Edition 1, Volume 3
M i l l e n n i u m P h y s i c i a n G r o u p ’s
HEALTHYConnections ConnectingYou to a Healthier Life
May 2019 • Ending the Depression Stigma
In this edition: Diagnosing Depression – Signs & Symptoms Depression & the Primary Care Physician Relationship Billing 101: Common Terms & Abbreviations
Expanding our Naples Imaging Services FGCU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Class of 2019
Your Connection to a Healthier Life
For more information about Millennium Physician Group, visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com or call 1-844-CALL-MPG.
An Alternative to the Emergency Department Collier County Medical Society’s Physician of the Year
Welcome to Millennium’s Healthy Connections! This edition we discuss the signs, symptoms, and when to talk to your physician about depression as May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.
Diagnosing DepressionSigns & Symptoms Content Courtesy of Elite DNA Therapy Services
How do I know if I have depression? Everyone feels “blue” or “depressed” from time to time. Temporary mood fluctuations that we experience while facing the challenges of everyday life do not constitute clinical depression. Rather, depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood, feelings of sadness, and loss of interest. Other symptoms include sleep and appetite disturbances, difficulty concentrating, feeling guilty about things that aren’t your fault, feeling worthless, having little energy/motivation, and thinking about suicide or death. In order to meet criteria for a diagnosis of depression, a person must exhibit five of the main symptoms for at least two weeks. According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the APA). These symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Does depression manifest differently in different ages? Careful screening of symptoms is important because in addition to more overt signs of sadness or hopelessness, there can be different symptoms of depression in children, teens, and older adults. • Younger children: irritability, clinginess, school refusal, and complaints about aches and pains • Teens: anger, poor school performance, self-harm behavior, use of drugs or alcohol, and social isolation • Older adults: memory difficulties, trouble making decisions, fatigue, withdrawal, and mood changes that do not seem to let up
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What causes depression? As with many mental disorders, a variety of potential contributing factors may be involved. The causes of depression are thought to be a complex combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychosocial factors. Depression is more common in people who have a family history of this condition and seems to affect more women than men. How to talk to someone with depression: • Do listen to their feelings and concerns. • Do recommend a visit to their primary care doctor for a depression screening and to see if physical issues might be contributing to their symptoms. This can be a softer approach that telling them to see a mental-health expert. • Do reinforce that reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness.
Don’t say things like, “Just snap out of it,” or “Shouldn’t you be better by now?” or “It’s all in your head.”
Treatments Treatment of depression may involve psychotherapy, medications, or both. A common approach to treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is based on the premise that our thoughts influence our feelings and behavior. Using CBT, therapists can help people to identify and replace negative thought patterns with healthier ones. There is no shame in reaching out for help with depression. It is a serious but treatable disorder that affects millions of people of all ages and walks of life. Elite DNA Therapy Services offer comprehensive care for depression and many other mental health conditions. For help, call their helpline at 1-800-273-TALK. If you have acute safety concerns, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
D epre s s i on & the Primary Care Physician Relationship
By Rick Waks, D.O., Millennium Physician Group
Depression screening is a necessary component of our role as healthcare providers. In fact, more than 16 million adults in the United States experienced major depression in the past year. However, only about half of those who are diagnosed with depression seek treatment. Depression can affect people from all walks of life, regardless of background, age, etc. Although there are many reasons for avoiding treatment, the stigma associated with mental health prevents many patients from getting help. Depression is very treatable, but it is the leading cause of disability worldwide. As primary care providers, it is our duty to break through the barriers to help improve mental health. Primary care providers are also in a unique position to help patients with mental health issues. We often have won the patient’s trust before we need to ask difficult questions. The patient-provider relationship makes it easier to get an honest answer when we ask about
To find a specialist visit
www.MillenniumPhysician.com or call 1-844-CALL-MPG.
conditions at home. And the good news is, many people who would never go to a mental health counselor will talk to their primary care provider about mental health issues. This trusting relationship leads to better mental and physical health. Patients often visit the emergency room with depression and anxiety because they feel like they have nowhere else to turn. When we take a few minutes to ask about family relationships, personal issues, careers, and other issues, we demonstrate that we care about our patient and are interested in their overall health. Although we have high demands with short time slots and the pressure of electronic medical records, the lack of behavioral services makes the role of primary care providers especially important. Many patients have barriers to mental treatment including cost, stigma, and lack of availability, but the majority of psychological issues can be addressed by your primary care provider.
Billing 101: Common Terms & Abbreviations Co-Pay: A set flat payment amount patients must pay their physician at every visit. This amount varies based on your insurance coverage, the type of visit and type of healthcare provider you are seeing, i.e.: Primary Care or Specialist. Co-Insurance: A set percentage of the healthcare provider’s charges the patient must pay toward visits and services received as part of their share of medical costs. This amount is determined by your insurance benefits. Deductible: A set amount patients must pay toward visits and services before their insurance will begin making payments on their insurance claims. This amount will depend upon the type of coverage you have and may change annually as benefits change with the insurance plans.
If you are struggling with depression, please speak to your primary care physician. To find a healthcare provider near you, please visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com or call 1-844-CALL-MPG.
Millennium is More than Just Primary Care! In addition to Primary Care, we are pleased to offer access to Millennium Specialists. From Cardiologists to Gastroenterologists, our board-certified specialists are here to take care of all of your specialty care needs. As a Millennium Physician Group patient, our Specialists have access to your electronic medical record (EMR) which means less paperwork for you and better coordination of care.
New Naples Imaging Center at the Neighborhood Health Clinic Goes Live Millennium Physician Group is proud to announce the opening of its new high-tech imaging center near downtown Naples -Millennium Imaging Center at NHC. The facility, located at 88 12th Street North, has been under development for about a year in partnership with the Neighborhood Health Clinic. The site boasts a digital X-Ray machine and new 1.5 T wide-diameter MRI. Additionally, Millennium is very happy to be able to bring its patients and the community a new GE 64-slice CT scan machine. This CT allows: • • • • •
Much faster imaging Shortened patient breath-holds with less radiation Better coverage with outstanding resolution Imaging for a broader range of patients of different sizes and ages Cardiac imaging
Millennium Director of Radiology Dr. Jim White adds: “The 64-slice CT improves diagnostic accuracy for both cardiac and noncardiac vascular applications. It also provides more information for the detailed analysis of masses and lesions, bringing greater accuracy of diagnoses while minimizing the
Congratulations to FGCU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Inaugural Graduating Class! May is the month of university commencement ceremonies, and it's a momentous one for the students from the Doctor of Nursing Practice inaugural class graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University.
need for multiple follow-up exams and biopsies.” The Millennium Imaging Center at NHC is a source of improved technology for patients’ diagnostic needs and a tremendous asset to the community through the Neighborhood Health Clinic relationship. Millennium will run the imaging component of the center housed at the clinic, and its radiologists will donate their diagnostic expertise to the clinic's clients. "I am excited about the benefits this improved technology brings, and it is a wonderful opportunity to help support the community. Millennium is about creating strong connections with both our patients and our community partners," says Millennium CEO Kevin Kearns.
Did you know? Millennium offers imaging services all across Southwest Florida? With locations including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Englewood, North Port, and Venice, you can rest assured that we have an Imaging Center near you!
Friday, May 3, Millennium was more than thrilled to sponsor the DNP class celebration, which included dinner and an awards program for the nine DNP graduating students, along with their friends and families. Millennium’s advanced provider leader Arlene Wright, DNP, APRN, sits on FGCU’s advisory board for the program, is an adjunct faculty member at the university and helps students gain clinical experience by teaching them valuable lessons as their clinical preceptor. Congratulations to FGCU’s DNP Class of 2019! And thank you, Arlene, for all you do!!!
Need an Alternative to the Emergency Department? Open Late & Weekends for all Minor Emergencies Feeling sick during the week or weekend and can’t get in to see your primary care doctor? There's a new alternative—even after hours—to the busy Emergency Department!
Millennium’s Walk-In Medical Centers are open late and weekends to better care for you during all of life’s minor emergencies.
care needs, such as colds, sore throats, flu, rashes and earaches. Our physicians also treat non-life threatening emergencies like sprains, abrasions, and burns.
There are no appointments necessary, and wait times are much shorter than a typical Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center. Our Walk-Ins are now accepting new patients, and you don’t have to be an established Millennium Physician Group patient to use the convenient services. Most insurance plans are accepted, and self-pay patients are always welcome. Millennium’s family-friendly Walk-In Medical Center provides treatment for all of your urgent
Our Walk-In Medical Center teams know that when you visit our Centers, you want to feel better quickly and without a lot of hassle. No need to wait in an emergency room or wait to schedule an appointment with your physician, you can be seen at our Walk-In Medical Center today.
Skip the Wait! No need to wait hours at a local Emergency Room or busy Urgent Care Center. Millennium’s Walk-In Medical Centers now have a feature to allow you to view all of the wait times at our walk-in facilities. You simply “skip the line” by pre-registering for a time at which you'd like to be seen, and you essentially get to "skip the line" when you arrive. If the provider is running behind, you will receive a text message letting you know to come in a few minutes later, reducing any wait time.
Log-on to
www.MillenniumPhysician.com and select “Skip the Line” at the top of the webpage. View the wait times and get in line to feeling better today!
WA L K - I N L O C AT I O N S Sarasota
1. Venice Walk-in Medical Center 1287 US 41 Bypass Venice, FL 34285 Phone: 941-244-5716 Open Seven Days A Week 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Charlotte
2. North Port Walk-in Medical Center 13823 Tamiami Trail North Port, FL 34287 Phone: 941-888-0770 Open Seven Days A Week 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
3. Englewood Walk-in Medical Center 2400 S McCall Rd, Ste C Englewood, FL 34224 Phone: 941-548-1716 Mon - Sat: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
4. Port Charlotte Walk-in Medical Center 2450 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, FL 33952 Phone: 941-624-2704 Open Seven Days A Week 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
5. Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Center 3571 Del Prado Blvd N, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33909 Phone: 239-656-6300 Mon - Fri: NOON - 7:00 PM Sat & Sun: 8:00 AM - NOON
6. Cape Coral Pkwy Walk-in Medical Center * NEW 1708 Cape Coral Pkwy, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33914 Phone: 239-333-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Lee
7. Fort Myers Walk-in Medical Center 9. Bonita Walk-in Medical Center 13813 Metro Pkwy 9500 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Ste 101 Fort Myers, FL 33912 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 239-308-0005 Phone: 239-498-9294 Mon - Fri: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sat & Sun: 8:00 AM - NOON Sat & Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
9 Collier
8. Estero Walk-in
Medical Center * NEW 10. Naples Walk-in Medical Center 10201 Arcos Ave, Ste 105 400 8th St N Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Naples, FL 34102 Phone: 239-498-9294 Phone: 239-649-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Sat & Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
10
Congratulations
Dr. Cesar De Leon
Recognized as
Physician of the Year
by the Collier County Medical Society On the evening of Saturday, May 4, the Collier County Medical Society and its members named Millennium Dr. Cesar De Leon “Physician of the Year.” Dr. De Leon, who is a family practitioner in Naples and the outgoing CCMS president, was “selected by his peers for his extraordinary leadership in protecting the physician-patient relationship in Collier County," stated CCMS. “I am humbled to be a servant of my
community and our CCMS physician members, and accept this recognition in the name of the physicians, community members, and local leaders who stood up to protect the physicianpatient relationship,” said Dr. De Leon. “This award reflects the achievement possible when kind-hearted individuals unite to protect those who have no voice.” Dr. De Leon was gracious in his remarks, noting the tremendous support from Millennium Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alejandro Perez-
Download the Millennium Physician Group App! It’s now easier than ever to access all things Millennium! Now you can download the Millennium Physician Group app to view wait times at our Walk-in Medical Center, make a lab appointment, and log-in to your patient portal.
Now available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Scan the QR code to download the app now!
Thank you for reading! To learn more about Millennium
Physician Group visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com or call 1-844-CALL-MPG to schedule an appointment today!
Your Connection to a Healthier Life
Trepichio and many physician colleagues in the community. Dr. Perez-Trepichio was also inducted as incoming treasurer for CCMS. Millennium is well represented and very fortunate to have such incredible physician leadership. We look forward to seeing what our physicians and advanced providers can accomplish in all the counties we serve!
CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. De Leon!
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