TYPES OF CARE OFFERED

Consultative
As a physician specialist board certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism, a subspecialty of Internal Medicine, my practice is concerned with the hormone secreting glands including the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes, pituitary, parathyroids, and insulin producing cells of the pancreas.

As an endocrinologist, I am consulted for patients with thyroid disorders, infertility, hair loss, excessive hair growth, acne, pituitary tumors, osteoporosis, hypercal­cemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, and in those situations where a hormonal disorder is suspected or where specialized medical care is needed. Cholesterol disorders, diabetes, and "the metabolic syndrome" are typical metabolic disorders encountered in my practice.

As an internist, my practice is also concerned with the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases of the internal organs of the adult body. Such illnesses would include depression, high blood pressure, cancer, anxiety, and heart disease.

Primary Care
While I offer specialized consultation as an Endocrinol­ogist and Internist, I will be happy to work with your personal physician in your continuing health care. If you do not currently have a primary care physician, I will make the appropriate referral or, in certain situations, I may become your personal physician.

HEALTH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
For early detection of serious treatable diseases which have not advanced far enough to cause symptoms, I will recommend specific screening programs. You will be advised to have tests which are appropriate for your own personal risk factors, such as family history, age and gender.

Tests and procedures that I consider essential to an effective screening program include:

FOR WOMEN:

• Pap Smear for cervical cancer
• Mammography for breast cancer
• Bone Density for osteoporosis

FOR MEN:

• Screening for prostate cancer

FOR MEN AND WOMEN:

• Weight
• Blood pressure
• Testing of stool samples for blood
• Colonoscopy for colon cancer
• Tonometry for glaucoma
• Cholesterol and other risk factors
  for heart disease
• Thyroid function tests for thyroid disease

YOUR INITIAL VISIT
On your first visit, I will personally obtain your medical history, perform a thorough physical examination, and order appropriate laboratory and diagnostic studies. While your first visit may be longer (more than one hour) and more expensive than subsequent visits, this extended visit is essential for the highest quality medical care.

APPOINTMENTS
Office hours are kept from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Patient visits can be scheduled on these days. We adhere to a daily schedule for patient visits and are committed to seeing our patients at their appointed time.

PRESCRIPTIONS
In my view, and that of the major professional endocrine organizations, brand-name Ievothyroxine is the preferred treatment for thyroid patients. There­fore, I will always indicate "Brand Necessary" on your levothyroxine prescriptions and I will not allow generic substitutions. Commonly used brand names are Synthroid^® and Levoxyl^®.

OFFICE PROCEDURES
Responding to Telephone Calls
All patient calls will be answered by a person - electronic equipment will not be used on my patient lines. Your calls will be answered promptly and you will not be put on hold for more than one minute without intervention.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Specific tests and procedures may be necessary in the diagnosis and treatment of your problems. For your convenience, the following procedures are done in my office.

• Resting Electrocardiograms
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• Thyroid Biopsy
• Thyroid Imaging
• TRH Stimulation Test
• Thyroid Ablation with Radioactive Iodine
• Thyroid Ultrasound
• ACTH Stimulation Test

Specimens necessary for blood analysis will always be drawn in my office to avoid the inconvenience of sending you to a local laboratory, and to insure proper control and reporting of these results.

If additional radiological tests or bone density studies are necessary, arrangements have been made with con­veniently located facilities to provide such services.

Arrangements have also been made with other specialists in the area to perform colonoscopies.

Should it be necessary to order a study at a facility outside my office, my staff will be happy to schedule the procedure for you and assist you with instructions and directions.

PARKING
Parking is available in the garage adjacent to our building. For your convenience, your parking ticket will be validated for parking during your visit. Wheel­chairs are available and may be obtained from the parking attendant.