Millions of American men and women suffer from a wide range of urologic problems, including disorders of the bladder, kidneys and prostate. Initially experienced by those between the ages of 40 and 50, these problems increase with age, negatively affecting not only the health but also the quality of life of those afflicted.
In an effort to offer comprehensive urologic care, two Northeast Ohio urology practices - Advanced Urology Associates, Inc. and Urology Incorporated - have merged. The newly consolidated group, called Physicians Urology, includes 12 board-certified or board-eligible urologists, many of whom are fellowship or subspecialty-trained. They are Drs. Dennis Bentley, Raymond Bologna, Todd Breaux, Gregory Danesis, Joe Dankoff, Lawrence Geller, Howard Minott, Bradford Moss, Michael Serene, Kevin Spear, John Wegryn and John Zhao.
"As urology has continued to advance, it has become more and more subspecialized. The merger allows each of us to focus on our fellowship or special area of interest, thus providing truly comprehensive care," said Dr. Bologna.
"The idea was to bring both groups together so we could have a subspecialist from every area of urology in one group to optimize patient care," added Dr. Breaux. "Everything a patient would need, from the basic to the most advanced urologic care, can now be provided by Physicians Urology."
Increased accessibility for patients was also a goal of the merger. By combining their established office and hospital sites, Physicians Urology now offers subspecialized urologic care in Akron, Fairlawn, Barberton, Ravenna, Stow, Medina and Wadsworth.
"A lot of times, patients are very territorial. They like to stay in their community to receive their health care," explained Dr. Danesis. "As a group, our goal is to see referring physicians' patients sooner and at a location that is closer to their homes."
Physicians Urology has built a brand new facility, Physicians Center For Urologic Health, at 320 West Exchange Street in downtown Akron. At this new Center, prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, along with education and support regarding all urologic issues, are offered in a convenient location.
SPECIALIZED PHYSICIANS
The physicians who comprise Physicians Urology have diverse backgrounds and special areas of interest. Many direct the urology departments at the hospitals with which they are affiliated.
Dr. Serene is chief of the Department of Urology at Akron General Medical Center. One of his areas of special interest is brachytherapy for prostate cancer. He and Dr. Spear have served as past presidents of the Ohio Urologic Society.
Dr. Spear is the chairman of the Department of Urology at Summa and chief of the Division of Male Infertility. The only fellowship-trained male infertility specialist in the Akron area, Dr. Spear has written a book chapter on male infertility. He also has a special interest in minimally invasive treatments - indigo laser therapy, transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), and microwave therapy - for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Dr. Danesis is fellowship-trained in Urologic Oncology. His specialty interest is cancer of the prostate, kidney and bladder.
"All of us (the urologists) treat urologic cancers. Prostate cancer comprises 20-30 percent of the average urologist's practice," said Dr. Danesis. "But sometimes, if it's a particularly difficult case, it's easier to direct the patient to the physician who has more expertise in that area."
Dr. Bologna is fellowship-trained in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine and serves as co-chairman of that division at both Akron General Medical Center and at Summa. In addition, he is the director of Adult Clinical Research for the Urology Residency program at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
"I have worked with Dr. Robert Flora, a urogynecologist, for seven years in The Continence Center," said Dr. Bologna. "The merger allows me to continue this and to focus even more on my subspecialty, which is female urology and voiding dysfunction, incontinence and prolapse."
Dr. Wegryn is chief of the Division of Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery at Summa. He was the first physician to perform laparoscopic kidney surgery in the Akron area and is now involved in the renal transplant program at Summa. He also has a special interest in laser treatments, laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery for prostate disorders.
Similarly, Dr. Breaux has a special expertise in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic kidney procedures and robotic laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
"The robotic surgical system I use (which is located at Summa's Akron City Hospital) is computer-enhanced and enables an increased level of precision and control which contributes to significantly less blood loss, shorter hospital stay and less post operative pain," said Dr. Breaux. "I expect it to become the standard of care for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer."
Dr. Geller has a special interest in impotency and incontinence. He has been practicing at Summa, Akron General Medical Center and Barberton Citizens Hospital since 1992. Dr. Moss has been affiliated as a urologist with the same hospital system since 1989. He enjoys practicing all aspects of urology.
Dr. Zhao and Dr. Minott, who primarily practice at Robinson Memorial Hospital, prefer general urology. They bring advanced urologic procedures to Robinson including laparoscopy and minimally invasive treatment for BPH.
Dr. Dankoff, while interested in all aspects of general urology, has a subspeciality focus on BPH and male voiding dysfunction. Dr. Bentley, the group's newest addition, has a special interest in endourology and laparoscopy.
PHYSICIANS CENTER FOR UROLOGIC HEALTH
General and specialized urology services will be provided at Physicians Center for Urologic Health, including ultrasounds for prostate evaluations, prostate biopsies, cystoscopy, and laser treatments for prostatic enlargement and voiding problems. The primary focus, however, will be prostate cancer - diagnosis, treatment, education and support.
"With this merger, we were able to purchase state-of-art technology for CT and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)," said Dr. Danesis. "Radiation therapy is one of the primary treatment modalities for patients over the age of 65 with prostate cancer. These patients usually aren't candidates for surgery because of their age."
IMRT is the most advanced radiation treatment available for prostate cancer. It allows precise treatment of the prostate gland with minimal effects on neighboring structures and tissues. This results in lower complication rates.
"We're working with a radiation oncology group from Akron General to deliver the radiation expertise," said Dr. Breaux. "The patient will be able to see the radiation oncologist and the urologist during the same visit, so he won't have to go to two separate appointments. A patient liaison will guide each patient and his family through the cancer treatment from start to finish."
Men's health programs and community education seminars will be offered monthly at the Center. Physicians will lead these sessions, providing opportunities for attendees' questions to be answered one-on-one. Support groups will also be available to patients and their families.
"Men have a one in six chance of developing prostate cancer," said Dr. Breaux. "We recognize that this is a highly treatable disease. Early detection is the key to reducing morbidity and mortality. Our mission is to raise greater awareness and to provide the best treatment options available to our patients. Physicians Center for Urologic Health helps us reach this goal by offering the community a comprehensive men's healthcare facility."
For more information about Physicians Urology or Physicians Center for Urologic Health, visit their new website: www.physiciansurology.com. To schedule a patient, call 330-375-4848 or 330-864-1535.
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