Rhyne Patrick MD in Chattanooga: Internal Medicine with Same-Day Appointments

Rhyne Patrick MD operates a primary care internal medicine practice in Chattanooga for adult patients seeking preventive care, chronic disease management, and acute illness treatment. The practice accepts most major insurance plans and offers same-day and next-day appointments for established patients, a notable advantage in a market where some primary care offices report 3 to 4-week wait times for new patients.

What the practice actually is

Dr. Patrick provides general internal medicine, meaning he diagnoses and manages a wide range of health conditions in adults without requiring specialist referral for initial evaluation. The practice handles routine preventive care (annual physicals, health maintenance), management of chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol), and acute visits for infections, injury, or sudden symptoms. His office functions as a traditional primary care home where patients can establish an ongoing relationship with one physician, rather than a drop-in urgent care or a specialist's clinic.

Services and insurance

The practice focuses on office-based care: preventive visits, medication management, minor procedures (injections, wound care), health screenings, and care coordination with specialists when needed. Pricing follows standard primary care fee-for-service rates. A preventive annual visit typically costs $150 to $250 out-of-pocket depending on insurance, while an acute visit runs $100 to $175. Most patients with employer or individual insurance plans pay copays ranging from $20 to $40 per visit. Dr. Patrick accepts Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield (both TN and GA plans), Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna; check your specific plan details when scheduling, as coverage for preventive visits vs. acute care varies. The practice does not routinely offer prescription refills or medical advice by phone to non-established patients.

How it compares to other Chattanooga primary care options

Chattanooga's primary care landscape includes hospital-affiliated practices (Memorial Health Group primary care clinics and Erlanger's community physician offices), independent private practices, and urgent care centers that offer primary-care-like services. Dr. Patrick's advantage is continuity and same-day access; most hospital-affiliated group practices prioritize appointment efficiency over scheduling flexibility, and urgent care is designed for acute problems, not ongoing relationships. If you are uninsured or underinsured, Memorial Health's community health centers (on Germantown Pike and North Shore) offer sliding-scale fees below private practice rates. If you need an appointment within days and are new to the area, urgent care is faster; if you want a single doctor who knows your history and can manage multiple conditions together, a private internal medicine practice like Dr. Patrick's is more suitable. The trade-off is that independent practices may have longer wait times for initial appointments (typically 2 to 4 weeks for new patients), though this practice claims shorter lead times on follow-up.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

This practice works well for adults with established health conditions who want continuity care, professionals who need flexible scheduling and same-day urgent visits without going to the ER, and people with good insurance coverage. It is less suitable for uninsured patients (no sliding scale fee structure), those seeking specialized care (orthopedics, cardiology, mental health require referral), or patients who can only be seen in evening or weekend hours (office hours are standard weekday daytime only).

First visit experience

New patient appointments typically take 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dr. Patrick collects a detailed health history, performs a physical exam, and reviews past medical records and current medications. He may order lab work or imaging depending on age and symptoms. Bring photo ID, current insurance card, and a list of all medications and supplements. If you are new to Chattanooga or have not had care in several years, request a complete preventive physical rather than an acute visit; this allows him to establish a baseline and address preventive priorities in one visit.

Hours, location, and logistics

The practice operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no weekend hours. Parking is available on-site. Call ahead to confirm current hours and verify which insurance plans are in-network for your specific plan year, as networks shift annually. New patient scheduling typically requires a phone call rather than online booking.

Dr. Patrick fills a core role in Chattanooga's primary care network for patients who prioritize stable, personalized adult medicine without the institutional feel of large group practices.