Open Minded, Well Trained Physician

New Approach to Healthcare

Skilled Doctor coming to the Traverse City region of Michigan. While evidence based medicine is not a entirely new concept, the market forces which are currently shaping healthcare delivery, favor customer satisfaction surveys over outcome statistics, dollars more than effectiveness. Simple decisions like as whether to take an aspirin require some contemplative thought.

Quick point: Fast answer from cardiologist about preventative aspirin dosing.

Who: Men after 55, women after 65 (earlier for those with risk factors)

Dose: 81 mg (low dose compared to regular 325) once daily by mouth (p.o.)

Coated versus plain. No clear answer. Coated has potentially less stomach irritation with a risk of variable absorption.

Let us contrast the above aspirin discussion with symptom based therapy, preventative versus as needed (p.r.n), two entirely different health arenas. The first is symptom relief. My joints hurt, I have a fever, I have a headache etc. You take an aspirin and you feel better, great. Additional medical questions would include: what are the risks, alternatives and complimentary therapies. To extend to the above discussion, risk of aspirin is bleeding, alternatives include Tylenol/acetaminophen , and complimentary therapies include caffiene (excedrin contains all three). When should I take an aspirin?

My unique background not only has trained me to answer questions about how to feel better but to answer the second harder questions about how to be healthier.

“We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature.”

– Edmund Burke