Today I am officially starting our blog. As a double board-certified cardiothoracic and general surgeon, I will write on many topics including cardiovascular disease, cholesterol management, cancer, multiple surgical topics, and COVID-19. I am also open to writing about nearly any topic requested by any of my patients/clients. I can be emailed at info@paladinmds.com to request a topic.
I wanted to take the opportunity to explain a little bit about PaladinMDs. If you haven't looked at the FAQ section of the website I encourage you to do so. We are asked on a daily basis if we are a concierge medical practice? No, we are not a concierge medical practice.The concept of concierge medicine (also known as retainer medicine) is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors agree to provide enhanced care, including principally a commitment to limit patient loads to ensure adequate time and availability for each patient. If you need a specialist, they will refer to a friend or colleague and any fees are completely separate from your relationship with your primary care concierge physician. In addition, as “primary care physicians” they do not participate in your care for the ‘referred” medical problem because they lack the expertise to do so.
We like to refer to ourselves as concierge board-certified physicians/surgeons who provide advocacy, access, and guidance.Their is no doctor-patient relationship established between you and any advocate. We do not prescribe medicine or diagnose medical conditions. We do not treat medical conditions or medical emergencies or advise or resolve legal, medical or financial issues. Although there are “advocates” in the healthcare arena, these are usually nurses or others who took a course on how to assist with insurance issues, file complaints, and help with other ancillary services. I like to say "We are doctors, but we are not your doctor....and we are here to make sure your doctor does right by you."
PaladinMDs work on your behalf to evaluate all medical information and treatment plans. We will dedicate whatever time it takes to speak with you, your family, and physicians to ensure you are getting the care you need and deserve. With no agenda or loyalty to any hospital system, governmental agency, insurance or pharmaceutical company, PaladinMDs will objectively spearhead an honest and compassionate plan for your treatment and overall well being. Our loyalty is to you, delivering access, guidance, and advocacy.
We are also asked who would need a physicin advocate? A person with a medical condition or multiple medical conditions that is unable to navigate the complex healthcare arena. You are working with a primary care physician or a combination of multiple physicians/ surgeons who don’t communicate with each other or you have a primary care physician who is not accessible. You are frustrated because you leave message after message at their offices and never receive a call back. You or your loved one is hospitalized and it is extremely difficult to even find out who is the treating physician, let alone speak with the doctor(s). During the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the time it is impossible to speak with a treating physician and have to rely on a “daily” call from a nurse who tries to read through a medical note in an attempt to convey information. PaladinMDs will step in on your behalf to evaluate all medical information and treatment plans, communicate with your physicians, discuss treatment options and generate and lead a coherent plan for treatment going forward. As board-certified medical specialists who “speak the language”, we can contact most physicians directly throughout the country. Doctors do not like to be questioned or held accountable for their diagnoses and decisions. As patient advocates, we give you another opinion: unbiased and objective. PaladinMDs are here exclusively for you, fighting for successful outcomes.
Finally, I would like to describe what is meant by guidance. How can you be sure that your current physician is communicating all options for your care while taking specific account of the framework of your daily living activities? This is about an ongoing relationship with one physician who knows and cares about you. We will stay with you throughout your entire medical journey and provide a roadmap of the expected standard of care as it pertains to your specific condition or problem. We serve to steer you through the most optimal solutions based on the latest medical evidence. Examples include but are not limited to:
New finding on a routine mammogram - suspicious for cancer-what do I do next?
Had a chest x-ray and chest CT scan that is likely cancer and you either don’t have a regular physician or that physician says to schedule a visit and then will try and get you to a busy specialist. It is not acceptable to have a 2-3 month delay of diagnosis and treatment of cancer trying to get to the right specialist. PaladinMDs will get you to the right place quickly and this impacts your chances of survival
I had a heart attack and had a stent placed but I am still not feeling well and have limited activity and chest pains - is this normal and what do I do?
I have high cholesterol and my doctor tells me not to worry about it but I read that cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the US? What do I do?
I was recently diagnosed with a complex condition and I live in an area with no tertiary medical center. Where should I go and can you help make the appointment on my behalf and communicate with the “specialist” to ensure that I am getting the most up-to-date care.
Provide comprehensive answers to medical questions triaged to the urgency of the problem.
I hope this helps to answer some of the questions but we can be reached through our website www.paladinmds.com or email us at info@paladinmds.com.