Category: In The News

Preventative Health Bucks County Magazine

Preventative Health  Bucks County Magazine December 2017

by Mary Beth Schwartz

You’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room and watching the clock tick…15 minutes pass…20 minutes…35 minutes…you have so much to do today and you’re on time for your appointment. What is taking so long? You must find out what is going on with that lingering cough, that nagging pain in your leg that just won’t go away, your constant need to go to the bathroom. Finally, they call your name. The nurse leads you to a room, pulls your records, weighs you, and in a few minutes you’re finally in front of your doctor, who has roughly six to 10 minutes to go over your concerns, share some thoughts, and send you on your way.

In today’s healthcare landscape, this is now the norm.Many Americans accept a 6 to 10-minute doctor’s office visit for diagnosis and treatment. Modern medicine has patients wasting hours in the waiting room after waiting weeks, and sometimes even months, for appointments. After more than 25 years of practicing traditional medicine, Dr. Marc Rabinowitz had enough so he decided to take a leap of faith and do something about it. That’s how Southampton-based Prevention First Healthcare, a concierge medical practice, was born. (Dr. Marc, as he’s affectionately known by his hundreds of patients, prefers the term “personalized medicine,” because it is healthcare tailored to his patients’ personal needs.)

Every day for decades, Dr. Marc saw 25 to 30 patients a day and his heart was telling him his patients needed more … more face time to discuss concerns and needs, more attention to develop personalized treatment plans, more confidence and encouragement in reaching their healthcare goals. Ten years ago, he figured out a way to restructure his practice model so that he was able to give his patients hours instead of minutes. Now he is spending almost two hours with patients during their annual physical examination. He creates programs for nutrition, exercise, weight loss, and, if needed, smoking cessation. “We focus on the individual needs of our patients. Through physicals, screenings, counseling, and testing, we develop a proactive plan to keep our patients healthier and happier. We explore family histories, current medical conditions, and lifestyle choices in an effort to map out a patient’s individual health care needs and provide specific remedies.”

His office also schedules all specialist appointments for his patients and everyone receives daily access to the doctor via a private phone line and a live receptionist. He even makes a house calls if needed. Best of all, Dr. Marc offers limited wait times. “My patients’ time is their most valuable commodity.”“Patients are brought in the day that their symptoms begin. I have clients of all ages, from 18 to 102, and we give them all expeditious care. The visits are scheduled on a half-hour basis, not a five-minute basis. I personally discuss their case with any specialist that they may be referred to. When two doctors discuss a case, a diagnosis is achieved faster. I pick up the phone and work with the finest medical centers in the United States on an everyday basis. A doctor that practices in the traditional model does not have the time to do this. Seventy-five percent of primary care physicians are employed by a healthcare conglomerate, hospital, or other party—they are not working for the patient. Every patient of mine is given my utmost priority,” Dr. Marc says. The price for the service is very cost effective as well. “It was important to me that I was able to offer quality health care for less than the price of a daily premium coffee.”

A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Marc graduated Cum Laude of LaSalle University. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University, Alpha Omega Alpha and went on to be an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the School before entering private practice. Named one of America’s Top Physicians by the Consumers’ Research Council of America, he has frequently been featured on television and radio programs throughout the region, as well as MSNBC and CNBC.

“Our goal is to add years to your life and life to your years. My patients value their life and want the best medical care, regardless of income. They treat their life and health as an asset and they make an investment in it. This is about primary preventative health care and why I have a limited size practice. Every patient is treated as if they are a member of my family. My staff treats the patients the same way. We have adopted them and they have adopted us.”

According to Dr. Marc, when primary preventative practices are studied, the results illustrate a significant reduction in hospitalization, urgent care visits, and trips to the emergency room … in some studies, up to an 85 percent. “By proactively treating our patients, we are immediately improving their health. We encourage our patients to be proactive. They have no problem reaching me—they can call and reach me on the phone right away. My patients even have my personal cell phone for emergencies after hours. This is health care elevated to its highest level.”

“The United States has the highest mortality rate in the industrialized world. We spent over three trillion dollars a year on health care, yet we have the worst outcome. It gets worse every single year. Prevention First Healthcare is my way to save the world, to restore excellent medical care.”

To schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation with Dr. Marc Rabinowitz, call 215-PREVENT (215-773-8368) or visit www.215prevent.com. Prevention First Healthcare is located at 715 Cherry Lane in Southampton.

Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.
Original Article Here: http://www.buckscountymag.com/health/medical/preventative-health

An Apple A Day Won’t Make Me Go Away

With medical care becoming overly frustrating for most Americans, new medical recommendations coming out practically every month so it seems and the busy, crazy lives all of us lead, I do my best to simplify the complicated for my patients.

Do I recommend an apple a day?  Sure.
Should I tell you to eat bread every day like Oprah to lose weight?  Um.  This one we should tackle when you come in for a visit or call.

Obviously, there is so much more to patient care.
Take for example the most recent study by the National Institutes of Health.  A study was released finding that the systolic blood pressure once defined for high blood pressure as 140 is now being recommended and lowered to 120. What I do with my preventative and personalized care medical practice is listen to my patients and their concerns.   When they read about the blood pressure study and call me to be seen, I listen, take their blood pressure and make recommendations based upon the findings.

I always take blood pressure readings both sitting and lying down and also when my patient is standing up.  I look for Orthostatic Hypotension — also called Postural Hypotension —a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Orthostatic Hypotension can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even faint.

What do we do when we find there is high blood pressure?
There are 3 steps every American can take to diminish their risk for high blood pressure, which is prominent in 1/3rd of the population over the age of 50.

Weight Management
When you bear more weight on your body, more blood has to be pumped throughout your system.  This puts great stress on your heart.  Watching your weight is very important to your overall health; something we promote very strongly in our preventative and personalized medicine practice.  Eat healthy, exercise regularly and reduce your caloric intake.

Salt
Be conscious of your salt intake.  I usually recommend for the average patient to keep your salt intake no higher than 4,000mg per day, if not closer to 3,000.  Salt increases fluid in your body and bloodstream and causes blood pressure to rise.  Read food labels and try to be aware when you eat out how much salt is in your food.  If you have a weak heart, restrict your diet to 2,000mg/day of salt.  If you have good kidneys, light salt is another option.  Light salt contains a percentage of potassium which counteracts the effects of salt.

Medication
Prescription medication has proven to help those with high blood pressure.  But prescriptions also cause some uncomfortable side effects.  Speak with your prescribing doctor if you have any side effects from blood pressure meds.  There are many options out there, so an adjustment may be necessary.

If you take prescribed medications to help with your blood pressure, patient compliance is crucial.  Take your medicine the same time every day and do not miss a dose.  Pack it with you on vacation and store your medication in a cool, dry location, out of the reach of young children.

What is the best solution to high blood pressure?  Being seen regularly by an accessible and knowledgeable doctor concerned with your overall health and wellness would be my number one prescription… Along with the Apple a Day Keeping the Doctor Away!

The world of healthcare may be rapidly changing for many, but hundreds who choose to put prevention first are clearly adding years to their life and life to their years. Why don’t you join them today? To schedule your FREE consultation, call 215.PREVENT (215-773-8368) or visit www.215prevent.com.

Dr. Marc S. Rabinowitz
Prevention First Healthcare

October 2012, Multiple Sclerosis Benefit

Prevention First Healthcare partnered with a local health club to host a flu shot clinic and fundraiser in October of 2012 to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

May 19, 2011, CBS 3’s “Talk Philly” show

As seen on CBS 3’s Talk Philly show!
These days a trip to the doctor can mean five minutes with the nurse and even less time with the doctor. You get your diagnosis and prescription and you are sent on your way, right? Well what if you got a 90 minute exam, a plan for better health, the doctor’s cell phone number in case you have a question and even the opportunity for house calls. You can get all this and more at Prevention First. Here to talk about it is the founder of Prevention First, Dr. Marc Rabinowitz and his patient Sherry Kohn.
View Video
Original Article

Bucks County Internist Named One of America’s Top Physicians

Dr. Marc Rabinowitz Featured in Consumer’s Research Council of America 2010 Top Physicians

(Southhampton, PA) – Dr. Marc Rabinowitz, a nationally-recognized internist for more than two decades, and founder of Prevention First Healthcare, has been named one of America’s Top Physicians by Consumer’s Research Council of America in its 2010 edition. This is the second time Dr. Rabinowitz has received this title; he was also featured in the 2008 edition.

To determine America’s Top Physicians, the Consumer’s Research Council of America utilizes a point value system for experience, training, professional associations and board certification; and recognizes the medical professionals throughout the Country with the highest scores to create an objective resource guide.

A Cum Laude graduate of LaSalle University, Dr. Rabinowitz received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University, Alpha Omega Alpha in 1986 and went on to be an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the School before entering in private practice in 1991. In addition, he served on the Medical Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Holy Redeemer Hospital, as well as the Board of Directors of the Patients and Physicians Alliance.

Branching out from traditional medicine, Dr. Rabinowitz formed Prevention First Healthcare, a concierge medical practice designed to promote proactive care through education, counseling, comprehensive screenings, and continuous one-on-one communication between the patient and doctor. Prevention First patients receive comprehensive 90-minute physicals, nutritional counseling, exercise training, smoking cessation, regular testing, house calls if needed, a personal assistant to handle all referrals and insurance matters, and most importantly, Dr. Rabinowitz’s personal cell phone number which can be used at any time necessary.

For more information about Dr. Rabinowitz’s practice, Prevention First Healthcare, please visit www.215prevent.com or call 215-PREVENT (215-773-8368)