Author: akinzer
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Patient Advocacy Corner: Maryland’s ER Wait Times…Yikes!
By: ARIEL J. WARDEN-JARRETT, MD, FAAFP Maryland continues to have one of the longest wait times for patients to be evaluated in the emergency department. At one point, wait times in some hospital systems were as long as 16-24+ hours. I think most of us can agree that this is ridiculous, but that does not…
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Introducing Dr. Margaret Wang
People sometimes ask if I have always wanted to be a doctor. No, but it is certainly one of the top-rated dreams for an Asian immigrant. Growing up in Beijing in the ‘80s, I rarely visited the pediatrician, and my family usually depended on traditional Chinese medicine. For example, whenever a runny nose and a…
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Naloxone: A Powerful Tool to Fight Opioid Overdose
By: ANDREA C. CUNIFF, M.D. The opioid crisis continues in Maryland and has gotten worse as the powerful drug fentanyl is increasingly mixed into illegal drugs. From 2022 to 2023, the state saw 2,583 fatal overdoses, and fentanyl was involved in about 81% of those deaths. In response, there has been a growing use of…
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MPCP Columbia Welcomes Lalitha Tadikonda, M.D.
Dr. Tadikonda is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University College Dublin Ireland School of Medicine in Dublin, Ireland. Dr. Tadikonda completed her residency in 2000 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. We welcome this bright, enthusiastic provider to our practice!
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Colorectal Cancer Screening Awareness
The American Cancer Society recommends regular screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 45.
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COVID-19 Vaccines: To Get or Not to Get, That Is the Question
By: RAFEENA BACCHUS, M.D., MEDICAL DIRECTOR Vaccine hesitancy, whether due to vaccine fatigue, misinformation or genuine concern for side effects, is very common these days. Headlines from trusted news sources and even not-so-trusted sources come at us fast and can be misleading. So how do you know if the vaccine is right for you? First…
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Patient Advocacy Corner: Know Your Value
By: ARIEL J. WARDEN-JARRETT, MD, FAAFP Physicians, legislators, insurance company leaders and the general public may have different educational or socioeconomic backgrounds and legislative agendas, but at the end of the day, we share a common denominator: WE ARE ALL PATIENTS. As we embark on a new election year, know your value. Our country may…
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What To Do? Emergency Department vs. Urgent Care vs. Your Doctor’s Office
By: RAFEENA BACCHUS, M.D., MEDICAL DIRECTOR Having an illness or injury often results in a good deal of anxiety and worry. You want medical attention and relief from your symptoms as quickly as possible. But where should you go to get the best, most appropriate and cost-effective care? The following are the most widely used…
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Hypothyroidism
By: NISHA ABRAHAM PARAMBIL The thyroid gland is a small gland, but it plays a significant, complex role in your body. When it does not work properly, it can seriously impact your health. Located in your neck under your voice box, the thyroid gland controls several things, including your metabolism, body temperature and heart rate….