To most Charlotte-area residents, this will likely not come as a big surprise: Over the past three years, the Charlotte metro region has grown by 5.1%, the sixth highest growth rate in the country. With 2.8 million residents, this growth is evident everywhere—from ongoing construction projects and traffic delays to the unprecedented demand for healthcare services.
Finding a healthcare provider in the region can be challenging. One in four Mecklenburg County adults does not have a primary care provider. The average wait time to establish care with a new primary care provider has ballooned to more than 26 days. And if you want to see a new behavioral health therapist, plan on waiting at least six weeks.
Building a Network of Care
This surge in demand is why healthcare providers like Avance Care are expanding across the Charlotte region. From its inception, Avance Care’s goal has been to create a more comprehensive, patient-centered primary care experience that also reduces provider burden, enhances clinical outcomes, and lowers healthcare costs. The company opened its first primary care practice in Research Triangle Park in 2006 and has grown, attracting patients by offering personalized care with embedded nutrition and behavioral health services within their clinics, as well as convenient evening and weekend hours.
For physicians, Avance Care provides the opportunity to own their own practices and have clinical autonomy while receiving business operations support. Clinicians are drawn to the team-based, patient-centered environment.
“At Avance Care, we believe that building strong relationships with our patients is key to providing excellent care,” says Dr. Jeffrey Hutchings, lead physician of the Avance Care Waxhaw location. “Our comprehensive model allows us to address not just a patient’s physical health but also their mental and emotional well-being, all under one roof. This holistic, team-based approach is what drew me to Avance Care, and it’s what makes us unique.”
The first Charlotte-area Avance Care opened in Matthews in January 2021. It was shortly followed by Midtown, SouthPark, Mallard Creek, and Rea Farms locations. In October 2023, Davidson Family Medicine became an Avance Care practice, and in December 2023 Avance Care Waxhaw opened. Most recently, to address demand, Avance Care opened its eighth Charlotte location—an office devoted to Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in SouthPark. Led by Medical Director Sashalee Stewart, MD, the practice has a psychiatrist, a psychiatric physician assistant, and four behavioral health therapists. With its team, and the support of the Avance Care Centers of Excellence in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, it can offer treatment within days, as opposed to the industry-standard wait times of four to six weeks.
“We understand the challenges patients face in finding timely mental health services,” says Dr. Stewart, who is board-certified in psychiatry. “Our team is dedicated to providing efficient and effective care, and with our new location, we can offer treatment within days.”
This emphasis on short wait times extends beyond mental health services. Avance Care offers streamlined referrals to all of its specialists, including registered dietitians, behavioral health therapists, and psychiatrists. This ensures that patients can receive the comprehensive care they need, when they need it most.
A Commitment to Community
Avance Care’s dedication extends beyond the walls of their clinics. Their behavioral health therapists have partnered with the Triangle and Charlotte YMCAs to offer mental health classes for its members and training for its summer camp counselors. Additionally, its registered dietitians have teamed up with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to lead free monthly nutrition classes at the insurer’s corporate centers in Raleigh and Charlotte. Finally, Avance Care is pleased to be a recurring sponsor of the Charlotte and Durham Pride Parades.
“Serving our community has been our mission for the past two decades,” says Dr. Craig J. White, founder and lead physician of Davidson Family Medicine. “Our team loves caring for folks new to the area – being able to offer them the highest quality primary care with a choice of the best specialists. Now, as a part of Avance Care, we are better able to engage with physicians across the region. We recently hosted a free CME event on Adolescent Psychiatry at the Charlotte City Club. It’s so invigorating for all of us to come together, network, and share ideas. It reminds me of the collegiality and camaraderie we had when I first began practicing in Charlotte in 1990!”
A Bright Future for Charlotte
The rapid growth of Charlotte presents challenges, but it also brims with opportunity. Healthcare providers like Avance Care are stepping up to meet the demand, offering efficient, accessible care and fostering a culture of community engagement. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Avance Care is poised to thrive alongside the city itself. The best days for Queen City healthcare are yet to come.