Lots o' hospitals
Although many experts say that a plethora of healthcare providers doesn't translate into better health for an area, having both the Martha Jefferson Hospital (982-7000) and the University of Virginia Medical Center (officially: UVA Health System) (924-0211) in the same tiny town can't be too bad. Each has a 24-hour emergency room.

The Thomas Jefferson Health District - This is the main health clearinghouse for public health. Serving a five-county area including the City of Charlottesville, it offers everything from STD testing (972-6217, free walk-in clinic Tues and Fri 1-3:30pm. For more, call 972-6228) to restaurant inspections (972-6259) to septic tank advice (also 972-6259). 1138 Rose Hill Drive. 972-6219.

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are available from at the Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Don't get too excited, though. Only immediate family members can get the certificates. 804-662-6200.

Teen Health Center - Provides pregnancy tests, HIV tests, gynecological exams, and other services for anyone ages 12 to 20. Operated in the Corner Building at 1400 W. Main St. as part of the UVA Health System. 982-0090

Charlottesville Free Clinic - Offers medical care to the underprivileged. Located on Rose Hill Drive. 296-5525

Alternative Health
Charlottesville teems with holistic, homeopathic, and other alt medical providers. Some people swear by their chiropractor, some by their holistic healers, and some even swear by their shark cartilage pills, but please don't forget that many charlatans operate under the "alternative healing" banner. The good news is that UVA's Nursing School has set up The Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies to conduct research and disseminate information about alternative medicine. 924-0113

Get Fit!
There are more yoga classes around town than you can shake a mat at, plus classes in Pilates and the Alexander Technique and countless other wellness-related topics. But for the sake of space, here are the health club biggies-- full-service spots that are open to everyone and exist solely to keep you feeling-- and looking-- your best.

ACAC: It ain't the cheapest game in town, but with three separate facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, basketball arenas, a kid zone, and a big downtown facility, it's pretty hard to complain. And that doesn't include the still-new kid "arena" over at the Adventure Central location on Four Seasons Drive. 978-3800

Gold's Gym For straight up fitness, Gold's is the place. Lots of free weights, machines, classes and kid care. They have a big facility next to the Kmart on Hydraulic Road. 973-1307

Boar's Head Tennis, swimming, golf, and much more-- convenient for west-of-townies at the Boar's Head Inn on 250 West. 972-6067

For more, check out our Sports & Rec page...

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What's up doc? Finding the MD that's right for you
BY JOHN HONG, MD DOC@READTHEHOOK.COM

If you're new in town, finding a new primary care physician (PCP) can be quite an undertaking. For example, pretend you're the beautiful Nicole Kidman. You just had a baby and you're not feeling so hot, so you Google to find a new PCP. There are a ton of doctors' names, and you click on a few hoping to find A Few Good Men.

Voila! You come across a Top Gun-looking doctor, a Dr. Hong... (I wish)... a Dr. Cruise. True, he might be someone you would have a Cocktail with, but that would be Risky Business.

You read his bio: he's Born on the Fourth of July and even owns an ultrasound machine at home. (Wow, he must take his work home with him.) So you call his office, find out if he is approved by your health insurance, and make an appointment.

Underneath the Vanilla Sky is a Magnolia beside Dr. Cruise's medical office: nice office! The porcelain-skinned staff members are very friendly. However, when you finally meet Dr. Cruise, he lacks All the Right Moves. He's arrogant, doesn't listen to you, and scoffs at you when you tell him that you feel depressed. When you realize it's Mission: Impossible, you try to get Far and Away from him to prevent a War of the Worlds.

Is there a secret to finding the right primary care physician? There's no winning formula, but there are a few things that might help.

Word of mouth: ask people who their doctor is, how long they've been seeing him or her, and what's to like. One woman said to me, "I prefer my doctor because he's no-nonsense. I don't want a doctor with a personality. I'm not there to socialize or feel warm and fuzzy."  

Many men have told me, "I just see my doctor because my wife forces me to. Otherwise, I really don't care about it."

"Dr. X has been seeing me for 80 years. He doesn't even remember my name at this point-- he's so old," some folks say. "But I can't switch doctors because I would feel disloyal."

So make sure you consider the source.

Don't interview the doctor: some people call or e-mail me that they want to "interview" me before actually scheduling an appointment. Theoretically that makes sense, but realistically it's impossible. Doctors are so busy seeing patients, writing notes, calling patients back, reviewing labs and tests, etc. that taking time to be interviewed by a non-patient is unfair to the established patients. Ergo: word of mouth.

Board Certification: be sure your doctor is board certified in his or her field. A friend of mine in L.A. told me, "Oh, you have to see my doctor. He's great and wears Prada."

I didn't know what Prada was at the time, but I went anyway for a general check-up. It wasn't until I was in his office that I learned he was Board Certified in anesthesia, not internal medicine or family practice. Let me tell you, the visit was not a gas. While I was naked on the exam table, he made me get on all fours like Lassie to exam my— well you can figure it out. I should have asked him if he wanted me to bark, "Timmy has fallen into the well."  Do you want a psychiatrist doing your PAP smear? Do you want an OB-GYN doing your prostate exam?

You can search the Board of Medicine on line to see if the doctor's license has ever been suspended or revoked, how long he or she has been in practice, etc. But really, you'll never know until you see the doctor. Nonetheless, going in Eyes Wide Shut can be a precarious experience.

Dr. Hook cracks a joke or two, but John Hong is a renowned physician with a local practice. E-mail him with your questions.

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