THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504190203
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04K EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR
STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Patients with diabetes who get treated at the Diabetes Institutes at Eastern Virginia Medical School don't have to make those hour-long round trips anymore.
The Diabetes Institutes has opened a Virginia Beach office on Holland Road, its third branch location, which operates two afternoons a week. Dr. Leon-Paul Georges, director of the Diabetes Institutes and Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders at EVMS, said that the new location is part of a strategy developed at the medical school to provide access to patients in this area.
The new treatment center is actually located within another office - the Center for Internal Medicine. It's the only physician practice owned by EVMS.
``It started as part of an overall planning process,'' said Georges. ``Where do patients come from? When is it beneficial to see them? We knew from our demographics that Virginia Beach was our location.
``This is a unique resource to this community,'' he added. ``From our perspective, it's better for a patient to be 10 minutes away than 30 minutes.''
The office is staffed by Dr. Steven B. Leichter, professor of internal medicine, Dr. Donald W. Richardson, assistant professor of internal medicine, a nurse educator and a dietician. They offer diabetes, metabolic, endocrine and thyroid diagnosis and treatment, just as do the branch offices in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
It uses a team approach in treatment, like the year-old Diabetes Treatment Center at Virginia Beach General Hospital, but Georges emphasized that they are not in competition.
``We don't see ourselves competing with anyone,'' he said. ``We're unique because it's a comprehensive program; we do patient care, education and research. No one else does that.''
Leichter works at the center on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. and sees between 15 to 20 patients. Richardson staffs the office on Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Most patients are seen by referral. Leichter said that the treatment center came about because physicians and patients wanted better access to service.
``Patients with diabetes tend to be consumer-oriented,'' said Leichter. ``In the Tidewater area, especially the southside, we've seen a positive progression of diabetic care. What we've done in this area is to make the managed care plans have to worry about diabetes as a priority. That is excellent.'' MEMO: The Diabetes Institutes' Virginia Beach office is at 3396 Holland Road,
Suite 105, and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Call
446-5908.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Dr. Leon-Paul Georges, director of the program at EVMS, said that
the new location is aimed at providing access to patients in this
area.
DIABETES LECTURE
On Monday, May 8, from 7 to 8 p.m., Dr. Steven B. Leichter and
Marcia Hendricks, will present a lecture for people with diabetes
on ``Marvelous Mediterranean Meals'' at the Central Library, 4100
Virginia Beach Blvd. On Wednesday, May 17, from 7 to 8 p.m., Dr.
Leon-Paul Georges will speak at the Central Library about ``Diabetes
and the Who: Who Gets What and Why.''
by CNB