Dr. Goofy Look's at Reality

The University of Miami's 1-year-old primary-care practice in Key Biscayne, run by internist Dr. Pamela Merino, will close Sept. 1, leaving some village residents and employees looking for a new doctor.

Even though the university expected Merino's office to lose $50,000 to $80,000 a year, in the past 12 months it was almost $250,000 in the red, said Jerry Broderick, assistant chairman of the university's department of medicine.

''The loss was far greater than what we'd planned for,'' Broderick said. ``Professional fees and patient revenues were never at the level we had hoped to achieve.''

The university will keep its concierge practice, which charges $1,500 a person for more personalized services and preventive care not covered by typical insurance plans.