CityView Magazine

48 December 2021 diabetes, for instance, include damage to the heart, the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves and the circulation. "Ultimately, those things can lead to heart attacks or stroke," Imber said. "People can be asymptomatic. Until they aren't." Heine remembers one patient who was experiencing atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, without knowing it. "We started him on an anticoagulant and got him a cardiac workup with a cardiologist," Heine said. "ey changed his heart rhythm to a normal one." Fayetteville Family Medical provides care for people of all ages and is the largest of Cape Fear Valley's family clinics in the area. e four physicians and five mid- level providers maintain a bustling pace Monday through ursday and half days on Friday. e clinic also serves as a teaching facility for a variety of residents, including medical and pharmacy residents and nurse practitioners. It's a busy clinic, but they also maintain a keen awareness of trying to stay on schedule and keep patients' waiting time to a minimum. "Everybody here knows that a patient's biggest complaint is if they have to wait," Heine said. "We work very hard to stay on schedule. ings do happen, but we work really hard to stay on schedule." at means there's no reason to put off those important screenings like blood pressure checks, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostrate screenings and bone density tests. "A lot of people are just now starting to come on board and get back," he said. "It's important that people get back and realize that it's safe to come back to the doctor's office again. I think people are starting to get more comfortable with coming back." with high blood pressure feel fine." During the pandemic, Cape Fear Valley Health implemented telehealth visits, allowing patients to check in with their doctors by video. Telehealth is an important service and be effective particularly for conditions like anxiety and depression, but nothing can match an in-person visit, Imber said. "ere's no substitute for an actual doctor's visit and a check of vital signs and lab work," he said. "All the stuff they can't feel and that we can't tell over the phone." Heine agreed. "A lot of times we pick up palpable neck cancers, oral cancers, melanomas. Telemedicine has its place, but it doesn't take the place of a good, hands-on exam." Unchecked diseases can have devastating effects. Complications associated with "Having a primary care provider is incredibly important for your overall health," said Heine, who has been with Fayetteville Family Medical since it was founded in 1982. "They are your quarterback, your home base, your gatekeeper. Everybody needs a primary care provider." Jim Heine, PA-C Check the Cape Fear Valley Health website for COVID-19 vaccine availability.

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