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Dr. Karen Coward, MD

Accepting New Patients

(85 Ratings)

Specializes in: Family Medicine

East Carolina University, The Brody School of Medicine (1989)

Professional interests include: pain, type 2 diabetes, vascular disease, and more.

101 Clinic Drive
Tarboro, NC 27886

(252) 823-8262

Dr. Karen Coward, MD is a family medicine practitioner in Tarboro, NC specializing in family medicine. She graduated from East Carolina University, The Brody School of Medicine in 1989 and has 35 years of experience. Dr. Karen Coward, MD is affiliated with VIDANT MEDICAL GROUP LLC and EAST CAROLINA HEALTH - HERITAGE INC.

Office Locations

Address:

101 Clinic Drive
Tarboro, NC 27886

Address:

111 HOSPITAL DRIVE
Tarboro, NC 27886

Some issues Dr. Karen Coward, MD can help you with:

Anemia

Anemia is the most common blood disorder. It occurs when the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues. Blood loss, insufficient red blood cell production, and red blood cell destruction are the three main causes of anemia. These issues may arise from such conditions as iron deficiency, heavy periods, ulcers, kidney disease, as well as some forms of cancer.

An individual with anemia will have the following symptoms: shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, cold hands or feet, paleness, and irritability. Anemia is diagnosed when blood tests show low counts for hemoglobin, which is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen to different tissues throughout the body.

Treatments for anemia are dependent on the kind of anemia an individual has. For example, iron supplementation may correct iron deficiency anemia. For anemia caused by chronic kidney failure, chemotherapy treatments, and HIV/AIDS, a group of medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may be prescribed.

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.

abdominal imaging	27
blood draw	1106
cardiac procedures	13
diabetes management	648
doctor visit	1866
hip imaging	13
lab tests	6353
musculoskeletal imaging	43
preventive care	2535
spinal procedures	19
thoracic (chest) imaging	128
thyroid function tests	597
ultrasound (sonogram)	40
vaccines	269
X-rays	190

**Gender**
Male	303
Female	729

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	540
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	402
From 75 to 84	325
85 and over	127
Less than 65	178

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	33
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	52
Dementia	12
Cancer	10

blood draw	985
diabetes management	448
doctor visit	1587
lab tests	4509
musculoskeletal imaging	57
preventive care	2163
thoracic (chest) imaging	42
thyroid function tests	351
vaccines	233
X-rays	98

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	355
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	234
From 75 to 84	171
85 and over	83
Less than 65	115

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	53
Dementia	11
Cancer	12

blood draw	1148
diabetes management	290
doctor visit	1497
lab tests	4348
musculoskeletal imaging	90
nursing home care	57
preventive care	2214
thoracic (chest) imaging	47
thyroid function tests	441
vaccines	450
X-rays	136

**Gender**
Male	372
Female	892

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	764
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	492
From 75 to 84	318
85 and over	182
Less than 65	272

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	53
Dementia	17
Cancer	12

abdominal imaging	10
blood draw	1024
diabetes management	475
doctor visit	1389
lab tests	3185
musculoskeletal imaging	55
nursing home care	120
preventive care	1471
thoracic (chest) imaging	39
thyroid function tests	278
ultrasound (sonogram)	9
vaccines	354
X-rays	93

**Gender**
Male	201
Female	489

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	401
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	271
From 75 to 84	182
85 and over	98
Less than 65	139

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	50
Dementia	18
Cancer	12

blood draw	1007
chronic care	19
diabetes management	470
doctor visit	1305
lab tests	2946
musculoskeletal imaging	74
preventive care	1250
spinal procedures	12
thoracic (chest) imaging	27
thyroid function tests	262
vaccines	324
X-rays	113

**Gender**
Male	142
Female	377

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	327
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	207
From 75 to 84	134
85 and over	67
Less than 65	111

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	49
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

abdominal imaging	10
blood draw	947
diabetes management	410
doctor visit	1234
lab tests	2472
musculoskeletal imaging	54
preventive care	1081
thyroid function tests	194
ultrasound (sonogram)	9
vaccines	261
X-rays	52

**Gender**
Male	151
Female	368

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	320
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	215
From 75 to 84	139
85 and over	59
Less than 65	106

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	51
Dementia	11
Cancer	13

blood draw	931
diabetes management	373
doctor visit	1147
lab tests	2354
musculoskeletal imaging	20
preventive care	1015
thyroid function tests	184
vaccines	254
X-rays	18

**Gender**
Male	133
Female	336

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	291
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	198
From 75 to 84	130
85 and over	66
Less than 65	75

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	49
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	48
Dementia	10
Cancer	12

blood draw	779
diabetes management	347
doctor visit	863
lab tests	2107
preventive care	953
spinal procedures	12
thyroid function tests	148
vaccines	255
X-rays	9

**Gender**
Male	107
Female	286

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	238
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	178
From 75 to 84	104
85 and over	50
Less than 65	61

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	52
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

blood draw	1238
diabetes management	632
doctor visit	1597
lab tests	3578
preventive care	1497
thyroid function tests	280
vaccines	253

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Karen Coward, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Karen Coward, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Tarboro, NC were lab tests, preventive care, blood draw and diabetes management.

abdominal imaging	16
blood draw	1018
cardiac procedures	13
chronic care	19
diabetes management	455
doctor visit	1387
hip imaging	13
lab tests	3554
musculoskeletal imaging	57
nursing home care	88
preventive care	1580
spinal procedures	14
thoracic (chest) imaging	56
thyroid function tests	305
ultrasound (sonogram)	21
vaccines	297
X-rays	90

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Karen Coward, MD.

**Gender**
Male	156
Female	392

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	269
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	54
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	150
85 and over	73
Less than 65	105
65 to 74	219

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Karen Coward, MD From 2013 - 2021

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

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	6
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	40
Atrial Fibrillation	7
Cancer	9
Dementia	9

Education & Training

Dr. Karen Coward, MD graduated from East Carolina University, The Brody School of Medicine in 1989. She has a state license in North Carolina.

Medical School: East Carolina University, The Brody School of Medicine (1989)

Licensed In: North Carolina

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Karen Coward, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

VIDANT MEDICAL GROUP LLC

EAST CAROLINA HEALTH - HERITAGE INC

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Karen Coward, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.85 out of 5 stars based on 85 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Karen Coward, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Tarboro, NC.

4.85

Overall Rating

(85 Ratings)

Leave a Review

Reviews Left On DocSpot

Overall Rating: 1.0 2017-08-10

Failed to schedule proper labs after a three month wait.  She "corrected" this problem by saying that the proper testing would be done before my next visit 6 months from now which is nine months after the initial diagnosis.  Looking for a real doctor.

Reviews From Around The Web

Overall Rating: 5.0 2023-04-19