Black Dog Medical has been serving patients for several years now, making this a fine time for Dr. Patty Wyshak’s to share her thoughts about staying healthy with quality primary care.

After being a primary care doctor in Ellsworth for nearly 20 years, I started my membership-based primary care practice so that the we could roll back the clock, and make the doctor-patient relationship supreme.

We’re delighted that so many patients have expressed relief at having a doctor / nurse team who can take the time to really listen and care about the whole patient and the bigger picture. (Really listening to patients takes time, and effort. We give 100% to make our patients the healthiest they can be.)

What’s the best health plan? A plan to stay healthy!

Black Dog Medical helps patients:

• work on lifestyle modifications,
• understand the relationship between their current health and future risks,
• get prescription refills efficiently,
• address urgent needs quickly, and
• stay on track with preventative care…all to stay as healthy and happy as possible.

Knowing you can trust your healthcare team is a partner in your well-being is well worth the investment.

Our goal is to be personal, friendly, professional and thorough. Patients tell us they are glad they have joined our practice Black Dog Medical, whether they have private insurance or Medicare.

Please read about how Black Dog Medical can help you take your health into your own hands, with me as your primary care physician.

Questions & sign up: Please get in touch to sign up or with questions about BDM, as you choose your annual health insurance plans or just any time!

To your health!

–Dr. Patty Wyshak, MD

p.s. Follow us on Facebook where the latest updates along with cute black dog pics.

Helpful Maine Health Insurance Links

HealthCare.gov – the official national health insurance website

Maine DHHS – the website with Medicare info and all things related to health for Maine residents

In this day and age when we are encouraged to avoid antibiotic use, I was slapped in the face with an unexpected prescription for antibiotics for my son.

Each year he brings home the usual parade of viruses from school. This week seemed no different. However, one day he seemed short of breath and newly wheezy.

His pediatrician suggested it probably was Mycoplasma, an atypical bacteria which mimics viral illnesses.

This bacteria is also responsible for many of the common, mild illnesses kids get, such as chest colds. At the worst, Mycoplasma infections can lead to “walking pneumonia.”

Indeed, I learned that 50% of new onset asthma in children corresponds to an acute Mycoplasma infection. This doesn’t necessarily mean on-going asthma but is yet another reason to get checked out early.

Mycoplasma be gone!

We are both on Azithromycin, an antibiotic frequently used to treat “atypical” bacteria. We’re thrilled to be getting a taste of my own medicine.

Contact your doctor early

Always contact your doctor early to discuss symptoms so you get the treatment for a fast recovery.

(You can get the full horror story on Mycoplasma on the Center of Disease Control website.)

Practice prevention with these easy habits

• Wash hands often and use hand sanitizer
• Try to stay away from people who are obviously sick.
• When you’re sick, cough into your arm. Or if you cough in your hands, wash them after. Try to move away from other people when you cough. (They will love you for that!)

The May 2016 Consumer Reports magazine cover story is “What You Don’t Know About Your Doctor Could Hurt You.”

Luckily, Dr. Patty Wyshak has nothing to hide. And if she did, you could probably ask around and find a patient who has had nothing but good experiences with the dog-tor.

How Black Dog Medical Compares to Consumer Report’s “Smart Ways to Choose a Doctor” 

The magazine mentions six points worth considering before you choose a primary care physician. Here’s a little commentary on how these points relate to Black Dog Medical:

1. Know your insurance. We are in-network with several  popular insurance companies and Medicare.
2. Spot red flags. The state of Maine can tell you if a doctor has had disciplinary action against them. (We’re happy to report that Dr. Wyshak’s 20+ years of practicing is unblemished. See for yourself if you like!)
3. Look a little deeper. Just as airlines get rated based on their times to depart and arrive, and other factors, so do doctors. A big goal of Black Dog Medical is to manage our time well so your appointments start on time, we get labs processed quickly and you enjoy a really lovely doctor-patient relationship.
4. Check on hospital affiliation. It’s good to know what hospitals your primary care doctor are affiliated with, in case you need to pay the hospital a visit.
5. Follow the connections. Ask if a doctor get paid by or get a bonus from pharmaceutical companies whose drugs they’re recommending.
6. Consider compatibility. This is an important point. The patients who most appreciate Dr. Wyshak are folks who like a straightforward doctor who digs deep to find real causes of symptoms and is not shy about recommending the best course of action. Dogs don’t worry about speaking softly when they have big news to deliver, and neither does Dr. Wyshak.