We here at MacMed are happy to announce some important goals that we have achieved!

First, we have just celebrated the 7th anniversary at our office at 1575 Hillside Avenue. The office that we designed as a homey environment where we could take care of our patients is still as inviting as it was on opening day!

On the breastfeeding medicine front, Dr. Lauren’s has been as busy as ever! Despite the increased workload, she still takes at least an hour with all of her patients. When people ask what Breastfeeding Medicine is, she describes herself as a “4th trimester physician.” After the baby has been born, ending the third trimester of pregnancy, both mother and baby enter into important and special periods of their lives. For mom, she is facing both physical and emotional challenges that come at this time. The issues that a mom has to deal with, aside from her new baby, include family, work and her own personal well being. Having breastfed both of our children and having been in practice for over a decade, Dr. Lauren knows and understands the importance listening firsthand. For baby, she examines baby from head to toe and checks to see if the baby is achieving appropriate weight goals by reviewing the baby’s pediatrician’s chart. She then weighs the baby before she observes a breastfeeding session with the mother. The baby is weighed again after the feeding to see how much milk was transferred. From there, she forms an assessment of how both mom and baby are doing. Based upon the assessment, a plan is formed to help treat whatever issues are found for both mom and baby. The office visit lasts at least an hour – sometimes more, sometimes less – because it takes time to get to know a new mom on a personal level in order to be able to help her.

From the neurological side of the office, I also take as long as needed in caring for my patients. This is gratifying for me, especially when I get to share the challenging world of multiple sclerosis with another person. Caring for our disease requires a good deal of time. As a doctor, I need to get to know my patient first as a person and then learn what role MS plays in her or his life. I encourage the MSer to bring family members, caregivers or any significant person in her or his life so that we can all work together to form a plan to deal with whatever challenges come up.   The initial office visit runs anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes and sometimes longer!

My book, Multiple Sclerosis From Both Sides of the Desk, has also hit another milestone having sold over 1,200 copies! The feedback that I have received about the book has been gratifying on multiple levels. Most gratifying is being able to explain how and why the disease affects us in ways that can’t be seen, I feel that I have been able to make a large contribution in knocking down the wall that used to be labeled “The Hidden MS.”

Dr. Lauren and I have always believed that in order to take care of a person who has a medical problem, the care begins with communication. And for a doctor, the first part of communication should be listening.

Today, the time spent in face-to-face contact in the world of medicine has become a dear commodity. In larger practices, the bean counters have forced good physicians to turn over more “relative value units” each day.

Dr. Lauren and I don’t turn over units.

We take care of people.

Our bottom line is determined by the care we give to our patients.

If you are, or someone you know is, in need breastfeeding or neurological care, the door to our homey office is open to all!