Why do I need a primary care physician?
A primary care physician manages all of your healthcare needs, when you’re healthy and when you’re sick. It’s important to establish a relationship with one physician to help track and manage your health. What is lacking in healthcare these days is coordination of care between your physicians. Dr. Pam will be glad to “pull all the pieces of the puzzle together” by contacting and discussing your case with your other physicians.
As your primary care physician, Dr. Pam’s goal is to make you feel good and stay healthy. As a physician practicing for the last 27 years, she knows every test that women need throughout their lives to help keep you well and capable of living a full life and active life.
What are common health concerns that affect men?
Common health concerns that affect men include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Mental health
- Sexual health
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Low Testosterone
- Arthritis
- Coronary Calcium Levels
- Atherosclerosis
What are common health concerns that affect women?
Common health concerns that affect women include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Cervical, uterine, and breast cancer
- Osteoarthritis
- Menopause
- Mental health
- Sexual health
Dr. Pam understands her patient’s specific healthcare needs, and provides treatment aimed at monitoring these needs, taking preventive action, and helping you manage any chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
As a menopause specialist, Dr. Pam also provides the care you need to help manage your symptoms and the additional health concerns that come with the reduction in your estrogen levels, including osteoporosis and vaginal health. She can also help the husband’s of menopausal women understand and live through what can be an emotional time of life. If she can’t help, she had good drugs that she can prescribe to dull the pain. ;-)
What type of tests do patients generally need?
Dr. Pam runs a preventive care practice, and orders tests specific for men and women to monitor their health. These tests might include:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic profile (CMP)
- Cholesterol and Triglyceride testing (FLP) *you should be fasting for this
- Liver function tests
- Kidney function tests
- Pap smear and HPV testing
- PSA testing
- Mammogram
- Colonoscopy
- Bone density test (DEXA)
- Vitamin D and B12 levels
- Genetic screening evaluation and testing
- Diabetes Screening (Hgb A1C)
- Free and Total Testosterone with SHBG
- Breast Density Screening
How often do I need to have a mammogram?
You need a mammogram every year after age 40. Monitoring breast health regularly helps detect breast cancer early, which may improve outcome.
There are multiple options for mammogram testing.
- Digital mammography: takes the X-ray image and converts it to a digital image for a clearer picture
- Breast tomosynthesis: 3D image of the breast tissue for improved viewing
- Breast Ultrasound
- Breast MRI
Dr. Pam helps you determine which test makes the best choice for you and whether additional testing is necessary such as genetic testing for the breast cancer gene (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2).
For help managing all of your healthcare needs, including primary care, gynecology, intimacy counseling, ED & Low testosterone, or menopause management, call the office or book an appointment online.
