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R. Edward "Ted" Bowers, II, M.D.
Serving Northwest Georgia since 2009
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Taylor Frances Elliott, FNP-C
Board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
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Joan Cate Bang FNP-C
Board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
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Offering a wide range of medical services.
Bowers Family Medicine cares about your well being
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New location & building
We have a beautiful new building and location!
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Check out our new location!
Now open!
706.639.9055
3824 South Highway 27, La Fayette GA 30728
Bowers Family Medicine
Quality Medical Care for Your Entire Family
New Procedures Available to Address Covid-19
As everyone continues to adjust to the changes we are facing as a society during the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to update our patients and our community at large regarding current policies and procedures at Bowers Family Medicine.
Our office remains open and fully staffed to meet all of your healthcare needs. While COVID-19 rightfully is in the forefront of all of our minds right now, we realize that other health issues are not going to simply disappear as we fight this new virus. We are still available to address ongoing and new medical issues, and we intend to continue to see our existing patients and accept new patients in the coming days and weeks. We feel that by continuing to provide our services at full capacity, we will ease some of the burden that local hospitals will face while dealing the influx of COVID-19 cases.
With this in mind, we do have several policy changes that we want to bring to your attention:
- We are now offering Telehealth Visits for many acute and chronic problems. As part of the Federal COVID-19 relief package, these “virtual visits” can be billed to Medicare and/or your insurance just like an in-person visit. Patients are not required to download any software or apps. Most smartphones, tablets, and laptops are compatible with the service.
Telehealth Visit Directions:
- Please call (706) 639-9055 to schedule your appointment.
- Please click on the link for your scheduled provider ten minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Dr. Bowers – https://doxy.me/bfm1→
Taylor Elliott – https://doxy.me/bfm2→
Joan Bang – https://doxy.me/bfm3→
Taylor Elliott – https://doxy.me/bfm2→
Joan Bang – https://doxy.me/bfm3→
- We are now offering Curbside Waiting for all patients who wish to use it. This allows patients to call us from their cars when they arrive at the office and wait inside their car until an exam room is available for them. Our staff then calls the patient to come inside, bypassing the check-in desk and triage area, to go directly to their exam room. We continue to practice extensive infection control measures including disinfecting exam rooms, common areas, and the waiting room per current guidelines.
- Drive-Thru Lab Draws can be performed by request. Patients may park in our covered pull-through and remain in their vehicle while our staff draws their blood. Please speak with our staff by phone before arrival for full instructions.
- We continue to ask that any patients exhibiting fever, severe cough, or respiratory symptoms call and speak to our staff before coming to the office so we can provide proper instructions based on up to date information from the Department of Public Health. It remains appropriate for most patients with suspected COVID-19 to recover at home to avoid further spread of the virus. However, we can and will evaluate and advise these patients via telehealth services if appropriate.
- We are now able to swab and send out COVID-19 tests on patients who meet the current Georgia Department of Public Health criteria for testing. At this time, most patients in Georgia are NOT eligible to be tested due to severe shortages of test supplies and a back-log of tests at all labs. Top priority for testing is going to critical patients in the hospital setting followed by other high risk populations who do not require hospitalization. However, for those meeting the current criteria, we can now perform testing at our facility so that our patients do not have to travel to a designated state testing site. Again, please call our office for more information and instructions if you suspect you have COVID-19.
Make an Appointment
We are currently accepting new patients of all ages. We accept most insurance plans and Medicare. Please call us at 706-639-9055 for more details.Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bowers Family Medicine
Since 2009, we have had the pleasure of providing prompt, quality medical care to our patients. We are proud to serve the citizens of Walker and Chattooga counties… and beyond!Our Medical Services
Our staff has extensive training and experience caring for patients of all ages. Our services include:About Us
What Sets Us Apart From Other Medical Practices?
- In-house billing – at Bowers Family Medicine, our staff will handle all insurance claims and patient statements on site. We don’t utilize any outside billing agencies that don’t know our patients. If you have questions about your insurance or your statement, our staff is available to discuss this with you by phone or in person.
- We are an independent practice – being independent allows us to utilize any hospital, imaging center, or specialist that you prefer. We are not limited by having a specific hospital or specialty clinic affiliation.
- Prompt appointments for acute problems – in most cases, we can work established patients in with their physician on the same or next business day when problems arise unexpectedly.
- Quick response to refill requests – our staff strives to honor most medication refill requests on the same business day whenever possible. We want you to have the medications you need when you need them!
- Prompt notification of lab and imaging results – our goal is to notify patients of their test results (whether normal or abnormal) within 2 business days. We know that our patients have enough to deal with without being left to wonder for days or weeks about the results of their medical tests.
- Friendly service – we treat our patients in a courteous and professional manner. Most of our staff members have been with us for years. Each staff member works to know our patients on a personal level as much as possible while still maintaining a private and professional environment. Our goal is to limit staff turnover so we can continually provide medical care with a personal touch.
- We value your time! – while emergencies, scheduling problems, or unexpected delays sometimes arise in any medical practice, we strive to honor your appointment time as accurately as possible. We know your time is just as valuable as ours, and we believe it is disrespectful to ask you to wait a moment longer than absolutely necessary. On the unusual occasion that we run behind schedule, you will always be given the option to reschedule your appointment. We will never expect you to sit waiting in our office for hours on end to be treated!
Our Providers
Ralph Edward (Ted) Bowers, II, MD
Dr. Bowers is originally from Blue Ridge, GA. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors from the University of Georgia and attended medical school at The Medical College of Georgia on a faculty sponsored academic scholarship. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, SC where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Bowers is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Taylor Frances Elliott, FNP-C
Taylor grew up in Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with her Masters of Science in Nursing. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to obtaining her degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Taylor worked as a Registered Nurse in Medical ICU and Neonatal ICU.
Joan Cate Bang, FNP-C
Joan is from Ringgold, GA. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with her Masters of Science in Nursing. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to obtaining her degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Joan worked as a Registered Nurse in Cardiac ICU and a Pacemaker/Defibrillator clinic.
Want to work at Bowers Family Medicine?
Medical Services
We specialize in a wide range of medical services.
Physicals
Routine physical exams are an important part of maintaining good health. At a typical wellness exam, Dr. Bowers will review your medical history and any medications you take, make sure you are up to date on preventative tests and vaccinations, and perform a complete physical exam. Our staff will also complete any documentation that may be required by your insurance company. Dr. Bowers has completed the required National DOT Examiner Certification process and can perform physicals for all drivers who require a medical exam to maintain their commercial driver’s license.
Pediatrics
We have extensive training and experience treating children of all ages. We provide all aspects of pediatric care from acute illnesses to complete well child examinations. At your child’s well exam, we will provide all age-appropriate vaccinations as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. We also follow current national recommendations for developmental screenings including specific screenings for autism at 18 and 24 months.
Management of Chronic Health Conditions
Helping our patients manage their chronic medical problems is our specialty. We will work with you to monitor lab levels as well as recommend dietary and lifestyle changes. When prescription medications are necessary to treat your condition, we will help you adjust dosages to get maximum results.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are an important tool to help prevent illnesses. We stock high quality vaccinations for patients of all ages, and we can help you and your family get all recommended vaccines at the appropriate time.