Letter from Dr. Gromko

Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC

450 Northeast 100th #519 | Seattle, WA 98125 | Phone: 206-281-7163 | Fax: 206-281-5088

November 9, 2026

An Important Update About Our Practice

Dear Patients and Friends,

I am writing to share important changes at Queen Anne Medical Associates. Since our transition to telehealth-only care in 2024, our commitment has remained the same: to provide thoughtful, individualized medical care, particularly for patients whose needs may be difficult to meet elsewhere.

Like many small medical practices, we have faced rising operating costs and significant financial challenges. After considerable thought, I have concluded that we must either close the practice or substantially reduce our expenses and clinical hours. I have chosen to try to keep the practice open.

Beginning December 1, 2026, Queen Anne Medical Associates will transition to a much smaller practice. Carol Keenholts, ARNP, has decided to begin a well-earned retirement, and her last day of work will be December 14, 2026. Following Carol’s retirement, I will be the sole medical provider in a solo physician micropractice, offering scheduled telehealth visits with more limited appointment availability.

Carol has provided excellent, compassionate care to many of our patients over the years, and I am deeply grateful for her contributions. I will work with patients currently seeing Carol to support continuity of care, whether within the smaller practice or with another provider. If you need to see Carol before her departure date of December 14, please make an appointment through the Patient Portal or leave a voicemail message at 206-281-7163.

This downsizing also means saying goodbye to our excellent medical assistants, Kori Henckel and Taryn Stringer, and our longtime billing specialist, Lauren Christophersen. Each has made important contributions to patient care and to our practice. I am personally grateful for their dedication, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond for our patients. Their departures are deeply painful to me, and I wish them every success.

I am reorganizing administrative services to support the smaller practice, including assistance with scheduling, prescriptions, laboratory orders, referrals, and other routine needs.

What does this mean for patients?

I intend to continue offering scheduled telehealth appointments, prescription management, laboratory orders, referrals, and follow-up care, within the capacity of the smaller practice. Appointment availability will be more limited than in the past.

As I have recommended since our transition to telehealth in 2024, every patient should establish a relationship with a primary care provider who can see them in person when needed. Our telehealth services are intended to complement—not replace—in-person care. Physical examinations, pre-operative evaluations (clearances for surgery), and certain diagnostic procedures and treatments require in-person visits. Queen Anne Medical Associates does not provide urgent or emergency care; please seek appropriate urgent or emergency services when necessary.

If you do not yet have an in-person primary care provider, your health insurance company may be the best starting point for identifying an in-network provider. You might consider UW Medicine, Providence/Swedish, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, or Optum. The King County Medical Society may also be able to help you identify a provider.

I understand that some patients may prefer a practice with greater availability or more extensive support services. You can access your medical records through the Patient Portal. If you choose to establish care elsewhere and would like us to transfer your records, please complete the attached Release of Information form and fax it to 206-281-5088.

My hope is that this smaller, more sustainable model will allow me to continue caring for many of you for years to come. Preserving these relationships and continuity of care matters enormously to me.

Thank you for your trust, your understanding, and the privilege of being part of your healthcare team.

Warmly,

Linda Gromko, MD
Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC

Attached: Release of Information form