Solantic Chief Medical Officer Nathan P. Newman, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., has been elected vice president of the Urgent Care Association of America’s (UCAOA) Board of Directors.

A member of the UCAOA board since May 2009, Dr. Newman was elected for the leadership position by the organization’s membership during the UCAOA’s recent national urgent care convention in Chicago, IL.

“I’m thrilled and delighted to represent Solantic in this prestigious organization and to contribute to the UCAOA’s efforts to advance awareness and understanding of urgent care’s place in community health systems,” said Dr. Newman. “With urgent care now a mainstream medical alternative that is growing daily, it is important to support the UCAOA’s efforts to advance the industry’s cause.”

UCAOA was founded in 2004 to fill a need in the professional field for an association that encourages and facilitates the development and success of urgent care centers, offering resources for clinical, administrative and legislative support to further integration of urgent care in healthcare systems worldwide. The advocacy group has more than 3,000 members and serves an international field, joining together more than 8,500 urgent care centers in the U.S. and abroad.

Home injuries account for more than 21 million medical visits each year - especially in the springtime, says Solantic Baptist Urgent Care.

Spring has sprung – and with it, that annual urge to clear out, clean out and maybe even do a bit of DIY renovating. But if you’re not careful, prettying up your home can turn ugly and perhaps even land you in the urgent care center or hospital. All that lifting, climbing, trimming, bending and stooping can wreak havoc on a body, boosting the risk of home injuries, but few take proper precautions.

According to the Home Safety Council, home injuries result in upwards of 20,000 deaths and more than 21 million medical visits each year. A disproportionately high percentage of these incidents happen during the springtime, with falls and poisonings proving the most common culprits. Yet, a recent survey shows that just six percent of adult respondents are aware of the heightened risk for home injuries during the spring months as compared to other seasons.

“Climbing ladders, piling clutter on the floor and using household cleaners and chemicals are just a few examples of risky spring cleaning work,” says Meri-K Appy, Home Safety Council president. “They may sound harmless, but these common activities are associated with thousands of falls and accidental poisoning injuries each year.”

To make sure your spring cleaning goes smoothly, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the Home Safety Council offer these tips:

• Schedule spring cleaning projects one at a time so that you’re not feeling pressured. Rushing is a sure way to boost your risk of injury.
• Before you start cleaning, clear the cords to your telephones, computers, video games and other electronics from all the areas where you may walk. Also pick up children’s toys and keep pets outside or confined to rooms where you’re cleaning. It’s safer for both you and your pets.
• Dress for the occasion. Wear loose fitting garments of breathable fabrics, protective gloves and durable, rubber soled shoes to help keep you from slipping on wet floors.
• When cleaning out closets or reorganizing rooms, keep nearby stairs, steps, landings and floors clear of clutter. It can turn into a tripping hazard.
• Carry loads that you can clearly see over. If you’re carrying stacks of items up or down stairs, be sure to keep one hand free to hold railings and banisters.
• Use a sturdy stepladder or ladder – never your coffee table or other furniture – to reach high areas. The highest safe standing level is the second rung from the top on a stepladder or the fourth rung from the top on a ladder. Keep your body centered via three points of contact – two feet firmly on the rungs and one hand on a handle or step.
• Have someone help you move furniture or other heavy objects and always lift with the support of your knees rather than your back.
• Listen up, guys! Never use gasoline as a cleaning solvent. Even small amounts of gasoline can readily ignite.
• Don’t mix cleaning products, as their contents can react with dangerous results. Take the time to read product labels and follow directions. Wear gloves and a mask while using harsh chemicals.
• Never leave buckets or standing water unattended. Even small buckets pose a drowning danger to young children and pets.

Just in case something goes awry with your spring cleaning, know the location and phone number of your nearest urgent care center or emergency room.

For those with allergies in Florida, spring is "sneezin' season." Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help.

“March Madness” is all over the media this month. And for allergy sufferers, March is definitely maddening. But it has nothing to do with basketball. Allergies in Florida peak during March, especially pollen allergies. This season is a particularly tough one.

First, a cold winter followed by a sudden and sustained warming trend, plus the botanical blossoming brought about by those lingering warmer temperatures has jacked up pollen counts to near-record highs nationwide. To make things worse, “the same system that’s bringing in the warm air has also been blocking rainstorms from coming in,” Meteorologist Carl Park of The Weather Channel told Florida reporters recently. Rain typically helps clear away much of the pollen that fires up allergies, causing itchy eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats. No such luck for much of Florida this year.

The good news is that allergy season seems to be moving quickly this year. While doctor’s offices and urgent care centers are packed with sniffling, sneezing, watery-eyed and wearied patients, weather and nature experts expect the aggressive tree pollens to wane over the next month. In the meantime, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care has a few tips to help you breathe easier:

• - Know that the yellow pine tree pollen covering your driveway isn’t the main culprit. It’s the smaller-particle, unseen pollen from cedar, oak and maple trees that get into your sinuses and mess with your immune system. Check local pollen counts reported online before you head outside.
• - Stay indoors as much as possible and remember to keep windows closed so that pollen won’t float inside your home.
• - Change your air conditioning filter at least once a month. AC filters trap allergens like pollen, dust and pet dander, keeping them from floating about in your home.
• - If you do go outside your home, avoid the morning hours when pollen is at its worst.
• - If yard work just won’t wait, wear a mask to help reduce the amount of pollen you breathe in.
• - Add lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts to your snack list. They contain antioxidants that are effective against inflammation and upper respiratory infections.
• - Dine on cold water fish like wild salmon. The omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation and guard against allergies.
• - Drink hot tea with lemon or honey first thing in the morning. This activates movement of the nasal cilia, which helps prevent those early morning sneezing fits.

If your allergies, asthma or hay fever are getting the best of you, head to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center for quick, effective and affordable treatment of your symptoms. Each center has extended hours and a no-appointment-necessary policy, so it’s easy to get the fast, competent urgent care you need.

Hearts are all a flutter around Valentine’s Day. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the American Heart Association want to make sure yours stays in top condition so that you and the ones who love you can rest assured. That’s why the AHA named February “American Heart Month.” It’s also why Solantic offers wellness exams and physicals that include heart health checks like EKGs and pulmonary function tests. According the AHA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers tailored physicals to help make sure you're in good heart health.

• Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States, killing about a half million people each year;
• Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks In fact, the first cardiac symptom experienced by 71% of the population will be a heart attack, and one victim out of three will die;
• 90% of Women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease;
• More than 82 million American adults – one in three people – are estimated to have one or more types of cardiovascular disease;
• About 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. That’s an average of one death every 39 seconds;
• Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women 20 and older, killing about one woman every minute;
• More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

To help keep your ticker going strong schedule regular physicals at your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center. We offer a range of age-specific physicals, including several designed specifically for athletes and executives. And we can tailor a wellness plan that addresses your unique health need and risks. Visit our website to find an urgent care center near you and register online for quicker service. No appointment is ever necessary and we’re open evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy schedule.

When an infection of most any sort occurs, the first thought often is to load up on antibiotics. But an antibiotic is not always the answer, and can even cause further harm if used incorrectly, say physicians at Solantic Baptist Urgent Care.

Antibiotics may not always be the answer to an illness. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care explains why.

An antibiotic is a strong medication used for treating infections, including many potentially fatal contagious diseases. While knowing what conditions an antibiotic will effectively treat is important and potentially life-saving, knowing what an antibiotic won’t help is just as critical. Antibiotics are effective only against infections caused by bacteria. They offer no help against infections caused by viruses, including the common cold, flu, most coughs and sore throats. Here are a few helpful tips for knowing when you may need an antibiotic:

Cough or bronchitis: The vast majority of coughs and cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses. But a lingering illness or a problem with your lungs can be a red flag warning of a bacterial infection. If an illness won’t go away after about two weeks, head to your nearest urgent care clinic and be sure to tell your physician exactly how long you’ve been sick.

Sinus infections: Most sinus infections are viral. But if an infection that lingers after about 10 days may be bacterial. Other tell-tale signs of a possible bacterial sinus infection include a fever of higher than 101 degrees; facial pain or pain in the upper teeth; a dark, thick, yellow-green nasal discharge; and a lessening, then worsening of symptoms.

Sore throat: Again, a virus is the most likely culprit of a sore throat. The most common exception is strep throat, caused by the bacteria streptococcus. Symptoms can include difficulty swallowing, sudden fever, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, swollen or tender lymph nodes in the neck, a red throat dotted with white patches, abnormal taste, joint stiffness and muscle pain. Your doctor will need to take a swab of your throat for testing to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral.

Ear infections: Ear infections can be either viral or bacterial. However, in the past, many physicians have been quick to prescribe antibiotics for nearly all ear infection cases – a serious issue because the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Today, antibiotics are prescribed for treatment of ear infections primarily when the patient is younger than two and/or has a fever or other illness symptoms.

If a doctor prescribes you or your child an antibiotic for any condition, be sure that you complete the entire prescribed course of medication, even if you feel better before the medication is gone. The entire course is needed to kill any bacteria in your body that could become resistant to antibiotics. For this same reason, do not take an antibiotic left over from a prior illness.

If you have any of the conditions or symptoms listed, head to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care center to see a physician today. No appointment is necessary, but registering online before you leave your home or office can help minimize your wait time.

When you say “upper respiratory illness,” most people automatically think of stuffy noses and watery eyes. Few associate a sore throat with the same term, but the fact is that a sore throat is a key indicator of several upper respiratory illnesses. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care wants to make sure you’re aware that a raw, itchy throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition.

A sore throat can be caused by a simple irritant or a much more severe medical condition.

Acute Bronchitis: Acute Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree, made up of the tubes that carry air into your lungs. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, chest congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, chills, body aches and a cough that can bring up a clear, yellow or green mucus and may last for several weeks after other symptoms have cleared up. Most cases of acute bronchitis simply run their course and disappear. Rest, lots of water, a humidifier and over -the-counter, anti-inflammatory pain medications can help you manage the symptoms. A cough suppressant is recommended only if your cough is dry. As uncomfortable as it may be, a cough that produces mucus will help speed your recovery. A cough that persists after several weeks, however, may be a sign of a more severe condition like pneumonia or asthma.

Tonsillitis & Strep Throat: Tonsillitis is a bacterial or viral infection of the tonsils, located at the back of your mouth on each side of your throat. The infection causes the tonsils to swell. Symptoms of tonsillitis and strep throat are very similar. They include fever, headache, white patches in your throat or on your tonsils, pain when you swallow, red and swollen tonsils, swollen and sore glands in your jaw and throat, abdominal pain and vomiting. But strep throat, caused specifically by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus, differs in that if it isn’t treated, it can result in kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to a rash, inflamed joints and, in severe cases, damage to heart valves. So, if there is any indication of either of these conditions, head to your nearest Solantic urgent care center.

Mononucleosis: Mononucleosis, informally known as “mono,” is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and accompanied by a sore throat that may last for 1 to 4 weeks. Other symptoms include swollen glands in your neck and armpits, fever, headache and exhaustion.

A simple sore throat also can be caused by irritants such as smoking, breathing polluted air and allergies to pollens, molds and pet dander. But if yours is accompanied by other symptoms, you may want to stop in to your nearest urgent care clinic. There, a physician can run tests to determine whether your sore throat is caused by bronchitis, tonsillitis, strep throat, mono or another viral or bacterial condition. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care has locations throughout Florida, open evenings and weekends with no appointment necessary.

For most pet owners, Fido and Fluffy are nothing less than four-legged family members whose unconditional love helps make our every day. But urgent care centers nationwide have treated more than a few pet lovers who present with conditions caused by dogs, cats and other domesticated animals. Pets’ claws, pads and fur can harbor bacterial, viral and fungal infections picked up simply by walking in a park, playing with other animals or rooting through trash to seek out a tasty treat. Protecting yourself and your pets can keep you both healthy.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care Center offers tips to help keep your family - including its four-legged members - healthy.

The two most common pet-prompted conditions that could send a two-legged to the nearest urgent care center are worms and ringworms. Called “larval migrans” by veterinarians, worms are found in the intestinal tract and are eliminated via feces. A case of the worms can be caused by touching feces while cleaning out your cat’s litter box or your pup’s accident, or even simply by touching soil contaminated by feces. If you fail to wash your hands after cleaning up feces, holding your pet or doing yard work in areas where your pet may have defecated, you may accidentally ingest worm eggs.  Gone unchecked, this can cause damage to your eyes, lungs, brain and other internal organs.

Pets can carry and transmit ringworm and other fungal injections in their fur. This is important to remember especially if you have cats, as they are more apt than dogs to carry fungus on their fur, but show no symptoms. Dogs, however, do exhibit signs of fungal infections including hair loss and round, raised lesions on the skin. Humans exhibit similar signs, including a raised, circular lesion that is red, inflamed, often appearing flaky and nearly always quite itchy. Pets also can harbor bacterial in their claws that can be transmitted to you through scratches or broken skin, causing infections.

Protecting yourself and your pets can be as simple as washing your hands after handling your pet or cleaning up after them. Getting your pet de-wormed regularly and giving them preventative medications can help you both avoid health woes.

Of course, pet ownership comes with health benefits aplenty as well. Multiple medical studies have shown that hypertensive patients who own cats or dogs were less likely to experience spikes in blood pressure and heart rate prompted by tension and stress than were those who did not have pets. Research also shows that pet owners are better able to deal with stress and fend off depression, and are more likely to exercise. Walking, running and playing Frisbee help keep both your pets and you in shape.

If you believe you may be affected by pet-related condition, visit your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care walk-in clinic.

Winter is a busy season for urgent care clinics and doctors’ offices everywhere. Cold temperatures keep many inside for a few extra hours. All that close-quarters togetherness means viruses are handed off at greater rates than in the summertime, when people are enjoying the great outdoors. And cold-weather indulgences like wood-burning fireplaces can trigger respiratory problems.

To help keep you and your family healthy throughout the winter, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers preventative tips to guard against the most common cold season illnesses:

Make sure you have a healthy winter season with a visit to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic.

Common Cold: Statistics show there’s a 99% chance your child will catch a cold each winter season. In fact, young kids typically get three to 10 colds each year and as you know – there is no cure outside of letting it run its course. To help dodge a cold or quicken your recovery from one keep your natural resistance through good nutrition, exercise and plenty of restorative sleep. Dry air dries out and cracks mucous membranes in your nose and throat, creating entry points for cold viruses, so turn your thermostat down a few notches and keep the humidity up in your home or office. Avoid direct contact with others who already have colds and wash up to your hands frequently.

Influenza: The flu is another tough one to dodge, especially for kids and the elderly. Up to 40 percent of all children will get hit with the flu each year. For higher risk patients including elders and people with chronic health problems, the flu can lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia. In fact, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. (including 20,000 children) are hospitalized with flu-related complications annually and flu-related deaths number in the thousands each year. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care urges you to get your flu vaccinations early, before flu season hits hard. We know – nobody likes a shot! The good news: Only one flu vaccine is needed for the 2010-2011 influenza season. Last season, different vaccines were needed to help prevent both seasonal influenza and the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine protects against three strains of the flu including H1N1.

Stomach Flu: Also called “Viral Gastroenteritis,” this stomach bug typically hits a full 90 percent of kids at least once by age four. But thanks to the relatively new RotaTeq oral vaccine (save for babies two months and older) 79 percent fewer children fall ill with the stomach flu each year since the FDA’s 2007 approval.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV causes common cold symptoms and triggers bronchiolitis (an infection of the small airways) in 40 percent of cases. This adds wheezing, rapid breathing and a persistent cough to RSV’s common cold-like symptoms. It’s contagious during the four- to six-day incubation period, plus three to eight days afterward and may require inhaled medication or hospitalization. Air irritants worsen RSV symptoms, so avoid exposure to wood-burning fireplaces, cigarette smoke and strongly scented lotions and perfumes.

Roseola: Unfortunately, there is no preventative vaccine for this rash-causing illness that comes with a fever, cough and often, diarrhea. Avoid exposure to those who may be infected and insist on good hygiene practices.

To ensure you and your family are ready for the winter season, stop by your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic for all your seasonal vaccinations. If an illness hits, Solantic is open evenings and weekends and you never need an appointment.

Halloween is a favorite holiday among both kids and adults, and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care wants to make sure yours is more treat than trick. Dressing up in elaborate costumes, decking out your yard or home in hauntingly cool decorations and, of course, stuffing your face with sweet treats – who can resist? As enjoyable as each of these Halloween traditions is, each also poses health and safety risks. In fact, statistics show that from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each October 31, there is a considerable risk in falls, burns and pedestrian accidents. Child pedestrian accidents are more than twice as likely to occur on Halloween as on any other night of the year according to Safe Kids USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries.

To help keep your Halloween festivities rockin’ Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers these tips:

Incidents of child injuries from tripping, burn-related accidents and pedestrian accidents more than double on Halloween night compared to any other night of the year. Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers tips for a safe and healthy Halloween.

• - Help your child choose a costume that’s both fun and safe. Check the label to ensure materials are fireproof or treated with a fire retardant. If you opt for a homemade costume and you’re unsure whether the materials are fireproof, use a fire retardant spray.
• - Choose close-fitting costumes. Flowing fabrics increase injury risks from tripping or catching fire if the costume grazes a flame.
• - Instruct your kids to stay clear of candle-lit luminaries and jack-o- lanterns to avoid potential burns – even if costumes are marked fireproof. You can never be too safe when it comes to fire. If you’re doing the decorating, use glow sticks or battery-operated lights rather than flames.
• - Choose masks with eye holes that are large enough to allow full peripheral vision – especially if you’ll be out trick-or-treating and crossing streets.
• - Make sure that props such as knives, pitchforks and even magic wands have smooth tips and are flexible and light-weight.
• - Work reflector strips, a flash light or light stick into your child’s costume to make it more visible at night. Not only will this assure that drivers see your child, but it will help you keep an eye on him/her while trick-or-treating.
• - Fill your children’s tummies with a healthy meal or snack before trick-or-treating to ensure they won’t be tempted to munch candies along the way. In fact, instruct them to wait until they get home and allow you to inspect their loot before digging in.
• - When checking their trick-or-treat bags, throw away anything unwrapped and check for treats with ingredients to which your child may be allergic including chocolate or nuts.
• - While there’s not much healthy about candy in general, some candies are healthier than others. Dark chocolate, sugar-free gums and candies, and unopened granola, fruit and nut bars are great choices.
• - To help avoid a candy-gorging tummy ache and instill a sense of good will, convince your children to split their trick-or-treat candy with a charitable organization. Children staying at homeless shelters or domestic abuse centers often are unable to enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating. Sharing will not only make a less fortunate child’s day, but your children may find they truly enjoy and are proud of making a charitable and socially responsible choice.

In case your child does fall victim to a Halloween hazard, make sure you know the location and hours of your nearest walk-in Solantic Baptist Urgent Care clinic or hospital emergency room.

National Drug-Free Work Week is October 18-24 and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care is urging all employers to participate. An initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, Drug-Free Work Week is a dedicated time each year to highlight the benefits of a drug-free workplace to workers, employers and communities, and to help provide companies of all sizes with the resources needed to assure their staff remain drug free all year round.

The statistics on drug and alcohol use in the workplace are quite sobering. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, The Journal of Studies on Alcohol, The Journal of Applied Psychology and other research sources:

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help your company avoid the devastating effects of substance use and abuse in the workplace.

•    75 percent of the nation’s current illegal drug users are employed and 3.1 percent say they have actually used illegal drugs before or during work hours.
•    79 percent of the nation’s heavy alcohol users are employed and 7.1 percent say they have actually consumed alcohol during the workday.
•    An estimated 1.7 percent of employed adults worked while under the influence of alcohol and 9.2 percent worked with a hangover in the past year.
•    Workers reporting heavy alcohol use or illicit drug use, as well as workers reporting dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs, are more likely to have worked for more than three employers in the past year and are more likely to have skipped work more than two days in the past month.
•    Workers reporting illicit drug use or dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs were also more likely to have missed more than two days of work due to illness or injury.

An employee’s substance use or abuse impacts not only his or her own performance at work, but that of coworkers as well. Studies show that coworkers often are forced to work harder, redo botched work or cover shifts and responsibilities of employees who are continually under the influence of alcohol or drugs – including prescription drugs. What’s more, an employee whose substance use poses danger or causes injury to coworkers and customers is a huge legal and financial liability for a company of any size. Keep in mind that smaller businesses are at a higher risk, in part because they are less likely to have or implement programs to combat the problem.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help in your efforts to make your workplace drug-free all year round. We offer 5, 8, 9 and 10-panel drug screens, blood alcohol screens and breathalyzer tests, as well as collection only of blood or urine. Like our screens designed specifically for the Department of Transportation, drug testing can be tailored for your company’s particular needs. And Solantic Baptist Urgent Care is an approved provider for most insurance carriers and worker’s compensation networks.

To help keep your company drug-free, contact your nearest Solantic urgent care clinic at 904-223-2320 or occhealth@solantic.com and ask about opening your corporate account.