General Surgery
Dr. Michael Luke helps his patients look and fell better
By Seth Bromley
Staff Reporter
NORTH SMITHFIELD - Practicing in northwestern Rhode Island for nearly 20 years, Dr. Michael A. Luke has built a reputation of one of the area's most trusted general surgeons. When men and women undergoing treatment for their ailments arrive at Luke's office at 501 Great Road in North Smithfield, they can fell assured they will be in the hands of an experienced physician who enjoys seeing his patients, and specially enjoys see them well.
Since he began his practice in 1986, Luke's specialities have been General Surgery and Gynecology. He treats men and women of all ages, as well as children and teens. A member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Luke performs nearly 90 percent of all surgeries using laparoscopic techniques.
According to office manager Marian Luke, this means that the majority of his surgeries are performed without creating major incisions. It involves the use of tiny, fibre-optic cameras, a technology that helps to drastically decrease the opportunities for infections and complications following surgery while also decreasing the length of time needed for returning to work and regular activities.
"Folks get back to their daily routine - work, family, and recreation a lot quicker with this technique than with traditional open incisions," said Marian.
Luke writes on his Web site that "general surgeons perform all types of surgery from skin lesions (bening as well as cancerous), to common abdominal ailments, such as gallbladder, appendix removal, and hernia repair, to a variety of major surgeries, including breast lumps and mastectomies, colon cancer treatment and the like."
He adds that as gynecological surgeon, he has performed "a wide array of surgeries, frequently using laparoscopic techniques. These surgeries range from common tubal ligations and D and C's to hysterectomies, and corrections for stress incontinence, etcetera. Breast cancer screenings and breast surgery is also and area of specialty."
Another reassuring aspect of Luke's practice is that, unlike some physicians, he is not exclusive to any particular health care plan or plans. Throughout his time as a private practitioner, Luke has set a goal to remain accessible to as many people as possible. "He believes very strongly in maintaining a relationship with all insurance carriers." said Marian.
To achieve this goal in a time of insurance cost-cutting, Luke has begun offering two new cosmetic procedures. As both a service to the community and as a way to maintain the practice's financial viability. Luke has started accepting candidates for elective laser surgey to remove unwanted hair and leg veins. Marian said the procedure is becoming very popular among both men and women.
"It increases people's ability to be active and participate in healthy activitities,"she said. "We hear from people that they are actually limiting their exposure to certain lifestyles because of their self-consciousness and self-esteem issues. Cosmetic surgery can really contribute to a a better life-style and promote better health. From that perspective, we've been pleased with our decision to go ahead with this service."
The procedure for hair removal utilizes a laser that destroys or impairs hair follicles while maintaining the normal appearance of the skin. The method allows for the removal of unwanted hair without skin irritation, discoloration, or inflammation, with a process that is both faster and gentler than electrolysis. The system can also be used to remove unsightly leg veins, with a laser that can pass safely through skin and treat blood vessels directly.
"We're first in northern Rhode Island with this particular type of laser." Marian said, still relatively rare, the technology is just recently beginning to become more available and affordable. "We've been able to price the procedure to the expectations of people in the area," Marian said.
Pricing plans are worked out to suit the needs of the individual patient, she said. Instead of charging a large flat fee, they are able to bill patients in stages as the treatment progresses. Marian said that a prominent advantage the new laser system was its effectiveness on all skin tones, from fair Causasians to African-Americans.
"A lot of lasers can't treat darker skin tones," she said, "For us that's not a factor." Another plus is that patients having hair removed don't have to let it grow to have the treatment, which can save both time and embarrasement on the part of clients.
Active in the community, Dr. Luke had been a member of the Landmark Medical Center staff since 1986. During this time he has served on a number of committees, including as former chairman of the Surgical Case Review Committee and as a member since 2000. He is also a member of the Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals who meet regularly to review patient's cases who have been diagnosed with cancer and develop treatment approaches best suited to that individual. He is also a former trustee of the Landmark Health Foundation and the Landmark Medical Center Executive Committee, as well as a past medical director of the Primrose Fire Department in North Smithfield. Miarian, whos is Dr. Luke's wife as well as his office manager, said one of her husband's most important qualities is that he enjoys what he does. "He really likes his patients," she said, "and he has a great deal of respect for all of them."
