You need a primary care physician

What a primary care physician does for you

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2025 the United States will need 12,000 to 31,000 more primary care physicians than it has. The best time to start looking for one is now.

Your primary care physician is the person most responsible for your overall health besides yourself. He or she takes care of everyday illnesses and injuries. When a specialist is needed, he or she can determine what sort of specialist is needed and can coordinate your care. A primary care physician also keeps track of the health of patients on a year by year basis, looking for warning signs of heart disease, diabetes or other dangerous long-term health issues.

Excellent primary care physicians in Germantown, MD

Germantown Primary Care Associates is the best primary care facility in the Germantown area, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar, the Chief Medical Officer, was voted one of the TOP doctors of 2015. When visiting for the first time, bring your insurance card and a picture ID. The clinic accepts Adventist Health Network, Aetna, Beech Street PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareFirst, CCN, Cigna, FirstHealth, GEHA, Guardian, Infomed, Mail Handlers, Maryland Medical Assistance, MDIPA, Medicare, OneNet, Optimum Choice, pHCS, Tri-care, Three Rives PPO and United Healthcare. You can download a copy of the registration form from their Web site for your first visit. This will speed up the process of checking in. You will not need to do this for later visits. Make an appointment today.

Keep track of your health with an annual physical

Look for a place to get an annual physical

The older you get, the more you need a physical every year. Self-diagnosis cannot always spot the early warning signs of heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, but your primary care physician may be able to do this. If your insurance plan covers annual physicals, you should use it.

Getting an annual physical in Germantown, MD

The best place to get an annual physical is a primary care facility. Germantown Primary Care Associates is the best primary care facility in the Germantown area, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. When visiting for the first time, bring your insurance card and a picture ID. The clinic accepts Aetna including the Medicare Advantage HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Beech Street, Cigna, Coventry, Healthgram, Human Choicecare, Medcost, Medicare and Railroad Medicare and United Healthcare. If you do not have any of these, contact them to find out if your insurance is accepted. You should also bring a list of whatever medications you take along with the dosage, any recent test results you may have gotten from other physicians, and whatever other information you think may be useful.

You can download a copy of the registration form from their Web site for your first visit. This will speed up the process of checking in. You will not need to do this for later visits. Make an appointment for an annual physical exam today.

Everyone needs a primary care provider

Primary care services

Everybody in Germantown, MD should have a primary care provider. This does not necessarily need to be a doctor, but he or she needs to be able to respond quickly to requests for help or an appointment. Look for a primary care facility with its own clinical laboratory. If you ever need lab work done, you will be able to get the results much faster.

A good primary care provider should offer many services at extended hours. This should include urgent medical care, basic wellness exams and vaccinations. The provider should be able to diagnose and treat skin disorders and any long-term health problems you may suffer from. Among the medical tests your provider should be able to perform are the ECHO, EKG and stress tests, which are used to determine the health of your heart, and pulmonary function tests, which are used to determine the health of your lungs. Other tests your provider should be able to manage are breast exams, Pap smears and prostate exams. Your provider should also be able to help you with family planning, including pregnancy tests. He or she should also be someone you can discuss STDs with, just in case.

Best primary care provider in Germantown, MD

The best primary care provider in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. The Chief Medical Officer is Dr. Manbir Takhar. Their clinical laboratory exceeds the standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Make an appointment today.

Get a pre-college physical exam

Taking charge of your health

If you are going to a new university or college at the start of the year, you should know that many students must take a pre-college physical exam before enrolling. In any case, this is a good idea. As a first step in the process of taking charge of your own health, you should learn your current health status and find out about any medical problems that may affect you.

A pre-college physical exam looks at your medical history as well as your current health. You should be ready for a complete physical examination, immunizations, health and lifestyle counseling and possibly lab tests. Pack a personal medical kit with pain relievers, bandages, cold and hot packs, cough medicine, wound cream, a thermometer and whatever medicine you normally take. Find out if you are still covered by the same insurance policy as your parents.

Where to get one in Germantown

The best place to get a pre-college physical exam in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. Bring your insurance card and a picture ID. You should also bring a list of whatever medications you take along with the dosage, any recent test results you may have gotten from other physicians, and any other information that might be useful. Download a copy of the registration form from their Web site for your first visit to speed up the process of checking in. Make an appointment today.

Vaccinations you may not be thinking about

Bacterial meningitis, travel vaccinations and HPV

Bacterial meningitis affects 1,000 to 1,200 people in the U.S. every year. It strikes suddenly. The symptoms are fever, lethargy, difficulty eating or sleeping, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. It can cause hearing loss and brain damage, but can be treated with antibiotics. A shot may be a good idea for a student going to college.

There are required and recommended travel vaccinations. Required travel vaccinations are those that you must have in order to enter certain countries. In some countries, the government will demand you take the yellow fever vaccine and meningitis vaccine. The proof of these vaccines is called the International Certificate of Vaccination. Recommended travel vaccinations are not demanded by law but are still a good idea. At the Traveler Information Center of the CDC Web site, you can find out which vaccines, if any, you will be required to take. You can also learn which travel vaccines are recommended for your destination. Some of these vaccines need to be given in two to three doses over the course of several months. This is why it is so important to plan ahead.

The human papillomavirus is different in that it usually causes no major symptoms, but certain forms of it can cause cancer. In the United States, 26,800 cases of cancer each year can be traced to this virus.

Immunization services in Germantown, MD

All these vaccinations can be obtained at Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. Bring your insurance card, a valid photo ID, a list of any medications you are taking and any other medical information you might want to have. Make an appointment today.

What to look for in a doctor

Primary care services of doctors

Even if you are lucky enough never to need specialized medical care, you will want a doctor to help with primary care. A good doctor provides every patient with care, compassion and undivided attention and always puts their needs first. Your doctor should be able to perform vaccinations and physicals. He or she should be able to deal with injuries that do not require emergency treatment — splint limbs and treat fractures, dislocations, strains, sprains and the cuts and bruises that arise from minor falls and other accidents, puncture wounds, burns and animal bites. He or she should be able to diagnose and treat headache, stomachache, diarrhea, and cope with diseases such as bronchitis, yeast infections, eye infections and Lyme disease. He or she should be able to do a wellness exam, breast exam, pregancy test or diagnose and treat STDs — or should at least be part of a primary care facility that includes these among its services.

Finding a doctor in Germantown, MD

If you are looking for a doctor in Montgomery County, MD, there is an excellent primary care facility available where you will find one. Germantown Primary Care Associates has been serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown for more than twenty years, with a staff that hails from many different parts of the world. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer.

Download a copy of the registration form from their Web site to speed up the process of checking in for your first visit. You will not need to do this for the next visit. Schedule an appointment today.

A primary care provider can help in many ways

How a primary care provider can help you

Everyone, sick or healthy, needs a primary care provider. This is someone who can provide you with basic medical care, give you an annual physical, and help you deal with minor health problems before they become life-threatening illnesses. Your primary care provider needs to be able to respond quickly to requests for help or an appointment.

Your primary care provider should provide basic wellness exams, diagnose and treat any long-term health problems you may have, perform pregnancy tests, offer family planning services, offer breast exams, Pap smears and prostate exams, and treat skin disorders. They should also be able to perform medical tests, including the ECHO, EKG and stress tests which look at the health of your heart, and pulmonary function tests which look at the health of your lungs. They should also be able to diagnose and treat STDs.

The best primary care provider in Germantown, MD

The best primary care provider in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. When going there for the first time, be sure to bring your insurance card and a picture ID. You should also bring a list of whatever medications you take, along with the dosage of these medications, any recent test results from other physicians, and whatever other information you think may help. Download a copy of the registration form from their Web site for your first visit to speed up the process of checking in. You will not need to do this for later visits. Make an appointment today.

Annual physicals help you stay healthy

If you are aging, you need an annual physical

As you age, annual physicals become more and more important for your health. The early warning signs of heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure are easy to miss by anyone relying on self-diagnosis. If your doctor sees you regularly, he or she can tell if you are in danger of any of these, as well as other dangerous ailments. If your insurance plan covers annual physicals, you should take advantage of this.

An annual physical should be a comprehensive physical exam, covering every aspect of your health. The basic steps that will be part of any exam include checking your blood pressure, pulse, breathing and temperature, listening for any signs of trouble. A good primary care physician will tailor the exam to your age, gender and family history andwill examine your medical history, including habits, diet and exercise. If you have noticed any symptoms, this is the best time to bring them up.

Getting an annual physical in Germantown, MD

The best place for an annual physical in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. Bring a list of whatever medications you take along with the dosage, any recent test results you may have gotten from other physicians, and whatever other information you think may be useful. For your first visit, download a registration form from their Web site to speed up check-in. You will not need to do this for later visits. Make an appointment for an annual physical exam today.

 

Young athletes should get sports physicals

Sports physicals are important

If you are planning to go into sports next year, or if you already are an athlete looking forward to your next season, get a sports physical exam. This is required in Maryland for anyone starting a new sport or a new season, and should be done about six weeks before the season begins.

Your strength, flexibility, joints and posture will all be examined during the sports physical. The doctor will perform a vision test and check your ears, nose, throat and abdomen. The doctor will also take your pulse and blood pressure, and record your weight and height.

The doctor will also go over your medical history. He or she will be trying to get a sense, not only of your own health, but of the health of your whole family. Do not try to guess what the doctor wants to hear — answer his or her questions as honestly as you can. This includes answering any questions the doctor may ask about alcohol, drugs or performance-enhancing substances. The doctor will also want to know if you are on a diet or take any dietary supplements or medications.

Best place for a sports physical in Germantown

The best place for a sports physical exam in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown for more than twenty years, with a staff that hails from many different parts of the world. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. Bring your insurance card, a picture ID and a list of whatever medications your child take along with the dosage. Also bring any recent test results you may have gotten from other physicians, and any other information that might be useful. Make an appointment today.

Your child needs a pre-college physical examPre-college physical exam

What a pre-college physical exam is

Even if your son or daughter is not required to take a pre-college physical exam before enrolling in a new college, you should still encourage him or her to do so. Looking after their own health on a day-to-day basis is a major step in achieving independence for your children. They should start by learning their current health status and finding out about any medical problems they may have.

A pre-college physical exam looks at medical history and current health. Be sure to bring the immunization records. If he or she had all childhood vaccinations, he or she may still need booster shots and the annual flu shot. You may also want to persuade him or her to get a meningitis shot.

Bring the medical history of your child, so the doctor can read through it. The doctor will discuss their unique health issues with your son or daughter, including how to stay healthy on campus and what to avoid. Your child should get a personal medical kit with pain relievers, bandages, cold and hot packs, cough medicine, wound cream, a thermometer and whatever medicine they normally take. Let them know if they are still covered by your insurance.

Where to get one in Germantown

The best place to get a pre-college physical exam in the Germantown area is Germantown Primary Care Associates, serving patients in Montgomery County, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Hyattstown. Dr. Manbir Takhar is the Chief Medical Officer. Get your son or daughter to make an appointment today.