KEY WEST, Fla., January 9, 2026 – Blood work is a standard part of an annual primary care wellness visit because it gives a global picture of your health. The lab results help your provider check for certain diseases and conditions, see indicators of your heart and organ functioning, and track how medications are working.
 
Pasquale Dell’Api, D.O., board-certified family physician at Keys Medical Group Family Medicine – Big Pine Key, says annual blood tests are important for the long term health and well-being of their patients, even when they seem to be in good health.
 
“Annual blood work measures naturally-occurring chemicals in the blood to screen for abnormalities that could signal an underlying disorder, which may not show any other signs or symptoms,” said Dr. Dell’Api. “As your results are tracked over time, we can see whether the numbers are trending in the right direction or if there is a potential condition such as diabetes or cholesterol that could benefit from treatment to prevent bigger issues later.”
 
A basic metabolic blood panel measures the amounts of eight substances in the blood and a comprehensive metabolic panel adds six more measures. The lab results give indications of the function and health of your organs, including liver and kidney, blood sugar levels, acid and base balance, fluid and electrolyte balance, and nutritional deficiencies.

• Glucose, or blood sugar levels, when elevated after fasting can be a sign of Type 2 diabetes, and very high levels whether fasting or not usually indicate Type 1 diabetes.
• Calcium is essential in your blood for proper functioning of your nerves, muscles and heart.
• Billirubin levels are an indication of how well your liver is removing the waste product from the breakdown of your red blood cells.
• Total protein in your blood helps you build muscle, heal, fight infection, and stay healthy.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine levels indicate how well your kidneys are removing these waste products from the blood.
• Albumin is a protein made by your liver that transports substances through your bloodstream and keeps fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels.
• Sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride are electrolytes in your blood that control nerve and muscle function and maintain the pH balance of your blood and your water balance.
• Three liver enzymes – alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate amino transferase – are substances that allow certain bodily processes to happen.

 
A lipoprotein panel measures the levels of cholesterol in your blood. LDL, “bad” cholesterol, is the main source of buildup and blockages in the arteries and HDL, “good” cholesterol, helps decrease cholesterol blockages in the arteries. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. If your cholesterol or triglyceride levels are outside the normal range for your gender, ethnic group and age, you may be at higher risk of heart disease.
 
Dr. Dell’Api says, “Maintaining your best health takes active work and attention as you go through life. Keeping a schedule of regular checkups and blood work can help identify any shifts in status that may call for lifestyle changes, medication or both to reverse a problem or prevent it from progressing.”
 
Even if you have never been diagnosed with a chronic illness or experienced a major medical issue, an annual checkup with your doctor supports your current health and the best actions to maintain and improve your health. Family history, lifestyle, age, diet and activity level are all factors that affect your health and your primary care provider can utilize all of that information and their knowledge to help get and keep you on track.
 
If you need to find a primary care provider, visit www. https://www.lkmc.com/find-a-doctor.

KEY WEST, Fl, January 2, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center and its medical staff encourage residents to know the symptoms and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their families against measles. With outbreaks spreading in other states and people traveling over the holidays, Lower Keys residents are reminded to practice vigilance. 

Who is at Risk?
Measles is an extremely contagious respiratory virus that spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or coming into contact with droplets from an infected person. It poses the greatest risk to children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant individuals and those with compromised immune systems, and can lead to severe health issues and complications.

Watch for Symptoms
Measles typically starts with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, tiny red spots in the mouth, followed by a distinctive rash that spreads downward starting from the face to the rest of the body.

Complications and Danger
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one out of every five people infected with measles ends up needing hospital care, with complications ranging from pneumonia and brain swelling (encephalitis) to premature birth and, in rare instances, death.

 “As measles cases continue to rise throughout the country, it’s important for everyone in our community to be aware of the symptoms and take simple steps to protect themselves and those around them,” said Dr. Courtney Bonner, board certified internal medicine physician at Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown. “If you or your child develop a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash that starts on the face and spreads, stay home and call your healthcare provider before going anywhere in person.”

Protect Yourself
The CDC emphasizes that the most reliable way to protect yourself and your family from measles is to receive the recommended two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, typically given as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization series. Receiving both doses offers strong protection against the virus.

Prevent the Spread
Practicing good hygiene—like frequent hand washing and covering coughs—also helps reduce the spread of illnesses, including measles. And if you’re planning to travel to areas experiencing outbreaks, check your vaccination status and be extra cautious in crowded places.

Act Quickly
If you or a family member develops symptoms or has been exposed to someone with measles, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Call ahead before arriving at any clinic or emergency department so that appropriate precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff.

For more information on measles and vaccination recommendations, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology – Mammography, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission - Echocardiography. The hospital is recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 4 Star quality rating. 

KEY WEST, FL (DECEMBER 12, 2025) – Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology welcomes Shannon Pfingstag, CNM, DNP, FACNM, certified nurse midwife. Shannon earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Southeastern Louisiana University and is a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
 
Shannon has 30 years of experience in nurse midwifery and provides pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, gynecological examination, family planning consultation, disease prevention, menopause management, breast examination, and annual wellness care.
 
Shannon joins Stanley Santiago, M.D., and Christiaan Webb, M.D., board certified OBGYNs in Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology, at 1111 12th Street, Suite 104, Key West. Appointments may be requested at (305)293-1830.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice offering primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, otolaryngology, psychiatry and pulmonology.

KEY WEST, Fla. – Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology welcomes Grace Maliberan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C. Maliberan is a board certified family nurse practitioner with over 18 years of nursing experience in Adult Hemodialysis/Apheresis, Vascular Access, and Endoscopy. 
 
Maliberan is a graduate of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.  Maliberan believes in providing a holistic approach and delivering patient care with compassion and emotional support. She joins Orlando Lopez-Roman, M.D., who is board-certified in Gastroenterology by the Gastroenterology Board at the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Lopez-Roman is a Fellow of both the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association, a distinction held by only 1% of practicing gastroenterologists.
 
Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology is accepting new patients and most major insurances, and treats patients with GI conditions including GI bleed, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal refllux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal strictures, eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), H. pylori, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, celiac disease, diarrhea and constipation.
 
Keys Medical Group Gastroenterology is located within the multispecialty medical office at the Key West Professional Building, 1111 12th Street, Key West, Suite 210. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm. Appointments may be requested at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)294-3458.

​KEY WEST, Fla. – As part of its work to bring more specialist services to Key West, Lower Keys Medical Center and Keys Medical Group Orthopedics recently welcomed Aldo R. Beretta, M.D., board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon.
 
Dr. Beretta specializes in spine, hip, and knee replacements. Advances in medical technology have made joint replacement therapy an effective option to treat chronic joint pain from arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases or injury.
 
A graduate of Brown University Medical School in Providence, R.I., Dr. Beretta completed his surgical residency at Harvard Surgical Services, Beth Israel Hospital, and his orthopedic residency at Tufts University, New England Medical Center, both in Boston, Mass. He completed a spine fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Mass. He is board-certified by the American Board of OrthopedicSurgery and is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
 
Orthopedic Care for the Keys
Keys Medical Group Orthopedics offers resources for patients in the Lower Keys through support from
specialists in Naples, Fla., to help Keep Care in the Keys. The multidisciplinary orthopedic care team at
Lower Keys Medical Center includes orthopedic doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists who provide care. Dr. Beretta joins Christopher Bensen, M.D., Lindsay Hickerson, M.D., Bryan Hanypsiak, M.D., and Amanda Meyer, PA-C at Keys Medical Group Orthopedics.
 
In addition to surgery, Lower Keys Medical Center and its providers offer a range of orthopedic services
to help you get back to the life you enjoy, from injury prevention and recovery to rehabilitation. An
important part of the surgical process is helping patients prepare for the procedure and understand the
steps to recovery after surgery. The team works with patients from diagnosis through recovery.
 
About Keys Medical Group Orthopedics
Keys Medical Group Orthopedics is located at 1111 12th Street, Suite 201, Key West, FL 33040.
Appointments may be requested at (305)295-3477 or at KeysMedicalGroup.com.

​KEY WEST, FL – November 27, 2024 - Keys Medical Group Family Medicine is relocating from Suite 203 to Suite 301 in the Key West Professional Building, 1111 12th Street, Key West. Norman “Rocky” Tingle, MD, and Sheryl Belanger, MD, will begin seeing patients in the new location on Monday, December 2, 2024. 
 
Office hours will remain Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5 pm. Appointments may be scheduled online at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)294-1706. 

​KEY WEST, FL (JULY 15, 2024) – Keys Medical Group welcomes Brien W. Tonkinson, MD, board-certified Otolaryngologist and Head and Neck Surgeon with additional focus on Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Tonkinson provides comprehensive medical and surgical care of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck for pediatric and adult patients. Conditions treated include airway conditions, cancers of the head and neck, salivary diseases, thyroid disease, sinusitis and nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum and obstruction, hearing loss, swallowing and voice disorders, tinnitus, tonsil or adenoid infections, tympanic membrane, mastoid, rhinoplasty and rhytidectomy and vertigo and dizziness.
 
Dr. Tonkinson began his academic career at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He obtained his medical degree at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD and was the president of his medical class 1995. He completed his surgical internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX, and his residency at San Antonio Uniformed Services Education Consortium at Lackland Air Force Base, TX. He has also been awarded the residency professor of the year teaching ENT surgery.
 
A decorated military veteran of 29.8 years, Dr. Tonkinson’s many recognitions include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Valorous Unit Award, and numerous Army Commendation Awards. He passed the Combat Diver Course in Key West in 1988 and was a diving instructor and the diving medical doctor stationed in Key West from 1996-1999. It has been a dream of his to serve the Keys community.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center CEO David Clay said, "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Tonkinson to our hospital, medical group and community. We are committed to supporting skilled, experienced providers and specialists that help our residents receive quality care close to home.”
 
Keys Medical Group Otolaryngology/ENT  is located at 1111 12th Street, Suite 210 in Key West. Appointments may be requested at (305)292-5811 or at KeysMedicalGroup.com. Medicare, Medicaid and most major health plans are accepted. 
 
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice offering primary care, otolaryngology/ENT, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, and psychiatry. Telemedicine virtual visits are available with most providers. 

KEY WEST, FL (APRIL 30, 2024) - Keys Medical Group Outpatient Psychiatric/Mental Health/Counseling offices are relocating from the Key West Professional Building, 1111 12th Street, Suite 205, Key West to Lower Keys Medical Center's Depoo Campus at 1200 Kennedy Drive, Suite 1041, first floor. The move will take place May 1, 2024 to May 3, 2024. Beginning May 6, 2024, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Kristie Santana, APRN; Erin Sheehan, DNP, ARNP; and Angela Halbrook, APRN, along with Licensed Clinical Social Worker John Borgens, will see patients by appointment at the new location. 
 
Office hours will remain Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm. Appointments may be requested online at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)293-1299. Patients should continue to park in the back lot of the Professional Building and enter through the front door of the Depoo campus on the Kennedy Drive side. Patients with physical challenges may use the front parking lot at the Depoo building. Spaces are limited. 

​Making new year’s resolutions is a common tradition, but 77% of people who make them, break them within just a few weeks. This year, focus on long-term lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on overall health and longevity.
 
“The start of a new year symbolizes a time for change, but adopting new, healthy habits isn’t limited to just one time of year,” says Courtney Bonner, DO, board certified internal medicine physician with Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown. “Even small, incremental changes in lifestyle can make a big difference in overall health.”
 
Dr. Bonner suggests adopting these seven habits for long-term healthy living:
 
●        Eat well: Incorporate nutrient dense whole foods into your diet like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish. Limit processed foods and sugar-sweetened drinks which are linked to obesity and heart disease.
●        Exercise regularly: Only 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise can prevent strokes, heart disease and help manage stress. Exercise can come in many forms like walking, biking, gardening and more. This year, find an activity you enjoy and look forward to that also increases your heart rate.
●        Get better sleep: Low quality sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity, weight gain and can negatively impact brain function. To improve the quality of your sleep, avoid caffeine at night, reducing screen time before bed and keep a consistent sleep schedule.
●        Decrease stress: Stress can cause serious health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. Practice self care with your favorite activities and mindfulness techniques like meditation. But, if stress becomes overwhelming or chronic, consider talking with a mental health professional.
 
●        Cut down on alcohol: After the holidays, the new year is a great time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. Drinking over the recommended limit, one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, is associated with short and long term health risks including impaired judgment, high blood pressure, heart disease and some cancers. To cut back, set a drink limit when out with friends or designate days of the week to completely abstain.
●        Stop smoking: If you smoke, stop. Over 16 million Americans live with chronic diseases caused by smoking like lung disease and cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of premature death and exposes loved ones to second-hand smoke. Increase your life expectancy by as much as 10 years by giving up the habit.
●        Visit your doctor: A study published by The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) found adults with primary care providers are more likely to fill prescriptions and to receive health screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies. Kickoff the year with a visit to your primary care physician for a wellness exam or to catch up on vaccinations.
 
To find a primary care physician or to learn more healthy habits, visit KeysMedicalGroup.com.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice of board-certified physicians and providers in Primary Care, General and Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, and Psychiatry.
 

​Keys Medical Group welcomes Naomi Andrews, MS, CNM, WHNP-BC.  Andrews is a certified nurse midwife who obtained her Master of Science in Nursing, Midwifery-WHNP at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She joins Stanley Santiago, MD, MBA, FACOG, and Margo Von Mauw, MSN, APRN, CNM in Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology.
 
Andrews provides trauma-informed midwifery care in miscarriage, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods; gynecological care; family planning; patient education and family advocacy; disease prevention; menopause management; breast examination; cervical cancer screening/Pap smear; preventive and introductory adolescent gynecology; contraceptive care management; and women's annual and wellness visits. "I am passionate about providing compassionate and evidence-based care with respect to individual needs and am excited to join this diverse multi-specialty practice, Keys Medical Group," Andrews said. 
 
Appointments may be requested online at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305 )293-1830. Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 1111 12th Street, Suite 104, in Key West. New patients are welcome and most major insurance plans are accepted.
 
About: Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice of board-certified physicians and providers in Primary Care, General and Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, Psychiatry and Pulmonology.