Surprising Procedures Your Doctor Can Do
By Amber Moss, DO | Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician
When most people think of primary care, they think of annual physicals, medication refills, sore throats, and managing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. But family medicine can offer much more.
At Moss Health, our goal is to take care of as much as we appropriately can right here in our office. That can mean fewer appointments, fewer trips to another clinic, and more of your care coming from a team you already know and trust.
Skin Lesions, Moles & Biopsies
Have a spot that has changed, keeps bleeding, catches on clothing, or just doesn’t look right?
Many skin concerns can be evaluated right in the primary care office. Depending on the lesion, we may be able to perform a shave biopsy or other minor skin procedure and send a sample to pathology when needed.
If something requires a dermatologist or surgeon, we can help determine the appropriate next step.
Cuts, Wounds & Stitches
Not every cut requires a trip to the emergency room.
Some uncomplicated wounds can be cleaned, evaluated, numbed, and repaired right in the primary care office. Depending on the injury, closure may involve stitches, skin adhesive, or other wound-care techniques.
Deep wounds, severe bleeding, significant contamination, or injuries involving tendons, nerves, or other deeper structures may require emergency or specialty care.
Abscesses & Minor Skin Infections
A painful, swollen bump may actually be an abscess.
Certain uncomplicated abscesses can be treated in the office with incision and drainage when appropriate. We can also evaluate surrounding infection and determine whether antibiotics or additional treatment are necessary.
Earwax Removal
Blocked ears, decreased hearing, pressure, or discomfort can sometimes be caused by something as simple as impacted earwax.
At Moss Health, we can examine the ear and, when appropriate, perform in-office earwax removal rather than sending you somewhere else for treatment.
Simple Foreign-Body Removal
Splinters and other superficial foreign bodies can sometimes be removed right in the office.
We can evaluate the injury, determine whether removal is appropriate, clean and treat the area, and make sure additional care isn’t needed.
Women’s Health Procedures
Women’s health is an important part of comprehensive primary care.
Depending on your individual needs, care at Moss Health may include Pap testing, contraceptive care, IUD management, evaluation of abnormal bleeding, and other gynecologic services and procedures.
We believe women’s health shouldn’t exist separately from the rest of your healthcare. Hormones, preventive care, medications, and overall health are often interconnected, and primary care gives us the opportunity to look at the whole picture.
Minor Injuries
Sprains, minor wounds, bumps, bruises, and other everyday injuries don’t always require urgent care.
We can evaluate many minor injuries at Moss Health and determine whether you need simple treatment, an X-ray or other imaging, or a higher level of care.
Before You Head to Urgent Care, Give Us a Call
One of the biggest advantages of having a primary care physician is having one place to start.
You shouldn’t have to figure out on your own whether your problem belongs with dermatology, urgent care, the emergency room, or another specialist.
If we can safely evaluate and treat the problem at Moss Health, we’d rather make things simple and take care of you here. And when you do need a specialist or a higher level of care, we’ll help you determine the right next step.
Not sure if it’s something we can treat? Give Moss Health a call. You may be surprised by just how much can be done right in your primary care office.