Adult Services, Clinical Update, Spine

Advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery

Spine surgeries have come a long way from the large open procedures that were the standard of care for many years. A wide range of minimally invasive surgeries are now possible for patients, with excellent results and faster recovery. Our goal with minimally invasive surgery is to decrease soft-tissue disruption yet accomplish the same results…

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Adult Services, Clinical Update, Spine

Reducing opioid use before and after spine surgery

Until recently, opioids have been the analgesic of choice for managing back pain before and after surgery. Now we are in the midst of an opioid crisis and know all too well the many drawbacks of opioids. At Norton Leatherman Spine, we take seriously our role in reducing this public health catastrophe. We are working…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Diagnosing and managing pediatric diabetes

Primary care providers and pediatricians play an invaluable role in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and timely interventions. “Diagnosing diabetes mellitus often starts with pediatricians or other primary care providers when parents bring in their child for unexplained weight loss, frequent urination and excessive fluid consumption,” said Brad Thrasher, D.O., MBA, pediatric endocrinologist with Wendy…

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Adult Services, Clinical Update, Spine

Managing osteoporosis and spine surgery

Osteoporosis in the aging population is now estimated to affect over 10 million people and significantly affects postmenopausal women, although the condition can occur in other groups. There are many predisposing factors, including a family history (genetics), race, smoking, alcohol abuse, chronic illness, cancer, deficient vitamin D3 levels and living a sedentary lifestyle. The condition…

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Adult Services, Clinical Update, Spine

Improving surgical decision-making for cervical spine patients

Difficulty with standing balance is a frequent clinical issue with multiple possible etiologies. It may be seen with normal aging or common pathologies such as diabetic neuropathy. In patients with cervical degenerative disease, progressive standing and gait imbalance can be an indication of cervical spinal cord dysfunction, termed cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). As opposed to…

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Adult Services, Womens

Helping patients talk about their menopause symptoms

Women in their 40s and 50s who are starting to experience symptoms of menopause and perimenopause frequently don’t know what to expect, and they are often reticent about bringing up symptoms during visits with their primary care providers. By asking questions and explaining symptoms, providers can normalize symptoms of menopause and perimenopause and put patients…

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Adult Services, Cancer

Lung cancer screening guidelines

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its lung cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to include younger patients and those who smoked less than the previous recommendation. The current USPSTF lung cancer screening guidelines are for adults between ages 50 and 80 who have a 20-pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within…

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NMG, Pediatric Services

January 2024 Norton Children’s Medical Group New Providers

Mary E. Dedman, M.D. Pediatrics Thomas E. McCormick, M.D. ­ Pediatrics Leigh A. Nieto, M.D. ­ Pediatrics Lorraine A. Rust-Killeen, M.D. Pediatrics Kerby D. Albert, APRN Neonatology Amy M. Barry, APRN Neonatology Emily A. Hickerson, APRN Neonatology

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Adult Services, NMG

January 2024 Norton Medical Group new providers

Laura R. Feder, D.O. Urgent Care Sarah E. Lainhart, M.D. Family Medicine Shawn C. McCarty, M.D. Emergency Medicine Monica H. Vetter, M.D. Gynecologic Oncology Amy K. Wise, M.D. Colon and Rectal Surgery Carter Hahn, PA-C Cardiology Gretchen E. Miller Carolan, APRN Infectious Diseases Morgan D. Hack, APRN Medical Oncology Carly E. Kessinger, APRN Family Medicine…

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Adult Services, Womens

Steven J. Radtke, M.D., FACOG, FMIGS, specialist in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, joins Norton Urogynecology Center.

Steven J. Radtke, M.D., FACOG, FMIGS, specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and has joined Norton Urogynecology Center. He earned his medical degree from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico and completed his OB/GYN residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. Dr. Radtke completed a fellowship in minimally…

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Behavioral and Mental Health

Primary care physicians are sometimes the first ones to diagnose and begin treating bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder commonly is seen first in primary care settings, although it is a relatively rare condition — only about 1% of people will struggle with it in their lifetime. The treatment of bipolar disorder often is supervised by patients’ primary care physicians and not a psychiatric specialist. “Bipolar disorder is a severe but manageable…

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Adult Services, Neuroscience

Diagnosis and treatment for trigeminal neuralgia

The initial evaluation for trigeminal neuralgia is typically in primary care, but patients frequently also present to dental and ear, nose and throat settings, according to Brian M. Plato, D.O., a neurologist and headache specialist with Norton Neuroscience Institute. The uncommon condition is characterized by facial pain within the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Abigail…

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