What is the Hunter-Hopkins Center?

We are a free standing medical clinic, located in the Pineville area of south Charlotte, and have continuously treated persons with CFS and FM since 1994. In addition to our medical clinic, we also have an onsite phlebotomy service, cardiopulmonary and autonomic labs, a research service, and an infusion suite. We also have a secondary treatment center in Raleigh that serves patients from eastern North Carolina.

Who provides the care?

Dr. Charles Lapp is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics, and has twenty years of experience with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. He is one of the pioneering physicians who first brought CFS to national attention, and is widely recognized as an authority. Dr. Lapp has written and spoken extensively on CFS and FM, and has worked with NIH and the CDC since 1985 to study these conditions. Dr. Lapp serves on many national committees, including the federal CFS Advisory Committee, which directly advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Laura Black is board certified in family practice, and was also certified in medical acupuncture at UCLA. She brings a “wholistic” approach to the patient with chronic illness, although Hunter-Hopkins adheres to conservative, outcome-based concepts in treatment.

What is your approach?

Our treatment approach is evidence-based and traditional but complemented by a “holistic” approach that recognizes the interaction of body, mind, and soul. Because there is no known cure for CFS or FM therapy is, of necessity, supportive and symptomatic. We advocate education, nutrition, a low level progressive exercise program, and behavioral therapy. Our medical management of sleep, pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, allergies and hormonal imbalance is based on well-accepted medical principles and the current literature. Our goal is to return the patient to optimal health and functional ability. We are well-prepared to address disability issues, however, if necessary.

What are your strengths?

We provide hope and help to individuals suffering from a complex debilitating illness. We take time to listen, and we understand the problems because we deal with them daily and exclusively. We are structured to spend the additional time that is needed in such complicated cases.

Why choose Hunter-Hopkins over other specialists or clinics?

HHC is a nationally recognized center. Many doctors and specialists diagnose CFS or FM, but offer limited therapeutic options. At HHC we specialize in these conditions and have developed a comprehensive program of management that includes a behavioral component, traditional and complementary therapies, and even disability support.

Today’s patients seek the best and most advanced specialty care available. At HHC we provide experience, knowledge, credibility, and reliability.

What services are available?

In addition to specialty and independent medical evaluations, we provide onsite laboratory services, cardio-pulmonary exercise testing, tilt table testing, and neurocognitiive screening. PT, OT, exercise therapy, biofeedback, special lab and radiology are provided through collaborations with other professionals.

We also have an active research program that provides innovative therapies, including FDA-approved investigational drugs, so that our patients have access to the most advanced treatments.

Patient satisfaction

Based on exit and continuing surveys, patient satisfaction approaches 100%. Retrospective studies have shown that 80% of our patients experience significant improvement in their condition.

Updated November 2007