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The Doctors Roundtable

Month: September 2013

Common and Lifesaving Blood Tests

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Annual blood screening and testing a single, powerful and cost effective tool for preventing disease. Blood tests reveal a snapshot of our health and often detect health problems before symptoms or disease. Regular monitoring, especially over time, can help patients focus on early intervention strategies and good health maintenance. Blood tests are cost effective compared to the costs of disease related healthcare and medication expenses. Physicians often order “routine” blood tests during and annual physical, but often neglect age related or non-obvious blood testing and they often do not focus on risk factors. Blood tests provide information about the function of our cardiovascular status, hormone function, kidney and liver function, our body chemistry and our endocrine system. By obtaining blood samples and evaluating the results, patients can screen for cancers, learn about the degree of inflammation in their bodies, measure our risk factors for certain diseases and help us improve our health and longevity by catching critical changes and showing us where to focus for optimal health maintenance.

In this segment, board-certified urologist, certified medical review officer and owner of Any Lab Test Now, Dr. David Perlow will educate the listeners on top, common annual blood tests that can save lives and help us keep focused on disease prevention. Listeners can visit: www.anytest.com for more information.

 

Dr. David Perlow

  • Medical training at University of Michigan
  • Board-certified in Urology
  • Certified Medical Review Officer
  • Private practice at Georgia Regional Urology and owner Any Lab Test Now!
  • Affiliated with Wellstar Cobb, Kennestone and Windy Hill

 

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Pituitary Disease

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The pituitary gland is often referred to as the “master gland” in the body. This lima bean sized gland at the base of the brain is part of the endocrine system and produces and regulates many hormones that affect glands such as growth hormone (regulates body structures and weight), thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin ( affects milk production), sex hormones,and adrenal gland production (regulates water and electrolyte balance). Disorders of the pituitary gland can cause big and little problems- and these often go undiagnosed because symptoms can be vague. These disorders include tumors that cause overproduction of hormones that affect the end-organ system or pituitary lesions that may results in underproduction of hormones. Acromegaly, Cushings Disease, Addison’s Disease can all be linked to pituitary disorders. However, the most common problem is pituitary tumors.

Pituitary tumors are usually benign (adenomas), although they can be invasive and they account for approx. 10% of all brain tumors. Pituitary carcinoma’s account for a very small percentage of pituitary tumors. However, even these benign tumors can cause problems in hormone function and can be invasive to the surrounding structures, such as the optic nerve. Treatments include surgery, radiation and a few medications. Symptoms may include: headaches, vision and behavior changes, nausea and vomiting, hormone imbalance and fatigue. Diagnosis almost always involves investigating the “why” behind presenting symptoms.

In this segment, Dr. Joseph Pinzone, a double board-certified physician who is a national expert in pituitary diseases will provide a “master class” about this “master gland.”

 

Dr. Joseph Pinzone

  • Medical training at NYU, Columbia-Presbyterian and Mass General
  • Double board certified in Internal Medicine and Endrocrinology
  • Former NIH researcher on Pituitary Tumors
  • Current Clinical Professor at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine
  • Concierge private practice in Santa Monica, CA

 

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Coronary Calcium Scoring

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The statistics are sobering. Heart disease remains the nation’s leading killer for adults > 35 yrs. Consider these statistics: 1) every 29 seconds an American has a heart attack 2) every 60 seconds and American dies from a heart attack 3) for men and women, 50% or greater of those that have a heart attack had no prior symptoms and their first one was death. Heart disease comes about over years or even decades. There is now technology available that is 99% effective in either confirming or ruling out coronary heart disease with less radiation than one would get exposed to on an airplane flight! “Virtual exams” of our internal organs are now a reality due to advances in medical imaging technology. However, imaging does not provide direct outcomes for the patient- but the information these tests can provide can lead to changes that can decrease heart disease risk factors, potentially reverse damage, and save lives.

This segment will discuss a very specific screening test for coronary heart disease: the Coronary Calcium Scoring test or as some people have heard, “The Heart Scan.” Coronary arteries do not normally have calcium. Calcified plaque in coronary arteries is a leading indicator of heart disease. Using non-invasive, low dose radiation CT scan that takes about 15-20 minutes, patients and providers can now obtain critical cardiac information that can be used post test and in comparison’s over time, to minimize risk and take proactive steps in the maintenance of good heart health or the management of heart disease. The test is most beneficial as a screening tool for patients NOT yet diagnosed with heart disease. Scans are taken of the heart and the results are compared to a scoring system that is measured by a range of no cardiac disease, minimally present, moderately present, extensively present or high risk requiring medical intervention. Information is shared with the patient and their medical provider post test and the patient can return to normal activities when the scan is completed.

In this segment, board-certified preventive cardiologist, Jason Reingold and Dan McGeown, CEO of Virtual Imaging will educate the listeners on the testing methods, patients who benefit most, the scoring system and post test results and what do do about them. Listeners can visit: www.virtualimagingatl.com or www.drjasonreingold.com for more information.

 

Dr. Jason Reingold

  • Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology
  • MD from Emory University
  • Internal Medicine Residency program completed at UC San Francisco Med Ctr.
  • Cardiology fellowship completed at Mass General Hospital in Boston
  • Regular appearances on CNN’s Sanjay Gupta’s health program

 

Dan McGeown

  • CEO, Virtual Imaging Atlanta
  • Masters in Education and seasoned entrepreneur

 

Dr. Jason Reingold & Dan McGeown

Workers Comp: A Physician’s Primer

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No matter how safe the workplace is, injuries and illness occur. Georgia now has over 4 million workers >16 years of age and in the most recent statistics available, over 87,000 injuries were reported annually. In GA alone, over $1.5 billion in benefits were paid and this does not include the associated health care expenses! Medical costs now outweigh (60%) the indemnity costs. Also of note in GA, there is a shortage of qualified physicians that treat occupational injuries and illness as we have only one fifth of the recommended ratio of 1 MD/1000 employees. On July 1, 2013 GA enacted new law (GA House Bill 154)that increased slightly the weekly workers comp benefit, but capped the benefit for less serious work related injuries. Every employer with over 3 employees is mandated to have workers comp insurance.

Workers Compensation is an accident insurance program, paid for by employers, which may provide workers with medical, rehabilitation and income if an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job. Physicians are a key part of the workers compensation system as they are a pivotal point in getting the employee connected to appropriate treatment, focused on recovery, minimizing life disruption and assisting with developing a return to work plan. Providers often find themselves “the go-between” for the employer, carrier and injured employee. This program will not focus on the legalities or politics of the workers comp system, but on the provision of high quality occupational health by providers.

In this segment, Dr. Charles Cooley, a board-certified Family Practice physician who is an expert at treating occupational health patients through the workers comp system will discuss the basic concepts of the workers comp system, common types of workers comp injuries, special considerations when handling workers comp patient cases and tips for employers and patients in navigating through the medical aspects of the workers comp program.

 

Dr. Charles Cooley

  • MD from Medical College of GA in Augusta
  • Completed residency at Huntsville Hospital
  • Board certified in Family Practice
  • Affiliated with Northside Hospital, Cherokee Campus
  • In private practice with urgent care centers in Canton, Villa Rica

 

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