AllCare Primary Care & Walk-ins

How to Establish Care

Establishing care at AllCare is only considered after careful review of all old medical records, diagnostic tests (ie: procedures, mammograms, etc.) sub-specialist records and any other pertinent medical records.

Walk-in visits DO NOT constitute the establishment of care.

Certain patient cases will not be considered for establishment of care, as these conditions require a multidisciplinary setting for effective care:

• Chronic pain
• Active or relapsing drug and alcohol abuse
• Active or relapsing eating disorders (ie: bulimia or anorexia)

Our new patient intake forms must be completed in detail and signed, with your records being obtained prior to an initial consultation visit being scheduled. We strongly suggest you contact your past doctor(s) and verbally request your old records to expedite our receipt of all requested documents.

Yearly Check-ups

AllCare is a dynamic health care facility providing a variety of services including primary care for teenagers, adults and the geriatric population. Dr. Gerace, an Internal Medicine specialist, believes it is essential that all patients are screened annually for acute and chronic illness and at AllCare, this is included in your yearly physical exam. Dr. Gerace reviews your personal and family risk factors, evaluates your present state of health and ensures health care maintenance.

AllCare also provides evaluation and treatment of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, lung diseases, sleep disorders, weight problems and other acute and chronic health ailments.

Well-Women Exams and PAP Smears

At AllCare, we recognize that women need reliable health care. Dr. Gerace and her medical staff provide comprehensive annual pelvic and breast exams to screen for precancerous and cancerous conditions of the cervix, external genitals (a concern even if you’ve had a hysterectomy), breasts, as well as for sexually transmitted disease and pelvic inflammatory disease.

AllCare provides evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic conditions that may concern women throughout their lives: increased incidence of risk factors for heart disease in women including high cholesterol, sexually transmitted diseases, menopause and perimenopause, thyroid disorders, and migraines.

Winter Visitors Accepted

AllCare will care for you during your winter stay in Arizona. We will partner with your primary care physician back home by requesting your records and electronically transmit your Arizona records back to your primary care physician each time you are seen at our offices to ensure you get the best of care during your stay in Arizona. We offer walk-in care without appointments, as well as on-site lab, EKG and x-ray services.

Cardiology

Dr. Himanshu Shukla specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders and is founder of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (CAI) www.caiaz.com dedicated to providing heart care customized to the individual. Dr. Shukla is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society, has completed training at Columbia University in New York City, the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma. He is recognized for numerous published articles on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, and by the American Heart Association for Outstanding Research.

Dr. Shukla has completed post doctoral training in electrophysiology at the University of Oklahoma/Oklahoma City which is recognized as a world leader in treating heart rhythm disorders, participating in an Advanced Fellowship in Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. He also acquired post-doctoral training at the University of Missouri - Columbia, completing a Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine, and spent his residency for Internal Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons’ St. Luke’s - Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

Endocrinology

Dr. Gopinath S. Sunil, MD

BOARD CERTIFICATION, SPECIALTY AND EXPERTISE: Dr. Gopinath Sunil is a fellowship trained endocrinologist with a primary specialty of Internal Medicine. His main research interests are in obesity, diabetes and thyroid disorders and have over 20 years‘work and research experience in the fields of diabetes, thyroid, obesity and hormonal disorders.

EDUCATION: Dr. Sunil attended medical school at University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India, graduating in Medicine in 1987. He underwent fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and biology at University of Geneva in 1991. Worked as a research fellow in reproductive endocrinology division, Stanford University (1992-94) and pursued residency training in Internal Medicine at Maricopa Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale; as well as completed his fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and metabolism at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (1999-2001).

Internship: University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India (1987)

Residency: Maricopa Med Center / Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA (1992-1994).

Fellowships: 1. University of Geneva, Switzerland (1991) - Reproductive Endocrinology.
2. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (1999-2001) - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.

Work Experience: Faculty, Mayo Health System Internal Medicine (1997-1999)
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Augsburg College and University of Minnesota (1997-2001)
Endocrinology Staff, Cleveland Clinic Florida Naples (2001-2003)
Chief of Endocrinology, Physicians Regional Medical Center (2006-2008)

Professional Affiliations: ACP, AMA, Endocrine Society, AACE, ADE, American Thyroid Association, American Obesity Society.
Member: Nutrition Committee, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

What is an endocrinologist and what do they do?
An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the endocrine system, a group of hormone-producing glands. Endocrinologists treat endocrine diseases such as hormone imbalance or other hormonal complications, including diabetes, thyroid diseases, metabolic disorders, menopause, osteoporosis, hypertension and infertility. Most patients see an endocrinologist on a referral from a primary care physician (PCP).

An endocrinologist earns a four-year medical school degree, as well as three or four years’ training in an internship or residency program for internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology. Two or three additional years are spent in fellowship learning how to diagnose and treat endocrine diseases.

What are the most common conditions endocrinologists treat?

• Adrenal disease – Adrenal means “adjacent renal,” or “next to the kidneys” and this is where these glands are located. Diseases of these glands are wide-ranging and include Addison’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, other pediatric diseases, adrenal adenoma, adrenal cancers and many more.
• Gigantism – A hormone imbalance causes abnormally large stature. Overproduction of growth hormones during childhood results in symptoms such as extreme growth in height as well as larger muscles and organs. It is often caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. Surgery can sometimes remove the tumor, which can cure this endocrine system disorder. Medication and radiation are other methods to curb symptoms.
• Hyperpituitarism – Hormone excess that can result in a wide range of problems depending on the cells affected, including hyperprolactinaemia, Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism), precocious puberty, gigantism or acromegaly, or hyperthyroidism (rare).
• Infertility – It is considered a disorder of “couples” because it takes a male and a female to conceive. It can result, however, from dysfunction of either the female or male reproductive system. This disorder can result from pituitary disease or primary disease of the reproductive organs. About one in 10 couples in the United States are infertile. Endocrinologists treat the hormone problems that can cause infertility.
• Menopause – Endocrinologists help patients manage menopause symptoms and work with patients who have a hormone imbalance and may need hormone replacement therapy.
• Osteoporosis – A disease in which bones become brittle and weak over time. Fractures most often occur in the hip, spine or wrist. Women are at greater risk than men due to a sudden drop the hormone estrogen, which relates to bone density.
• Pituitary disease – The pituitary gland makes hormones that regulate growth and activity of most other endocrine glands in the body. Diseases affecting the pituitary gland include a variety of pituitary tumors, nervous system tumors, pituitary failure, or cysts, and a wide range of other conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism), prolactinoma or pituitary adenomas.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome – A chronic endocrine disease that affects women. Symptoms may include high levels of male hormones, infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, hair growth on the body and face (hirsuitism) or an ovulation (when ovaries mature few or no eggs). Endocrinologists help diagnose the cause and prescribe treatment, or suggest lifestyle measures to manage the disorder.
• Thyroid disease – Endocrinologists treat patients with thyroid diseases, which include both hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid activity) and hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity). Think of the thyroid gland as the “gas pedal” for the body. Elevated thyroid activity can cause rapid heart rate, high energy levels, nervousness, diarrhea, sleeplessness and elevated body temperatures. The most severe illness related to high thyroid function is referred to as “thyroid storm.” Symptoms of hypothyroidism typically include altered mental activity, low energy levels, emotional problems, weak muscles, increased weight gain and problems tolerating heat or cold. The most severe illness related to low thyroid function is referred to as “myxedema coma.” Hormone therapy to block or replace a thyroid hormone may be recommended

Cardiac Monitoring

AllCare provides patients with easy-to-use non-invasive cardiac monitors. The monitors are lightweight, portable, and come with all the necessary supplies to perform cardiac studies.

Spinal Manipulations

Dr. Gerace is specialized in osteopathic manipulation which is the study of the musculoskeletal system. Osteopathic spinal manipulation utilizes non-invasive healing modalities to manipulate the tissue and fluids of the body to ensure a full-body approach to treatment.

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, (D.O.) and M.D.s are fully-licensed physicians authorized to prescribe medicine and perform surgeries. Physicians of Osteopathy are not Chiropractors because Chiropractors are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medications or perform surgeries, although both perform spinal manipulation.

SlimPro Medical Weight Loss

Obesity is a primary health concern with risk factors in coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, gall bladder disease, arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.

Dieting is hard when you’re doing it on your own. Do you know which diet is best for you, or which type of exercise will get rid of fat?

The basic mechanism is an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure is only a partial cause. Evidence suggests that being overweight is multi-factorial in origin, reflecting hormonal imbalance, inherited, environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological conditions.

Increasing physiologic, biochemical, and genetic evidence suggests that being overweight is not a simple problem of will power, as is sometimes implied, but is a complex disorder of appetite regulation and energy metabolism. The SlimPro plan addresses both these issues.

At SlimPro Dr. Gerace will develop a customized weight loss plan that will help you drop fat and add muscle, all while feeling great! The SlimPro five phase protocol helps stabilize the pancreas and blood sugar levels while burning fat and maintaining muscle and other lean tissue. The phases change at intervals determined by the practitioner. With each phase, you will be introduced to a wider range of food choices. During the first phase of this five phase program, you will learn certain basic skills that you will use during the diet process; portion control, fluid intake and supplement usage. Once your goal has been accomplished, the SlimPro Maintenance program will provide the key for maintaining your goal, which will keep you on the right track towards long-term weight loss!

If you have decided to make a serious commitment to improving your health, appearance and quality of life, call and make an appointment and let us help you ensure your success!

Geriatric Care

Geriatric care addresses the complex needs of older people, focusing on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in the elderly. Comprehensive healthcare of the aging patient takes place in ambulatory, acute, and long-term care settings, and is usually provided by a multidisciplinary team, whose members may include a geriatrician, geriatric nurse practitioner, primary care clinician, nurses, pharmacists, and others. At AllCare your health concerns can be managed by highly trained medical professionals.

On-Site X-rays, EKG and Lab Draw Facility

X-rays

AllCare has on-site x-rays which can greatly expedite the overall time required to diagnose your ailment. X-rays are safe and effective for people of all ages. AllCare utilizes x-rays for a variety of reasons:

• To determine whether a bone is chipped, dislocated or broken (fractured).
• To evaluate joint injuries and bone infections.
• To diagnose and monitor degenerative conditions, such as arthritis.
• To screen for lung diseases and heart disease.
• To diagnose the cause of a persistent cough or chest pain.

EKGs

AllCare offers the benefit of on-site EKG testing at our Scottsdale office. Whether you call it an EKG or an ECG, an electrocardiogram is an important and painless tool for detecting heart disease and irregular heart beats.

Lab Draw Facility

AllCare offers a convenient on-site lab draw facility which can lead to earlier detection, diagnosis, and more effective and timely treatment. If your health insurance provider utilizes another laboratory, AllCare will have your labs serviced by that provider for your convenience.