Chronic Care Management Specialist
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Robert L. Stephenson, M.D.
Internal Medicine Physician located in Encinitas, CA
Approximately 60% of American adults suffer from at least one chronic health condition such as diabetes and high blood pressure. At his practice in Encinitas, California, Robert L. Stephenson, MD, offers customized chronic care management plans to help you manage your symptoms and improve your health and well-being. If you’re looking for an attentive physician who can help you manage your health and lead an active and fulfilling life, call Dr. Stephenson or make an appointment online today.
Chronic Care Management Q & A
What is chronic care management?
Dr. Stephenson offers chronic care management to control your symptoms and improve your overall health and wellness. He works keeps track of all your symptoms, medications, treatments, and specialist providers to ensure your treatments complement one another and don’t interact poorly.
Age is a common risk factor for many chronic conditions, and aging is inevitable. With millions of Americans living longer and with multiple chronic diseases such as asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, the need for concerted medical care is critical to your wellness.
What are common chronic health conditions?
Dr. Stephenson offers chronic care management for a wide range of potentially disruptive health conditions. Some of the most common conditions include:
Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin correctly to convert glucose into energy. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of the disease and typically develops later in life. Your diet, exercise habits, and weight are the key indicators of your Type 2 diabetes risk. Type 1 diabetes is primarily hereditary and develops when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin.
High blood pressure
Almost a third of Americans have high blood pressure, a condition where your blood exerts higher than normal force against the insides of your blood vessels as it moves through your body. High blood pressure is usually symptomless but is a crucial indicator of your risk of other health issues such as heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.
High cholesterol
Produced in your liver, cholesterol is a substance that your body uses to build and repair your cells. Your liver produces all the cholesterol you need, but if you eat a high-fat diet, you may end up with more cholesterol than your body needs, and it clogs your arteries, contributing to cardiovascular health problems.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, a collection of diseases that cause painful inflammation in your joints. Osteoarthritis is degenerative and develops as the cartilage that cushions and lubricates your joints wears away. It causes painful swelling in your joints, which limits your mobility.
What is the management protocol for chronic health conditions?
Whether you have one or more chronic health conditions, Dr. Stephenson keeps track of your medications, supplements, and other treatments to ensure there are no contraindications. He works with you and your other specialist physicians to help you lead a healthy and active life.
In addition to prescribing medications and treatments to manage your symptoms, he offers advice to help you improve your overall health. For example, he can provide dietary advice to both enhance your health and help you lose weight. He can also help you find safe physical activities that you will enjoy.
