Internal Medicine & Pediatrics in Elizabethtown, KY

Internal Medicine & Pediatrics in Elizabethtown, KY Health Talk Transcript:

Doug Ansert Jr., MD, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics
Baptist Health Hardin

Doug Ansert Jr., MD:

As an internal medicine and pediatric physician, we can see you from the moment you take your first breath until you take your last breath. It's a very unique field. We can see you your entire life with several distinct advantages on the treatment side of things. I have the advantage of knowing grandma or grandpa, mom and dad, or brother and sister, and that gives us certain advantages to know what runs in your genetics. I also get an idea of what may work well for mom and dad may also work well for the child as a patient medication-wise. We know what risk factors to look out for.

Over time as we grow older, typically, our risks develop for different things — heart attacks, strokes, cancers. I can be a lot more vigilant with our pediatric patients to ensure they get their screenings at the appropriate time and make sure they are treated appropriately at the right age to try to prevent things moving forward. It gives us an advantage taking care of the entire family.

I think one of the biggest things patients appreciate is they're able to develop an open, honest, trusting relationship with their physician. As they get older into young adulthood, which is typically a very difficult time, they're starting their careers and maybe different medical things pop up. They can stick with the same doctor where they already have a trusting relationship, and they do not have to transition to other providers. I've probably seen a five-generation family. It's really fun to get to know grandma and grandpa, great grandkids. Grandma and grandpa are very proud of their grandkids. That's fun.