ENTAA Care is one of the largest otolaryngology practices in the state of Maryland. For the past 34 years, it has steadily expanded and now has six offices — in Annapolis, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Kent Island, Laurel and Odenton — with 13 physicians in the practice serving these locations. 

But last year, ENTAA Care made a big change: It joined Johns Hopkins Regional Physicians (JHRP), an integrated network of affiliated community practices that remain mostly autonomous while benefiting from their association with Johns Hopkins for billing, compliance reporting, and other support.

“This new relationship provides a much broader Johns Hopkins footprint for otolaryngology care, giving patients more options and convenience,” says Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Director David Eisele.

ENTAA Care provides all the typical ear, nose and throat services to a diverse patient population, diagnosing and treating patients for conditions ranging from pediatric ear infections to snoring and sleep issues, says otolaryngologist Marc Hamburger, who serves as president and managing partner for ENTAA Care. The practice is continuing to provide these services, he says, but now under the banner head of Johns Hopkins.

“We’re taking the best parts of private practice and the best parts of university medicine and putting them together,” Hamburger explains.

Patients can continue seeing physicians they know and trust at locations close to their homes or workplaces, he says. Making appointments within the community removes the hassle of driving into the city, Hamburger adds—patients can avoid traffic snarls and having to pay for parking, for example. 

With better convenience also comes better compliance. Patients are more likely to come to follow-up appointments if they’re more convenient, Hamburger says. In addition, a community practice like ENTAA Care adds value to the medical system, providing quality care without the higher cost of a hospital. But when patients need more specialized care, ENTAA Care’s relationship with Johns Hopkins eases the referral process to physicians within Johns Hopkins Medicine.

“It’s one-stop shopping,” Hamburger says. “Our offices can take care of most ENT, allergy, and audiology problems. But if patients need a higher level of care, we know who the world expert is, and we can make a direct referral.”