The primary care doctor: your healthcare QB FOR MANY YEARS, our nation’s addition to providing routine and healthcare system has been trending preventive care, she can guide them toward a more specialized—or even to specialists if needed and generally subspecialized—model, with a focus help them navigate the complex on a particular organ or system of “waters” of the healthcare system. Owing to their holistic approach the body. But the job of a primary and the familiarity they develop with care physician is to look at the whole body—giving you just one of many patients, primary care doctors are reasons for establishing a relation- much more likely to catch develship with one if you haven’t done oping health problems early when they tend to be more treatable if not so already. And with an expanding network curable. “In fact, research shows that of care, a Mercy Health primary care patients who establish a relationship physician can be found in the neigh- with a primary care physician have borhoods where you live and work. a 19 percent lower chance of premature death than those who Cathy Cantor, MD, don’t,” Dr. Cantor states. Chief Medical Officer of “In addition, people who Mercy Health Physicians seek care through a primary – Toledo, says, “From my care doctor have 33 perperspective as a primary cent lower healthcare costs care physician, what I love compared to their peers most is that I really get who just see specialists. So, to know my patients and establishing a relationship know them well. With each with a primary care doctor visit, I get to learn a little will not only add years to bit more about them so I’m Cathy Cantor, MD your life, but it can also more attuned to signs that save you a lot of money.” might indicate a change in However, if patients hope to reap their health status. When you establish all these benefits, especially in terms a relationship with your patients, you can look at a change in their health of disease prevention, they need to and say, ‘Gosh, that’s not like you. stay on top of those routine checkups. If they only schedule appointments Let’s try treatment A, B, or C.’” Dr. Cantor likens her role as a when they’re not feeling well, their primary care physician to that of a doctor will have to focus on the probfootball quarterback, coordinating lem at hand and may be less likely the patient’s healthcare network. In to catch other developing problems,
make recommendations for preventive screenings, etc. Of course, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to complicate things when it comes to patients seeking routine healthcare. Fortunately, most primary care doctors now offer the option of virtual visits via videoconferencing apps such as Zoom or even just over the phone, depending on their patients’ comfort level. “However you do it, just be sure to check in and keep that conversation going with your primary care doctor, even if it can’t be face to face,” Dr. Cantor emphasizes. With respect to COVID-19, your primary care doctor can be a valuable source of advice and information on how to protect yourself and loved ones from the virus and what to do if you’re experiencing symptoms. In keeping with the advice of local, state, and federal health experts, Dr. Cantor urges people to continue taking care of themselves by washing their hands, wearing masks, and maintaining a safe physical distance from other people. Recognizing the importance of increasing access to primary care, Mercy Health is extending its reach further into the community in a variety of ways. One example of this trend is the recent opening of the Mercy Health – Waterville Primary Care facility, located at 1222 Pray Blvd.
HEALTH CROSSWORD by Myles Mellor • ilovecrosswords.com • Answers on page 26
ACROSS 1 Yellow rosy colored fruits 5 Rx amts. 9 Nose related 10 Physical problem 11 Response to a doctor’s direction 12 Made unsusceptible to a disease 13 Post-E.R. area of a hospital 14 Energy 15 Spa worker 20 Halloween fruit 24 Of the kidneys
26 Ending for many enzymes 27 Unwell 28 Remembering 29 Trachea, e.g. 30 Like many salads DOWN 1 Sleeping disorder 2 The fruit of a rose plant, full of vitamin C 3 Mineral needed for bone health 4 Emotional or physical shocks or injuries 6 Ahchoos 7 Filled
8 Work out actions for the future 14 Goulash seasoning 16 Seed that tastes like licorice 17 Snoring shut-out 18 Raise 19 “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is one 21 Large tooth 22 Buddhist concept of what you put out will come back to you 23 Head/shoulders connector 25 White ___: helps some people sleep better
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in Waterville, Ohio, with easy access from Rt. 24. Also, Mercy Health has opened numerous Primary Care and Family Medicine locations around our region, offering walk-in care and extended hours. “We’ve expanded to locations all around the community to ensure area residents have easy, convenient access to care and services right where they live and work,” says Dr. Cantor. Dr. Steven Dood, Dr. Jeffery Swartz, and Sarah Wells, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, are seeing patients at this new location. To find a primary care physician, visit mercy.com. ❦
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