HealthWise – Fall 2015 Pets and Health, Gluten-Free Diet and Colorectal Cancer Q&A

Welcome to the fall edition of HealthWise.In this issue of the Maryland Primary Care Physicians e-newsletter, our providers discuss the link between pets and health, why a gluten-free diet may not be right for you, preventing colorectal cancer, and more. Please read on and feel free to share these health tips with friends and family.

In this issue: Pets and Health | Gluten-Free Diet | Colorectal Cancer | Patient Portal

A new leash on life: Pets are good for your health By: Rachel Sweeney, CRNP

Sure, it’s nice to be greeted by a furry face when you come home from work, but besides love are there any health benefits to pet ownership?Yes, indeed. Research suggests that living with pets can make you healthier, from lowering your risk of heart disease to increasing your overall fitness. Here are four ways pets are good for your health...

To ‘G’ or not to ‘G’: Should you go gluten-free? By: Tracey Jansen, M.D.

The gluten-free diet is the latest nutrition craze. Books, articles and TV shows tout the benefits of axing gluten, and it’s hard to walk down the grocery store aisle without encountering a raft of gluten-free products. A survey by Consumer Reports shows over 60% of Americans think that going gluten-free can improve their physical and mental health...

Colorectal cancer is common but can be prevented A Q&A with Dr. Ariel Warden-Jarrett

Q: What is colorectal cancer? A: Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, occurs in the colon or rectum. The colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. Most colon cancers develop first as polyps, which are abnormal growths that may later become cancerous...

MPCP News:

Get a flu shot It’s not too early to get your annual flu shot. It can protect you and your family, prevent lost work and school days, and save you lots of misery. All MPCP offices now have vaccines, so call to schedule your flu shot today. MPCP named best family doctors Maryland Primary Care Physicians was voted the best family medical practice in the Maryland Gazette’s 2015 Readers Choice awards program. This is the fifth straight year we received the honor. Thanks to everyone who showed your confidence in us by voting for MPCP. Welcome to new MPCP staff:

Sneha Sheth, M.D. - Arundel Mills office
Melissa Ward, CRNP - Glen Burnie office
Stacy Bartolich, CRNP - Columbia Cardiology
Meaghan Brown, CRNP - Pasadena office
Harriett Neverdon, FNP-C - Columbia office

Patient Portal opens the door to improved communication Our new Patient Portal is a secure online website that allows our patients 24/7 access to their personal health information by using a secure login and password. Through the Patient Portal, you can schedule appointments and request prescription refills, and receive information to your portal account, including clinical summaries of your visit, patient education, lab letters and referral requests. Once you receive our email invitation, it’s easy to enroll as a Patient Portal user on our MPCP website. Now that the Portal is available for all of our practice locations, all patients for whom we have an active email are being invited to enroll, so make sure your correct email address is on file with your MPCP office. (Please note that your email invitation will be sent from patientservices@ medfusion.net)