For Patients

The Benefits of Time

We invest the time needed to understand your health and ensure you understand it too. Our practice limits the number of patients we serve so that we can offer:

• Same-day or next-day appointments when you need them
• Appointments that start on time and aren’t rushed
• After-hours access for urgent needs

Patients consistently tell us that this additional time fosters a personal connection with their doctor. Studies confirm that patients with an established primary care relationship receive approximately 10% more recommended preventive screenings and high-value counseling compared to those without one.

Putting You in Control

Illness is costly — in time, money, and quality of life. Our focus on prevention aims to reduce your risk of serious disease before it starts.

The evidence is clear: preventive strategies such as blood pressure management and cholesterol treatment can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death by 20–27%. Colorectal cancer screening can reduce cancer-related mortality by up to 70% when precancerous polyps are detected and removed early. And lifestyle interventions like those in the Diabetes Prevention Program have been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%.

By identifying and addressing risk factors early, we help you take control of your health — potentially avoiding the significant personal and financial burden of preventable disease.

Improving Health Outcomes

Deeper Insight

Understanding your health empowers better decisions. Our preventive approach doesn’t just suggest improvements — it provides the specific data and context you need to make informed choices about your lifestyle, medications, and long-term health goals.

Improved Patient Understanding

Beyond conventional advice, our personalized relationships and Prevention Program provide detailed, actionable guidance. For example, if you face job-related stress, a family history of diabetes, and early signs of bone loss, we can offer specific recommendations for weight management, exercise, stress reduction, and targeted screening — all coordinated in a single plan.

Lifestyle Support

Many health challenges are assumed to be inevitable consequences of aging. But evidence shows that comprehensive lifestyle interventions — including diet, exercise, and weight management — significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Our customized Prevention Program considers your individual circumstances and builds a plan designed to help you live better, with measurable goals and continual room for improvement.

The Value of Prevention

Preventing serious illness avoids not only suffering but also substantial out-of-pocket costs. A heart attack, for example, can result in tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost work, and long-term medication costs. Studies estimate that increasing the use of proven preventive services to recommended levels could avert over 2 million life-years annually in the United States. While not every preventive service reduces total healthcare spending, the health benefits are substantial — and many cardiovascular prevention strategies are among the highest-value interventions in all of medicine.

What Is Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring?

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is a quick, noninvasive heart scan that measures the amount of calcium buildup in the walls of your coronary arteries — the blood vessels that supply your heart. Calcium deposits form as part of atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque that can eventually lead to heart attacks and strokes. By detecting this buildup early — often years or even decades before symptoms appear — a CAC score gives you and your doctor a direct window into the health of your heart arteries.

How the Test Works

A CAC scan uses a low-dose CT (computed tomography) scanner to take images of your heart. The entire process takes about 10 minutes, with the actual scan lasting roughly one minute. No injections, no contrast dye, no fasting, and no special preparation are needed. The radiation exposure is very low — comparable to a standard mammogram.

The scan produces a number called the Agatston score, which reflects the total amount of calcium detected across your coronary arteries. Your score is also compared to what is typical for others of your same age, sex, and ethnicity, giving your doctor additional context.

What Your Score Means

• A score of 0means no detectable calcium was found. This is associated with a very low risk of a heart attack over the next 5–15 years. In many cases, a score of zero allows your doctor to safely defer cholesterol-lowering medication, with a recheck in 3–7 years.
• A score of 1–99indicates mild plaque buildup. Depending on your other risk factors, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and possibly medication.
• A score of 100–299indicates moderate plaque buildup. Preventive treatment — including cholesterol-lowering medication and lifestyle modifications — is generally recommended.
• A score of 300 or higherindicates significant plaque buildup. Studies show that individuals with scores this high carry a cardiovascular risk similar to someone who has already had a heart attack. Aggressive preventive treatment is strongly recommended.

Why It Matters

Standard cholesterol tests tell you about risk factors circulating in your blood, but they cannot tell you whether plaque has actually formed in your arteries. A CAC score bridges that gap. It is one of the most powerful tools available for predicting future heart disease — often outperforming traditional risk calculators alone. For patients whose risk falls in a gray zone — not clearly low, not clearly high — a CAC score can be the deciding factor in whether to start preventive therapy or safely watch and wait.