Dr. Michael C. Rivera likes a challenge.

The doctor, a Plainfield resident who practices in St. Charles, started as the medical director of Rosewood Care Center in September. Rivera said he found interest in caring for the elderly at his old practice in the Oswego area.

“I think a lot of people are hesitant to take care of Medicare patients,” Rivera said. “They tend to have more complex problems. I take it as a challenge.”

Rivera, who is a family practitioner, said he wants to keep the high standards the Rosewood has set in his time there.

“I want to keep it refreshed and up to date with any new technology or guidelines that may come up,” Rivera said. “With the way health care is changing, (they need) someone to stay on top of that.”

The changes in health care has the field in flux. Rivera said it’s a scary situation, but he wants to wait and see the final result before he makes any judgment.

“It’ll be interesting to see how it will effect everybody,” Rivera said. “There are some things (you hear) that are good, some things that are bad.”

Rivera said he enjoys being able to get a lifelong relationship established with patients and hopes to have many more in the area.

“I think that’s the one thing I’ve found my niche in,” Rivera said. “I work more with the patient and help them in dealing with their health issues. That way they become almost a partner. ... It helps improve the results when they feel like they’re a part of their care.”

Health tips from the doctor

•  Take multivitamins and antioxidants such as pomegranates, grapes and acai juice
•  Don’t eat fast food
•  Know your baseline cholesterol level and family history

& quotable
On traditional family practice “We actually deliver the babies, and even earlier than that we take care of the mom’s during pre-natal care. Then we deliver the child, then take care of them through their whole life.”

Philosophy
“I think treating everybody equally and keeping them informed and educating them about their condition. Treating the person as a whole; not just the disease, but mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Favorites
MUSIC Pop
MOVIES Blockbusters
FOOD Japanese
HOBBIES Physical fitness, softball