Click HERE to check out what Dr. Troyer has to say about Saltzer Medical Group.

Check out what Dr. Kaiser is saying about Saltzer Medical Group.  Kaiser – 45

Our Portico location, next to St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center has a variety of specialties.  Family Practice, Pediatrics, ENT, Orthopedics, Neurology, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Dermatology, General Surgery, Occupational Medicine and Audiology.  We also have on-site x-ray and lab services.

PATIENT QUESTIONS REGARDING VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY, ALSO KNOWN AS CT COLONOGRAPHY, VERSUS COLONOSCOPY FOR COLON CANCER SCREENING

 CT colonography may eventually be a useful test, however, it has significant limitations.

1. It is not as precise as colonoscopy in finding small polyps. More importantly, it will miss flat polyps or depressed polyps. These are important because they have a higher risk of becoming colon cancer.
2. Approximately 35% of people who have routine screening colonoscopy will have polyps. Therefore, if they have had a CT colonography and polyps are found, they will need a colonoscopy anyway. Therefore, they will then have had two procedures, instead of one.
3. Not uncommonly, other unexpected abnormalities are detected at the time of colonoscopy. Most of these would not be found on CT colonography.
4. CT colonography is painful because of all of the air that is used to distend the colon. The air is not removed afterwards, as it is with colonoscopy. Therefore, CT colonography can be quite uncomfortable.
5. CT colonography is less expensive than colonoscopy. However, if one ends up needing two procedures instead of one, it ends up being more expensive. Because of the way we do colonoscopies at Saltzer Medical Group without a facility fee, our costs are much less anyway than if procedures are done elsewhere, such as hospital or out-patient endoscopy centers.
6. Within the last year, a federally appointed, blue-ribbon panel of health experts extensively reviewed  the issue of CT colonography being used for colon cancer screening. It’s recommendations were that it was not the best available test and, therefore, it would not be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

For a downloadable, printable PDF of this article, click here.

Book a Smart Lipo Procedure during the month of July and receive up to $500 off

Book a laser hair removal procedure and get your first treatment for free.

All Saltzer Med Spa services are provided by board certified physicians.

For more information go to www.saltzermedspa.com, or call 884-2950

I had been going to a chiropractor for 20 years for an injury I received in a car accident, but upon meeting Dr. Kristyn Schelhaas I was inspired to try something different, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT).

 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but was hopeful for positive results, and was thrilled to find, unlike chiropractic care, it was covered by my insurance.

The first thing Dr. Schelhaas did was pull my feet to be sure my body was straight.  She then felt my neck and spine to feel where I was carrying my tension.  It only took her a moment to discover all of my tension was in my shoulders.  This was followed by lying on my stomach so that she could work on my upper back.  Then I rolled over and this is when I realized this treatment was very different from any chiropractic treatment I had ever received.  She stretched my muscles and used resistance from the muscles in my neck and shoulders to “straighten me out” My neck and spine aligned naturally because of the work she had done on my muscles.  When she was finished I felt better than I had felt in years.  She sent me home with daily stretches that were appropriate for my condition, and when I do them regularly I feel great!

When talking to Dr. Schelhaas she explained that every patient’s treatment is different, she says that depending on their pain, prior injuries and where they carry their tension she can personalize their plan to maximize each individuals relief.

Just like chiropractic, this is not a one time fix.  There is a need to make return visits for on-going relief.  Those time frames are different for each individual.  I normally go between six and eight weeks between sessions.

Kristyn Schelhaas, D.O.  is a Family Practice physician.  She practices primary care from pediatrics to geriatrics, including Obstetrics.      As a D.O. she is a licensed physician that is able to provide a full spectrum of medical services.  So, you may ask, what is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.?  So here is the answer, in some ways very little, in other ways there is an obvious difference. 

 Both M.D.s and D.O.s complete four years of basic medical education and after medical school complete internships and residencies.   This training typically lasts three to six years and prepares D.O.s and M.D.s to practice a specific specialty such as family practice, OB/GYN, surgery or pediatrics.   Of the 67,000 D.O.s currently practicing in the United States, 64% practice as primary care physicians. 

 Licensing examinations for both M.D. and D.O. are comparable and both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities. 

So, there are the similarities, what about the differences?

 D.O.s are trained to treat “the whole person”.  They learn that all systems interact and influence each other with emphasis on the musculoskeletal system.  

 They also believe that the body is often capable of healing itself and often look for the underlying cause of injury or disease.  OMT is one way of assisting our bodies to heal themselves but there are often conversations regarding lifestyle, stress, nutrition and other possible causes.

 Of course D.O.s utilize the most current medical diagnostic equipment available, such as lab  and imaging services to diagnose a disease or injury, however when there is no explanation for pain or illness, OMT can often offer relief.  It has been known to relieve asthma, sinus conditions, migraines and many other physical ailments.

When searching for a physician that best fits your needs consider what a D.O. has to offer.    If you have ongoing chronic pain that cannot be explained consider visiting a D.O. for an OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment).    Most D.O.s will allow you to make an appointment for OMT even if you have a different primary care physician.  Trust me, if you have ongoing pain this treatment may provide you with the relief you have been looking for.

Kristyn Schelhaas, D.O. is a family practice physician at Saltzer Medical Group in Nampa.  To schedule an appointment please call 468-5910.

Long Time Saltzer Physician, Gary Botimer, MD, Named Chair of Orthopedics Department at Loma Linda Medical University, Loma Linda, California

After 24 years serving the Canyon County community at Saltzer Medical Group, Dr. Gary Botimer is taking time to serve the medical school that gave him the start to his career. Several months ago Dr. Botimer was approached by the school to return to his Alma Mater and head the joint replacement department. Soon after accepting the position he was offered the honor of chairing the entire orthopedic department.

Dr. Botimer specializes in total joint replacements and is well known for his international research and development activities. Dr. Botimer was the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform surgery utilizing the Galileo Computer Assisted technology which was designed to assist physicians to create perfect alignment during knee replacement surgeries.

Regarding this choice, Dr. Botimer commented. “I feel strongly regarding the mission of Loma Linda to train physicians in a Christian environment, and after much prayer and deliberation, my wife and I have accepted the position. Although I am finding it very difficult to leave 24 years of friends, patients and colleagues, I feel this is what the Lord has asked me to do at this time, and hope you will understand.”

Dr. Botimer does plan to return to Nampa in a few years after completing his teaching commitment.

Please watch this video of Dr. Botimer recently completed by the Idaho Press Tribune. Botimer Video

Saltzer Medical Group, department of Family Practice is pleased to welcome Dr. Kristyn Schelhaas. Dr. Schelhaas will see patients at Saltzer’s main location located at 215 E. Hawaii Ave, Nampa.

Dr. Schelhaas is originally from Twin Falls. She received her B.S. degree from College of Idaho in Caldwell before attending medical school at De Moines University – College of Osteopathic Medicine, De Moines, Iowa and completing her residencey at Iowa Lutheran Family Medicine Residency also in De Moines, Iowa.

Dr. Schelhaas will practice a full scope of family medicine, including obstetrics. She has a special interest in women’s health and pediatrics.

She is accepting new patients, including Medicare and Medicaid. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Schelhaas please call (208) 468-5910