Preventive Medicine

As part of our comprehensive pediatric care, we provide care for adolescents. We take every opportunity to interact with adolescent patients to address appropriate lifestyle choices, review and update immunizations, and to discuss safety issues such as proper use of seat belts and bike helmets. Athletic physicals are required by local school districts for junior high and high school students and this is a great opportunity to review these crucial wellness areas.

We have a pure tone air conduction audiometer to easily screen, diagnose and treat hearing loss. Patients suffering from hearing loss are five times more likely to suffer from dementia, three times more likely to fall, and thirty-two percent more likely to be admitted to a hospital.

We have implemented a Chronic Care Management team that develops a Care Plan specific for each patient that is eligible for Chronic Care Management. A Case Manager will review each chart in advance of every visit to identify issues that should be discussed and addressed. A Case Manager will follow up after each visit to make sure you are feeling well and that your medications are working for you. A Case Manager will coordinate care between specialists, testing centers and hospitals to make sure everyone is working together. We provide more personalized attention to you and your health management goals.

Family physicians have extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders. Treatment for common lesions like warts and actinic keratoses (precancerous skin lesions) is available and many of these treatments are covered by insurance. Our providers perform minor skin surgeries including skin biopsies or removal of abnormal appearing moles. A careful complete skin exam should be performed annually to look for potentially serious lesions such as melanomas. AFM providers can also perform minor cosmetic procedures including removal of skin tags or other benign skin lesions. Many of these procedures, however, are not covered by insurance.

Symptoms arising from the gastrointestinal system are common causes for office visits. Vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea and constipation are common conditions that are evaluated using a combination of history, physical examination, lab testing and further diagnostic testing when appropriate. An appointment with your regular provider can help determine if further diagnostic testing is necessary.

Our providers provide comprehensive medical services for women including routine annual exams with pap smears, consultations regarding birth control options, and evaluation and treatment of menopausal symptoms including hormone replacement therapy. We also treat conditions such as vaginal and bladder infections, we do have some same-day office appointments available.

• Digital Mammography: State-of-the art fully digital mammography is available at several locations in the city. Call 913-596-1313 to schedule.
• DEXA: Bone density testing used for diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is available at several locations in the city. Call 913-596-1313 to schedule.
• Digital X-rays: Digital x-rays including chest x-rays and extremities are available at several locations in the city. The images are integrated with the PVHS-based computer system and can be made available to local physician specialists for consultations. Call 913-596-1313 to schedule.

We provide some testing on site for your convenience. They are:

• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Drug Screening
• Fecal Occult Blood Immunoassay
• Glucose
• Hematocrit
• Hemoglobin
• Hemoglobin A1c
• Influenza Test
• Lead Screening
• Microalbumin
• Pregnancy Test
• PT INR
• Strep Test
• Trichomonas
• Urine analysis

State-of-the-art fully digital mammography is available at several locations in the city. Call 913-596-1313 to schedule this important breast cancer screening test.

Download AFM Medication Refill Policy

• It is your responsibility to notify the office in a timely manner when refills are necessary. Approval of your refill may take up to three business days so please be courteous and do not wait to call. If you use a mail order pharmacy, please contact us fourteen (14) days before your medication is due to run out.

• Medication refills will only be addressed during regular office hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm). Please notify your provider on the next business day if you find yourself out of medication after hours. No prescriptions will be refilled on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays.

• Controlled substances will not be refilled over the phone. This will require an appointment.

• Medication refills can be requested through your pharmacy, through the Patient Portal, or by calling and leaving a message for our clinical staff.

• Refills can only be authorized on medication prescribed by providers from our office. We will not refill medications prescribed by other providers.

• Some medications require prior authorization. Depending on your insurance, this process may involve several steps by both your pharmacy and your provider. The providers and pharmacies are familiar with this process and will handle the prior authorization as quickly as possible. Only your pharmacy is notified of the approval status. Neither the pharmacy nor the provider can guarantee that your insurance company will approve the medication. Please check with your pharmacy or your insurance company for updates.

• It is important to keep your scheduled appointment to ensure that you receive timely refills. Repeated no shows or cancellations will result in a denial of refills. All prescriptions require a follow up appointment, AT A MINIMUM, of once a year. (More often may be required.)

• If you have any questions regarding medications, please discuss these during your appointment. If for any reason you feel your medication needs to be adjusted or changed please contact us immediately.

• New symptoms or events require a clinic appointment. Your provider will not diagnose or treat over the phone.

Sprains, strains and fractures (broken bones) are common in our patient population in the Kansas City area; our providers are trained to evaluate these injuries. Family medicine providers are also well trained to evaluate and treat chronic orthopedic problems such as arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and back pain. From initial clinical evaluation to arranging appropriate diagnostic studies and treatments, our providers can help improve quality of life for those suffering from these conditions.

With the advent of screening colonoscopy, which is the gold standard for colon cancer screening, colon cancer is now a potentially preventable disease.  Colonoscopy consists of viewing the entire length of the inside of a clean, prepared colon with a special camera.  Colon polyps, or growths on the colon which are often pre-cancerous or potentially pre-cancerous, are removed using a variety of instruments.  The procedure is performed under moderate anesthesia under supervision. Current guidelines recommend a screening colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50 for average risk individuals.  Talk to your primary care provider at AFM to see if you are a candidate for a screening colonoscopy.

AFM welcomes seniors and the special health concerns that accompany aging. Senior services include in-house hypertension monitoring and diabetic care. We accept Medicare assignment and will bill Medicare and your supplemental insurance on your behalf.

In minutes we can measure lung function to evaluate asthma and COPD, and for use in diagnosis of breathing problem or chronic cough.

We offer complete women’s care.  If your preference is a female provider, we have two female providers.

If you present with a work-related injury, we will contact your employer on your behalf and handle the necessary paperwork and communications to ensure that you get the work injury care you need in a timely fashion.

Associates in Family Medicine, P.A. offers several group visit learning opportunities for Smoking Cessation and Diabetes Management. Check our Home page or click here for current offerings and more information.