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321 Prince George Street Laurel, MD 20905
(301) 725-0600
Comprehensive and Personable
Medical Care
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Healthcare
reform - The debates continue and hopefully we'll eventually come up with a reasonable
replacement of our terribly flawed system. In the meantime, there is a temporary fix needed for Medicare, which will
fail at the end of this year with a 21% reduction in payments to primary care doctors - this will put these doctors out of
business as they are already barely making ends meet with the high cost of overhead & malpractice insurance. Late
on Monday, October 19th, there will be a vote for bill S. 1776 to prevent this severe cut in payments. We urge you to
contact your senator ASAP - please go to the following link Where Have All Our Doctors Gone? Medicare Crisis - click on Important Bill... to get to contact information.
Swine
Flu Update - While the efforts of the pharmaceutical companies has been commendable (including the local
MedImmune in Gaithersburg, who makes the nasal version), the swine flu is, as of last week, widespread in our area. See http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm (national) and http://www.marylandfluwatch.org/ (local). Many of you may know of others with the flu-like illness consisting of fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing,
and in some cases, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and/or diarrhea. Unfortunately, we still don't have the vaccine
and the local health department, who will be distributing it, has yet to tell us how this will be done. As you may know,
the health department was vaccinating last week, but they yet to have given the primary care doctors the doses they ordered
a few weeks ago.
First to be vaccinated will be those most at risk - young children, pregnant women,
and healthcare workers. Next will be older children, those with chronic illnesses, and young adults (probably those
under 40). Last would be healthy adults over 40. Unfortunately in our area, the flu epidemic may have passed by the time the
supply is here. However, it will still be worth getting the vaccine as it is likely the flu will continue to smolder in the
area for weeks or months.
Fortunately, the illness is not too severe in most and treating with Tamiflu does help.
Also, it looks like only about 20% of those in close contact will get the flu too, even without Tamiflu for prophylaxis. Those
with severe symptoms should seek immediate attention: shortness of breath, chest pain, dehydration, confusion, blue lips or
extremities, inability to keep fluids down.
Please see the Swine Flu Info page for more information on the symptoms and prevention of spread in your house and community. Please stay home if
you think you have it!
Walking Program - Thanks to all of you who have joined our walking program! We have already sold hundreds of pedometers
which shows a continued high interest. Be sure to visit the America on the Move page and join this free program to improve your health with a healthy diet & regular exercise. Join our group and
pick a trail to follow.
For those who haven't started, we invite you to join us in this new
walking program - please see the information posted on the page America on the Move. We have purchased in bulk an inexpensive, but accurate pedometer to help you set and keep goals.
We are offering them at a discount to our patients. Ask any staff member to show you their step counter. At checkout, you
can get your own for $12, or 2 for $22 if you have a spouse or walking buddy in mind.
Those who aren't patients of ours may also purchase a pedometer at the same discounted price - let our staff know so you are
new so we can provide you information about our practice and how we can help keep you healthy.
Lyme Disease - we have already seen many cases this year, not only new cases (rashes
& flu-like illnesses), but also those with delayed symptoms from deer tick infections last summer & fall, such as
unusual joint problems, heart problems and neurological symptoms. Please review the articles in the Patient Information Sheets to see if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you live in Howard County, or near the Beltsville Agriculture
farms, where it is rampant and gets worse every year. Please be seen if you have any suspicion as this is a serious
but very treatable disease. The earlier it is treated, the better off you will be! Early infections are manifested by gradually
enlarging flat red rashes that look like targets. Others get a flu-like illness or a persistant malaise or low grade fever.
About 30% of patients never have the rash or see the tick (they are not much bigger than this period) and can present
with unusual neurological symptoms. This is a sneaky disease and it can be difficult to diagnose even by the best clinician
- don't expect an urgent care clinic or Minute Clinic to find it. We have had a special interest in this disease for over
2 decades and have diagnosed many subtle & unusual presentations.
E-prescribing - Our Practice's
Newest Feature
We are now able to electronically send in your prescriptions to
whatever pharmacy you want, including prescriptions during your acute visit. In most cases (depending on the pharmacy),
your meds will be ready by the time you get to the pharmacy and you can avoid the dreaded drop-off and wait
for your prescription. We'll also help you take advantage of the free antibiotic prescriptions being
offered and inexpensive generic alternatives to your current prescriptions. We look forward to making
your life easier and less expensive!
MRSA
infections - these are boils or abscesses that can occur in anyone. Sometimes people mistake them for
spider bites or infected hair follicles. Since MRSA is so common in the mid-Atlantic
area (and Maryland is the worst state), we have now been informed that all such infections should be treated as if they are
MRSA unless proven otherwise. This is especially true if you have been treated
with a penicillin, cephalexin, or erythromycin types of antibiotics and you are not better. If you think you may
have one of these infections, please come see us - they can not be diagnosed over the phone as they do require drainage in
most cases. Hygiene measures for the household will be discussed to prevent transmission to others. For more information,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/mrsa_initiative/skin_infection/index.html
URGENT CARE:
You can walk-in anytime and be seen 7:30 - 4 pm weekdays and 7:30 - 11 am
Saturdays, just like any urgent care center.*
No appointment is needed, but there may be a wait depending on the schedule
and how busy it is that day. Your
best bet to be seen quickly is to come in between 7:45 & 8:30 am. Your next best times are mid-morning
and mid-afternoon. Get your treatment started and get back to work without missing a beat - we'll probably even be able
to give you some sample meds to start your treatment that morning.
No appointment
needed - just walk in and we will see you first come-first served. Why go to an
urgent care center when you can be seen more quickly by your own doctor?
*Note: First-time patients generally are not able to use this feature, but we will always
try to get you in quickly. Please call and we'll do what we can for you that day.
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We do not use physician assistants,
nurse practioners, or any other type of physician extenders.
You will see a board
certified physician for your appointment.
On-site
blood draws and x-rays most days (insurance permitting).
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High Alert - Please Read and
Act!!!
You probably have been seeing more
and more comments by primary care doctors that are extremely worried that they will be forced out of their practices by the
current and future pressures being put on them. Still others are adopting the concierge model that asks their patients to
give them $1500 to $2000 per year. These doctors aren't greedy, they are just trying to stay in business. Will
you still have your doctor next year? Will you be able to find a new doctor? This situation is serious - 50% of
primary care doctors are unhappy and thinking about leaving primary care. Please read
the: Future of Healthcare.
You the citizens must write to your representatives in Congress
to save our healthcare system - we can not emphasize this enough!!!
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Save Money Here - please see this page - we can probably save you money with your next visit. There are links to the $4 drug lists,
as well as coupons for brand name medications.
Diabetes Physician Quality
Reporting Initiative - We are proud of our statistics, which show we greatly exceed
the goals set by Medicare and by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. We are continually striving to provide the
best and most up-to-date care for diabetes and all medical conditions. Please see our new section on Diabetes Quality Care.
We are accepting new patients
If you have been pleased with our care, please
recommend us to your family, friends, and co-workers. We would love to see them.
Services Available:
Xray - Chest, Back, Abdomen, all joints
Lab - in house blood & specimen collection
Lung (PFT - Pulmonary Function Tests)
Heart - EKG, 24 hour continuous monitor (Holter)
Cancer screening - PAP, breast, prostate, colon
Allergy shots
School & sports physicals
Vaccinations
Work & DOT physicals
Pre-employment physicals
Motor vehicle accident injuries
Work injuries
We provide a comprehensive system for your health care designed to
provide the best medical care in a timely manner. We always have same day appointments for those
with acute illnesses. Our complete yearly physicals will go into depth regarding any problems you have,
while providing up-to-date screenings for cancer, cholesterol, heart and arterial disease, and diabetes.
All of our doctors are Board
Certified in Internal Medicine. The specialists we refer to are the best in the area.
Typical internal medicine areas include stomach ills, chest
pain, allergy, asthma or other breathing problems, diabetes, cholesterol, stroke or nerve problems, anemia, infectious disease,
heart, blood pressure, sports or other orthopaedic injuries, arthritis, motor vehicle accidents, work related injuries.
We can help your company, big or small, develop a comprehensive
health program. These programs have been proven to improve work efficiency, decrease time lost due to illness,
and improve employee satisfaction & happiness.
We do not do chronic pain or rehabilitation medicine.
Identity theft prevention: Because of new rules, you may be asked to provide proof
of your identity, usually just a picture ID is all that is required. Mainly new patients will be affected. If we are unable
to confirm your insurance, you will need to pay for your visit.
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