Primary Care and Endocrinology Patients Have Expanded Options at Baptist Health Complex in Plantation

Baptist Health South Florida’s new wellness and medical complex in Plantation, which opened recently at 1228 South Pine Island Road just north of I-595, has added two new service lines – primary care and endocrinology – to its expanding array of integrated healthcare services, according to Bernie Fernandez, Jr., M.D., chief executive officer of Baptist Health Medical Group.

“Primary care is so important,” says Dr. Fernandez, an internist who specializes in vascular medicine. “Aside from ourselves, the person usually most familiar with our individual health issues is our primary care doctor. They’re the first ones we call when we’re sick.”

Heading up Baptist Health’s primary care practice at Plantation is Kamaljit Kaur, M.D., a family medicine physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of health issues, including simple and complex health conditions, chronic disease management, minor emergencies, urgent care and the coordination of specialty care. Joining her is Juliet Vento, M.D., an internal medicine physician who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of primary care issues, including the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Dr. Vento says primary care patients at the Plantation location, like at any other Baptist Health facility, can expect patient-driven care from empathetic providers, as well as a great network of specialists and even dedicated nutritionists and social workers.

“It’s one-stop shopping for all of your health needs, a place where you can take full control of your health and wellness,” Dr. Vento says. “Whether you’re healthy and just coming in for an annual check-up or preventive care, or whether you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure that requires regular care, our team is here to help get and keep you healthy.”

Dr. Vento says the entire facility was designed from the patient’s perspective. “It’s really impressive,” she says of Baptist Health’s 112,000-square-foot wellness and medical complex. “Our primary care practice suite, which is located on the third floor, has a comfortable, socially distant reception area, 20 examination rooms and two consultation rooms.”

One of the advantages of seeking primary care services at Baptist Health in Plantation, according to Dr. Vento, is that the complex is also home to an array of other medical specialties, all in one convenient location.

“Our primary care doctors and advanced practitioners can address symptoms in both adults and children before they become more serious, and aid in the early detection of disease,” Dr. Vento says. “But if you should need imaging or surgery or more specialized care, we have all of our those services right here.”

Another benefit for patients at this particular location, she adds, is that they can consult with multiple doctors and specialists without having to drive all over Broward County from one appointment to another. “The complex also has an onsite laboratory to help expedite test results,” she adds.

One of the other service lines now open at Baptist Health Plantation is endocrinology, a specialty that frequently overlaps with primary care. Pascual De Santis, M.D., an endocrinologist with Baptist Health, specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the endocrine system – the complex network of hormone-secreting glands in the human body.

“Several conditions can be caused by an under or overproduction of hormones, an inability to process certain hormones, or other problems relating to the endocrine system,” explains Dr. De Santis. “Diabetes and thyroid disorders are two of the most common conditions we see here, but we also treat patients with other diseases and disorders.”

Dr. De Santis and his team work closely with primary care physicians and other specialists to develop personalized and effective treatments for patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders, including adrenal disease, diabetes, hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, pituitary disease, and thyroid and parathyroid disease.

Like Dr. Vento in primary care, Dr. De Santis says having so many services and specialties under one roof is an advantage, as it promotes collaboration between providers and specialties. “As endocrinologists, we collaborate closely with our colleagues in primary care, cardiology, surgery, oncology and other specialties, most of which are also available here at the wellness and medical complex in Plantation. Ultimately, it helps us give a better service to our patients.” Another advantage, he says, is that the patient has an integrated electronic medical record, so all of their records are instantly available to Baptist Health specialists, if needed, making for a seamless experience for the patient.

Diabetes patients treated at Baptist Health in Plantation can also expect plenty of information and support from the primary care team, according to Dr. Vento. “They can join our Sweet Life Club, which is a program we offer to help people manage their diabetes,” Dr. Vento says. “Because diabetes can lead to other serious complications, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to make the right choices and do the right things to stay healthy.”

Learn more about the services available at Baptist Health’s new wellness and medical complex in Plantation at BaptistHealth.net/Plantation.