Mostafa Ashraf, MD in Baltimore: Internal Medicine with Extended Appointment Availability

Mostafa Ashraf, MD operates an independent internal medicine practice in Baltimore, seeing adult patients for chronic disease management, preventive care, and acute illness evaluation without hospital affiliation. The practice is set up for patients who value continuity of care and unhurried appointment slots, a practical advantage in a city where many primary-care offices book visits 6 to 8 weeks out or limit appointment length to 15 minutes.

What internal medicine with an independent practice means

Internal medicine addresses conditions affecting organ systems in adults: hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, and infections. An independent practice operates outside a hospital system, meaning direct payment to the physician rather than billing through an institutional entity. This structure typically allows longer appointments and more scheduling flexibility than hospital-employed doctors face. Ashraf provides the generalist anchor most adults need to coordinate care with cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and other specialists, rather than referring patients to urgent care for routine problems.

Services and scheduling

The practice handles routine physical exams, management of chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol), preventive screening, minor acute illness, and medication adjustment. Appointment length is 45 to 60 minutes for new patients and 30 minutes for established patients on routine follow-up, reflecting a deliberate slot structure rather than the compressed 15-minute visits at larger clinics. This allows time for review of symptoms, medication reconciliation, and discussion of lifestyle change.

Pricing varies by insurance plan. For established patients with commercial insurance, office visits typically run $150 to $250 with copay; without insurance, direct cash price is available and should be confirmed at scheduling. Medicare patients pay standard Part B copay (20 percent coinsurance after deductible).

How it compares to other Baltimore internal medicine options

Most internal medicine in Baltimore flows through hospital systems: Johns Hopkins Medicine (downtown and Bayview), University of Maryland Medical System (downtown), and Mercy Medical Center. Physicians in those systems are hospital-employed, which means larger infrastructure for imaging and lab work on-site but also scheduling constraints tied to hospital operations. Lead times for new-patient appointments at system practices are often 8 to 12 weeks.

Independent practices are rarer in the city. Ashraf's model is closest to how primary care operated before consolidation into health systems: direct relationship with one physician, no referral requirements within a network, and the ability to build a long-term medical record without switching systems when insurance changes. The trade-off is that urgent imaging or lab work requires referral to an outside facility, and you do not have an integrated electronic record with specialists who use a different hospital system.

For patients with simple needs and no chronic illness, community health centers (Federally Qualified Health Centers operated by HRSA) offer lower-cost primary care; examples include Chase Brexton Health Services and Harbor Health Services throughout Baltimore. They accept Medicaid and uninsured patients on a sliding scale. For patients with complex disease or who prefer the safety net of hospital affiliation, Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland offices prioritize continuity but with longer waits.

Who suits this practice, and who does not

Ashraf's practice works well for adults seeking a stable, one-physician relationship, those with chronic disease who need 45-minute appointments, and patients willing to pay out-of-pocket when insurance is limited. It suits people who have been seeing the same doctor and want that to continue rather than rotating among rotating doctors in a clinic system.

It does not serve patients who need rapid imaging (CT, ultrasound) in-house, those with acute emergencies (use an ER), or patients enrolled in HMO plans that restrict out-of-network primary care. Pediatric patients and women's health beyond general medical issues are out of scope.

First visit

New patients typically bring insurance card and list of current medications (or bottles). The appointment runs 45 to 60 minutes and includes medical history, physical exam, review of preventive care (vaccinations, cancer screening), and any acute concerns. Lab work (blood pressure, basic metabolic panel if indicated) is ordered and processed at an outside lab; results are reviewed and called back within 2 to 3 business days. Subsequent visits are scheduled based on diagnosis; routine follow-up for well-controlled disease is annually to every 6 months; new conditions may require 2 to 4-week recheck.

Hours, location, and logistics

The practice operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with one early slot (7:30 a.m.) available two mornings per week for working patients. Location and parking should be confirmed at the time of scheduling. Walk-ins are not accommodated; all visits require advance booking.

An independent internal medicine practice staffed by one physician and willing to hold long appointment slots is uncommon in Baltimore, where consolidation into large health systems has compressed appointment times. Ashraf's practice offers a deliberate alternative for patients who prioritize continuity and appointment depth over rapid access and integrated in-house diagnostics.