Dr. Hulon Crayton, Medical Director and owner of The Arthritis & Infusion Center, is very
pleased to announce the association with Darr McKeown, MD, Radiologist.
“I chose to
work with Dr. McKeown because he is highly technical, thorough, and in my
opinion is, hands down, the best in his field in the Southeast United States,”
said Dr. Crayton. “I know if he gives me
his professional opinion on a diagnosis, it is official.”
Darr McKeown,
M.D. was raised in the Atlanta area. He
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oglethorpe University and received his M.D. from
the Medical College of Georgia. He
completed his residency at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah and returned to
Atlanta to begin private practice in 1986. He is Board Certified and licensed to practice in Georgia, South
Carolina, and Florida. Dr. McKeown often
lectures on the differences between X-ray and MRI.
Drs. Crayton
and McKeown have been friends, and professional colleagues, since 1999. The following Q&A with Dr. McKeown
explains the significance of this new partnering of services:
Why are your services so
critical to the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other
connective-tissue disorders?
“Dr. Crayton
bases his diagnosis and treatment plans on the discoveries I make with certain
abnormalities found in MRI or ultrasound exams. There are new and improved treatments for arthritis all the time, and Dr. Crayton stays current on these
options; however, without a specific diagnosis, he doesn’t know if the
condition is a food allergy, sprain, or a true arthritis,” said Dr. McKeown. “If my diagnosis is arthritis, this condition
will require strong medications that can be effective in slowing, or curing,
some types of this disease. However, without
knowing which arthritis you are
dealing with, it’s like taking your car to the mechanic without anything being
checked under the hood to find out what is wrong.”
With current technology,
it is no longer necessary for a radiologist to be in the immediate area to read
X-rays or MRIs. How is this information
transmitted between you and Dr. Crayton?
“With our
advanced technology, we can push images across the street or around the
world. This digital equipment allows
doctors to partner with specialists who don’t have to be geographically situated
nearby,” explained Dr. McKeown. “In
fact, many doctors in Northwest Florida use my services because my many years
of experience allow me to know exactly what they need, and I have a reputation
for very detailed analysis of the exams.
I focus on the precise diagnosis
and tell the physician what he wants to know, narrowing all the options to help
them make an educated decision on treatment.”
Dr. Crayton uses both MRIs as well as musculoskeletal ultrasounds. What are the advantages of ultrasounds?
The important
things for the lay person to remember are that ultrasounds are:
1) Cost
effective
2) Significantly cheaper than an MRI or CAT scan
3) Quick, easy, and totally painless
“Radiologists
are at the mercy of the expertise of the ultrasound tech, but Dr. Crayton’s technologist is highly credentialed,
so I know the patients are getting a thorough reading,” said Dr. McKeown. “Plus, there is no heat, pressure, or
radiation with ultrasounds. MRIs do not
use radiation either, but this option is not very comfortable, is very expensive,
not to mention time consuming; however, sometimes, it is the physician’s only option due to herniations or tears
of tendons, etc. Ultrasounds, on the
other hand, can be performed right in the office, to monitor the progress of
treatment, and without any waiting times.”
Regardless of the choice in technology
– MRIs or Ultrasounds – the expertise offered by Drs. Crayton and McKeown
provide patients with confidence in knowing the exam is going to be done well. Dr. Crayton has built a team of experts
within his practice to ensure exemplary care combined with compassion. Remember:
“Pain is not normal. We can
help.”
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