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The Difference Between Commercial and Concierge Health Services | Fullerton, CA

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Concierge and commercial medical services represent two distinct approaches to healthcare delivery, each offering unique benefits and considerations for patients. Understanding the differences between these models can help individuals make informed decisions about their healthcare needs.

Concierge medical services, often referred to as boutique or personalized medicine, prioritize individualized care and enhanced patient-provider relationships. In a concierge practice, patients typically pay an annual or monthly fee in exchange for exclusive access to their physician and a comprehensive array of services. This fee-based model allows for longer appointment times, same-day or next-day appointments, and increased availability for communication with healthcare providers. Additionally, concierge practices often offer preventive services, wellness programs, and personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s specific needs and preferences. This personalized approach fosters a deeper level of trust and collaboration between patients and their healthcare providers, leading to more proactive and effective healthcare management.

On the other hand, commercial medical services operate within the traditional fee-for-service or insurance-based healthcare system. In this model, patients typically pay for medical services on a per-visit basis or through their insurance plans. Commercial practices may have larger patient volumes, shorter appointment times, and less emphasis on personalized care and preventive services. While commercial medical services offer a wide range of medical treatments and specialties, patients may experience longer wait times for appointments, limited access to their healthcare providers, and less continuity of care.

One of the key differences between concierge and commercial medical services lies in the level of access and attention patients receive from their healthcare providers. In a concierge practice, patients often have direct access to their physician via phone, email, or virtual consultations, leading to more timely and personalized care. In contrast, patients in commercial practices may have to navigate through administrative hurdles and wait times to communicate with their healthcare providers.

Ultimately, the choice between concierge and commercial medical services depends on individual preferences, healthcare needs, and financial considerations.

If you would like to learn more about how you can ensure your health, contact Dr. Gordon C. Gunn MD in Fullerton, CA at 714-912-2211 or visit our website at www.gordongunnm.com for more information regarding women’s health. 

Dr. Gordon Gunn proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut and all surrounding areas.

Top Tips To Improve Your Sleep | Fullerton, CA

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How long and how well you sleep each night has a profound impact on your health. It is recommended everyone get no more than eight hours of great sleep per night, as too little or too much sleep sharply influences your well-being. Here are some simple ways you can improve your sleep.

Create a Schedule. You influence your circadian rhythm, one of which is our sleep cycle. Going to bed and waking up at consistent times each day goes a long way. You will train yourself to fall asleep and wake up more easily. Keeping a sleep diary will help you track the change in the rhythm over time, and allow you to report how you feel each day. Ideally, as your cycle becomes synchronized, your quality of sleep, and how you feel in the morning will improve.

Avoid Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol Before Bed. Not only is the overindulgence of these things bad for us in general, they greatly reduce the quality of our sleep. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can take up to eight hours to wear off. Nicotine in particular can can cause someone to sleep lightly and wake up before they are ready due to withdrawal. Alcohol is a depressant that often leads people to wake up at night and worsens snoring and sleep apnea.

Improve Your Surroundings. Keep blue light interference from televisions, phones, and laptops generally away from your sleep space. It reinforces the notion that your room is where you sleep. We influence our sleep rhythm, so when we reinforce sleeping patterns with a space that enhances relaxation and reduces distraction, we can enjoy a greater quality of sleep.

Limit Naps, Increase Activity. If you enjoy an afternoon nap, it may be disrupting your ability to sleep at night. Something that can help you improve your sleep is remaining physically active, and it releases endorphins and wears us out. However, we shouldn’t exercise within 2-3 hours of our bed time, because it doesn’t give our bodies enough time to return to normal levels before attempting to relax into sleep.

Avoid Food and Beverages Before Bed. Drinking liquids and the consumption of anything before bed will cause you to urinate in the night, breaking up your sleep cycle and causing you to feel more tired and groggy in the morning than you would have otherwise been.

If you would like more information about getting a good night’s sleep, contact Dr. Gordon C. Gunn MD at 714-912-2211 or visit www.gordongunnmd.com to schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Gunn proudly serves Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

How To Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent Urinary Tract Infections | Fullerton, CA

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are more common in women than men, primarily due to the normal female anatomy, with the urethra (tube leading from the bladder to the outside), located very close to the vaginal opening. This allows bacteria from the vagina, and especially the rectum, to enter the bladder, and subsequently cause an infection.

Sexual activity is the most common cause for developing a UTI, but pregnancy, advancing age, lack of estrogen, and diabetes are common contributing factors for developing these infections. To properly diagnose a UTI, a urine sample can be quickly assessed in the office to confirm the presence of bacteria or its by-products. The healthcare practitioners will presumptively treat an infection with antibiotics, but a culture of your urine is required to determine the exact type of bacteria present, as well as to ensure that the bacteria have not developed resistance to the antibiotic prescribed.

This test usually requires 48 hours for the laboratory to complete. If the practitioner determines that you need to be placed on a different antibiotic, you will be notified as soon as possible. The length of treatment is determined by the severity of the infection, or if you have any underlying medical conditions which could make curing the problem more difficult. You may also be given another medication along with the antibiotic, which acts as a “bladder anesthetic” to relieve the discomfort as the antibiotics begin to work.

Common Symptoms:

– Pain with urination

– Frequent urination with the urgency to void

– Pelvic pain or pressure.

Severe symptoms:

– Feeling ill with a fever

– Confusion

While these are common, it may be possible not to have any symptoms at all, which is why your urine is usually tested at routine doctors or gynecologist appointments.

The risk of not treating a bladder infection can result in the infection ascending into your kidneys, and possibly damaging these vital organs. Treatment of these serious infections may require hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics.

If you are prone to bladder infections:

  • Drinking an adequate amount of liquids will continually wash out the bladder. Water is preferred, because soda, coffee, and tea may make it more likely to get an infection.
  • After a bowel movement or urinating, wipe from the front of the vagina to the back toward the rectum, away from the urethra.
  • Frequent changing of sanitary napkins or tampons can limit infections.
  • Women who are sexually active should void both before and after intercourse to limit the number of bacteria in the bladder. Also, some lubricants, oils, and spermicidal jelly may also make an infection more likely.
  • Void regularly throughout the day (every 2 to 3 hours), as this will limit the amount of bacteria in the bladder. You should also ensure that you empty your bladder completely, and if needed, by “double voiding” (urinate normally, stand up, then sit down again and attempt to finish emptying your bladder)
  • Avoiding hot tubs or highly chlorinated pools, as well as removing your wet swimsuit as soon as possible, can also limit bacterial exposure.

• Drink cranberry juice or take cranberry pills, as they have been proven to reduce UTIs.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.