Essential Internal Medicine

The membership fee covers longer visit times, same-day or next-day appointments, and minimal waiting room time. It also includes enhanced coordination of care with sub-specialists and direct access to Dr. Dekle via her cell phone for urgent issues after hours. Patients do not pay co-pays for office visits.

Comprehensive annual exams run 90 minutes. Chronic care follow-up visits run 45 minutes. Dr. Dekle also offers timely sick visits, either in person or via telehealth, depending on the patient's needs.

Yes. Essential Internal Medicine offers same-day and next-day appointments for sick visits. Patients can choose an in-person visit or a telehealth call, depending on what works best for the situation.

Dr. Dekle sees patients on any insurance plan, including Medicare, and also accepts self-pay patients. Insurance does not cover the annual membership fee itself. Labs and imaging the practice orders follow the same insurance coverage rules as any other doctor's office, and the practice offers wholesale pricing discounts on labs not covered by insurance.

Essential Internal Medicine welcomes Medicare patients. The membership fee is not reimbursable by Medicare, and joining the practice does not affect a patient's Medicare benefits. Dr. Dekle acts as an ordering physician for Medicare but has opted out as a billing physician for her own time. Patients simply do not pay co-pays for office visits.

Yes. Dr. Dekle conducts visits via video and audio calls. Telehealth works well for sick visits and follow-ups that do not require an in-person exam.

Essential Internal Medicine sees adults 18 and older. The practice welcomes young professionals, mid-career adults, and older patients with more complex healthcare needs. Pediatric care falls outside the scope of internal medicine, so the practice does not see children.

Dr. Dekle refers patients to specialists across Piedmont, Northside, Emory, and Wellstar hospital systems. She prioritizes excellence of care and convenience when making referrals. She maintains access to the EPIC and Cerner electronic medical record platforms of most major Atlanta hospital systems, which allows her to follow a patient's care across providers and communicate directly with ER staff and inpatient teams when needed.

Prospective patients can email the practice to schedule a telephone meet and greet with Dr. Dekle. The office is located in the Paces Pavilion Medical Office Building at 3193 Howell Mill Road, NW, Suite 204, in Atlanta. The practice accepts new patients on a rolling basis up to its 300-member panel limit.

Yes. Dr. Dekle addresses preventive care at every routine visit, reviewing immunizations and making sure screenings stay current. She also conducts comprehensive annual physical exams that cover a full range of preventive services alongside acute and chronic care.