Newtown Physician Assistant Welcomes Neighbors To Monroe Primary Care Center

By John Voket

Page Waller, a Newtown resident and certified physician assistant knows it can be tempting to shrug off preventive medicine when a person feels healthy. However, studies indicate that seeing a primary care physician (PCP) on a regular basis helps prevent illness and injury because physicians become familiar with the physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors that affect one’s health.

Another factor that could easily dissuade an individual from seeking primary care and wellness support is having to travel or fight traffic in order to see a health care professional on a regular basis. That is one of the reasons why the Western Connecticut Medical Group, an affiliate of the Western Connecticut Health Network, is expanding and opening new practices in easily accessible suburban settings.

One of those centers recently opened just a few minutes south of Newtown at 427 Main Street in Monroe. Western Connecticut Medical Group has taken a regional approach to making PCPs accessible by operating internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics practices in 12 area towns to accommodate families close to work and home.

These PCPs are backed by specialists in more than 30 disciplines, along with the patient care teams at Danbury and New Milford Hospitals.

The public is invited to visit the new Monroe center during a public open house Tuesday, May 22, from 5 to 7 pm, where Newtown neighbors can meet Ms Waller, Dr Kavita Joshi and the welcoming staff at the bright and spacious practice, which shares the parking lot with a Rite-Aid pharmacy and the Last Drop Coffee Shop.

Ms Waller has 18 years of extensive experience in caring for patients in primary care settings for internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics —16 of those years in the Danbury area. Since 1996, she has served with Western Connecticut Medical Group in Brookfield and New Milford physician practices.

She earned her BS in physician assistant studies from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and a BA in psychology at Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr Joshi was previously affiliated with Griffin Hospital since 2008 and Bridgeport Hospital since 2004. She served as a hospitalist (specialist in inpatient medicine) at Hospital of St Raphael from 2002 to 2009. Dr Joshi completed a residency at Hospital of St Raphael in 2002, and earned a medical degree from Armed Forces Medical School, Pune, India, in 1991.

According to Dr Joshi, maintaining a relationship with a primary care physician makes perfect sense.

“New research shows that areas of the country with higher levels of primary care have fewer patient deaths and preventable hospitalizations,” said Dr Joshi, citing a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“There is no substitute for having a primary care doctor — internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics — who will develop sensitivity to all of the factors that contribute to your health and well-being,” she added. “It is a partnership that will help you take an active role in minimizing health risks and making decisions that will support your health goals.”

Ms Waller pointed out that while the new Monroe office is not an urgent care center, the need for more primary care professional in the Newtown and Monroe area was evident.

“People in this area are so busy, they may not want to, or they may be discouraged about taking the time to get to Danbury or Bridgeport to see a PCP,” she said. The office also features extra exam and meeting rooms, where specialists from the Western Connecticut network will visit in rotation, to consult with patients and coordinate care with Dr Joshi and Ms Waller.

“This is an ideal location, and we’re happy to accommodate same-day appointments and walk-ins,” Ms Waller said. “We are set up to treat individuals age 15 and older for things like physicals, sick visits, acute care, and wellness exams. And we basically take insurance from all the major carriers that most people in the area have.”

Being patient-focused is one of the most important aspects of the practice, according to Ms Waller.

“We’re committed to personalized care,” she said. “We really want you to feel like your part of the family.”

Since the practice opened earlier in the spring, Dr Joshi said she is seeing a wide range of concerns. She also is beginning to see a lot of local residents who winter in the south, who are now returning to the Monroe and Newtown areas for the summer.

“I know there is a lot of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol among people in this area,” Dr Joshi said. “But it’s very inspiring to see how many of these patients are truly motivated to improve their health. They appreciate that we are very open to alternative practices.”

Dr Joshi and Ms Waller said they are available to serve as partners in caring for the health of individuals and families in the area.

“We are here to walk you through, to help you take care of yourself, to guide you and to be there when you need us,” Dr Joshi said.

To learn more about the May 22 open house, or the practice, visit westernconnecticutmedicalgroup.org or call 203-638-1200.

To find a primary care physician near you, call 800-516-4743, or visit WesternConnecticutHealthNetwork.org.