Dr. Ronald R. Streko in Chattanooga: Adult Internal Medicine with Same-Day Appointments

Dr. Ronald R. Streko is a board-certified internist serving established adult patients in Chattanooga, offering same-day and next-day appointments for acute concerns alongside preventive care and chronic disease management. His practice handles the full scope of internal medicine without subspecialty narrowing, which means he manages conditions ranging from hypertension and diabetes to respiratory infections and medication adjustments without typical 2-4 week wait times common at larger practices in the area.

What Dr. Streko's practice actually is

Streko's practice is a primary care internal medicine office, not a urgent care facility or hospital-based clinic. This distinction matters: his model emphasizes continuity of care for the same patients over time, meaning each visit is recorded in your chart and informs the next clinical decision. He accepts new patients, though availability fluctuates. The practice operates from a private office setting rather than a multi-specialty medical center or federally qualified health center, which affects both parking and walk-in policies.

Services and typical appointment structure

The practice provides adult primary care, including preventive physicals, management of chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, thyroid disorders), acute problem visits, medication refills, and minor procedures such as joint injections and skin lesion removal. Routine office visits run 20 to 30 minutes depending on complexity. Preventive care visits (annual physicals) often require 45 minutes and are billed under wellness codes that most insurance plans cover at 100% after deductible.

For uninsured or self-pay patients, verify costs directly with the office, as internal medicine practices in Chattanooga typically charge $150 to $250 for established-patient visits and $200 to $350 for new-patient appointments, but Dr. Streko's exact rates should be confirmed. Many insurances, including Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee, Cigna, and Aetna, are commonly accepted at independent practices; call ahead to confirm your plan.

How this practice compares to other Chattanooga internists

Chattanooga's internal medicine landscape splits between hospital-affiliated primary care (through Erlanger Health System and Siskin Hospital networks) and independent practitioners. Hospital-based practices typically offer more same-day access but route complex cases to specialists within their system; wait times often exceed two weeks for new patients. Dr. Streko's private practice offers faster acute appointment slots but has no in-house lab or imaging, meaning some diagnostics may require a referral or separate visit elsewhere.

Larger multi-specialty centers like Parkridge Health Services in East Brainerd and various Erlanger urgent-care satellites handle walk-ins, but they do not offer the same continuity of one physician following your care. If you prioritize ease of scheduling for acute problems and know your internist by name, a private practice like Streko's differs fundamentally from a rotating-provider model. If you want co-located cardiology or endocrinology referrals without outside travel, system-affiliated care may suit you better.

Who this practice suits and who it does not

This practice works well for adults with established health conditions who value knowing their doctor, need timely acute-care appointments, and have insurance or ability to pay out-of-pocket. It suits patients managing multiple medications who benefit from one physician coordinating care and avoiding redundant testing. It does not suit patients without any insurance who cannot negotiate self-pay rates; community health centers like Chambliss Health or Mountain Health Center offer sliding-scale fees based on income.

This practice also does not replace urgent care or ER services for life-threatening events or acute injuries. If you have no primary care doctor and need to be seen today for acute illness, urgent-care facilities around Chattanooga (including those run by Erlanger and Siskin) open early and accept walk-ins.

What a first visit involves

New patients typically fill out a comprehensive health history, undergo a full physical examination (blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, abdominal check), and often have labs drawn (complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel) if a preventive visit or baseline assessment is appropriate. This process takes 60 to 90 minutes. Bring your insurance card, photo ID, and a list of current medications and supplements. If you have records from another provider, request those be sent ahead to reduce redundancy.

Hours, location, and parking

Confirm current hours by phone, as many independent practices have adjusted scheduling post-pandemic. Typical internal medicine office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a lunch closure; many practices no longer hold Saturday clinics. Parking is free and on-site if the office is in a private building; if in a shared medical plaza, meter your time. The office address and phone number should be verified directly to ensure accuracy.

Dr. Streko's practice fills a specific niche in Chattanooga's primary care landscape: fast access to an internist who will remember your history rather than a walk-in model where you see whoever is available. For adults managing chronic disease or seeking preventive care with scheduling convenience, this approach often outweighs the convenience of urgent care or hospital-based primary care.