Dr. Andal Sadagopan believes that knowing her patients well helps her deliver better, more holistic care. “Practicing in primary care is great as it helps establish long-term relationships,” she explains. “I not only see patients when they are sick, but I also see well patients at routine physicals. This helps me get to know patients as individuals, which is very important.”

According to Dr. Sadagopan, it’s very important to know a patient’s family history as well as their social situation when diagnosing them. “Family history changes periodically and needs to be constantly updated. Also, many patients pursue alternative medicine and it’s important to know everything a patient is taking because of possible drug interactions.”

Dr. Sadagopan has noticed that the Internet has become a popular resource for many of her patients and their families. “Unfortunately, it can become problematic, when patients’ start worrying that their symptoms are a manifestation of something seriously wrong. It is important to approach each scenario with an open mind, while still remembering the patient’s past medical history and family history. Many of our patients enjoy having more information about their health, which is why we routinely give handouts to patients regarding specific conditions.”

In her practice, Dr. Sadagopan has taken a special interest in treating diabetes. “Diabetes is a common medical problem but very challenging to treat. We have a Diabetes Risk Program at Reliant Medical Group that utilizes nutritionists and diabetes nurse educators who call patients regularly and work closely with the primary care provider. It’s very gratifying to see patients do well after making the lifestyle changes that are so important in treating diabetes and pre-diabetes.”

Working in a large group practice, Dr. Sadagopan enjoys having access to top specialists. “I can just call a colleague in any department and request them to take a quick look at an EKG or X-ray if I am concerned about something. We have a close-knit group here, and it really makes a positive impact on the care I can provide my patients.”

During her free time away from Reliant Medical Group, Dr. Sadagopan enjoys listening to music, reading and traveling. “I also enjoy spending as much time as I can with my family; they come first in my life.”