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Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD is a nephrologist in Washington, DC specializing in adult nephrology. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 2019 and has 7 years of experience. Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD is affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Health and WHC PHYSICIAN GROUP LLC.
MedStar Health
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) Insertion
High-risk patients whose hearts are not able to pump blood effectively may be fitted with a device called an intra-aortic balloon pump or IABP. This device is a temporary, surgically implanted pump that does some of the work of the heart and supports the heart in moving blood throughout the body. An IABP may be used after a heart attack, during heart surgery, for patients who are having trouble after a bypass, or as a "bridge" treatment for patients who are waiting for a heart transplant.
An intra-aortic balloon pump is a small, sausage-shaped balloon at the end of a catheter, or very thin, flexible tube. An incision is made (usually in the groin), and the deflated balloon and catheter are threaded through an artery to the aorta, the large main artery that takes oxygen-filled blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The pump can also be placed during open-heart surgery. If this is the case, it is positioned directly into the aorta. Once in place, the balloon inflates and deflates in rhythm with the heart. When it inflates, it pushes blood back towards the heart to help the heart muscle get enough oxygen and fill correctly. When the IABP deflates, just before the heart contracts, it lowers the pressure in the aorta slightly. This helps move blood away from the heart and into the body.
An IABP is a short-term solution, used for only hours or up to a few weeks at most. The pump is powered and controlled by a computer outside the body, so during treatment patients must remain lying down in their hospital bed. Insertion of the device is performed at a cardiac catheterization lab or operating room, and patients with an intra-aortic balloon pump often stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). While it is not a particularly painful treatment, it is common for patients to hear and feel the balloon inflating and deflating within their chest, which can be unsettling. However, IABP is a safe and effective treatment for supporting the heart.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.
Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.
The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:
People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.
Nutrition Counseling
Food is one of the most basic resources the human body uses for growth and energy, tied intricately to well-being. Not only can diet affect health, but certain conditions can affect how the body processes food. Nutrition is the study of this complex interaction, and when patients seek the advice of an expert to help them manage food in their life, it is called nutrition counseling.
At the most basic level, nutrition counseling can be simply a talk with a family physician. Doctors receive training in nutrition as part of their education, and they are generally qualified to make recommendations about diet for their patients. Some doctors take a professional interest in nutrition and become experts by taking extra classes or studying nutrition in their practice. In general, however, complex nutrition guidance will be referred to a nutrition specialist, generally a dietitian.
Registered dietitians are nutrition experts that have passed specific higher education, accreditation, and internship requirements. They may work in hospitals, nursing facilities, or private practices to provide nutrition therapy and advise patients about their health and diet. Like dietitians, nutritionists also work to counsel patients about food and health. Some nutritionists have degrees in nutrition or food science, but the title 'nutritionist' is not protected by law. In the United States, anyone is allowed to call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of their education level.
Nutrition counseling can be useful for anyone who is looking to get to a healthy weight, manage a chronic illness through diet, or simply lead a healthier lifestyle. Some examples of issues that benefit from nutrition counseling include:
During a nutrition counseling appointment, the provider -- doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian -- typically will look over a the patient's medical history and talk to them about their current diet, their goals, what kinds of food they like, and any problems that they are currently struggling with in their health or diet. Then the specialist will help the patient set food goals and create a customized plan to help them meet their nutritional needs. Nutrition specialists may also offer classes, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and more. Their role is not to lecture the patient about what one should be eating, but to offer education and resources to make eating healthy foods easier.
Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 2019. He completed residency at St. Louis University (SLU) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine and has a state license in District of Columbia.
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (2019)
Residency: St. Louis University (SLU) Affiliated Hospitals (2022)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Licensed In: District of Columbia
Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: MultiPlan, Optimum Choice, Optima Health, MAMSI, Magellan Health Services, United Healthcare Choice Plus, United Healthcare Choice, First Health PPO, Blue Choice, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Coventry, TRICARE Reserve Select, Anthem, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Beech Street PPO, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA PPO, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, Aetna Medicare PFFS, CIGNA Indemnity, AmeriHealth, AARP, Medicare Advantage, TriWest, Coventry National Network PPO, Highmark, Amerigroup, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, Sentara Health Plans, WellPoint, United Healthcare Community Plan (AmeriChoice), Humana Medicare Advantage PPO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, CIGNA PPO Plus, HealthyBlue PPO, Aetna Premier 200PD, MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst NASCO, Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), M.D. IPA Preferred (POS), CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO, IH-PPO, DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans, Aetna Advantage 6350PD, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families, CareFirst EPO, Optimum Choice Preferred (POS), Medicare Direct, OCI Direct (HMO), Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans, Aetna Open Choice (PPO), OA Plus, CareFirst Administrators, United Student Resources, IH-Network Only Plus, IH-POS, Aetna Classic 5000, Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA, CareFirst Community Health Plan of Maryland, Healthy Blue (HMO, POS), IH-POS Plus, Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan, Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA, Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Choice POS II, CareFirst Blue Card Program, Choice Fund PPO, IH-EPO Plus, Aetna VA Exchange, Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced, Aetna Better Health of Virginia, Aetna Worker's Compensation Network, Options PPO Cardiac Global, Uniformed Services Family Health Plan, Aetna Advantage 5750, IH-Open HMO Option, HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO, Aetna Basic, CareFirst FEP Blue Focus, Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance, Core Essential (HMO), IH-Open POS Plus, IH-Open EPO Plus, Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO, Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network, MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global, CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO, Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS), IH-Open HMO, Aetna Advantage 6350, M.D. IPA (HMO), Erickson Advantage Plans, Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund), POS OA, Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS), IH-Open POS II, Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO, Aetna Classic 5000PD, CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP, Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice, Aetna Student Health Insurance, Private Health Care Systems (PPO), Choice POS, Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account, IH-Indemnity, CareFirst MedStar PPO, CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity, Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO), United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans, IH-HMO, IH-Open Network Only Plus, HumanaChoice PPO, CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO), Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO, Medicare FFS, Maryland Physicians Care MCO, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, Advantra Platinum (PPO), Aetna Better Health of Maryland, BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage), Choice POS II Open Access, Employee Health Plan, Navigate, Police and Fire Clinic, Network OA, CareFirst MedStar Select PPO and Aetna Classic 3500.
According to our sources, Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Lonnie Thach, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Washington, DC.
Dr. Lonnie Thach is a specialist in adult nephrology in Washington, DC. These areas are among Dr. Thach's clinical interests: renal artery stenosis, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion, and pain. He most likely takes Anthem, Blue California, and Coventry, as well as other insurance carriers. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. For his residency, Dr. Thach trained at a hospital affiliated with St. Louis University (SLU). Dr. Thach is affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center. His practice in Washington, DC is open to new patients as reported by Doctor.com.
