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PRESS RELEASE: MD NOW URGENT CARE
Contact Info: Peter Lamelas, MD
For
Immediate
Release
Phone: 561-688-5808
FLU IS HERE IN PALM BEACH
COUNTY : PATIENTS TEST POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA
AT SEVERAL LOCAL MD NOW
URGENT CARE / WALK-IN MEDICAL
CENTERS
First Influenza Cases of
the 2011/2012 Flu Season roll in this week at MD Now Urgent
Care Walk-in Medical Centers of Boca Raton and Lake Worth.
Boca Raton, FL- September 13,
2011– As one of the largest providers of walk-in medical
services in South Florida, MD Now
Urgent Care Center’s medical staff had barely begun administering the 2011/2012
all-in-one seasonal influenza vaccine to patients, employees
and local businesses for less than a month when the center
suddenly began seeing its first cases of the flu. In the past, flu
season was typically expected to begin in October or
November, yet each year it seems to be arriving earlier and
earlier. This year was no different.
“We had THREE patients test
positive yesterday, and two today. And I know that we saw
several flu patients over the weekend. And they were sick,
sick, SICK!” says Laurie Kardon, MD, MPH, an urgent care
physician working at MD Now’s Boca Raton
urgent care location.
The flu, more scientifically
known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory
infection caused by influenza viruses. When a person with
the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus becomes an airborne
contagion – waiting to be inhaled by anyone nearby.
The risk of infection is greater in highly populated areas
like schools, subways and crowded urban settings. You can
also get the flu by touching a contaminated surface like a
telephone or a door knob, and then touching your nose or
mouth. The influenza virus usually enters the body through
mucus membranes in the mouth, nose or eyes.
Sudden onset and severity of
symptoms are hallmarks of the flu and help to distinguish it
from other illnesses, like the common cold. Other
indications include chills and fever, headaches, muscular
aches and pain, cough, and runny nose. Sometime these
symptoms are accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea.
On average annually in the
U.S.: 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; over 200,000
people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about
23,600 people die from the flu-related causes. Older adults,
young children and people with specific health conditions
are at higher risk for serious flu complications.
Peter Lamelas, MD, the CEO and
Medical Director of MD Now Urgent Care Centers, is a former
ER doctor and Emergency Department Director for over
seventeen years. He is no stranger to treating influenza and
its complications.
“In the past, little could be
done in the way of treatment for the flu other than to
manage its symptoms incidentally. Modern antibiotics were
and are still useless against the disease because of its
viral - not bacterial -nature.” says Lamelas.
“Nowadays, influenza can now
be diagnosed quickly and inexpensively through a simple
in-office procedure where the patient submits to a nasal
swab test, known as a Rapid Flu Test,” he adds.
“Thankfully, several
prescription antivirals are now available which have been
proven to shorten the duration of the flu – but there’s a
catch. Antiviral medications are most effective when taken
within 12-48 hours of your first symptoms,” says Lamelas.
“So act fast.”
Think Prevention.
“Having the flu shot is
certainly preferable to having the flu,” says Dr. Lamelas.
He offers his patients $20 Flu Shot coupons available on his
website at
http://www.mymdnow.com
to encourage their participation in the flu shot program.
This is a significant price savings over local Walgreens and
CVS pharmacy prices of $29.99 each. MD Now accepts Medicare,
and pneumonia vaccinations are also available.
Every flu season is different, but according to the CDC,
studies going back to 1976 have found that flu-related
deaths ranged from a low of 4,700 to a high of 56,600.
During a regular flu season, the majority of flu deaths
occur in people age 65 years and older.
“That’s what made the novel strain of H1N1,
known as ‘swine flu’ virus, so concerning,” says Dr. Lamelas.
“Because of their lack of immunity to the new strain, much
greater numbers of people were affected and at a much
younger age.”
This year Lamelas’ clinics are
busy administering two types of flu shots which are
available every day on a walk-in basis from 8a to 8pm in all
locations. Both offer protection against the H1N1 ‘swine
flu’ virus and for the seasonal flu virus.
“We have the regular flu shot,
which is approved for people ages 6 months and older, and we
have the new high dose flu shot approved for people 65 and
older. Each of these two seasonal flu vaccines protect
against the three influenza viruses that research indicates
will be most common during the 2011-2012 flu season. They
include protection against an Influenza A and an influenza B
virus, as well as the newer H1N1 ‘swine flu’ virus mentioned
above.”
“Even
healthy people can get extremely ill from the flu, and
spread it to loved ones and others who may not be as
resilient. So it’s not just
about protecting yourself this flu season; it’s about
protecting the people around you,” says Lamelas.
“If you’ve never been to
an urgent care center, here’s your chance to try us out,
protect your health and save money at the same time. Stop in
to one of our clinics and get your flu shot today.”
Who should get the Seasonal
Flu Shot?
According to the CDC, flu
seasons are unpredictable, although epidemics happen every
year. They believe everyone 6 months and older should get a
flu vaccine. This recommendation has been in place since
February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu
vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu
to more people.
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body to
provide protection against infection from the viruses that
are in the vaccine. Those antibodies do not begin to develop
until at least two weeks after vaccination. That’s why the
CDC recommends you get a seasonal flu vaccination as soon as
it becomes available. With the first cases of influenza
quickly becoming evident in Palm Beach County, it’s
important to act now for the greatest protection.
Vaccination is especially important for
people at
high risk of serious flu complications,
including young children, pregnant women, people with
chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and
lung disease, people 65 years and older, and caretakers of
these populations.
Here are three steps you can take to reduce
or prevent you and your loved ones from the adverse effects
of the flu this season:
Step # 1 – Take the time to
get vaccinated.
The single best way to protect yourself and
others against influenza is to get
a
flu vaccination each year.
Step
#2 – Take everyday preventative precautions.
Wash your hands regularly and frequently with
soap and water. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are also
effective in reducing the spread of germs.
Use disinfectants to routinely clean
frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards and
telephones.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
places where the flu virus enters the body.
Step #3 – Take
anti-viral drugs if recommended.
Antiviral drugs
are not sold over-the-counter and are different from
antibiotics. If you get the
flu,
antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you
feel better faster. Antiviral drugs work best if started
within the first 2 days of symptoms. They may also prevent
serious flu complications.
For current updates on
influenza and our flu vaccine status, check our website at http://www.MyMDNow.com.
About MD Now
Urgent Care
MD Now Urgent Care Centers is
one of the largest providers of urgent care walk-in and
occupational medical services in South Florida. The company
currently has six locations throughout Palm Beach County:
West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth, Royal Palm
Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, with plans to open two
more locations within the coming year. Owned and founded by
Peter Lamelas, MD, MBA, the facilities are full service
urgent care centers and provide a wide spectrum of services,
including occupational medicine, drug and DNA testing,
school physicals, work physicals, tetanus shots, flu
testing, flu treatments, digital X-rays, onsite lab work,
confidential STD testing, car accident and on the job injury
medical care.
MD Now’s urgent care centers
provide a cost-effect alternative to the emergency room and
a more convenient option than waiting for a doctor’s
appointment. Each location is open 365 days a year from
8:00am to 8:00pm, including weekends and holidays. At MD Now
Urgent Care Centers, most patients are seen, treated and
released in less than an hour. All major insurance is
accepted and no appointment is necessary. Certified by the
Urgent Care Association of America.
Contact Information:
Andy
O’Brian
Peter Lamelas, MD, MBA
Business
Development
Owner and Medical Director
MD Now Urgent Care Centers
MD Now Urgent Care Centers
2007 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd
2007 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Phone:
561-688-5808
Phone: 561-688-5808
Email:
aobrian@mymdnow.com
Email:
pldoc@mymdnow.com
Website:
www.mymdnow.com
Website:
www.mymdnow.com
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