Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Primary Care
Welcome back to Mount Sinai Queens’ brand new blog featuring useful news and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I am Dr. Sarah Van Wagner, a board-certified family medicine physician who works at Mount Sinai Queens’ Steinway Medical Group. Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
Start with your reason for the visit – write it down and bring it with you. You will often see a medical assistant before you see the doctor. This person may ask about the reason for your visit. Don’t assume the reason was communicated. By stating your reason to both the doctor and the medical assistant, you are all in agreement for why you are there. Whether you say, “I haven’t been to the doctor for a long time and I need a checkup,” or “my kids have strep throat and now I have a sore throat and fever,” agreement on the reason for the visit is a strong start. Think ahead of time about what will leave you feeling highly satisfied after the visit. Let the doctor know this too! (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Primary Care
Welcome back to Mount Sinai Queens’ brand new blog featuring useful news and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I am Dr. Sarah Van Wagner, a board-certified family medicine physician who works at Mount Sinai Queens’ Steinway Medical Group. Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
When you arrive at a new doctor’s office, before you actually see the doctor, the office staff will ask you to fill out paper work to establish your patient chart. At Mount Sinai Queens, this information is entered into an electronic medical record which is designed to follow you through the Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens and Manhattan. Demographics, insurance information, health history including allergies and medications taken are all crucial to a comprehensive chart. The office staff will need to make a copy of your insurance card and need to see identification so be sure and bring those with you. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Primary Care
Welcome back to Mount Sinai Queens’ brand new blog featuring useful news and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I am Dr. Sarah Van Wagner, a board-certified family medicine physician who works at Mount Sinai Queens’ Steinway Medical Group. Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
It is not always easy to stay healthy. Your cubicle mate comes to the office with a bad cold. Your favorite sushi place loses its “A” rating and your digestive system pays the price. Your weekend basketball game includes a bad landing and a sprained ankle…. However, no matter the circumstance, maintaining a healthy foundation will help you stay healthy, and help you recover faster if you get sick or injured. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Primary Care
Welcome back to Mount Sinai Queens’ brand new blog featuring useful news and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I am Dr. Sarah Van Wagner, a board-certified family medicine physician who works at Mount Sinai Queens’ Steinway Medical Group. Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
You want to enter into a long-term relationship with your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Like any relationship, you should try to find the person that best meets your needs. As I mentioned in my last blog post – there are several different types of doctors who are PCPs: (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Health Tips, Heart Disease, Primary Care, Vascular Health
Recent media reports have caused some alarm and confusion about newly published guidelines for statin drugs. Statin drugs reduce cholesterol levels and also decrease cardiac and vascular disease, independent of their cholesterol-lowering effect. Statins provide multiple benefits, but the mechanisms of their actions are not yet fully understood. Like any medication, there is a risk of side effects, which can occur in up to 18 percent of patients and most often consist of muscle pain or temporary derangement of liver function. Rare serious side effects have been described. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Common Illness, Health Tips, Holistic Health, Primary Care
Guest post by Danielle Jardine, MD
National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 7-13. Make sure you are washing your hands the right way to prevent the spread of cold and flu this season.
When you see that sign in the restroom with instructions on how to wash your hands, you can’t help but roll your eyes, right? It’s OK to admit it. We all know the best way to wash our hands and how important this simple act is to helping us stay healthy and avoid disease. At least that’s what many people think. (more…)
Welcome back to Mount Sinai Queens’ brand new blog featuring useful news and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I am Dr. Sarah Van Wagner, a board-certified family medicine physician who works at Mount Sinai Queens’ Steinway Medical Group. Please remember that this information is not a substitute for direct medical advice.
