Chronic disease management in Hudson and Trinity, FL

Chronic disease management is long term care for adults who live with one or more ongoing health conditions. Many people have several at once, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and each one affects the others. At our Hudson office and Trinity primary care office, Internal Medicine MD brings all of your conditions into one plan, managed by one team that shares one chart. Treatment is adjusted as your life and health change over time.

Conditions we manage together

An internist is trained to care for the whole adult, which makes internal medicine a natural home for people with more than one condition. Each condition below has its own page with more detail:

• Diabetes and prediabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Chronic kidney disease
• Thyroid disorders
• COPD and asthma
• Medical weight management
• Osteoporosis and bone health

These conditions often share causes and treatments. Blood pressure control helps protect the kidneys. Blood sugar control helps protect the heart, eyes, nerves, and kidneys. Healthy eating, regular activity, and good sleep support nearly every item on the list. Looking at everything together helps your provider choose treatments that work well side by side.

What chronic disease management includes

• Regular monitoring visits with the same care team
• Medication review, adjustment, and refill coordination
• Blood draws and lab work in office, plus EKG and other testing when needed
• Clear goals for each condition, written in plain language
• Coordination with your specialists so everyone works from the same information
• Guidance on nutrition, activity, sleep, and tobacco
• Telehealth follow up visits through the patient portal when an in person exam is not needed

Our three providers, Dr. John Hanna, Miranda McWhirter, AGACNP-BC, and Amanda Durrett, FNP-BC, work as one team with one shared chart. Dr. Hanna alternates weeks between our two offices, Miranda sees patients in Hudson, and Amanda sees patients in Trinity. Your history, results, and plan are available to each of them.

What to expect at your visit

Your first visit is a full review of your health. Bring every medication and supplement you take, or a complete current list, along with recent lab results, home blood pressure or glucose readings, and the names of your specialists. Your provider will ask how each condition affects your daily life and what matters most to you.

From there, the team builds a plan that lists your conditions, your medications, your goals, and when each test is due. Lab work can often be drawn during the same visit. Follow up visits are scheduled based on how stable each condition is. Visits may be closer together after a new diagnosis or a medication change and spaced farther apart once things are steady.

If you have two or more chronic conditions, you may also qualify for Chronic Care Management. This Medicare program adds care planning and coordination between visits. It requires your consent, and costs depend on your plan, so call the office to verify your coverage.

Who this care is for

This care is for adults 18 and older who live with one or more ongoing conditions, or who were recently diagnosed and want help getting started. It is also a good fit for people who see several specialists and want one primary care team to keep the whole picture organized. New patients age 18 and older are welcome at both offices. Appointment availability is determined by the office.

Insurance and coverage

Chronic disease visits and medically necessary testing are commonly covered by Medicare and many commercial plans. Participation varies by plan and office, so please call the Hudson or Trinity office to verify your coverage before your visit.

Call 911 for chest pain, severe trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, or confusion. These symptoms need emergency care right away.

Frequently asked questions