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Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD

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Specializes in: Hospital Medicine (Hospitalist) and Family Medicine

Florida State University College of Medicine (2006)

Professional interests include: stroke, vascular disease, osteomyelitis, and more.

3333 Capital Oaks Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308

(850) 431-4470

Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD is a hospitalist in Tallahassee, FL specializing in hospital medicine (hospitalist) and family medicine. She graduated from Florida State University College of Medicine in 2006 and has 19 years of experience. Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD is affiliated with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE INC.

Office Locations

Address:

3333 Capital Oaks Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Some issues Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD can help you with:

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

**Gender**
Male	123
Female	187

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	231
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	88
From 75 to 84	83
85 and over	85
Less than 65	54

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	18
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	38
Diabetes	55
Dementia	32
Cancer	17

hospital care	1613
inpatient care	1614

**Gender**
Male	120
Female	107

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	152
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	86
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	25
Less than 65	74

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	67
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	63
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	50
Diabetes	62
Dementia	22
Cancer	15

hospital care	1183
inpatient care	1184

**Gender**
Male	290
Female	252

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	366
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	178
From 75 to 84	164
85 and over	58
Less than 65	142

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	74
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	51
Diabetes	57
Dementia	29
Cancer	18

hospital care	893
inpatient care	894

**Gender**
Male	124
Female	119

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	185
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	65
85 and over	39
Less than 65	68

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	21
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	47
Chronic Kidney Disease	71
Asthma	56
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	65
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	55
Diabetes	53
Dementia	35
Cancer	15

hospital care	409
inpatient care	375
outpatient care	34

**Gender**
Male	126
Female	164

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	216
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	84
From 75 to 84	87
85 and over	67
Less than 65	52

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	42
Diabetes	50
Dementia	32
Cancer	20

hospital care	284
inpatient care	226
outpatient care	58

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	138

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	190
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	79
85 and over	62
Less than 65	55

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	18
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	71
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	33
Diabetes	52
Dementia	39
Cancer	15

hospital care	390
inpatient care	353
outpatient care	37

**Gender**
Male	101
Female	105

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	155
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	71
85 and over	45
Less than 65	31

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	42
Diabetes	55
Dementia	34
Cancer	28

hospital care	376
inpatient care	365
outpatient care	11

**Gender**
Male	89
Female	103

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	154
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	51
85 and over	44
Less than 65	31

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	48
Chronic Kidney Disease	72
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	18
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	45
Dementia	47
Cancer	19

hospital care	796
inpatient care	733
outpatient care	63

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD treated as a hospitalist in Tallahassee, FL were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

doctor visit	28
hospital care	731
inpatient care	704
outpatient care	40

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD.

**Gender**
Female	117
Male	110

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	164
Hispanic	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	42
75 to 84	64
Less than 65	50
65 to 74	70

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	54
Asthma	17
Osteoporosis	14
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	42
Atrial Fibrillation	22
Dementia	27
Cancer	14

Education & Training

Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD graduated from Florida State University College of Medicine in 2006. She completed residency at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has a state license in Florida.

Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine (2006)

Residency: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (2009)

Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Licensed In: Florida

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare

TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE INC

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Pfizer Inc.	$572 ELIQUIS $372	VYNDAQEL $117	NURTEC ODT $37	PAXLOVID $36	ZYVOX $10
AbbVie Inc.	$371 DALVANCE $276	TEFLARO $96
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc	$280 XARELTO $266	INVOKANA $14
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation	$264 ENTRESTO $190	LEQVIO $74
Amgen Inc.	$262 Repatha $262
Other	$1,505 TOUJEO $125	ELIQUIS $124	CAMZYOS $96	OFIRMEV $88	TEFLARO $87	Other $984

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$3,255

Biography

Dr. Sandra Brafford is a specialist in family medicine and hospital medicine (hospitalist). She is especially interested in osteomyelitis, cardiomyopathy, and stroke. Dr. Brafford obtained her medical school training at Florida State University College of Medicine and performed her residency at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. She is affiliated with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. Dr. Brafford's practice in Tallahassee, FL is open to new patients as reported by Doctor.com.

Select Year:

Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD can help you with:

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Sandra Leigh Brafford, MD From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Biography

Hospitalists in Nearby Locations

Other Providers in Tallahassee, FL