Make Pain a Thing of the Past – Location News – Physician Partners of America

Dr. Neil Ellis Offers Non-Opioid Back Pain Relief in Tampa

Dr. Neil Ellis’s widely informed background offers his patients at PPOA’s Tampa Habana pain clinic a range of opioid alternatives for pain relief.

A global spine researcher with experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Ellis is double board-certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

He has extensive experience in the placement of spinal cord stimulators placement and new technology. He also uses laser spine procedures to treat pain conditions of the spine. His focus is always on the pain sufferers he serves.

“I am the type of physician who enjoys getting to know my patients as people and treating the whole person,” he says. “I think it’s important to form a connection with them.”

His patients agree, and this is reflected in his exceptional scores on doctor rating sites.

Dr Neil Ellis vitals rating

Vitals.com

Patient R.T. leaves this review: “Dr. Ellis is extremely wonderful to relate to. He took the time to review all my records with me and offer a treatment plan that actually gives me hope. The entire office personnel that I dealt with are very welcoming and courteous. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’ve found a doctor that cares. I’ve already recommended him to friends.”

Says patient S.C.: “Dr. Ellis is very professional, knowledgeable & patient. He takes the time with a patient to answer all questions. I highly recommend him.”

Patient N.C. writes: “Dr. Ellis is great. He is compassionate and cares about his patients.”

Dr Neil Ellis Healthgrades

Healthgrades.com

Born in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Neil Ellis attended college at the University of California Santa Cruz and then a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He then chose to pursue interventional pain management after being treated for an injury with minimally invasive procedures.

This led him to earn his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed his residency and fellowship in anesthesia and interventional pain medicine at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

He has also participated in global research in new spinal pain treatments, is the first in the area to treat spinal muscular atrophy patients with a new medication, and and enjoys bringing cutting-edge medicine to PPOA.

Dr. Ellis shares the Tampa-Habana practice with Dr. Jorge Leal at 4730 N. Habana Ave., #104, Tampa, FL 33614. Click here to make an appointment or call (813) 437-1621. The office accepts Medicare and most insurance, and same-day appointments are available.

 

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Physician Partners of America Expands into California

Physician Partners of America (PPOA) expands into California, announcing that it has acquired Alliance Surgical Center and Regional Pain Treatment Medical Center in Fullerton, a suburb of Los Angeles.

“This acquisition is significant for us because it allows us to become a truly national healthcare company, providing world-class patient care from coast to coast,” said William Milo, PPOA senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions.

“It will allow us to offer our brand of interventional pain management and minimally invasive spine procedures as alternatives to opioid painkillers as the national crisis rages on,” adds Milo.

The multispecialty outpatient surgery center at 295 E. Imperial Highway, Fullerton CA 92835 is accredited by the Joint Commission and boasts two operating rooms, six recovery beds and three pre-operative stations. Its specialties include treatment of all pain conditions including CRPS pain, sympathetic nerve pain and cancer pain.

With this acquisition, Physician Partners of America expands its clinical presence in the the L.A. area, as well. Regional Pain Treatment Medical Center, an interventional pain management clinic, is also housed within the 8,197 square-foot building, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has seven exam rooms and four offices. It will specialize in treating all pain conditions, and handling Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation cases.

This acquisition was brokered by Steve Body, MA, MFS, MSTA of NAI Capital, Inc., who represented the seller and the buyer.  Chris Angelo, CPA, CFE, owner of Century 21 Commercial also assisted the buyer in this transaction.

 

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Dr. Luis Nieves in Hurst, TX Puts Patient Satisfaction First

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Dr. Luis Nieves combines an approachable manner with a depth of experience in interventional pain management. As the lead specialist at PPOA’s busiest Texas clinic in Hurst, these two qualities are essential. He consistently earns high marks on reputation sites, including a 3.9 out of 5 stars on WebMD.

Dr. Luis Nieves Google rating

Nieves Google rating

 

Patient A.Y. says: “Dr. Nieves is easy to understand and explains things well. He is awesome at his job, he gave me my life back and the ability to not live in constant pain.”

Patient M.H. writes: “Absolutely one of the best doctors I’ve ever encountered.”

Patient D.H. tells Google Reviews: “I have been to MANY, MANY doctors and …Dr. Nieves by far stands out to be the absolute BEST!! He is very humble but incredibly knowledgeable, very talented, multitasking, caring and professional with a great sense of humor!!”

Patient J.C writes: “Good guy to deal with, really down to earth. If it’s your first time to see him you will feel comfortable.”

In addition to being board-certified in pain management, Dr. Luis Nieves is fellowship-trained by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (AGME), a non-profit private council responsible for evaluating and accrediting medical residency and internship programs.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and trained in anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his residency in family medicine at John Peter Smith Health Network followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at JPS Health Network.

He was selected as one of a handful of trainees in a prestigious interventional pain management program with JPS Health Network and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Nieves derives great satisfaction from helping patients transition from crippling pain to a more functional, normal life – without relying on opioid pain killers. His preferred form of treatment, interventional pain management, is designed to eliminate pain precisely where it starts and not mask it with medication. He is also trained in laser spine procedures and stem cell treatments.

He accepts Medicare and most insurance, and warmly welcomes patients to schedule a same-day appointment. Click here.

 

 

 

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Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery Center Opens

Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery Center part of larger project

Physician Partners of America’s state-of-the-art Merritt Island Medical Pavilion has opened the doors of its second phase, an outpatient surgery center.

The 9,824-square-foot Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery Center features two operating rooms and one procedure suite. It is open to all area practitioners in addition to PPOA pain and spine specialists.

“We have an extremely experienced group who are very excited about working in our beautiful new facility,” says Christi Geiger, RN, BS, LHRM, CNOR, the surgery center’s administrator. “We are currently performing pain management and spine cases, but plan to add more specialties soon.”

Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery Center staff

Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery Center staff

New Multispecialty Medical Pavilion takes shape

The pavilion property, at 450 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, Fla., 32953, was once home to a Circuit City retail store. It opened its doors on July 30, 2018 with a PPOA pain management clinic that had relocated from nearby Rockledge.

With a capacity of 30,000 square feet, the pavilion will eventually be home to multiple specialty clinics and office space, in addition to a catheterization lab, pharmacy, laboratory, and imaging services.

“Putting multiple specialties and ancillary services under one roof is the wave of the future,’ said PPOA Chief Operating Officer Josh Helms. “We’re excited to see this facility take the next step in the journey.”

The Merritt Island Outpatient Surgery center, which opened March 8, will be the site of minimally invasive laser spine procedures performed by Keith Girton, M.D., a former Laser Spine Institute surgeon. The center is also welcoming partnerships with orthopedics, ophthalmology, spine and other specialties within the Space Coast market. For now, its staff is excited to see the long-awaited outpatient surgery center come to fruition.

“Everyone with PPOA has been so helpful during this journey and we appreciate all the support we have gotten from all those involved,” says Geiger.

Second Medical Pavilion Ready to Open in Orlando

Another Physician Partners of America medical pavilion, in the Millenia area of Orlando, is almost ready to open its own outpatient surgery center. Like the Merritt Island pavilion, the campus already houses a pain management clinic and will feature space for other clinics and offices. That complex is located in adjacent buildings and 1724 and 1736 33rd Street, Orlando, Fla., 32839. It will also offer minimally invasive laser spine surgeries in Orlando.

 

 

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PPOA Patient Care Champions – Jessica Sutherland

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JESSICA SUTHERLAND – MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, HURST, TX

Our employees are all patient care champions, but some go the extra mile and we want to give them the recognition they deserve. They embody the PPOA values known as S.I.T.E. – Safety, Integrity, Teamwork, Empathy – which informs our service to patients and the community through high quality health care. 

Jessica Sutherland started her career making people look better, but then found her calling helping others feel better. She found the perfect fit at PPOA’s Precinct Ambulatory Surgery center in Hurst, Texas, and has never looked back.

“I love talking with people. I love the face-to-face and putting patients at ease,” she says.

According to her supervisor, Kristy Gildersleeve, Jessica Sutherland does more than that.

“She has been with PPOA since 2014 and has been my right hand. We are only as good as our parts and she makes PPOA look stellar,” says Gildersleeve.

“She knows every patient and vendor and they all love her. If you are at Precinct and have a question, doesn’t matter what it is, she knows the answer and who to put you in contact with,” Gildersleeve adds, “and Jessica does it all with the warmest most endearing smile.”

The pain management field also appeals to Jessica Sutherland because she, too, is a pain patient. A high school drill team stunt caused her to fall and hurt her back. After years of putting it off – like many pain patients, she was scared of treatment – she finally sought interventional procedures from Dr. Luis Nieves at PPOA’s Hurst clinic.

Later, she had a laminectomy decompression procedure by spine surgeon Dr. Phillip Kravetz. She is now pain free.

“I’ve been a pain patient as well, so I can relate to our patients,” she says. “When people tell me their stories, I can tell them I had the same procedure.”

An Army Brat born at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Sutherland grew up mainly in Fort Polk, La., and the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas. Like many young people, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do but knew she loved working with people.

Cosmetology school sounded appealing. She got her license in 2009 and worked as a stylist for a few years. Then the birth of her son, Daelan, in 2012 caused her to do some soul searching.

“I wanted something with more stability and more meaning. Good health insurance was also important to me as a mom,” she says.

The answer came from one of her clients, who was in the medical field.

“I always assumed that you were either a doctor or a nurse, and that’s all there was,” she says. “My client told me about all the many careers available. I was so happy to hear there were front desk positions I could train for. That seemed to be a perfect fit.”

Sutherland enrolled in Everest College and got her Medical Administrative Assistant diploma. She got a job at a hospital emergency room doing collections – and hated it.

“It filled me with anxiety; it was so intense,” Sutherland says. “It wasn’t for me.”

She went back into hair styling until a PPOA recruiting effort at Everest drew her back in. And she’s been the friendly face – and go-to person – at Precinct ever since.

“I am always amazed at how she can have someone on the phone, working the computer, while also checking in patients, and responding to the staff as they lay something else on her,” says Gildersleeve.

 

Sutherland is kept busy in her personal life, too. She and her fiancé, Brad, an Army veteran and construction worker, have a blended family of three sons: Grayson, 7; Daelan, who is now 6; and Braelan, 2.

“In the end I found my calling and I couldn’t be happier,” she says.

 

 

 

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Laser Spine Procedures Now in Palm Beach County

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Neck and back pain relief in Wellington and Boynton Beach

Dr. Alejandro G. Tapia is a board-certified and fellowship-trained interventional pain management physician in our Boynton Beach and Wellington locations.

A familiar face on local TV, he brings extensive experience in minimally invasive techniques to treat neck and back pain. Dr. Tapia is a member of the International Spine Intervention Society, Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

His approach is evidence-based and devoted to using the most cutting-edge approaches medicine has to offer. That is one reason he has embraced laser techniques in his practice.

Laser Spine Procedures in Palm Beach County

The laser is the latest tool used by Physician Partners of America to relieve neck and back pain without opioids. It precisely targets pain-causing nerves along the spine and ablates them quickly. The incision is just 2-3 mm. – less than a quarter-inch. That means muscles are not cut or torn, and therefore, recuperation takes days instead of  months. You can walk out of the procedure suite. The majority of patients report that the original pain is gone.

Dr. Tapia performs this procedure for two common debilitating conditions: arthritis of the spine and facet disease.  His offices accept Medicare and most insurance. You can be sure he will explain all your options, from conservative to cutting-edge, and do his best to get you back to doing the things you love.

Make an appointment today to see Dr. Tapia about laser spine procedures in Palm Beach County. Make an appointment at PPOABoynton.com or PPOAWellington.com today!

 

 

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Laser Spine Procedures Available in Frisco TX

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Dr. Prasad Lakshminarasimhiah may have an unfamiliar last name, but his longtime patients in Frisco, TX, have no trouble saying how they feel about his approach to pain medicine.

He earns a 4.7 out of 5 stars on all the major review sites with such comments as:

“Very professional and caring!”

“He listens and cares about your pain.”

“The best pain management doctor in the DFW area.”

“Dr. P. has a great sense of humor to help alleviate your concerns.”

“I recommend him without reservation.”

Dr. Prasad is board-certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. A U.S. Army veteran, his interest in pursuing pain medicine was sparked by caring for injured soldiers at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas.

His approach is comprehensive, evidence-based and devoted to using the most cutting-edge approaches. That is one reason he has embraced laser techniques in his practice.

Laser Spine Procedures in Frisco

The laser is the latest tool used by Physician Partners of America to relieve neck and back pain without opioids. It precisely targets pain-causing nerves along the spine and ablates them quickly. The incision is just 2-3 mm. – less than a quarter-inch. That means muscles and tissue are not cut or torn, and recuperation is measured in days, not months. You walk out after the procedure and, for most people, the pain is gone.

Dr. Prasad performs this procedure for two common debilitating conditions: arthritis of the spine and facet disease.  His office takes Medicare and most insurance. You can be sure he will explain all your options, from conservative to cutting-edge, and do his utmost to get you back to doing the things you love.

Make an appointment today to see Dr. Prasad in our Frisco pain relief clinic today! Call 972-737-PPOA (7762) or visit ppoafrisco.com to learn about laser pain procedures near you.

 

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Neil Ellis, M.D. Joins PPOA’s Tampa-Habana Clinic

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Dr. Neil Ellis was trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine –

Physician Partners of America welcomes Neil Ellis, M.D., MTCM. Double board-certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology, he joins the Tampa-Habana practice as an expert in all pain conditions. He has extensive experience in spinal cord stimulator placement and will work alongside the practice’s longtime specialist, Dr. Jorge Leal.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Ellis completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California Santa Cruz and earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed his residency and fellowship in anesthesia and interventional pain medicine at UF-Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

Before attending medical school, Dr. Ellis completed a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, Calif., and completed a one-year apprenticeship in Hangzhou, China. He chose to pursue interventional pain management after being successfully treated for an injury using minimally invasive procedures. While he no longer practices TCM, its focus on treating the whole patient – which also forms the core value of PPOA – resonated with him.

“I am the type of physician who enjoys getting to know my patients as people and treating the whole person,” he says. “I think it’s important to form a connection with them.”

He is also enthusiastic about being a leader in bringing the newest minimally invasive spine techniques to PPOA. Dr. Ellis has participated in global research in new spinal pain treatments. He was the lead investigator in one worldwide study bringing new treatments to patients with herniated discs.  In addition, he was the first investigator to treat humans with an intradiscal anti-inflammatory medication.

“PPOA is already moving forward as a leader in the latest interventional, minimally invasive spine techniques.  I am happy to be part of the research team to offer even more cutting edge options to patients,” he says

Dr. Neil Ellis and his family enjoy water and snow sports.  He also enjoys cooking and is taking on the challenge of triathlons.

The practice is located at 4730 N. Habana Ave., Suite 140, Tampa, Fla., 33614. The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and same-day appointments are available.

 

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PPOA to Open First Phase of Merritt Island Medical Pavilion

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Pain Management Clinic will Relocate from Rockledge

Tampa-based Physician Partners of America (PPOA) is proud to announce that it will open the initial phase of a 30,000-square-foot Merritt Island Medical Pavilion at 450 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, Fla., 32953.

On Monday, July 30 PPOA’s Space Coast interventional pain management practice will move from its Rockledge location to the new state-of-the-art building, which is housed in a former Circuit City store.

“This move will serve two purposes. It will allow us to serve more patients in the market and make it more convenient for patients to get many medical services in one place,” said PPOA Chief Operating Officer Josh Helms.

The Merritt Island Medical Pavilion is intended to house multiple specialties in 6,872 square feet. Future expansion will add another 7,318 square feet of medical office space, in addition to a 9,824-square-foot, state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center with two operating rooms and one procedure suite. The final phase of the construction will include a catheterization lab, pharmacy, laboratory, and imaging services.

Merritt Island Medical Pavilion Welcomes Rockledge Patients

The company’s Rockledge facility, at 211 Coral Sands Drive, will permanently close its doors at the end of the business day on Friday, July 20. Its resident pain management physicians, Drs. Jorge Fernandez-Silva and Sheldon Cho, will begin seeing patients on July 23 at the medical pavilion. Their practice will be renamed Physician Partners of America Pain Relief Group – Merritt Island. 

There will be no disruption of service to patients of Drs. Cho and Fernandez-Silva. Medical records will move to the pavilion. Service hours will continue to be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Patients can still make appointments with Drs. Cho and Fernandez-Silva by calling 844 542-5724. The fax will remain 321-507-4638.

Merritt Island Ambulatory Surgery Center to Open in the Fall

The next phase of the Space Coast development will be an ambulatory surgery center expected to open in mid-November.  The center intends to partner with orthopedics, ophthalmology, spine and other specialties within the Merritt Island market.

Second Pavilion Planned for Orlando

Physician Partners of America’s second medical pavilion is also under construction in Orlando, adjacent to the company’s pain management office at 1736 33rd Street, Orlando, Fla., 32839. The facility’s resident physician, Dr. Taufiq Ahmed, will move his office into the new facility in August, and the current space will be turned into a new ambulatory surgery center.

“The multispecialty pavilion is an important part of the company’s goal of consolidating many services under one roof,” Helms said. “This model is the future of healthcare, and we want to stay ahead of the curve in a booming state like Florida.”

Pain Clinic Move Will Not Impact Patients

There will be no disruption of service to current patients of Drs. Cho and Fernandez-Silva. Medical records will immediately move to the pavilion. Service hours will continue to be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Patients can continue to make appointments with Drs. Cho and Fernandez-Silva at the Merritt Island Medical Pavilion by calling 321-735-6220. The fax will remain 321-507-4638.

 

This post has been updated to reflect a new opening day.

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New ASCs in Orlando and Boynton Beach Now Recruiting Partner Doctors

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Want to Focus More on Patient Care?

Remember what initially attracted you to the practice of medicine? Maybe it was a fascination with the intricacy of the human body. Maybe it was a strong desire to care for your fellow man. Surely, it wasn’t the reality that you are experiencing now: how business and money drive medicine today. You likely spend more time learning about billing, insurance, and litigation than you do about advances in medicine or even the needs of your patients. This is not why you chose to practice medicine.

Call Now

Call (888) 387-3095 to learn more.

Wouldn’t it be nice to work in an environment that made you feel the way you felt the day you graduated from med school? An environment where you are able to fully utilize the surgical skills you spent years perfecting? An environment where you are surrounded by like-minded physicians and supported by a trained staff using state-of-the-art equipment? This is not a pipe dream; this is the everyday environment for the doctors who partner with Physician Partners of America. We are one of the fastest-growing healthcare companies in the nation, and we have an opportunity for you.

Partner with a Healthcare Leader

Our company is currently constructing state-of-the-art medical pavilions in both Orlando and Merritt Island, Florida. These facilities are operated by physicians and designed for physicians.

With a 9,060-foot ambulatory surgery center, more than 4,600 square feet of medical offices, and a planned future expansion in excess of 11,000 square feet, our medical pavilions will offer you the space and comfort needed to provide unparalleled ambulatory surgical care for your patients.

Each of its surgical suites comes equipped with the latest equipment and tools on the market. Our in-house staff of nurses, surgical assistants, technicians, anesthesiologists and administrators are at your disposal while you are using our ASC.

When you choose to partner with PPOA, you are joining an organization that understands that you just want to practice medicine and let someone else worry about running the day-to-day. Our administrative staff will become your administrative staff. This includes caring for things like patient scheduling, dealing with insurance companies, billing and other administrative tasks.

By joining us, you become a true partner in a world-class, multi-disciplinary organization that puts physicians and patients first. We know that you, like us, did not get into medicine for the money. Still, you deserve to be paid promptly and fairly for the medical services you provide. Our talented business partners have created a level playing field that ensures you thrive financially while experiencing increased efficiency. As a partner, you will benefit from practice-owned ancillary profits in compliance with the Group Practice Stark Law exemption.

You and your patients will have access to most, if not all, ancillary services under one roof using one EMR system. If your patient visits another physician in our network, regardless of the specialty, you will have access to their medical records, making the process of providing comprehensive care seamless.

At Physician Partners of America, we are committed to providing the communities we serve with the best medical care available. To do this, we strongly believe in allowing physicians to focus on their medical training and on treating patients, and less on the daily challenges presented by the business side of medicine.

Our Medical Pavilions, located in Orlando and Merritt Island, are being designed as centers of ambulatory surgical excellence. We are looking for physicians, like yourself, who want to “take back medicine” to partner with us and provide Florida residents the medical care they deserve.

If you love what you do, we believe you should do what you love, and leave the rest to us.

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