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Health Monitor November 1998 issue

Multidisciplinary Medical Practice Reflects

New Trend In Delivering Healthcare Services

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Lisa Milo knew she was in trouble the instant her horse threw her.

"I landed flat on my back - the breath knocked out of me. I didn't think I had

broken any bones, but I was in a lot of pain," she said.

She immediately called an orthopedic surgeon, who referred her to a physical

therapist. But after two weeks of treatment, she still hadn't found relief. In

desperation, she called her longtime family practitioner, Jeffrey Friedman,

MD. Dr Friedman, an internist, recently had joined with Theresa Piotrowski,

MD, and Richard Coopersmith, a doctor of chiropractic, in establishing

Community Health Associates on South Main Street in Newtown.

"Dr Friedman started me on medication and referred me to Dr Coopersmith," Ms

Milo said. "I had never thought to try a chiropractor. I met with Dr

Coopersmith who recommended a trial course of chiropractic treatment for two

weeks to see if it would help me. That was four weeks ago. Between the two of

them, they've done wonders to help me. I feel great now."

The collaborative treatment of Lisa Milo by an internist and a chiropractor in

the same facility reflects a new trend in health care, Dr Coopersmith said.

"It's a function of increasing patient requests to create an integrated health

system," he said. "Statistics have demonstrated that people want to come to a

facility where they have a litany of choices."

Just as Dr Friedman referred Lisa Milo to Dr Coopersmith for treatment of her

back pain, Dr Coopersmith said he may see a patient who complains of lower

back pain and, diagnosing the problem as a urinary tract infection, refer her

to Dr Friedman or Dr Piotrowski.

"At the end of the day, the three of us can sit down and dialogue about a

clinical diagnosis," Dr Coopersmith said. "We discuss the patient's symptoms,

history, lifestyle, medical findings and come up with a plan that won't just

cover up the problem but will really address the underlying cause."

Dr Friedman is a board-certified internist who has been practicing internal

medicine and primary care in Newtown for 16 years. He also has extensive

experience in geriatric care and has served as the medical director of Ashlar

of Newtown for 14 years. Dr Piotrowski is a board-certified family practioner

who has a special interest in pediatrics and woman's medicine.

Dr Coopersmith has been the director of the Newtown Chiropractice &

Rehabilitation Center since 1983 and is a former president of the Connecticut

Chiropractic Association and Connecticut Chiropractor of the Year (1992).

"I have a conservative health care practice in chiropractic for the management

of musculoskeletal problems - typically neck pain, back pain and headache," he

said. "Whether it is an equestrian, like Lisa Milo, or sports injuries in a

wrestler or football player, we try to get them back into action as fast as

possible because their state of mind is an important part of their good

health."

"If someone comes in with a back problem, frequently the best method of

treatment is a combined approach because it produces quicker results," Dr

Friedman said. "If someone comes in with acute low back pain, I may prescribe

an anti-inflamatory, anti-spasmatic, or pain medication but the basic problem

may be mechanical in origin."

In cases like Lisa Milo's, Dr Coopersmith will try a trial of chiropractic

treatment for two weeks. "If the patient isn't 50 percent improved, we assume

it is not the treatment of choice."

But more than simply treating an injury or illness, medicine today has begun

to focus on preventative care, Dr Friedman said.

"Traditionally doctors' offices were places where you went when you didn't

feel well. Now you can come here to stay well - it's a shift of focus," he

said. "And to properly treat patients, we have to look at their lifestyles -

their nutritional health, how much exercise they get, are they under a lot of

stress." he said.

Community Health Associates is in the process of adding other healthcare

services including therapeutic massage, acupuncture, nutritional counseling

and stress reduction. And the doctors practice what they preach. For years Dr

Friedman has been studying martial arts, aerobic exercise, yoga and

meditation; Dr Piotrowski participates in triathlons.

Dr Friedman's wife, Jody Friedman, a registered nurse who has specialized in

community health nursing and taught wellness programs for many years, has

joined Community Health Associates as the coordinator of patient education

programs. This fall Dr Piotrowski will begin a lecture series on such topics

as menopause, osteoporosis, breast disease and fitness training. She also will

host a mother/daughter series addresssing relevant topics for adolescents and

their mothers.

"Education is a critical component of what we do," Dr Piotrowski said. "There

is a wealth of opportunity to help everyone assume responsibility for their

health."

Lisa Milo agrees. "I was given stretching exercises to make me more flexibile

and help avoid future injuries," she said. "I am so pleased that things have

worked out so well. I'm back in the saddle again."