Dermatology Services At Ocala Family Medical Center

Of all the areas of the body most affected by the deadly habit of smoking the most visible effects can be seen on our skin. Tobacco smoke causes oxidative stress so that insufficient oxygen is supplied to the skin resulting in tissue ischaemia (an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body) and blood vessel occlusion. It reduces innate and host immune responses, and induces an enzyme that specifically degrades collagen.

Nicotine from cigarettes induces vasoconstriction, inhibits inflammation, delays wound healing and accelerates skin aging. Tobacco smoking has unpleasant temporary dermal and mucosal effects including wrinkles, temporary yellowing of fingers and fingernails and discolored teeth. Smokers tend to be more severely affected than non-smokers by the majority of inflammatory skin diseases — even acne —and various conditions are often more difficult to treat effectively in smokers.

Longer term, the gaunt skin of a 40-year-old heavy smoker resembles that of a non-smoking 70-year-old. Smokers can look forward to facial wrinkles and furrows (crows’ feet), vertical ear crease, smoker’s lines around the lips, and baggy eyelids with a slack jawline. What is more, you will likely experience uneven skin coloring, exhibiting greyish, yellow skin tones with prominent blood vessels. All this in addition to generally dry, coarse skin.

Smoking causes biomechanical changes in our bodies that can speed up the normal aging process of the skin, contributing to deep wrinkles and fine lines that make us look older. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more wrinkled, leathery skin you will develop. If you smoke and want to quit there are many resources at your disposal. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation solutions.

And of course the skin has the risk of cancer that all bodily systems endure. Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of developing a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, compared to non-smokers. There is also an increased risk of oral leukoplakia (precancer) and oral cancer; 75% of cases of oral cancer and lip cancer occur in smokers.

There is never a wrong time to quit smoking. If you smoke, quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to protect your lungs, heart, brain and of course your skin. It is never too late to quit. Your doctor can help you decide which smoking cessation method will work best for you.

Our Dermatology department specializes in diagnosing, treating and preventing skin conditions, diseases and cancers. The Dermatology & Aesthetic Center also houses our in-house pathology lab.

Dr. Kenneth Wallace III, M.D. is our Board Certified Dermatologist as well as a Mohs’ Skin Cancer Surgeon.

Wellness Exams At Ocala Family Medical Center

Is it time for you to have a check-up from the neck up? (And the neck down?) Part of health maintenance for all patients is a yearly wellness exam. By completing a wellness exam, patients can work with their healthcare provider to develop a personalized plan for managing chronic conditions and preventing acute illnesses that will help them stay as healthy as possible over the coming year. 

With healthcare each case is unique. Your annual wellness exam may also include information on which vaccinations are recommended based on your age and risks. These can include the flu shot, Tdap, and human papilloma virus (HPV). The annual exam is an important opportunity to talk to your doctor about your options for managing symptoms and how to prevent osteoporosis or any other possible life-altering conditions.

The right time is now. It is important that you make time for regular checkups with your provider so he or she can find and treat any new or ongoing health problems as well as help prevent future ones from developing. For some people, having an annual physical examination is a source of reassurance that they are as healthy as they feel. Others see it as an alarm system, to catch health problems before they become serious. Always remember that with any health condition early detection is key.

At a wellness screening you may be wondering what you may expect. At your preventive visit, your primary care doctor will likely ask you about your current health, your family history, past illnesses and surgeries and chronic conditions to assess your health risk. He or she will also likely do a physical exam, such as checking your vital signs, listening to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope, checking your ears, eyes, throat, skin, abdomen etc. In addition, your doctor may conduct screenings, specific to your age and gender.

How should you prepare yourself? You will want to get ready for your physical exam by completing any forms in advance, making a list of medications you take regularly and identifying any additional questions and concerns. Based on your risk, your doctor may make recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. Some services may not be covered when provided during a preventive visit, so ask your provider at the time of service or check with your health plan customer service.

Board Certified Primary Care providers are trained to care for you through all stages of life. Focused on building an on-going relationship, they help you stay well, treat you when you are sick and educate you on prevention and wellness to keep you and your family healthy. 

All of our departments here at Ocala Family Medical Center work together to provide our patients with convenient on-site services. This allows us to work as a team in providing excellent treatments and services for our patients. 

Ocala Family Medical Center

2230 SW 19th Avenue Road

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: 352-237-4133

Fax:      352-873-4581

E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com

Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation At Ocala Family Medical Center

Rehabilitation is the process that assists a person in recovering from a serious injury, illness or surgery to regain strength, or relearn skills. Rehabilitation can help many body functions, including bowel and bladder problems, chewing and swallowing, problems thinking or reasoning, movement or mobility, speech, and language. Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a medical specialty that helps people regain body functions they lost due to medical conditions or injury. This term is often used to describe the whole medical team, not just the doctors.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as physiatry, is a medical specialty concerned with diagnosis, evaluation, and management of persons of all ages with physical and/or cognitive impairment and disability. This specialty involves diagnosis and treatment of patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions, the management of comorbidities and co-impairments, diagnostic and therapeutic injection procedures, electrodiagnostic medicine, and emphasis on prevention of complications of disability from secondary conditions.

A physiatrist's treatment focuses on helping the patient become as functional and pain-free as possible in order to participate in and enjoy life as fully as possible. A physiatrist can be either a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or physiatry, is approximately 60 years old. Today, there are over 8,000 physicians practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Services provides complete physical rehabilitation care to people with musculoskeletal problems caused by disease or injury. The musculoskeletal system is the "framework" of the body that includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. Recovery from an injury or debilitating condition requires hard work and commitment.

Physiatrists are trained in the rehabilitation of neurologic disorders, and in the diagnosis and management of impairments of the musculoskeletal (including sports and occupational aspects) and other organ systems, and the long-term management of patients with disabling conditions. Physiatrists provide leadership to multidisciplinary teams concerned with maximal restoration or development of physical, psychological, social, occupational and vocational functions in persons whose abilities have been limited by disease, trauma, congenital disorders or pain to enable people to achieve their maximum functional abilities.

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Bone Densitometry Tests At Ocala Family Medical Center

When we have a strong hunch or intuition about something we may say "I can feel it in my bones". And there are indeed many things our bones can tell us. Bone densitometry, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DEXA, uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body (usually the lower spine and hips) to measure bone loss. It is commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis and to assess an individual’s risk for developing fractures. DEXA is simple, quick and noninvasive. It is also the most accurate method for diagnosing osteoporosis.

This is one of the many ways medical professionals use x-ray technology. An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

A bone density test tells you if you have normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia) or osteoporosis. It is the only test that can diagnose osteoporosis. The lower your bone density, the greater your risk of breaking a bone. A bone density test can be a great diagnostic tool for you and your healthcare provider. Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. DXA is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD).

You can find out whether you have osteoporosis or if you should be concerned about your bones by getting a bone density test. Some people also call it a bone mass measurement test. This test uses a machine to measure your bone density. It estimates the amount of bone in your hip, spine and sometimes other bones. Your test result will help your healthcare provider make recommendations to help you protect your bones.

Osteoporosis targets women much more often than men, and it becomes more common after menopause and with advancing age. As a result, healthcare providers recommend bone density testing for women who have been through menopause and are at least 65 years old. In addition, there are certain characteristics that put people at higher risk for fracture, so healthcare providers sometimes recommend testing in men or women younger than 65 years who have one or more risk factors.

Ocala Family Medical Center

2230 SW 19th Avenue Road

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: 352-237-4133

Fax:      352-873-4581

E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com

Fungal Infection Treatment At Ocala Family Medical Center

When you need to scratch that itch it is possible that there is a fungus among us. Fungi usually make their homes in moist areas of the body where skin surfaces meet: between the toes, in the genital area, and under the breasts. Obese people are more likely to get these infections because they have excessive skinfolds. People with diabetes tend to be more susceptible to fungal infections as well. 

Common fungal skin infections are caused by yeasts such as Candida or dermatophytes, such as Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton. Many such fungi live only in the topmost layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) and do not penetrate deeper. 

Doctors may suspect a fungal infection when they see a red, irritated, or scaly rash in one of the commonly affected areas. They can usually confirm the diagnosis by scraping off a small amount of skin and having it examined under a microscope or placed in a culture medium where the specific fungus can grow and be identified.

For any fungal action there may be a reaction. Strangely, fungal infections on one part of the body can cause rashes on other parts of the body that are not infected. For example, a fungal infection on the foot may cause an itchy, bumpy rash on the fingers. These eruptions are allergic reactions to the fungus. They do not result from touching the infected area.

Fungal skin infections are caused by different types of fungi and can be a common culprit of itchy skin. Fungi invade and grow in dead keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. The different types of fungal infections are divided into groups based on what type of fungus is involved.

Some fungi reproduce through tiny spores in the air. You can inhale the spores or they can land on you. As a result, fungal infections often start in the lungs or on the skin. You are more likely to get a fungal infection if you have a weakened immune system or take antibiotics. Fungi can be difficult to kill. For skin and nail infections, you can apply medicine directly to the infected area. Oral antifungal medicines are also available for serious infections.

Our Dermatology department specializes in diagnosing, treating and preventing skin conditions, diseases and cancers. The Dermatology & Aesthetic Center also houses our in-house pathology lab.

Dr. Kenneth Wallace III, M.D. is our Board Certified Dermatologist as well as a Mohs’ Skin Cancer Surgeon.

OFMC Dermatology & Aesthetics Center

2121 SW 22nd Place

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: 352-237-4133

Fax:      352-873-4581

E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com

Kenneth A. Wallace III, MD

Nuclear Medicine Services At Ocala Family Medical Center

Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine that involves the administration of radioactive substances in order to diagnose and treat disease. The scans performed in nuclear medicine are carried out by a radiographer. This speciality of nuclear medicine is sometimes referred to as endoradiology because the radiation emitted from inside the body is detected rather than being applied externally, as with an X-ray procedure, for example.

The most important difference between nuclear medicine diagnostic tests and other imaging modalities is that nuclear imaging techniques show the physiological function of the tissue or organ being investigated, while more traditional imaging systems such as computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans) show only the anatomy or structure.

Both nuclear medicine and radiology are used as a diagnostic procedure (to determine a patient’s health, monitor the course of an illness or follow the progress of the treatment) and as a therapeutic procedure (to treat illnesses). However they are different in that in nuclear medicine radioisotopes are introduced into the body internally, whereas in radiology X-rays penetrate the body from outside the body.

As a potential patient you should be aware that nuclear medicine procedures are among the safest diagnostic imaging exams available. A patient only receives an extremely small amount of a radiopharmaceutical, just enough to provide sufficient diagnostic information. In fact, the amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to, or often times less than, that of a diagnostic x-ray.

The Nuclear Medicine division of our Radiology department is helpful in detecting and diagnosing a variety of diseases and problems a patient may be having. This department is accredited by the American College of Radiology, which recognizes high quality nuclear cardiology departments.

Ocala Family Medical Center

2230 SW 19th Avenue Road

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: 352-237-4133

Fax:      352-873-4581

E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com

HydraFacial At Ocala Family Medical Center

The HydraFacial treatment is the newest advance in non-laser skin resurfacing. HydraFacial is the only hydradermabrasion procedure that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, resulting in clearer, more beautiful skin with no discomfort or downtime. The treatment is soothing, moisturizing, non-invasive and non-irritating.

The HydraFacial treatment improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested and enlarged pores, oily or acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation and brown spots. This procedure is suitable for most skin types, including thin or aging skin, ethnic skin, and dry skin or oily skin. Start your skin maintenance program now to slow down your skin's aging process and delay the need for invasive procedures.

HydraFacial is an innovative breakthrough in today’s skin care. As the name implies, it hydrates the skin. Virtually everyone knows that red, dry, irritated skin will increase the visible signs of aging. What’s the solution? Hydration. Well-hydrated skin equals healthy skin. HydraFacial is a different kind of skin-enhancing treatment simply because of how well it thoroughly hydrates and improves the overall appearance of skin.

HydraFacial resurfacing addresses every aspect of good skin care by using a combination of cleansing, skin exfoliation, extraction, and eventually hydration along with the added protection of antioxidants and skin rejuvenation. HydraFacial is a combination of the following three facial treatments:
*Exfoliation and skin resurfacing process of microdermabrasion
*Renewed skin of a chemical peel
*Extractions and hydration similar to a deep-cleansing skin facial treatment

HydraFacial is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that delivers immediate results for improved texture and skin tone without any discomfort or added downtime to recover. People who use HydraFacial experience instant results leaving their skin more moisturized, soothed, non-irritated, and more attractive.

OFMC Dermatology & Aesthetic Center 2121 SW 22nd Place Ocala, FL 34471 Phone: 352-368-1333 Fax: 352-873-4581 E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com Call to schedule your FREE consultation! Deb Scott, LPN, LE

X- Ray Services At Ocala Family Medical Center

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light. Unlike light, however, x-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including the body. Medical x-rays are used to generate images of tissues and structures inside the body. If x-rays travelling through the body also pass through an x-ray detector on the other side of the patient, an image will be formed that represents the “shadows” formed by the objects inside the body.

One type of x-ray detector is photographic film, but there are many other types of detectors that are used to produce digital images. The x-ray images that result from this process are called radiographs.

When the body undergoes X-rays, different parts of the body allow varying amounts of the X-ray beams to pass through. Images are made in degrees of light and dark. It depends on the amount of X-rays that penetrate the tissues. The soft tissues in the body (like blood, skin, fat, and muscle) allow most of the X-ray to pass through and appear dark gray on the film. A bone or a tumor, which is denser than soft tissue, allows few of the X-rays to pass through and appears white on the X-ray. At a break in a bone, the X-ray beam passes through the broken area. It appears as a dark line in the white bone.

Medical x-rays have increased our ability to detect disease or injury early enough for a medical problem to be managed, treated, or cured. When performed appropriately and early enough, these procedures can improve health and may even save a person’s life.

X-Ray studies focus on internal structures of the body. The primary focus areas for X-Ray’s are: bones, chest, back and abdomen. These studies can be used for annual wellness purposes or for diagnosing a suspected injury or illness. OFMC relies on a digital radiography machine which allows for a faster and more detailed image, as well as a Radiologist that is available on-site, every day to read the X-Ray results.

Ocala Family Medical Center

2230 SW 19th Avenue Road

Ocala, FL 34471

Phone: 352-237-4133

Fax:      352-873-4581

E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com

Cardiology Services At Ocala Family Medical Center

If your general medical doctor feels that you might have a significant heart or related condition, he or she will often call on a cardiologist for help. Symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pains, or dizzy spells often require special testing. Sometimes heart murmurs or ECG changes need the evaluation of a cardiologist. 

Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels—the cardiovascular system. You might also visit a cardiologist so you can learn about your risk factors for heart disease and find out what measures you can take for better heart health. Texas Heart Institute cardiologists are listed in the professional staff directory.

When you are dealing with a complex health condition like heart disease, it is important that you find the right match between you and your specialist. A diagnosis of heart or vascular disease often begins with your primary care doctor, who then refers you to a cardiologist. The cardiologist evaluates your symptoms and your medical history and may recommend tests for a more definite diagnosis. Then, your cardiologist decides if your condition can be managed under his or her care using medicines or other available treatments. If your cardiologist decides that you need surgery, he or she refers you to a cardiovascular surgeon, who specializes in operations on the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. You remain under the care of your cardiologist even when you are referred to other specialists.

Cardiology is a complex field, so many cardiologists specialize in different areas. All cardiologists are clinical cardiologists who focus on the diagnosis, medical management (use of medicines), and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Some clinical cardiologists specialize in pediatric cardiology, which means they diagnose and treat heart problems in children. When clinical cardiologists treat only adult patients, they specialize in adult cardiology. Other clinical cardiologists may specialize in interventional procedures (balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.

At OFMC, we provide comprehensive Cardiology services, testing and treatments. Whether you have been diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition or are just looking for a Cardiologist, we can meet all of your needs. Dr. James London, M.D. is our Board Certified Cardiologist.

Ocala Family Medical Center