March 28, 2024

NewCare doctor offers care for complex medical issues

Almost one year has passed since Dr. Showkat Hamid joined the medical practice of NewCare Health Services and while the ownership of the clinic has recently changed, the high quality of care has not.

Dr. Hamid, an internal medicine physician, is joined at the practice by nurse practitioners Jodi Holloway and Alissa Kruger, and shares hospital responsibilities at Skiff Medical Center with the doctors of Newton Clinic. This collaboration has come about due to the recent acquisition of NewCare by Jasper County Health Ventures (JCHV), which is a joint venture between Newton Clinic and Skiff Medical Center.

“This new arrangement has been beneficial to our patients, as well as our staff and providers,” Dr. Hamid said. “It allows us to commit our time and resources to offering the highest quality of care, because JCHV administrators are able to focus on the business side. I also enjoy the continuity of care and collaboration with my colleagues down the street, and I appreciate them utilizing my services when they have patients with complex and high-risk conditions.”

“Dr. Hamid is a talented internist who greatly supplements the services provided at Skiff Medical Center and in the health-care community,” said Mark Thayer, clinic administrator for Newton Clinic and JCHV. “He has received world-class training in New York and is board-certified in the practice of internal medicine. In the fairly short time Dr. Hamid has been in Newton, he has been called upon numerous times to co-manage patient care.”

As an internist, Dr. Hamid treats adults ages 18 and older for both acute and chronic conditions, as well as providing preventative medicine. He knew from a fairly early age that medicine was the career path for him.

“I always scored high in the sciences and enjoyed learning, challenges and competition,” he said. “And I had such admiration of physicians when I would go to them as a child. It seemed they knew everything. I wanted to possess that kind of knowledge.”

Dr. Hamid received his initial medical education from Govt. Medical College Srinagar, one of the most reputed medical schools in India. In December 2006, he moved to New Delhi for a hospital-based job in Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, one of the largest health-care groups in Asia.

“I worked in various areas during the next three years,” he said. “Many of my colleagues thought I would end up as a surgeon, but I found myself admiring the work of the internists. They took care of the sickest patients, ran codes, ran ICUs. Even surgeons would ask advice from the internists. Once I decided I wanted to make internal medicine my field of expertise, I moved to the United States to further my medical training.”

Dr. Hamid joined SUNY at Buffalo as an internal medicine resident. He finished his post-graduate training in June 2013 and started at NewCare that August.

“As I was interviewing at various locations for employment, I found that I kept comparing every other place to Newton,” he said. “It soon became clear to me that it was the best fit. I’m very glad I made that choice, as the community here has been extremely welcoming.”

“Dr. Hamid has been an exceptional addition to the medical staff at Skiff Medical Center,” said Skiff CEO Steve Long. “His recent training in internal medicine has increased the depth of the practice both for inpatients and outpatients in our community. One of my teenage daughters was recently admitted to Skiff by Dr. Hamid for a difficult-to-diagnose medical condition and I can say from this personal experience that Dr. Hamid combines a very personal bedside manner with a thoroughness that is just outstanding.”

Dr. Hamid’s areas of expertise include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive lung disease, perioperative medicine and preventative medicine. He is accepting new patients at NewCare, 315 W. Third St. N., Newton, and appointments can be made by calling (641) 791-0790.