Take some time to review the information on my website, and contact me if you would like to discuss how to participate in my practice.

Here is some information you might find helpful:

• Patient testimonials
• Contact Dr. Cortland
• Find out about concierge or boutique medical services
• Reserve your place today

Unique Approach to Primary Healthcare

Does this sound familiar?

You are ill, so you call your physician. After being placed on hold for a lengthy amount of time, the receptionist tells you the next available appointment is two weeks away.

As if scheduling the appointment wasn't frustrating enough, the office visit proves to be even more disappointing: piles of forms to complete, a prolonged wait to be seen by a doctor you have never met who has limited knowledge about you and your medical history.

With an unmanageable patient load, the physician is unable to spend much time with you, so it's a quick diagnosis of the problem and you are on your way.

The result...you leave the appointment feeling worse than when you arrived.

Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming increasingly common. At a time when we are witnessing unprecedented medical technological advances, we seem to be losing ground on the other side of the medical equation - the personal touch or human side.

The current state of the healthcare industry increasingly threatens the quality of patient care and is eroding the patient and physician relationship. As a result, many people are left feeling estranged from the high quality care and attention they need and desire.

With an intent to address these problems, Dr. Dawn Cortland - along with a growing number of reputable physicians - has chosen to restructure her medical practice, leaving managed care behind for a more appealing, albeit "old-fashioned" alternative that enables her to practice a more personal form of primary care medicine.

Dr. Cortland's Practice

Dr. Cortland's practice follows a model currently referred to as Concierge or Boutique medicine. The reality is a practice in which health and well-being are the focus. Each patient is known as an individual, given personalized care promptly by a physician who knows them and has had an opportunity to develop a personal relationship with them.

With offices conveniently located in the Financial District, Dr. Cortland is easily accessed from many offices and is close to public transportation.

Since I first saw Dr. Cortland in 1997 she has consistently provided me with the best medical advice I have ever gotten. In short, "Dr. Cortland has saved me!"

During a routine blood pressure screening as part of a major Boy Scout camping trip, I found out that I had high blood pressure, something quite unexpected. I was new to living in the San Francisco Bay area and I went to her as a new patient.

She spent the time to understand me and my health problems. She could see the whole person, what life stresses and habits were literally killing me, and some changes I needed to make.

She was there for me thereafter through major health crises in my immediate family. She referred me to the best of the best surgeons when I needed major spinal surgery a few years later. A variety of other mental and physical health issues have come in to my life, and she has at every juncture provided support, advice, direction, referrals, and medication that, in effect, have saved me.

In mid-2005 I moved out of California for compelling business reasons. But I keep Dr. Cortland as my doctor, will do so for the foreseeable future, and think it would be unhealthy for me to do otherwise.

- Bill Hansmire

On Dec. 3, 2004, my mother was unable to eat and take-in sufficient nutrition. The question of whether to take her to the hospital came up.

I called Dr. Cortland and asked for advice. She suggested that I should do so. Mother was in the hospital from Dec. 3 to Dec. 22, throughout that period I was in contact with Dr. Cortland almost daily by telephone seeking her clinical advice.

I called Dr. Cortland in the morning from Las Vegas describing mother's condition, she said, without giving a second thought, "Elaine, I need to come down and see your mother firsthand." I was elated and shocked because Dr. Cortland had a sick daughter (12 yeas old) at home and she needed to arrange for someone to stay with her while she flew down to LA. Also, Dr. Cortland told me to go home because I needed to be with my mother and not in some other State. I left work and flew home. By midday, Dr. Cortland had arranged to travel and I purchased her roundtrip ticket.

Dr. Cortland did her examination of my mother and motioned me to step out of her bedroom. For the next three plus hours, we (Dr. Cortland and I) sat at my dining room. The first words that came out of Dr. Cortland's mouth were, "Elaine, you need to let your mother go."

As she was saying those words, I felt waves after waves of "knife-sharp" pain across my heart and chest. She spent the rest of the time helping me to face the inevitable. (By the way, just two days ago, Jan. 4, 2005, mother celebrated her 91st birthday.) I did accept Dr. Cortland's advice and agreed to call hospice the next morning.

While I was taking Dr. Cortland to her hotel around 12:30am the next early morning, I told her that her exemplary deed really only happens with the "Doctors without Borders." Keeping in mind, in the morning, Dr. Cortland had a 7:30am flight to return home to relieve her caregiver and continue to take care of her sick daughter. I did say to Dr. Cortland to let her daughter, Virginia, know that I thanked her very much for sharing her mother with me when I was in need.

There is just no appropriate words to describe what Dr. Cortland did for me and my mother. She remains my clinician, grieve counselor, listener and most importantly a friend to turn to when I need any kind of help.

On the average, I check-in with Dr. Cortland at least once if not twice a week by phone to let her know how I'm doing.

- Elaine

About Concierge or Boutique Medical Practice

A "concierge" or "boutique" physician is a primary care doctor that charges an annual retainer in exchange for personalized service, same-day appointments, unhurried exams, and in some cases, house calls. About 250 concierge physicians exist in the USA today.

Concierge medicine allows doctors to be free to do their jobs right. Doctors report they are able to spend the time needed to really listen and get to know their patients, rather than the hurried, overly administrative process most physicians face under insurance programs.

For more information about Dr. Cortland's practice, see our Q&A (Questions and Answers) section.