A model for family medicine

A model for family medicine

UF&Shands breaks ground on Family Medicine at Main

By Lindsey Robertson

City Commissioner Scherwin Henry and Dr. David Guzick look at the plot of land where the new building will be built during the groundbreaking of Family Medicine at Main Sept 19./Photo by Maria Belen Farias

UF&Shands leaders joined with city of Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe and Gainesville City Commissioner Scherwin Henry in September to break ground for UF&Shands Family Medicine at Main, a new University of Florida Physicians medical practice that will improve access to primary care for East Gainesville residents and better address the needs of the community.

The two-story, 24,200-square-foot facility at 1707 N. Main St. will replace the existing Family Medicine at Fourth Avenue practice and will have nearly 40 percent more space. The new practice will open July 1.

Serving adult and pediatric patients, UF&Shands Family Medicine at Main will contain 24 exam rooms — five more than the current practice — two procedure rooms and designated rooms for group visits and counseling.

“We are committed to creating a model of family-centered primary care that promotes health and reduces the need for hospital admissions,” said David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., UF senior vice president for health affairs and president of the UF&Shands Health System. “We are thrilled to break ground for this new community-based facility in which UF faculty and staff will provide truly comprehensive health care close to where people live and work.”

UF&Shands Family Medicine at Main will be staffed by 10 UF College of Medicine physicians, 26 residents, two sports medicine fellows, a faculty member from the College of Pharmacy, a licensed clinical social worker and a nurse midwife.

They offer adult and pediatric comprehensive care; orthopedics and sports medicine; dermatology; podiatry; OB/GYN, including prenatal care and ultrasound; pharmacy education; social services; behavioral health care; lab tests; stress tests; X-rays and OB ultrasound. The team also performs minor surgical procedures.

“This new facility will allow us to expand our medical care for the Gainesville community, providing our patients with a medical home and using the latest technology to emphasize comprehensive medical care as part of the UF&Shands system,” said R. Whit Curry Jr., M.D., chairman of the department of community health and family medicine. “We are also excited that it will allow us to optimally train more family physicians for Florida and our community, as well as provide a clinical site for educating a variety of health professional students.”