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Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD

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Specializes in: Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine) and Hospital Medicine (Hospitalist)

Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (2004)

Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157

(336) 716-9252

Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD is an internist in Durham, NC specializing in internal medicine (adult medicine) and hospital medicine (hospitalist). She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in 2004 and has 22 years of experience. Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD is affiliated with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Duke Health.

Office Locations

2100 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710

(919) 684-8111

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Duke Health

2301 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710

(919) 684-8111

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601 N Elm Street
High Point, NC 27262

(336) 878-6000

(336) 716-0030

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Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157

(336) 716-9252

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Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 10%

By Affordability:

hospital care

inpatient care

inpatient hospital care

In 2023, Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD had a list price for hospital care, inpatient care, and inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 90% of providers in related specialties within North Carolina. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

abdominal paracentesis

paracentesis

In 2012, Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD had a list price for abdominal paracentesis (abdominal tap), and paracentesis that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within North Carolina. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	463
inpatient care	448
outpatient care	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2013 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	585
inpatient care	585

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	103
Female	131

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	126
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	68
From 75 to 84	57
85 and over	35
Less than 65	74

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	48
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	45
Dementia	24
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	14
hospital care	424
inpatient care	424

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	86
Female	110

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	111
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	70
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	29
Less than 65	64

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	70
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	47
Dementia	24
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care, aspiration and pleural drainage.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	43
diagnostic procedures	11
hospital care	312
inpatient care	312
pleural drainage	15
spinal procedures	11

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	186
Female	232

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	250
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	114
From 75 to 84	88
85 and over	72
Less than 65	144

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	49
Chronic Kidney Disease	72
Asthma	27
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	46
Dementia	28
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, aspiration and pleural drainage.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	36
hospital care	241
inpatient care	241
pleural drainage	17

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	65
Female	112

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	101
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	53
From 75 to 84	45
85 and over	24
Less than 65	55

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	31
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	49
Dementia	29
Cancer	20

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	202
inpatient care	202

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	84
Female	74

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	91
Black	56
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	52
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	20
Less than 65	51

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	53
Dementia	30
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	25
hospital care	233
inpatient care	233

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	77
Female	91

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	113
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	64
From 75 to 84	43
85 and over	15
Less than 65	46

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	52
Chronic Kidney Disease	74
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	33
Diabetes	48
Dementia	35
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care, pleural drainage and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	15
hospital care	194
inpatient care	194
pleural drainage	15

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	81
Female	71

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	101
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	55
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	17
Less than 65	41

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	48
Dementia	36
Cancer	25

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	19
hospital care	162
inpatient care	162

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	58

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	78
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	49
From 75 to 84	24
85 and over	14
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	57
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	51
Dementia	38
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	22
hospital care	223
inpatient care	223

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	58
Female	66

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	70
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	49
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	11
Less than 65	33

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	33
Diabetes	57
Dementia	45
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	12
hospital care	186
inpatient care	186

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	60
Female	52

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	67
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	60
From 75 to 84	28
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	21
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	34
Chronic Kidney Disease	63
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	35
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	46
Dementia	30
Cancer	25

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated as an internist in Durham, NC were hospital care, inpatient care, aspiration and pleural drainage.

aspiration	23
diagnostic procedures	11
hospital care	293
inpatient care	291
outpatient care	15
pleural drainage	15
spinal procedures	11

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD.

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	90

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	5
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	100
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	38
85 and over	21
Less than 65	49
65 to 74	57

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD treated were hypertension, chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	66
Asthma	15
Osteoporosis	13
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	44
Atrial Fibrillation	20
Cancer	15
Dementia	29

Education & Training

Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in 2004. She completed residency at Duke University Hospital. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine and has a state license in North Carolina.

Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (2004)

Residency: Duke University Hospital (2008)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Med, Internal Medicine

Licensed In: North Carolina

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Duke Health

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: MedCost, Aetna Traditional Choice, Aetna Medicare PPO, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, CIGNA Open Access Plus, WellCare, AmeriHealth, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, AARP, CIGNA Open Access, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, Aetna, Aetna Workers' Compensation, TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, United Healthcare, Aetna Open Choice PPO, Medicare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, TRICARE, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna HMO, Gateway Health Alliance, Alliance Health (*Beginning January 2026), *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan., Duke Employee Plans, Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA), *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan., Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS), Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II, Duke Advantage (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO), Blue Advantage (*Available in select counties only), Duke Options (*Beginning January 2026), Duke Basic, Duke USA (*Beginning January 2026), Ambetter, Experience Health, Aetna Select HMO, Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan, Blue Select, Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*, Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO, Vaya Health (*Beginning January 2026), Healthy Blue, Trillium (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option, All Savers Fully Insured, Blue Value (*Duke Health Lake Norman and Kernodle Clinics only), First Medicare Direct, Carolina Complete Health, Healthgram, All Savers Alternate Funding, Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP), Aetna/CVS Health, Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice, Partners (*Beginning January 2026), Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan, Duke Select, Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice, NC State Employees Health Plan, Ambetter of North Carolina and United Medical Resources (UMR).

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Cara Louise Obrien, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

MedCost

Aetna Traditional Choice

Aetna Medicare PPO

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

CIGNA Open Access Plus

WellCare

AmeriHealth

Medicare Part B

Medicare Advantage

AARP

CIGNA Open Access

United Healthcare PPO

United Healthcare POS

United Healthcare HMO

Aetna

Aetna Workers' Compensation

TRICARE Prime

TRICARE Prime Remote

United Healthcare

Aetna Open Choice PPO

Medicare

Medicaid

Humana

Cigna

TRICARE

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Aetna Managed Choice POS

Aetna HMO

Gateway Health Alliance

Alliance Health (*Beginning January 2026)

*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

Duke Employee Plans

Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)

*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)

Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II

Duke Advantage (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)

Blue Advantage (*Available in select counties only)

Duke Options (*Beginning January 2026)

Duke Basic

Duke USA (*Beginning January 2026)

Ambetter

Experience Health

Aetna Select HMO

Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan

Blue Select

Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*

Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO

Vaya Health (*Beginning January 2026)

Healthy Blue

Trillium (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option

All Savers Fully Insured

Blue Value (*Duke Health Lake Norman and Kernodle Clinics only)

First Medicare Direct

Carolina Complete Health

Healthgram

All Savers Alternate Funding

Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)

Aetna/CVS Health

Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice

Partners (*Beginning January 2026)

Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan

Duke Select

Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice

NC State Employees Health Plan

Ambetter of North Carolina

United Medical Resources (UMR)

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Biography

Dr. Cara O'Brien sees patients in High Point, NC, Durham, NC, and Winston Salem, NC. Her medical specialty is hospital medicine (hospitalist). Her hospital/clinic affiliations include Duke Health and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She usually honors Blue California, CIGNA Plans, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. Dr. O'Brien studied medicine at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Dr. O'Brien trained at Duke University Hospital for residency.