WHY DOES YOUR DEGREE SAY “DO” INSTEAD OF “MD”?
Though most folks in the Midwest are familiar with DOs, a few of you may still be surprised to see someone call themselves a “medical doctor” without the famous “MD” after their name. In the USA (and many other countries, in fact), there are actually 2 recognized professional degrees which qualify one to be fully licensed to practice medicine and surgery. One is the better known “MD” or allopathic medicine degree. The other is the one I hold, known as a “DO” or osteopathic medicine degree. Each degree is obtained through 4 years of post-undergraduate medical training, though the schools which award each are distinct from each other. DOs have no more restrictions than MDs as to the types of medical care they can legally provide, though one tends to find more DOs choosing primary care fields and more MDs choosing specialties. DOs also receive additional training in Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, a drug-free modality of treatment that employs musculoskeletal manipulation to relieve multiple types of afflictions, primarily musculoskeletal pain. Generally, while we all receive the training, only a small percentage gain extreme proficiency in OMT, and actually continue performing it for the majority of their patients.
Though most folks in the Midwest are familiar with DOs, a few of you may still be surprised to see someone call themselves a “medical doctor” without the famous “MD” after their name. In the USA (and many other countries, in fact), there are actually 2 recognized professional degrees which qualify one to be fully licensed to practice medicine and surgery. One is the better known “MD” or allopathic medicine degree. The other is the one I hold, known as a “DO” or osteopathic medicine degree. Each degree is obtained through 4 years of post-undergraduate medical training, though the schools which award each are distinct from each other. DOs have no more restrictions than MDs as to the types of medical care they can legally provide, though one tends to find more DOs choosing primary care fields and more MDs choosing specialties. DOs also receive additional training in Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, a drug-free modality of treatment that employs musculoskeletal manipulation to relieve multiple types of afflictions, primarily musculoskeletal pain. Generally, while we all receive the training, only a small percentage gain extreme proficiency in OMT, and actually continue performing it for the majority of their patients.
IF I CONTACT DR. WOJNICKI OUTSIDE OF AN OFFICE VISIT, HOW QUICKLY WILL HE GET BACK TO ME?
On office days (see the “office schedule” link), I will check messages and respond once before office hours, once after office hours, and once in the evening, usually around 8PM. On non-office days, I will check 3 times daily but exact times of day will vary. As time allows, I will also randomly be checking whenever I have free moments, but the 3 daily checks will be the standard.
HOW DO I GET CARE WHEN THE DOCTOR IS ON VACATION?
The office will be closed when I am on vacation. I will make every effort to give at least 2 weeks notice to all patients (via group email) of my vacation dates. This will be done so that you may schedule needed visits, request med refills, get labs checked, etc. prior to my vacation start date. It is your responsibility to provide a reliable email address when you sign up and check it regularly in order to avoid missing these notifications. For the first year of the practice (Jan 2018-Jan 2019), while on vacation, I will STILL be available to contact by other means – phone, text, email, and if needed, video chat visits – though I will not be able to have in-person visits with you. Contacts made by email or text will be replied to the same day, but replies may be sent later in that day than when I am not on vacation. Should you require in-person care during my vacation days, you will be directed to the ER or urgent care, and financially responsible (through insurance or self-pay) for those visits independent of your DPC membership fee. The requirement of a visit to another physician, in any setting, while Dr. Wojnicki is on vacation, will not constitute grounds for a refund of or any credit against fees paid for the DPC membership.
Beginning in 2019, when the practice is more established, I may or may not enlist the services of a covering primary care physician during my vacation dates. In the case that I do, all contact and visits will be through him/her and I will be unreachable during my vacation days.
The office will be closed when I am on vacation. I will make every effort to give at least 2 weeks notice to all patients (via group email) of my vacation dates. This will be done so that you may schedule needed visits, request med refills, get labs checked, etc. prior to my vacation start date. It is your responsibility to provide a reliable email address when you sign up and check it regularly in order to avoid missing these notifications. For the first year of the practice (Jan 2018-Jan 2019), while on vacation, I will STILL be available to contact by other means – phone, text, email, and if needed, video chat visits – though I will not be able to have in-person visits with you. Contacts made by email or text will be replied to the same day, but replies may be sent later in that day than when I am not on vacation. Should you require in-person care during my vacation days, you will be directed to the ER or urgent care, and financially responsible (through insurance or self-pay) for those visits independent of your DPC membership fee. The requirement of a visit to another physician, in any setting, while Dr. Wojnicki is on vacation, will not constitute grounds for a refund of or any credit against fees paid for the DPC membership.
Beginning in 2019, when the practice is more established, I may or may not enlist the services of a covering primary care physician during my vacation dates. In the case that I do, all contact and visits will be through him/her and I will be unreachable during my vacation days.
WILL VACCINES BE AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR DPC CLINIC?
I am more than happy to discuss options and details regarding available vaccinations with any of you, including waivers/exemptions and alternative schedules. I offer the vaccines in the table below at the prices shown. Prices are subject to change at any time and the table may not be updated immediately. Because I need to personally pick up vaccines, I will require between 4 days and 1 month advanced notice. Once you commit to ordering a vaccine from me, you are responsible for the cost whether or not you or your child follows through with receiving the vaccine. Orders need to be placed by the end of business on the Monday preceding the vaccine pick up date (always a Friday). ALL orders MUST be placed through email to drjaredwojnicki.com. We can not accept orders by any other mode of communication. If you have a rare situation in which it is impossible for you to use email, call the office please - 847.455.2030.
The next planned vaccine pick up date is:
June 5, 2020
I am more than happy to discuss options and details regarding available vaccinations with any of you, including waivers/exemptions and alternative schedules. I offer the vaccines in the table below at the prices shown. Prices are subject to change at any time and the table may not be updated immediately. Because I need to personally pick up vaccines, I will require between 4 days and 1 month advanced notice. Once you commit to ordering a vaccine from me, you are responsible for the cost whether or not you or your child follows through with receiving the vaccine. Orders need to be placed by the end of business on the Monday preceding the vaccine pick up date (always a Friday). ALL orders MUST be placed through email to drjaredwojnicki.com. We can not accept orders by any other mode of communication. If you have a rare situation in which it is impossible for you to use email, call the office please - 847.455.2030.
The next planned vaccine pick up date is:
June 5, 2020
Hib |
$20.40 |
DTaP |
$38.40 |
Tdap |
$50.40 |
Hep B (children) |
$38.40 |
Hep A (children) |
$38.40 |
MMR |
$93.60 |
Pneumovax (>2 y/o Pneumococcal) |
$106.80 |
Prevnar (<2 y/o Pneumococcal) |
208.80 |
IPV (Polio) |
Call for pricing/availability |
Pentacel (DTaP, Hib, & IPV) |
$117.60 |
Rotateq |
$100.80 |
Menactra |
$147.60 |
Kinrix (DTaP & IPV) |
$64.80 |
Varivax (Chicken Pox) |
$174.00 |
Gardasil (HPV) |
d/w Dr. first $252.00 |
PPD (TB skin test) |
d/w Dr. first |
Hep A (Adult) |
$84.00 |
Hep B (adult) |
$72.00 |
Typhoid (injectable) |
$132.00 |
CAN I JOIN IF I HAVE MEDICARE?
You are more than welcome to be a part of Dr. Wojnicki’s DPC if you are currently a Medicare recipient. However, Dr. Wojnicki is an “opted-out” physician with Medicare. As such, due to laws regarding Medicare reimbursement, it is required that you sign an agreement, at the time of joining the practice, stating that you will never submit claims to Medicare for my services and that I will never bill Medicare for services I provide to you. You SHOULD be able to have Medicare cover testing and medications (if you have part D) that I order for you, even if it won’t cover the monthly member fee, but this should be confirmed with your local Medicare representative to be certain. If you see other specialist doctors whom Medicare does cover, their coverage will not be affected by your agreement with me.
You are more than welcome to be a part of Dr. Wojnicki’s DPC if you are currently a Medicare recipient. However, Dr. Wojnicki is an “opted-out” physician with Medicare. As such, due to laws regarding Medicare reimbursement, it is required that you sign an agreement, at the time of joining the practice, stating that you will never submit claims to Medicare for my services and that I will never bill Medicare for services I provide to you. You SHOULD be able to have Medicare cover testing and medications (if you have part D) that I order for you, even if it won’t cover the monthly member fee, but this should be confirmed with your local Medicare representative to be certain. If you see other specialist doctors whom Medicare does cover, their coverage will not be affected by your agreement with me.
DO I EVER HAVE TO COME IN FOR A PHYSICAL EVEN IF I FEEL PERFECTLY FINE?
I highly, highly recommend that all of my patients have regular physical exams, even if they feel 100% healthy. For persons age 30 and under, with no major medical problems, you should have a physical exam at least every 2 years. Even young people can have serious medical conditions that cause no symptoms but can be silent killers and only present on a doctor’s exam.
For people age 30 and under with major medical problems (i.e. diabetes, asthma, thyroid conditions), as well as all patients age 31 and over, I recommend a physical exam every year.
I highly, highly recommend that all of my patients have regular physical exams, even if they feel 100% healthy. For persons age 30 and under, with no major medical problems, you should have a physical exam at least every 2 years. Even young people can have serious medical conditions that cause no symptoms but can be silent killers and only present on a doctor’s exam.
For people age 30 and under with major medical problems (i.e. diabetes, asthma, thyroid conditions), as well as all patients age 31 and over, I recommend a physical exam every year.