Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Parrish Medical Center - 21

EVENT

OB-GYNs

When many women think of doctors,
gynecologists are often at the top of the
list-and for good reason. OB-GYNs
are the go-to resource for all things
related to the pelvic area-from menstruation and pregnancy to vaginal
dryness and menopausal issues.
It might feel embarrassing to talk
about topics such as heavy periods or
painful sex, but OB-GYNs are there to
help, and they've heard it all.

Internal Medicine
Doctors

Internal medicine doctors, also known
as internists, are trained to treat adults
for a wide range of issues and often
serve as primary care physicians.
"The internist is probably the one
you would go to for an annual health
exam" to look at issues such as high
blood pressure, diabetes and disease
prevention, Rohr-Kirchgraber says.
Plus, most internists now are trained
to do some basic OB-GYN care, such
as Pap tests.
General internal medicine doctors-internists who go into practice
after they finish their basic internal
medicine training-are recognized
as "experts in diagnosis, in treatment
of chronic illness and in health promotion and disease prevention," the
American College of Physicians says.
Their job is to deal with a wide variety
of patient problems, whether simple
or complex.

Family Medicine
Doctors

Like internal medicine doctors, family
physicians treat adults for a wide range
of issues and often serve as primary
care physicians. But unlike internal
medicine doctors, family physicians
are also trained to treat children.
"Family medicine physicians have
been trained in a little bit of everything: some pediatrics, some medicine,

Staying Healthy Naturally
Following good health guidelines is the best way to keep your body naturally
strong and healthy. On June 12, bring your questions and meet Kenneth
McElynn, MD, of Parrish Medical Group. The event is free, but seating is limited. Call 321-268-6110 or visit parrishvigor.com/calendar to reserve a spot.

some surgery," Rohr-Kirchgraber says.
"They're very adept at treating the
whole family."
And they treat a lot of adults. The
American College of Physicians says
85 to 90 percent of patients at a typical
family medicine practice are adults, the
same population seen by internal medicine doctors.

Having It All

So do you need to have both an OB-GYN
and an internal medicine doctor or a
family physician?
"It certainly doesn't hurt to have one
of each, but it's not always necessary,"
Rohr-Kirchgraber says.
Medical and family histories can
sometimes help you decide. For example, if you have a family history of colon
cancer or melanoma, it's probably best
to have an internal medicine doctor or a
family medicine doctor.
"If you're interested in getting pregnant soon, then having an OB-GYN is a
good idea," Rohr-Kirchgraber says. "If
you're 40, you're done having kids and
there isn't that much more you need,
seeing a general physician who can
do your Paps and pelvic exams, that's
totally fine-as long as you're getting
it done."
Just be sure to call ahead and confirm
that your healthcare provider can do
what you need, Rohr-Kirchgraber says.
"A lot of internal medicine physicians
do some OB-GYN care, but not everyone is comfortable doing Paps and pelvic
exams," Rohr-Kirchgraber says.
Pearson recommends asking practical
questions such as "Are the exam rooms
set up to do Pap smears?" and "Do you

TO MAKE
THE MOST
OF YOUR
DOCTOR
VISIT ...
Whether you see a doctor frequently
or once in a great while, you'll want to
have a productive visit. Here's how:
3 BE ON TIME. And keep in mind
that doctors will try to do the same.
Sometimes that doesn't work out.
For example, a patient before you
might find out about a problem and
need more time. "Please know we
are giving each patient the attention
he or she needs and deserves, while
doing our best to stay on schedule,"
says Kenneth McElynn, MD, of Parrish
Medical Group.
3 MAKE A LIST. Write down what
you want to discuss during your visit.
If you rely on your memory, you're
likely to forget something you really
want to talk to your doctor about.
3 BRING YOUR MEDICATIONS.
Make sure you know what prescriptions
you're taking, along with important
pieces of medical history, such as
drug allergies. This will help your doctor have a complete picture of your
health and avoid potential complications from drug interactions.

have the sexually transmitted infection
testing materials on hand?"
Once you find the right doctor or
doctors for you, you can rest easy
knowing your healthcare team meets
all your needs. ■
S UMME R 2018

http://www.parrishvigor.com/calendar

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Parrish Medical Center