Your PCP is Your GPS

Navigating Today’s Healthcare System: Why Your Primary Care Provider Matters More Than Ever

We’re living in challenging times—politically, economically, and especially when it comes to healthcare. While medical care should be personal, compassionate, and patient-focused, it’s increasingly driven by the revenue goals of large institutions.

Hospitals want you in their Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care centers, which are popping up on every corner. They lure you with promises of shorter wait times, stylish waiting rooms, and instant access to CT scans, MRIs, and specialists who always seem to be available. But what’s the goal? To keep hospital beds full and revenues high.

Meanwhile, your insurance company is pulling in the opposite direction—raising deductibles, co-pays, and monthly premiums to discourage overuse of costly services.

Caught in the middle of this tug-of-war? You, the patient. That’s why now, more than ever, you need a trusted guide—a primary care provider who serves as both your compass and your advocate.

At DC Medical, we take that responsibility seriously. It’s our job to help you navigate this complex landscape and make informed decisions. Who cares for you isn’t just a detail—it’s one of the most important factors in maintaining your long-term health.

Meet Our New PA: Spencer Ochner

We’re excited to welcome Spencer Ochner, PA, to our team. With extensive experience diagnosing and treating both acute and chronic conditions, Spencer brings a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to care. He has a special interest in men’s health and weight management and is committed to helping patients reach their health goals.

Why Choose DC Medical?

We refer to the best specialists—not based on hospital affiliation, but on quality of care. We work with providers who put patients first and ensure our referrals make sense for your unique situation, your condition, and your insurance coverage. Not all specialists—and not all hospitals—are created equal, and not all are in-network with every insurer. We help you cut through the noise.

At DC Medical, we treat every patient like family. We are proud to serve as your partner and advocate in a complicated healthcare system. Whether you’re facing a new issue, managing a chronic condition, or simply need guidance, we're here to help—always.

Reach out to us whenever you need care. We’re honored to be part of your healthcare journey.

Blood Pressure Management

Monitoring your blood pressure at home is an important way to manage your heart health. Whether you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or just want to keep track of your numbers, taking accurate readings can help both you and us make informed decisions. 

Why Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Matters
High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but it increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health issues. Home monitoring can:

•  Help diagnose high blood pressure earlier

•  Track the effectiveness of lifestyle changes and medications

•  Reduce the effects of "white coat syndrome" (higher readings in a medical office)

Choosing the Right Blood Pressure Monitor
For best results, use an automatic, cuff-style monitor that fits around your upper arm. We recommend: 

• Omron 3 Series or above  

• Equate upper arm blood pressure monitor 4000 series,

• Homemedics 500 Series Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with Voice

Wrist monitors, while more convenient, are less accurate

How to Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home
1. Rest for a few minutes before taking a reading. Sit in a quiet place with your feet flat on the floor and your back supported.

2. Position Yourself Correctly
Rest your arm on a flat surface (like a table) with your upper arm supported at heart level.
The cuff should be snug but not too tight—you should be able to fit one fingertip under it.
Place the cuff directly on bare skin, not over clothing.

3. Take the Measurement
Press the start button and stay still while the monitor inflates and deflates.
Do not talk or use your phone during the measurement.

4. Keep a Blood Pressure Log- IMPORTANT!!
Write down the date, time, and both numbers (systolic/diastolic) as well as heart rate. Measure at the same times each day, such as in the morning and evening. Share your readings with us by sending it to dcmedvitals@gmail.com 

Understanding Your Readings
Category Systolic (Top #) Diastolic (Bottom #)
Normal Less than 120 Less than 80
Elevated 120-129 Less than 80
High Blood Pressure (Stage 1) 130-139 80-89
High Blood Pressure (Stage 2) 140 or higher 90 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis Higher than 180 Higher than 120

If you ever get a reading of 180/120 or higher, wait five minutes and check again. 

In order to help our patients get into the habit of measuring their blood pressure at home we are running a brief giveaway.  If a patient submits a log of 16 readings or more for any calendar month you will receive a free Dunkin Donuts card from us!!

Let's work together to avoid the silent killer!

GLP-1 MEDICATIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

GLP-1 for Weight Loss: What’s All the Fuss About? Should I Try It, and Will My Insurance Cover It?

It seems like everyone you know is taking a GLP-1 medication—Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound. Friends and influencers alike swear these drugs make the pounds melt away, seemingly without side effects. But should you try one to lose those stubborn pounds around your belly and thighs? And what about the cost? Let’s unpack the facts.

1. How Do GLP-1 Drugs Work?

GLP-1 medications are weekly injections administered under the skin. They support weight loss by:

• Reducing appetite

• Slowing down digestion

• Improving insulin sensitivity

They also cross the blood-brain barrier and act on both the nervous and endocrine systems.

2. What’s the Difference Between Them?

• Ozempic and Mounjaro are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.

• Wegovy and Zepbound are approved specifically for weight loss.

Although the active ingredients are similar, regulatory approval and insurance coverage differ. Some insurance plans are more likely to cover GLP-1s under a diabetes diagnosis, though more plans are beginning to cover them for weight loss as well.

3. Are They Right for Weight Loss Only?

Each medication comes in gradually increasing doses. As weight loss progresses and each dosage becomes less effective, a higher dose may be prescribed. However, it is not yet clear whether continued use is necessary to maintain weight loss after reaching your goal.

It’s important to know: these medications aren’t magic on their own. Long-term success requires commitment to:

• Healthier eating habits

• Regular exercise (at least 4 times per week)

• Consistent use of the medication

GLP-1s work best as part of a broader lifestyle change.

4. Do They Have Side Effects?

Yes—mostly gastrointestinal. Around 15% of patients cannot tolerate the medication due to:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea or constipation

Other less common side effects may include insomnia or vivid dreams. Most side effects can be minimized with proper dosing, which is why working with a healthcare provider is crucial. Most patients primarily experience a reduced appetite.

5. Are They Covered by Insurance?

Coverage varies by insurance carrier and individual plans. The best way to find out is to contact your insurer directly.

Important warning: Medications sold online by mail-order or advertised in unsolicited emails are often compounded versions, which are unregulated, illegal, and potentially unsafe. These sources are currently being shut down by government agencies.

There is a safer, legal alternative:
With a prescription from our clinic, patients can purchase GLP-1 medication out-of-pocket. Prices range from $350–$500 per month, depending on the dosage, and the medication is shipped directly from the pharmaceutical company to your home.

Ready to Learn More?

Schedule an appointment with us to find out if GLP-1 medication is a good option for you—and how we can support your weight loss journey.

Should I Go To Urgent Care?

Think Twice Before Heading to Urgent Care

Urgent Care offices — which now seem to pop up overnight on every corner — do not deliver true medical care.

Their purpose is not to diagnose or treat you as a whole person, but rather to quickly dispense a temporary remedy (like an antibiotic, muscle relaxant, or pain reliever) and then refer you to a “specialist” or order more testing. Often, these referrals and diagnostics are not truly necessary — but they are profitable for the corporations behind these centers.

Most Urgent Care clinics are owned by large health systems (e.g., Valley Health, Atlantic Health Partners, etc.). They're expensive to operate with extended hours and lower patient volumes, so there’s constant pressure on staff to move patients through quickly and funnel them into the system — even if that means scheduling specialty appointments or procedures that might not be needed.

What’s more, Urgent Care visits can be more expensive than you think. They often come with higher copays than your regular office visit, and may be out-of-network depending on your insurance plan. That’s on top of the cost of any unnecessary follow-up appointments or testing.

The best medical care is always delivered by a provider who knows you — your medical history, your family background, your personal context — and who sees the full picture, not just a symptom in a snapshot.

At DCMedical, we provide 24/7 coverage via our answering service. More often than not, we can help you avoid that higher Urgent Care or ER bill by offering guidance or prescriptions over the phone until we can see you in the office.

Continuity of care matters. It leads to better outcomes, fewer unnecessary tests, and a deeper understanding of your health over time. Please consider reaching out to us first — we're here to help.

We've Moved! New Office Location

DC Medical has moved to a new location and will see patients there starting 09/21/2021!!!

Our new address is 266 Harristown Rd Suite #305, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 .

The new location is only 1.2miles (2 minutes) away, the next exit on 208 North (exit on Maple Avenue). I know you will love the new professional building, with ample parking, right off the highway and a modern and spacious elevator to our third floor location. The new space has been totally renovated and is luxurious and practical.

As always, we are committed to excellent care, and we hope to continue to do so from our new location. Please feel free to call the office (201-475-9421) to schedule your next appointment and get your flu shot.

How Can We Stop America’s Silent Killer: Heart Disease

2020 will have monthly blogs, each focusing on one topic which seems to surface often in our daily conversations with our patients. I will try to pick subjects that are “ hot”, and offer some helpful hints. Knowledge is power, so read on even if you don’t think a given topic is pertinent to you at this moment. The February topic is: 

How Can We Stop America’s Silent Killer: Heart Disease

Imagine that four passenger jets crashed DAILY for the whole year killing everyone on board. As a community we would be outraged, terrified, and would work feverishly to do something (anything!!!) to stop the crashes. So many innocent people dying, such preventable deaths...

Incredibly enough this is roughly the same amount of people that die annually from heart disease in America!  Know that about 80% of these deaths can be prevented, but despite having the ability to prevent these hypothetical crashes, our patients continue to board the planes every day. How can this be? Few realize that heart disease is the underlying cause of one out of three U.S. deaths, and kills more patients than all forms of cancer combined. In spite of this people fear cancer more and are willing to invest in preventing it, while not even examining their personal cardiovascular risk. 

There are, to be sure, many myths about heart disease, risk and prevention. It is often difficult to understand the risk factors: is high cholesterol as seen in the level of LDL (low density lipoproteins) the most important indicator of risk, or is it the heart specific inflammation factor (hs-CRP)? What causes most heart attacks: fat clots or calcium deposits inside the arteries? How often should you have a cardiovascular profile checked, and what kind of testing should the check-up include? 

To answer: As it turns out it is the combination of both high LDL, high hs-CRP and low HDL that is most dangerous. Additionally, your family history, body mass index, and blood pressure contribute to stratify your risk factors. However, the answer to each of these questions underscores the need to analyze each individual’s personal profile to increase their chances of avoiding a cardiovascular event.  Medicine, after all is both a science and an art!

A 2019 national health survey showed that only 14% of Americans have had their inflammatory index and 54% their cholesterol levels checked within the last 12 months. DC Medical prides itself in being a preventive medicine practice. Therefore, we check both these indexes yearly as part of the routine wellness examination. We tailor further testing (such as EKG or HOLTER monitoring, arterial circulation indexes or heart calcium scores) to each patient’s personal medical profile which include factors such as smoking, family history, body mass index, etc.

Most importantly we work with you to create a lifestyle plan for optimizing your heart health. This includes young patients as well because the decisions one makes in their 20s and 30s will affect them decades later. A patient-doctor partnership is probably the most important pathway to prevention. Ask us what your personal risk is!

Goodbye 2019!

Hi everyone, it is hard to believe that 2019 is drawing to an end. Our "office party" this year consisted of a trip in New York City to see the Broadway show Waitress. It was fantastic, a feel good story with great music and characters. A great time was had by all! I invited everyone on this adventure to show how grateful I am for their hard work, but also to celebrate the end of the year in a fun and uplifting way together.

I have been talking to you for the past year about the changing medical landscape. The health system is now so complex that navigating it truly takes an advanced degree to understand. I wanted to take this chance to explain what that means because many have asked. Most independent physicians, both primary care and specialists, sold their practices to the local hospitals, which in turn merged with other hospitals or sold to investor owned management companies. These large conglomerates now have offices all over the state, and own all the walk-in clinics, radiology offices, and run the emergency rooms of all the major hospitals. What does that mean for you, the patient? 

It means that now services are more fragmented, as going to a walk-in clinic is likely to result in referrals for follow up to several specialists all in the same "system". Under pressure to increase patient visits to specialists, walk-in clinics and emergency rooms routinely provide "band-aid care" and refer out for both diagnostics and evaluation following a brief screening and intervention. Similarly, Primary care doctors are only allowed to make referrals to specialists and facilities in their own group and not to the physician who is most qualified to meet the individual patient's needs. For each patient this  means more appointments, more copays, and more time investment. And so  most of the times patients get shifted from specialist to specialist and from test to test in an effort to sustain a large, top heavy organization.

In contrast independent practices work on your behalf only. They try to minimize your visits and refer to specialists only when absolutely necessary, as it is in their best interest to diagnose and treat most conditions in their own office. When they refer, they choose the specialist that is best for you, for example most accessible, best in their field, or a good diagnostician, etc., as they have no pressure to "feed" the doctors in their network. Here at D.C. Medical Care we are attempting to function more and more as an antidote to this trend in medicine by remaining an independent, patient-centered practice. We do this by customizing our medical care and always considering the needs and desires of the patient first and foremost. Our success is determined by your happiness and, more importantly, health and we are looking to optimize that metric over any other. To that end, we added some cosmetic small procedures and wellness maintenance to our menu of offerings, we have a new dietician on staff and we are experimenting with two new weight loss and weight management protocols. An exciting new addition for January 2020 is vitamin infusions.

The best advice for the holidays is to enjoy celebrating with friends and family, forget about counting calories for now and look forward a healthy and successful 2020!

A Nutritious Summer!

Summer 2019 has been jam packed with activities. In spite of the heat (and torrential rains) it feels like it's gone by with lightening speed. Nevertheless much was accomplished and, most importantly, a lot of good food has been consumed.

In every blog post I try to address a topic which I receive a lot of questions about. This time I will focus on nutrition and try to untangle the yarn of organic vs. local vs. conventional (aka shipped from afar) groceries. Is organic more nutritious? Is tastier a sign of healthier? Is it worth paying 30-50% more for organic produce? Can you tell that fruits and vegetables are organic by taste alone? Apart from having fun at the local farmer’s market, is the food there better for you?

A summer lunch for my family with garden tomatoes!

In order to answer any of these questions I first looked at many review articles published in medical journals. Sadly there are not enough rigorous studies about the impact of nutrition in both disease prevention and health indexes, as the variables are too many to account for. But I did come up with a few “gold nuggets” which I would love to share with you.

Research shows that “time is the enemy of nutrition” and that the time that elapses between when a vegetable is harvested and when it is served at the table is the biggest enemy of nutritional content whether the produce is organic or conventional. Loss of vitamins in fresh produce is astounding: seven days after harvesting levels of vitamin C dropped significantly, in carrots 10%, spinach 75% and green beans 77%, as an example. A produce laden truck takes more than seven days to cross the country. Moreover breaks in the “cold chain”, as when the produce is not kept at the strictest temperature controlled environment during packaging and loading, expedite the nutrition decrease. Roughly every hour at room temperature is equivalent with a day in the refrigerator. Nutrition (such as calcium, iron, vitamin A and thiamine) is also affected when produce is bred to increase yield, and picked unripe to resist long term transport. In other words the produce of our parents’ generation, when this technology was not possible, was more nutritious than most of what we buy at the store today.

Is organic more nutritious? Original studies showed that organic produce was not much healthier than conventional produce, though better designed, more recent studies showed organic to have higher levels of antioxidants, vitamin C and phenolic compounds. Nutrition is not necessarily what organic is all about. It is primarily about the environment - chemicals used, erosion, depletion of topsoil, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity. Nevertheless many organic farmers apply stricter standards to harvesting and transportation methods, allowing fruit to ripen on the vine and assuring that shipments arrive at the store in no more than 48 hours. Taste, however, is about what is going on in the plant itself. There is much debate among both agronomists and gourmet cooks whether organic actually tastes better. I leave it up to you to do your own “controlled study” with different kinds of produce, and let me know what you think.

Where does this leave us now? I think there is no argument that we should seek out locally grown produce, regardless of whether it is farmed by strict organic standards or not. Local farmers don’t need to store and transport their fresh produce. Usually they pick and sell within a couple of days. They sell only in season and don’t breed for “early” or cold resistant crops. Buy produce which is in season. For once “cheaper is better” as produce which is in season is more abundant and less expensive.

Interestingly enough frozen fruits and vegetables also tend to keep their vitamin content intact if freezing occurs immediately following picking.

So head out to that farmers’s market and enjoy!!! And during the cold months hit the freezer section of your store with less apprehension.

Feeling Like Fall

The weather has been tricky, alternating between tropical forest humidity and heat, to chilly fall nights and mornings. Unfortunately, this leads to worse asthma and allergy symptoms for anyone who suffers from Fall allergies. Please remember “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of treatment” and come in for your allergy injections and renewal of medication. 

Speaking of coming in to the office, we are giving the flu shot to everyone who takes it on a yearly basis. While the vaccine is widely available at any pharmacy, it is best to get it from your doctor. There are many types of flu vaccines, with different potencies, modes of administration, and effectiveness. This is why I recommend getting the vaccine from your medical provider who knows your medical history and needs, not the “one size fits all” from the pharmacy. In our office, we have high-grade (specifically designed for people over 60 which covers the widest variety of flu strains) and flu-zone. As always, no appointment, copay or even wait is needed, just show up when we are open.

The fall is when I finally begin to contemplate the end of yet another year. This one seems to be passing by so very fast!  For me as my professional and personal life blend together so much, it means taking stock on what we have achieved, and how we should improve before the year truly ends. Although I am still reminiscing about the Summer sun (see picture below), now I am personally grateful for the blessings of a busy, and mostly fun everyday: soccer games (even for Nathan, my six year old!), music classes, reading together or even playing board games. Professionally, I am looking for ways to make our patient/provider interaction more meaningful. In an age of corporate mergers where hospitals, pharmacy chains, and insurance agencies gobble each other to create huge conglomerates, the patients become “widgets”, and medical care loses its human aspect. In response, I strive to keep my practice rather small, know my patients as individuals, and stay away from conveyor belt type medicine. This approach is difficult to maintain and implement but results simply in a healthier patient. But more about that in our next installment. For now, start digging up your favorite fall receipts, and share the best ones!

Wishing I could go back to enjoying Summer on the beach with my sons Nathan(5) and Benjamin(9).

Summer Vacation Travel TIps

I start looking forward the summer months in mid-January, but once here, the summer seems to fly by.  The long days are still not quite long enough, “relaxed atmosphere” means I have responsibility for more after-camp games, swim sessions, and far more running either with (literally) or after my kids. 

Of course there is also the summer family vacation, which we all look forward to. Every year we try to do something a bit different and cater to our family’s diverse age groups and interests. A very rigorous hike for one of my daughters, kayaking for another, a beautiful beach for another, Shakespeare outdoors for the adults, some classical music for me and one of the boys, anything involving ships, planes, rockets for the other…The trick is to find somewhere where you can have at least 80% of the above, and go there at a time when camp/work and internships all ended, but of course, before the new school year starts. If this does not sound challenging enough add the demands of my practice, and the fact that “time off” for me is still being on call 24/7 as long as I am in the USA. 

They say that “necessity is the mother of invention” and this is how I got to be a good and flexible traveler. If you are contemplating a vacation this summer I have a couple of items of medical advice.

I am frequently asked what to bring along for travel (especially international), even if it at a resort destination. Medical care, and medication differ widely in both name and composition from country to country, and access to a doctor and pharmacy is many times difficult even from a luxury resort. Therefore, being prepared is well worth it. First pack a sufficient supply of your regular medications (such as for blood pressure, thyroid or migraines), as it is more difficult than you think to find an equivalent in Europe, South America or the islands. Second, I will share with you the contents of my traveling medicine bag.

1. NSIDS such as Advil/Motrin or Tylenol which work for both fever and minor aches and pains. I have these in both pill and liquid forms.
2. Benadryl tabs (25mg), as well as Claritin (10mg) because they work in different ways to counteract allergic reactions and can be taken together for a better response.  These too I stock in both pill and liquid forms.
3. Imodium AD, and Pedialyte powder packets. These items are invaluable for the routine diarrhea that accompanies summer travel and the need for re-hydration and electrolyte replenishment that follows. I also take some over-the-counter(OTC) mild laxatives as the first, little known consequence of dehydration is constipation.
4. Prescription pink eye drops as well as drops for ear infections. Pool and ocean swimming increases the frequency of eye and ear infections, and they are very annoying!! I also recommend over-the-counter swimmers’ ears drops that actually dry the water in the ears after a day at the beach and in so doing prevent the infections to a large extent. 
5. Hydrocortizone and antibiotic (Bacitracin) OTC ointments, and many different sizes and shapes of band aids, non-adherent dressing pads, and surgical tape. You have no idea how useful, for many purposes these can be…and how much of a time saver it is to have them with you.
6.  A sharp pair of nail scissors, a needle nosed tweezers and a medium size ACE bandage. Together with my traveling wine opener (for me, not the “patient”)  these tools have performed miracles in many of my travels.

If I travel abroad I may also take along a Z-pack (and am happy to provide one for you) as it works well for a nasty cold, as well as for a stomach bug which Imodium alone can not control. It is relatively safe as there are few allergic reactions, and the once per day for five days regimen makes it easy to take, even on vacation.

Happy travels!

Spring? Is that you?

This May turns out to be one of the strangest yet: wet and freezing one day, breezy, luminous and warm the next... Nature (and your own body) are justly confused. If you usually get spring allergies you are likely to get them a bit later than in previous years, but they will be back for sure! Start taking your Singulair and come in for a Solu-Medrol shot which temporarily tunes down your body's response to allergens..

There's a chance you have not yet met Nadisha Hoseini our Physician Assistant, who has been part of the practice for almost a year now. Nadisha has considerable experience in  a primary care setting, an in depth approach to chronic disease treatment, and a friendly, caring bedside manner. She also has a special interest in weight management, and has worked with our new dietician, Caroline, to better marry the theory of weight loss regimens to the frustrating practice. She is combining diet and exercise with some of the newest medication regimens and achieving considerable success. As the options increase in safe weight loss medications, the surgical options become less attractive, and more people are losing weight in a healthier way. Make an appointment to explore this with her if you are worried about the (hopefully) upcoming beach season!!

Medical care delivery in northern Bergen County is changing even faster than the weather. Most internal medicine and multi-specialty practices have sold out to either Valley Medical Group,  Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) partners, or even Summit Medical Group. For you,  that means that there is a financial incentive for doctors to send patients from "hand to hand", from specialist to specialist, from radiology to pathology etc. In this system the medical conglomerate keeps revenue flowing, but the patient is at a loss without anyone taking full responsibility for the whole person, and closing the loop between diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

DC Medical Care is one of the last few independent internal medicine groups which remains functional. MY goal remains to provide personalized quality care, and take full responsibility for the health of our patients. That includes preventive medicine, as well as acute (sick) care, and long term management for chronic conditions. We are also unique as we keep a small number of same day appointments open for sick visits DAILY in order to better serve our patients, and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits. 

Today medical practices must partner with patients to keep our services accessible and deliver the highest quality of care at the same time. In this vein we added a section for "Frequently Asked Questions" to our website to help you better understand our policies. Let us know if there are other ways in which we can serve you better.

Powering Through The Winter

February turned out to be an upside down month. First, the temperature varied much more than usual from teeth-chattering cold to balmy, June-like (!!!) sunny days. This is the type of weather which really messes with your upper respiratory tract and your immune system, so many have been experiencing seasonal allergies way before the expected time. If this sounds like you, head in for your "magic shot" (SoluMedrol, a weak steroid)  which dials down your response to the spring allergens. As it takes a few days to kick in and only lasts for 10 weeks or so, now is the prime time to get it. 

We also have seen an increase in the number of flu cases left untreated. As your body is mobilizing to respond to the viral infection it can become more susceptible to bacterial supra infection such as bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. Don't "wait it out", but give us a call as medication is still quite effective against the flu IF taken EARLY after you become symptomatic. To make matters worse, only approximately 25% of the strains of flu virus now colonizing the Northeast were contained in the 2017 vaccine, an unusual situation which nevertheless results in the vaccine offering little protection against the disease. Therefore, be on the look out for early symptoms-we are here too help!

However, while it's still winter, What better way to ward off the boredom of dark, early evenings than experimenting with good food? For the last year we have all been trying to eat meatless meals during the week and only eat meat on Friday night and Saturday, following my daughter, Rebecca's, example. This has many benefits: we cut our family consumption of red meat substantially, and we increased our vegetable/fruit and "healthy food" intake.  You can debate the ethical and environmental impact as is in style these days, but for me it boils down to this: I have to plan, buy and cook creatively every day so my family will embrace this. Daily this proves to be a bigger challenge than even keeping my patients healthy, or filling in the mounds of paper/on-line work I have to do. Here is my latest go-to,  which Benjamin, my 9 year old, calls " bird in the nest":

Ingredients: 

1. 10oz frozen hash browns, defrosted
2. 6 large brown eggs
3. 4oz. shredded cheese, and 1oz. finely shaved aged Parmesan cheese

Carefully butter (or spray) a 6 muffin deep tin, and line it with shredded potatoes, pressing them firmly up the sides. making sure it is lined well all around so the eggs don't sip out. Place in heated 375F oven for 8-10mins or until lightly browned,

Remove pan and sprinkle the shredded cheese in each muffin then break an egg on top. Season with salt and pepper and dust evenly with the parmesan cheese.Place back in the oven, lower the temperature to 350,  until the eggs are set and the tops are brown. Enjoy!

Final thoughts of 2017!

Happy Holidays to everyone from D.C.Medical Care! I hope that all of you will enjoy the privilege of celebrating with family and friends, the sparkle of the holidays, and some well deserved rest and relaxation. The New Year is just around the corner, so it is really time to take stock.

I always ask myself: What was the most fun time I had this year? Hands down our family summer vacation in the Hamptons. What made this year special, what event in our family was momentous? My middle daughter Rebecca graduated from Princeton University and my youngest son Nathan, on his fifth birthday, had his violin debut featuring “Twinkle, twinkle, little star”. What was the best food I ate? (Always something with chocolate!!!)  Best wine? Best book I read? and a panoply of other questions meant to help me think of the important and discard the trivial aspects of my daily life. I also think of the many things I would have liked to do and did not, and mostly resolve to squeeze them in immediately or early next year. On that note, our office is open this last week of the year and, if you did not yet come in for your physical, please do so immediately! It is the only FREEBIE you get from your medical insurance, complete with routine blood work, and you lose this give away for the 2017 calendar year as the ball drops…Come on in!

My son Nathan on his tiny violin!

Of course we use the results of your physical to support your "New Year Resolutions” (lose 20 lbs, eat healthy, exercise more, be an example of a healthy lifestyle for your children). Here is my advice on that: make it realistic AND get help. There is a reason we did not do all those things in 2017, and found an excuse for it…Your weight loss goal should begin in increments of 5 lbs, which makes it accomplishable not daunting, your eating healthy should always leave room for some desert etc. We are here to help you on that, as our practice has a consulting dietitian twice a week, offers various medication options, etc.

But for now, our most important advice is: indulge, indulge, indulge! An extra glass of wine and slice of cake will not have disastrous consequences, and a new year will not roll in again for 12 more months! Cheers!

Holiday Season Reminders!

What would the holidays be if they were all picture perfect? If all the stress of juggling year end reports and parent-teacher conferences were not enough, you now have to clean, cook a feast, and think of putting up with your in-laws! No, we are not offering you medication for that, but here are a few helpful tips:

1. All home baked good freeze beautifully and keep for minimum of three months. Make your desserts now, and enlist the kids help, they will be very proud to take full credit.

2. Stock up now on essential items both non perishable foods and toiletries that guests may need, so you don’t have to run out at odd hours to replace a toothbrush.

3. Start your holiday shopping early and set a goal to finish before Black Friday because those savings are minimal when you compare to the stress of battling long lines and traffic.

Most importantly, to make this holiday season great you need to look and feel your best. Everyone wants to fit into their sexy black dress for the Holiday parties. It’s time to lose a few extra pounds that have been hanging around since the last set of parties. How should you do it? Exercise is a good thought and a must no matter what. Unfortunately, decreasing the number of calories you take in is the primary step and it is the real, unpleasant but necessary step. You can come in and see our dietitian, and can even consider weight loss medication. We have a strong integrated approach that is quite successful with almost everyone. It’s well worth passing up a few boring high calorie take out meals now and dream of those delicious upcoming holiday treats like Christmas cookies, eggnogs, and potato latkes instead. You can also think of rehabbing (lightening up) some of your family favorites by using less fat and sugar or coming up with new traditional treats you can have while wearing your skinny jeans.

Give yourself the gift of health by scheduling your Physical ASAP, because they are free for each calendar year. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Physicals are important because they can discover issues you didn’t know you had such as high blood pressure, thyroid problems, etc., and fixing those will allow you to start 2018 healthy!

Healthy Choices for October

Your health is important to us at DC Medical Care and we thought we would check in with a couple of tips to ensure you are healthy and happy this month.

With the Fall officially here, it is time to be aware of the inherent health risks of this time of year.  Therefore, October is the month to get your Flu Shot so you can be covered the entire Influenza season. You can come in with no appointment or copay, and most importantly, no waiting time because flu shots are administered by by the Nurse and billed through the insurance directly. This is an easy step to safeguard your health and the health of your loved ones.

October is also very close to the end of the year, so if you have not had a Physical this year you have wasted a lot of money on your monthly insurance premiums. A physical is meant to check up on your overall health, and setup your goals for next year. The yearly Physical is a must because anything we find we can correct before symptoms appear. That is the power of prevention and it is in your hands to make it happen.  Money should not be an excuse as IT IS ALWAYS FREE! (i.e. it’s covered by insurance 100% in almost all cases)

This year we have been blessed with warm weather late into the Fall season. That means sunny Sundays with your family, but also that Fall allergies may start later than usual. If you have symptoms not resolved with OTC Claritin or Zyrtec, please come in soon. Allergy medication takes approximately 2 weeks to relieve the symptoms so the earlier you start, the less discomfort you will endure.

July in NJ: Tick Alert!

July is the month to be outdoors, it's not as hot and humid as August, but more consistently sunny than June. We want everyone to be outside enjoying the sun (with sunscreen SPF 30 and above) and hiking, biking, or just gardening.

In New Jersey though, we have to be aware of ticks because Lyme Disease is a real possibility. Don’t get too worried though, not all ticks carry it and not all bites result in infection.

Here is an easy way to look at it:

At the end of the day, especially a day spent being active outdoors, check your whole body for a tick. I mean the WHOLE body. This summer, we found one hidden behind my 7 year old son’s ear just by the hairline! If you find one, you can extract it yourself by grasping it with a pair of tweezers and pulling up and out. Inspect that the mouthpiece is not left in the skin. Disinfect the wound with alcohol. Do not worry about saving the insect.  A Lyme carrying tick, as opposed to other ones, are very, very small.

You will need a blood test for a baseline to verify that you do not have antibodies to Lyme disease, and a second one about 6-7 weeks later. If the second test is negative it means that you have not been infected from that particular tick bite. If positive you will receive treatment before any actual disease develops. This approach works well and decreases the anxiety associated with a tick bite.

Enjoy the outdoors!!!