Internal Medicine · Greenacres Area

Internal Medicine Doctor Serving Greenacres

Most Greenacres adults who look for an internist are juggling more than one prescription, often from more than one doctor. Dr. Shahnaz Akhter practices internal medicine at our West Palm Beach office on Forest Hill Boulevard, and a good part of her work is making that whole list make sense in one chart.

What an internist does that a walk-in clinic cannot

Internal medicine is the branch of medicine built around adults, and in particular adults whose health involves several moving parts at once. A walk-in clinic treats the problem in front of it. An internist treats that problem while remembering what it does to everything else, so a new cough, a blood pressure change, and a refill request are all read against the same history. That continuity is the point of choosing one practice and returning to it.

The brown-bag medication review

If you take several medicines, the most useful thing you can bring to a first internal medicine visit is all of them, in the bag they live in. Prescription bottles, over-the-counter pain relievers, vitamins, and supplements all go on the table so your provider can see the whole picture. The review catches duplicates from two prescribers, doses that no longer match your current weight or labs, and refills you have quietly stopped taking. None of that shows up reliably from memory.

What a first visit covers

Your medical history, surgeries, and what runs in your family
Every medication and supplement you take, and how you actually take them
Blood pressure, pulse, weight, and a physical examination
Which conditions are being tracked, which are stable, and which need a closer look
Labs ordered when your provider wants numbers behind the picture
A follow-up interval set for you instead of a generic one

Getting to West Palm Beach from Greenacres

Greenacres residents are seen at the West Palm Beach office at 3472 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 3B. The address is 3472 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 3B, West Palm Beach, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office also keeps on-site lab services, so the blood draw your provider orders does not have to become a second errand across town.

Languages and who you will see

Dr. Akhter speaks English, Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu, which matters in a patient community where a family may discuss health in more than one language at home. Her listed focus areas include internal medicine, same-day appointments, in-house lab services, and weight loss and hormone therapy. If a Greenacres patient also wants help with everyday needs, primary care in Greenacres covers the checkups and acute visits, while blood pressure management and diabetes management cover the two chronic conditions patients most often bring us. The physician who sees Greenacres patients and the way her follow-up visits are paced are described on the internal medicine page for the West Palm Beach office for anyone who wants more detail before booking.

Questions to ask before you leave

Which of my conditions are stable, and which are you watching more closely?
Is any medicine on my list one we should revisit at the next visit?
Which labs should I expect, and when will I hear the results?
What should I do if a symptom changes before my next appointment?
When should I come back, and for what?

Same-day access for adults who cannot plan ahead

A chronic condition does not announce its flare-ups in advance. Because the West Palm Beach office keeps same-day appointments and walk-ins open, a Greenacres patient who feels worse on a Tuesday does not need to wait until the following week to speak to someone who knows the history. Call as early in the day as you can, since that is when staff have the widest choice of times. Greenacres patients managing several conditions can ask whether a weight evaluation fits their plan, as described in weight management for Greenacres patients.

What is the difference between internal medicine and family medicine?

Internal medicine focuses on adults, particularly those managing several conditions at once. Family medicine covers patients of all ages. Both are available through the practice, and our staff can help you choose the right type of visit when you call.

Should I really bring all my pills to the first visit?

Yes, if you can. Bottles, supplements, and over-the-counter products together let your provider spot duplicates and interactions that a typed list can miss. If carrying them is impractical, a clear phone photo of every label works as well.

Can you take over care from my previous doctor?

Yes. Bring or request your recent records, especially lab results and a medication list, and your provider will pick up from there. Having them speeds up the first visit, but you can be seen without them.

Do you do blood work at the office?

The West Palm Beach office has in-house lab services, with results coordinated through your provider. Your provider decides which tests your situation calls for before anything is drawn.

Do you take Medicare and Medicaid?

Yes, along with major commercial plans. Because details differ by plan, call (561) 473-9044 and the staff will confirm your coverage before your first visit.

What if I see other specialists as well?

Tell your provider who they are and bring any notes or results you have from them. An internist's job includes keeping those pieces together, so a cardiology letter or a lab from another office ends up in the same chart as everything else.

Sources

CDC — About Chronic Diseases

Related care

More Internal Medicine locations

View all Family & Internal Medicine

See all services or view our office locations.

5.0 (52 Google reviews)

West Palm Beach office

3472 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 3B
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

(561) 473-9044

Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Get directions →Full West Palm Beach office page →Schedule a Visit