Mondays with your MD – HPV: What you should know

2022-08-15T21:41:16+00:00August 15th, 2022|Adults, Family Medicine, Health Care, Public Health|

Human Papilomaviurs, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States.

70- 80% of women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime. HPV can cause cervical cancer.

The following questions and answers address what you need to know about HPV and screening for cervical cancer:

What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?

HPV is a group of viruses that can be passed through sexual contact. The types that infect the genital area are called genital HPV.

Who gets HPV?

Genital HPV is the most common STI in the United States. It is so common that 70-80% of women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

Most people with HPV do not have any symptoms which is why women need regular Pap tests starting at age 21. The Pap test can find changes on the cervix caused by HPV. If you are a woman between ages 30 and 65, you can also do a DNA test for HPV strains of the virus that cause cervical changes.
HPV infections can sometimes cause genital warts. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area and physicians can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.

What health problems can HPV cause?

HPV usually goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems including: cervical cancer and genital warts most commonly.

Do I need to get tested for HPV?

  • If you are 21 to 29 years old, your doctor might suggest the HPV test if you have had an unclear Pap test result. Most women younger than 30 do not need the HPV test, because the immune system fights off HPV in the vast majority.
  • If you are 30 years or older, you may choose to have the HPV test and Pap test to screen for cervical cancer. If both tests are normal, the chance of getting cervical cancer in the next few years is very low and often you can wait up to five years for your next HPV screening.

How can I prevent HPV?

There are two ways to prevent HPV. One way is get an HPV vaccine. The other way to prevent HPV or any STI is to avoid sexual contact with another person.

 

If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

  • Use condoms. Condoms are the best way to prevent STIs when you have sex.
  • Limit your number of sex partners. Your risk of getting STIs goes up with the number
    of partners you have.

If I get the HPV vaccine, do I still need to use a condom?

Yes. The vaccine does not replace or decrease the need to wear condoms. Using condoms lowers your risk of getting other types of HPV and other STIs.

Do I still need a Pap test if I got the HPV vaccine?

Yes. There are three reasons why:

  • Although the HPV vaccine protects against many of the HPV types that cause cervical cancer, it does not prevent all HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
  • You might not be fully protected if you did not get all the vaccine doses (or at the recommended ages).
  • You might not fully benefit from the vaccine if you were vaccinated after getting one or more types of HPV before vaccination.

Talk to your doctor today about HPV screening

Mondays with your MD: Formula Shortage

2022-06-25T21:22:11+00:00June 25th, 2022|Families, Family Medicine, Public Health|

Formula Shortage

Recently I had a patient reach out to let me know she was unable to locate the formula she routinely provided to her baby. She let me know she was considering feeding her baby with breastmilk from a friend and was concerned about allergens in some of the other formula products.

Nothing is as important to families as the health and safety of their babies. The formula shortage has left many anxious about how to feed them. My guess is that many are thinking about a similar solution. I thought I would share a few recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Consider trying a brand new formula
  • Consider trying a formula made in another country
  • Talk to your physician about substitutes for hypoallergenic or specialty forumulas (as was the case in the above example)

OPTIONS for HOW to FEED YOUR BABY SAFELY

  • Consider discussing using whole cow’s milk if baby is over 6mo
  • If baby is close to one year discuss with physician options for toddler drinks
  • Consider using local milk bank

AVOID these options

DO NOT share breast milk with friends or purchase on the internet. There are significant infectious disease and storage safety risks

DO NOT water down formula

DO NOT make it at home

DO NOT use expired formula

If you are having difficulty finding formula and solutions please reach out to your physician.

Mondays with Your MD: Skin Cancer Awareness Month

2022-05-22T17:59:05+00:00May 15th, 2022|Community, Families, Family Medicine, Special Offer|

Summer is almost here…. and with it comes lots of outdoor activities. Protecting your skin from the sun is imperative. Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer?

skin-cancer-prevention-facts

The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented and it can almost always be cured… when it’s found and treated early.

Simple Skin Cancer Prevention Tips:

-Seek the shade between 10am-4pm
-Do NOT get a sunburn
-Use broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher and reapply after 2hours
-Examine your skin once a month

 

Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more and get FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENING

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter “Health Tips”

The Pandemic. Deferred wellness. Navigating health today.

2021-05-13T18:23:04+00:00May 8th, 2021|Community, Copays, Deductibles, Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Pandemic, Telemedicine, Urgent Care|

As we pass one year since the pandemic started, it is time to take stock of our overall health and what it means to us as individuals.  It’s important to note the collateral effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our individual health as well as the overall wellness of our community.  Many avoided or delayed care (both urgent and routine) to lower the risk of acquiring COVID-19.   We now have evidence that this shift has led to delayed diagnosis and treatment which results in poor outcomes.

While we can celebrate some success as the number of vaccinated individuals increases in the United States, we still struggle with effects of social isolation and the surge of mental health problems that accompany it.

Prior to the pandemic, it was common for patients to avoid the “hassle” of the traditional health care system. Patients disliked the “big production” around getting an appointment and waiting to be seen as well as the amount of time and energy spent to engage with the insurance-based model of care. Often patients delayed care because the cost was not transparent and surprise billing was never popular.  Between copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums most people have no idea what costs to expect when they seek the care that is recommended.

The pandemic has accentuated the difficulties of getting care… we have witnessed that our health care system is beyond broken.  It does not serve patients and the time for change is past due.

What if getting care was as easy as scheduling online and speaking directly to your doctor via phone text or email whenever needed?  What if there was no “hassle” to get an appointment and no wait to see your doctor?  The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model has made this a reality.  Your physician is easily accessible with time to address all your health concerns.  DPC is the future of health care and is championed by physicians around the country dedicated to doing what is best for their patients.  DPC takes away the “pain” of seeing the doctor.  It emphasizes the value of the patient-physician relationship and creates space for shared decision-making around health and wellness.  DPC provides excellent care, transparent pricing, and unparalleled accessibility.

During the pandemic, DPC patients had unlimited access to their physician.  They were engaged in healthcare prevention and maintenance conversations with their physicians.  They received superior care by having direct communication with their physician.  There were no “surprise” bills because DPC membership fees are transparent and extremely affordable.

As with anything difficult, we can always find a silver-lining… and we must if we want to continue to grow and improve. The pandemic has made the case for DPC.  We all deserve better health care. The foundation for improved health outcomes lies in the rebuilding of a solid physician-patient relationship.  How we get through it all… will always depend on… who we get through it all with.

>>LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOTS HEALTH DPC<<

>>Click here to call ROOTS now 708-613-7916<<

COVID 19 Timeline Information

2021-05-08T12:54:48+00:00November 9th, 2020|Adults, Community, Coronavirus, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Pandemic|

The disease that is caused by the SARS CoV2 virus presents and transmits like many other respiratory viruses which makes it difficult to identify and contain.  I would like to provide information about the period from when someone is exposed to the SARS CoV2 virus, when they are infectious, and when they are most likely to have a positive test.

The graph above illustrates the timeline of COVID-19 illness after exposure.

Incubation period is the estimated amount of time it may take for someone to develop COVID-19 after exposure. Right now, for adults it is about 2-14 days. This is why we use the 14 day guideline for close-contact quarantine period.

Studies show that PCR tests for coronavirus can detect up to 98% of cases by day 7-8 after exposure.

Infectious period is when you are contagious after exposure to the virus. Most respiratory viruses have an infectious period of about 48hrs before symptoms develop.  Anyone that has been in contact with someone with COVID-19 48hrs before that person’s symptoms began should quarantine for 14 days. The end of the infectious period can vary, but is defined as being fever free for at least 24 hours AND 10 days from symptom onset.

The local health department contact tracers are not able to reach out to every person (roughly 50% of people are being contacted who have been exposed). This is why it is important for the general public to know these guidelines so we can appropriately notify our potential close contacts to help mitigate the spread.

Be well, everyone. Stay diligent… wear a mask, wash hands, social distance and try (if possible) to keep interactions with folks brief. This will reduce your risk of transmission, and also your chance of needing to quarantine.

Dr Natasha Diaz

Staying well during a Pandemic

2021-05-08T13:05:37+00:00September 4th, 2020|Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Pandemic, Telemedicine|

 

What is different about Direct Primary Care?

For the past 6 months, most of us avoided going into enclosed spaces with sick people. For this very reason, many people do not feel safe going to an urgent care or traditional medical office. Unfortunately, our health care needs do not disappear during a pandemic. Neglecting our necessary urgent and routine health care needs can lead to poor outcomes. What is the best way to address this problem?

Virtual care and limiting the number of in-person office visits are solutions we have implemented, at Roots Health DPC, to keep our patients safe while providing necessary care. We offer unlimited text, phone, and telemedicine availability. We limit our in-person office visits, take necessary precautions to decrease transmission of the virus, and thoroughly disinfect between patients. Home visits are also available to members. The direct primary care (DPC) model places patients first and removes the mal-aligned incentives that accompany the health insurance model. DPC focuses on providing accessible and personalized health care. It provides patients with the affordable transparent pricing they want and the safe delivery of the health care they need.

>>>Reach out and set up a free Meet and Greet with Dr Diaz at Roots Health DPC<<<

>>>Read about how direct care practices are perfectly positioned to help patients during coronavirus outbreak<<<

 

Roots Health DPC – Part of the solution

2021-05-08T13:20:44+00:00August 28th, 2020|Community, Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Pandemic|

 

 

Your Health is more important now than ever before.

Our communities continue to struggle to handle this pandemic and I have more questions than answers.  What will be the long term effects on the bodies of patients who have had Covid-19?  How will we ensure that children have appropriate social-emotional development and education? Who will bear the economic burden of a failed health care system?

If I spend too much time in the future, I become quickly overwhelmed.  What I believe is true, is that we have today.  Today, I am grateful for my health, nutritious meals, my home, and my family.  I can take action today, to take care of myself physically and emotionally.  I can ensure my body gets the sleep and exercise that it needs. I can take precautions to protect my health and well-being and I can reach out to others in service.

I created Roots Health DPC to be part of the solution for a broken health care system.  I believe people deserve health care that is affordable with transparent pricing. I know that sick patients have improved outcomes when they have a physician who advocates on their behalf.  It is my belief that patients and physicians should be the only ones involved in medical decision-making and that third party intrusions actually make outcomes worse and increase costs.  This becomes evident when we look at US health care spending and mortality rates.

I encourage you to take action today to take care of yourself and your family.  As a member of Roots Health DPC, you can be reassured that you have unlimited access to your physician at all times in the event that you or a loved one becomes ill.  When we are sick, we are not able to advocate well for ourselves.  As a patient or caregiver you might question whether you or your loved one needs an evaluation urgently.  As a board-certified physician with experience in Emergency Medicine, I can evaluate and assess your health care needs quickly and accurately to help you navigate difficult health concerns.  Roots Health DPC members have virtually unlimited access to their physician and they find a strong health care advocate by their side when they are in need.

I encourage you to consider enrollment in Roots Health DPC and join the health care solution to build healthy families and communities.   Set up a time to meet me, Dr Diaz, and learn more.

Modern medicine with old school service

2021-05-13T18:06:02+00:00August 12th, 2020|Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Pandemic|

The pandemic has made one thing very clear. The health care system is broken. At a time when people most need health care to be available and affordable to them, the pandemic has highlighted the current inefficiencies, limitations, and obscene costs to individuals who need that very same care. One could even argue that the corporate health care industry is doing more harm than good.

Having a trusted primary care physician that patients can speak with directly when they have concerns or questions is important. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new model of healthcare that addresses the accessibility, quality, and affordability of health care in this country. It is modern medicine with old school service. DPC provides higher quality care by answering questions, evaluating patients urgently as needed, and helping patients navigate uncertainty. DPC operates on a monthly membership fee schedule, free of insurance constraints, allowing patients to engage in health care that is both higher in quality and more convenient.

What is different about DIRECT PRIMARY CARE (DPC)?

2020-08-04T13:38:46+00:00August 4th, 2020|Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Telemedicine|

Have you ever had a direct line to your physician?  Not a mid-level or answering service.  Continuous access to answers about your health as your medical needs dictate, not as your ability to get an appointment dictates.  Telemedicine, phone, email, text has always been an integral part of communication in DPC and supplements in person visits.  DPC has known for years that communication is one of the foundational blocks for excellent health care.  Your health care needs are addressed by your physician and follow up care is meticulously coordinated for your benefit.

Over the years, I can attest to how difficult it is for patients to navigate the complex health care system when health care needs arise.  The coordination of care between providers and different health care systems are poor at best and this leaves patients with unanswered questions and often inadequate care.

At Roots Health DPC we prioritize the patient-physician relationship.  We make sure your health care is accessible, personalized, and affordable.  Book a free Meet and Greet with Dr. Diaz to learn more.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinerestrepo/2017/09/18/telemedicine-pairs-well-with-direct-primary-care/

One of the defining characteristics of DPC is that these physicians keep their practices small so they can spend more time with their patients. Telemedicine further restores their physician-patient relationship by extending access to health care beyond the exam room.

Coronavirus in our Community

2020-07-29T14:23:41+00:00July 29th, 2020|Community, Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Membership, Pandemic|

During the pandemic, and as we enter the second wave, I am grateful to live in Illinois. Our state implemented strict measures that curbed the rampant spread of the disease early in the course and I am confident that the people of Illinois will continue to take measures to decrease the spread of this virus. There are many things beyond our control during this pandemic and there are still many unknowns. Wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands are the things that each person does have an ability, and in fact a responsibility, to do, to control the spread.

I wanted to share with you this recently published article in JAMA CARDIOLOGY.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2768916

In this group of patients it was demonstrated that there is cardiac involvement in 78% of patients months after the diagnosis of COVID-19. These patients had a mean age of 49 and the heart complications occurred independent of the severity/course of the illness and regardless of underlying conditions. We still need more information on the long-term effects of this virus.

Please continue to take precautions now as the numbers begin to increase. If you are sick with fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, body aches, stomach flu, new rash, or loss of smell please obtain testing and quarantine until you have the results. It is recommended that when you are in quarantine you do not visit others or go out of your home until your test results are determined. If you are a member of Roots Health DPC please call us so that we can arrange for your appropriate care.

Stay safe and be well.

Natasha Diaz, MD

© Copyright 2020 Roots-MD LLC, dba Roots Health DPC
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