ContactPRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE
North Star's Bruce Heckman, MD, MPH, President.
Bruce H. Heckman, MD, MPH
President
Dear Patients:
Welcome to North Star Medical Group, P.C.’s webpage where you will find a lot of helpful information about our group practice, which began in January, 2007.
Our primary goal in forming a group was to ensure that the highest quality of patient care was available to patients during very difficult economic times. Physician consolidation into larger and larger groups is now the rule rather than the exception, even in conservative Westchester County. In order to maintain the highest quality of patient care and achieve financial stability, there is power in numbers.
The physicians at North Star have shown their commitment to patient care by teaming together for the good of the community.
After more than three years North Star Medical Group, P.C. (NSMG) has achieved many goals to benefit the health care needs of their patients.
As a regional group, North Star provides primary care in offices convenient to where patients live and work including Dobbs Ferry, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Briarcliff, Pleasantville, Ossining, Croton, and Buchanan. All physicians are board certified and hold appointments as Affiliated Physicians at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons. Long-standing physicians in the NS group include: Stere Carniciu, M.D., Michael Christensen, M.D., Lawrence Goldstein, M.D., Bruce Heckman, M.D., M.P.H., Christy Joyce, M.D., Irina Klyatis, M.D., Martin Melman, M.D., Edward Merker, M.D., Dora Picirrilli, M.D., Frank Soroka, M.D., Charles Starke, M.D., Richard Strongwater, M.D., and Mary Wolfe, M.D. Drs. Gary Lehrman and David Kauvar, M.D. Specialist physicians Drs. Gary Lehrman, (Pulmonary) and David Kauvar, (Gastroenterology) joined our group in July 2009, and Dr. Richard Findling, (Gastroenterology) joined us April 2010. Recruitment of additional primary care physicians and specialists is on-going.
All NSMG offices are connected to an internet-based practice management system and electronic health record with direct access to Phelps Hospital and all local pharmacies . This facilitates better patient care by allowing physicians to access patient records from remote sites so that history and diagnostic records are available 24/7. E-prescribing automatically checks for medication allergies, drug interactions, and transmits a legible prescription to the pharmacist by the time the patient leaves the office. The patient’s medical information allows for computerized studies of the patients’ records that identify the need for health maintenance follow-up in healthy patients and display follow-up of tests and treatments in patients with chronic illness. The system also allows front desk staff to work with the patient in ensuring that the patient’s insurance plan is active; reviewing the requirements for co-payments and deductibles; and determining the need for referrals to specialist and for procedures.
NSMG has an extensive laboratory facility and performs Echos, Ultrasounds, Holters, and other testing at the physician’s office for the convenience of the patient. Nutritional counseling services are provided at the local site. A Travel Medicine program is also available.
In providing the broadest spectrum of medical care to meet their patient’s needs, North Star physicians provide urgent and routine medical care in their offices, inpatient hospital care on the general medical floors, consultations for surgical patients, critical care, and care in the emergency room. Medical Care is also provided in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
The physicians of North Star Medical Group, P.C. care about the health of your family and we thank our patients for their support and invite new patients to join us.
Cheers to your health,
Bruce H. Heckman, MD, MPH
President