There's not always a 100 percent, guaranteed cure
Each Tuesday, The Citizen features a health professional from the
Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Dr. Heather MacAdam, who works at the Community Health Center in Aurora.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. Patient appreciation. From solving the simplest to the most complex of ailments, or just listening to their problems, people are always so grateful to be heard.
Q. What is the most challenging?
A. Dealing with the increasing cost of health care in today's world. Insurance companies are making it more difficult for patients to get the health care they are paying for. Their decisions revolve around the dollar and not necessarily what is in the best interest of the patient's health - based upon the advice of the provider who knows them personally.
Q. Describe your ideal patient.
A. A good communicator. It's very important to be able to express exactly what is wrong, as well as what is expected from treatment.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone to stay healthy?
A. Everything in moderation.
Q. What's the most common misconception you hear from patients?
A. That there is a simple, 100 percent cure for what ails them. Not everything in medicine has a straightforward, immediate solution that doesn't require any changes or effort on the patient's part.
Q. For someone considering a career like yours, what advice would you offer?
A. Make sure other areas in your life are flexible. The extent of time and emotional commitment can be very demanding.
Q. What's your ideal cure for the common cold?
A. Well, ideally you'd have one pill with no side effects with 100 percent resolution of symptoms within the hour, but since there's nothing even close to that, my best advice is time. A simple cold will go away, just give it a chance.
Q. In your opinion, which medical TV show is most realistic? Which is your favorite?
A. The only one I've ever really watched is “Scrubs.” But that's actually somewhat realistic - it reminds me of my residency.
Q. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when I'm off the job, I _________.
A. Love to camp in crazy, remote places with no running water or electricity!
Heather M. MacAdam
Age: 38
Hometown: Bridgeport
Family: Husband, Patrick; children: Summer, 10; Ben, 6
Education: Bachelor's in biochemistry from Hofstra University; M.D. from University of Rochester School of Medicine; Columbia University's primary care residency at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown
Occupation: Primary care physician, Community Health Center, Wells Avenue, Aurora
Hobbies: Running, camping and cooking
Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Dr. Heather MacAdam, who works at the Community Health Center in Aurora.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. Patient appreciation. From solving the simplest to the most complex of ailments, or just listening to their problems, people are always so grateful to be heard.
Q. What is the most challenging?
A. Dealing with the increasing cost of health care in today's world. Insurance companies are making it more difficult for patients to get the health care they are paying for. Their decisions revolve around the dollar and not necessarily what is in the best interest of the patient's health - based upon the advice of the provider who knows them personally.
Q. Describe your ideal patient.
A. A good communicator. It's very important to be able to express exactly what is wrong, as well as what is expected from treatment.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone to stay healthy?
A. Everything in moderation.
Q. What's the most common misconception you hear from patients?
A. That there is a simple, 100 percent cure for what ails them. Not everything in medicine has a straightforward, immediate solution that doesn't require any changes or effort on the patient's part.
Q. For someone considering a career like yours, what advice would you offer?
A. Make sure other areas in your life are flexible. The extent of time and emotional commitment can be very demanding.
Q. What's your ideal cure for the common cold?
A. Well, ideally you'd have one pill with no side effects with 100 percent resolution of symptoms within the hour, but since there's nothing even close to that, my best advice is time. A simple cold will go away, just give it a chance.
Q. In your opinion, which medical TV show is most realistic? Which is your favorite?
A. The only one I've ever really watched is “Scrubs.” But that's actually somewhat realistic - it reminds me of my residency.
Q. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when I'm off the job, I _________.
A. Love to camp in crazy, remote places with no running water or electricity!
Heather M. MacAdam
Age: 38
Hometown: Bridgeport
Family: Husband, Patrick; children: Summer, 10; Ben, 6
Education: Bachelor's in biochemistry from Hofstra University; M.D. from University of Rochester School of Medicine; Columbia University's primary care residency at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown
Occupation: Primary care physician, Community Health Center, Wells Avenue, Aurora
Hobbies: Running, camping and cooking
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email2geo wrote on Dec 5, 2007 3:24 PM: