Coastal Carolina Family Practice, Dr. Robert E. Lane, Hertford, N.C.

CoastalCarolina Family Practice

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Founded by Robert E. Lane, M.D. in 1987, Coastal Caroina Family Practice, P.A. is a regionally focused family practice medical facility that serves the Albemarle area in northeastern North Carolina. Our practice is dedicated to aiding our patients thoughout all the stages of their lives by utlitizing an interactive approach to patient care that focuses on preventative medicine, health education and the importance we place on our patient's involvement in every aspect of the decision-making process that involves their care. We are currently one of the largest and most state of the art family practice groups in a 100 mile radius with a patient base that extends to all of the surrounding areas as well as Virginia.Centrally located 13 miles from Chowan Hosptial in Edenton, N.C. and 20 miles from Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, N.C. we offer referrals to both facilities should additional care be necessary.

services

Adult and Geriatric MedicineArterial Doppler StudiesBone DensityDiabetic Management ProgramEKG and Stress TestingHealth EducationLaboratory FacilitiesMinor EmergenciesMinor SurgeryNewborn CircumcisionOffice GynecologyPediatricsPulmonary Function TestingUltrasoundX-Ray Facilities

Article 3

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meet the providers

[meet the providers]

Dr. Robert E. Lane, M.D.
Erica M. Ford, P.A.-C
Mary N. Boyce, P.A.-C

Dr. Robert E. Lane, M.D.

A recognized board certified family practice physician, Dr. Robert E. Lane graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1967. He completed his Internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and followed his internship training with a Residency at Contra Costa County Hospital in Martinez, CA. After completing his residency in California, Dr. Lane volunteered for Service and became a qualified Submarine Medical Officer. After completing this Service, he then relocated to the East Coast where he began his practice in Edenton, N.C. in 1973. In 1987 Robert E. Lane, M.D. relocated his practice to Hertford, North Carolina and began what is now one of the largest family practice groups within a 100 mile radius. In his spare time Robert E. Lane, M.D. is a boating enthusiast, amateur chef, student of the art of golf as well as a devoted husband, father and step-father to 6 and grandfather to 8 and counting.

Erica M. Ford, P.A.-C

A graduate of NC State in 1996 with a degree in microbiology and genetics Erica followed up her impressive undergraduate education by utilizing her skills as a member of the GlaxoSmithKlein pharmaceutical research team where she performed experimental therapy studies. In 1997, Erica chose to further her medical education and enrolled in the University of Iowa's prestigious Masler P.A. Studies program. After completing her medical training in 1999, Erica then honed her training and furthered her interests in pediatrics and gynecology by working with the North Carolina Public Health System. In 2001, Erica became an integral part of the Coastal Carolina Family Practice team. In her spare time, Erica enjoys cooking, kayaking, spending time on water and being a hands-on wife and mother to her two beautiful children.

Mary N. Boyce, P.A.-C

An academic and medical research enthusiast with an interest in acute care and health education, Mary Boyce, P.A.-C graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Biology in 2007. After completing her undergraduate studies, Mary continued her education at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, where she graduated with distinction in 2010. Mary is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the National Health Services Corps. and was recently honored with the Theresa A. Thomas Memorial Scholarship, an award given to exemplary students who are committed to working in underserved areas. In 2011, after completing her training, Mary relocated from her hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia to North Carolina and became part of the Coastal Carolina Family Practice team. In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with family and friends, kayaking, biking and outdoor activities.

patient education

[patient education]

Article 1
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Article 3

Article 1

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The Savvy Passenger - Spread Your Holiday Cheer... Not Your Holiday Bug Tips to Staying Healthy During the Busy Holiday Travel SeasonAs crazy as the holiday travel period can be, one of the common pitfalls of crowded airports and airplanes is the spread of cold and flu viruses. The fact is that flu season usually peaks in January, just after the holidays, and many experts believe its due to the heightened exposure to fellow travelers in close quarters with one another.Most airplanes have HEPA filtration units in their air circulation systems on board aircraft, but the way many folks are now packed in like sardines in steel tubes at 30,000 feet for hours at a time, the likelihood that you will pick up an airborne illness or other bug is vastly increased. So what can you do to lessen your body's chances of becoming infected?StressOne of the biggest contributors to infection and the susceptibility to illness is succumbing to external sources that trigger internal stress. Scientific studies have consistently proven that allowing stress to internalize actually suppresses the immune system, allowing for increases in infection.A simple way to help reduce your stress levels during holiday travel is to understand what can go wrong during your travels and accept that you may be faced with that somewhere along your journey. People forget that, as winter sets in during late November and throughout December in the northern hemisphere, airline travel is severely hampered. What many travelers tend to forget is that the airlines and their employees have no control over these external forces. Yet time and again, the public has a tendency to express their increased frustrations on the men and women whose job it is to do their best to accommodate them.It may sound simplistic, but remembering the words of Reinhold Niebuhrs Serenity Prayer may actually help you to cope: grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. I have seen people have a complete meltdown in front of customer service agents simply because their departure gate had changed, let alone the flight being delayed or cancelled. It is best to practice patience and let go of the internal frustrations. Expressing them and projecting them on airline personnel tends to exacerbate the situation. Try taking a step back, take in a deep breath, and relax. And most importantly, let the airline people do the job they are paid to do. Adding additional pressure and stress on them will not get you much mileage both figuratively AND literally.HygieneThey say that the best defense is a good offense. This can also apply to protecting yourself and being proactive in lessening your chances of infection.There is a delicate balance between exposing yourself to bugs in order to build up one's immune system and protecting yourself from incubating it in your body. Many researchers believe that the recent popularity of anti-bacterial products may be doing more harm than good when it comes to fighting off illnesses. The risk of cross-resistance is making the use of standard antibiotics almost uselessWhile the common cold and flu are viruses, researchers believe there may be a connection in the weakening of the human immune system to overuse of these products.Most physicians believe that the best way to minimize your exposure to these pathogens is simple, everyday hygiene, beginning with frequent hand washing with standard soap and water. The Mayo Clinic suggests that hand-washing should be done whenever you sneeze or cough into your hands, handle or prepare food, use the toilet or change a diaper, or handling garbage.On airplanes, it is important to realize that most surfaces on the plane have been exposed to other people, including individuals who may be infected with illnesses. There is also a good bet that those surfaces have not had a chance to be properly cleaned in-between uses. I recommend that you bring a small supply of sanitation wipes in your carry-ons in order to wipe down surfaces like tray tables, especially if you plan on eating food using that table. Remember that bacteria and viruses can survive on exposed open surfaces for hours or days after contamination, so being armed with the proper tools can greatly reduce your exposure to these bugs.Many flight attendants will tell you that one of the more common hygienic mistakes people make aboard an airplane is using the lavatory with stocking or bare feet, especially small children. Take a few moments and put your shoes on, or get your children's feet shod with footwear to protect them and you from exposure to pathogens that are bound to be found in abundance on a lavatory floor!Traveling While SickIn todays modern times, it is virtually impossible to avoid traveling on a flight without someone on board who isn't suffering from an illness. With the high cost of changing a ticket if your travel plans are interrupted by sickness, most people will choose to fly any how illness be damned.There are a few things that you can do if you find yourself in this situation to lessen the effect you may have on fellow travelers (and on your wallet).To begin with, most airlines offer travel insurance for just such issues. The cost of buying this insurance is far less expensive than being charged for change or cancellation fees associated with illness. Having this insurance will allow you to re-book your travel plans without further cost to you should you need to cancel or re-book your itinerary due to unforeseen illness. Remember that this insurance is only available at the time of booking, and cannot be purchased after your tickets have been issued. Check with your specific air carrier for additional information, rules and restrictions.Try to get a flu shot early in the season. Most vaccines are available for the current flu season around September, while the height of the flu season generally happens around January. It is a common misnomer that these vaccines actually cause one to get the flu. Dont be misled. It is highly recommended that children under 5 and adults over 50 get these vaccines every year as the flu can actually complicate other illnesses like asthma and high blood pressureIf you are caught off-guard and simply must travel while sick, take along a few items that will help you suffer less, and help contain your infection. If you have a cold, I highly recommend a decongestant (Alka Seltzer™ Plus Cold effervescent tablets are the best) to keep your sinuses and eustachian tubes as clear as possible. I find that a combination of this and a mucus reducer (like Muscinex™) is the best regimen for keeping these pathways open and avoid the discomfort that airplane pressurization can cause. I want to point out here that I am not a physician, so consult with a trained medical expert before prescribing this method personally.If you do suffer from a cold or flu, it would be wise to bring along a face mask to wear while onboard the plane. Not only will this help reduce the spread of your illness, it will give your fellow passengers peace of mind that you thought enough to do so, and will lessen their irritation that they might pick up what you have. You can get these at any drug store or pharmacy. It would be wise to bring along a supply of tissue even though most airplanes are equipped with facial tissue, you may be caught in your seat with the seat belt sign on and unable to get to that supply. Also, as a flight attendant, on behalf of my fellow attendants, I respectfully request that if you are going to dispose of your used facial tissues, please place them in the air sickness bag first BEFORE handing it to an unsuspecting crew member! They will thank you for that immensely!Keep in mind that on board the plane, the only thing that flight attendants can provide you is a simple dose of aspirin or acetaminophen. This may not be enough to cure what ails you so come to the airport prepared. Also, remember that if you are a true believer in NyQuil™ liquid cold medication or any liquid elixir, you may not be allowed through security with it if the container holds more than 3.2 fluid ounces.There is no way to avoid the spread of airborne illnesses, but being proactive in your fight against them will help you enjoy your holidays more and allow you to travel more worry-free.Happy holidays, everyone and safe, germ-free travels to you all!

Article 2 CDC Says...Take 3 Actions To Fight The FluFlu is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death.CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):Take time to get a flu vaccine. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available. Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness. People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older. Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people. Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. Its very important that antiviral drugs be used early (within the first 2 days of symptoms) to treat people who are very sick (such as those who are hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu symptoms and who are at increased risk of severe flu illness, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older and people with certain chronic health conditions. Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.Visit CDCs website to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.

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Article 3

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Tips for Avoiding Holiday Back Pain...The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over 50,000 people every year sustain some sort of winter-related back injury, and 5,800 of those are holiday decorating-related. Your back could sustain all sorts of strain from carrying heavy purchases, and from the increased stress of lugging suitcases, decorations and gifts.Primary case physician Dr. Alanna Levine spoke to Debbye Turner Bell on "The Early Show" about how your protect your back this holiday season.The first tip Dr. Levine gave was about carrying heavy shopping bags. Smaller bags, she said, are better."You don't want to load everything up into one bag and lug it around," Dr. Levine explained. "You want to distribute the weight on your body."She also recommended putting heavier items towards the bottom in those bags and lighter items on top. Also, if you can, make frequent trips to the car to drop off purchases.Travel can be another pain in the back - from carrying heavy luggage. Again, Dr. Levine stresses not to pack everything into one bag.Even though it may cost more, she said that packing two smaller bags is safer than packing one heavy one. Also, choose a light-weight bag, so that the only weight you're carrying is the contents inside the suitcase.When unloading bags from an airport carousel, Dr. Levine suggests standing close to the carousel and bending your knees to lift it up."You want to avoid that reach-and-lift. It puts a lot of strain on your lower back," she said.When it comes to holiday decorating, people can get adventurous. Dr. Levine suggests decorating in pairs, so one person can hand the lights and ornaments to the other person to hang, as to avoid reaching or twisting to get what you need.

new and events

[news and events]

December 2011
November 2011
October 2011

December 2011

Wishing You and Yours a Safe and Joyful Holiday and a New Year filled with Health and Happiness!

Dr. Robert E. Lane & Your Coastal Carolina Family Practice Team

November 2011

Starting the midddle of November and going through the middle of January, Coastal Carolina Family Practice has volunteered to be a donation center for the Food Bank of the Albemarle. At a time when there are so many that need a helping hand this holiday season it is our goal to nourish and support our friends and neighbors and the incredible community we have called home since 1987.

October 2011

In the spirit of honoring those we have lost,

we ask every women and man to take charge of their own health

by performing monthly Breast Self Exams.

Early Detection Saves lives...

For more detailed information as well as instructions on how to perform a Breast Self Exam please visit the link below:

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-self-exam.aspx

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For all new patients, our entire staff will work to make your first visit as smooth as possible. To help us achieve this goal we ask that you Arrive 30 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment. This will give you time to complete the necessary patient information, health history, privacy policy and payment forms, or if you have completed the necessary paper work ahead of time via the the links provided or the forms tab to your left, we can assure all information is correctly processed and entered.
Valid Picture IDInsurance Card(s)Completed Patient Registration formCompleted Health History formCompleted Acknowledgment of Privacy Policy formCompleted Payment Policy formA list of current prescriptions and/or over-the-counter medications you are taking including dose and frequency (this will allow us to make sure you are on the right combination of medications. A list of any herbal supplements or vitamins you take on a regular basis, since any of these can affect your body and its reactions to other medications we may prescribe.Any recent x-rays, and if possible please have your medical records sent to our office prior to your visit as this information will aid the physician in your treatment. Note:A release of records from our office or your current physician will need to be obtained filled out and returned prior to your appointment.Please see the tab to the left marked forms to download a release of records form as well as all other necessary paperwork.

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payments/billing

Payments
Payment is expected at the time of service unless you have made prior arrangements with the accounts manager. For your convenience, we accept MC/Visa/Discover. The Billing Department will be happy to assist you in filing claims with your insurance company for your prompt reimbursement. Patients should realize that the professional services are rendered to a person and not an insurance company. The patient is responsible to the doctor for the payment and the insurance carrier is responsible to the patient for reimbursement.

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Although payment is expected at the time of service, we understand that there may be occasions when billing may be required. Our office sends out statements monthly. Bills should be paid within 30 days of receipt of bill. Upon request, consideration may be extended. This should be discussed with the accounts manager while you are at our office, or by phone, at 252.426.5711 If your account becomes delinquent it will be forwarded to a collections agency, and you will be responsible to pay all reasonable collection and handling charges on the oustanding balance. Your account may be subject to finance charges of 1.5% per month on all unpaid balances. In the event that your account must be referred to an Attorney for Collections proceedings, we reserve the right to request recovery of reasonable counsel fees incurred for collection in addition to your oustanding balance. Failure to keep this account current may result in you being unable to receive additional services except in emergencies or where there is prepayment for additional services.

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insurance

Insurance Companies and Policies
Below is a partial listing of insurance companies we participate with. To verify if we participate with your insurance company please contact our billing office at 252.426.5711 or your insurance company directly for a listing of participating providers.AARPBCBSCarolina AccessCignaGreat WestMedicare (and most Medicare HMOs)MedcostNC MedicaidNC Health ChoiceOptima HealthPHCSTricare United Healthcareetc., Note:Insurance cards and photo ID are REQUIRED each visit and must be presented upon check in. You are ultimately responsible for your balance REGARDLESS of insurance coverage, liability of another party or representation of an attorney. As a courtesy we will file insurance for you. A filing of insurance does not constitute a guarantee of payment. As such you are personally responsible for any deductible or copayment resulting from service. Co-payments are due at the time of service.

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2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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600 South Church Street, Hertford NC 27944
p: 252.426.5711 f: 252.426.1999