TAKE YOUR HEALTH CENTER STAGE

Not to beat a dead horse about the lack of primary care doctors, but I want everyone to realize this FACT...there IS a lack of primary care doctors. It has been well documented that fewer and fewer medical students are choosing to enter primary care specialities, such as family medicine. The truth is, our friendly leaders in the White House have also been reviewing statistics on this same subject. So, one of the many ways Mr. White-House is trying to encourage more family practice docs, aside from giving them our tax money to go to medical school (oops, that is top secret information), is to expose more medical students to family medicine, such as by requiring them to do a clinical clerkship in a family medicine office. I guess the logic is that if they see how great and fulfilling it is to be a family doctor, then more of them will want to go into it as a career.

As well-intentioned as this may seem, there is no better way to turn off medical students from going into primary care than by having them see first-hand how frazzled, frustrated, and overworked a primary care doctor's life really is. In fact, have them rotate through our local walk-in clinics and they will see first hand how it works...check in patient, take back to room, give pill, collect money, send out the door, go to the next room and do it all over again. Never mind that their blood pressure indicates risk for stroke or heart attack, or that their weight puts them at risk for diabetes.

But, if you really want students to go into primary care, have them rotate through an office where there is enough time to talk with patients, where doctors are not overworked, and where both doctors and patients are happy.

One of the worst pieces of advice I got in medical school was to guard my ‘professionalism’ – which meant, act like a talking robot. I think he worked for Mr. White-House. Hogwash! Doctors are all unique, and the better patients get to know us, the better they’ll sort themselves into good matches with their primary physician.

Will family medicine survive? Of course it will! Society is going to get the health care it wants and deserves, and medical students are going to get the medical career they want and deserve. Make no mistake: We are not  helpless pawns in the current system. When given a choice, patients will go where they receive quality care.

One month ago, I embarked on a quest to serve my patients. The many who know me and the many who will get to know me, will find it refreshing that I am someone who is not simply on a mission to get in and out of the exam room and who prefers to address the actual problems instead of throwing pills at them.

So, in an effort to "guard my professionalism" and maintain my Hippocratic Oath (an oath historically taken by physicians swearing to practice medicine ethically and honestly) I have decided, with the help of some very special people, to create my solo medical practice.

I thought it appropriate to name my practice, "Center Stage Primary Care", because realistically, my hope is that you will allow me, to help you, take your health "center stage." Each patient no matter what age, will learn about overall health and wellness.

I will focus on diagnosing and treating conditions of all ages while emphasizing preventative medicine. I will refer patients, when appropriate, to specialists and/or to hospitals for tests, further treatment and therapy. Most importantly, I will focus on YOU, the patient!

My new address:1601 NW 114th St Suite 142, Clive, IA 50325. For now, you may call 515.222.3151 to schedule an appointment. When you hear the receptionist say, "Central Iowa Orthopeadics," don't hang up. You have the right number. Let Kerri, Jodi, Pam, or one of the other fabulous girls in the office welcome you and schedule your appointment. And, just between you and I, thank them for giving us a home so we can help each other take your health CENTER STAGE!

Official start date is October 15, 2012 provided no delays in my credentialling.