Winter 2012 - Meritus Health

OWNER’S MANUALThe Primary Care Physician,Coordinator of Your HealthcareMeritus Health’sPrimary Care PracticesJerry L. Correces, MDDr. Jerry L. Correces is board certified ininternal medicine and offers comprehensiveevaluation and individualized care. Heprovides diagnostic services in his office aswell as minor procedures.Robinwood Professional CenterSuite 150, 11110 Medical Campus Rd.Hagerstown, MD 301.797.4593Primary care physicians (PCPs) are ourneighborhood doctors, and generallythe first person to call when we have aproblem. Primary care physicians evaluateand treat common medical problems. Theyare educators and evaluators, guiding theirpatients to treatment, care, or furtherservices they need for optimal health.Yet many people do not get a continuityof care. Often people switch doctors as theyswitch insurance plans, or don’t see the valueof having a dedicated physician. Without aPCP, your medical history—chronicconditions, past medical procedures anddiagnostic tests—becomes lost. PCPs canalso help patients understand the need forpreventative screenings and well visits.In an urgent healthsituation, PCPs canexpedite care and providereferrals to specialists. Inshort, your primary caredoctor is the coordinatorof your healthcare.Finding DoctorRight!Approach the selectionof your primary carephysician as you would a4 MeritusHealth.comfirst date. Your first impression of a doctoris important according to John Reed, MDof Smithsburg Family Medical Center.“Trust, chemistry and a connection shouldall be present during your first encounter,”says Dr. Reed. “It’s that kind of arelationship.”Look for two-way communication. Dr.Reed adds that you’re more likely to listento your doctor if he listens to you. Keep inmind that one doctor does not fit all. Yourbest friend may love her physician, but herdoctor may not jive with your personality.If you haven’t found a PCP, don’t put itoff another day. In the box at the right areseveral excellent physicians and practiceswithin the Meritus Health system.North Pointe Internal MedicineDrs. Ann DeClue and Steven Hatlebergspecialize in diagnosing and treating illnessesin individuals age eighteen or older. Thepractice incorporates an understanding ofwellness, geriatrics, mental health, medicalethics, and women’s health issues. Officevisits are by appointment.13424 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 203Hagerstown, MD 240.313.9850Potomac Family MedicineDrs. Allen Ditto, Stephen Metzner, KelliStrauss, and William Kutzera are a group ofexperienced family physicians whose solepurpose is to provide you with the bestcontinuing, comprehensive, and professionalmedical care available. Together, withstaff, they want to provide for your medicalneeds in an efficient, thoughtful, thorough,and courteous fashion. Potomac FamilyMedicine provides patients with the fullscope of family medicine, excludingobstetrics. All physicians who practice inPotomac Family Medicine have beenresidency trained and are certified by theAmerican Board of Family Medicine.13424 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 101Hagerstown, MD 301.791.7900Robinwood Family PracticeRobinwood Family Practice provides care topatients of all ages. Drs. Joseph Asuncion,Matthew Beckwith, Larry Kugler, and WilliamRoyster believe that good health care isbased in part on a friendly, mutualunderstanding among staff, doctor, andpatients. Office visits are by appointment.Robinwood Professional CenterSuite 107, 11110 Medical Campus Rd.Hagerstown, MD 301.714.4400