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Archives for January 2023

How to Choose a Primary Care Doctor

A primary care doctor is your key to achieving and maintaining optimal health. They provide you with everything from treating common illnesses such as fever, flu, allergies, etc., to screening deadly illnesses like breast cancer or prostate cancer and referral to a specialist.

A primary care doctor is a medical doctor who addresses all your primary care needs. So, it would be best if you chose a doctor with which you can have a rewarding relationship. Your primary doctor can be your family nurse practitioner, pediatrician, Ob/Gyn, internal medicine doctor, etc.

Let’s talk about some tips you can follow while choosing your primary care doctor and where you can find the best primary care doctor in Royal Palm Beach.

Tip#1 Start by Asking People You know

Finding the best primary care doctor in your area can be challenging. So, follow this easy step, i.e., ask around.

You can speak with your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors and get recommendations from them. Another good source is getting recommendations from other healthcare professionals like pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, etc.

Note down the name of all the primary care doctors in a journal and research them to narrow down the list.

Tip #2 Get Help from Your Insurance Provider

A primary care doctor who shares your insurance plan will decrease your health care costs. So, to pay the least out of your pocket, ask your insurance provider to give you a list of primary care doctors who come under your plan. You can also search for the name of your potential primary care doctor on your insurance provider’s website.

You must choose a primary care doctor who comes under your insurance plan and is compatible with you.

Tip #3 Research the Education and Credentials

Do a background check to narrow down the list of primary care doctors you have in hand. You must find out about the education, training, experience,and accreditation of all the primary care doctors on your list.

Also, make sure that your potential primary care doctor is board certified and has no history of a malpractice claim or disciplinary action.

Tip #4 Know What Other People Say About the Doctor

Knowing what other people say about your potential primary care doctor will give you an insight into how the doctor practices medicine, the attitude of staff and doctors towards patients, and appointment wait times.

For this, read patient reviews and testimonials about primary care doctors. While these reviews can be used as a yardstick when choosing the doctor, you should not completely rely on patient reviews as they can be fabricated and sometimes misleading.

Tip #5 Find Out If your Primary Care Doctor Is Compatible with You

Before choosing a doctor, know them in person. For this, make a one-on-one consultation with them. During your consultation, notice your doctor’s communication style. Also, see if they answer your questions and value your point and treatment preference.

Choose a doctor who considers you a person, not a number.

Primary Care in Royal Palm Beach

If you’re looking for a highly skilled and trained primary care doctor, look no further than Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. At our clinic, we offer a high standard of primary and urgent care. Our internal medicine specialist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene provide comprehensive treatment options to help you achieve a better quality of life.

To set up a consultation with our primary care doctors, call us today at (561) 434-1935or request an appointment by filling out our online form.

4 Healthy Tips from a Primary Care Physician Near You

It’s no denying that you need to avoid illnesses and practice healthy habitsto thrive and live a long-lasting life. However, avoiding certain illnesses and making healthy choices isn’t always easy.

The good news is that there is a doctor – your primary care doctor – whocanhelp you achieve and maintain good healthby fulfillingall your primary care needs and giving you some healthy tips.

Let’s talk about 4 healthy tips that your primary care doctor may advise you for living the healthiest and longest life and where you can find the best primary care doctor in Royal Palm Beach.

#1 Get Routine Health Screenings

Most people think regular health screening is only for those at risk for certain illnesses due to their genetic makeup. However, routine health screening is helpful for everyone. It helps detect diseases or conditions early when they are most treatable.

So, your primary care doctor recommends you regularly get yourself screened for heart diseases, diabetes, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

During your health checkups, you may also be asked to get screened for diseases specific to your gender and age group.

#2 Take Control of your Health

To live a long healthy life, it’s important that youmust take an active role in your health and well-being. You should make intelligent health choices using the knowledge and skills your primary care doctor equips you with.

For example, if you have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, obesity, or hypertension, your primary care doctor advises you to manage your health condition by keeping a tab on your health numbers like blood pressure, BMI/weight, and blood sugar level.

#3 Maintain a Balanced Diet

One of the easiest things you can do to stay fit and healthy is to make wise food choices. This is because what you eat heavily impacts your health status.

For example, if you’re prediabetic, eating sugary food will keep your blood sugar level high, and you will quickly develop full-blown diabetes.

So, your primary care doctor advises you to incorporate the right amount of real food – whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, fish, and healthy meat – into your diet. Plus, you must reduce your salt intake and alcohol consumption.

#4 Stay Physically Active

People living sedentary lives are at higher risk for cancer, metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and musculoskeletal diseases, such as back pain, knee pain, and osteoporosis.

So, your primary care doctor advises you to engage in physical activity that gets you moving for 30 minutes daily, at least three days a week.

You can stay active by doing simple and enjoyable activities, such as cycling, swimming, walking, running, dancing, etc.

Primary Care Doctor in Royal Palm Beach

At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, our primary care doctors,Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and ShariffaGunawardene, are committed to providing you with comprehensive primary care and urgent care. Our primary care doctorsofferadvanced, evidence-based, individualized care tohelp you achieve good health and enjoy a long healthy life.

To make an appointment with our primary care doctors, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online.