Dr. James Chiu provides full-spectrum primary care for patients of all ages — from newborns to seniors — right here in Winchester, Tennessee. His approach is built on listening first, treating thoroughly, and doing as much as possible in-house so patients spend less time being referred around and more time getting well. With over 16 years serving Franklin County, Dr. Chiu has built a reputation as the physician who actually takes the time to understand your whole story — not just your symptoms.
Primary care is your first and most consistent point of contact for all things health. At Winchester Primary Care, that means annual wellness exams, sports physicals, immunizations, in-house lab draws with next-day results, and management of both acute and chronic conditions. Dr. Chiu sees roughly 70% geriatric patients, 25% adults, and 5% pediatric — giving him the depth of experience of an internist with the whole-family accessibility of a family medicine physician. His EMR is fully integrated with Highpoint Health, so test results and imaging are available to him within 24 hours. And because the practice is small and intentionally lean, nothing falls through the cracks.
Explore the full range of primary care services Dr. Chiu offers at Winchester Primary Care.
Annual Wellness Exams
Dr. Chiu conducts comprehensive annual wellness exams for patients of all ages, using each visit as an opportunity to take a full picture of your health — not just check a box. Exams include a thorough review of your medical history, blood pressure screening, weight and BMI assessment, and age-appropriate cancer screenings. Labs are drawn in-house with results back the next day, so follow-up is fast and efficient. Dr. Chiu also takes time at every wellness visit to go over your medication list and explain what each medication is for, sending patients home with typed instructions they can actually reference later.
Why Annual Exams Matter
Annual wellness visits create a consistent health baseline that makes it easier to catch subtle changes over time — before they become serious problems. For patients managing chronic conditions, these visits are also an opportunity to reassess treatment plans and ensure medications are still appropriate. For patients who feel generally healthy, they’re an opportunity to confirm that and screen proactively for common conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. There’s no better investment in your long-term health than an hour with your doctor once a year.
What’s Included
- Head-to-toe physical examination with detailed documentation and follow-up plan.
- In-house blood draw with comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, CBC, thyroid, and other age-appropriate labs — results next day.
- Immunization review — flu and tetanus administered in-office; others referred to pharmacy or health department.
- Typed medication list provided at visit, with plain-language explanations of what each drug is prescribed for.
- Personalized health plan with lifestyle recommendations and any necessary referrals or follow-up imaging.
Sports Physicals
Dr. Chiu offers sports physicals for student athletes and adults returning to active lifestyles. These exams are designed to assess cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal fitness, and overall readiness for physical activity. Dr. Chiu reviews medical history, performs a targeted physical exam, and clears patients for participation — or identifies any concerns that should be addressed before they take the field. Results are typically available same-day, keeping athletes on schedule for their season.
Who Needs a Sports Physical?
Most school districts and athletic programs require an annual sports physical before a student can participate in organized sports. Adults returning to exercise after a health event, surgery, or extended inactivity may also benefit from a pre-participation evaluation. Whether it’s your student’s first year on the team or you’re training for a 5K after a few years off, Dr. Chiu can help you get cleared and get moving safely.
What’s Covered
- Cardiovascular screening including heart and lung assessment to rule out conditions that could be aggravated by strenuous activity.
- Musculoskeletal evaluation of joints, flexibility, and prior injury sites.
- Medical history review including family history of heart disease, previous concussions, or known conditions.
- Clearance documentation signed and ready for school or league submission.
Immunizations
Winchester Primary Care administers flu vaccines and tetanus shots in-office for patients of all ages. For immunizations not available on-site — including pediatric vaccines, shingles (Shingrix), and pneumococcal (Pneumovax) — Dr. Chiu provides referrals to your preferred pharmacy or the Franklin County Health Department, and coordinates to ensure your records are updated. He reviews your immunization history at every annual wellness exam to make sure you’re appropriately protected.
Staying Current Matters
Immunization needs change as we age. Adults over 50 should be discussing shingles and pneumonia vaccines with their physician. Parents of newborns and young children need a reliable partner to help them navigate the pediatric vaccination schedule. And everyone should be getting an annual flu vaccine — especially patients with chronic conditions like COPD, diabetes, or heart disease, who face higher risks from seasonal illness. Dr. Chiu makes it easy to stay on track.
In-Office Vaccines
- Influenza (flu) vaccine — available seasonally for all ages.
- Tetanus / Td / Tdap — administered in-office as needed.
- Referrals provided for Shingrix, Pneumovax, pediatric series, and other vaccines not stocked in-office.
In-House Lab Work
One of the most practical advantages of Winchester Primary Care is the ability to draw blood in-house and receive results the next business day. There’s no sending patients to a separate lab, no waiting a week for results, and no losing track of follow-up. Dr. Chiu orders labs at your visit, the draw happens right there in the office, and he reviews results with you promptly — often with a same-day or next-day call if anything requires immediate attention.
Faster Results, Faster Decisions
Timely lab results are the backbone of effective primary care. When Dr. Chiu suspects a thyroid issue, wants to check your A1C, or needs a lipid panel to make a statin decision, getting those results back the next day rather than a week later means your care moves faster and your questions get answered sooner. The practice’s EMR is also fully integrated with Highpoint Health, so any hospital-ordered labs or imaging ordered during a visit or hospital stay are automatically visible to Dr. Chiu within 24 hours.
Common Lab Panels Offered
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) — kidney function, liver function, blood sugar, electrolytes.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) — screens for anemia, infection, and blood disorders.
- Lipid Panel — total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides.
- Thyroid Function (TSH, T4) — screens for hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
- Hemoglobin A1C — three-month average blood sugar for diabetes monitoring.
- Urinalysis — kidney health, infection, and metabolic markers.
Telehealth & After-Hours
Winchester Primary Care offers telehealth visits for established patients who are unable to come in person. Telehealth appointments are conducted by phone, and patients are asked to provide basic vitals — such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and temperature — before the call so Dr. Chiu has the clinical information he needs to make informed decisions remotely. After-hours phone access is also available to established patients when medically warranted — because health concerns don’t always happen between 8 AM and 5 PM.
Convenient Care Without Compromise
Telehealth is ideal for follow-up visits on stable chronic conditions, prescription refill consultations, minor illness triage, and situations where a patient is physically unable to travel to the office. It is not a replacement for in-person care when an exam is needed — but in the right clinical scenario, it’s a practical and efficient option that saves patients time without sacrificing quality. Dr. Chiu’s small practice structure means telehealth calls are handled directly by him, not a nurse or call center.
Telehealth Details
- Available to established patients of Winchester Primary Care.
- Phone-based visits — patients provide vitals prior to the call.
- After-hours access available for urgent clinical concerns upon request.
- Not available for new patient consultations or situations requiring a physical exam.
Managing a chronic condition well requires a physician who knows your history, tracks your labs over time, and adjusts your treatment as your needs evolve. Dr. Chiu has spent 16-plus years doing exactly that for the Winchester community — with particular depth in diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, and COPD, reflecting the real health landscape of Franklin County. He is thorough in his workup, aggressive in early intervention, and clear in his communication — so you always understand your condition and your treatment plan.
One of the defining features of Winchester Primary Care is how much Dr. Chiu is able to do without sending you somewhere else. Most primary care physicians refer out for the procedures below. Dr. Chiu does them in-office — which means faster treatment, fewer appointments, and lower overall cost to you. He also operates an in-house ultrasound machine, which has allowed him to detect serious conditions — including cancer — at early, more treatable stages.
- Skin Lesion Excisions & Biopsies — Suspicious moles, cysts, lipomas, and other skin lesions removed and sent to pathology in-house, without a dermatology referral wait.
- Laceration Repair — Cuts and wounds closed in-office with sutures or staples, avoiding urgent care or ER visits.
- Abscess Incision & Drainage (I&D) — Skin abscesses evaluated and drained in-office with appropriate wound care follow-up.
- Ingrown Toenail Extraction — Partial or full nail removal performed in-office with local anesthesia for fast, effective relief.
- Joint Injections — Corticosteroid or other therapeutic injections for knee, shoulder, and other joint pain — administered in-office to reduce inflammation and improve function.
- In-House Ultrasound Imaging — Dr. Chiu operates a high-quality diagnostic ultrasound machine for abdominal, thyroid, soft tissue, and musculoskeletal imaging — often on the same day as your visit. He has detected cancer on ultrasound that may otherwise have gone undiagnosed for months.
Suboxone & Subutex Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Dr. Chiu holds an X-waiver from the DEA and is authorized to prescribe buprenorphine (Suboxone and Subutex) for the treatment of opioid use disorder. This is one of the services he feels most passionately about — and his MAT patients are among the most motivated, consistent, and rewarding patients in the practice. Recovery is possible, and medication-assisted treatment is one of the most evidence-based tools available to support it.
MAT patients are seen monthly for structured follow-up visits that include urine drug screening and clinical assessment. Dr. Chiu follows strict protocols to ensure both patient safety and legal compliance, and he approaches every MAT patient with the respect and seriousness their journey deserves. If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid dependence in the Winchester area, please reach out — this is a judgment-free practice.