TO YOUR HEALTH
Serving Southwest Florida’s Health Needs
At a time when health care is a priority in our lives, TOTI Media continues to provide you with useful information to help you make the right decisions. We are making every effort to support the community and the businesses we all depend on. Before visiting any of these medical facilities, please confirm—via telephone or website—that they are open and currently seeing patients, as well as the hours of operation. LEE HEALTH
Although no one plans to visit an emergency room or hospital, the unexpected can happen. A major provider in Southwest Florida is Lee Health, which consists of four acute care hospitals: Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Gulf Coast Medical Center and Cape Coral Hospital, and two specialty hospitals—Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and The Rehabilitation Hospital.
Lee Health Emergency Services operate four full-service emergency rooms, a level II adult trauma center, pediatric emergency and pediatric medical transport.
Emergency Medicine, HealthPark Medical Center, 9981 S. HealthPark Dr., Fort Myers; 239-343-6690
Trauma Center and Emergency Center, Lee Memorial Hospital, 2776 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 239-343-2000
leehealth.org
MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP
One of the largest comprehensive primary care practices in Florida, Millennium Physician Group has offices, imaging centers and lab services in Southwest Florida. If you find yourself in need of health care—from primary care to specialists to chronic-care management to in-hospital care to walk-ins—the group is here to help.
At the Sanibel office, a primary care facility, you’ll find Dr. Donald T. Harris,
M.D. and Diane St. Pierre, A.P.R.N. There are several offices in Fort Myers that offer primary care and specialists; they are listed on the Millennium website. Fort Myers also has a No Wait Walk-In Center; check the website for more information.
Sanibel office, 695 Tarpon Bay Road, Ste. 2, Sanibel; 239-312-4544
Fort Myers Walk-in Center, 13813 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers; 239-308-0005,
millenniumphysician.com
SAN-CAP MEDICAL CENTER
The entrance of San-Cap Medical Center looks similar to many on-island cottages. Coastal foliage surrounds the screened-in building, and a walk-in clinic sign adorned with seahorses greets patrons. Already, it’s easy to feel relaxed when visiting a doctor’s office.
And that’s exactly what Dr. P. Denis Kuehner wants. He built his business on doctor-to-patient interaction and good old-fashioned practices. “I enjoy people, and I enjoy practicing and using my skills,” Dr. Kuehner says. “There’s a big difference between a job and a profession. This is not only my profession, but my hobby.”
Though that may sound like a bold statement, Dr. Kuehner just sees himself fulfilling his lifelong dream. “I never wanted to be a cowboy or an astronaut,” he explains. “I wanted to be a doctor, so I went straight to medical school and now I love it.”
After obtaining his doctorate from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at the age of 25, Dr. Kuehner experienced a disconnect in patient interaction and confidentiality. He decided to open his first private practice in Pennsylvania, which allowed him to apply the backto-basic methods. In 1999, he sold his business and came to Sanibel.
Even on a busy day at the clinic, Dr. Kuehner still manages to spend adequate time with each patient.
San-Cap Medical Center, 4301 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel; 239-472-0700
PRIVATE PHYSICIANS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Private Physicians of Southwest Florida offers a fresh approach to restoring and building your doctor-patient relationship.
In the late 1990s, a new movement was born simultaneously in Fort Myers and in Seattle, Washington. Creative physicians dissatisfied with the status quo, opted out of the insurance-based medical system to invent a better way of serving their patients. This movement embraced by Private Physicians of Southwest Florida came to be known as “concierge practice” and is sometimes also known as “direct medicine,” “private practice,” or “boutique medicine.”
Concierge medicine restores the doctor-patient relationship to the lofty level it enjoyed before being constrained and degraded by government and insurance. Concierge physicians work only for their patients. They don’t receive payments from insurance companies, the government or the pharmaceutical industry. They give uncompromising care in an unhurried and respectful setting because they care, and they have no conflicts of interest.
Doctors can reduce their patient panel size to a few hundred instead of a few thousand, increase the length of visits to 30-90 minutes and establish direct financial relationships with their patients to eliminate conflicts of interest and to re-empower patients.
Because they emphasized prevention and proactive care, their patients enjoy much lower rates of hospitalization and emergency room utilization, which saves the system money. The goal is good health and healthy people.
While concierge medicine may not be a better model for everyone, it has allowed a group of physicians—Gary M. Price, M.D., F.A.C.P.; David L. West, M.D.; Andrew J. Oakes-Lottridge, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.; and Raymond J. Carrelle, M.D., M.B.A.—to practice the kind of medicine they always dreamed of—giving them the time to truly treat patients as they would want to be treated.
Imagine being able to reach your doctor at any time if you have a question, or being able to schedule an office visit today, if you need it. How about a house call if you are unable to go to the office? Imagine having your doctor guide your care through the complex maze of specialists and hospitalists, selecting only what is the best for you, with no compromises or excuses. That is the world of private (concierge) medicine.
Private Physicians of Southwest Florida has offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Sanibel and Clewiston.
239-415-1111, privatephysician sofswfl.com
ISLAND PHARMACY
In 2019 Island Pharmacy on Sanibel celebrated 12 years of business. During those years, both visitors and residents have turned to owner Reggie Mathai and his staff for their pharmaceutical needs. For Mathai, it’s all about caring for people.
“We don’t treat our customers as objects or just another number,” he says. “That’s the biggest thing. Myself, personally, it’s all about applying the
Golden Rule. How do you want to be treated? Well, you treat them the best way you possibly can.”
Mathai and his wife started the business in 2007. Their overall focus is to go beyond prescription fulfillment to include follow-ups—seeing how customers are doing and answering questions at any time.
Compassion for his customers is important to Mathai. “It breaks my heart to see people very ill,” he says. “It’s one thing if it’s a cold, but when you see them in adverse conditions and going through a lot of hurt and pain, it’s hard.” As an independent pharmacist, Mathai believes in spending as much time with his customers and following up with them—something you won’t get at a chain pharmacy.
Island Pharmacy has been praised on social media with posts such as this one: “The pharmacist was so kind and considerate. I forgot my insurance card, so he called the last pharmacy at home where I had a prescription filled and got all the information from them. After that, it took just a few minutes to get my prescriptions filled. It was the best I’ve been treated here on this island.”
Another patient referenced excellent service and an attentive staff, despite how busy the store was. The user also said the variety of items in the store was vast. “Much better than going to a big-box store. Don’t feel like a number. Glad I came here,” he concluded.
The access to the store’s pharmacists, who are more than happy to take time to explain things to customers even several times, Mathai says, is a big advantage. This is especially true for customers and patients not feeling 100 percent. Some information Mathai and his staff can provide includes dietary changes, non-pharmacological approaches and vitamins.
After 12 years, Mathai is pleased with the community he serves. “In the beginning, you never know how long you’re going to be around,” he says. “The support from the local community has made a big difference. We see people come and go, but overall the support has been strong.”
He continues, “No matter where you go or where you choose to go, when you come in here once, or a few times, we’ll get to know you quickly. We’ll recognize you when you come in. We’ll talk to you and get to know you.”
Often in the medical business there’s a wall that keeps people from opening up and telling a pharmacist what’s going on or even opening up enough to be comfortable to ask questions. “We’re trying to break those barriers and improve,” says Mathai.
Island Pharmacy, 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel; 239-472-6188
PHYSICIANS’ PRIMARY CARE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida is committed to providing families with outstanding care throughout the stages of life, including pediatrics, family practice and internal medicine. It
is the largest independent physician-owned primary care practice in Lee County with some of the area’s “Top Doctors” as recognized by Castle-Connolly Medical, Ltd. of New York.
The family practice/internal medicine focus is on prevention of disease as well as treatment of chronic conditions to achieve the highest quality of life, including management of diabetes, hypertension and thyroid disease, as well as adult physicals and preventative screening. They also offer physical therapy, laboratory and radiology services.
The pediatricians provide everything children need to grow up healthy, including well-child checkups, same-day appointments for ill children, vaccinations, back-to-school physicals, teen wellness and visits 365 days a year for ill children.
Physicians’ Primary Care is recognized as a Level III Patient Centered Medical Home. This model strengthens the relationship between patient and their primary care physician.
The physician-owned, patient-centered practice has offices in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres.
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida, 239-275-5522, ppcswfl.com
NCH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
One of the most progressive in the country, the NCH Healthcare System offers advanced heart care, as well as cancer, obstetric, newborn and pediatric care.
At the NCH Heart Institute advanced diagnostic testing is used to identify a potential problem before it becomes one. To obtain a clear picture of what is going on inside of a patient’s heart, health professionals employ today’s medical technologies: echocardiography, trans-esophageal echocardiography, vascular ultrasound, routine and nuclear stress testing, cardiac CT, heart catheterization and diagnostic angiography of arteries throughout the body.
Once a problem has been detected, the doctors have the skills to treat patients in the most efficient and effective manner to ensure a great result, and there is always one of their doctors available for emergencies 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The Cardiac Imaging Center at the institute provides the diagnostic tools that the center’s cardiologists use to identify and treat heart disease—helping to make this department a leading provider of cardiac care.
Earlier this year, NCH debuted germ-zapping robots to combat infection-causing pathogens. The company purchased three LightStrike robots from Xenex Disinfection Services. The robots use pulsed xenon ultraviolet light to disinfect a room after it’s manually cleaned and are initially being used in high-risk areas.
NCH became a member of the Mayo Clinic Network in 2012. Call or visit the website for more information and the NCH locations throughout Southwest Florida.
NCH Healthcare System, 239-624-5000, nchmd.org.
BURTON P. GOLUMBIC, D.D.S.
Dr. Burton Golumbic has built his dental practice in Bonita Springs around a philosophy of care with mutual respect. Patients are scheduled one at a time t o ensure complete privacy and to nurture an open environment. They’re also given a longer-than-usual appointment slot, so he’s able to complete each cleaning and examination himself—there are no dental hygienists to go through. And it’s rare that a patient is kept waiting.
“That’s something I’ve always been a real stickler about,” Dr. Golumbic says. “A patient’s time is just as important as mine.”
“We like to get to know our patients,” says Lizzie Golumbic, his wife who has worked with him since they opened the office in Southwest Florida. When a patient needs to see a specialist, “we make the call, and we like to have a personal connection with who we send you to,” she says.
The practice is run with advanced technology—including digital images that can be easily shared with another dentist by e-mail. “It’s a great service,” Dr. Golumbic says. “It turns out to be better care for the patients because everyone knows what everything looks like.” It also saves the patients from having to repeat procedures or X-rays.
But what really sets this practice apart is the amount of time and detail Dr. Golumbic and his wife put into creating comprehensive dental care plans for their patients.
Dr. Burton P. Golumbic, 3376 Woods Edge Circle, Bonita Springs; 239-498-9666, bonitaspringssmiles.com.
SMILES BY REMBOS
“We’ve always been about keeping the personal touch,” says Dr. Alan N. Rembos, D.D.S., a Northwestern University dental school alum who has dental-care offices in Sanibel, Fort Myers, Naples and Marco Island.
There’s something about a smile, a positive and healthy smile that turns heads keeps the owner healthy and feeling good for life. New patients receive an initial examination at which time Dr. Rembos provides an overview of treatment and care selections. He and his staff offer services in numerous categories: general and routine dentistry, implants, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, emergencies and others.
Since very few of us are excited about visiting the dentist, Dr. Rembos is particularly eager to provide a welcoming office. Support staff and physicians are chosen for that innate ability to connect, to smile, and to understand that each patient requires comfort and minimal stress, including oral sedation and sedation “sleep” dentistry, allowing patients to wake up 10 minutes after procedures. That choice is available for all procedures, and computerized injections are used for all treatments. Dr. Rembos will make sure your procedure is pain free and safe.
Smiles by Rembos offices: Naples, 239-434-0400; Marco Island, 239-394-1713; Sanibel, 239-472-4445; Fort Myers, 239-274-9797; smilesbyrembos.com