Membership in our internal medicine practice is small by design – we limit the number of patients so that everyone gets the attention and personal care they deserve. Thus same day appointments are available, appointments run on time, messages are returned promptly, results are always phoned in to patients – It’s our vision of how medicine should be – a personal relationship between doctor and patient, without the interference and politics of insurance companies and large medical groups. You will always only see Dr. Shibayama – never a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.
Testimonials
"My wife and I have been patients of Dr. Shibayama for over 13 years. She is an excellent physician with a friendly and comforting manner. All of her care has been excellent. I have lived in a number of cities and always do extensive research on the background and practice of potential physicians and Dr. Shibayama receives top scores. My wife and I heartily recommend her."
Mike G.
"My husband and I have been patients of Dr. Shibayama for 5 years. We are so pleased with her care and patience. She is always there when we need her and gets right back to us on the phone. Her office is run very well and we appreciate the gals that work there. We are very happy with her as a person and a doctor."
Jan W.
"5 years ago during a routine physical Dr. Shibayama found that I had a prostate problem. After further examinations it was discovered that I had prostate cancer. I know if it had not been for Dr. Shibayama the prostate cancer would not have been discovered and the outcome would have been fatal. Thank you Dr. Nancy Shibayama for saving the life of this old retired U.S. Marine."
Nelson C.
"My health has been in the hands and mind of Dr. Nancy for 10 years. Her advice, counsel, and direction have kept me a healthy senior citizen. When my wife passed away, Dr. Nancy was on the phone to me every day to check on me. She keeps up with all the medical changes and readily gives her opinion on the latest fads and science. She also has a great sense of humor."
Bill H.
"Dr. Shibayama has been my physician for several years. I am grateful for the professional and caring atmosphere in the office. The nurse and receptionist are always very helpful. I feel lucky to be her patient and she has been so helpful through awkward times, helping me mentally and physically. She is always on the positive side."
Cheryl J.
"My husband and I have been patients of Dr. Shibayama since 2004. She has always provided us with superior medical information and treatment. She has been available to us outside of her normal business hours when special circumstances arose, and she listens with empathy to our situation and gives sound advice and assistance. We have always felt her genuine concern and appreciated her professional demeanor. It makes us feel safe, knowing she is in “our corner”."
Pam K.
"D. Shibayama has been my physician for the past 15 years. She is thorough, kind, and considerate, and genuinely cares about my health and welfare. I never feel as though I am being herded or limited in the number of concerns she would address in each visit. Dr. Shibayama is not only a fantastic physician but she is also by treasured friend."
Betty B.
Health Tip of the Month
Osteoporosis is a very common disorder in women and increasingly more recognized in men. It is increasingly being recognized as a very preventable disorder that has potentially devastating consequences if left untreated.
As women go through menopause, the levels of estrogen decrease dramatically. Estrogen is an important component in bone health. Thus, we start to see an increase in the incidence of osteoporosis after menopause. Although men do not technically go through a “menopause”, their levels of testosterone do decrease with age and we are increasingly more cognizant of the incidence of osteoporosis in older men.
There are several significant risk factors for developing osteoporosis: family history, genetics (Caucasians and Asians have the highest risk), smoking, inactive lifestyle, and lack of calcium or vitamin D especially in the younger years when bones are developing.
The gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is with a bone density scan and recently the addition of checking vitamin D levels in the blood. Bone densitometry is a simple, 10 minute test that measures the density of the bone in the spine and hip, the two most common areas of bone fracture in osteoporosis. The results are compared against a standard of other women who are the same age. There are three classifications based on the results of the bone density test: NORMAL, OSTEOPENIC (or low bone mass), and OSTEOPOROSIS. In patients with normal bone density, we recommend continued adequate calcium and vitamin D intake (800-1200 mg of calcium a day, 800 IU of Vitamin D a day). In postmenopausal women with osteopenia the recommendation for calcium would be 1200-1500 mg a day, and vitamin D 2000 IU a day. In women with osteoporosis the recommendation would be the same as for osteopenia with the addition of one of the newer medications that facilitate the movement of calcium into the bone, such as a bisphosphonate. All three groups are encouraged to stop smoking and start a weight bearing exercise regimen.
The new research and subsequent drugs that are now available to prevent and treat osteoporosis are very exciting. Hopefully we will soon be able to make osteoporotic fractures a thing of the past!
