Here are the partners and their fields of expertise:

Beth Ann Corr, acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist;

Zoanna Gepner-Mueller, Alexander Technique and Reikeshare;

Rob Gepner, Chi Gong, Tai Chi and Alexander;

Verna Tweddale, crisis counseling for women who have been abused;

Karen de Haven, pediatric counseling, especially for autistic children and their parents;

Scott Robinson, massage.

Brigit Rakel, M.D., specializing in gynecology and women's health;

Sarah Bettein-Ash, holistic nutrition;

Elisabeth-Ann Krimmel, cltiropractic, traditional or NET (neuro-emotional technique);

Barry Wahner, gentle, hands-on chiropractic;

Max Rivers who with Elise Rivers does couples mediation. For information, call 215-2484236 or visit Web site, www.PartnersInWellness.us.

Sound familiar? Well, what if you could talk to a doctor who would listen to you, taking time to hear the details of those little aches and pains, who would ask many questions, and, after careful consideration of your answers, would suggest several practitioners you might wish to see help analyze your problems. And what if each of those experts could be seen at the same locale (not all at the same time, of course)? You would have the assurance that your counselor would have discussed your case with the others, helping to finetune a diagnosis and decide on a treatment.

Sound good? It is good, and it isn't all just a pipe dream. It's something ongoing at Partners in Wellness, 514 E. Sedgwick St. in Mt. Airy.

It isn't exactly new. It was founded some 15 years ago by Dr. Joseph Price, M.D., who has been in family practice for 34 years. Price trained at Temple University, had his residency in internal medicine at Einstein, then went on to research at Drexel. Through these years, he enjoyed the challenge of academic medicine, but more and more, the direct patient approach had greater appeal, leading him to want to create a medical practice around the idea of gentle care. His belief, in homeopathy was strong.

He was even born at Hahnemann Hospital, which was named for Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy itself. To fill the blind spots that he recognized in western medicine, Price explored various disciplines such as yoga, herbology, ayurveda, acupuncture, Reiki and Feldenkreis (a movement therapy releasing better balance). As he studied, he visualized the potential for a partnership of the practitioners in the different fields, all in one place, including the patients, whom he prefers to call "people". Partners in Wellness came into being and had its first open house in 1994.

After my interview with Dr. Price, I spoke with Elise Rivers, who, started the Walk-In Acupuncture Clinic, the subject of this column last January, when she was still Elise Rosenblatt. Now married to Max Rivers, she is still directing the Acupuncture Clinic, incorporating the work into Partners in Wellness. The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday for about three hours each day. It is indeed walk-in, no need to call. Four tables, with a short wait, says Dr. Joe. Elise emphasizes that many conditions are alleviated with acupuncture, including allergies, hormone.imbalance, asthma, sleep problems and digestive disorders, among others. "Acupuncture works on the whole immune system, bolstering it so that it can heal you." The cost is $30 per ses sion. Many satisfied clients wish to offer testimonials. At age 57, Juanita had hot flashes that were so intense that she woke up sweating profusely at night, requiring a change of clothes. After three acupuncture treatments, she experienced merely a feeling of slight warmth. Currently, in a perfect example of the partners' teamwork, she is taking Chinese herbal formulas suggested by Teresa Tat, an herbologist.