Primary Care Services for Adults

Annual Physicals

An annual physical is an important part of preventative primary care services. It will include a comprehensive review of your medications, a physical exam, and is an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have about your health. Most health insurers cover a visit dedicated to preventative health once a year without any copay or out of pocket expense (deductible) . Learn more here

Care Coordination

We recognize that in order to get the very best care, sometimes that means they need to see specialists to manage their acute and chronic conditions. We can coordinate referrals for you, communicate with the specialist after they have seen you, and help make sure your care plan is summarized all in one place.

Sick/ Urgent Visits

(In-Office & Telehealth Available)

When you're not feeling well, it's a relief to be able to get care from a provider who already knows you and your health history. We provide in office and video appointments for many common acute conditions such as: respiratory infections, urinary tract symptoms, viral illnesses, gastroenteritis ("GI bug"), ear infections, sore throats, allergies, etc.

Preventative Healthcare

As a primary care provider we feel the best service we can offer you is to prevent illness through effective preventative health initiatives. We believe in integrating preventative healthcare into every primary care visit- reviewing your medications, vaccinations, annual screenings each time we see you in the office to help you keep your healthcare on track!

Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that can be controlled or managed but often not cured. Common chronic conditions include (but are not limited to): Depression/Anxiety**, Obesity**, Substance Use Disorders**, Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV, Thyroid disease, Asthma/COPD, Allergies, Arthritis, Chronic Pain*, etc.

Sexual Health

Our practice strives to create an environment that affirms and promotes sexual health. We believe in stigma-free care when it comes to addressing your needs. We provide confidential sexual health services, including coordination of specialty referrals (if needed), for all adults, including those who are taking gender-affirming hormones or are living with HIV.

Contact

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*Chronic Pain Management Policy

At Kelly M. Farrow, Family Health Nurse Practitioner P.C., we understand that chronic pain is a complex and multifaceted condition requiring thoughtful, individualized care. Managing chronic pain often involves a combination of approaches to improve quality of life and overall well-being. While we are happy to work with patients experiencing chronic pain, we have specific guidelines in place to ensure safe, effective, and appropriate care:

Primary Care Oversight:
Chronic pain is a condition that benefits from consistent management by a Primary Care Provider (PCP). We encourage our patients to maintain an ongoing relationship with a provider at our practice to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for their pain and other health needs. This includes regular appointments.
Prescription Policy:
While effective for pain in the short-term, opiates eventually lose their effectiveness in the management of chronic (long-term) pain. We do not routinely prescribe opiates or controlled substances for chronic pain management. In the event your condition does require a short-term prescription for opiates, please note, we do not provide long-term continuation of opiate or narcotic medications. For patients currently using long-term controlled substances, we collaborate with their existing prescribers or refer them to appropriate specialists for evaluation and continued management.
Comprehensive Pain Management Approaches:
Our practice offers various non-opioid strategies to support pain management, including:
- Non-narcotic medications tailored to the patient’s condition.
- Non-medication therapies, such as physical therapy, mindfulness techniques, or other evidence-based interventions.
- Specialist referrals, connecting patients with orthopedic, spinal and pain management specialists or other healthcare providers who can offer advanced treatment options and advice for long-term pain control.
Adjustments to Pain Management Plans:
Changes to pain management plans, including medication adjustments, are best addressed during scheduled office visits. These appointments allow for a thorough assessment of the patient's needs and ensure safe, effective care.
Please note: We are unable to make decisions about changing or managing pain medications via portal messaging.

**Controlled Substance Policy

Other controlled substances

Non-opiate controlled substances, such as stimulants, testosterone, benzodiazepines, or anticonvulsants, have specific indications for use and potential risks.
Please note, our office does not routinely initiate prescriptions for these medications. The decision to begin these medications often is best made in conjunction with specialist following a comprehensive evaluation. We are only able to assume care for patients who are stable on their current doses for more than 6 months, and preferably 12 months.
Any titration, particularly dose increases, may require a return to specialty care for further evaluation and management.
Long-term prescriptions for controlled substances are subject to regular review. Patients must attend scheduled appointments to ensure continued appropriateness of the medication and to monitor for efficacy, side effects, and signs of misuse or dependency. Typical visit frequency intervals range from monthly to quarterly (every 3 months).
For patients transitioning from another provider, we collaborate with their previous prescribers or refer to appropriate specialists as needed for evaluation and continued management (or treatment plan changes).

Comprehensive Management Approaches: We prioritize multimodal treatment strategies, which may include:

Medication Management: Prescribing medications tailored to the individual’s needs, with an emphasis on utilizing non-controlled substances when possible.
Non-Medication Therapies: Incorporating behavioral therapy, counseling, physical therapy, or mindfulness practices as complementary options.
Specialist Referrals: Connecting patients with mental health providers, pain specialists, or other healthcare professionals who can offer advanced treatment and additional support.

Adjustments to Treatment Plans:

All medication adjustments, including dose changes or discontinuation, are best addressed during scheduled office visits to allow for thorough evaluation and safe decision-making.
Our practice does not routinely make changes to treatment regimens through phone calls, emails, or portal messaging.

Patient Responsibilities:

To ensure safety and compliance:

Patients must adhere to prescribed dosing and not share their medications with others.
Attend regular visits and complete laboratory testing (including urine drug screening when requested).
Lost or stolen medications may not be replaced.
Patients are expected to use one pharmacy consistently for all prescriptions of controlled substances.
We are required to review the New York State Prescription Monitoring System to track how early prescriptions are refilled. Over the past year, the total number of "early fill" days—when a prescription is refilled before it's due—cannot exceed 7 days in total. This means you can only refill your medication a little early a few times per year, adding up to no more than 7 days.

By following these guidelines, we aim to provide compassionate and evidence-based care for individuals managing chronic conditions. Our goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to support our patients in managing chronic health conditions while prioritizing safety and long-term health. If you have questions about our approach to management of chronic conditions or would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your care plan, please contact our office 585.386.3860.