The Name and Logo: New Mountain Medicine

The word “New” evokes the idea of offering a unique and refreshing experience in medical care. It also refers to the term “New Medicine” coined by James Gordon, MD, author of Manifesto for a New Medicine, a relatively early description of how modern, conventional practice can be blended with various complementary healing methods.

The word “Mountain” refers to this part of the Appalachians, with their beautiful mountain vistas that exude a timeless wisdom and serenity, as well as their cultural history and values of its people, such as friendly helpfulness and hospitality.

The result is a new way of medicine among the mountains: New Mountain Medicine.

The logo (to be shown in future versions of this website) similarly evokes the images of new ideas and time-honored traditions by blending the Yin and Yang symbol of Chinese/Oriental philosophy with a mountain range.

The Practice: New Mountain Medicine

As stated on the home page, the focus of New Mountain Medicine is a holistic and collaborative relationship with you. The atmosphere is calming, unrushed and comfortable; the waiting room doubles as an art gallery for your enjoyment and enrichment. Visit times are longer than usual to allow adequate time to address your concerns and needs. This also allows time for discussing therapeutic options which may include safe and natural alternatives to prescription medications, if you prefer this approach and if it is medically appropriate. In addition, waiting times are minimized or eliminated by a low-volume daily schedule, which also means same-day appointments are welcome. House calls can be arranged for the home-bound or terminally ill.

Your care is delivered and co-managed by the expertise and experience of a board-certified family physician, Dr. Carlos Vargas. Time- and cost-saving efficiency will be maintained through the use of electronic health records, simplified billing practices and minimal or no staff. This means you will be in contact with Dr. Vargas directly for scheduling, questions and test result reports. In the future, this website will offer online scheduling so that you can make your own appointments, ask for prescription refills, or even make a “virtual office visit,” where you can have your non-urgent clinic question or problem answered by secure internet communication (some charges may apply for some of these services).

In order for New Mountain Medicine to offer this level of service, we have chosen not to contract with Medicare, Medicaid, or any insurance companies or health maintenance organizations. Please see the “Insurance Plans” page for more information.

The Services: New Mountain Medicine

New Mountain Medicine offers quality, attentive conventional family medical care for men and women of all ages, from newborn visits to end-of-life, based on current standards and evidence-based guidelines. This includes:

• Complete physical exams, health & wellness and preventive visits
• Gynecologic exams and Pap smears (no prenatal or obstetrical care)
• Life changes and menopause
• Co-management (with you) of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and failure, diabetes, hypertension, lung disease, arthritis, etc.
• Acute medical illnesses and symptom relief
• Assistance with, and counseling for, overweight/obesity, smoking cessation, etc.
• End-of-life planning and care: Dr. Vargas is also board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Care

In addition to these conventional services, New Mountain Medicine offers services that can address a multitude of chronic and/or otherwise troubling conditions through various complementary methods, including medical acupuncture (acupuncture by a medical doctor):

• General: fatigue, low energy, susceptibility to infections and illnesses, lack of focus
• Musculoskeletal: upper and low back and neck pain, shoulder, hip and knee problems, arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms and restless legs, tennis elbow and other tendonitis, acute injuries
• Psychological: stress, depression, anxiety, nervous reactions, difficulty focusing, irritability
• Respiratory and Allergic: sinus problems, allergies, smoking cessation, ringing in the ears, asthma, sore throat, bronchitis, recurrent infections, TMJ pain
• Neurologic: headaches of various types, migraines, sciatica, peripheral and other neuropathies, pinched nerve, shingles, post-herpetic neuralgia, facial palsy, burning sensations
• Urinary, menstrual and reproductive: incontinence, radiation cystitis, hot flashes, infertility
• Digestive: reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation
• Dermatologic: rashes (old and new), scars, cuts, bruises, itching, numbness

New Mountain Medicine does not offer the following services:

• Hospital care: While Dr. Vargas can assist in coordinating this, your care in the hospital will be covered by the local internal medicine or pediatrics call group, whichever may be appropriate.
• Vaccinations: The local health center offers a full range of vaccinations.
• Blood tests: The local health center and hospital offer full laboratory services. New Mountain Medicine will offer certain clinical tests, such as urine tests and strep throat screens, etc. in the clinic
• X-rays: You will be referred for radiological exams to the center of your choice.

In the future New Mountain Medicine plans to offer:

• Group visits: A small number of patients with the same diagnosis have a visit as a group where emphasis is on education and information sharing and tips among each other in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. Individual evaluations also still take place.
• Continuing community seminars on a variety of health and wellness topics
• Classes in Chinese exercises, or Qi Gong (pronounced “chee gung”)