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PCP

When to Visit a Family Medicine Doctor

A lasting, personal patient-doctor relationship hinged on integrated care is considered to be the bedrock of family medicine. That is to say, a family medicine doctor is trained to provide the most effective health care by examining the whole body—and not just merely focusing on one organ system. This is the very reason why appointments with family medicine doctors account for nearly half of yearly walk-in visits among American patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So whether it is for a flu jab or to keep your blood sugar in check, here are the reasons why seeing your family medicine doctor is a much better choice than having to go right to the ER.  

Vast Range of Expertise

A family medicine doctor is a physician who has the expertise to work with patients of all ages: infants, children, adults, and the elderly. This means they can diagnose and treat many conditions affecting the entire family, allowing continuity of care and the chance to establish a good patient-doctor relationship. Family medicine covers an extensive range of healthcare provision, so there is the less need to access additional healthcare, which can be costly and time consuming.

Here are some of the areas that family medicine covers:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and minor injuries
  • Routine check-ups and screening tests
  • Vaccinations and immunizations (including childhood immunizations)
  • Disease prevention, detection, and management
  • Treatment and management of chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and high blood pressure)
  • Some minor surgical procedures
  • Wellness screenings
  • Health risk assessments
  • Pre-operative exams
  • Weight management and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle
  • Women’s health (including gynecologic exams, pap smears, and preventive medicine)
  • Blood draws, ECG and echocardiography, and pulmonary function testing
  • Diagnostic testing (such as CT scans and MRIs)

What Can a Family Medicine Doctor Treat? 

The frequency of your family doctor visit would largely depend on your health. Many doctors recommend you hop in once or twice a year for a check-up; however, if you have a chronic condition, such as hypertension or diabetes, you will likely need to be checked more often. Here are some of the other health conditions that your family medicine doctor can treat:

  • Allergies and asthma
  • Bronchitis
  • Flu
  • Strep throat
  • Tonsillitis
  • Whiplash
  • Minor injuries (such as burns, animal bites, sprains and strains)
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Back pain
  • Digestive problems, etc.

Treading the Pathway to Optimal Health

Far too often, many people think of seeing a doctor only when they are sick or are suspecting that they might have an undiagnosed health issue. You have to see your doctor even when you’re in the pink of health. As mentioned above, family medicine doctors are well equipped to keep tabs on the entire family’s health and are highly trained to determine when specialty care is required. As suggested above, they recommend regular checkups and preventative health screenings as well as offer expert advice and information on a wide range of health issues. They coordinate with specialists to maximize care and minimize inconvenience for their patients.

Family Medicine in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you are looking to get individualized, quality health care for your whole family, Advanced Medical can help. We offer a comprehensive range of preventive, sick, and urgent care services and pride ourselves on providing personal care for all your healthcare needs.

To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to arrange a visit, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or you can request an appointment online. We offer same-day as well as walk-in appointments for your convenience, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our practice and the primary care services we provide.

How to Choose Your PCP

Choosing the right primary care physician (PCP) is imperative in maintaining excellent health throughout your lifetime. This is the healthcare provider with whom you and your family will build a long-term relationship.

This doctor will oversee your family’s health and wellness, with an emphasis on preventive care. Your primary care provider will maintain your medical records, write prescriptions as necessary, provide immunizations, gather records from any specialists and hospitals you may visit, recommend screenings, and provide advice on a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Primary care physicians are also called general practitioners or family doctors, because they are generalists in the field of medicine. These are the healthcare professionals with whom you will have your annual checkups.

Tips on How to Find a Family Doctor

When it comes to looking for primary care providers, patients usually have many different options. Here are a few key tips for how to choose your PCP:

Search Within Your Health Plan Network

A good way to start off your search is to look for PCPs in your own network. Choosing a doctor outside of your health plan may cost you a lot of money.

Most health plans have a long list of PCPs who accept their health insurance. If you have a doctor who you’d like to see, call the doctor’s office and ask them if they take your insurance – and if not, ask them what they charge for out-of-network checkups.

Ask for Referrals from People You Know

Your friends, neighbors, and nearby relatives may have excellent PCPs that they’d recommend to you and your family. If you ask multiple people, you’re likely to get multiple answers, which can be a good thing.

Once you have one or more names of doctors, search online for the physicians’ names and look at their credentials. You can often get a good feel for what the doctor is like by their online profile and website.

Friendly physicians often mention their spouse or family on their website. Some physicians even work with their family members, which is a good sign.

Look for Board Certification

A board-certified PCP has completed medical specialty training and passed an exam that has certified their knowledge, skill, and expertise in a specific field. In the case of a PCP, their certification is often in Internal Medicine. You can check a doctor’s name online for board certification, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Look for Convenient Locations

When searching for a primary care physician, look for one who is within easy driving distance to your home or office. Convenience is key to selecting the right PCP for your family. You should not have to drive far to keep up with regular health and wellness checkups.

Family Doctor in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, we are a state-of-the-art primary care practice offering the highest standard of medical care in South Florida. Our primary care providers are friendly and compassionate and care deeply for your family’s health.

For your convenience, we have clinics in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online now. We look forward to seeing you here!

Why Staying with The Same Doctor Is Beneficial

Doctors want to protect their one-one-one relationship with their patients. Therefore, having a good primary care physician (PCP) or family medicine doctor that has provided care for you anywhere from infancy to adulthood, is beneficial and important for many reasons. A doctor who has taken care of you and sometimes other members of your family, will know you and your medical history inside and out.

For example, some health insurance allows the policy holder to go directly to a specialist when they feel the necessity to do so. However, your primary doctor has a unique knowledge of your health history, and can often consult with you about what type of specialist you may need to go to, or that you might not need to at all. They make it their goal to be the steward of your good health throughout the years, so having a little trust in their expertise can go a long way.

Staying with the same doctor can ensure that you have the best care possible – they listen to your needs, and are able to give you their time and expertise every time they treat you. Since that relationship is developed over time, good quality service and care is guaranteed from a doctor that has known you for a long period of time. Not everyone has the luck and luxury of having access to good healthcare, which is sad, but the rarity of it is a reality. As good care, and a good doctor can often be taken for granted, when a place of good care and compassion is found, count that as a major blessing and stay put. Being with the same doctor and practice as you grow up throughout the stages of life can be a very comforting thing when times get tough.

At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, our continuity of care sets us apart from other practices. We ensure your treatment remains consistent and coordinated, so our patients will avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Our practice understands the importance of quality of life and the meaning of true family health. By providing evidence-based medical care, our patients who stay with us long-term benefit by having a partner whose goal is to be a champion for their good health.  

If it becomes necessary, we will refer you to the best physicians or specialist that is fit to take care of your needs. To learn more about why staying with us is beneficial, call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.  

The Difference between an Internist and a Primary Care Physician

To understand the difference between an internist and a primary care physician, it is important to realize that one is a specialty, and the other is a role. An internist is a physician who specializes in internal medicine, and is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases. While an internist can function as a primary care physician, he or she may also focus their practice on hospital medicine, medical education and/or research. On the other hand, a primary care physician may be an internist, a pediatrician, a geriatrician, a family practitioner, a gynecologist or an obstetrician, because primary care involves the practice of promoting overall health for the entire individual within the specific population (geriatrics, pediatrics, etc.) of the physician’s specialty. Let’s first look at the specialty of internal medicine, and then examine how these and other physicians practice in the primary care environment.

The Internist: The Internal Medicine Specialist 

Internists are physicians who have specialized training in the diagnosis and management of illness in adult patients. This means that they are capable of helping their patients stay healthy and prevent illness, but are also able to diagnose and treat both acute and chronic illnesses. Just a few of the many illnesses an internist would treat include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, asthma, heart disease, arthritis, bronchitis, ear infections, back pain and the common cold. The list is exhaustive but basically includes any illness than can affect adults.

Internists are particularly skilled in reviewing the symptoms of patients with complex problems, performing physical exams, ordering diagnostic tests, and using this information to identify both common and rare illnesses. They are basically the detectives and problem-solvers of adult medicine; and they are also experts in treating extremely ill adults.  This is why internists are found in a variety of roles and settings. You may have an internist as your primary care physician, treating you in an office or clinic. However, some internists, known as hospitalists, care for acutely ill patients in the hospital. And some do both. Because of their specialized education and training, internists are exceptionally suited for treating patients with multiple medical problems, understanding how these illnesses, their medications, and their treatments interact, and adjusting the plan of care to best suit the individual patient’s needs.

The Primary Care Physician

A primary care physician (PCP) is basically the physician that you’ve always known as “your doctor.” They are responsible for the ongoing health and wellbeing of their patients, by promoting healthy behavior, helping you prevent illness, and quickly diagnosing and treating any new or potential health problems. He or she is the doctor who knows you the best and who you can turn to for any health concerns. The primary care physician is usually your first contact with the health care system, and they are skilled in providing a comprehensive assessment of health care needs, as well as continuous monitoring of chronic illnesses and treatment of new problems. They will also know when a referral to another specialist is warranted.

The central person in primary care is the patient, and the primary care doctor will focus on you as a whole individual. They work hard to maintain a trusting relationship with their patients and will partner with you to come up with the best plan for your good health. This plan will usually include age-appropriate health maintenance, routine monitoring, immunizations, counseling, patient education, and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. To realize the real benefit of having a primary care physician, you should look at them as your focal point of all your health care needs. By turning to your primary care physician first, you will make sure that the doctor treating you knows and understands you; and you will avoid unnecessary tests or trips to specialists.

The role of primary care physician is performed by more than one type of physician, and each provides care to the population that they have specialized in. Internists are experts in the care of adults, or those 18 years and older. Geriatricians, on the other hand, are internists that have additional training for the medical needs of adults 65 and older. Family Practice physicians are qualified to provide primary care for patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, while pediatricians see patients from infancy through adolescence. Specialists in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) can provide primary care for women, including reproductive health and family planning. While we often think of primary care practices as those in outpatient offices and clinic, in reality, primary care can be performed in a number of settings. This includes long-term care settings such as nursing homes, home care, day-care and even in the hospital. Whichever the setting, the primary care physician carefully tailors the healthcare plan to meet the individual needs of each patient, with the goal of helping their patients achieve their highest level of health.

When your doctor knows and understands you, and is carefully monitoring your health needs, the results are bound to be of benefit to you. With the focus on prevention and early action when an illness arises, the primary care physician can often help patients avoid severe illness, the need for specialists and hospitalizations. Experts agree that primary care increases everyone’s access to healthcare and improves the quality of health care. On a more personal level, patients and physicians are given the opportunity to form trusting and lasting relationships.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about internal medicine or primary care. At Advanced Medical, PA, we pride ourselves in providing quality health care in both internal medicine and primary care. To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to schedule a visit, call us at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or request one online.

Is Your Chronic Pain a Sign of something Bigger?

Your body does not own a computer. It can’t send you a text message about your foot or tell you in an email that your appendix is in trouble. Your body has only a few ways of signaling that there is a problem; so it relies on symptoms to show distress. One of the biggest signaling symptoms is pain. Chronic pain (pain that lasts for at least 12 weeks or more) is often a symptom of a disease process or injury.

Feeling fatigued, losing or gaining weight, sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, changes in appetite, and fevers are all signs that your body is experiencing some kind of stress. Sometimes the reasons behind chronic pain are known; and sometimes they are not.

Chronic Pain May be a Symptom of Something Bigger

Pain may be dull or sharp, it may be constant, or it can come and go at different times. The type of pain, its location and severity, along with other symptoms can be clues as to the underlying cause. Your chronic pain may be related to a known injury, for example, or it could be a symptom of something bigger. Either way, it is your body trying to tell you something important and you should most certainly listen.

Many injuries and disorders can cause chronic pain. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, are known for being painful, even debilitating conditions. The causes of pain can range from minor to severe and include everything from fibromyalgia to ulcers, appendicitis, or even cancer.

Pain can be difficult to describe or even evaluate, because no one else can feel what you are feeling in exactly the same way as you experience it. It is all very subjective and quite personal. There is no single test that can measure and pinpoint pain in every situation. There are, however several different kinds of tests that can aid your doctor in correctly diagnosing the underlying causes of your pain.

Once diagnosed, your physician can help find the most suitable treatment options for your particular problem. When faced with chronic pain, the goal is to understand the cause, implement treatment that helps to alleviate or reduce it and to restore function in order to provide a better quality of life for you, the patient.

Some people are uneasy about tests, or they are used to the pain and try to push through it and ignore it. This is never a good idea. Chronic pain should be checked out, even if only to set your mind at ease. Chronic pain is not likely to go away on its own, and it could be a symptom of something much more serious. If you are concerned about how chronic pain is affecting your quality of life, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene of Advanced Medical Clinic can answer all of your questions. To make an appointment with us in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach, request an appointment online or call (561) 434-1935 today.

How to Treat ED (Erectile Dysfunction)

Many men are embarrassed when it comes to experiencing erectile dysfunction (the inability to obtain or keep an erection), but it is actually more common than you might think. Erectile dysfunction is a disorder that affects almost 50% of men between the ages of 40 to 70. Once you finally speak with your doctor, you will find it is much more common than it first seems, and more importantly, there are many different treatment options available.

What Treatment Options Are There?

Treatment for erectile dysfunction can range from medications to lifestyle changes, to surgery. The more honest and open you are with your doctor, the more likely your doctor will be to properly diagnose your ED and get you started with the most appropriate treatment.

Certain medications may be used to enhance the natural chemicals in your body, in order to relax the muscles in your penis and increase blood flow, thereby enabling an erection. There are also medications that you can inject directly into the penis to produce an erection immediately. These injections use a very fine needle causing little to no pain. Penile suppositories are yet another option. Using a special applicator, a suppository is inserted into the urethra (the tube from which you urinate), causing an erection within 10 minutes.

Some ED is complicated by low testosterone levels. Hormone replacement therapy may also help correct low levels. Delivery methods include gels, patches, injections and oral medications. Sometimes medications are not enough, or there may be a reason, such as heart issues, that stop testosterone medications from being a good treatment option.

In such cases, a surgically implanted device, such as a penis pump may be considered. A penis pump is a hallowed tube placed over your penis. It uses a vacuum to pull blood into your penis. When an erection is accomplished, a tension ring can be placed around the base of your penis to hold the blood in and keep it firm.

Penile implants may also be considered. Penile implants are semi rigid or inflatable rods placed in both sides of the penis. These rods allow you to control when and how often you have an erection. All treatment options ultimately depend on the cause of ED, and the guidance of a qualified men’s health physician.

Common Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

The most common underlying causes of ED include: Heart disease, medications, neurological (nerve) disorders, diseases of the endocrine system, and lifestyle factors. Alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin, for instance, can also cause erectile dysfunction. Some common medications that may contribute to ED include: antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, blood pressure medications, chemotherapy, hormone replacements, psychiatric medications, and Parkinson’s disease medications. However, you should never stop taking a medication without your doctor’s approval, as this could be extremely dangerous.

If you have questions or concerns about erectile dysfunction, call Dr. Ishan Gunawardene at Advanced Medical in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach. He will take the time to properly diagnose and treat you, and answer any questions you may have. Call today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online.