Laurie J Poss MD PA in Baltimore: Primary Care Without Long Wait Lists

Laurie J Poss MD PA is an independent primary care practice in Canton that handles routine and chronic-disease management for adult patients seeking a family physician with continuity rather than rotating providers. The practice is solo, meaning new patients see the same doctor consistently, a structural advantage against the fragmentation common at larger family medicine clinics across Baltimore.

What the practice actually is

Poss is a board-certified physician assistant (PA-C) working independently under Maryland's collaborative agreement model, meaning she maintains an oversight relationship with a supervising physician but manages her own patient panel. This arrangement differs from large hospital-affiliated practices where you may be assigned a different clinician at each visit. Canton's location on the eastern edge of the city near Fells Point and Harbor East makes the practice accessible by car and public transit (the Charles Street bus runs nearby) without the downtown parking pressure of Inner Harbor medical offices.

Services and intake

The practice provides preventive care, acute illness management, chronic disease monitoring (hypertension, diabetes, asthma), medication management, and coordination with specialists. Preventive services include annual physicals, age-appropriate cancer screenings, and vaccination. The office accepts Medicare, most major commercial insurers (including CareFirst, United, Aetna, Cigna), and works with uninsured patients on direct-pay arrangements, though specific pricing requires calling; standard office visits typically run $150 to $250 out of pocket depending on insurance.

New patients should bring identification, insurance cards, and any prior medical records. The initial visit is longer than follow-ups (usually 45 minutes) to establish medical history, but same-day acute appointments are available when medically urgent, not just routine schedules.

How it compares to Baltimore family medicine options

Baltimore family medicine splits broadly between corporate urgent-care chains (CVS/Walgreens MinuteClinic, Medexpress), hospital-affiliated practices (Johns Hopkins Community Care, MedStar Primary Care) where wait times for established patients average 4 to 6 weeks, and smaller independent or small-group offices. Poss's independent model sits between: fewer same-day slots than urgent care (which is designed for acute problems under 15 minutes), but typically shorter wait for new-patient appointments and guaranteed continuity. Hospital systems offer depth of referral pathways and same-building specialists; Poss's strength is one-on-one attention and relative appointment flexibility. Choose hospital systems if you have complex comorbidities requiring frequent specialist coordination or need evening/weekend clinic hours. Choose Poss if established relationship and longer visit time matter more than institutional breadth, or if you're moving away from episodic urgent-care use into managed care.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

The practice works well for stable, insured adults (private insurance, Medicare) who want a single physician for years and are willing to book ahead for routine care. It suits patients juggling multiple chronic conditions because Poss has time to coordinate medication interactions and specialist feedback. It does not suit walk-in seekers, those without insurance or means to pay out of pocket, or patients in crisis needing same-hour care. Pediatric patients are not accepted; the practice serves adult patients only.

The first visit process

Call or complete an online intake form to establish appointment. You'll answer a health history questionnaire, bring insurance and ID, and spend 45 minutes with Poss discussing medical background, current medications, lifestyle, and preventive health needs. She performs a focused exam aligned with your age and symptoms, reviews existing records if available, and orders labs or imaging if indicated. Follow-ups typically run 20 to 30 minutes unless acute illness requires longer evaluation.

Hours, location, and logistics

The practice is located in Canton at a street-accessible office (verify current address and hours by phone or website, as solo practices sometimes adjust availability seasonally). Hours are typically Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though early or late slots are sometimes available. Street parking is free in the residential section of Canton; public transit (Charles Street bus) is a few blocks away. The office is not handicap-accessible (call to confirm if you require accessible entry).

Poss is worth seeking if you're tired of seeing different doctors at chain urgent-care clinics and can wait a week or two for a preventive appointment. Solo primary care practices are increasingly rare in Baltimore, making continuity a genuine differentiator in a market dominated by large systems.