Restoring Skincare Screenings to Protect Our Community
December 22, 2021
Here at Associates in Dermatology, we received this Thank You card from a grateful Shepherd’s Hope patient that was recently diagnosed and treated for skin cancer. Shepherd’s Hope (see Building Strong Community) is a faith-based organization of caring people who volunteer to deliver services for the uninsured and underinsured in Central Florida by providing access to compassionate free medical care. Patients who are eligible to receive health care through Shepherd’s Hope have income at or below 200% of the poverty level, are uninsured and not eligible for government-assisted health care programs. Fortunately, this Central Florida patient was able to receive the high-quality dermatology they needed during a time when our local health care systems were strained by the pandemic.
In the wake of the COVID crisis, Dr. Michael Steppie and the dedicated healthcare providers at Associates in Dermatology want to thank our loyal patients for everything they have done to keep themselves and our community safe during unprecedented times. Amidst the first wave of the pandemic, healthcare provider systems throughout Central Florida found themselves grappling with questions about how to deliver optimal patient care. Since many facilities were forced to delay non-urgent medical appointments, there was a fundamental shift across the care continuum that now needs to be reversed for our community to fully recover. Now is the time to restore your skincare routines.
Cancer Organizations Voice Concern Over Procrastination
Although the tremendous pressure we all felt during the past months cannot be brushed aside, organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Cancer Society have voiced concerns over the fact that many people are procrastinating on scheduling doctor visits for preventive care. A coalition of 76 healthcare organizations have submitted a letter to the public that cancer screenings and early treatment saves lives. “As we all welcome-in the new normal,” says Dr. Steppie “we can’t ignore evidence-based precautions that we resume cancer screenings as soon as possible.” The letter raises awareness to the fact that many cancers, including all types of skin cancer, are going undiagnosed and untreated.
“In recent years, we’ve made tremendous strides in helping patients manage even the most deadly form of skin cancer,” continued Steppie. “To ensure our community fully recovers from this distressing trend, I highly recommend that everyone return to their regular routine for skin care, including annual skin checkups and full-body exams. Working collectively, early detection and treatments will continue to save lives. So, schedule your skin check, today.” As we enter this unprecedented new era, Associates in Dermatology is dedicated to helping you safely manage your family’s medical communications, setting appointments, and paying bills-all of which can be handled through our convenient state-of-the-art Athena Patient Portal.
Building Strong Community Relationships
Network of Local Affiliated Hospitals
Associates in Dermatology has developed a stellar reputation as a leading provider of dermatology services and skin cancer treatment by creating strong relationships throughout the Central Florida community. Our healthcare system also proudly provides in-patient dermatology consultations within our network of local affiliated hospitals, including:
- AdventHealth Heart of Florida – Davenport, FL
- AdventHealth Celebration – Kissimmee, FL
- Osceola Regional Medical Center (HCA Healthcare) – Kissimmee, FL
- Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital – Kissimmee, FL
Patients diagnosed with skin cancer need support, no matter the type or stage of illness they may be in. Early-stage melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can often be treated in-house, but more advanced cancers may require additional treatments. Our goal for the new normal is to deliver excellence for patients in our Central Florida communities.
Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers
Founded in 1997 by Dr. William S. Barnes, a senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Shepherd's Hope brought together caring doctors and nurses to provide for those in need. Today, his vision has evolved into the largest free and charitable network of clinics in Florida, both in number of locations and patient capacity. The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics recognizes these Central Florida locations:
- West Orange Health Center – Winter Garden FL
- Longwood Health Center – Longwood, FL
- Downtown Health Center – Orlando, FL
- Diebel, Jr. Memorial Health Center – Orlando, FL
- Tazkiah Health Center (temporarily closed) – Ocoee, FL
“We take pride in being a part of Caring People, Caring for People throughout our Central Florida communities,” says Dr. Michael Steppie, President and Medical Director of Associates in Dermatology. Shepherd’s Hope has contributed directly to the health care economy by mitigating the financial impact to hospitals and health care providers for the services they have provided to over 330,000 uninsured and indigent patients.
Associates in Dermatology CAP Lab
The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) awarded the Associates in Dermatology Laboratory in Kissimmee full CAP lab accreditation to join the more than 7,600 CAP-certified medical facilities worldwide. “The quality of service provided by our in-house laboratories is key to helping save the lives of skin cancer patients,” said Dr. Steppie. “If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a potentially deadly skin disease, you can rest assured you're in the best of hands when it comes to your medical care. Our entire staff works hard to ensure our CAP lab provides the highest level of anatomic pathology and dermatopathology for the Central Florida community.”
Early Detection Strategy Can Save Lives
Don’t let fate determine your new normal. As part of an early detection strategy, it is recommend that you see a dermatologist once a year or more often, if you are at a higher risk of skin cancer, for a full-body professional skin exam. If you’ve never had atypical moles or skin cancer, the exam will likely take about ten minutes. This is also an opportunity for you to get valuable advice and insight from a professional who is trained specifically in diseases of the hair, nails, and skin. For our patient's convenience, Associates in Dermatology works with and accepts most healthcare plans from the major insurance carriers, such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare to name a few. In addition, our practice works with "In Network" affiliations, such as Beech Street, First Health, Galaxy Health Network, Great West and MultiPlan/PCHS.
Skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States and early detection is the key to the most minimal and cost-effective treatments with the highest chance of long-term success and survival. Every hour of every day, one American dies of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. At in-office dermatology visits, our doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants can find hard-to-spot melanomas, as well as non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Moreover, our dermatology providers can make individual recommendations as to how often you need a skin exam based on your specific risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure, and family history.
Looking Forward to Serving You in 2022
As we look forward to the new year, Dr. Michael Steppie and our teams of dedicated health care providers at Associates in Dermatology are ready to meet the needs of all Central Florida communities via our seventeen dermatology offices in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, Clermont, Davenport, Dr. Philips, Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Poinciana, Sanford, St. Cloud, and Winter Garden.
At Associates in Dermatology, we will always be diligent in providing the highest quality of care while keeping our patients safe.
In addition, we offer multiple ways to cover the costs of your family's clinical or cosmetic treatments, such as payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Do not hesitate to ask about changes or new protocols that we’ve adopted to better protect and serve you and members of your family. Call 800-877-7546 or use this website’s convenient Contact Us form to schedule your next appointment online.
