Primary Care / Internal Medicine
Doctors of internal medicine focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. These primary care providers are trained to solve challenging diagnostic problems and provide comprehensive care to patients with simple to complex health issues. We also guide patients toward an understanding of what it means to be well, educating them on issues such as disease prevention, substance abuse, and more.
Find a primary care / internal medicine provider now.
Conditions We Treat
Primary care / internal medicine providers at the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University offer comprehensive medical care. This includes treating a wide range of common acute and chronic medical problems, such as:
- Allergies
- Chronic disease management (arthritis; diabetes; high blood pressure; heart disease; etc.)
- Ear ache
- Eye infections
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Hormone imbalance
- Lung disease
- Mental health issues
- Rashes
- Respiratory infections
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Sleep disturbances
- Sprains and strains
- Stomach ache
- Substance abuse
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Weight management
- Women’s health issues
- Wound care
Our providers are concerned with your overall health and wellness. We not only treat immediate health concerns, but we also focus on preventive care. This includes providing appropriate screenings, vaccinations, physical exams, as well as patient education.
The goal of primary care / internal medicine is to be your primary care provider through the various stages of your adult life.
Our Primary Care Internists Do It All
Our primary care / internal medicine providers not only diagnose and treat adults for a wide range of medical issues — they also help to educate medical students and residents, participate in research projects and quality improvement initiatives, and engage in efforts to provide care and education to the communities we serve.
What Else You Need to Know
Primary care / internal medicine care is provided by Department of Medicine providers at the following locations:
Division of Primary Care / Internal Medicine
Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University
Phone: (315) 464-6527
Fax: (315) 464-6529
Address:
Upstate Specialty Services at Harrison Center
550 Harrison St., Suite I
Syracuse, NY 13202
New patients should expect to spend 30 minutes to 1 hour during an office visit. This includes preparation, physician time, and discharge time. Subsequent visits will usually take less time, depending on whether you are scheduled for a diagnostic test on the same day as your office visit.
You will receive a reminder call prior to your appointment date.
All new patients are required to bring the following with them to their initial visit:
- Insurance card
- Available medical records
- List of current medications being taken
To cancel or reschedule an appointment, please call your doctor’s office directly. Please provide 24 hours’ notice so that we may provide another patient your appointment time.
Prescription renewals for established patients may be requested by calling the office during regular office hours.
Before the prescription request can be reviewed, you will be required to clearly state:
- Your first and last name, date of birth, and daytime phone number
- Prescribing physician’s name
- Name of the medication and whether you are currently out of the medication
- Strength
- Dose
- Mailing address if the prescription is for a narcotic. Do you plan to pick up the prescription? If not, allow 24 hours for refill.
- Pharmacy name
- Pharmacy phone number
Patients may be required to schedule a follow-up appointment in order to continue receiving good medical care between prescription renewals.
Billing representatives are available to assist patients with proper submission of their bill to their insurance carrier. Patients are also encouraged to make sure that all necessary pre-authorizations are established prior to receiving care and are expected to bring documentation of preauthorization to their appointments.
Payment plans are available to patients without insurance who need medical care.
Patients are expected to:
- Show their insurance identification card at each visit
- Make necessary co-payments
- Pay on remaining balances
The clinical pharmacology division at Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University was formed in 1999 to conduct research that explores the optimal restorative use of a wide range of medications. The aim of this research is to collect data on innovative methods to amplify a drug’s effects while minimizing any side effects.
We are also committed to securing the funding needed to conduct this postdoctoral research in clinical pharmacology. We do this by regularly obtaining extramural funds – federal and nonfederal grants – that includes U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and equivalent funding.
OUR APPROACH
Our approach is to use the hospital’s highly qualified clinical pharmacists to serve as guides for medical students and residents in all medical departments to learn about drug therapies and drug safety, along with recent research in the field. In this way, we essentially train the entire extended Department of Medicine staff at the latest discoveries about the associations between certain drugs and diseases.
AREAS OF STUDY
Generally speaking, clinical pharmacology research tends to involve the following areas of study:
- How specific drugs are metabolized and transported within the body
- Effects of drug therapies
- Effects of drug therapies in special populations
- Drug discovery and development
- Determining the therapeutic window (between desirable/undesirable effects)
For more information about specific drugs or medications under study, speak with your physician.
We are proud to be associated with our nationally recognized Poison Control Center that covers the entire upstate region of New York state, outside of NYC.
DIVISION LOCATION & PHONE
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University
Phone: (315) 464-5367
Fax: (315) 464-5776
Address:
550 E. Genesee St., Suite 201
Syracuse, NY 13202
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for the patient and their family.
Palliative care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, and other professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and is often used alongside curative treatments. In many cases, palliative care can help patients live fuller and enjoy a better quality of life.
Because palliative care is focused on symptom relief, it can be used alongside other forms of treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Common symptoms that palliative care can help to relieve include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Family problems
One of the most important things that our team will do is listen to you. We want to make sure that you understand all of your treatment options and that you feel comfortable with the decisions you are making. No matter what you need, the Upstate Palliative Care Program is here to help.
To schedule an appointment, please call your primary care / internal medicine provider directly. You can also contact the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University at DeptMedicine@upstate.edu to find out more.