In a world of on-line ordering andwhere shopping, banking, and communicating all occur on your phone, fast food meals, does anyone really care if they have an in depth visita meaningful and in-depth visit with their doctor? You might be surprised. Well, actually, a lot of peopleAfter all, it’’s only your health and wellbeing.
Dr. Judi Woolger knows how to provide itis delivering exactly these types of visits whether they be in the office, via FaceTime, or in a conversation on the telephone.. How amazing wonderful it isit is to find someone ahave a relationship with a doctor who will to actually take time to get to know themher patientstakes time to know her patients well. ..? Your chronic issues, your health goals, the medications you’’re prescribed. How unusual to find a doctor’s office with And somehow there are always openings for same day visits, and Facetime or texting connections to the doc Office visits scheduled at your convenience. No wait time. Walk-ins welcomed.tors. How is that possible? It’s It’’s available and it can be found atthe amazing world of private medicine at t The Agatston Center.
Dr. Judi Woolger, a board-certified internist and consistently listed in the lists of top doctors in [fill in], joined tThe Agatston group Center as the Chief Medical Officer this past August, after spending 28 years at the University of Miami/Jackson campus.
““While I loved the teaching and research aspects of my previous jobposition, ,” she said, “I felt a growing frustration with having to see patients every 20 minutesonly 20 minutes for each patient,.””, Woolger explains. ““There just wasn’’t enough time to learn someone’’s story and delve into their issues.””
That’’s when Dr. Arthur Agatston came with an offer opportunity she couldn’’t refuse. Agatston, author and creator of “The South Beach Diet” as well as the
Agatston Sscore for predicting heart disease, has been in the news on South Beachin Miami for years. He has led the cardiology world with his creation of the calcium score, which detects atherosclerotic plaque long before it becomes a danger for a heart attack. And that test has finally recently been added to the national guidelines for cardiac prevention and testing. But he’s not slowing downAnd there is no slowing him down. With his re-energized focus on diet and prevention of diabetes, he is leading the way again. Recognizing the expertise and talent of And he brought Dr. Woolger over the last decade, Agatston asked her to bring her own style and wholistic touch to the practice. into his practice as the Chief Medical Officer to bring her own special expert and wholistic touch. With her interest in prevention and nutrition (she will complete her masters Master’’s degree in nutrition this winter), the pairing is perfect.
Woolger thinks Tthe Agatston groupCenter is a unique offering: special: ““We have a fabulous and diverse combination of doctors in our group. We each have a passion for prevention and deeply believe in personalized attention for each patient. It’’s a great group of providers who know understand how to serve and treat the patients. We care about each one of our patients as individuals and not as a practice.””
In addition to offeringproviding state of the artworld class medical care to patients, Woolger believes her group adds value to patients’’ lives even when they’’re not actually sick.
“Our group is very interested in offering state of the art care to patients, along with things that really matter. We have She mentions Tthe Agatston Center’’s a 3D body composition machine. , which mMembers can use to track their even the smallest response to diet and exercise plans.
“In our officeMost of the diagnostics are done within our office,”” Woolger saysexplains, ““we can also doprovide treadmill stress tests, pulmonary tests, and bone density screenings and more. We just try to make the Making the health care experience a pleasant one isn’’t hard if you just take the time..””
The group practice also offers a cancer screening program and has nutritionists on site who also work via telemedicine.
Woolger, who loves the concierge- style setting of tThe Agatston centerCenter, is also loving the ability to flex her creative muscles in developing other business ideasideas. The group offers programs for corporate wellness, direct primary care, and telemedicine visits for their patients who want to see experts from all over the country.
““I love this new practice model,” says Woolger.. “We are trying to keepkeeping the amazing valuable aspects of connecting wiith people on a personal level, while simultaneously moving into the future with apps that connect us to patients electronically and quicklyin real-time. It’’s really a blend of old fashioned good medical care with future- thinkingcutting edge tools for prevention and creating optimal health. We’’re at the forefront of bringing back the lost art of the house call by the doctor who’s known you and your family forever—but with 21st1st Century tools.””
The Agatston Center is located at 1691 Michigan Avenue, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Their number is 305-538-3828. Visit their website at www.agatstoncenter.com.
