YOUR LOCAL HUB FOR BETTER HEALTH
For most people, particularly families, finding a clinic where their ongoing medical needs can be met is a priority. Paradigm Health on Princes under husband and wife team Anthony Mew and Dr Mia have recently opened their clinic.
The name Paradigm Health on Princes emphasizes that this is a new approach to putting in place a model of high quality health care, based on providing individually tailored health and wellness solutions to their patients.
This bright welcoming clinic is located in a complex that houses a range of diverse businesses from dentist to government agencies like NDIS to allied health related clinics to beauty salons, and cafes.
Located with plenty of parking it is easily accessible for anyone with mobility problems. Behind are burgeoning new estates, housing the many new families that will be seeking health care.
The clinic will be offering what many busy families look for: a one stop place where they can access help for a whole range of health needs:
from consultations to minor surgical procedures, to specialist skin care and mental health support.
An on-site pathology collection is open to all members of the community, not just patients of the clinic. A boon for families when time is so scarce.
Bulk billing is available for those eligible and unlike in some other practices these appointments will not be limited to certain times of the day.
As a General Practitioner, Dr Mia is the regular locum in the clinic and understands how modern living can result in neglecting personal health issues, particularly among working mums. She speaks of helping with contraception and the various ways of navigating a difficult menopause as well as other stresses. She worries that some turn to social media looking for answers instead of speaking to a doctor.
There is a commitment to be ‘unencumbered by time constraints,’ Dr Mia emphasizes. ‘Sometimes, it just takes time for the real purpose of seeking help to emerge’. And this may of course be the result of an unhappy past experience of not having the time to tell a doctor what was worrying them.‘Our doctors are listeners, not seeking to just treat symptoms but also the underlying causes and lifestyle elements which may be contributing to the patient’s illness. We measure success by the positive health and wellness outcomes of our patients.’
Her spare time sees her engaged in running, hiking and other relaxing activities.
With more than 25 years as a general practitioner Dr Chander Hirstic brings a wealth of experience and a high standard of care when treating her patients. An authorized prescriber of medicinal cannabis she also performs assessments for TAC and Workcover.
Men are generally notorious for neglecting their health. The clinic offers a range of screening tests for diseases such as bowel cancer, diabetes, testicular and prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and more.
And for those men who are more comfortable in discussing these issues with a male doctor the very affable Dr Dan Chomlak, a Specialist Practitioner is at hand.
The clinic prides itself in the care offered in specialist areas, particularly in detecting and monitoring skin changes. Specialist care in this area is provided by Dr.Michael Inskip whose work both here and overseas in skin cancer diagnosis and surgery is highly regarded.
Since 2008 he has diagnosed over 3000 basal cell carcinomas, over 1500 squamous cell carcinomas and over 800 melanomas. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancers and melanoma, the deadliest
in the world.
‘We have been a sun worshiping culture and having a tanned body has been seen as an accepted norm of beauty and a sign of health.
Most of us have skins unsuited to the Australian sun and should limit exposure,’ he advises. Equally important as treating physical illness is providing mental health support. A disturbing trend has been the growing number of young people seeking help. Anxiety, depression, school refusal, food disorders are all signs of something being amiss. At the clinic adults and youths can present themselves and be assured of being cared for or referred for specialist care.
There is a dedicated clinic for the increasing number of children who show signs of ADHD.
Assisting the doctors is Registered Nurse Sam Gonzales with a background of both hospital and primary care she is committed to community health and well-being. With a skill in making patients, particularly children, feel at ease she is also in charge of the flu clinic.
What does the future hold for this innovative approach to treating people of all ages, all walks of life, different genders and ethnicities?
Paradigm Health on Princes is looking to grow the services it offers, initially through after-hours appointments for people with very busy work schedules.
But above all the aim is to treat each patient’s problem with an individually tailored solution whether that is purely listening, suggesting and helping with life style changes, prescribing appropriate medication and treatment or referring to specialist care.
The community can only be enriched by the availability of all this clinic offers to the people of Officer and the Cardinia Shire.