IHA Rated as Metro Detroit’s Top Physician Group in Consumer Reports Article

New ratings published in the May issue of Consumer Reports magazine give consumers in the greater Detroit area a rare window into how their doctors compare. The ratings focus on how well doctors provide evidence-based care for patients with high cholesterol and diabetes, and how often doctors provide the right screening tests for colon cancer.

Known as The Doctor Project, the effort is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and was led in southeast Michigan by the Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC), a multi-stakeholder collaborative dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in the region.

GDAHC worked with 13 physician organizations—large networks of physicians—to collect and report data on the quality of medical care they provide. This report is first of its kind in Michigan and remains the only report combining data from all major commercial health plans and the performance of more than 3000 primary care physicians.

The Doctor Project is further validation that IHA’s hard work, systems & technology, and focus on meeting the needs of patients with personalized high-quality services is making a substantial difference. To read the full article, please click the Consumer Reports link http://bit.ly/23eqJIT.

The Life-Saving Benefits of Colonoscopy Screening

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to talk about one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, if diagnosed early. It may seem intimidating, but a colonoscopy is a very simple test and a big reason why there are more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States.

A colonoscopy test is a visual examination of the large intestine (colon) using a lighted, flexible video colonoscope. The scope also has a camera to help the physician document findings and notable features.

A colonoscopy is more than just a test. If a polyp is found, it can usually be removed during the exam, thereby eliminating the need for a major operation and potentially preventing the development of cancer. If a bleeding site is identified, treatment can be administered to stop the bleeding. Other treatments can be given through the colonoscope when necessary and further studies or treatments may be recommended.

Colonoscopies also can be used in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of other issues, such as:

  • Abdominal pain, discomfort or change in bowel habits
  • Chronic diarrhea or constipation
  • Colitis (Ulcerative or Crohn’s)
  • Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
  • Alternative tests to a colonoscopy include a barium enema or other types of X-ray exams that outline the colon and allow a diagnosis to be made. In addition, study of the stool and blood can provide indirect information about a colon condition. These exams, however, do not allow direct viewing of the colon or removal of polyps or biopsies to be done.

    If you’re at risk for colon cancer because of age, medical history or family history, talk to your doctor. They can help you determine which test is right for you.

Update: US 23 northbound open!

UPDATE!
US 23 in both directions at 8 Mile Road is now open, 8 Mile Road remains closed over the freeway.

Originally posted 3/10/2016
Please be aware that northbound US 23 at 8 Mile Rd. in Whitmore Lake remains closed following an earlier accident involving a semi-truck. In addition, the bridge over US 23 will remain closed for repairs as well.

We urge you to seek alternate routes and check Mlive for any updates. MDOT does not have an estimate of when the road will reopen.

Welcome Lisa A. Hammer, MD, IBCLC

Please join us in welcoming Lisa A. Hammer, MD, IBCLC, to IHA Breastfeeding Medicine Specialists. Dr. Hammer is a board-certified pediatrician and a lactation consultant. She has experience in pediatrics, lactation and postpartum support, and provides comprehensive breastfeeding consultations, addressing needs of both mothers and babies. She begins welcoming patients on Monday, March 21. Please contact your primary care physician or OB/GYN if you need a referral.

 

 

 

 

Scheduling sports physicals

Below is a listing of IHA’s pediatric and family medicine offices that are now scheduling annual check-ups. Beat the summer rush – don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your child’s check-up. Appointments are now available. Click the link below to make an appointment online, or call the office directly. If you schedule online, please select “physical” from the appointment type drop down menu.

Also, as a reminder, if your child is planning on participating in sports during the 2016 – 2017 school year, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) requires that they receive a sports physical after April 15, 2016.

 

Pediatrics

  • IHA Chelsea Pediatrics: book online or call 734.475.9175
  • IHA Child Health – Ann Arbor: book online or call 734.971.9344
  • IHA Child Health – Plymouth: book online or call 734.455.4600
  • IHA Livingston Pediatrics: book online or call 810.494.6820
  • IHA Pediatric Healthcare – Arbor Park: book online or call 734.434.3000
  • IHA Pediatric Healthcare – Canton: book online or call 734.398.7899
  • IHA Primary Pediatrics – Domino’s Farms: book online or call 734.769.3896

 

Family Medicine

  • IHA Ann Arbor Family Medicine: book online or call 734.761.2581
  • IHA Brighton Family Care: book online or call 810.494.6840
  • IHA Canton Family Medicine: book online or call 734.398.7880
  • IHA Chelsea Family & Internal Medicine: book online or call 734.475.8677
  • IHA Clinton Family Medicine: book online or call 517.456.7449
  • IHA Family & Internal Medicine – Howell: book online or call 517.338.9090
  • IHA Family Medicine – Arbor Park: book online or call 734.971.1188
  • IHA Milan Family & Internal Medicine: book online or call 734.439.2429
  • IHA Pinckney Family Medicine: book online or call 734.878.1000

 

Car seats: why do they expire and can I recycle them?

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As all parents and caretakers know, a car seat is mandatory for young children and infants. But what do you do when your child has outgrown their seat, or it’s expired or been in an accident? There are approximately 12 million car seats purchased in the US every year, many of those ending up in landfills once they’ve been retired.

90% of the materials, by weight, can be recycled. There are two locations in Ann Arbor that accept retired car seats for recycling, which are listed below.

Why does a car seat expire or become unusable after a car accident? They expire because the plastic materials they’re made of degrades over time from ultraviolet light, which weakens the effectiveness of the frame to withstand impact in a crash.

They’re unusable after an accident, even if they look fine, for similar reasons. Think of the car seat like an airbag- it’s there to save your child’s life. You have to replace your airbag after a crash because it can no longer withstand impact and help save your life- it’s only useful for one crash. A car seat is the same. It may look like it hasn’t sustained any damage, but there could be cracks or fractures in the plastic that puts your baby’s life at risk in the event of another crash.

To properly dispose of a car seat, you should strip the entire seat of the cover, the straps, disassemble everything and cut the straps. It’s also recommended you write all over the plastic base something like “EXPIRED” or “CRASHED” in permanent marker, to stop someone from trying to use it. There are two locations in Ann Arbor that accept car seats for recycling: Drop-off station on East Ellsworth, and the recovery yard on Jackson Road. For more information visit Recycle Ann Arbor.

M-14 Construction Information

 

Beginning Friday, March 4 at 9:00 pm, M-14 between Miller Road and Main Street will be shut down for construction. This closure is expected to last through summer and into the fall, which may impact your normal route to one of our office locations. Please allow yourself extra time to make it to your scheduled appointments.

In addition, if you are a patient at IHA Ann Arbor Family Medicine, IHA WestArbor Obstetrics & Gynecology, IHA WestArbor Internal Medicine or IHA Child Health – Ann Arbor, we are also aware that the construction may delay your drive time to your office when our new building, IHA WestArbor Medical Center, opens in late August.

Mdot’s interactive map will give you a closer look and other information about the project. Check it out here.