Accepting New Primary Care Patients: Chun-Rui Ray Zhao, MD, Family Physician
Harbor Care’s newest physician talks about treating the whole patient individually and enjoying life in New Hampshire
Visitors to Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center will notice a new face in the practice. Dr. Chun-Rui Ray Zhao, MD, began treating patients at the center this winter, bringing with him extensive experience in general medicine and primary care for people of all ages.
Dr. Zhao holds diplomas and certifications in geriatric care, hospice and palliative medicine, and post-acute and long-term care, and in his most recent roles has specialized in geriatric and palliative care. It’s an area of medicine he was drawn to largely because he saw a great need.
“From a Medicare or VA (Veterans Affairs) point of view, the last two years of life, you’re probably going to spend somewhere around $100,000 to $200,000 on care. In terms of dollar amount, that’s your whole life contribution to the Medicare system. The system is buried,” said Dr. Zhao. “We need a lot of people to change the situation and cut down the cost and provide satisfactory, good quality of care.”
“I believe we’re all equal and you’ve got to apply methodology equally, treat everyone equally, with dignity and respect,” he said. “That’s part of compassionate care.”
Being friendly or compassionate isn’t just about having a good bedside manner. Dr Zhao believes it’s also closely tied to better patient outcomes.
“With a better physician-patient relationship, the patient will believe you and follow your advice,” he said, adding that “patient satisfaction is going to be high, and outcomes are going to be much, much higher.”
At Harbor Care, the philosophy is to treat the whole patient, and to ensure that all people we serve receive integrated, personalized, end-to-end care, and services that support and enable their paths to successful lives. Dr. Zhao is closely aligned with this approach, saying that he treats each patient individually and seeks to coordinate care throughout the healthcare system.
“There’s so much fragmentation in medicine today, where we see a lot of specialized care and sometimes it could be better coordinated with the primary care office,” said Zhao. “Everyone needs to have individual health plan and we need to treat the whole person.””
Dr. Zhao received his diploma of medicine and M.D. from Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang, China, and continued his studies in microbiology-virology and immunology at the school of the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine in Beijing. In 1991, he moved to the United States, where he conducted research at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington and the Biological Research Center and Department of Biology at Boston University.
Dr. Zhao has also worked at Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, the Chicago Medical Center, and the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In 2006, he studied in a fellowship program in hospice and palliative medicine at Rush University Medical Center and the John Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago.
In 2007, Dr. Zhao moved to New Hampshire, where he says he loves getting outside. Like many people who have moved to New Hampshire before him, he often thinks about one day becoming a gentleman farmer. But it’s the wide-ranging state landscape and New England’s four seasons that he truly loves.
“I love the beach, I love hiking in the mountains and love all kinds of sports,” he said. “I love everything.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Zhao has been dedicated to using scientific research and data to support his practice, whether that’s selecting the right medication for a patient or advising on a given procedure. Staying up to date on the latest research and best practices is also part of what’s drawn Zhao to working at Harbor Care treating a diverse population of patients.
“I am comfortable with the spectrum of practice, whether it’s treating hepatitis or elderly care, children’s care, women’s health or more general medicine,” said Dr. Zhao. “It can be a challenging field and you need to keep up on your knowledge and mainstream science.”
“I love working with patients and their families,” Dr. Zhao added. “When you apply your training and knowledge to help others, it makes you really feel achievement and it’s another day you help human beings.”
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Zhao call 603-821-7788.