Alexander T. Limkakeng, MD, MHSc
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I appreciate being able to help people when they are acutely ill and trying to find new ways to help others through education and research.
– Alexander T. Limkakeng, MD, MHSc

Alexander T. Limkakeng, MD, MHSc

Emergency Medicine Specialist

Duke Health Provider question
Where I See Patients
Duke University Hospital - Durham, NC
Duke University Hospital: Emergency Room - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine
I appreciate being able to help people when they are acutely ill and trying to find new ways to help others through education and research.
– Alexander T. Limkakeng, MD, MHSc

About Me

I am an emergency medicine physician because I love to help people. Emergency medicine is the one specialty that is not defined by an organ system but rather by a dimension – time. We also serve as a community health care resource. We provide care around the clock and for all conditions. The emergency department is, in many ways, the interface between the health care system and the outside world, and it is the only point of health care access for some. I like the acute problem-solving aspect of this job, the fact that I use everything I learned in medical school (and then some), the variety of people I get to meet, and the great team of people with whom I work. I also appreciate being able to help people when they are acutely ill and trying to find new ways to help others through education and research.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Residency
Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital (Illinois), 2005
Education
MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2001
MHSc, Duke University, 2012

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

As director of acute care research for the Duke Division of Emergency Medicine, I study a wide variety of conditions. The common theme is that they all have a time-sensitive component. in other words, something has to be done within a certain amount of time. We work with researchers from all over Duke to do this. For example, we recently participated in a large trial that showed that a less invasive way of caring for patients with severe infections was effective. We are also working together with infectious disease doctors to learn better ways to identify serious infections. We are working with other Duke specialists to study new treatments for stroke and heart failure. We are also working with surgeons to better understand how to help people who are seriously injured or ill from trauma. My personal interest is finding new ways to identify people who are having a heart attack, or are at risk for them in the future. In particular, I am interested in using blood tests to learn more about what happens to the heart when it doesn't get enough blood flow.

Publications and Grants

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
    • Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
    • Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
    • Aetna HMO
    • Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
    • Aetna Managed Choice POS
    • Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
    • Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
    • Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
    • Aetna Open Choice PPO
    • Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
    • Aetna Select HMO
    • Aetna Traditional Choice
    • Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
    • Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
    • Aetna/CVS Health
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • Blue Advantage
    • Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
    • Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
    • Blue Select
    • NC State Employees Health Plan
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
    • Cigna Choice Plus
    • Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
    • Cigna Open Access
    • Cigna Open Access Plus
    • *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.

    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Select
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • Humana Choice (PPO)
    • Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
    • Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
    • Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
  • MedCost
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
    • AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
    • AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
    • All Savers Alternate Funding
    • All Savers Fully Insured
    • United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
    • United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
    • United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
    • United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
    • United Healthcare Option PPO
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
    • United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
    • United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
    • United Medical Resources (UMR)
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • American College of Emergency Physicians
  • Farrell, White, and Legg, PLLC