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primary care doctor in Wellington FL

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!

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.

The Difference Between a Walk-In Clinic and Urgent Care Clinic

Are you one of those people who are unsure as to which type of healthcare facility you should seek treatment at in the event of a medical situation? 

Depending on the nature of your condition or injury, you have a variety of options you can try, but your ideal options are a walk-in clinic and an urgent care clinic. Let’s delineate their distinctions to help you determine where you’re supposed to go for a particular medical situation.

Treatment and Services

A walk-in clinic, also referred to as a retail clinic, is designed is for quick visits. Walk-in clinics are the ones you see in grocery stores, pharmacies, and “big box” stores, such as Target and Walmart. Some of the services you can acquire at walk-in clinics are treatment for simple, acute conditions, vaccinations, drug prescriptions for common conditions, and blood pressure checks. 

Urgent care clinics, on the other hand, are typically freestanding facilities. Services in urgent care clinics include treatment for acute illnesses or minor injuries, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), minor cuts and abrasions, minor burns, simple fractures, among others.

If you have a condition or injury that is not serious enough to be considered life-threatening, but it needs prompt medical intervention, then your best course of action is to go to an urgent care clinic. Also, because walk-in clinics have a limited menu of services, if you are living with multiple chronic health conditions, your best bet is to go to a primary care practice that offers urgent care services.

Staff and Equipment

One of the major differences between these facilities is the staffing: urgent care clinics are required by law to have at least one board-certified primary care doctor, whereas walk-in clinics typically only have nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Moreover, most urgent care facilities have multiple exam rooms and more advanced medical and diagnostic equipment. These are for conducting x-rays, administering IVs, and treating injuries.

Costs

Walk-in clinics provide more affordable options and less expensive treatments than urgent care clinics do. It is because walk-in clinics are primarily geared toward catering to the uninsured and underinsured. Urgent care services, nonetheless, are less expensive than emergency room services.

 

Urgent Care Clinic in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

 

At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, we are essentially a primary care practice that is committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centered urgent care services to people of all ages in our community. Whether what you have is an acute or chronic medical condition, you can rest assured that we will provide you with the highest quality of evidence-based medical care.

If you have an acute medical situation that needs prompt treatment, you can either walk in or book a same-day appointment by calling us at (561) 434-1935. Alternatively, you may fill out our appointment request form.  We look forward to building a long-term relationship with you!

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

Coronavirus Treatment Evolution – What we now know about how to treat COVID-19

You may be hearing about coronavirus on a daily basis, but do you know what to do in case you develop symptoms? There’s no telling whether you will get mild or severe symptoms when you get infected. Fortunately, we have learned a lot about treatment over the past several months.

Mild Symptoms

If you develop a fever, dry cough, and body aches and think you may have COVID-19, you must stay home. Call your primary care doctor and let them know of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you get tested to make sure you know the cause of your symptoms. Follow your doctor’s instructions to help make your recovery more comfortable. Monitor your symptoms closely.

According to the CDC, people with mild symptoms of coronavirus can recover from home. Take care of yourself and do what you can to be healthy and help your body fight the virus. Rest, eat nutritious food, take your vitamins, hydrate, take a fever reducer, sleep, and do light exercises. Most people with mild symptoms feel better after a week. Most people who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms. As such, there is no need for prescription medication while they recover in most cases.

Moderate to Severe Symptoms

In the case you have severe symptoms, treatment may be necessary. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with symptoms, but not to treat COVID-19 itself. While the world awaits a vaccine, so far, only one medication has been approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19, and that is Remdesivir. This is only for patients who are hospitalized. A corticosteroid called dexamethasone is also used for patients with severe symptoms who need a ventilator. Convalescent plasma therapy or using the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 is also used to help reduce the severity of the symptoms and help patients recover. If you have severe symptoms, your doctor will determine which (if any) of these treatments can help you.

If you develop severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, a consistently high fever, or if your lips turn blue, go to an emergency room immediately. Remember, only patients with severe and life-threatening symptoms are admitted to the hospital.

The FDA is expediting the development of COVID-19 treatments at this time. In the meantime, mind your hygiene, follow social distancing guidelines, and do what you can to strengthen your immune system.

Primary Care Doctor in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

Our primary care providers, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and Shariffa Gunawardene, ARNP are dedicated to providing personalized care and treatment. They are focused on restoring you to your optimal health. In light of the pandemic, we closely monitor patients who are COVID-19 positive and those who are showing symptoms but have not been tested. We understand that these are scary times, which is why we provide personalized care and support backed by medical science. If you have questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, call (561) 434-1935 or use our online request form.