The Coronavirus Appears in Wake County, North Carolina
The Coronavirus Appears in Wake County, North Carolina: Now is the time to use telemedicine
The coronavirus (COVID-19) seems to be surging the United States quickly. Just three days ago at a press conference, President Trump cited only 22 infected persons nation wide. Tonight, as I’m writing this article, there are 122 documented cases. That’s a caseload increase of 82% in the past three days, or 27.3% per day. And while we thought things were staying confined to the west coast and Canada, ABC 11 News reported a man from the Raleigh area is in quarantine after returning to RDU from Seattle. The CDC is now urging healthcare institutions and consumers to utilize TeleHealth and TeleMedicine platforms like LoginClinics to triage symptoms, conduct screening questionnaires and direct patients to proper testing locations if needed.
How long has the coronavirus been around?
Just to give you some background, coronavirus aren’t new- they’re a family of viruses that were responsible for the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2002 and the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2015. Their effects are broad. They usually cause common cold symptoms but can cause devastating epidemics like we’re seeing right now.
How is it spread?
We still don’t clearly understand how the virus is spread. Initially, the virus was associated with contact at a Wuhan China meat and seafood market where people had worked or visited, but now we know that the virus can be spread similar to that of the flu. This means breathing in air from an infected person or direct contact with an infected persons’ body fluids (sneezing, nose drainage, eye drainage, etc) can transmit the virus.
How long until symptoms develop?
Most cases occur about five days after exposure, but the entire incubation period is thought to be around 14 days.
How long does the virus last?
Recovery time ranges from about two weeks for mild infections to three to six weeks for severe infections.
How do people present?
Think pneumonia symptoms- fever, cough and shortness of breath. Here’s the most current symptoms information we have from a group of 314 Chinese patients courtesy of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 81 percent of infections were mild (no or mild pneumonia)
- 14 percent of infections were severe (shortness of breath and low oxygen levels, pneumonia in 24-48 hours)
- 5 percent were critically ill
- 3 percent resulted in death with most occurring in the elderly or those with multiple medical problems
How can I protect myself?
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer between washes. Avoid handshakes as well as avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Should I buy a face mask?
Not unless you are sick or caring for someone who is sick. Most don't effectively block droplets that carry viruses. The US Surgeon General, Jerome Adams is telling the public to stop buying masks so as to reserve them for healthcare works and those infected. Adams notes “There are things people can do to stay safe. There are things they shouldn’t be doing. One of the things they shouldn’t be doing, the general public, is going out and buying masks. It actually does not help, and it has not been proven to be effective in preventing the spread of Coronavirus amongst the general public.”
Since viruses are nearly 100 times smaller than bacteria, the standard earloop surgical mask will not help. If you want to purchase a mask for personal use, I suggest making sure it covers the smallest particle size of the coronavirus which is 0.06 microns (N95 or N99). Check the filtration size before you buy!
Is there a vaccine?
Not yet, but one is being worked on at a expeditious rate. Still have to undergone trials, testing and production. Some say it could be up to a year before one is available.
Is it still ok to travel?
Currently, the CDC recommends avoiding all non-essential travel to China, South Korea, Iran and Italy. They recommend postponing traveling to Japan if you have multiple medical problems and practicing universal precautions if you head to Hong Kong. Access additional travel advisories here.
What should you do if you develop COVID-19 symptoms?
If you are stable and not in any distress, contact your doctor or healthcare professional by phone to get instructions before going in. You can also use LoginClinics to get a quick screening of symptoms and referral if one is needed. The use of telemedicine platforms like LoginClinics will limit your exposure to others and vice versa. If you do need to go to a medical facility or urgent care, use a face mask as quickly as possible upon entering.
Finally, I really am a fan of this interactive web-based dashboard that Johns Hopkins maintains. For realtime COVID-19 stats, visit it here.
To schedule an appointment or learn more go to www.healixhealthclinics.com or call 919-679-1880.
About LoginClinics
LoginClinics, PLLC, offers patients telemedicine, urgent care, concierge medicine and counseling online through a smart phone or internet-connected webcam. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, the online clinic serves North Carolina residents. Founded by Jaclyn Qualter, a nurse practitioner and certified telemedicine provider, in September 2019, LoginClinics provides its fee schedule on its website at www.LoginClinics.com along with FAQs on how to use the online service. More information can be found on its social media www.facebook.com/TelemedicineNC or @loginclinics on Instagram.
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Is Telemedicine For You?
DO YOU HATE WAITING ROOMS AND DOCTOR’S OFFICES?
They’re filled with sick people, chaos and germs. In fact, you may spend more than half of your visit sitting in a waiting room waiting to be called, then placed in an exam room to wait yet again (you get the point). If you hate waiting rooms, Telemedicine may be for you! Our virtual waiting room is your bedroom, office or car. You choose when and where to have your visit and no unnecessary waiting!
ARE YOU A GERM PHOBE?
Do you carry mini hand sanitizer bottles in your purse, car and desk drawers? Do you refuse to shake hands with people for fear of getting sick? If you have stock in Clorox wipes, Telemedicine may be for you! The only germs you’ll come in contact with during a telemedicine visit are you own. Currently, evidence suggests germs and other contagions are not transmissible via google fiber.
ARE YOU UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED?
Healthcare costs can but a damper on anyone’s finances, especially if you have a high-deductible plan where you have to pay one hundred percent out of pocket until a certain amount is reached, typically on order of thousands of dollars. A typical trip to the urgent care for the insured costs about $250 dollars. Also, people who are un or underinsured often delay medical care in an effort to save money but often this delay in care leads to a worsening of their condition and even greater medical bills. A typical telemedicine visit is about $50 or less, meaning you save money on both your visit and the gas and time it would take you to drive to and from the doctor’s office. See my first Loginclinics blog for more information.
IS YOUR WORK AND SOCIAL CALENDAR JAMMED WITH COMMITMENTS?
Do you feel bad for the receptionist who offers you 5 different dates and times for you to see your doctor and none of them work for you? LoginClinics offers daytime, evening and weekend appointments so you don’t have to drive to a physical location. With telemedicine, you can squeeze a virtual house in call during your lunch break or on a Friday evening after work... and if you’re a current patient, text messaging is also an option!
DO THE ADJECTIVES 'EASY' AND 'EFFICIENT' EXCITE YOU?
If they do, then you should get excited about using Loginclinics’ telemedicine and teletherapy services. Telehealth services add time to your day and money to your wallet, giving you more time and money for things that are important to you.
ARE YOU RELATIVELY HEALTHY AND MOSTLY NEED HEALTHCARE FOR NON-URGENT ILLNESSES?
Is it rare for you to get sick? If so, you may feel like you don’t need a primary care doctor or even health insurance, but there is comfort in knowing you have access to an experienced and highly education medical provider for an affordable rate. LoginClinics provides personalized, direct and individualized medical care from wherever you are- work, home, car, or vacation! There’s peace of mind in knowing you are only a couple of clicks away from expert medical care and treatment!
ARE YOU TECHNO SAVVY?
Loginclinics uses telemedicine technology- virtual house calls using the zoom video application and HIPAA compliant text messaging application by MedTunnel to conduct a virtual visit and stay in constant contact with our clients. In addition, for our concierge patients we recommend TytoCare’s Tytohome device. This device has an FDA approved stethoscope, otoscope and tongue depressor for a detailed telemedicine exam.
DO YOU LIKE TO LEARN AND BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN YOUR HEALTHCARE?
Traditional medical visits involve driving to a medical institution and then spending 30 minutes or more filling out papers and speaking with the nursing staff. Finally, you get your 15 minutes with your doctor and more often than not leave and forget about 50% of what was discussed or even a lack of understanding about your condition or healthcare plan. If you have a question after the fact, you must call and leave a message on the nurse line. If you’re lucky, you will receive a phone call back within 24 hours - but not from your doctor- from the nurse who can often only guess about what the doctor meant... and he or she will possibly have to ask the doctor and then call you back. Loginclinics prides ourself on our individualized and personalized care we offer our patients. Our providers continue to communicate with you even after your visit is over. We follow up with you to make sure that your recovery is going well and make sure all of your questions and concerns regarding your care are answered.
IS TELEMEDICINE FOR YOU?
If you answered "yes" to four or more of these questions they telemedicine could be for you! LoginClinics' mission is to combat the rising cost of healthcare and inconvenience through virtual house calls to deliver cost-effective, easily accessible and high-quality direct healthcare. If you're never tried telemedince and are concerned about how it would look, we'd be happy to discuss it with you via email, phone or text.
For a concise list of conditions we treat using telemedicine, go here.
(919) 679 - 1880
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Wise Ways to Improve Your Health
When you think of the word "health" what comes to your mind?
If you're anything like me you might first think of diet, exercise and weight loss. These three are very important- especially when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart- but there are other lifestyle choices to consider when you think "health".
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with family, friends or co-workers.
Consider these five tips that can help your heart, body and mind:
Be Active
- Move more throughout your day. Aim for at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity. Build up to activity that gets your heart beating faster and leaves you a little breathless. If you’re busy, try breaking your daily activity into 10-minute chunks.
- Make walking dates
- Join a pickup soccer or basketball game
- Join a fitness class with your neighbor
- Grab a loved one and dance in your kitchen
- Find heart healthy activities in the Triangle here
Eat Well
- Adopt the (DASH) eating plan, which is free and scientifically proven to lower high blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
- Invite friends to cook up heart healthy recipes together
- Start a lunch club at work and trade recipe ideas
Stop Smoking- even occasionally
- Set a quit date and let those close to you know. Even if you've smoked for years, quitting now will help! If you’ve tried quitting in the past, consider what helped and what made it harder.
- Ask your family and friends for support or join a support group.
- Find resources and connect with a trained counselor at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or smokefree.gov
Structured Sleep
- Sleeping 7-8 hours each night helps improve heart health. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Getting a 30-minute daily dose of sunlight may also improve sleep.
- Resist that late afternoon nap
- Turn off all screens at a set time nightly
- Relax by listening to music, reading or taking a bath
Minimize Stress
- Try relaxation therapy and increase physical activity to manage stress. De-stressing may also help improve sleep.
- Join a friend or family member in a relaxing activity like walking, yoga or meditation every day.
- Talk to a qualified mental health provider or someone you trust
Be a Wise Healthcare Consumer
Our local Wake Forest community houses many highly trained healthcare professionals and vendors that can help you in your resolve to lead a healthier life! View a list of tomorrow's attendees here. We all can't wait to meet you and help you create habits to lead a healthier and more enjoyable life!
Aging Care Matters: Working with Aging Care Matters families save Stress, Money and Time! As professional care managers with over 40 years’ combined experience we know how to navigate the complex medical care system and maximize the services and resources available for our clients. We don’t accept referral fees or kick backs so every referral we recommend is objective and based on our experience and working relationships! We offer free 30 minute phone consultations and our mission is to make a positive impact on the clients we serve.
Kerr Family YMCA: For more than 160 years, the YMCA of the Triangle has strengthened the very foundations of the community we serve. We’re proud of our diverse community and are passionate about being a positive force for good. We serve people from all walks of life in the Triangle area through YMCA memberships and programs. We're committed to nurturing the potential of children through Youth Development, improving the nation’s health and well-being by promoting Healthy Living, and fostering a sense of Social Responsibility by providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors.
LoginClinics: Is Wake Forest's first and only telemedicine practice. Our mission is to combat the rising cost of healthcare and inconvenience through virtual house calls to deliver cost-effective, easily accessible and high-quality direct healthcare. Our medical subscription plans make staying on top of you and your family's medical care easy and affordable.
PhysioFit of NC:Drs Harrison and Danielle Vaughan treat pain and help you stay active with individual PT and semi-private fitness classes. Their specialized one-on-one treatment help you return to the activities you love faster.
Inner Health Chiropractic: Dr. Mary Taylor is dedicated to helping you achieve your wellness objectives -- combining skill and expertise that spans the entire chiropractic wellness spectrum. Dr. Taylor's patient receive the finest quality care through the use of modern chiropractic equipment and technology.
McPherson Family Eye Care: McPherson Family Eye Care is proud to serve the Wake Forest community and we love getting involved with events in the area. Being a family-run practice gives us the chance to be more attentive and take our time with each patient, delivering knowledgeable and friendly care. Our doctors are trained to provide treatment for all types of conditions such as dry eye, glaucoma, low vision, specialty contacts, myopia control, vision therapy and ocular emergencies.
Perkins Counseling: Voted "Best of the Best" in Wake Forest for consecutive years, Perkins offer counseling services for children, individuals, couples and families. They have also just opened a partial hospital program for less restrictive yet intensive treatment services for teens experiencing significant and serious mental or emotional issues.
Wake County EMS: Offers a variety of programs for youth and adults interested in learning more about the EMS profession. Real ambulance and paramedics on site for live demonstrations!
Youngsville Pharmacy: Youngsville has a new pharmacy with cheaper prices, home delivery and personalized med management!
Navan MindBodySpirit: Life is meant to be good and Navan is making that possible! When it comes to Navan products, it isn't so much about what they put in them, it's it's what their products clear out- toxins, pollutants and impurities- to create a clean, healthy body.
Just One More Bite: Chef Michael Saunders creates new and exciting menus that are prepared in his Raleigh kitchen and delivered right to your door weekly! All recipes are made from scratch using local and fresh ingredients with a wide variety of menus ranging from Zone, low-carb, paleo and dairy-free.
Heritage Audiology: Is offering FREE hearing screenings at the fair! They can evaluate for hearing loss, tinnitus, as well as provide treatment. Hearing loss has been found to be linked to dementia, memory loss and social isolation. Don't suffer in silence- get your hearing tested today!
The Stretch Zone: The stretch zone isolates and manipulates your muscles to provide the perfect stretch using special equipment and scientific protocols. They have monthly stretch memberships and targeted protocols to help you live a better, less tense life.
Sole Dimensions: Is a specialized retail shoe store with products that help maximize sports performance and relieve foot pain. They offer foot assessments and comprehensive plans to improve patient's ability to walk, run and move pain-free. They help take your soles to a new dimension!
About LoginClinics- Founded by Jaclyn Qualter, a nurse practitioner and health care mentor, in September 2019, LoginClinics provides its fee schedule on its website at www.LoginClinics.com along with FAQs on how to use the online service. More information can be found on its social media www.facebook.com/TelemedicineNC or @loginclinics on Instagram.
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Viruses Here, There and Everywhere: What you should know about the coronavirus in NC
As if we didn't have enough to worry about during the peak of flu season, a new type of cornonavirus (nCoV) has surfaced. I remember both SARS and the "Swine Flu" (H1N1) as a young adult and the associated global hysteria from it. In fact, my middle child ended up contracting the swine flu and we had him isolated on our third floor- masks, hand sanitizer, and Lysol at the bottom of the entrance to the loft- checking on him every hour and giving albuterol treatments for the wheezing. He's 16 now and as far as I know, there has been no negative effects on his health from it!
This new strain, the novel coronavirus, is a type of zoonotic infection (passed from animals to humans) that produces flu-like symptoms in it's host. In the U.S. to date, there have been 5 confirmed cases with 92 tests pending. The confirmed cases were in Washington, California, Arizona and Illinois although the CDC reports 36 states currently have patients under investigation. What makes matters worse is that the spread of this virus is not fully understood.
The World Health Organization is meeting again today to decide if they are going to declair a global health emergency. So far, 170 people have died and more than 7,700 people have been infected, leaving China with a deadlier outbreak than was caused by SARS in the early 2000s. As of January 29th, North Carolina still was reporting no documented cases.
If you have been exposed to the flu, or if you start developing flu symptoms - such as a runny nose, cough, fevers, chills and body aches- you should be evaluated as soon as possible. LoginClinics is able to diagnose flu-like symptoms and provide a prescription for Tamiflu or Xofluza and send it electronically to your pharmacy. We can also provide "post-exposure prophylaxsis" , meaning treatment for someone who has been exposed to the flu but does not have flu symptoms. And if you're just not sure, LoginClinics can do a Triage Visit.
As for the coronavirus? Time will tell what happens in the US, but for now, I'm wearing my mask anytime I go into a healthcare facility or on an airplane. I'm also praying that none of us will have to quarantine any of our loved ones in a third floor loft anytime soon.
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Hearing Loss and the Holidays with Heritage Audiology
The holidays are here! Which means there are a lot of family and work gatherings with a lot of people and a lot of noise! My Father is an air force vet and flew in a bomber during the gulf war. He suffered a spontaneous cabin decompression and has since had difficulties with his hearing. He lives down the road from me and helps with my kids daily. My father-in-law also has hearing loss, but we're not entirely sure what it's from. He wears hearing aids that screech, squeal and crackle and fumbles with his fat fingers to replace the tiny batteries that seem to drain endlessly.
This week I had the priviledge of visiting a new audiology office in Wake Forest called Heritage Audiology. Both of my Dads were evaluated this week and treated by Audiologist Susan Bergquist, CCC-A. Susan holds a certification in audiology issued by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and was able to easily test and diagnose hearing loss in both of my Dads.
Susan explains:
"Hearing is one of the ways we connect with family and friends. Whether you’re holding a family gathering at your house or attending a get-together with friends, the holidays are a great time to reconnect and spend time with people you care about. But when you suffer from hearing loss, the holidays can turn into a period of stress and isolation.
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting Americans. Unfortunately most adults wait an average of 7 years before seeking help for their hearing loss, although there are compelling reasons why you shouldn't. Besides communication challenges, untreated hearing loss has emotional effects that can rob you of life's happiest moments.
The psychological effects of untreated hearing loss for both children and adults can include increased anger, low self-confidence, frustration, embarrassment and depression. Adults may experience times of sadness and grieving as their ability to hear diminishes. They also may feel more fatigued, as the struggle to hear and understand can be physically exhausting.
When left untreated, hearing loss can impact communication, social interaction, income and family relationships.
Signs of hearing loss include: frequent need for repetition, hearing sound but not understanding speech, feeling as though people are mumbling, ringing and buzzing in your ears.
Hearing loss is a well-understood medical condition for which solutions have existed for years. Treating your hearing loss begins with a comprehensive test to determine how severe the loss is and what type. Unless you have the type of hearing loss that can be treated medically, hearing aids are often the best solution. Thankfully hearing aid technology continues to improve all the time. Today's hearing aids are small, digital devices that recognize noise versus speech, stream sounds from your cellphone and TV and have rechargeable batteries. They are programmed for your hearing loss and can be re-programmed if your hearing changes.
Fortunately, most of the emotional effects of hearing loss begin to quickly resolve once the hearing impairment is treated effectively. Children whose hearing impairment is detected and treated early can develop speech and language skills at the same level as their normal hearing peers, which positively affects self-esteem, social interaction with peers and academic success. Adults can quickly improve communication with family they've missed connecting with, begin interacting with colleagues again and go back to hobbies that became to difficult due to hearing issues.
The sooner you address the reality of hearing loss and take action, the better you'll be able to minimize these emotional effects and get back to a high quality of life."
Both of my Dads are on their way to better hearing- just in time for the holidays- and just in time to save my voice and sanity! ;) Make sure you and your loved ones don't miss anything this holiday season! Make an appointment with Heritage Audiology today to have your hearing tested and make a treatment plan!
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
LoginClinics, PLLC News Release
News Release
Local Nurse Practitioner Launches Telemedicine Clinic for North Carolina Patients
A local nurse practitioner has launched a telemedicine clinic that offers North Carolina patients personal online medical care and counseling from their smartphone or internet-connected webcam.
Jaclyn Qualter, an Advanced Certified TeleMedicine & TeleHealth provider, founded LoginClinics PLLC, to provide immediate and convenient access to health care professionals at an affordable cost—most often less than a standard in-person urgent care or emergency room visit.
“Many people don’t have the time or financial resources for in-person doctor visits every time they feel sick, and not everything we do in medicine requires a hands-on physical exam,” said Qualter, who lives and works in Wake Forest.
With 20 years of experience in hospitals and the health care industry, Qualter assembled a team of local medical professionals who provide diagnostics, treatments and referrals to address a wide variety of conditions to patients who login.
The staff includes Justin Bordeaux, a board-certified physician assistant and men’s health champion. His experience includes work in emergency and urgent care where he addressed patients’ acute needs while managing their chronic conditions.
Sarah Harris is a licensed marriage and family therapist at LoginClinics who can provide a number of resources and methods through teletherapy. She has worked with couples, families, teens, tweens and children in the Wake Forest area for more than 14 years and has advanced training in working with children.
Lisa Degrow serves as the company’s business development manager.
Some of the telemedicine services provided by the LoginClinics staff include urgent care for conditions such as rashes, strep throat, tick bites, poison ivy, acid reflux, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, kidney stones and hemorrhoids, prescriptions (excluding narcotics), order x-rays, specialist referrals, doctor’s notes, and counseling.
Shannon Gregory, an admin for a Raleigh orthodontist office, recently used LoginClinics for an urgent care visit when she wasn’t feeling well. With a high-deductible healthcare plan and a job that is difficult for someone else to cover, she had a positive experience and will use the services again.
“I didn’t have to miss work, I logged in from home and there was no travel or waiting in a doctor’s office,” said Gregory. “The process was very easy and very personalized. Jaclyn followed up with me after a couple of days and again when my prescription was up. I was very pleased.”
Fees are listed on the website and range from $49.95 for a one-time urgent care visit like Gregory’s to a $100/month medical membership for individualized and personalized medical care, advice, referrals, diagnosis, treatment, health coaching and minor medication management.
There is also a monthly medical membership plan for families that is $25 per month with a $10 copay.
Supplemental direct care is available for businesses that don’t offer health care for their employees or want to provide an additional benefit.
In the future, Qualter said she’s looking to set up telemedicine kiosks at pharmacies or other common areas with diagnostic equipment to transmit patient’s info to a LoginClinics health care professional who is livestreaming from a webcam.
Two upcoming events that will give the public an opportunity to meet LoginClinics staff in person are a Dec. 3 ribbon cutting at Hatch Co-Working conference room, 104 S. White Street and a Feb. 8 health fair at the clubhouse at Traditions at Wake Forest, 1105 Grande Water Way.
To schedule an appointment or learn more go to www.healixhealthclinics.com or call 919-679-1880.
About LoginClinics
LoginClinics, PLLC, offers patients telemedicine, urgent care, concierge medicine and counseling online through a smart phone or internet-connected webcam. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, the online clinic serves North Carolina residents. Founded by Jaclyn Qualter, a nurse practitioner and health care mentor, in September 2019, LoginClinics provides its fee schedule on its website at www.LoginClinics.com along with FAQs on how to use the online service. More information can be found on its social media www.facebook.com/TelemedicineNC or @loginclinics on Instagram.
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Movember and No Shave November – What's all the hype?
Is it an excuse for us not to shave for a month? A reason to grow that incredible mustache? ... You know, the one your spouse tells you to trim during the other 11 months of the year. Is it a chance to channel your inner Viking? Perhaps a vintage tribute to your pops in high school? ... Of course, it's all of those things!
Yet, more importantly, it's a time for us as men to take a conscious look at our health. Initially, the "Movember" and similar "No Shave November" movements began in the 2000s (2003 and 2009, respectively) as a creative way to increase men's cancer awareness and help fund cancer research through charities that support the cause. The movements have since evolved into a full force men's health campaign, raising awareness for not only prostate cancer but all types of cancer including testicular, colorectal and bladder. Discussions have also been started on other important men's health topics that are often difficult to address. These can range from low testosterone and sexual dysfunction to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. There has also been a much-needed emphasis on psychological health, including topics of depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
The movements have gained traction through social media and continue to improve annual awareness. The result? More and more men visiting their health care providers. Guys coming to see us means more prostate and testicular cancers diagnosed early and treated earlier with better outcomes. It means depression diagnosed before the unthinkable. It means better high blood pressure and cholesterol management to prevent that heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. It means ordering a brain scan for that persistent headache with left sided weakness that would have diagnosed that brain tumor earlier. This is a huge step in men's health, changing the male perception of medicine.
The movements have started to bridge the gap between our stoic grandfather's perception of medicine and our own. If you could ask your grandfather, right now, "When should you go to the doctor?" What do you think he would say? Odds are, in his post-war mindset, he would likely compare illness to weakness, and liken emotional instability with vulnerability. He was raised in a time where expressing physical complaints and discussing emotions were taboo. Which, retrospectively, could be why he unnecessarily struggled with a very treatable illness. We need to convert this generational perception of weakness and vulnerability to one of prevention and healthiness. It is imperative for our health and the health of our loved ones.
Stubbornness is not hereditary. Be the difference!
It's OK to be sad or angry and need help to overcome the emotions. It's OK to have testicular pain and get anxious about possible causes. It's OK use a medication to help you stop smoking or with your erectile dysfunction. None of these make you less of a man, and fortunately, all of them are treatable. You just have to start the conversation. So, get to your MD, PA or NP (we are all on the same team). Go to your clinic or get things started with LoginClinics via our easy to use telemedicine platform. Address these matters and keep the Movember movement going this year.
Remember: If you see your fellow beard growing, mustache waxing, masculine brethren on the street:
1) Compliment him on his awesome facial hair.
2) Open the discussion about men's health - go out on a limb and ask him if he got his PSA* this year, if he’s checked his blood pressure lately or if he supports any of the men's health charities. Maybe it falls of deaf ears or maybe it saves a life. Support men's health!
https://us.movember.com/about/foundationhttps://no-shave.org/
#GroAMo #Movember #JoinTheMo-Ment #NoShaveNovember
*PSA: “Prostate-specific antigen”- a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer
Author: Justin Bordeaux, PA-C
Concierge Medicine and the Virtual House Call Movement
In my first blog post for LoginClinics I talked about the current healthcare crisis; how insurance companies, lack of primary care providers, escalating costs and the busy American lifestyle have all combined to create taxation on- and frustration with- our healthcare system.
I remember when my Mom would take me to the doctor and complain about how much cash she had to fork out before we left the office. Shortly thereafter, she would fill out reimbursement papers, attach receipts, and mail the paperwork to our insurance company. She would then spend, what seemed like to me, every waking hour checking the mailbox to see if the reimbursement check came back. I thank God for my sanity that things have changed in that regard! It’s nice to let all the paperwork rest in the hands of the providers initially. Less stress… right?
The way our country’s medical system has evolved is fast, furious, exponential and complicated. From fee-for-service and indemnity plans, healthcare maintenace organizations and high deductible healthcare plans, to pen and paper charting, medical transcription, voice recognition, dictation and electronic medical records (EHRs). In addition to the way in which care is delivered, this private industry was pressured and incentivized by the government to contain and control costs and outcomes, thus came utilization management, risk management and case management, as well as laws and legislation to aid those who cannot afford- or don’t have access to- private health care.
Patients and the way they communicate with their health care providers has even changed as technology and medicine has progressed. Leaving voice messages with the receptionist have been replaced with communicating directly with your provider or nurse via a HIPPA-compliant patient portal. Through this portal, medical records can be reviewed as well as lab results, diagnostic procedures and upcoming appointments. Given all of this change and technological advancement, why do we still rely solely on in-person interactions with our healthcare providers?
Technology has advanced and so have the medical providers that render care. Primary Care generalists are harder to find and specialists have become the rule, rather than the exception. Orthopedics for example, use to be a solitary speciality, but now it’s fragmented into micro-specialties like “hand and wrist”, “foot and ankle”, “spine”, “sports medicine”, “interventional orthopedics” … and so on. With all of these sub-specialty providers, how do you know as a patient who to bring your problem to?
All in all, the bottom line is this: The healthcare system and it’s complexities are getting harder to understand and navigate. Care is becoming more scientific, more complicated and more expensive. A general medical provider cannot handle the individualized needs of their patients in our complex system. This is the main reason why I founded LoginClinics. As your healthcare provider and mentor, I can help you navigate the healthcare system for a conservative price, and from the comfort of your own home. Our Concierge Program provides one-on-one attention, instruction, education and guidance. In addition to this, we offer longer appointments for our members as well as prompt communication via our HIPPA complaint patient portal email or text message. LoginClinics… Why walk-in when you can log-in?
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
Emotional Resiliency
What does emotional resilience mean to you? What do you think about when you hear this term? For some people, they think of adversity and setbacks. Others may think of it as the ability to cope with their circumstances and ‘bounce back’.
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as, “…the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences.”
Can you think of someone who shows that way of being emotionally resilient? Who do you think of? Earlier today, I was listening to a clip from Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations podcast. It was a preview of her interview with Chanel Miller, who authored the book, “Know my Name”. It was just a clip, which then led me on a trail to learn more about this young woman, who has shown so much emotional resilience in adversity. In 2015, Chanel was sexually assaulted on the Stanford University campus. She wasn’t a student. She just decided that she would be silly and go out with her younger sister and her friends. She knew that she would probably be the oldest one there. Her sister teased her for dressing like a librarian to a college party. She had a few drinks, and then the next thing that she remembers is waking up in a hospital room with no panties on, pine needles in her hair and scratches and blood marks on her body.
She wrote a victim impact statement and read it to her assaulter in court. I encourage you to listen to it online. Emotional Resilience does not mean that you don’t feel pain or you don’t suffer. Emotional resilience means that you have found a way to cope with the circumstances that might be engulfing you. There is no timeline for this. For many, being able to find one’s voice, or stand on one’s own 2 feet, or rise out of a pit of depression, may take weeks, months, years. Does this mean that you are not emotionally resilient? No. It’s a process, and that is okay. Embrace your humanness. Remember that emotional resilience looks different in everyone.
So then, what are some of the characteristics of an emotionally resilient person? Here are some:-
Being able to set realistic goals for oneself
Being able to encourage and be encouraged
Determination and perseverance
A positive mindset
Self-compassion and in turn compassion towards others
Effective communication skills
People have asked, how can I build resilience in everyday life? The best way to build resilience is to just dive in and practice it. Don’t wait for it to happen. Here are a few strategies that you can use with yourself or even with a child, to help build resilience in your daily life:-
Build your self-compassion skills. This includes acknowledging how you feel, rather than pushing it down. Be kind to yourself. That inner voice in your head. You know which voice I am talking about. Train it to speak to you, as you would speak to your best friend, or to a child, or to a puppy.
Connect, connect, connect with others. Even when the urge is to isolate, step out of your comfort zone and connect with someone.
Surround yourself with people books, music, you name it, that inspires and nourishes you
Check your thoughts. Are they solution-focused or self-deprecating and problem-oriented?
Acceptance. Accept that change is part of life and trust. Trust the path of your life. Nurture your faith in God. Start or continue a spiritual practice, and this does not just mean going to church. Think about what nourishes you spiritually? Is it a favorite self-help book, writing your own music, a nature walk, painting, meditation, listening to your favorite music or gardening?
Get moving. Yes, exercise, but actually I was talking about finding a way to serve others. It’s amazing how much our energy can shift when we can focus on being of service to others. This does not have to be momentous. It can be the small acts, such as paying for the drink of the person behind you, taking some flowers to the elderly lady on your street, inviting someone over for dinner or mowing your neighbor’s lawn.
Self-Care. Be kind to yourself. You are precious. Be patient with yourself and set boundaries in your life where you need to. It’s also okay to pamper yourself and carve out time to JUST BE. Self-care can also mean seeking out additional support such as a church, therapist, support group or mentor.
These are just a few ideas to help you nurture the seeds of emotional resilience that are within you. It is a process, and it can be built upon. Find ways to practice it in your daily life.
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” – Jodi Picoult
Sources:
- American Psychological Association website
- Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations podcast
- Time to Change website
Author: Sarah Harris, LMFT, RPT, BC-TMH
LoginClinics: Answering the Call for Convenient & Affordable Healthcare
It is estimated that 13.7% of Americans are uninsured with almost half of them reporting a lack of insurance due to rising healthcare costs. Approximately half of these uninsured report cost as the primary deterring factor.1 Aside from cost, easily accessible care is hard to come by. On average, it takes 19 days for current patients to be seen by their medical doctor and 2.7 weeks for a new patient to establish an appointment.5 Current estimations suspect 1 in 5 adults went without needed medical care in 2017 solely due to cost.1
Given this dismal state of affairs, federal and state governments have enacted standards and laws to attempt to control and contain rising healthcare costs; but despite these efforts, the climb continues. In 1960 the US spent 5% of it’s gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare. Compare this with today’s estimation: 17.9%. That’s 3.5 trillion dollars of the nation’s GDP entirely on healthcare.3 Since 1980, the US has been spending more dollars on healthcare at a faster rate than any other country in the world.4 In 2014, the Affordable Care Act was passed expanding Medicaid coverage and establishing Healthcare.gov, an online platform the public can access to compare and purchase healthcare plans.1 The ACA has brought more Americans healthcare coverage but it has not stopped the rising cost of care and despite its demands, the number of uninsured Americans continues to grow since it’s enactment.
Small business owners and small business employees are typically subject to high costs as they are often relegated to purchase high-deductible health plans (HDHP), among other constraints. According to Kaiser Permanente, the average insurance premium for a single person is about $5,000 per year, and for a family, $15,000 per year. 6 That’s $700 per month, on average, just to hold a membership insurance card in your hand. On top of this monthly membership premium, a yearly deductible is required. A deductible is a set amount of money the member has to pay out of pocket before the insurance company will start paying the portion of the contracted rate. Along with the ACA came an IRS cap on deductible maximums. For 2019, a single person’s deductible is capped at $6,750/year and a family at $13,500.7 If you and your family are healthy, and have a high deductible plan you could spend about $12,000 for the year just to be a member of the plan. Then, you would payout at 100% of the contracted rate for any medical services you use until you reach the yearly deductible of $13,500 THEN the insurance plan will start to pay a portion of your medical expenses. That’s a grand total of $25,500 per year you would have to pay prior to any insurance reimbursement or coverage.
To confound this situation and it’s complexity, we need to note that most healthcare institutions – small and large- have different fee schedules for the uninsured than they do the insured. From my experience as a healthcare provider and consumer, most healthcare institutions offer up to 50% off the cost billed to insurance to the uninsured for that same service. This means that a basic medical visit for someone with insurance will cost about $200-300 and for someone without insurance, about $150.
Then, there are prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are the most utilized health insurance benefit. Dramatically more than doctor visits.9 prescription drug prices are variable at different pharmacies with and without a pharmacy coupon. Using GoodRx, lisinopril, a common blood pressure medication is $10 at WalMart and $20 at CVS. Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) is $6 at Kroger and $45 at Walgreens.8 Also, most pharmacies have a free and reduced drug list price. Wal-Mart, for example, has a $4 prescription drug list that includes glipizide (generic Glucotrol), simvastatin (generic Zocor), amlodipine (generic Norvasc), bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) and escitalopram (generic Lexapro). These price differences between drugs and lack of true cost visibility to consumers are driven by “by a complex, opaque third-party payment system for prescriptions… [there are] huge rebates and discounts drug companies give to multiple parties involved in distributing their products.”9
For far too long health insurance companies and big pharma- not consumers – have been driving the cost and hiding the price of medical care. Working Americans are confused, bewildered and paying more of their hard-earned monies than they should be. A price tag in on everything we purchase, so why isn’t it on our medical care? Why does the insurance company tells us how much it is going to pay and then refuse to cover certain medications and procedures after we pay them $15,000 a year to be part of their club?
The staff at LoginClinics understands first-hand the frustration with this system and the consequences and risk taken from not having health insurance. Because of this, we provide direct to consumer online medical care and counseling and omit “big brother”. Our fee schedule is conservative and freely available. Appointments are listed on our website and are easy to view and secure. Our providers offer concierge services for a flat monthly fee so you can easily access a medical professional when you need it most, either in writing, on the phone or via “FaceTime”. Our price list is given up front so there aren't any surprise bills months later and our fee schedule does not discriminate against you if you carry health insurance. Quality and affordable healthcare and counseling for all North Carolina residents.
LoginClinics… Why walk-in when you can log-in?
Jaclyn Qualter, RN, MS, A-CTTP, APRN-BC
Nurse Practitioner & Founder
www.LoginClinics.com
1 https://www.kff.org/uninsured/fact-sheet/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/
2 https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/my-husbands-employer-offers-good-health-insurance-for-our-family-is-it-true-that-because-of-obamacare-employers-may-start-dropping-spouses-from-their-plans/
3 https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/HistoricalNHEPaper.pdf
4 https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/us-health-spending-breaks-from-the-pack/
5 https://medcitynews.com/2017/12/patients-waiting/
6 https://finance.zacks.com/average-premiums-highdeductible-health-insurance-10840.html
7 https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/high-deductible-health-plan/
8. Www.GoodRx.com using “wake Forest, NC” as city
9. https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/high-drug-prices-whos-really-blame
Author: Jaclyn Qualter, Founder, Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Mentor
