Do I Need a Hearing Test?
Listen up! Our Nashville audiologists encourage you not to take healthy ears for granted. Hearing loss typically happens gradually, which is why many people do not realize it is happening until they experience significant symptoms or family members notice. Unlike primary care checkups, eye appointments, and dentist visits, annual hearing tests are not a priority for most people.
Fortunately, Nashville ENT Audiology, in affiliation with St. Thomas Medical Group, is here to help you manage hearing loss, tinnitus, balance disorders, and other hearing healthcare needs.
Common Signs It Is Time For A Hearing Test
- You’re over the age of 60. For many people, hearing loss is part of the natural aging process. If you’re over 60, it is time to make hearing one of your priorities. Simply taking a hearing test every 2 years is an effective first step.
- You have noticed recent difficulty hearing. Are you turning up the television or radio volume louder than normal? Do you find it difficult to follow conversations? Do you mishear people or ask people to repeat themselves when there is background noise? If you experience one or more of these situations, you could benefit from a hearing test.
- You hear sound even when no external noise is present. Tinnitus can present itself as ringing, buzzing, chirping, or whooshing sounds in your ear. Many things can cause tinnitus, including hearing loss.
If any of these apply to you, you can schedule an appointment with our Nashville audiologists online or by calling +1 (615) 292-5191.
How Hearing Loss May Affect Your Life
Hearing loss can impact your life in three primary ways. First, people with untreated hearing loss have fewer educational and job opportunities than people with healthy hearing, which has a direct ability on one’s ability to communicate. Second, this impaired communication can lead to social withdrawal as well as reduced access to services. Third, individuals with hearing loss suffer emotional consequences such as a drop in self-esteem and confidence.
Our Nashville audiologists will help you find the right treatment plan. Our solutions include hearing aids, assistive devices, osseointegrated devices, cochlear implants, and rehabilitative education.
Understanding the Two Types of Hearing Loss
If you suffer hearing loss, your doctor will help you determine what kind of hearing loss you are experiencing. “Conductive” hearing loss is characterized by obstructions or malfunctions in the outer or middle ear. Common issues might include a damaged eardrum, impacted ear wax, or an infection in the outer or middle ear.
On the other hand, “sensorineural” hearing loss is attributed to damage to the hair cells in the inner ear. This damage can be caused by the natural aging process, exposure to loud noises (machinery, concerts, etc.), and diseases like meningitis.
Some individuals might experience a mix of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Hearing Loss Solutions
Fortunately, advances in medicine and technology have lead to many treatment and management solutions for hearing loss. Our Nashville audiologists will work with you to understand the treatment options available such as hearing aids, surgically implanted hearing devices, rehabilitative education, and much more!
To schedule a hearing test and protect your hearing, please schedule an appointment with our Nashville audiologists online or by calling +1 (615) 292-5191.
What Does a Gastroenterologist Do?
Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that addresses issues of the digestive tract and liver. It is a subspecialty of Internal Medicine, so a gastroenterologist completes the same training as an internist before pursuing additional fellowship training. By the time the gastroenterology physicians at Nashville’s St. Thomas Medical Group are treating patients, they’ve had five to six years of specialized training since completing medical school.
What Conditions Does a Gastroenterology Doctor Treat?
Gastroenterologists may treat a wide range of conditions affecting the digestive tract, including:
- Barrett’s Esophagus
- Colon & Colorectal Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
- Heartburn, Acid Reflux & GERD
- Helicobacter Pylori (Stomach Infection)
- Hemorrhoids
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Liver Disease
- Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
- Stomach Problems and Swallowing Problems
- Ulcerative Colitis
If your primary care doctor or an urgent/emergent care physician believes you may have one of these conditions and require specialized care, he or she could refer you to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation and treatment.
What Treatments Are Available at St. Thomas Medical Group?
Providers at St. Thomas Medical Group Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center offer many procedures that aid in diagnosing and repairing issues of the digestive tract. These procedures may include (but are not limited to):
- Colonoscopy: A diagnostic test that allows the gastroenterologist to examine the entire large intestine. This exam is commonly used to search for possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and other intestinal complications. Learn more.
- Hemorrhoid Banding: A non-surgical and non-invasive procedure that can be done in-office to alleviate hemorrhoid pain and symptoms. Learn more.
- Upper Endoscopy: A diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. During an EGD test, an endoscope is passed down your throat and along the length of your esophagus to evaluate the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. This procedure may also be used to obtain a small sample for biopsy. Learn more.
Meet Our Providers
Meet the gastroenterologists at St. Thomas Medical Group, and find out what makes our physician-owned practice so unique…
Allan Bailey, M.D.
- Clinical instructor at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine
- Teaches Gastroenterology to residents at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.
- Has served as Chief of Endoscopy at Baptist Hospital and Skyline Medical Center.
Antonio Granda, M.D.
- Has been practicing with St. Thomas Medical Group since 1978.
- Professional interests include study of the liver and treatments for Hepatitis C.
Jeffrey B. Eskind, M.D.
- Holds an appointment at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as an Associate Professor of Medicine.
- Is part of a multi-generational family of physicians, including his father, brother, a son, and a daughter-in-law, all of whom have practiced or are practicing in the Nashville area.
Howard R. Mertz, M.D.
- Nashville Magazine’s survey of local physicians rated Dr. Mertz in the top 85 physicians and top three gastroenterologists in Nashville in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
- U.S. News and World Report rates Dr Mertz in the top 1% of Gastroenterologists in the Unites States (2012).
- Is the most experienced endoscopic ultrasonographer in Tennessee with a caseload over 14,000 and over 5,000 fine needle biopsies.
Ronald E. Pruitt, M.D.
- One of the world’s expert authorities in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy (ERCP), performing approximately 500 of these procedures each year.
- Listed by his peers as one of Nashville’s most talented and respected physicians in Consumers’ Guide to Top Doctors, a publication of medicine’s best.
Edward E. White, M.D.
- Completed his Internship, Internal Medicine Residency and served his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- While at Vanderbilt he served as the preceptor for second-year medical students, as well as instructing a small group in a gastrointestinal section of physiology.
St. Thomas Medical Group Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center
St. Thomas Medical Group Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center is committed to ensuring that your experience with us is relaxed and worry-free, from consultation through recovery. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call +1 (615) 301-7040.
9 Health Insurance Terms to Understand
Are terms like “co-pay” and “deductible” throwing you off? Do you dread your 26th birthday because it means you’ll have to shop for your own health insurance?
If you’re like a lot of 20-somethings, you’re not alone. In a recent study of adults between the ages of 19 and 30, researchers found that 48% can’t define “deductible,” and 78% don’t know how to describe “coinsurance.”
In order to help patients improve their understanding of health insurance, our office at St. Thomas Medical Group has put together this convenient glossary of health insurance terms. Have a billing question? Don’t hesitate to ask us next time you’re visiting with us in the office!
Your Quick & Easy Health Insurance Glossary
Let’s take a few minutes to look at some of the most common health insurance terms and what they mean.
- ACA. Short for the “Affordable Care Act,” the ACA – also referred to as “Obamacare” – began to come into effect in 2014 (after being signed into law in 2010). Under the ACA, health insurance policies are frequently purchased by consumers through the government-run Health Insurance Marketplace (if you do not have health insurance coverage through parents or an employer). If you choose to shop for an alternative provider outside the Marketplace, you will want to confirm that your plan is ACA-compliant before purchasing.
- Claim. A “claim” describes the process of asking your insurance provider to pay for a medical service. Sometimes the physician’s office will file a claim for you. (If you aren’t sure, it never hurts to ask.)
- Copay. Many medical services – like a visit to your primary care provider at St. Thomas Medical Group – may have a copay. This is a flat rate that you pay to access the service; your insurance provider covers the remainder.
- Coinsurance. Once you’ve reached your plan’s deductible (see below), you may pay “coinsurance” – a percentage of a healthcare expense. For example, if you have a 25% coinsurance rate, then you would pay $250 of a $1,000 bill, and your insurance plan would pay $750.
- Deductible. This is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before your health insurance plan kicks in. Generally, plans with higher deductibles have cheaper monthly fees and plans with lower deductibles are more expensive.
- In-Network Provider. Health insurance plans often have “in-network providers,” which include physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare professionals with whom the insurance company has already negotiated lower rates.
- Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a personal savings account that you can deposit pre-tax dollars into. The money can be used to pay for a wide range of eligible medical expenses when you need it.
- Out-of-Pocket Maximum. This is the most amount of money you can pay for health costs in a year. This figure includes deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. If you spend this amount of money, your insurer should cover the rest of your expenses.
- Premium. This is the amount you (or your employer) pays per month for your health insurance policy.
Find a Primary Care Physician in Nashville, TN
For more information, see a primary care doctor in Nashville at St. Thomas Medical Group. Call +1 (615) 297-2700 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Our physicians have offered quality care at the intersection of Green Hills, Sylvan Park and Belle Meade for over 40 years.
