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Month: October 2015

Interventional Radiology

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Atlanta Interventional Institute

Dr. John Lipman joins CW Hall talking interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology

We talked interventional radiology with Dr. John Lipman of Atlanta Interventional Institute on this week’s show.  Interventional radiologists are radiologists who are trained to perform a wide array of procedures using various radiologic images to guide their work.

In fact, as Dr. Lipman explained, it was interventional radiologists who invented the technology to perform procedures such as balloon angioplasty that was later used to open blocked arteries in the heart.

We talked about uterine fibroid embolization, a minimally-invasive procedure where a catheter is passed into the femoral artery and maneuvered to the arteries feeding uterine fibroids, where a chemical is instilled, caused the vessel to occlude.  This blocks bloodflow to the fibroid, causing it to shrink and die, allowing for easy removal.

The alternative for these women is hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of the uterus, after which, the woman will need to take hormones to compensate for its loss.  Additionally, it takes days longer to recover from the surgery and bears the risk of anesthesia and post-surgical infection.

Dr. Lipman talked about other procedures interventional radiologists are able to perform such as treatment of migraine headaches, and reversing infertility related to blocked fallopian tubes.

It is important for patients and their loved ones to be sure to ask lots of questions and to inquire about other available treatment options when surgery is recommended, particularly when it involves removal of an organ or amputation.

In this way, patients can limit risk associated with surgery in many cases, and save cost and time away from work.  Dr. Lipman offered a number of questions patients and loved ones can ask to determine if an interventional radiologist is the one they should choose.

Special Guest:

Dr. John Lipman, MD, FSIR, Atlanta Interventional Institute  facebook_logo_small3  twitter_logo_small  linkedin_small1

  • Doctorate of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Radiology Residency, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Fellowship, Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine
  • Board Certified, Radiology, Vascular & Interventional Radiology
  • Fellow, Society of Interventional Radiology

 

Telemedicine

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Sidney Welch

Healthcare attorney, Sidney Welch

Telemedicine

We sat down with legal expert on healthcare matters, attorney, Sidney Welch, of the Polsinelli law firm on our monthly episode with Medical Association of Georgia.  What is it?  How is it utilized?  And, what are the licensing, regulatory, and legal concerns around it?

Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) has stressed that it is essential for telemedicine patients in the state to receive the same high standard of care they would in a traditional office setting.  GCMB adopted a number of telemedicine rules in 2014 that “allow the Composite Board to take disciplinary action against licensed physicians and allied health professionals who practice telemedicine if they do not provide the minimum standard of care.”

Georgia’s rules require physicians and other allied health care professionals who deliver care by way of telemedicine to…

  • Be the ones who provide all of the treatment and/or consultations via telehealth.
  • Have access to the patient’s medical history if they are providing the services.
  • Have personally seen and examined the patient if they are referring the patient to a telehealth provider.
  • Maintain records on the patient’s evaluation and treatment if they are providing a service via telehealth and to provide a copy of those records to the referring physician.
  • Provide telehealth services only within their specialty.
  • Give their name, credentials and emergency contact information to the patient when they provide a telehealth treatment or consultation.
  • Provide the patient with “clear, appropriate, accurate instructions” on follow-up care.

Controlled substances for pain or chronic pain treatment cannot be prescribed through telehealth – but a physician or a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant can order appropriate labs or other diagnostic tests.

The physician who provides the care via telemedicine must make a “diligent” effort to ensure that the patient is seen and examined in person at least once a year by a Georgia-licensed physician or other appropriate health care professional.

Special Guest:

Sidney Welch, JD, of Polsinelli  linkedin_small1  twitter_logo_small-e1403698475314  facebook_logo_small3  

Sidney Welch

Apex Animal Hospital

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Apex Animal Hospital

Apex Animal Hospital

On this episode I sat down with Dr. Kimberly Cary and her office manager, Jamie Cary.  We talked about their rapidly-growing Austell animal hospital that has seen rapid expansion of their patient base due to referrals from happy clients.

Kimberly explained there are numerous health issues that can be transmitted between humans and their pets or that both humans and our pets can suffer from that we can benefit from being aware about.  Examples are ringworm, Lyme disease, giardiasis, rabies, and others.

The Carys talked about measures we can take to reduce the risk of our pets contracting these illnesses as well as how we can limit the risk of being affected ourselves.  In many cases, simple preventive measures are very effective at protecting both pet and owner.  These include annual exams and keeping vaccinations up to date.

Problems related to tick- and flea-borne diseases can easily be prevented by a regular dose of topical or edible medications.  And in areas of high likelihood of ticks, there is a vaccination available for dogs to prevent Lyme disease.

The practice offers a full array of pet services and has been specially designed to accommodate both dogs and cats to minimize the stress they experience when they have to be seen or stay in the animal hospital.  The office is located on East-West Connector in Austell, GA near Floyd Road.

Special Guests:

Dr. Kimberly Carey, DVM of Apex Animal Hospital   google-plus-logo-red-265px  twitter_logo_small  facebook_logo_small3  

Apex Animal Hospital

  • Doctorate Veterinary Medicine (with honors), Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Values educating pet owners who are her clients to help them best care for their pets
  • President, Cobb County Veterinary Medical Association
  • Owner of 2 cats and a dog of her own