07/07/2020
A letter to my patients,
First of all, I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. It has been a scary time. I am so grateful for our essential workers who selflessly and tirelessly continued to do their jobs despite what a crazy time these last few months have been. When I last wrote to you, I was sharing about the opportunity I had to work at the East Orange VA Medical Center with the Pain Team. No one could have predicted how COVID-19 would have changed the way we thought about the simplest things and the way we changed our behavior about activities.
For those of you who continued to seek treatment at our office, we thank you for trusting us as you continued to take care of yourselves. We hope you were able to see firsthand all the work that went into keeping you protected. Maria was screening you over the phone, we spread out appointments so there was minimal exposure to other patients, we essentially closed our waiting room, and we used a TON of Lysol wipes. I heard so many great things about Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed- but these were all things I already knew about him! He is a great practitioner. I was so happy to hear that so many of you appreciated his talents as well. Dr. El-Sayed’s last day is July 10th. Before the pandemic, he committed to another office, but fortunately for us, he was able to extend his time here. I know that I will miss him, and I’m sure you will too.
My plan at the VA Hospital was altered- to say the least. As I was starting, they were quickly transitioning to telehealth visits to keep our veterans safe and reduce exposure to potential Coronavirus spread. After spending several weeks working in the VA hospital, I also transitioned to telemedicine. I was able to meet with the veterans through video to perform consultations and advise and demonstrate therapeutic exercise. It was a challenge, but it was helpful and important to be able to reach out to our vets during lockdown.
New Jersey has more than 400,000 veterans. Some have suffered chronic pain from their time in military training and service. I plan to bring my skills and treatment options to help these patients find relief and lead a more fulfilling life. Just like many of you have sought help in our office to reduce your pain and increase your function, I am part of a team that can decrease the frequency, intensity, and duration of pain for our veterans. So many of these individuals have sacrificed their time away from their families and put their country first. It is important to me to help give back and work with these veterans.
Which now leads me to a bittersweet moment. Some of you have been my patients for only a short time, and others have been with me for the majority of my thirteen-year career. I appreciate you trusting me as your chiropractor to help diagnose, treat, and help you heal from your injuries. I have seen some of you graduate high school, college, get married, have children, have grandchildren- and these are all rewarding moments for me. Due to the commitment to the VA Hospital, I will be stepping to a more advisory role at the office. We are bringing in Dr. Tom Auerbach.
Dr. Auerbach served as a student intern at the VA in West Haven, Connecticut, where he saw more than 300 patients and facilitated over 70 new patient consultations during his rotation. Through these complex consultations, he worked with other providers and came up with care plans. Patients of the veteran population have a myriad of complex conditions that require a more detailed history and examination with high medical complexity. Dr. Auerbach prides himself in helping patients attain results by using manipulation, soft tissue work (including PIR, pin and stretch, ischemic compression, and massage techniques), and providing rehabilitation exercises and stretches. That sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Dr. Auerbach graduated from my alma mater, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. He did his undergraduate studies at Sacred Heart University, where he majored in Exercise Science and was a Division 1 Hurdler. Due to numerous injuries and a desire to help others who experience pain, he pursued his degree in chiropractic. He graduated from UBCC with honors. When he is not being a nerd advancing his knowledge, he is being a nerd watching superhero TV shows or movies.
I searched far and wide to find the right fit for the office. I am confident in Dr. Auerbach’s skills and techniques. I have had him work on me, and I felt great afterwards.
I know that the last few months have been challenging for you- first, you met Dr. Scott Murphy, who took great care of you during my maternity leave, then, you met Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed, and now, I am introducing you to Dr. Tom Auerbach. Please know, that I would never choose someone who I wouldn’t trust to work on either myself or my own family members. These are EXCELLENT practitioners, and I have faith in our newest addition.
I will continue at the office as an advisory role. I will be reviewing charts and patients with the doctor. I will give advice, and explain why we treated you, rehabbed you, or taped you a specific way. I may also join in on certain days or Saturdays when my schedule allows.
Also, many of you know Dr. Jack Zuckerman as the physical therapist who worked in our office about five years ago. It was through him that we met Dr. Jignasya Desai, our pain management doctor who visited once a month. Dr. Zuckerman and I have decided to join forces to make treatment multi-disciplinary at the end of the summer (move date notice to follow). He relocated his Total Recovery PT to a brand new office space in November 2019 in Little Falls. Believe it or not- it was the former TD Bank (ask to see where the vault is!) His beautiful office has plenty of parking, amazing views of downtown Little Falls, and at only 3.5 miles away from our office, it will take no more than 8 minutes door-to-door. Dr. Zuckerman’s treatment closely correlates with our treatment. He combines skilled soft tissue work with exercise. Many of you have already cotreated with him. We have trusted each other with our patients and have referred without hesitation for years.
Dr. Zuckerman graduated from Long Island University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011, and received his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Brooklyn College in 2008. He has attended many post graduate trainings including taping and dry needling. In his spare time, Dr. Zuckerman studies and trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has had a long history with the martial arts and received a gold medal in the Junior Olympics as a teenager.
Though this might be a lot of change for you to take in at once, please know that this was very specifically thought out. There was significant planning and searching. We will work to make this transition as smooth as possible. We will continue to have Dr. Desai visit monthly for your pain needs, and we are looking to add acupuncture very soon. You will have the very best treatment all in one place.
Maria will still be answering the same phone number to make your appointments. You’ll recognize most of the furniture as well. Insurance coverage will stay the same. (Please note, that any practitioner who may move into our office space when we leave is NOT endorsed or supported by us.) And though these changes are big changes, your care is still the focus of our goal. I hope that you stay with us. I hope you give Dr. Auerbach and Dr. Zuckerman a try. I trust them. You should too. They’ve got you covered from A to Z!
I am excited about moving forward and I hope you are too. I care too much and too deeply about all of you to not pick the most perfect candidate and plan for your care. Let’s step forward together.
With love,
Andrea Buccino, D.C., C.C.S.P.
