Mikhail Lezhak, PA C: Why You Should Choose Advanced Urology Institute

Key Takeaways:

  1. Advanced Urology Institute combines geo-strategic accessibility, in-depth expertise, cutting-edge technology and a personal, nurturing approach.
  2. The Institute has the best technology available to offer evidence-based, personalized care.
  3. The Advanced Urology Institute is committed to excellence, striving for better and offering the best available treatment for urological diseases.

As you navigate through the complexities of health, the importance of personal, empathetic, and state-of-the-art care cannot be understated. Florida’s Advanced Urology Institute (AUI) stands at the forefront of patient-focused urological treatments, spearheaded by talented professionals like Mikhail Lezhak, PA-C.

“My name is Mikhail Lezhak. I’m a physician assistant with Advanced Urology Institute in Daytona,” he begins, setting the tone for an intimate dialogue on an often-overlooked field of medicine. At the heart of this discussion is you. You are not just another patient on a long list, but an individual deserving of top-tier medical care. This simple yet transformative principle is at the core of the Institute’s ethos.

Why Choose Advanced Urology Institute?

The answer lies in the convergence of geographic accessibility, in-depth expertise, cutting-edge technology and a personal, nurturing approach. As Mikhail Lezhak notes, “We have locations in many places in Central Florida and not only.” This geo-strategically dispersed presence ensures that no matter where you are in Daytona, FL or the surrounding areas, quality urological care is never far away.

The Institute’s physicians, urologists and Physician Assistants, like Lezhak, bring to the table an unrivaled collective prowess. “We’re very knowledgeable,” he asserts, “and they [the physicians] can help you with any urological problems and treat any kind of urological disease if you have any. And as a PA, I can help them doing that.”

Unparalleled Technological Advancements

AUI impressively aligns human compassion with technological evolution. “We are equipped with the top-of-the-line technology and machines that help to evaluate patients thoroughly,” Lezhak explains, delineating how the Institute is always a step ahead in the evolving medical landscape.

Having the best technology at their disposal allows these capable professionals to offer the best available treatment to the patients. Evidence-based, personalized care is not an abstract concept here, but a daily reality, seamless in execution and delivered with earnest compassion.

A Holistic Approach to Urological Care

AUI’s approach is holistic and patient-centric. The journey from diagnosis to treatment and beyond is mapped out with the utmost sensitivity, taking into account each individual’s unique circumstances.

As Lezhak underscores, his role as a PA enables him to contribute meaningfully to this journey. In this intricate dance of medical intervention, the patient is always at the center, enveloped by a team of experts dedicated to their wellbeing.

A Commitment to Excellence

The largest urology practice in Florida, AUI, has carved out an irreplaceable niche in the landscape of urological care. It is not simply about the cutting-edge technology, the wide-ranging presence across Daytona, FL, or the team of accomplished urologists and Physician Assistants. It is about the commitment to excellence, the relentless striving for better, and the knowledge, as Mikhail Lezhak puts it, “that we can offer the best available treatment currently for urological diseases.”

Choosing the Advanced Urology Institute for your urological care is choosing unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge technology, geographic accessibility, and above all, a compassionate and personalized approach. Dedicate yourself to the best, because your health deserves nothing less.

References:

  1. AUI. (2023, August 17). Brian Hale, MD: Urological Care with AUI. Advanced Urology Institute. https://www.advancedurologyinstitute.com/brian-hale-md-elevating-urological-care-with-advanced-urology-institute/
  2. AUI. (2023, September). Samuel Lawindy, MD: Why Choose AUI. Advanced Urology Institute. https://www.advancedurologyinstitute.com/samuel-lawindy-md-why-choose-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. And, D. (2023, September 21). Urologic Diseases – NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases
  5. Urology. (2015, April 7). Urology. Health Careers. https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/urology ‌

Common Urologic Conditions Are Treatable

The urinary system of the human body regulates, manages and eliminates urine waste. The organs in this system are the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. But as with any organ or system of the body, the urinary system can have problems, commonly referred to as urologic diseases or urologic problems.

You can have urologic problems regardless of your age, ethnicity or gender. And when urologic conditions occur, in both men and women they have a direct effect on the urinary tract and how urine is expelled from the body. In men, urologic problems can also affect the reproductive organs.

Signs that you have urinary tract problems:

Urologic conditions are treatable

Urology is a dynamic and advanced field. Urologists know how to treat many urologic diseases, including cancer of the prostate. The first step in any successful treatment is to see a urologist on time. Do not delay. As soon as you experience any problems, visit a urologist for a medical exam.
Mikhail Lezhak, PA-C of Daytona, FL

Common urologic conditions

(1) Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent type of urologic condition, although they occur more commonly in women than men. Close to 60% of women and 12% of men experience UTIs at some point in their lives. These infections are easily treated with antibiotics, but the treatment should begin as soon as possible to avoid further infection and prevent complications.

(2) Urinary incontinence

Although many people resist seeking help because of embarrassment, urinary incontinence is treatable in most cases. The cause is usually either an overactive bladder (urge incontinence) or stress incontinence. Typically, urge symptoms come from the bladder wall and detrusor muscle and mucosa, while stress symptoms are due to the incompetence of the bladder neck or urethral sphincter.

The diagnosis of urinary incontinence can be reached through a careful patient history, thorough examination and proper tests. You may need bladder retraining, controlled fluid intake, reduction in caffeine intake, or deliberate delayed voiding to treat the symptoms. Your doctor can also recommend medication or perform corrective surgery.

(3) Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, vagina and rectum. At some point in life, particularly after childbirth, pelvic floor muscles can become irritated or inflamed. Since the pelvic floor has to relax during urination, having pelvic floor dysfunction can cause pain or difficulties. The problem is often treated through pelvic floor exercise, but when the exercises are ineffective, vaginal medications or muscle injections can be used.

(4) Prostatitis

Many urological problems in men are linked to the prostate. Prostatitis is the inflammation or abnormal swelling of the prostate. The most common symptoms of prostatitis are painful urination, fever, chills, abdominal pain, and pain in the lower back or pelvic region. If you are diagnosed with prostatitis, your doctor will recommend antibiotics to reduce the swelling and restore your prostate to normal size.

(5) Bladder and prostate cancer

The PSA test and prostate exam are great ways to check on your prostate health. Should cancer be found in your bladder or prostate, your urologist will offer lifesaving care. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. It results from the abnormal and rapid growth of prostate cells.

Prostate cancer is successfully treated when detected early, which is why men are encouraged to get checked once a year. In fact, the recommended treatment depends on the time of detection, and may include radiation, surgery or regular surveillance. Today, robotic surgery has helped to reduce the hospital stay for kidney, bladder or prostate cancer surgery to just a few days, or just one day.

(6) Prostate enlargement (BPH)

The prostate grows as you age. Over time, you may have to wake up at night to go to the bathroom or you may not be able to produce the stream of urine you once did. When diagnosed with BPH, your urologist will use various techniques to relieve the obstruction caused by the enlarged prostate. These techniques include consistent monitoring, medications, and in some cases surgery.

Your urologist may also recommend the Rezum procedure—which uses heated water vapor to shrink the enlarged prostate tissue—or the green light and thulium laser vaporization techniques, transurethral resection of the prostate, minimally-invasive thermotherapy, or a UroLift. You will likely return home the same day as one of these procedures.

(7) Erectile dysfunction (ED)

This is a common condition as men grow older. When a man in his 40s or 50s notices that his erections are no longer what they used to be, he should talk to a urologist. Erectile dysfunction is the difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection for sexual intercourse.

Although not fatal, it can cause stress, embarrassment and a strain on your relationship. Urologists will help you determine the underlying conditions and recommend treatments. Your urologist may prescribe medications—such as PDE5 inhibitors Cialis and Tadalafil—penile injections, a penile pump or, as a last resort, penile implant surgery.

(8) Kidney and ureteral stones

Kidney and ureteral stones occur when crystal-like particles in urine develop and grow into larger masses. As the stones pass along the urinary tract, they can get blocked and cause pain. Although most stones are passed naturally, larger stones may require surgery or specific procedures to break them.

One of the most common treatments is the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) technique in which sound waves are used to break up stones into smaller pieces. Also, since kidney stones can recur, patients often need long-term care. Your urologist will advise you on how to prevent kidney stone formation and how to best manage any potentially painful stones that develop.

At Advanced Urology Institute, every day we help people solve problems they may be hesitant to talk about. Since these problems are distressing or awkward to discuss, our goal is to help make you comfortable. We are proud of the long-term relationships we enjoy with our patients. Our knowledgeable urological specialists provide carefully tailored and confidential care. At AUI, patients get a proper diagnosis and the correct treatment, and we are willing to answer any questions you may have about your health.

If you suspect you have a urological problem, we encourage you to make an appointment at one of our many locations. For additional educational resources on urologic conditions, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

What Do Physician Assistants Do? – Mikhail Lezhak, PA

Ask Mikhail Lezhak what physician assistants do and you may be surprised by the answer. In the past, all professional medical care was performed by doctors and nurses. But doctors and nurses often spent a lot of time doing repetitive work that limited the time they had to focus on their specialty.

Mikhail Lezhak, Physician AssistantPhysician assistants, especially those in urology, may be called upon to do any of these things to assist the doctor:

  • Patient history checks, both directly with the patient and with recorded medical records. They will review records and update records. Based on what they learn, they will brief their supervising physicians about anything noteworthy
  • Perform physical exams. They can do the basic exams, but they also are trained to spot symptoms that require more advanced medical care
  • Order and interpret basic laboratory tests
  • For many relatively minor types of injuries, they may be qualified to handle the direct treatment
  • Assist surgeons doing surgical procedures
  • Perform minor surgical procedures, including suturing (making stitches); immunizations and injections; setting up, monitoring and removing intravenous feeds
  • Perform preoperative and postoperative care, including managing infection prevention
  • Prescribe medications as permitted
  • Provide patient counseling on medical issues, including self-care and follow-up
  • Set up health management plans and diets
  • Assist in maintaining a healthy, safe and sanitary healthcare environment, in accordance with health laws, regulations and accepted medical practices
  • Help maintain the proper stocks of medical supplies
  • Work with administrators and administrative staff to assure a more smoothly operating medical care environment

Essentially, PAs perform tasks that free up their supervising doctors for more difficult and complicated health issues. If this job sounds a lot like what nurses do, you are right. There is considerable overlap of responsibilities within medical communities.

In Florida, physician assistants do have a limited ability to prescribe and dispense medications. The ability for PAs to prescribe drugs is based on a written agreement between the PAs and their supervising board-certified doctors. That written agreement must have the following:

  • Effective for only five years, whereupon a new license is required
  • Requires the PA to take 10 continuing medical education credits before each license renewal period, including three hours about safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances
  • Only effective with that one PA-doctor agreement; it must be remade if the supervising doctor changes
  • Filed with the Florida Board of Medicine

There are some drugs that a PA cannot prescribe. For example, a PA working in urology cannot prescribe many of the same drugs that a PA working in psychiatry would prescribe, and vice-versa. Thus, there is local accountability for physician assistants within Florida about how they handle drugs.

Supervising doctors may have their PAs handle such duties as researching new medical device company products and keep the doctors advised on new drug formularies. PAs may be asked to scan medical journals for interesting issues as well as follow interesting and related legal cases involving their profession. They may help in medical research.

Just like nurses and nurse practitioners, PAs help the system run more smoothly by letting those who specialize spend more time on their side of the practice. The doctors can function more professionally as medical experts, and administrators can spend more time working with business management.

When you see Mikhail Lezhak, PA, at Advanced Urology Institute, you are seeing someone who has a wealth of training and experience in many of the same functions performed by a licensed medical doctor. Rest assured that your doctor still has you in good hands when your visit is with a medical professional who is a PA. For more information about physician assistants, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options

Although it is very common, erectile dysfunction can be an embarrassing subject to discuss even with medical professionals. ED can affect men of all ages and can be caused by a variety of factors, so a wide range of treatment options are available.

How Is Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosed?

According to the Mayo Clinic, ED is the chronic inability to get and maintain an erection. It can be diagnosed by talking with a doctor, ideally a urologist, about the patient’s medical history. The doctor may perform a series of tests, including a physical exam, blood or urine tests, an ultrasound, or even a psychological examination to determine if mental health is a factor in the patient’s erectile dysfunction. Sometimes ED is connected to another underlying issue. All of these factors come into play when determining treatment.

What Are The Treatment Options For Erectile Dysfunction?

Mikhail Lezhak, PA of Daytona Beach, FLThere are many potential steps to be taken in the ED treatment process. The first step, especially when the patient is a younger man, is usually medical management. Doctors may prescribe common medications like Viagra or Cialis. Both medications are taken only when needed. They do not help cause an erection until the patient has already become sexually stimulated. They are safe, commonly prescribed medications; however, they can cause serious side effects in combination with other medicines, especially nitrates.

For many patients, Viagra or Cialis is enough to help solve the problem of erectile dysfunction. If, however, they are not, another option is a penile injection. The initial penile injection may be given at the doctor’s office as a way to introduce the patient to the process. After this introduction, the patient can self-administer the injections at home as needed.

When these medications are not enough to solve a patient’s erectile dysfunction, another option is penile implant surgery. This is only recommended in cases where no other treatment option has been successful and when the patient’s ED has no chance of being reversed. There are a variety of penile implants on the market to accommodate a patient’s lifestyle and needs.

Erectile dysfunction can lead to feelings of embarrassment and shame, relationship difficulties and lowered self-confidence. However, there is no need to worry that these issues will last a lifetime. With the wide range of treatment options available, ED can be managed, allowing patients to resume normal sexual activity after consulting with their doctor. Our team of urologists at Advanced Urology Institute have extensive experience in working with patients experiencing erectile dysfunction. For more information, visit the Advanced Urology Institute website.