History

Towncrest Internal Medicine has its roots in the medical practice started by Dr. Chris Schrock and George Anderson in 1955 in downtown Iowa City. As their practice grew, new partners were added and more space was needed. In 1968 a new building was erected in a developing business district on the eastside of Iowa City. This new business district became known as the Towncrest area of Iowa City. Hence, Towncrest Internal Medicine was founded in 1968.

Our office is open daily Monday through Friday. For specific hours refer to the Office Hours section. We accept patients 16 years of age and older. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most other insurance companies. Our participation in managed care plans is limited, please contact your insurance company to find out if we have a contract with them.

Philosophy

Your Doctor as an Internist
An internist, in the role of diagnostician, compiles a comprehensive "case file" on each patient-detailing the present symptoms and a history of physical and emotional difficulties.

The mark of an internist is thoroughness-and the compilation and study of the medical history is done meticulously, taking as much time as the internist deems necessary.

As a historian often predicts crises through knowledge of the past, so an internist diagnoses illness from a patient's medical history and symptoms.

The internist has been described as a "medical detective"-known for physical examinations of the entire body, searching for clues to a correct and complete diagnosis. Like today's "scientific" detective, the internist uses the most highly developed scientific tools when they are needed to help the patient-laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, metabolism tests, fluoroscopy, X-ray examinations, CT scans and radioactive isotopes are among the everyday tools available for use.

Through analysis and interpretation of a patient's medical history, physical condition, and the results of modern scientific tests, the internist is trained to reach a diagnostic conclusion by considering even seemingly unrelated clues.

This knowledge is then applied in a very human way-talking with the patient and weighing first impressions with what is found later. The internist also functions as the patient's health manager, guiding him or her through the course of treatment as well as counseling the patient on appropriate lifestyle and behavior modifications.

As a Personal Physician
Internists establish caring and continuing relationships with their patients, helping them manage their own health to prevent disease, which is why internists are often chosen as personal physicians. The patient may go to see the internist for periodic physical examinations and may call upon him or her during an illness or medical emergency. Often functioning as an interpreter or guide to the patient's condition, the internist may refer the patient for appropriate testing or for consultation to a sub-specialist in internal medicine or to a physician in another medical specialty.

Mission

No Matter how simple or complex
Our training is both broad and deep: We are equipped to deal with whatever problem the patient brings--no matter how common or rare, or how simple or complex.

To do this, we continually update our knowledge in many areas, including diseases of the heart and blood vessels, cancer, diabetes, digestive diseases, hormonal disorders, infections, kidney diseases, respiratory disorders, allergies, blood diseases, and arthritis--from adolescence to the elderly; from the office to intensive care.

We care for the whole patient
We also bring to patients an understanding of wellness (disease prevention and the promotion of health), women's health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs.

Puzzling, chronic and multiple illnesses
We are specially trained to solve puzzling diagnostic problems. We handle sever chronic illnesses. And situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time.

For Life
In today's complex world, we aim to take care of our patients for life--in the office or clinic, during hospitalization and intensive care, and in nursing homes. When other medical specialists, such as surgeons or obstetricians are involved, we coordinate their care for our patients and manage difficult medical problems associated with that care. In fact, we so often serve as medical consultants to physicians in other specialties that we've earned the nickname, "the doctor's doctor."

Our subspecialties
Some of us choose to focus our practice on one area of internal medicine and take additional training to "sub specialize." Cardiologists, for example, are doctors of internal medicine who sub specialize in diseases of the heart. A look at our list of subspecialties underscores the breadth of expertise under the internal medicine umbrella: cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, pulmonology (lungs), rheumatology (arthritis), nephrology (kidneys), hematology (blood), endocrinology (diabetes and other glandular disorders), infectious diseases, and allergy and immunology.