CARE PHYSICIANS

Healthy relationships are a cornerstone of happiness and living a full life. They're mutually beneficial when both parties maintain contact on a regular basis, and nurturing that communication helps us help each other. That's not only true in friendships and marriages but also in professional relationships, such as between coworkers. Another vital connection to maintain is the one between a patient and his or her primary care provider (PCP). However, recent studies report that about one in five Americans have not seen their PCP in over five years. That is an unfortunate statistic, but it is, perhaps, not a surprising one for most people. In these days of hectic schedules and overcommitment, many attempt a shortcut by turning to “Dr. Google” to self-diagnose instead of going to see a physician in person. True, the internet is quick—answers can be found at the click of a mouse—but depending on it can cause people to miss the underlying causes of acute medical conditions.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDING BETTER HEALTH

A PCP can help with much more than a simple diagnosis, especially when regular visits have built a trusting long-term relationship between patient and doctor. Having a physician who knows a patient’s medical history is of immeasurable value to that patient’s welfare and overall health. Also, unlike a website, a doctor can help a patient build personalized healthy habits—a tailor-made plan—to prevent serious medical conditions. Through regularly scheduled appointments, a doctor can keep a finger on the pulse of the state of a patient’s wellness. “As a primary care physician, we can help our patients set goals and reach them while keeping their physical and mental health top of mind,” says Dr. Garvin Chandler, Family Medicine Adairsville. “One of the best parts of what I do is seeing patients annually, making sure they’re on a healthy track, answering any questions they may have, and continuously building upon these relationships year after year.”

Dr. Chandler’s excellent medical care does not go unappreciated. One of his patients says, “I can’t begin to tell you how much of a difference Dr. Chandler and his nurse have made for me. They have been so kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a primary care doctor in a heartbeat. I already have several friends who also see him and have told me how happy they are with the medical care his team provides. Thank you, Dr. Chandler and Maleah!”

A Team Effort

Patients have the added comfort of knowing that Harbin Clinic’s primary care providers do not work in isolation. These medical professionals have ready access to a wide range of other specialties, so if a serious medical problem arises, the continuity of care between doctors is seamless. For those who have fallen into the habit of neglecting their health, scheduling an appointment with a PCP is a great first step to building a strong foundation.

One of the four physicians at Harbin Clinic Internal Medicine Rome is Dr. Katharine Ammons. She says, "My position as a primary care provider allows me to support my patients through big and small changes and help every step along the way,” says Dr. Ammons. “More than just seeking acute medical treatments, it is important for people to visit their PCP in order to prepare for their future health. Your primary care physician is an excellent resource when jumpstarting a new health journey.” One long-time patient is enthusiastic about the care she has received from Dr. Ammons, saying, “Dr. Ammons is brilliant and patient and kind! She is always swift in returning my calls or my need for information or care. Most every time I reach out to her, she contacts me within minutes. I know from some of my friends that most doctors do not respond as quickly. I have been seeing her for over twenty-five years. She really listens to me and always includes what I’m experiencing and what I think I need in her decisions regarding my care.”

Research suggests that people who annually see a PCP maintain a higher quality of life. This stands to reason since such patients have highly trained physicians paying close attention to their medical needs. Given such personalized attention, it is more likely that any developing health concerns will be caught early. A PCP should be the first point of contact for patients’ health care needs, and they are able to further refer the patient to a specialist if necessary.

Incorporating certain lifestyle changes and establishing a wellness routine also supports healthy living. This can include losing weight, gaining muscle, getting more physical activity, eating more nutritious foods, quitting cigarettes, cutting back on alcohol, reducing stress, and sleeping better. It is also important to visit your primary care provider at least once a year. The Harbin Clinic Family Medicine and Internal Medicine care teams are here to help people reach their health goals, no matter how big or small.

To schedule an appointment, visit harbinclinic.com romestonebridge.com/launchbox

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FROM ASIA TO EGYPT, artwork from the days of antiquity shows people grappling, tumbling, hoisting one another into the air, and throwing their opponents to the ground. And wrestling has long combined competition with theater. The ancient Greeks, for instance, knew two things that still hold true today: people love a good show—whether it’s comedy or tragedy—and they also love wrestling. Narrative. Big personalities. Grudges. Threats. Anticipation. The final showdown. Enthusiasm for such things has passed the test of time and is still going strong today. It’s more popular than ever in the South, and a new enterprise is now jumping into the ring. With a love for athleticism and a flair for showmanship, Prime Time Wrestling is bringing its brand of classic wrestling to Northwest Georgia and the wider Tri-State Area.

Wrestling roots

The two driving forces behind Prime Time Wrestling, based in Rome, Georgia, are Shawn Ambrose, promoter, and Rocky Shaw, wrestler and community relations man. As with many Americans, their fascination with wrestling began when they were children. “When I was a boy,” says Ambrose, “I became a fan when I watched

WrestleMania I in 1985. I was nine years old. After that, my best friend and I would watch wrestling on TV every chance we got, then we’d go outside and wrestle on the trampoline, pretending we were our favorite wrestlers. Of course, we’d get in trouble with our parents because, inevitably, someone would get hurt.”

Shaw’s earliest memories of wrestling were of watching legends like Ric Flair and Sting on TV. Typical of little boys, entertainment demanded action and inspired imitation. He says, “When I was eight or nine years old, my friend Jeremy and I would go to his grandfather’s house, where the front yard was perfect for wrestling. It had trees arranged almost like a wrestling ring. We did every move on each other that we could think of.” As with Ambrose and his childhood friend, Shaw’s matches sometimes ended with minor injuries. “Once I climbed up a tree,” says Shaw, “and I flew off and fractured a couple of ribs.” But Shaw’s grandparents weren’t of the generation that ran to the ER with every bump and bruise, so “my grandmother just taped up my ribs and sent me back outside.”

Hero worship

When answering who his favorite wrestler is, Ambrose doesn’t hesitate a moment. He says, “My favorite wrestler is, was, and always will be Hulk Hogan. When I was a boy, he was a superhero. Larger-than-life. I was in awe.” For Ambrose, that fascination continues until this day, informing his concept of what makes this hybrid form of sport and entertainment appealing to so many. He says, “That’s what intrigued me so much about wrestling…it wasn’t just Hulk Hogan who was larger-than-life; it was all of them. You felt like you knew them, even though, really, they were just playing characters on TV. It’s very powerful.”

Growing up, Shaw was inspired by wrestling great Shawn Michaels (also known as the “Heartbreak Kid” or “Mr. WrestleMania”). Despite not being as physically imposing as many of his competitors, Michaels won a heavyweight championship, which impressed Shaw. “He was a smaller guy,” says Shaw, “and so was I back then, so I thought, ‘Hey, if he can do it, maybe I can too.’” After that, Shaw got involved with the gym and started working out.

Into the ring

In his 20s and 30s, Shaw did not pursue wrestling as a possible profession. He had a career in sales while following wrestling as a fan. Then a chance encounter changed all that. Shaw says, “When I was forty years old someone said to me, ‘You’re in good shape. Would you be interested in getting involved in wrestling? I think you can do it.’” That got Shaw thinking, but he was uncertain. He says, “Part of me wanted to try it, but another part of me said, ‘Hey…you’re forty years old.’” His wife encouraged the dream, pointing out that he had always enjoyed martial arts, and this might be a natural extension of that. For a long time, he had practiced Jeet Kune Do, a fighting style developed by actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, so he knew he was not likely to be intimidated in the ring. His decision was made easier when his wife pointed out: “You’re always telling our girls [Lana and Lola] to chase their dreams, but you can’t say that without doing it yourself.”

Ambrose was also drawn into the wrestling world in an unexpected way. He has been a member of a tribute band called The Georgia Blues Brothers since 2007. Thirteen years ago, the band was invited to perform during the intermission of a wrestling show in Calhoun, Georgia. Ambrose says, “I insisted on us playing inside the ring; I’d never been in one before. After the show, we sat around talking to the promoter, and we started discussing the possibility of doing a fan fest, where we could bring in all the guys that entertained us when we were growing up. We talked about a wrestling fan fest in North Carolina called Mid-Atlantic Memories, where a lot of old wrestlers that we grew up watching came and sat at tables, met the fans, and signed autographs.” Ambrose knew he had to try something like that. So he did.

As a promoter, Ambrose brought Impact Wrestling to Rome. He says, “Back then, Impact was the second biggest wrestling promotion behind the WWE We brought in guys like Kurt Angel, Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Hardy, and Rob Van Dam.” When the event was a success, Ambrose realized that Northwest Georgia had a real desire for wrestling, so he set about to help fill that need. He says, “I thought, hey, this isn’t so hard. I think I could do this.”

Ambrose found a mentor in Tracy Myers, the organizer of America’s biggest wrestling fan fest, WrestleCade. “Tracy easily pulls in ten thousand people at his events,” Ambrose says, “and when I contacted him and told him I wanted to do something similar in Georgia, he gave me a lot of great advice.” Ambrose established Superstars Fan Fest I. “Our very first headliner was Ric Flair. We also had Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, Scott Hall, and other big names.” That show brought in more than 1,500 fans, so Ambrose knew he had found his market.

After Shaw had been performing in the ring for a while, Ambrose took note of him, called him up and asked, “Hey, you’ve built up a good fan base. Do want to learn how to do this professionally?” Ambrose used his connections to help Shaw hone his craft. Shaw says, “I got to train with Mike Golden—the Golden Boy—and Jimmy Wang Yang, and others. They really helped me sharpen my craft and learn the ring. Everyone was just incredible.”