Panama City Region Patient Newsletter – December 2024

PSMA PET Scans Detect Prostate Cancer Earlier

When AUI and Hope Regional Cancer Center (HRCC) merged in 2023 we wanted to expand care and better coordinate the services we provide you. Located in Lynn Haven, HRCC is doing just that for patients with prostate cancer as well as other cancers. There, patients can receive PSMA PET scans for diagnostic testing of high-risk localized and metastatic prostate cancer. This special scan shows the disease more accurately throughout the body and at an earlier stage than other available technology when treatment can be more effective. Ask your physician if a PSMA PET scan is right for you.

Your Ultrasound Right Here

It used to be when your urologist needed an ultrasound, you’d need to go elsewhere to get it. Not anymore! We’re pleased to announce that ultrasound imaging now is available right here in our Panama City and Tallahassee offices. Your doctor may need one to help investigate, diagnose, and treat:

  • Kidney stones
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Bladder and kidney function
  • Incontinence
  • Blood in the urine (hematuria)
  • Pain

In-house ultrasounds are just one more way we can make your visits more convenient.

Introducing Dr. Corea

We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Corea to our Panama City office beginning January 6. He previously worked in Maine and in Massachusetts before returning to his home state of Florida, and we’re glad he did! He enjoys all aspects of general urology and believes in a patient-centered approach to treatment. Learn more about Dr. Corea.

Thinking of You This Holiday Season

As 2024 draws to a close, our thoughts are with Floridians who are still recovering and rebuilding from the hurricanes. We hope if you have loved ones displaced from their home, that they have a return date in the near future.

This holiday season we thank you for placing your trust in us. Our warmest wishes for good health, peace, and joy in the coming weeks and throughout the new year.

Appointment Scheduling and Phones

We know how frustrating it has been to reach us by phone. We have implemented some new changes and processes to improve this experience for you. Our team is working diligently on a daily basis to continuously improve. In the meantime, we appreciate your continued patience and trust in us.

Phreesia Makes Registration More Convenient

You can’t escape it. Registering for an appointment at a medical facility is part of the process. But with Phreesia, AUI has made that process easier. Instead of registering when you arrive, which sometimes can mean waiting in line, Phreesia lets you register in the comfort of your home when the time is convenient for you. Here’s how Phreesia works.

  1. Prior to your visit, you should receive a reminder call and a text to confirm your appointment. Should you receive a call, it will come from an AUI number.
  2. Afterwards you’ll have the ability to review and update your health information.
  3. Upon arrival at your appointment, if you haven’t already completed or reviewed your health information, you will be given an iPad to complete it in person. Our staff will happily help you with this process if needed.

We know that registering for each appointment is inescapable. But with Phreesia we hope it’s a bit more convenient. Learn more about the convenience of online check-in with Phreesia.

Panama City Region Patient Newsletter – June 2024

Pharmacist Now on Your Care Team

Your best care happens when everyone is working together on your behalf. That’s why we’ve opened a pharmacy for AUI patients needing medication for prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction. When your urologist, pharmacist, and other AUI specialists are working together, they can help ensure you’re receiving the treatment that’s best for you.

If your insurance plan qualifies, the AUI pharmacy has a home-delivery service available for AUI patients needing prescriptions filled for prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction. Simply tell your AUI provider that you want your meds delivered to your home, or call the AUI pharmacy at 727-241-4994 to make your request. NOTE: Not all insurance plans will cover home delivery. Give us a call to find out if yours does.

One more benefit…

Prostate cancer medications are costly. That’s why we’ll apply for funding on your behalf to make them more affordable.

We hope you’ll take advantage of our home-delivery pharmacy service. We think having an entire team of AUI specialists working together will help ensure the best care possible.

 

6 Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance (and 1 simple resolution)

Hormones play a critical role in how we feel. So when our body produces less hormone (common as we age), the results can be troubling:

  • Lack of energy and fatigue
  • Reduced sexual desire or sexual performance
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Reduced mental focus and memory
  • Weight gain or loss of muscle
  • Hot flashes

Sound familiar? Hormone imbalance can really have a negative impact on your life! But you don’t have to live with it.

At AUI we can provide you with hormone optimization, the result of more than 80 years of research into how to naturally resolve the effects of hormone imbalance (including testosterone and estrogen) in men and women. It involves placing tiny pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) under your skin during a quick office visit. The pellets dissolve slowly over a few months, releasing a steady stream of hormones into your bloodstream.

Our patients have been so pleased with the difference these tiny pellets have made in their lives. We invite you to email pcwellness@auihealth.com or call 850-785-8557 to learn more or get started.

 

6 Travel Tips if You’re Experiencing OAB

As many as 40% of women and 30% of men experience overactive bladder (OAB), the sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control. During travel, when bathrooms may be hard to locate, a little advanced planning can go (and go and go) a long way to avoiding OAB mishaps.

Here are six tips to help you get to the bathroom on time.

  1. Know the rest stops. A restroom locator app is a big help regardless of your destination.
  2. Strengthen your bladder. Before leaving, practice urination at scheduled times instead of every time you have the urge. Doing Kegel exercises (pelvic-squeezing exercises for men and women) will strengthen your bladder muscles.
  3. Watch what you drink and eat. Coffee and carbonated drinks can make OAB worse. So can citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, and those high in liquid (like cucumbers and watermelon).
  4. Consider a prescription. Your doctor can prescribe medications that can help control your need to pee. For women, estrogen creams or tablets may provide relief.
  5. Pack accordingly. Wear clothes that are simple to get off. And bring a day bag with absorbent liners, medications, and extra underwear.
  6. Talk to a urologist. If you’ve never talked to a urologist about OAB, contact us for an appointment to learn about treatment options. You don’t have to live with OAB.

Don’t let an overactive bladder keep you at home. Our AUI specialists are dedicated to finding a solution that’s right for you.

Learn more about OAB.