What is an internist?

Internists focus on non-surgical illnesses in adults. An internist is not an intern. An intern is someone in medical training (the first year after medical school). An internist or doctor of internal medicine completes seven years of graduate level education.

An internist is a generalist, meaning he or she has training in all the medical subspecialties (heart, nervous system, lungs, gastro-intestinal tract, kidneys, hormonal disease, diabetes, joints, muscles, bones, allergies, infections, as well as nonsurgical office management of ear nose and throat diseases, orthopedics, urology and ophthalmology). Internists focus on wellness and prevention, differential diagnosis and management of acute and chronic conditions such as:
hypertension, allergies, asthma, diabetes, thyroid disease, prostate problems, heartburn, ulcers, migraines, back pain etc.

Internists are primary care physicians, meaning the doctors you often see first. An important job of internists is to make referrals to other doctors. Internists coordinate your health care, which requires working closely with you, your family, and your other health professionals.

What if I have a problem at night or the weekend when the practice is closed?

There is "24/7" coverage of the practice, 365 days a year. The phones are connected to our answering service when we are not in the office and Dr. Holtz or a covering doctor will be contacted and respond to you promptly (we ask patients to call again in the unlikely event they have not received a call back from the doctor in fifteen minutes). We ask patients with routine calls such as prescription refills to try to call during regular office hours.

Do I have to wait long to be seen by Dr. Holtz?

We respect and value your time, therefore we work hard to stay on schedule. The schedule is designed to accommodate urgent visits without making patients with regular appointments wait. Of course, there are occasions due to the nature of medical practice, where we ask your indulgence.

When I need to speak to Dr. Holtz, can I expect a timely call back?

Yes. Dr. Holtz checks his telephone messages throughout the day and staff are trained to interrupt a patient visit if the message is urgent. If there are any unanswered telephone messages at the end of patient hours, Dr. Holtz will return them at that time. No messages are left for the next day.

Will Dr. Holtz take care of me if have to go the hospital?

In April 2007, Dr. Holtz started to use "hospitalists" for his patients admitted to the hospital. These are internists who only practice medicine in the hospital and are in the hospital throughout the day, to respond to problems as they arise. Dr. Holtz retains his hospital privileges and remains in close communication with the hospitalists and consulting specialists.

What insurance plans are accepted?

We feel that participation in insurance plans is partly responsible for the problems in primary health care. Dr. Holtz participates in Medicare but no commercial insurance plans. Patients with out of network coverage can be reimbursed for part or all of their visit. We submit all claims electronically to insurance companies as a convenience to our patients.