HealthWise – Spring 2016 Emergency Room, E-cigarettes & Exercise For Disease

Welcome to the spring edition of HealthWise In this issue of the Maryland Primary Care Physicians e-newsletter, our providers discuss when you should go to the emergency room (and when you shouldn’t), new concerns about e-cigarettes, and treating disease with exercise. Please read on and feel free to share these health tips with friends and family.

In this issue: Emergency Room | E-cigarettes | Exercise for disease

What to do? ED vs. urgent care vs. doctor's office
By: Jamie Harms, M.D.

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 treatment options and suggestions about when each might be best suited to meet your particular medical needs.

Not so safe: New evidence on e-cigs
By: Patricia P. Jett, M.D.

When e-cigarettes were introduced in the U.S. in 2006, they were promoted as a safer alternative to smoking. Users inhale nicotine-infused vapor, without the mix of carcinogenic chemicals found in regular cigarettes.E-cigarettes and vaporizers (which produce large, fluffy clouds of vapor) have gained popularity among current and former smokers, as well as those who have never smoked, including teenagers...

Rx: Treating disease with exercise
By: Harriett Neverdon, FNP-C

The next time your doctor reaches for his prescription pad, don’t be surprised if he recommends exercise instead of medication. A growing number of healthcare providers are encouraging patients to think of physical activity as their new medication.A study published in the British Medical Journal found that exercise affects outcomes for some serious medical conditions about equally as well as prescription drugs...

MPCP News:

Did you know MPCP offers: DOT exams: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) requires drivers of commercial motor vehicles to get physical examinations. MPCP has NRCME-certified clinicians in our Arnold, Arundel Mills and Pasadena locations, so if you need a DOT exam, please contact us to schedule it.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) ‘wellness’ visits: If you’ve had Medicare Part B for longer than 12 months, you are entitled to an “Annual Wellness” screening visit. Your MPCP provider will help you develop or update a personalized prevention health plan. This visit is covered once every 12 months (11 full months must have passed since the last visit), so contact your MPCP office to schedule an appointment.
Botox cosmetic and migraine services: Reduce facial lines, frowns and wrinkles the non-surgical way. Also, MPCP offers Botox injections to treat chronic migraine. Call our Pasadena office for more information, 410-255-2700.
Patient Portal Our Patient Portal is a secure website that allows our patients 24/7 access to their personal health information. 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. If you’d like to sign up, please contact your doctor’s office.