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Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD

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Specializes in: Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine)

Professional interests include: depression, goiter , ulcers, and more.

100 West 162nd Street
South Holland, IL 60473

(708) 730-2200

Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD is an internist in South Holland, IL specializing in internal medicine (adult medicine). Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD is affiliated with Advocate Medical Group (AMG), Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Advocate Health Care and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Office Locations

Address:

100 West 162nd Street
South Holland, IL 60473

Unable to locate address.

Address:

4101 S 4th Street Trafficway Va E Kansas Hcs (677)
Leavenworth, KS 66048

Some issues Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD can help you with:

Depression

Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."

Some common symptoms of depression include:

Feeling sad, guilty, empty or hopeless
Fatigue and a lack of energy and motivation
A loss of pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed
Unusual sleep or eating habits
Mental fog -- trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Physical aches and pains
Suicidal thoughts or a preoccupation with death

We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.

Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.

Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.

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.

Skin Issues

The skin is the largest organ in the body, protecting and covering the more sensitive inner organs. Considering its size and that it is constantly exposed to the elements, the skin is usually relatively problem-free. However that doesn't mean that issues don't come up from time to time that might need the help of a professional. The most common skin issues that people seek medical help with are cosmetic issues, acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and skin growths.

Professional cosmetic skin treatments exist to treat wrinkles, scars, dark spots, remove excess hair, tone and tighten skin, and otherwise improve the appearance of the skin. They may use lasers, light therapy, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or many other forms of skin treatment.

Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, most commonly on the face or back. The clogged follicles can then become infected and inflamed. Treatments include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and retinoid creams.

Eczema is dry, sensitive skin that causes an itchy red rash, often in response to specific triggers. It is common in childhood but can sometimes last into adulthood. The main treatment involves keeping skin well moisturized.

Dermatitis is the medical name for any kind of skin inflammation or rash. Rashes can happen because of an allergy or contact with an irritating substance. They may be red, itchy, or even painful. They are often treated with antihistamines or moisturizing creams containing cortisone.

Psoriasis is patches of thick, red skin that is covered in silvery scales. It is often itchy and sore. Psoriasis is thought to be caused by an immune disorder, and it runs in families. Psoriasis is not contagious. There is no cure, but there are medicated creams available to treat the symptoms.

Skin growths, including warts and moles, are usually not serious. However, some skin growths should be examined by a doctor to make sure they don't cause problems in the future. Warts are harmless, rough, bumpy growths caused by a viral infection. They occur most often on the hands and feet. Because they are caused by a virus, they are contagious. Moles are brown or black spots that are sometimes raised slightly from the surface of the skin. They happen when clumps of pigment cells form in a cluster instead of spread out. Moles are harmless except that they are more vulnerable to cancer than other parts of the skin. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and its risk increases with sun exposure and fair skin tone.

Skin issues can be embarrassing or irritating, but most are minor and can be treated without serious problems. Some, however, can be a sign of a more significant issue, so it is important to see a doctor for anything out of the ordinary.

blood draw	264
doctor visit	634
lab tests	15
preventive care	82
thoracic (chest) imaging	21
vaccines	83
X-rays	20

**Gender**
Male	97
Female	148

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	219
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	111
From 75 to 84	71
85 and over	21
Less than 65	42

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	10
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	46
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

blood draw	262
doctor visit	561
lab tests	103
preventive care	81
thoracic (chest) imaging	13
vaccines	82
X-rays	12

**Gender**
Male	98
Female	146

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	222
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	127
From 75 to 84	63
85 and over	18
Less than 65	36

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	11
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	41
Dementia	11
Cancer	14

blood draw	250
doctor visit	570
lab tests	116
preventive care	58
thoracic (chest) imaging	12
vaccines	59
X-rays	11

**Gender**
Male	186
Female	280

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	414
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	238
From 75 to 84	116
85 and over	32
Less than 65	80

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	11
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	39
Dementia	12
Cancer	12

blood draw	245
doctor visit	488
lab tests	92
preventive care	80
thoracic (chest) imaging	11
vaccines	81
X-rays	10

**Gender**
Male	86
Female	124

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	188
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	51
85 and over	23
Less than 65	34

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	10
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	45
Dementia	11
Cancer	17

blood draw	232
doctor visit	462
lab tests	14
musculoskeletal imaging	11
preventive care	105
thoracic (chest) imaging	17
vaccines	106
X-rays	28

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	123

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	182
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	52
85 and over	15
Less than 65	32

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	12
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	46
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

blood draw	255
doctor visit	554
preventive care	59
vaccines	60

**Gender**
Male	86
Female	142

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	208
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	109
From 75 to 84	67
85 and over	18
Less than 65	34

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	8
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	41
Dementia	8
Cancer	15

doctor visit	612
preventive care	85
vaccines	86

**Gender**
Male	88
Female	142

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	210
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	135
From 75 to 84	56
85 and over	12
Less than 65	27

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	12
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	45
Dementia	11
Cancer	17

doctor visit	426
preventive care	104
vaccines	105

**Gender**
Male	86
Female	136

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	198
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	110
From 75 to 84	63
85 and over	19
Less than 65	30

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	43
Dementia	11
Cancer	19

blood draw	160
doctor visit	999
preventive care	124
vaccines	107

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD treated as an internist in South Holland, IL were blood draw, preventive care, vaccines and lab tests.

blood draw	238
doctor visit	592
lab tests	68
musculoskeletal imaging	11
preventive care	90
thoracic (chest) imaging	14
vaccines	88
X-rays	17

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD.

**Gender**
Female	124
Male	80

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	184
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	15
75 to 84	53
Less than 65	31
65 to 74	103

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	8
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	1
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	34
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Cancer	12
Dementia	8

Education & Training

He completed residency at JIMMA UNIVERSITY | RESEARCH FAMILY RESIDENCY PROGRAM. He is certified by the Internal Medicine and has a state license in Illinois.

Residency: JIMMA UNIVERSITY | RESEARCH FAMILY RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Board Certification: Internal Medicine

Licensed In: Illinois

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Advocate Medical Group (AMG)

Advocate South Suburban Hospital

Advocate Health Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Choice Fund PPO, United Healthcare Select Plus POS, Magellan Health Services, United Healthcare Options PPO, Humana HMO Premier, United Healthcare Indemnity, Humana POS, Humana National POS - Open Access, Humana HMO, Unicare PPO, Blue Choice, Aetna POS, TRICARE Prime, Aetna QPOS, Aetna Open Choice PPO, Aetna Open Access HMO, Aetna Medicare HMO, Golden Rule, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Community Care Network (CCN), Aetna Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Select, Aetna EPO, Humana National HMO, Humana National EPO, Aetna HMO, CIGNA Open Access POS, Humana ChoiceCare PPO, CIGNA PPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, United Healthcare Choice Plus PPO, WellCare, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Humana Medicare Choice PPO, Blue Advantage HMO, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO, United Healthcare, Medicare, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare Navigate HMO, First Health, Beech Street, HealthLink PPO, HealthSmart, Humana PPO, Aetna, CIGNA Open Access Plus POS, PHCS PPO, CHAMPVA, MultiPlan PPO, SEIU - Local 4 PPO, Union Medical Care PPO, AAH UMR Select - Team Member Plan, HST Care Connect EPO, United Surest (previously Bind), Blue Cross HMO Illinois, Union Health Services, Inc., Blue Cross Med Select PPO, Benefits Services and Systems, Inc, FirstHealth, BCBS Commercial PPO, Blue Precision HMO, Provider Network of America (PNOA), AAH UMR Preferred - Team Member Plan, UFCW Local 1546 Health and Welfare Fund (UMC), Blue Cross Community FHP, SEIU - Local 4 HMO, Meridian MMAI, Meridian, HST Care Connect PPO, Zing Health, Blue Cross Community MMAI, BlueCare Direct HMO, Benefit Plan Administrators (BPA), SIHO PPO and Blue Cross Medicare Supplement PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Girma Balcha Assefa, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA Choice Fund PPO

United Healthcare Select Plus POS

Magellan Health Services

United Healthcare Options PPO

Humana HMO Premier

United Healthcare Indemnity

Humana POS

Humana National POS - Open Access

Humana HMO

Unicare PPO

Blue Choice

Aetna POS

TRICARE Prime

Aetna QPOS

Aetna Open Choice PPO

Aetna Open Access HMO

Aetna Medicare HMO

Golden Rule

Great-West Healthcare

TRICARE

Community Care Network (CCN)

Aetna Open Access Aetna Select

Aetna Select

Aetna EPO

Humana National HMO

Humana National EPO

Aetna HMO

CIGNA Open Access POS

Humana ChoiceCare PPO

CIGNA PPO

Aetna Medicare PPO

United Healthcare Choice Plus PPO

WellCare

AARP

Medicare Advantage

Humana Medicare Choice PPO

Blue Advantage HMO

Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO

United Healthcare

Medicare

Humana

Cigna

United Healthcare Navigate HMO

First Health

Beech Street

HealthLink PPO

HealthSmart

Humana PPO

Aetna

CIGNA Open Access Plus POS

PHCS PPO

CHAMPVA

MultiPlan PPO

SEIU - Local 4 PPO

Union Medical Care PPO

AAH UMR Select - Team Member Plan

HST Care Connect EPO

United Surest (previously Bind)

Blue Cross HMO Illinois

Union Health Services, Inc.

Blue Cross Med Select PPO

Benefits Services and Systems, Inc

FirstHealth

BCBS Commercial PPO

Blue Precision HMO

Provider Network of America (PNOA)

AAH UMR Preferred - Team Member Plan

UFCW Local 1546 Health and Welfare Fund (UMC)

Blue Cross Community FHP

SEIU - Local 4 HMO

Meridian MMAI

Meridian

HST Care Connect PPO

Zing Health

Blue Cross Community MMAI

BlueCare Direct HMO

Benefit Plan Administrators (BPA)

SIHO PPO

Blue Cross Medicare Supplement PPO

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Novo Nordisk Inc	$77 RYBELSUS $44	Wegovy $19	Ozempic $15
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.	$69 AREXVY $40	SHINGRIX $29
Abbott Laboratories	$54 FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 $30	FreeStyle Freedom Lite system $24
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.	$32 Plaque Excision $32
Dexcom, Inc.	$31 DEXCOM G6 TRANSMITTER $31
Other	$111 FLUZONE $28	ENTRESTO $26	QSYMIA $21	GARDASIL9 $15	XARELTO $11	Other $10

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$374

Biography

Clinical interests for Dr. Girma Assefa include depression, facial pain, and eczema. Dr. Assefa accepts Aetna EPO, Blue California, and Coventry, in addition to other insurance carriers. In addition to English, he speaks Amharic. He is professionally affiliated with Advocate Medical Group (AMG), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Advocate South Suburban Hospital.