Specialized health care for the elderly

Dr. Rachel Fermo Cardiovascular Medical Associates, P.C.

975 Stewart Avenue

Garden City

(516) 267-6855

As the newest physician at Cardiovascular Medical Associates (CMA), Dr. Rachel Fermo introduces the field of Geriatrics to the practice. Older patients can require extra time and specialized attention, since they often come in with multiple medical conditions. Dr. Fermo pursued Geriatric medicine because of her true affinity for the elderly. Her commitment to providing top quality health care, paired with her extensive Geriatric training, make her an excellent choice for seniors.

During her training, Dr. Fermo gained significant exposure to providing care for the elderly in a variety of settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and sub-acute rehabilitation facilities. She conducts comprehensive assessments and identifies functional disabilities. She is comfortable diagnosing and treating specific Geriatric conditions such as polypharmacy (problems that can occur when a patient is taking more medications than are actually needed) and delirium, and also deals with behavioral disorders associated with dementia.

Dr. Fermo’s focus within her field is Alzheimer’s dementia, a progressive disease that can be devastating for not only the patient, but for everyone involved. She has expertise with patients in all stages of dementia, from mild memory loss to those with more severe cognitive and functional impairment. Dr. Fermo recognizes and deals with the many social issues that dementia caregivers are often burdened with.

“It can be very difficult for members of the family, especially grown children, who have seen their parent one way for 70 or 80 years,” explains Dr. Fermo. “Suddenly their mild-mannered parent might be angry, easily agitated, or display other disturbing behavioral changes. The family is very involved with this disease and needs a lot of social support. It’s never just memory loss.”

Dr. Fermo was raised on Long island. She is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine, and did both her Internal Medicine Residency and Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola. She gives community presentations at local senior centers, lecturing on wellness for elders, and other related subjects. She is an active member in both the American Geriatrics Society and Metropolitan Area Geriatrics Society.

CMA, which originally started as a group of cardiologists, has added physicians with other specialties to the practice. Fully equipped with diagnostic laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment, the offices are a convenient one-stop center for patients, especially the elderly, who might have several issues or need testing.