North Chattahoochee Family Physicians FAQs

General Questions

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Bramwell or other specialists at NCFP?

No referral is needed. Patients can schedule directly with Dr. Bramwell or any of our providers for sports medicine, primary care, women’s health, or wellness services.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

Please bring your photo ID, insurance card, current medication list, and any recent lab or imaging results. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete new patient paperwork if needed.

Are you accepting new patients?

Yes! We are currently welcoming new patients for primary care, chronic condition management, and sports medicine in the Johns Creek and Atlanta area.

What insurance plans do you accept?

We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare. Please call our office to confirm your specific coverage.

Do you offer telehealth or virtual visits?

No. NCFP does not offer telemedicine, but provides same-day appointments and responds to med refills and messages within 24 hours

What is speciality care?

Specialty care focuses on specific health conditions or areas of the body that require advanced knowledge or treatment — such as sports medicine, cardiology, or endocrinology. Specialists often work with your primary care doctor to manage ongoing care. Doctors can also be board certified in multiple specialties like Family Medicine/Sports Medicine or Neurology/Sleep Medicine.

What is primary care?

Primary care is your first point of contact for healthcare. Primary care doctors handle checkups, preventive screenings, chronic condition management, and everyday health concerns, helping coordinate your overall medical care.

What is specialty care vs primary care?

Primary care manages your overall health, preventive care, and common illnesses.
Specialty care focuses on specific medical areas, such as sports injuries, heart disease, or thyroid conditions, often through referral or collaboration with your primary care provider.

What is preventive care?

Preventive care includes routine checkups, vaccines, and screenings that help detect health problems early and keep you healthy before symptoms appear.

What is preventative medicine?

Preventative medicine focuses on reducing your risk of disease through healthy lifestyle habits, early detection, and proactive medical care — such as managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.

What causes high systolic blood pressure?

High systolic blood pressure can result from stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, excess salt, obesity, aging, or underlying heart and kidney conditions. It’s important to manage it to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke.

What is lifestyle medicine?

Lifestyle medicine focuses on preventing and treating disease through healthy daily habits—including balanced nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, quality sleep, and avoiding harmful substances—to improve long-term health and well-being.

Sports Medicine & Injury Care

What is a non-operative treatment for joint pain?

Non-operative care uses techniques like ultrasound-guided injections, physical therapy, and activity modification to relieve pain and promote healing — avoiding unnecessary surgery.

How are ultrasound-guided injections performed, and are they painful?

Dr. Bramwell uses real-time ultrasound imaging to guide the needle precisely to the affected area. Most patients describe only mild discomfort and experience faster pain relief.

What are signs that I should see a sports injury specialist?

Persistent pain, swelling, or loss of movement after rest are key signs. If symptoms last more than a few days, our sports injury specialist in Atlanta, Dr. Bramwell, can help.

How long does recovery take for sports injuries or tendon pain?

Recovery varies depending on the injury and treatment plan, but many patients see improvement with a few weeks of proper care.

Do you treat pediatric or teen sports injuries?

Yes. We provide care for children and teens experiencing sprains, strains, or sports-related injuries, focusing on safe recovery and prevention.

How does ultrasound help with injuries?

Ultrasound helps by providing real-time images of soft tissues to identify inflammation, tears, or other injuries. It also allows for precise, ultrasound-guided injections, which improve accuracy and speed recovery.

Can ultrasound detect shoulder injury?

Yes. Ultrasound can detect rotator cuff tears, tendon inflammation, bursitis, and muscle injuries in the shoulder. It’s a safe, quick, and effective way to diagnose pain and guide treatment.

What is musculoskeletal ultrasound?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to create real-time images of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and soft tissues. There is no radiation exposure and painless. The machine uses wave technology to create images on screen. It helps diagnose injuries and guide treatments like injections in real time.

How to prevent sports injuries?

To prevent sports injuries, warm up before activity, stretch regularly, use proper form, strengthen supporting muscles, and rest when needed. Regular checkups with a sports medicine specialist can also help prevent re-injury.

Preventive & Primary Care

What types of preventive medicine do you offer?

We provide annual physicals, screenings, immunizations, lab work, and lifestyle guidance to help prevent disease and promote long-term wellness.

How do you help manage chronic conditions like high cholesterol or hypertension?

Our providers create personalized treatment plans that combine medication management, nutrition counseling, and lifestyle changes to keep your condition under control.

Do you manage diabetes?

Yes, Our providers are trained in dealing with diabetes of adults of any age.

Do you offer thyroid treatment and testing?

Yes. Our thyroid specialists in Atlanta diagnose and manage hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and related conditions through in-office testing and ongoing monitoring.

Nutrition & Weight Management

What kind of weight loss and nutrition programs do you offer?

Dr. Bramwell provides integrated nutrition and weight loss guidance as part of his sports medicine and primary care programs to help you reach and maintain healthy goals.

Can nutrition counseling be combined with injury recovery or sports performance programs?

Absolutely. Nutrition is an essential part of recovery and performance optimization. Our providers tailor your plan for energy, strength, and long-term success. If lifestyle interventions are not enough, we can offer other weight loss solutions.

Do you do GLP-1/GIP medications?

Yes, we can offer patients a variety of affordable options of the medicine to help achieve weight loss. Patients must sign our standard clinic policy to be enrolled in our program.

Where can i get semaglutide for weight loss in Atlanta?

You can obtain a semaglutide prescription in the Atlanta/Johns Creek area through North Chattahoochee Family Physicians (Johns Creek, GA) — call (770) 497-1555 to to book an appointment and start receiving medical weight loss services locally.

Office & Patient Experience

How do I schedule an appointment?

You can call our office at (770) 497-1555 or use our online appointment request form on our Contact page to schedule. We’ll confirm your visit by phone or email.

What are your office hours?

We’re open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm, with extended hours available on select days. Please check our Contact page for up-to-date scheduling.

What should I do if I have an urgent issue or after-hours concern?

If your situation is life-threatening, call 911 immediately. For non-emergency issues, call our office — after-hours messages are monitored and returned promptly.

Are lab tests and imaging done in-house?

Yes, many lab tests and ultrasound imaging services are available in our Johns Creek office for convenience and quicker results.

How will I receive my test results or follow-up care information?

We’ll contact you directly once results are available. You can also access your patient portal for updates, prescriptions, and secure messaging.