Health Blog

All of us at PinnacleCare wish you and those you love a safe, healthy, happy holiday. We are here every day of the year to provide support and guidance whenever you need it.   Warmest wishes from our family to yours, Miles J. Varn, M.D. and the PinnacleCare Team Read More

According to statistics gathered by the CDC, nearly half of adults in the U.S. take one prescription medication, while nearly a quarter take three or more prescription medications. The numbers are even higher for people who are 65 and older. Eighty-nine percent of people included in a Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll take one... Read More

In a perfect world, your electronic medical record would bring together your medical information from all the healthcare providers you see into a single, comprehensive record that could be easily accessed by any provider anywhere in the world with your permission. This information could reduce your risk of medical errors, duplicate testing, and inappropriate treatment.... Read More

A second opinion is an important tool that can help lower your risk of misdiagnosis, medical errors, and inappropriate treatment and ensure you’re aware of all appropriate treatment options. Second opinions are especially important if your doctor has recommended surgery or you’ve been diagnosed with a complex or rare health problem. Getting a second opinion... Read More

Second opinions can help lower your risk of experiencing a medical error or misdiagnosis, allow you to learn about all treatment options and their benefits and risks, connect you with physicians who have experience and success treating people with your condition, and provide you with peace of that mind that your diagnosis and treatment plan... Read More

Many people assume that if they have a good health insurance plan, that’s all they need to get access to the care they need. Unfortunately, health insurance is only one part of the care access equation. Even with a great health plan, it can still be difficult to get the care you need when you... Read More

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. An estimated 191,930 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2020, with one in nine men at risk of being diagnosed with this cancer during his lifetime. And while advanced or aggressive prostate cancer... Read More

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant toll on the mental health and wellbeing of people of all ages, from older people self-isolating to young children who can’t spend time playing with friends because of social distancing. A study on JAMA Network Open found that symptoms of depression were three times more prevalent among... Read More

Back pain is one of the most common reasons that adults in the U.S. seek medical attention and also one of the leading reasons Americans miss time at work. But it’s important to know that surgery often isn’t the most appropriate treatment and, in most cases, should not be the first treatment undertaken. Before choosing... Read More

I recently talked with KevinMD on his podcast about the potential unintended consequences of genetic testing. You can learn more about the subject in this post.   Clinical and direct-to-consumer genetic testing are much less expensive and more common than they used to be. You can buy a genetic test kit at Walmart or your... Read More