Boost Your Weight Loss Success - It's Not Rocket "Surgery"!

Every BODY is unique and one size NEVER fits all:  Especially when it comes to weight loss.  Your body composition and chemistry determine your particular needs regarding caloric in-take and daily exercise requirements.  Now you can spend just an hour to find out just WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!  By determining your Resting Metabolic Rate, Dr. Criner can layout a plan for your weight loss success.

Visit our website to find out more information about your Resting Metabolic Rate.  This valuable service is available to the general public and you do not need to be an established patient of Dr. Criner's to participate.

Why Online Office Visits?

With the advent of the retail health clinics, or pharmacy clinics as they are commonly known and the propagation of stand alone urgent care centers, Dr. Criner made the decision to make online office visits available to his patients in an effort to keep medical records cohesive and contiguous. 



Your Next Doctor's Visit Could Be This Simple!

It is of primary importance for the patients' healthcare narrative to not suffer the gaps in information that are often created by visits to different service providers, such as pharmacy clinics or urgent care centers.  For some, the risks can outweigh the benefits.  To that end, Dr. Criner elected to make himself available for extended hours to ensure that his patients receive the best care possible. 

Not all issues are appropriate for the online office visit and patients should familiarize themselves with the guidelines presented on the website.  Emergencies should continue to be addressed by proceeding to the nearest emergency hospital facility.

In addition to protecting the healthcare narrative, patients may benefit from less time lost from work, simply alleviate the need to come into the office for a minor illness when they are not feeling well or remain connected to their primary care doctor when traveling for work or vacation. 

Also, for patients who have suffered a loss in health insurance benefits, the online office visit presents an affordable option for the treatment of common, minor ailments while ensuring quality care.

If you have questions about our office, becoming a patient, or utilizing the online office visit service, please visit our website at www.DoctorCriner.com for more information, or you may call us today at 770-813-9250.

Wishing You Good Health!

Johns Creek Family Practice Doctor Offers Online Office Visits

Online Visits with Dr. Criner!

Beginning Monday, March 4, 2013, Dr. Criner will begin offering online office visits.

Online visits are appropriate for a number of minor, non-urgent conditions and complaints such as cough, cold, urinary tract infection, etc., when you just can't make it into the office. Please visit http://www.doctorcriner.com/Online-Doctor-Visit.html to learn more.

** You must have a valid Patient Portal subscription to conduct an online visit. **

If you don't already have a Patient Portal subscription click here to find out how to get one.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Thanks!!!

In Good Health,

James Criner, M.D.

www.DoctorCriner.com

770-813-9250

Changes to Pap Smear Screening Guidelines

Changes to Pap Smear Screening Guidelines

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated its screening recommendations for cervical cancer. These guidelines fall in line with those from the major gynecologically-related professional organizations as well.

The highlights of these new recommendations are as follows:

• Women 21 to 65 years of age should be screened for cervical cancer.
• Pap smears should begin at, but not earlier than, age 21.
• Women ages 21 to 29 should be screened by Pap smear plus/minus high-risk subtype Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing every 3 years, if results remain normal. In my practice, I will routinely include HPV testing at the time of performing the Pap smear unless asked not to do so.
• Women ages 30 to 65 may choose to have a Pap smear plus HPV testing only every 5 years, if results remain normal.
• Women who have undergone hysterctomy for reasons other than high-grade cervical lesions or cervical cancer do not require routine cervical cancer screening.

NOTE: For women who routinely use their OB/GYN for well-woman screening, I strongly urge you to still complete an annual physical exam at my office. It is important to get regular check-ups for cardiovascular and other screening. For those who see their OB/GYNs essentially only for routine cervical cancer screening, feel free to simply have your pap smear included as part of your annual check-up in my office and save yourself an extra doctor's visit.

Thank you for continuing to rely on us for your primary care needs.

In Good Health,

James Criner, M.D.

www.DoctorCriner.com
770-813-9250

Guidelines Change for Prostate Cancer Screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has recently updated guidelines for prostate cancer screening, namely, now recommending against routine testing of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in the blood, and essentially also eliminating the need for routine digital rectal examination for male patients of any age.

Based on the available data, at this time I agree with this recommendation due to the overwhelming over-diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancers that usually would not affect quality of life or longevity for most males while resulting in unnecessary and possibly harmful biopsies, surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

However, I still will base the screening decision on a case-by-case basis with my patients given other potential contributing factors. Also, I will perform the screening without hesitation if requested

NOTE: You will find differing recommendations from other organizations which make some valid arguments, however I would remind you that unlike most of those organizations, the USPSTF and AAFP have no potential financial interests in whether or not males are routinely screened.

I have included a link here to a short patient education handout from familydoctor.org for your review and to help stimulate any questions you may have. At the bottom of that handout you should find links to organziations offering differing opinions on the appropriateness of screening. Again, do not hesitate to request routine screening from my office if you desire it.

Please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment for further discussion.

In Good Health,

James Criner, M.D.

www.DoctorCriner.com

770-813-9250

Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is an important and often overlooked factor in overall health, immune system function, and a feeling of overall well-being.

The "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight. It also occurs naturally in some foods - including fatty fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks. It also is part of fortified dairy and grain products. However, especially as adults, we tend to be somewhat lacking in dietary sources of vitamin D and generally limit our sun exposure due to the risk of skin malignancies.

Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Symptoms may include bone pain, muscle weakness and depressed mood or decreased sense of well-being. However, the symptoms are often subtle and go mostly unnoticed. Although most people are asymptomatic, vitamin D deficiency poses serious health risks. Low levels of the vitamin have been associated with:

• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Decreased cognitive function in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer
• Depression
• May play a role in prevention and treatment of several common conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Approximately 90% of my patients that I have checked vitamin D levels on come back as deficient!

I urge you to schedule an appointment if you have any of the above symptoms or at risk of developing any of the above conditions. Also, I routinely check levels at your yearly full physical exam.

Click on the link below or call to set up an appointment.

In Good Health,

James Criner, MD

www.DoctorCriner.com
770-813-9250

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