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Why Do You Need to Have a Family Medicine Doctor?

It would help if you saw a specialist when an issue particular to your body’s organ or system arises. However, what about the times when you aren’t aware of what’s going on with your body that’s causing your symptoms; you want to take care of the overall health of not only yourself but also your family; you need advice specific to your situation? A family medicine doctor is a medical professional who can be an answer for most such healthcare situations for you and your family. A family medicine doctor is trained to provide all sorts of care to patients of all ages for long-term – medical emergencies are an exception.

So, there is no reason not to have a family doctor caring for you (even if you don’t have a family), but there are many reasons why you should have one. Let’s talk about those reasons.

Reason #1 All Primary Care Needs of You and Your Family Can Be Addressed Under One Roof

As a primary care doctor, a family doctor can offer primary health care – providing treatment for common health complaints, the management of long-term illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, and prevention of future illnesses through advice, screening programs, and immunization – to people of all ages. A family doctor can also perform minor surgical procedures such as draining abscesses.

Since they master specific skill sets such as women’s health, geriatrics, obstetrics, and more, during their training, their office is the first stop of patients of all ages – from newborns to senior citizens – for primary health care needs. They also keep track of your family life cycle to provide you with comprehensive care.

Reason #2 You Can Connect with Specialists Timely and Easily

Your family doctor can indeed do a lot for you, but they can’t do everything, especially if your problem is related to a particular body system or organ, let’s say the heart. Only a specialist of an organ or system can treat such problems. Finding a trustworthy specialist within your budget and reliable can be stressful for you and your family.

Having a family doctor means your problem will be detected early, and you don’t have to be worried about finding a specialist. Family doctors are likely to have a relationship with many specialists and can refer you to the one you can be comfortable with. Moreover, they can also help you set an appointment with your new doctor without wasting much time.

Reason #3 You Can Get Better Health and Save Money at The Same Time

There’s no secret that healthcare can be pretty expensive, as is evident from the fact that even a short trip to the emergency room can cost you and your family a great deal of money. However, there is ample evidence that having a family doctor can significantly reduce healthcare spending.

A family doctor does so(reduce your healthcare spending)by keeping track of your health and preventing serious issues from developing, which could otherwise make you spend an extreme amount at the hospital or emergency room.

Family Medicine Doctor Near Me in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

At Advanced Medical Clinic, our nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene provides comprehensive, evidence-based, and personalized care that you need to return your family to health and keep you well. Because of her comprehensive and compassionate care, you or your family members with acute or chronic illnesses can live healthier lives. To make an accurate diagnosis, we also offer on-site conveniences, including pulmonary function tests, EKG, echocardiography, and blood draw.

If you have a question about our services or would like to schedule an appointment with our doctors, call our staff today at  (561) 434-1935 or complete our secure online appointment request form now. We look forward to serving you!

 

A Checklist in Choosing the Best Family Doctor

It’s important to find the best doctor, whether for routine checkups or a major surgery. By doing so, you can be confident in the care you receive every time.

After all, your health largely hinges on the treatment they recommend and administer for you. Let’s talk about the key factors in finding an excellent family physician, and where you can go in Wellington for top-notch medical care for you and your family.

How to Find an Outstanding Family Physician

Here’s what you should consider when choosing the best family doctor:

Get Referrals and Recommendations

Your family doctor will be your primary care physician, so you can start looking by asking the people you trust. Talk to your family, friends, or colleagues about family doctors they recommend. You can even ask other doctors you’ve worked with for referrals, such as your endocrinologist or your eye doctor.

You can go online and read the doctor’s patient reviews posted on various websites to get a feel for what they’re like. There may also be testimonials from some of their current and previous patients.

Consider Your Insurance

Once you have names of doctors to consider, check your health insurance coverage to make sure they’re covered by your insurance policy. If you’re interested in a doctor who is not on your list, then call that doctor’s office and ask them whether they do indeed accept your particular insurance – and be sure to write down the name of the staff person you spoke to.

Check the Family Doctor’s Qualifications and Experience

When looking for a healthcare provider, the lead doctor in the practice should ideally be board-certified. Board certification means that a doctor is staying on top of the latest in medical technologies and methods, and this involves continuing education at medical conferences and seminars.

Being board-certified indicates career-long learning, so you can rest assured that the doctor continues to hone their skills. You do not want a family physician who continues to perform the same tests and methods they learned in medical school if physicians today are actually using much more advanced methods and technologies for more accurate and beneficial results.

Experience is also crucial. Your ideal family doctor will have spent much of their time caring for patients with similar conditions as you have, because family physicians by nature deal with patients who have myriad health conditions on a constant basis.

If you want to be sure, call the practice and ask them whether the doctor handles patients who have chronic conditions like yours – whether it be arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and so on. Do not hesitate to make that call.

Think About Convenience

Choose a healthcare provider who has a convenient location and has office hours that work with your schedule. You do not want inconvenience to become an excuse not to go to the doctor for a checkup.

Family Doctor for Arthritis in Wellington, FL

It’s important to find a primary care provider in whom you can place your full confidence, especially if you have a chronic condition such as arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, a neurological condition, or anything else. If you’re looking for a trusted family doctor whose office is conveniently located in Wellington, look no further than Advanced Medical Clinic. We have a team of highly experienced, board-certified providers who can give you the comprehensive care you deserve.

Advanced Medical Clinic is located in the Palomino Park medical complex on the west side of Highway 441, between Forest Hill Boulevard and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call our friendly staff today at (561) 434-1935 or complete our secure online appointment request form now. We look forward to serving you!

What Do You Talk About with a Primary Care Physician?

Making an appointment with a primary care physician is the first step to achieving optimum health. A primary care physician can help you keep your health issues under control, which may extend your life while also offering a better quality of life.

If it’s your first time seeing a primary care physician or it’s been a while since you’ve seen one, you may be wondering how to make the most out of it. Let’s talk about a few key things you should discuss with your primary care physician during your visit, and where you can go in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach for world-class primary care.

#1: Health Concerns and Symptoms

During your visit to your primary care doctor, don’t hesitate to bring up anything concerning your health, such as:

  • Aches and pains
  • Digestive issues
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Reproductive issues
  • Sexual issues
  • Diet and lifestyle issues

Be sure to be honest with your primary care physician in order to help them develop a clear picture of your overall health and wellness. If you do not bring up something because it’s embarrassing, then the issue cannot be addressed – so don’t worry, your primary care physician has seen and heard it all.

#2: Current Medical Condition

During your annual or semiannual checkup, your primary care physician will perform bloodwork and a urinalysis. The doctor will also check your heart, blood pressure, breathing, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

The physician will give you a prescription for any health condition you have if necessary. Let your doctor know if you have been experiencing any unusual health symptoms, such as abdominal pain or occasional dizziness.

Your primary doctor will also be the one who organizes and evaluates all of the reports from the medical specialists you see, such as an ophthalmologist, allergist, neurologist, gynecologist/urologist, and endocrinologist. Part of a primary care physician’s job is to ensure that you do not have any prescriptions that have contraindications, which means that they would work against each other or work against a different underlying condition you have. This is why every specialist will ask you who your primary care physician is.

#3: Health Goals

A primary care physician’s treatments are centered not just around maintaining your quality of life, but also helping you reach your health goals. Examples of health goals include:

  • More energy and stamina
  • Less pain
  • Better control of blood glucose (sugar) levels
  • Lower blood pressure readings
  • Improved cholesterol management
  • Losing weight
  • Better balance and mobility
  • Better sleep patterns
  • Stress management
  • Better mental health
  • Better sexual health

Primary care doctors can help you improve every aspect of your life that relates to your health through a range of primary care services.

Primary Care Physician in Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you are looking for a primary care physician who truly cares, choose the Advanced Medical Clinic. Our primary care providers are a husband-and-wife team that advocates for our patients’ health and serves the whole family.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene are with you every step of the way. To schedule an appointment, call Advanced Medical Clinic today at (561) 434-1935 or fill out our appointment request form online. We look forward to being your healthcare provider!

Why You Should See a Family Medicine Doctor for Your Chronic Pain

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chronic pain afflicts roughly 50 million adults in the United States. If you’re a statistic, one of your best bets to keep chronic pain from wreaking havoc on your mental health and interfering with your overall quality of life is to work with your family medicine doctor.

Read on to learn about the specific measures your family medicine doctor can employ to help you tackle your chronic pain.

Devising a Care Plan for Your Chronic Pain

Chronic pain has various potential causes. It could be caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia (a condition that causes widespread body pain), an untreated musculoskeletal injury, multiple sclerosis, or any other health problem.

Your family doctor can get to the bottom of your chronic pain by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and current health status as well as ordering the necessary tests (e.g., blood work, diagnostic imaging, etc.).

If your family doctor deems that you need advanced treatment, they will coordinate your care with a specialist, such as a neurologist, pain management specialist, or orthopedic doctor, to determine the most effective intervention for your problem. Depending on the underlying cause, your care team may recommend surgery or ongoing treatment.

Recommending Additional Strategies for Chronic Pain

Your family medicine doctor may recommend any or some of the following strategies to enhance the efficacy of your care plan:

  • Exercise program – Exercise can have a positive impact on both your mood and pain threshold. It is also especially beneficial if your chronic pain is caused by arthritis, as it helps increase your mobility by reducing joint inflammation and stiffness.
  • Relaxation techniques (e.g., breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, etc.) – These have been shown to help with chronic pain by stimulating the production of the body’s natural painkillers (endorphins).
  • Joining support groups- This equips you with emotional support as well as useful information about your specific condition.
  • Smoking cessation program (supervised by your doctor or another healthcare provider)- Studies show that smoking is linked to many health problems that cause chronic pain.
  • Behavior therapy/ professional talk therapy– Your family medicine doctor may recommend either or both of these modalities to help improve your coping strategies.
  • Nutritional recommendations– Your doctor may recommend a diet plan that includes anti-inflammatory foods, which can help with chronic pain.

Treatment for Chronic Pain in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

At Advanced Medical Clinic, our board-certified internist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and our board-certified family nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene are best known for their commitment to delivering the best possible treatment outcomes for the gamut of conditions—including those that cause chronic pain—affecting people of all ages. We will gladly collaborate with the right specialist to help you live well with or even conquer your pain.

To arrange a consultation with one of our providers, contact us at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment by filling out this secure form.

Benefits Of Going To A Family Medicine Practice

A family medicine practice offers many benefits to individuals and families seeking a doctor for primary care services. A primary care doctor is your first point of contact for medical care. This is the first physician you see when you get sick, need a check-up or vaccine, or want to get your symptoms evaluated.

With different types of primary care doctors to choose from, it’s important that you know what makes family medicine physicians a top choice for most people. Here are some of the biggest benefits of going to a family medicine practice.

Convenience

Family medicine physicians are trained and experienced in seeing patients of all ages. If you have a family, this can be extremely convenient for you. Instead of having different primary care doctors for yourself, your children, and your parents, everyone can be seen at a family medicine practice. This can translate into significant saved time, money, and energy. For instance, you can schedule annual check-ups or the flu shot for the entire family at the same time and place.

Familiarity with Family Medical History

Another important benefit of being part a family medicine practice is that you and your family members will be taken care of long-term. For instance, if a certain illness runs in your family, your family medicine doctor will be on the lookout when caring for your parents, you, and your children. Your doctor will understand how the health of your parents can influence your health, and how your health can influence your children’s health. An example of this is heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes – all of which can be passed down in families. Having a physician with insight into your entire family’s health history is invaluable.

Continuity of Care

Another benefit of seeing a family care doctor is continuity of care for you and your family. A family medicine doctor can treat patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatric patients. This means your children can see their childhood doctor when they become adults without any issues. It also means that you won’t have to change doctors as you get older and your healthcare needs change. Due to their experience in providing primary care for all age groups, a family medicine doctor will be able to take care of you at every stage of life.

Personalized Preventative Care

Getting treatment for illnesses is not the only reason to visit a family medicine practice. When it comes to your health, prevention is always the key. Your family doctor is your partner in maintaining your overall health and well-being. They can recognize patterns in your health over time and see which illnesses you are prone to develop. So, the care they give will be tailor-fitted to your needs.

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic in Wellington, we have a holistic approach to health. Our services go far beyond simply treating illnesses as they sprout up, and include:

●      Weight control and nutritional guidance

●      Techniques in managing stress and depression

●      Contraception and fertility counseling

●      Strategies on how to maximize physical exercise

Diagnostic Services

Family medicine practices are equipped to provide diagnostic services that are commonly required for primary care. Examples of diagnostic services you can take advantage of at a family medicine practice include:

●      Blood draws

●      EKG

●      Echocardiography

●      Pulmonary function testing

●      MRIs

●      CT scans

Family Practice in Wellington, FL

If you’re looking for excellent primary care from a family practice in Wellington, FL, your search is over. Advanced Medical Clinic is a leading facility for family health. Our team of providers focuses on achieving optimal health for you and your family. We do this by administering compassionate and patient-centered care.

We have offices conveniently located in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. If you want to visit us or learn more about our services, give us a call at (561) 434-1935. You can also request an appointment online.

How Do I Find the Right Family Doctor for Me?

Having a family doctor, as research shows, is linked to better health outcomes. But there’s one other great reason to have a family physician, and that is the doctor-patient relationship you can rely on for your and your family’s healthcare needs over the long term.

If you don’t have a family doctor or are not at ease with whom you’re currently seeing, now is the time to find a new one—one you can see yourself establishing a lifelong relationship with. Don’t wait till you or a family member gets ill. Pressure and illness can cause you to make a hasty, uninformed decision.

Here are some simple tips to help you streamline your search for the right family doctor for you.

o   Gather several recommendations.

The first step in finding the best family doctor is to get lots of referrals.

Ask your family, relatives, friends, and colleagues. Word-of-mouth recommendations are inherently reliable, as they come from people you personally know and trust.

You can also get referrals from other medical practitioners. Talk to your dentist or therapist. They possibly work with general practitioners, so they are in a position to recommend a family doctor who fits your family’s needs. 

o   Do an internet search.

The World Wide Web is replete with resources that can help you find the right family doctor for you.  You can find information about the practice’s business hours and the doctor’s credentials on their website.

Additionally, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website has a helpful database that allows you to verify the practitioner’s board certification status, the number of years they have spent in practice, and whether they have any medical malpractice history. 

o   Check their location.

Distance is one important factor that many tend to overlook. Twenty miles may only seem like a quick ride, but if you need to take time off work to drive there, then it can be inconvenient.

There are big advantages to having a family doctor whose office is located close to where you live or work. This lessens the burden of having to travel far and ensures you have fewer hindrances to showing up for your appointments.

o   Read reviews.

In this day and age, it is very easy to find out about a medical practitioner’s reputation. Online reviews, though not necessarily a deciding factor, can help you make an informed decision with greater confidence.

You can find the answers to your own questions about the attitude of the doctor or the staff, quality of services, and wait times by reading reviews, which you can find either on the practice’s website and/or social media page.    

o   Schedule a visit.

This is a great way to ascertain the family doctor’s bedside manner and communication style, both of which have a huge impact on your confidence in their care and expertise as well as your overall experience.

Talk to the family doctors you have on your list and observe whether they have a soothing bedside manner and communicate effectively.

Are they able to explain complex medical concepts? Do they answer all your questions politely? Do you feel comfortable talking to them? If you answer no to any of these questions, it might be a sign that they may not be the right one for you.

Family Medicine Provider in Wellington, FL

If you’re searching for the right family doctor in the Wellington area in Florida, visit us at Advanced Medical Clinic for a consultation with our board-certified nurse practitioner, Shariffa Gunawardene. She is as equipped to provide you and your family with the highest quality of primary care services— the very same one you get from a family doctor in Wellington. 

Call us at (561) 434-1935 to set an appointment with our highly qualified family medicine provider. You can also use our convenient online request form.

Common Chronic Pain Conditions

Bodily pain that interferes with your ability to perform tasks, keeps you up at night, and saps you of energy is considered chronic pain. This condition plagues more than 50 million Americans – one in five adults – and it has many different reasons why it can occur.

If you have chronic pain, it is in your best interest to have an evaluation by a skilled physician who can diagnose the underlying cause. The doctor will then work with you to determine appropriate measures of treatment.

Let’s talk about some of the most common reasons behind chronic pain, and where you can go in Wellington for a thorough medical evaluation and treatment that works to reduce or eliminate your pain once and for all.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is constant or intermittent physical discomfort which lasts longer than three months without improvement. Chronic pain is a frequent cause of missed workdays, lost wages, and lost productivity.

It differs in severity and character from person to person, and it can even change on a daily basis. Patients often describe their pain as shooting, stabbing, burning, or throbbing.

Chronic pain conditions include the following:

●      Fibromyalgia

●      Migraine headaches

●      Arthritis

●      Cancer pain (from the disease itself or from its treatment)

●      Back pain

●      Neuropathy

●      Pain due to kidney disease

●      Postoperative pain that continues unabated

Along with the pain itself, you may experience comorbidities (simultaneous health problems) such as:

●      Insomnia

●      Fatigue

●      Unexplained weight loss

●      Poor appetite

●      Depression and anxiety

How Can My Family Doctor Help?

In order to determine what is causing your chronic pain, your doctor will first ask you to describe your pain. Give as much detail as you can regarding its severity, timing (how often it occurs), location(s) on your body, and what, if anything, helps to mitigate it.

The doctor will then perform a complete physical examination, order bloodwork and other lab tests as needed, and possibly do X-rays and other kinds of imaging scans. With a proper diagnosis, your physician can create a care plan to help keep your chronic pain under control.

Your treatment plan may include:

●      Over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever

●      Antidepressant medication

●      Cortisone shots (in-office injection therapy)

●      Physical therapy

●      Heat and cold therapy

●      Chiropractic care (spinal adjustments)

●      Stress management

●      Relaxation techniques

●      Biofeedback

●      Acupuncture 

Trusted Doctor in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, we will work diligently with you to get you the pain relief you deserve. You may have to try several things before finding a solution that works to quell your chronic pain, but we will indeed find something that works for you. There are many effective treatments out there today.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or by filling out our easy-to-use online request form now. We look forward to helping you enjoy life without pain!

 

Top Questions To Ask Your Family Doctor

Having a family doctor is essential for accessing adequate medical services. Family doctors are generalists who can deal with health issues impacting people at all stages of life. They help diagnose health problems and provide effective treatments to alleviate them. They can also refer patients to specialists for more extensive treatment, when necessary.

Building a strong professional relationship with your family doctor is paramount to ensuring the well-being of you and your family members. You can start cultivating this bond by asking these questions during your first appointment.

What are your credentials and experience level?

While standards exist to ensure that primary care physicians meet adequate healthcare competencies, each doctor has their unique skill set. Experiences from working on real-life cases can provide insight and expertise that complement theoretical practice. As such, it’s good to check if your doctor’s experience aligns with your needs. For instance, if you have diabetes, you want a doctor who routinely treats patients with this condition.

It’s also wise to inquire about your doctor’s credentials. In particular, board certification provides concrete evidence that a doctor has mastery in their medical practice.

What healthcare services do you offer?

Family doctors can address a wide range of medical conditions, given their status as general practitioners. However, you should make sure your doctor is adequately equipped to handle your family’s specific needs.

Note that specific diagnostic tests and treatment options might require relatively uncommon equipment. As such, it helps to discuss the medical history of your family members with your doctor, so you can tentatively plan for medical services you might need in the future.

Work with a doctor who continuously updates their practice with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art techniques. Innovative doctors will allow you to take better advantage of new developments in medicine.

What check-ups and screening procedures do my family members need?

An annual check-up is a norm for some adults, but the ideal frequency can depend on various factors. If there is a family history of specific illnesses, you might need more frequent check-ups. Having a chronic disease also warrants a more frequent check-up schedule to ensure you remain in control of your condition.

Age also matters when planning check-ups. Children might need more visits to the family doctor to check if they are meeting essential growth milestones. The elderly may also need more screening tests as the risk of some diseases rises with age.

What vaccines does my child need?

Vaccines protect your child from many illnesses and encourage herd immunity. If enough people are vaccinated in a community, those who are unable to take a vaccine will still receive protection. Hence, you should ensure that your child gets the vaccines they need.

Vaccination schedules can be complicated, as specific doses work best at certain ages. Many programs also incorporate booster shots to lengthen the duration of immunity. Coordinate with your family doctor to ensure that everyone completes their vaccination schedules.

How can I access your services?

During your first meeting, establish logistics with your family doctor. Inquire about their schedule, so you can plan accordingly. Consider how you’ll go to and from the doctor’s office, especially if you live far from the facility. Check out the facility premises, especially if a family member has accessibility needs.

Likewise, establish communication lines with your family doctor. Will they respond to email inquiries, or do they prefer phone calls? Know how to reach your doctor, so you’re better prepared when an emergency happens.

Ask if your doctor has telemedicine options. Virtual consultations can save time and allow people who cannot go outside to still get medical advice. The presence of telemedicine options also indicates that your doctor embraces technology and innovation.

What are your office policies?

Don’t forget to ask about appointment options. Would you need to schedule in advance, or can you have same-day and walk-in appointments? Finally, ask about financial considerations, such as insurance coverage and payment methods.

Family Care In Wellington And Royal Palm Beach, FL

Having an experienced and compassionate family doctor is crucial for your health and that of your family members. Establishing a strong relationship with them starts with asking about their expertise and services. You should also discuss your medical needs, as well as the ways you can contact your doctor in emergency situations. Working with a reliable and professional medical provider is a big step toward securing your health.

With facilities in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Advanced Medical provides top-notch primary and urgent care to Florida’s families. Our physicians design comprehensive treatment plans to address a wide range of urgent and non-urgent conditions. Call us at (561) 434-1935 and set up an appointment to learn more. We hope to see you soon!