The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Say 'Aaah': Dr. Andy Hartman checks out Ari Kaye, 2, who is getting a check-up after a recent bout of pneumonia. Hartman, a Willow Glen pediatrician, is starting a private practice.

Willow Glen pediatrician leaves medical group to practice the old-fashioned way

The doctor will make house calls, give more personalized care

By Cecily Barnes

After 20 years as a pediatrician with the San Jose Medical Group, Willow Glen resident Andy Hartman has quit office life to practice medicine the old-fashioned way. The 50-year-old packed up his medical bag, recharged his cell phone and has begun doing what doctors used to do--make house calls.

"With the advent of the HMO in the last few years, medicine has become like a factory, get 'em in, get 'em out," Hartman says. "There was sort of a subtle pressure to see more patients, and decisions about what you do with a patient weren't always in your hand. Medicine has become a business, and I don't want to treat it as such."

Instead of seeing his old average of 35 patients a day, Hartman will slow his pace and see maybe nine or 10. He will also make any recommendation he sees fit, even if it will potentially cost the insurance companies more money. This way, he says, he'll be a better doctor with more time to spend with each patient.

"If I don't have the overhead of a big office with a staff, then I can see fewer patients and spend more time with them," Hartman said.

"I think this will provide a more personal service that people will like, and there are some things that I'll be able to pick up that I couldn't tell from an office visit, like if they have allergens in their home."

Andy Hartman earned his medical degree at UC-San Francisco in 1974 and went on to do his residency in pediatrics at the Oakland Children's Hospital. Immediately after his residency, he and his wife moved to Cherry Avenue in Willow Glen, and he joined the team at San Jose Medical Group.

"When I started out there, there were, like, 35 doctors. Everyone knew each other, and everyone knew their patients; it was like a real personal practice," Hartman said. "But it became bigger, more impersonal, more of a business, more of a corporation."

Now Hartman hopes to bring back the personal methods of doctoring. And as he leaves San Jose Medical Group, many of his patients say they plan to come with him.

Diane Tarte has been sending her 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son to Dr. Hartman since they were born.

"My kids are almost adults, and if they can stick with Dr. Hartman in any way at all, they will, because they totally trust him," Tarte said. "He's always been right on the money."

Tarte likes the idea of house calls because of past difficulties in getting appointments with Hartman. This way, she says, her kids might even get to see their doctor the same day they call.

"My kids don't say they're sick until they're really sick," Tarte said. "Then you call, and it's never less than 10 minutes on hold, and if you don't say the right thing, that my child must see Dr. Hartman, you get the advice nurse. They try hard and mean well, but it's a complete and utter system."

This system is what Hartman is escaping. However, he might not get that far. Although most of his longtime patients say they would love to continue on with him, they probably won't unless their insurance covers him. And many insurance companies require members to choose from someone on their plan. Hartman says he is researching how his services can be covered by insurance and will offer a lower rate to people who are paying him out of their pocket.

"I'm going to work with them to make it a reasonable fee," Hartman said. "At this stage of my career, I'm not looking to make a fortune."

The other drawback of being a house-call doctor is the lack of equipment. Hartman admits that his patients will have to go elsewhere for X-rays, immunizations and other equipment-intensive services. His services, he says, will be primarily for everyday acute illnesses such as colds, strep throat, asthma, allergies and head lice.

"In my own little way, I'm trying to get back to the old way of doing it if I can," Hartman said.

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