PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

Dr. Levy is an integrative/holistic medicine specialist. He is board certified in both internal medicine (1989) and integrative holistic medicine (2003). The focus of Dr. Levy’s practice is:

v wellness care

v healthy aging

v guidance regarding prevention of chronic disease

v guidance regarding dietary supplements

v treatment of a variety of chronic conditions:

AIDS                                        Hypercholesterolemia

Allergies                                     Hypertension                                  

Alzheimer’s disease                    Hypothyroidism

Anxiety                                      Indigestion                                    

Attention deficit disorder            Infertility

Asthma                                      Irritable bowel syndrome

Autism                                       Manic depression                                   

Benign prostate hypertrophy       Menopause

Bloating                                     Migraines

Breast cancer                             Multiple sclerosis

Cancer                                       Obsessive compulsive disorder

Chronic fatigue                           Osteoarthritis

Congestive heart failure               Osteoporosis

Coronary artery disease              Prostate cancer

Crohn’s disease                          Prostatitis (chronic)

Depression                                 Rheumatoid arthritis

Diabetes                                     Restless leg syndrome

Fibromyalgia                              Schizophrenia

GERD                                       Sinusitis (chronic)

Hepatitis B and C                       Ulcerative colitis

Dr. Levy strives first and foremost to educate his patients. He formulates with each patient an individualized treatment plan which may encompass lifestyle changes, modification in the specific types of food consumed, and suggestions to take select dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, fatty acids, and others such as glucosamine or Co Q 10). For individuals who seek guidance because they are ill, the treatment plan is based on identification of underlying disturbances such as:

v excess oxidative stress

v excess inflammation

v impaired liver detoxification

v gastrointestinal dysfunction

v hormone/neurotransmitter imbalance.

Dr. Levy has developed an extensive informal network with many other practitioners. If acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, or a variety of other complementary modalities of treatment may be beneficial for an individual patient, names of practitioners, along with contact information will be provided.

Dr. Levy has acquired expertise in many areas of preventive care such as nutrition, exercise, cancer screening, prevention of heart disease, and prevention of osteoporosis. He offers periodic free public presentations on these topics and provides detailed educational outlines on each of these subjects on his educational web site, www.buffalo.edu/~shlevy/.

Dr. Levy is not a primary care practitioner. The office is currently not equipped to perform immunizations, EKG’s, ear rinses, or wound care. Dr. Levy does not hospitalize patients himself – this would need to be arranged by the patient’s primary care physician. Unless requested, preventive care issues such as cancer screening or screening blood work will not be addressed, as these important matters are the responsibility of the patient’s primary care physician. There is not an answering service, but voice mail is checked frequently and all calls are returned within a reasonable time. If Dr. Levy is unavailable, the message on his office phone will provide a contact phone number for a covering physician, who will be available only for brief phone advice, not an office visit.

Appointments are available on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Dr. Levy does not bill insurance companies. Payment is expected at the time of service, by cash, check, or credit card. Fees are $45 for a 15 minute visit, $90 for a 30 minute visit, $135 for a 45 minute visit, and $180 for a 60 minute visit. Upon request, a receipt will be provided which the patient may submit to the health insurance company for reimbursement. Patients must sign a Patient Agreement prior to the initial visit. This can be printed from this web site or mailed upon request. After the initial visit, follow up is available by phone or e mail, with the charge for the follow up based on time devoted to the phone call or e mail. Patients who wish to communicate by e mail will need to review the office e mail policy and sign a consent form in the office. The content of each encounter is documented using a voice recognition system, and a copy of the typed report is provided to the patient.

PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Levy practices Integrative Medicine. A few of the tenets of Integrative Medicine are (1) recognition of the healing response as innate - the primary role of the practitioner is to remove any blocks to healing, (2) recognition of the importance of good nutrition, regular exercise, and other lifestyle factors in the achievement of optimal health, (3) recognition of the role of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and dietary supplements in the treatment of many health ailments, (4) recognition of the role of complementary practitioners such as naturopaths and chiropractors and acupuncturists in our health care system, and (5) recognition of the importance of education of the patient. Integrative Medicine encompasses the use of prescription medications when indicated, and Dr. Levy is qualified to write prescriptions if requested by the patient.

Dr. Levy strives to practice patient-centered care, meaning that he as physician is the educator and guide, and the patient is the decision maker. As a consultant and specialist in integrative medicine, his primary focus is to address the specific needs and concerns of the patient. With regard to the ‘buzzword’ of relationship-centered care, he is committed to providing each patient with his undivided attention and creating physician-patient relationships based upon empathy and mutual respect. He recognizes the importance of trust in a therapeutic physician-patient relationship, as well as the role of a therapeutic relationship in healing. Questioning by the patient is encouraged.

Dr. Levy chooses not to engage in business relationships whereby he would draw income or any financial benefit from the sale of dietary supplements.

Dr. Levy strives to practice evidence-based medicine, and devotes hours each week to reading the medical literature. He recognizes that there are many different levels of evidence, ranging from data gathered from randomized, controlled trials to anecdotes based on observation.

[Last Updated September 30, 2008] [Return to Home Page]