Free seminar: How to stay out of the ER

Dr. Kevin White spent more than 20 years as an emergency room physician, and now he’s focused on trying to keep his clients out of the ER.

“Emergency rooms are intended primarily for trauma, but chronic disease issues are filling them up more quickly than trauma.” Dr. White said. “The population is getting older. The ER rooms are getting fuller, faster and they're holding more patients. A lot more chronic disease.”

Dr. White will offer his ideas on preventing chronic disease at a seminar sponsored by VillagesOKC, a member-based nonprofit focused on providing support, helpful resources, and a thriving community for Oklahoma City area residents aging interdependently.

“How to Stay Out of the ER” will be presented on March 12 from 10 to 11:30 am in the District/Conference Center on the Springlake campus of Metro Technology Centers, 1900 Springlake Dr. The event is as part of the monthly Positive Aging seminars.

After many years in Emergency Medicine, Dr. White said, he saw an opportunity to further help his patients – or clients as he refers to them – through integrative medicine. He obtained extensive fellowship training in integrative and functional medicine, nutrition, and age management.

He is now focused on the applied science of longevity and wellness. His goal is for his clients to live longer, live better, optimize performance, and increase lifespan while improving healthspan and enriching cognition, and physical and emotional health.

“This occurs by delaying the onset of chronic disease,” Dr. White said. He admonishes clients, "Take control of what you can control. You're not helpless.”

Dr. White said his current practice – Prime Health Associates – functions more like a consultancy than a typical medical practice.

"Our approach is much more proactive rather than reactive,” he said. “Historically, medicine has been reactive. Our clients want to take control of things; they want information and they want to do everything they can in their power to optimize their health."

This philosophy aligns perfectly with VillagesOKC’s mission, according to seminar organizer Gaylene Stiles, VillagesOKC education director.

“VillagesOKC promotes the notion that older adults need to be proactive in all things, including their health care,” Stiles said. “Our seminars are intended to provide the kind of advice and assistance that helps us all make better choices.”

The Positive Aging events also offer free hearing and vision screenings as well as limited transportation. Please call for details. There will also be sponsor partners on hand to share information about their products and services.

The event is free with pre-registration at https://vokc.memberclicks.net/positiveaging-march-25 or by calling (405) 990-6637.