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Athens Associates
in Family Practice
300 Hawthorne Lane
Athens, GA 30606
Phone: 706-353-7648
Fax: 706-353-2771
All Emergencies Dial 911

Notice of
Privacy Practices

Our Services

Below are many of the screening and evaluation tests and healthcare services we offer at Athens Associates in Family Practice:

• Assess cardiovascular health with blood pressure evaluation, cholesterol levels, electrocardiogram, and stress testing
• Well-woman services including PAP smears; mammogram scheduling; examination for common female cancers, including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine
• Screen for diabetes
• Pregnancy testing
• Prostate cancer screening, including PSA testing
• Treatment of male erectile difficulties, including treatment with Viagra if warranted
• Aid in smoking cessation and assessment of tobacco-induced lung damage by chest x-ray and pulmonary function testing
• Test for thyroid, kidney, or liver disease by blood testing and ultrasound, if necessary
• Test for hearing loss
• Test for infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
• Laser treatment for hemorrhoids
• Assess your risk for stroke including measurement of carotid artery blockage by ultrasound
• Manage common orthopedic and sports complaints and injuries
• Routine dermatology care, including acne, skin cancer screening, and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions by biopsy or freezing with liquid nitrogen

For patients age 20-29: You should have a routine physical examination every five years in the absence of a chronic medical problem. This does not include Pap smears and breast exams, which should be done yearly after age 18.

For patients age 30-39: You should have a routine physical examination every three years in the absence of a chronic medical problem. This does not include Pap smears and breast exams, which should be done yearly after age 18. Women should get their first baseline mammogram at age 35. All patients in this age group should know their cholesterol levels.

For patients age 40-49: You should have a routine physical examination every other year in the absence of a chronic medical problem. This does not include Pap smears and breast exams, which should be done yearly after age 18. Yearly mammograms begin at 40 for women. Again, cardiovascular disease prevention is the main priority in this age group. Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetic screening, and exercise tolerance are some of the more commonly performed screening measures in this age group.

For patients over the age of 50: You should have a routine physical examination every year. In addition to the continued cardiovascular disease prevention, we begin most cancer screening in this age group. For men, this would most commonly include prostate, lung, and colon cancers. For women, this would include continued well-woman exams/mammograms, but also screening for lung and colon cancers. Women should have bone density testing every two years for osteoporosis screening.

Prostate cancer screening: A prostate exam should be performed yearly after age 50, and after age 40 in black males. A PSA test should also be performed yearly at the time of the exam. A family history of prostate cancer will accelerate the schedule, so check with your provider if you have a family history of prostate cancer.

Pap smears: Women over the age of 18—or at any age when sexually active—should have a Pap smear yearly. We can provide your annual Pap smears here at Athens Family Practice; however, if you prefer to have this done with your gynecologist, that is fine. We simply ask that a copy of your exam and Pap smear report are sent over to use for your records.

Don't assume annual pelvic exams, Pap smears, and mammograms are all a woman needs for routine wellness. Although these are very important, cardiovascular disease is still the number one killer in women.

Mammograms: Women should have a yearly mammogram and breast exam after the age of 40. A baseline mammogram should be done between 35 and 40 once to provide a comparison for future exams. A family history of breast cancer might accelerate that schedule, so check with you provider for more details.

Cardiovascular stress testing: Patients over the age of 40 should have an exercise stress test every three to five years. A baseline test should be performed at or before the age of 40 for screening purposes. A family history of heart disease or other strong risk factors may warrant testing sooner. Symptoms related to heart disease should always be addressed with your doctor, regardless of your age or any past normal stress testing.

For more information about our physical capacity tests, physical examinations, drug testing, and x-ray services, click here.

Payment Information: We accept payments for services over and above your insurance coverage, such as co-pays and deductibles, in the form of cash and personal checks. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards.