HealthWise – Winter 2015 Heart Smarts, Rethinking Drinking, Baby Q&A
Welcome to the winter edition of HealthWise. In this issue of the Maryland Primary Care Physicians e-newsletter, our providers offer great advice on keeping your heart healthy, the smart way to consume alcoholic beverages, and infant care. You'll also learn what the new Patient Portal can do for you. Read on and feel free to share these articles with family and friends. If you need help scheduling an appointment or flu shots, please click the appointment link or visit www.mpcp.com. Stay warm and well!
 In this issue: Heart Smarts  |  Rethinking Drinking  |  Baby Q&A  |  Patient Portal
heart-smarts
Heart smarts: preventing cardiovascular disease
The Centers for Disease Control reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans. You aren’t able to change some risk factors ─ such as family history, sex or age – but heart disease is often linked to lifestyle, and you can significantly reduce your risk by making healthy choices. February is National Heart Month, so now’s a good time to get started.1. Keep an eye on your plate. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help protect your heart. Beans, other low-fat sources of protein and certain types of fish also can reduce your risk of heart disease.
Read More
rethinking-drinking
Rethinking drinking: what’s the healthy choice?
By: James Chamberlain, M.D.
I am often asked questions about alcohol use, such as how much is safe and are there any health benefits. I tell my patients that drinking in moderation is fine. Alcohol is a part of our social fabric and there is nothing inherently bad about it. I tell my patients they don’t have to give up their glass of wine with dinner or a beer or two at a party, as long as they aren’t driving home. But I remind them that there are well-known downsides to excessive alcohol use...
Read More
dr-dea
Family practitioners: care for the whole family - even babies
A Q&A with Lyn N. Dea, D.O.
Q: I know family medicine specialists see children and adults, but babies too?A: Yes! Many of our MPCP family providers are trained and experienced in pediatric care. Family medicine as a specialty is devoted to the comprehensive health care of individuals of all ages, and particularly in the context of family and community.
Read More

MPCP News:

Celebrating 19 years of community care

January marked the 19th anniversary of Maryland Primary Care Physicians. Thanks to our patients for continuing to entrust your care to us. And thanks to our dedicated health care team for carrying out our mission: providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality care to the people of our community.

New practice partners

Congratulations to Falana P. Carter, M.D., and José C. Zarzuela, M.D., on becoming MPCP partners in January. Their partnerships are the result of their proven medical skills and dedication to patient care.

Dr. Carter sees patients in the Arundel Mills office. She is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians. Dr. Zarzuela, of the Pasadena office, is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
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 [email protected])

Additional Reading

Recommended Posts

Strains, Sprains and Broken Bones

By Akber Ahmad, MD

Introducing Dr. Margaret Wang

By Margaret Wang, M.D.

Naloxone: A Powerful Tool to Fight Opioid Overdose

By Andrea Cuniff, M.D.