5 minute read
Primary Care Through All Stages of Life
Primary Care Physicians Provide Annual Screenings and Personalized Care Through Every Stage of Life
By Paul J. Watkins
People need to have a skilled healthcare provider on which to depend in every stage of life, particularly as they grow older and often develop ongoing health issues.
They benefit from having a medical professional who can diagnose and manage those issues and also provide preventative care through annual screenings. A primary care physician, or PCP, is specially trained to fill that role for a lifetime.
“Primary care physicians are the first stop for a whole breadth of care, whether it’s pediatric care, women’s health, or geriatric care,” says Monica Chopra-Miller, MD, a primary care physician board certified in family medicine. She is the medical director at MedFirst Primary Care in San Antonio.
“My goal is to see you through the longevity of your life. I start when you’re younger. When you have children, I take care of your family. I help you navigate through middle age and the medical problems that often come with it. In the final stage of life, I talk with you about your end-of-life decisions. You form a relationship with me – someone who knows your goals as a patient but also knows you as a person.”
Primary care physicians conduct annual screenings for diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer. “The annual wellness visit, or yearly physical, allows us to diagnose conditions early. Women who have primary care physicians and are diagnosed with breast cancer tend to be diagnosed at a much earlier stage. Research shows that populations that have more PCPs per capita tend to have a longer life expectancy.
“The wellness visit allows us to discuss issues that we may not have time to discuss during an acute illness visit. For women, we talk about bone density testing, which starts at age sixty-five, depending on risk factors. We talk about depression and other mental health issues and discuss support services that might be pertinent to our elderly or disabled population.”
Medicare recipients are eligible for an additional annual screening, but Dr. Chopra-Miller says patients often don’t understand how it differs from other PCP visits. “First, there are the regular visits to address either acute problems, like a sore throat, or chronic conditions, like diabetes. Then, there are the yearly physicals. These are health maintenance visits to make sure your colonoscopy, Pap smear, and mammogram screenings are up to date, and I ask questions about symptoms you may be having.
“Finally, there’s the Medicare annual wellness visit, which focuses on health maintenance as well, but I also review your activities of daily living, or ADLs, which includes evaluating how well you’re maintaining your independence at home. This visit reviews what types of social support you have or may need, as well as other issues that could be pertinent to an older patient. An evaluation for fall risk and a cognitive evaluation are also part of the visit.
“The Medicare wellness visit includes a discussion of advanced directives. These concern your overall goals for your plan of treatment and your wishes as you near the end of life or are in an emergency situation. It’s important to discuss these before an incident occurs so that you or your loved ones don’t have to make critical decisions in the heat of the moment.
“Sometimes, as PCPs, we’re the ones who are really champions for our patients,” Dr. Chopra-Miller concludes. “We can guide them and advise them through some difficult diagnoses and conditions. I like being that quarterback for my patient’s care and that person to go to and rely on.”
Monica Chopra-Miller, MD
For more information or to make an appointment, please call (844) 8 MY DOCS (844) 869-3627) or visit baptistmedicalnetwork.com.
DID YOU KNOW?
1 in 3 people age 18-64 have arthritis
23.5%
of women have arthritis
4M
Nearly 4 million Hispanic adults had doctordiagnosed arthritis
#1
Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability among adults in the U.S.
BONE HEALTH MATTERS
Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, most types of arthritis occur more often in women, including the two most common forms of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing painful inflammation and joint deformity.
Both types of arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling and oss of mobility
In addition, women with rheumatoid arthritis have a greater-than-average risk of developing osteoporosis which increases the risk of fractures.
You may need to consider reaching out for orthopedic help if you have: • Difficulty using a particular body part to perform daily functions • Pain in muscles, tendons or joints that lasts for more than a few days • Joint pain that gets more intense during periods of rest • Swelling or bruising around the joint or the location of an injury • Limited range of motion, such as an inability to straighten the back • Joint deformity • Signs of infection including heat, inflammation, fever and/or redness
The orthopedic surgeons and specialists at Baptist Medical Network are experienced in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of all types of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions — and our experts treat all the bones from your head to your toes.
10010 Rogers Crossing, #308 San Antonio, TX 8715 Village Dr., #120 San Antonio, TX 18707 Hardy Oak Blvd., #415 San Antonio, TX 6704 Randolph Blvd. Live Oak, TX
Bryce Karulak, DPM, FACFAS
Surgery: Foot and Ankle
Alexander Kreines, DO
Surgery: Orthopedic; Sports Medicine
Benjamin O. Hooker, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dmitry Tuder, MD
Surgery: Orthopedic, Hand Surgery
Chris Warmath
FNP-C
John Chance III, MD
General; Joint Replacement; Sports Medicine
David Fox, MD
Joint Replacement; Hip, Knee
Matthew Napierala, MD
General; Sports Medicine; Shoulder Arthroscopy/ Rotator Cuff Repair; Shoulder Joint Replacement
Patrick Osborn, MD
Trauma; Foot & Ankle
Patrick Simon, MD
General; Joint Replacement; Sports Medicine; Shoulder Reconstruction & Hand Surgery
Rex Wilcox, MD
General; Sports Medicine; Back (Non-Surgical)
James Brown II, PA
Adam Suchecki, PA
Ashley Tubb, PA
Your health can’t wait. Start 2023 with less pain! Now is the time to check your insurance deductible as your out-of-pocket
costs could be significantly reduced. Schedule any elective orthopedic procedures you’ve been putting off. Make an appointment and start saving today!
