Brian Hale, MD: Choosing Excellence with Advanced Urology Institute

Key Takeaways:

  1. Small medical practices are increasingly having difficulty staying competitive in the current market, leading many physicians to a crossroads between becoming an employee or merging with more doctors in their specialty just like Advanced Urology Institute.
  2. Dr. Hale chose to merge with the Advanced Urology Institute to augment his resources and negotiate contracts from a more competitive pedestal.
  3. By joining forces with Advanced Urology Institute, Dr. Hale has been able to pursue a shared vision for excellence and dedication to patient care.

As a nation, we have always cherished the tales of those individuals who choose to tread the path often left unexplored, who dare to mold their destiny according to the dictates of their integrity rather than bend to the whims of circumstances. Today, we bring to the forefront one such individual — Brian Hale, MD, a board-certified urologist serving the areas of Palm Harbor, Tampa and New Port Richey in Florida.

Shaping His Own Journey

Dr. Hale’s journey in the field of urology began in a time when solo practitioners and small practices were the norm in the profession. “When I first started urology,” he says, “there were a lot of solo practitioners and small practices and they were doing very well.” However, with the shifts in medical practice environments and the increasing difficulty of maintaining a viable small practice, he was confronted with a crucial choice.

The Inevitable Crossroads

As the landscapes of medical practices evolved, so did the challenges faced by physicians. Small groups, despite their commendable tenacity, found it difficult to stay competitive from an overhead standpoint and negotiate insurance contracts with equal footing. The last five years saw physicians standing at an inevitable crossroads: either become an employee and sell your practice to a hospital or a large group, or expand by merging with more doctors in your specialty. Dr. Hale explains, “And there’s only so much you can do in a small group to stay competitive…you have to decide between becoming an employee and selling your practice…”

Pursuing the Route of Expansion

Dr. Hale and his group had a choice to make. And they chose not to sell, but instead to expand. The decision might have been fraught with hurdles and uncertainties, but they understood the importance of maintaining their autonomy, their ability to offer personalized care to their patients. He says, “But in our group, we decided it was better not to sell, but instead get bigger.”

And that’s when they came across the Advanced Urology Institute (AUI).

Joining Forces with Advanced Urology Institute

Taking their quest for growth and top-notch care to the next level, Dr. Hale and his group decided to merge with the AUI. This strategic move allowed them to not only augment their resources but also negotiate contracts from a more competitive pedestal.

The AUI, the largest urology practice in Florida, serves as a testament to the power of collective brilliance, a convergence of expert urologists, all dedicated to providing unparalleled care to their patients. It’s an institution that continues to imbibe the spirit of unity, growth and relentless pursuit of excellence — the same spirit that led Dr. Hale and his group to its doorstep.

Seeking Excellence with Advanced Urology Institute

Choosing to align with the Advanced Urology Institute has been an impactful decision for Dr. Hale’s practice. What began as a solitary journey in urology has now transformed into a collaborative endeavor, all thanks to a shared vision for excellence and dedication to patient care.

In the world of urology, the choice is clear. Join forces with those committed to innovation, community, and excellence. Like Brian Hale, MD, choose Advanced Urology Institute. As the largest urology practice in Florida, they are at the forefront of healthcare delivery, ensuring that their patients receive the best possible care in Palm Harbor, Tampa, and New Port Richey. Stand with Advanced Urology Institute, stand with quality care.

References:

  1. AUI. (2023, September 21). Mikhail Lezhak, PA C: Choosing AUI. AUI. https://www.advancedurologyinstitute.com/mikhail-lezhak-pa-c-why-you-should-choose-advanced-urology-institute/
  2. AUI. (2023, August 17). Brian Hale, MD: Urological Care with AUI. AUI. https://www.advancedurologyinstitute.com/brian-hale-md-elevating-urological-care-with-advanced-urology-institute/
  3. Watson, S. (2016, May 25). Faces of Healthcare: What Is a Urologist? Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-a-urologist
  4. The role of a urologist. (2023, September 4). Healthdirect.gov.au; Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/urologist
  5. And, D. (2023, September 25). Urologic Diseases – NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases ‌

Kidney Stones Symptoms with Dr. Brian Hale

My name is Brian Hale. I’m a board certified urologist working with Advanced Urology Institute.

So patients who have kidney stones usually complain of flank pain, which is where the pain would be behind the lower ribs and sometimes it wraps around towards the front [and] down towards the groin area. Those are the most common symptoms, [sometimes] they’ll also have blood in the urine on our testing in the office.

Usually we’ll get an ultrasound or CT scan that diagnoses the stone, it’ll tell us the size and location. If the stones are smaller [about] less than 4 millimeters in size, ninety (90) percent of those times it will pass on their own. So on those patients, I give them a chance to try to pass the stone before we operate on them. When they’re bigger, they’ll be more than 6 millimeters in size, the less of a change of passing [the stone], less than ten (10) percent. For those patients, we look at the scheduling surgery for.

Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a health challenge that many men will face in their lifetime. What makes prostate cancer unique is the many forms it can take, with each form requiring a different treatment method and affecting men differently. According to board certified urologist Dr. Brian Hale, “Prostate cancer is extremely common and most men with prostate cancer will probably never have a problem from it.”Prostate cancer is so common that up to 80% of men who live to age 80 will have some form of it. Fortunately, for most of these men the illness will not be terminal. However, prostate cancer is still deadly enough to be the second leading cause of death for men in the United States. In other words, prostate cancer is often harmless; but when it isn’t, it can be deadly. This makes a proper and timely prostate cancer diagnosis essential.

Dr. Brian Hale of Palm Harbor, FLFor many men, their prostate cancer will not be aggressive and the symptoms will be manageable. In these cases, urologists rely on active surveillance as the best first treatment option. Rather than risk possibly harmful treatments on a non-aggressive cancer, the urologist will monitor the cancer with routine checkups. Other treatment options will be considered if the cancer becomes more aggressive.

If the prostate cancer is aggressive and immediate treatment is needed, urologists and their patients have a wide range of treatment options to choose from. The treatment option that works best will depend on a number of factors such as the cancer’s size and growth, and the patient’s age and health. Surgery to reduce the size of the cancer is often preferred for slow growing cancers. For more aggressive cancers, urologists may choose chemotherapy or radiation to kill the cancer cells as quickly as possible.

Although there are many possible causes of prostate cancer, there are certain factors that are known to raise the risk of its occurance. The first risk factor is age. As men get older, their likelihood of developing prostate cancer increases. African-American men have a greater genetic risk for developing an aggressive prostate cancer, while family history and obesity are also factors.

Early detection is the key to a successful treatment. Because prostate cancer is age related, it is recommended to most men that they begin having annual prostate checkups at age 50. African-American men and those with a family history of this cancer should be checked annually starting at age 40. Life saving screenings and successful treatments of prostate cancer happen every day at the Advanced Urology Institute, where trusted urologists like Brian C. Hale, MD guide their patients from diagnosis to recovery.

What are the treatment options for erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a common disorder that affects men of all ages. It is a man’s inability to get and maintain an erection. There are many different causes of ED and in many cases there is more than one underlying cause. All a urologist needs is a physical exam and a few questions answered in order to diagnose erectile dysfunction in a patient.

Dr. Brian Hale - Urologist at Palm Harbor, FLFor urologists like Dr. Brian Hale, treatment for erectile dysfunction begins with trying three different medications. The medications are generally oral and easy to take. The urologist will monitor the results of the oral drugs with the patient. Very often, at least one of the oral drugs prescribed will resolve the issue. For these cases, the urologist will write a prescription for the drug and continue to monitor its effectiveness through routine appointments.

If the urologist and the patient are unable to find an oral medication that works effectively, there are other options to consider. One possibility is injection therapy. Small injections into the shaft of the penis are used to dilate the penile arteries, helping increase blood flow, causing an erection. For most men who do not see results with the oral medication, injection therapy is their next best option.

For many men, injection therapy can seem a bit overwhelming at first, maybe even frightening. But in reality, the injections are easy to administer and are relatively painless. The urologist and the patient will begin the injection therapy with a teaching session at the urologist’s office. The urologist may use an ultrasound to monitor the reaction of the blood vessels to the injection to help determine the right dosage for the patient. The patient is also taught how to administer the injection on his own.

Patients are generally pleased after they start injection therapy. The teaching session at the office helps the patient see that the injections are not painful and can easily be done at home. It is very rare that a patient cannot do the injection therapy himself. For those who did not respond positively to the oral drugs, injection therapy is an ideal treatment to produce the desired results and overcome the erectile dysfunction.

Treating erectile dysfunction is an important part of a patient’s well being, both personally and within his relationships. The urologists of the Advanced Urology Institute offer many options for treatment and remain committed to finding the best one for each patient. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Kidney Stone Surgery and Removal Procedures

Kidney stones can be stubborn and painful. In many cases, patients rely on a urologist for help removing these painful obstructions. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals that form in the body and can cause blockage in the urinary tract. Urologists will decide how to treat the stone based on factors like its size, the patient’s health and the amount of pain it’s causing.

Dr. Brian Hale of Palm Harbor, FLOne cutting-edge and noninvasive method for treating kidney stones is called shock wave lithotripsy. Board-certified urologist Dr. Brian D. Hale describes it as using water waves to break up the stone. A machine is put against the patient’s body and creates small explosions. The water waves from the explosions target the stone. As many as 2,500 water waves are directed at the stone during a single treatment.

These waves break the stone into small pieces similar to sand. The patient will be able to pass these much smaller pieces with greater ease. The whole treatment takes about 25 minutes. The procedure is mostly pain free but does require the patient to go under general anesthesia. In the early 2000s, patients were not required to go under anesthesia for this procedure. However, it was found that natural movements from the patient made it difficult to concentrate the water waves on the stone, so putting patients under anesthesia is now the general practice.

Each case of kidney stones is different, and noninvasive measures are not always an option. An alternative procedure for stone removal is to use a scope to go up the patient’s penis through the urethra to the kidney and then use a medical laser to break up the stone and pull out the fragments. This is the preferred method for some of the smaller stones that cannot be broken up with shock wave lithotripsy.

For larger stones in the kidney, urologists may recommend a more invasive form of surgery called percutaneous nephrolithotomy. In these cases, the urologist will make a small incision in the patient’s back to reach the kidney directly. The urologist then will use a scope and either a laser or ultrasound energy to break up the stone. This procedure also requires general anesthesia and the patient may need to stay in the hospital for one to two days to recover.

There are many options for patients suffering from painful kidney stones. The many urologists of the Advanced Urology Institute have committed to finding the best options to relieve the pain of kidney stones. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Screening for Prostate Cancer – Dr. Brian Hale

Urologist Dr. Brian Hale recommends that men over 50 years old be checked regularly for prostate cancer. It is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men and it increases in likelihood as men age. Tests such as the PSA can help detect prostate cancer in its early stages when treatment is most effective.

The most common way to screen for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The PSA test is simple and works like this: Both cancerous and noncancerous prostate tissues create protein, and small amounts of that protein will enter the bloodstream. Prostate cancer cells produce more proteins than noncancerous ones, so if cancer cells are present there will be an increase in the proteins in the blood. The PSA test works by checking the blood for increased protein levels.

Dr. Brian Hale: Board Certified UrologistThere are pros and cons to PSA screening for prostate cancer. PSA tests can show increases in proteins when cancerous tissue is not actually present. This is called a false positive and can cause a great deal of stress for the patient and lead to more invasive tests that may not be necessary. For these reasons, among others, PSA tests were not recommended to patients for a period of time.

A few years after PSA tests stopped being recommended, Dr. Hale began noticing a troubling trend. He began seeing an increasingly large number of patients with prostate cancers that had metastasized, which is when it spreads to other parts of the body. This happens when prostate cancer goes undetected and has time to grow untreated. Dr. Hale noticed a correlation between the time PSA screening stopped being recommended and the up-tick in cases of fast-growing and metastasized cancers.

Because of this finding, Dr. Hale recommends that men continue PSA screening as part of their preventative care. Although it may not be a perfect test, its pros far outweigh its cons. Prostate cancer, when caught early is far easier to treat, and can often be treated with less extreme methods. Prostate cancers that have metastasized can be trickier and far more expensive to treat. Although some men may not like blood tests, it is better to take a simple blood test and catch an issue early than it is to let prostate cancer spread and turn into a much more serious medical problem.

As you age, it is important to take care of yourself and see the right doctors to discuss what is best for you. Dedicated urologists like Dr. Brian Hale at the Advance Institute of Urology have been discussing these issues with their patients for many years and will continue looking out for them. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.