Page 29 - Layout 1

FEATURE

eled from around the world to seek specialized treatment.
“We try to support the local community whenever we can,”
Lawitz said. “We provide a lot of community education by offering
free seminars, symposiums, conferences and talks whenever we can.
We also conduct free screening services in the community.”
Lawitz said he believes that when you do good work, good things
will happen. TLI’s philosophy is to try and treat everyone that comes
in its doors, he said.
“We don’t want to turn anyone away,” he said. “We will accept any
insurance and are willing to work with anyone. We try to stay away
from politics and just focus on giving care to the whole community.”
Lawitz said TLI does not have any immediate plans for further
expansion, but he is open to more growth in the future.

Fatty Liver Disease
The current “epi-
demic of obesity” in
the United States is
driving much of the
problems with Non-
Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Disease (NAFLD),
one of the most
common and deadly liver ailments, he said.
NAFLD is characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver. TEXAS LIVER INSTITUTE
It is known as a ‘silent’ condition because most people have no 607 Camden Street
symptoms and are unaware that they have a problem. If left un- San Antonio, Texas 78215
treated it can progress into more serious ailments resulting in in-
210-253-3426
flammation and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
www.txliver.com
NAFLD currently affects up to 30 percent of the U.S. population.
“There are currently no treatments for (NAFLD) and a lot of
work is being done in this area,” Lawitz said. There are some emerg- 7 Hepatologists &
ing therapies that have shown promise, but the best route for most 9 mid-level Providers
people is to try and avoid the disease altogether by altering their
lifestyles.
Over 100 Staff Members
“If people would just change their lifestyles then they wouldn’t
need these expensive drugs,” Lawitz said. By eliminating risk factors,
people can take control of their own health care. INSURANCE:
“I can tell patients that I lived in their shoes once,” Lawitz said. Accepts Medicare/Medicaid
“I was forced to reduce my weight through changes in my lifestyle,
and all insurances.
so I can appreciate the struggles that my patients go through.”
Insured and uninsured
If you simply burn more calories than you take in, you can avoid
patients accepted.
a lot of these problems, he adds.
But for those who need additional help, Lawitz says there are
emerging therapies that have shown a lot of promise. He is optimistic Medical liability provider: TMLT
that there will be effective treatments on the market very soon.

visit us at www.bcms.org 29