15 Nov

When Should You See an Internal Medicine Doctor?

If you’ve ever been curious about what an internal medicine doctor does, you’re not alone. Many people wonder exactly what internal medicine is, or if they are even eligible to see this type of physician.

Don’t be intimidated by an unfamiliar title… internal medicine doctors are simply primary care physicians for adults from 18 to around 65 years old.

As a primary care provider, internal medicine doctors (also called internists) are trained in various subspecialties of medicine to ensure they are well prepared to care for the variety of conditions that commonly afflict adults. From diabetes to allergies to asthma, internal medicine doctors have a wide knowledge base! Internal medicine doctors are also able to write prescriptions and make referrals to specialists when needed. Read More

15 Oct

What is Disease Management and its Benefits

According to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, disease management involves minimizing the effects of a disease on the patient through integrated, multidisciplinary care, which ultimately reduces healthcare costs and improves patient quality of life.

Disease management is most effective for conditions where self-care tactics can be beneficial. Through strategic communication and interventions, patients can be taught self-care for their condition and when to seek further help. Read More

15 Sep

What to Expect From a Skin Biopsy

A skin biopsy is the removal of layers of skin for laboratory analysis. This can be done right in your preferred doctor’s office and requires no recovery downtime.

Before the Procedure:

Your doctor will assess the area of the skin in question and ask you questions about how the condition developed. They will also review your health history and current medications. You may be asked to stop taking certain medications 24 hours before the skin biopsy procedure.

At the doctor’s office, you will be asked to undress and change into a clean gown which will give the doctor easier access to the biopsy site. The biopsy site will then be thoroughly cleaned before a local anesthetic is injected. You will feel a burning sensation for a few seconds before the treatment area becomes completely numb. Read More

15 Jan

When Should I Start Getting Well Woman Exams?

A woman’s health care has a major influence on her overall physical wellness and quality of life, which is why it is so important to receive well woman exams on a regular basis. 

The type of preventative care provided during every well woman exam addresses the most important health concerns for women, from gynecological care to bone density and everything in between. Here’s what you should know about when to start getting well woman exams and how to make the most of your personalized care. 

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15 Oct

Breast Exams and Mammograms: What Early Screenings Can Tell You

Over 300,000 men and women go through breast cancer every year. With those kinds of numbers, it’s no wonder that we try to be proactive with breast exams and mammograms. These tools allow us to detect changes right away. Any unusual change in the breast is cause for further exploration.

Here are the breast exams etc you should be having:

There are really four different ways that your breasts and breast changes could be measured or monitored. Here are the most common breast exams and when they should be done.

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15 Aug

Why Having One Chronic Disease Management Practitioner Is Vital to Patient Outcomes

When you have one or more chronic illnesses, it can be very frustrating, time consuming, and difficult to stay organized with doctors’ appointments and medications. One of the best things you can do to help you keep things straight and to make sure all of your needs are being met, is to have one chronic disease management healthcare professional that can monitor everything about your health in one picture.

Having one doctor that communicates with all of your specialists has a lot of big advantages that equate better patient outcomes, including better pain management. Here are a few.

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15 May

Don’t Put Off Your Health for Fear of the Pandemic

There is no doubt that these are scary times; and for the most part, people are pulling together and doing what they can to stop the spread of the coronavirus. While it is important to maintain social distancing and only go out when needed, there are some things that are essential that you should not avoid during quarantine. One of those things is your health.

It can be very tempting to put off healthcare visits that don’t seem important. You might think that a problem is minor and can wait until the situation improves. Unfortunately, sometimes those minor problems can worsen and become major medical issues. It is best to leave that decision up to the medical professionals familiar with how your symptoms might relate to a diagnosis.

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15 Apr

What to Expect from a DOT Physical

With the current crisis, commercial truck drivers, especially over the road drivers, are in high demand. These essential workers are responsible for getting food and supplies delivered all over the country. As some drivers become ill or feel the need to stay home, new drivers are starting to hit the roads.

Before you can get your CDL and work for a trucking company, you have to go through a DOT physical. The Department of Transportation requires these physicals to ensure that you are in good enough health to manage one of these large trucks with trailers. If you have certain medical conditions that could incapacitate you while driving, you could be denied your CDL license.

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15 Dec

Planning for the New Year: Scheduling Your Annual Physical

With the new year quickly arriving, there are a lot of things that require your attention. It is important that you don’t allow your health to fall to the wayside in favor of handling other year-end tasks at work and at home. You should have an annual physical every year, and planning ahead to schedule it at the first of the year is the best choice. 

Preventative Medicine

Your annual physical is all about preventative medicine. During your physical exam, your doctor can help you identify areas of health concerns so that you can make lifestyle changes to prevent conditions or illnesses from occurring. This means less downtime, less time away from work, and fewer medical costs.

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