level, and families wanting one familiar clinician for multiple household members. It does not suit patients with uncontrolled or complex medical conditions requiring frequent adjustments, patients without insurance who cannot negotiate a self-pay rate, or those whose insurance requires referral authorization before specialty care (Dr. Golding can submit, but coordination may take longer in a solo practice).

What the First Visit Involves

New patients should plan 45 minutes to an hour. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete a paper or digital health history, insurance information, and medication list. Dr. Golding will review your health history, perform a physical exam, and ask about preventive care needs (screenings, vaccinations, lifestyle counseling). If routine blood work is indicated, it is usually drawn the same day. You will leave with a summary of your medical history on file and a plan for any follow-up labs or referrals; results are typically discussed by phone or at your next visit within a few days.

Hours, Location, and Parking

Dr. Golding's office is located in Chattanooga and offers morning and afternoon appointment slots Monday through Friday. Hours vary by season and clinical volume; call or check the practice voicemail to confirm current hours, as these may shift with patient demand. Street or lot parking is available near the office. The practice typically does not hold weekend or evening hours. For urgent concerns after hours, Dr. Golding can advise on whether to use an urgent care center or emergency department via the office voicemail system.

A solo family medicine practice with reliable same-day capacity and direct access to a single clinician addresses a real gap in Chattanooga's primary care market, where large clinics require weeks to schedule and urgent centers offer no continuity.