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Summer Means Soccer, Pool Parties, Out-of-Town Cousins and FamilyWise Healthcare
Our house is the Kool-aid house. You know; the one place in the neighborhood where all the kids want to hang out. In winter there’s a pile of coats by our front door. In summer we buy beach towels by the dozen, and our neighborhood pool stays filled with squealing, splashing and, "Hey, watch this!"
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I always know where my own children are. I get to know their friends, and I enjoy being that one grown-up the kids can turn to who always has time to listen. But there are occasions when a houseful of raucous playmates means a frantic trip to our healthcare provider.
There was Joelle’s tumble from the trampoline, the day Sarah discovered not to fool with the dog’s food while she’s eating, the June when a friend from down the block was far too generous with his summer cold, and we won’t even discuss the time my husband decided to prove he wasn’t allergic to poison ivy. That’s why I’m glad my family has discovered FamilyWise Healthcare.
This is no ordinary healthcare center. It is a family-friendly place where providers know my kids by name. I love to see my eight-year-old hop up on the examining table and chat with her care provider like they’re old friends. I’m not sure how they do it, but we’re usually in and out of the office in no time. In fact, most of the time we spend at FamilyWise is face-to-face with our provider.
The faces we see in the FamilyWise office we also see at the soccer field, at church, the grocery store and the gym. It’s good to know that other parents who grew up right here in McKinney/Allen and are raising their kids here are the ones caring for my family. What’s important to me is important to them. Our providers speak Collin County.
FamilyWise isn’t just our go-to place when someone gets sick or injured. They’re also our family’s partner in staying healthy and hearty to begin with. The way they explained it to me, each of us carries a unique combination of genes we received from our parents and grandparents. These genes can make us candidates for certain chronic illnesses.
Using advanced testing, such as Berkeley and Boston Heart Lab, our FamilyWise provider evaluated my husband and me looking for "metabolic defects" and "genetic markers" that could make us susceptible to heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Once testing was complete, we sat down together and talked about a customized health program including proper diet, exercise, nutritional supplements and medication. Our provider helped to motivate my husband lose 60 lbs which dropped his blood pressure enough so that he no longer needs medication... and he looks great!
There was also the time when Sarah had a sports physical for soccer and our FamilyWise provider noted an issue which had not previously been detected. A referral to a specialist revealed that it was nothing to worry about. They were able to correct the issue and it did not interfere with soccer. We were very grateful that the condition was identified and properly evaluated.
Getting our flu shots at FamilyWise also helped keep our family healthy during the past winter. The whole idea, we learned, is to be proactive about staying healthy. Our grandparents may have gone to their healthcare provider only when they were sick. But we’re learning to partner with ours to obtain and maintain optimum health.
Although our FamilyWise clinic is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and computer programs, their focus is never on that technology, but on us. We appreciate being able to make our appointments from our home computer and check in at a computer kiosk once we get to the office. Instead of confronting that dreaded clipboard full of paperwork when we see our provider, we’re able to keep our health records up to date online. We can also contact FamilyWise online for things like medication refills, to get feedback about diagnostic tests, or to make a payment on our account. But the real advantage is that once we’re face-to-face with our provider, we know that all those bells and whistles are just his way of streamlining his practice so he has more time to spend with us.
The FamilyWise team has allowed our family to take control of our own health. Through education and support, they’ve shown us how to be proactive in choosing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s wellness care, not just sick care, that we’re so glad to have found at FamilyWise. Try them, you’ll see!
