ABCs for burns.

2023-05-01T13:07:38+00:00May 1st, 2023|Direct Primary Care, Families, Family Medicine, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health|

Burns Happen.

We all use things that are hot, flammable, or explosive and don’t think much about the risks… until we get burned.

Thermal burns are the ones we all think of…. Touching a hot iron for example. These are obvious hazards, but there are more severe burns you might not think of often.

Chemical burns are not as rare as you might think. One of my patients had some batteries explode in her pocket and burn her skin. She called and was directed to immediately irrigate with water.

Today we will go through the ABCs of burns and what to do if you have a burn.

Bottom line: Burns happen and there are steps that need to be taken immediately to improve the odds for successful healing.

What is the Basic Care for Burns?

Treating burns early is actually the most important:

  1. Remove the cause of the burn.

Immediately remove the cause of the burn from the affected area. If there is grease or chemicals on your skin (or clothing that’s caught fire), you need to remove the continued source of the burn as quickly as possible.

For chemicals you may need to double check that nothing is continuing to cause damage. In the case of my patient, the battery got into her shoe and it was not noticed right away. It caused more damage to her foot than her thigh because it was not treated as quickly.

  1. Treat the area with cold water.

Leave any affected burn areas under cold water for 10 minutes. This time is essential in reducing the heat in the skin and stopping the burn’s progression. You may even want to irrigate with water for longer depending on the type of chemical burn and extent.

  1. Evaluate the burn.

After 10 minutes of treatment with cold water, assess the existing damage and plan for needed treatment. Call your physician for guidance. If you’re traveling to a medical facility, keep a cool compress on the area while you travel, if possible.

  1. Keep the burn clean.

Burns break down skin and often breed infections that can be severe. Removing debris that might contain bacteria and keeping the area clean is important.

When do I need to seek Immediate Medical Care?

In specific cases, you should seek professional treatment for a burn immediately.

Circumferential Burns

If a burn area stretches all the way around a body part — like your finger, wrist, or leg — you absolutely need to see a doctor for evaluation and treatment.

Large Burns

When it comes to wound care for burns, a rule of thumb is that you can estimate burn size by thinking of your palm as 1% of your body area, while your arm or leg is closer to 9%. Different percentages of burned skin require different levels of medical attention, but suffice it to say if you have burn on 10% of your body you need to seek medical attention immediately.

What are the Next Steps for Burn Management?

In addition to caring for the burn itself, you’ll also need to deal with other issues related to your injury. To give your body time to heal, you’ll need to address two variables:

  1. Infection: Your skin is your body’s main defense against infections. When you burn your skin, you’re literally burning away your number one infection defense mechanism. Keep the burn site clean to avoid complications.
  2. Pain management: Burn wounds are notoriously painful. Talk to your doctor about medication options for pain management.
  3. Wound care: Evaluation of severity and which layers of tissue are affected will determine treatment. Consult with your doctor and consider Silvadene, commonly used cream that has both antibacterial properties and can promote wound healing.

Wound Care for Burns: Final Thoughts

If you find yourself questioning whether you should seek medical attention for a burn, seek medical attention. One advantage of our direct primary care model is that patients have a direct line to their doctor they can use at any time. My battery burn patient was able to call me immediately after her injury, and I could assist her in real time as she texted me pictures of the burns. We saved her thousands in hospital bills and follow up care because we were able to manage her care immediately to prevent ongoing damage.

When the seconds matter, direct primary care can make all the difference.

Strategies for Overcoming Heart Disease

2023-04-17T14:15:19+00:00April 17th, 2023|Adults, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health, Uncategorized|

A Woman’s Guide to Beating Heart Disease

Few women think heart disease is their greatest health threat. That thought could not be further from the truth. Unfortunately, it’s the nation’s number one killer, and women are its prime target. Over one-third of the women who die in the U.S. each year die of heart disease. In fact, more women die of heart disease each year than breast cancer.

The risk of heart attack and stroke increases with age. Women can start protecting themselves early to avoid heart disease.

Knowing your risk

Things that put women at risk include:

• Being postmenopausal

• Having had a hysterectomy

• History of or currently using birth control pills

• Being pregnant and having complications including diabetes or pre-eclampsia

Credit to: My Happy Doctor

Join us at the Community Health and Wellness Fair Sunday April 23, 2023, in Oak Park, where Roots Health DPC will be providing free screening for heart disease.

The following things put both women and men at risk for developing heart disease:

• Personal history of heart disease or stroke

• Age over 55

• Family history of heart disease

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Past or current smoker

• Getting little or no exercise

• Obesity

• High-stress life

Knowing risk factors is half the battle towards beating heart disease. You can lower your risk of heart disease through preventative measures. Keep an eye open for our blog on prevention next week where we will do a deep dive on how to prevent heart disease.

Are you looking for a physician who has time to discuss all your options with you? We are enrolling a limited number of new patients and would love to hear from you today.

Pharmacy hidden fees

2023-02-27T03:45:36+00:00February 20th, 2023|Prescription Costs, Public Health, Uncategorized|

HIDDEN FEES AT THE PHARMACY. WHY IT MAY BE CHEAPER TO NOT TO USE YOUR INSURANCE.

“I used my insurance for birth control pills and my copay was $50. The same medication is available for $11.65 when paid in cash. That’s a difference of $38.3. How can the price be so different?”

Most Americans have insurance that offers coverage on prescription drugs, but not all medications are covered. When your pharmacy collects a copay with your prescription, you can actually end up paying more for the drug than you would have paid in cash.

Why Is My Prescription More Expensive With Insurance?

Depending on your health insurance plan and policy, you may pay more for your medication if your plan requires you to pay a set copayment to the pharmacy for your medication. Regardless of the cost of your medication, you would be responsible for this copayment, but sometimes your copay could be more costly than the medication itself.

Most of us believe that a copayment on prescriptions assumes that the insurer and the patients share the costs of the drug. However, when a copayment exceeds the cost of the medication itself, the prescription benefit manager (PBM) keeps the difference as a profit. A common example would be when you pick up a standard antibiotic or blood pressure medication which cost $4 and your copay is $10.

How Insurance Prescription Coverage Works?

Prescription coverage varies by insurance plan and the list of prescription drugs covered in a health insurance plan is called a formulary. If the medication you have been prescribed is not on the plan’s formulary, you may have to pay for that prescription out-of-pocket.
The cost of your prescriptions may depend on how the costs are factored into your deductible and your actual cost of medication is not known until the prescription is sent to the pharmacy.

Another little-known secret driving up the price of your prescriptions is known as a copay “clawback.” These are prescription drug overpayments that occur when your copayments exceeds the total cost of the drug. The insurance company tells the pharmacy what to charge. The insurance company can overcharge the consumer, forcing the pharmacy to collect that amount, and then takes the extra money back as profit. This practice is carried out through a middleman, known know as a pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM. PBM’s negotiate drug prices with drug companies on behalf of your insurer. Some PBM’s then charge a co-pay that exceeds the cash price.

Nearly half of the insured individuals whose plan doesn’t cover their prescription end up not filling their prescription. Almost one-third of insured individuals across all income groups also said that they or someone in their household was told their insurance plan would not cover a drug prescribed by their doctor.

 

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/pbm-practices-consumers-generics-savings-USC/624702/

We’re disrupting the status quo in health care. At Roots Health DPC we believe patients deserve easily accessible health care at an affordable price. We provide excellent medical care and make it easy for patients to get the medications and services they need. Schedule a free consultation with Dr Diaz today and find out how much you can save

How to Save Money on Prescriptions

Consider the following tips to optimize savings on your prescriptions:

1. Opt for the Generic Version

Opting for the generic version instead of the brand-name drug can offer huge savings. Generic medications are the same as brand-name drugs in dosage, safety, strength, route of administration quality, and intended use. The significant difference between brand name and generic is the cost. The price difference out-of-pocket comes down to the patent behind the brand name. Speak to your physician about what your options are.

2. Ask for a Different Medication

Your physician does not know which medications are on your formulary, but it is likely they are familiar with alternative drugs that are used to treat the same condition. If your prescription is not covered by your insurance and requires a hefty out-of-pocket cost, ask your physician what alternatives exist. At Roots Health DPC we help patients obtain medication at affordable prices.

3. Change Your Pharmacy

Surprisingly, the cost of your medication can vary depending on pharmacies. You can try GoodRx for your prescription if you have to pay out-of-pocket and consider changing pharmacies for a better price.

Prediabetes – Signs and Symptoms

2023-02-05T19:43:43+00:00February 4th, 2023|Adults, Diabetes, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health|

What are the Signs of Diabetes? Why should I be screened for Prediabetes if I don’t have any symptoms?

Since 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes (most of whom do not know they have it) and the risk increases with age… everyone should be tested based on their risk. Middle age is when prediabetes and diabetes diagnoses really begin to spike, but some younger people are at higher risk.

What increases my risk for type 2 diabetes?

There are a few things that can increase your risk of diabetes, these include:

  • Being overweight or having obesity, especially if you carry your extra weight in your belly area
  • Being 45 years old or older
  • Not doing enough physical activity
  • Smoking
  • History of diabetes during pregnancy, called “gestational diabetes”
  • History of polycystic ovary syndrome
  • History of high blood pressure
  • Family history of diabetes
  • African American or Latino

Are you at risk for Prediabetes? Knowledge is power. Since you are responsible for your health
and wellness… let us help you get all the information you need to make informed decisions for
your well-being. Sign up to receive relevant FREE weekly Health Tips: “Mondays with your MD”

Are there signs & symptoms?

The classic symptoms of DIABETES can include

Excessive thirst
Excessive hunger
Increased frequency in urination
Weight loss

But you can have both DIABETES and PREDIABETES for years without any symptoms

A really important piece for improving your health and wellness is the ease with which you can obtain information from a trustworthy source. Are you able to call your doctor directly and get all your questions answered? If you are looking for a physician who makes it simple to get your health care needs met, schedule your initial free consultation today.

Diagnosing pre-diabetes earlier increases the length of your life. Join us next week to find out how to screen for and diagnose prediabetes.

 

 

Holiday Stress – Mondays With your MD

2022-12-12T22:24:06+00:00December 12th, 2022|Adults, Mental Health, Public Health, Sleep|

Prioritize your mental health this holiday season

‘Tis the season of giving!

Make sure you fill your own cup first…there is nothing to give from an empty cup.

We all feel stressed from time to time during the holiday season – there are changes to routine, pressure to attend social events, shopping, cleaning, entertaining, travel, and more… that can all take a toll on our mental health.
Since the pandemic began, the loss of loved ones, financial stressors, and feelings of anxiety around the uncertainties have impacted many. It’s important to adjust at your own pace and take care of your mental wellbeing along the way.

Don’t let stress and negative thinking ruin your holidays and hurt your health.

With some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. Heck…you may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would!

5 Tips to “enjoy more and stress less” this holiday season:

1. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
… for yourself and others! The holidays do not have to be perfect… or even just like last year. Families change and grow and so do traditions and rituals. Remember feelings are not facts and they do not last forever. Try to focus on what really matters most to you this holiday season. Acknowledge your feelings and give yourself the space and time to process them and then, when you’re ready, choose to move on.

2. KEEP YOUR ROUTINE AND HEALTHY HABITS
Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to stress.

  • Get sleep
  • Eat healthy meals
  • Avoid excessive alcohol
  • Include regular physical activity
  • Use deep-breathing exercises, meditation or yoga.

3. PRACTICE MORE SELF-CARE

Make time for yourself and take a break. Reserve spending time just for you, without distractions. Engage in hobbies that bring you joy: take a walk, enjoy music, listen to an audiobook, get a massage, let your artistic side play. This simple tip may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do.

“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy: then you should sit for an hour” –old Zen proverb

4. SAYING “NO”
Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends, family, and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every activity or if you are unable to host them beyond your limits. Remember that “No” is a complete sentence. If you have an obligation that is taking more time than planned, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

5. ASK FOR HELP
Reaching out for help during the holidays is one of the best things you can do. Speak with a person you trust…a friend, family member or your therapist, about your current feelings. You will discover that feeling down or stressed during the holiday season is very common. Give yourself the time you need to use tools to overcome those negative thoughts. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, if you find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores… talk to your doctor or mental health professional. You are never alone.

Looking for a physician who takes the time to listen and answers all your questions? We are enrolling a limited number of new patients.

Get the care you deserve.

Mondays with your MD – Not another respiratory virus…. It SNOT FUNNY!

2022-11-11T23:38:02+00:00November 11th, 2022|Families, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health|

Winter is coming….. that means LOTS of colds/flu…. AND its WORSE than ever before ALREADY! This is the first fall with our masks off…. And all these infections are coming back out with a vengeance.

The kids are coming home from school and everyone needs more tests and notes to return to school and work than ever before. As a working parent…. I know your time is valuable… you need the highest quality and fastest care possible.

No one wants to go to an urgent care with a bunch of other sick people and pick up another virus to deal with in the home next week!

Its not a surprise that after the disappearance of COVID mitigation strategies and low population immunity, as kids have flocked back to classrooms and day cares, there is a huge upswing of respiratory viruses circulating. RSV, rhinovirus, flu, Covid… you name it. Children, on the whole, are more susceptible to these microbes then they have been in years.

Most of these viruses have been around forever and many have always posed a risk for infants/toddlers, patients with underlying respiratory diseases and immunocompromised folks. This year, flu, covid, and other commonly known respiratory viruses including RSV are on the rise to the highest levels seen in decades.

Ways to prepare for THIS cold and flu season…

Get your flu shot and COVID boosters NOW if you have not already.

Wash your hands and kids hands frequently. Use hand sanitizer to avoid germs

Avoid areas with other people with cough and cold symptoms

Breastfeed: it transfers immunity to babies to fight infections

Eat healthy with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Stay rested. Getting sleep helps your immune system stay strong

If you want to know the most effective upper respiratory infection treatments and learn how to navigate this winter to minimize the disruptions to your routine …… sign up for our FREE GUIDE to
“Best practices for the common cold, flu, and COVID”

Mondays with your MD – Breast Cancer Screening (Part 2)

2022-10-24T04:36:18+00:00October 21st, 2022|Adults, Family Practice, Health Care, Public Health|

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Part II: Screening

On average, one out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Do you know which screening test is best and when to start screening for breast cancer?

There is more than one type of screening test for breast cancer and there are varying recommendations from different organizations. Education with individualized planning (based on your personal risk for breast cancer) can help determine the best screening test for you.

love

Mammography is the most common screening test for breast cancer

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of your breasts and can find cancer early.

Different experts have varying advice for when to initiate screening and how frequently to screen average-risk women ages 40 to 49. All experts agree that at a minimum screening should occur at least every 2 years between ages of 50-74.

For average-risk women screening mammography can be performed every one to two years based on patient preference.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to screen women who have a high risk of breast cancer

MRI is a procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. MRI does not use any x-rays and there is no exposure to radiation.

For women with moderately increased risk factors (based on breast density, reproductive history, and hormonal history), breast ultrasound in conjunction with mammogram or a MRI can be considered on an individual basis.

Use of MRI for supplemental screening in women with dense breast tissue has shown higher rates of detection, but there is no evidence that health outcomes are improved overall.

Women with high risk factors (based on a history of chest radiation, ancestry, genes and genetic conditions) may benefit from more frequent screening with enhanced modalities. Obtaining annual MRI and/or consultation to consider risk reduction treatment and intensification of surveillance are viable options.

It is clear that the type and timing of breast cancer screening is highly personalized. You should discuss your risk factors with your board-certified physician so that you can make an informed decision about breast cancer screening.

This is part TWO of a THREE part series on Breast Cancer Awareness.

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Mondays with your MD – Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2022-10-17T23:16:13+00:00October 16th, 2022|Adults, Direct Primary Care, Family Medicine, Health Care, Public Health|

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Many of us have been touched by breast cancer- perhaps through a personal diagnosis- or by a family member, friend, or colleague diagnosed with this disease. Breast cancer, after all, is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death in women. Please join me over the next few Mondays to discuss prevention, screening, and warning signs.

Education is Key for Prevention

Do you know the risk factors associated with an INCREASED risk for breast cancer?

  • Hormonal factors can influence your risk for breast cancer. Higher levels of endogenous estrogen and hormonal combined estrogen/progesterone replacement has been associated with increased risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Reproductive factors associated with a higher breast cancer risk include earlier onset of menstruation, not giving birth or having first child later in life, and a late menopause.
  • Family history and genetic mutations. The risk of breast cancer is affected by the number of first-degree female relatives diagnosed with breast cancer and the age at which they were diagnosed.
  • The highest breast cancer risk occurs among White women (although it remains he most common cancer among women of every major ethnic/racial group).
  • Alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.
  • A higher BMI in postmenopausal women is associated with increased risk for breast cancer. 

Do you know how to DECREASE your risk for breast cancer?

  • Breastfeeding. For every 12 months of breastfeeding there is an approximate 4% reduction in the relative risk of breast cancer.
  • Increased physical activity at all ages lowers risk.
  • Dietary factors may modify breast cancer risk although data is limited. Eating a low-fat high fiber diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is recommended.

This is part ONE of a THREE part series on Breast Cancer Awareness. STAY TUNED. Next week we will review breast cancer screening options and recommendations.

 

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Mondays With your MD – New Covid Vaccine: Bivalent Boosters

2022-09-25T19:22:53+00:00September 24th, 2022|Community, Coronavirus, Family Practice, Health Care, Pandemic, Public Health, Vaccine|

The new bivalent booster offers better protection against recently circulating COVID-19 variants and helps restore waning protection from previous vaccination. It offers broader protection for new variants. People must complete the primary series (original monovalent vaccines) before getting a bivalent booster dose.

covid-19-booster

Who should get the new booster?

  • People 12 years and older should receive the updated Pfizer or Moderna (bivalent booster)
    This includes people who have received all primary series doses and people who have received the original (monovalent) boosters
  • At this time children ages 12-17 years can only receive the updated Pfizer bivalent booster.
  • Children under 12 years do not get a bivalent booster yet.

What is considered “Up to Date” with all these boosters?

Once you have completed the covid-19 vaccine primary series and received he most recent booster dose that is recommended

When should I get the new booster? Which brand should I get?

The new bivalent booster can be given at least 2 months or more after your last COVID vaccine. The monovalent booster should no longer be given to anyone 12 years of age and older.


It is fine to get a booster from a different brand than the primary series or previous boosters. For example, if your primary series was Moderna you can get the Pfizer bivalent booster.

What about kids under 12 years old?

At this time, children under 12 years old will NOT receive the new bivalent booster dose although this is likely to change in the future.

Children 5 years – 11 years who received Pfizer for their primary series should still get a monovalent booster 5 months after the last dose of the primary series.

Children 5 years – 11 years who got Moderna for their primary series do not get a booster at this time.

Children 6 months – 4 years should get all COVID-19 vaccination primary series doses.

At Roots Health DPC we help our patients navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines around
testing, treatment, and prevention. Set up a FREE “Meet and Greet” with Dr Diaz today.

 


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    Mondays with your MD – Covid … Again? What you need to know

    2022-09-12T18:57:23+00:00September 12th, 2022|Community, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Testing, Pandemic, Public Health, Vaccine|

    There seem to be more cases of COVID circulating in our community now… so I thought I would share the most common questions and concerns I hear from patients.

    My family member has COVID. How often do I need to test myself?

    • If you develop symptoms it is recommended to test immediately.
    • If you have symptoms and your rapid test is negative it is recommended you obtain a PCR test.
    • If you do not have symptoms, you should wait at least 5 days after your exposure to do testing.
    • If you are vaccinated and do not have symptoms you do not need to isolate before testing.

    Can I really get COVID again? I already had it.

    Yes. Everyone 12 years of age and older can receive an updated COVID booster which targets the new COVID variants. Although your disease may not be as severe, you can still catch COVID and pass it to others who may be more vulnerable.

    My COVID test is positive… still.

    Some patients believe they need a negative test to return to work. The truth is that once you have a positive test there is no reason to repeat a test. The isolation period is 5 days and can last up to 10 days depending on the severity of your illness. If your isolation ends on day 5, you should intentionally wear a mask whenever you go in public until the full 10 days has elapsed.

    What is Paxlovid and does it work?

    Paxlovid is one of the medications used to treat COVID. It is highly recommended for those at risk for disease progression and it significantly decreases the severity of the disease. Do not delay seeking care as this treatment must be started within days of when you first develop symptoms to be effective.

    When you have questions about urgent health concerns, you want accessible advice from your physician. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just text your doctor and ask? At Roots Health DPC that is how we provide medical care! We are available to our patients by phone, email, and text anytime. Schedule a FREE “Meet and Greet” at Roots Health DPC to find out more.


     

    We are now accepting new patients and would love the privilege of serving you in our clinic.

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