Wash, Rinse, Repeat!

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The little things. It’s always the little things that are often overlooked, but can carry the most importance. Fresh air. Cold pillows. A good breakfast. Washing your hands. Few have the impact of the latter.

Washing your hands is one of the most important steps to not only protecting your own health, but also prevention of germ spread and other bacteria to others. This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week, and with the flu and many other sicknesses very prevalent during this time, now is as good a time as any to discuss the importance of handwashing, and how it’s relative to prevention.

For a little context on how important this topic is, here are a few facts, courtesy of the CDC, related to handwashing:

  • Washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50%
  • Handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%
  • A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands, which could be greatly reduced by handwashing.
  • The use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in classrooms can result in upwards of 20% reduction in absenteeism due to infection.
  • Reducing the number of infections through handwashing may help prevent the overuse of antibiotics (and eventual antibiotic resistance) often prescribed for these health issues.

Looking for more reasons why handwashing is important? Look no further than the main culprit of sickness: germs.  As the CDC describes, feces is a main source of germs, like Salmonella and E.coli that spread many respiratory infections such as, hand-foot-mouth disease and adenovirus to name a few. These germs get onto your hands a variety of ways, including:

  • After toilet use
  • Changing diapers
  • Blowing your nose
  • Handling raw meat
  • Taking out garbage
  • Petting animals
  • Caring for sick people

These are common, everyday activities that people do, yet if people don’t take the initiative to wash their hands, germs will stay on the surface of your hands for hours. With frequent touching of the body (i.e. touching eyes, nose, and mouth) coupled with germ pile up on your hand surface, it gets you sick, and even worse, it transfers to other objects that will get others sick.

So, what can you do? Wash your hands multiple times throughout the day and follow standard handwashing techniques:

  1. Wet – Wet your hands with clean water, then apply soap
  2. Lather – Rub your hands together with the soap, making sure to get the back of your hands, between fingers, and under the fingernails
  3. Scrub – Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds
  4. Rinse
  5. Dry – Air dry or use a clean towel
  6. *Tip* For public restrooms, shut the faucet off with a paper towel, and use your shoulder (or another towel on the knob) to open the door

If you’re not near a sink, hand sanitizer is a great substitute. However, if your hands are visible dirty and greasy, this will not be as effective in eliminating the high number of germs. It’s also important to note to avoid the use of antibacterial soap, due to the dangers of triclosan. As the Mayo Clinic describes, although triclosan is an active ingredient in making some soaps antibacterial, excess use can cause small amounts to be absorbed by the skin, which may lead to a damaged immune system and/or antibiotic resistance.

In closing, sometimes it’s the little things that have big impact. Don’t risk getting sick, especially during peak flu season, by not washing your hands. Your R-Health doctor hand-washes every time they see you, so take the lead and follow suit. Or use our R-Health hand sanitizer.

[Healthy] Thanksgiving!

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If you haven’t heard already, there’s a pretty big holiday coming up soon: Thanksgiving. In a time of reminiscing and gathering of friends, family, and loved ones, the main star on this day is the food. With an assortment of people and traditions, there’s always an abundance of dishes available to consume. However, how can we distinguish what’s healthy and will benefit our health? There are a few tips we all can follow without sacrificing our appetites.

Studies have shown that people gain on average, between 5-10 pounds during the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to New Year’s). WOW!!! While just averages, this can mean that people gain less than this range, or in the unfortunate instance, gain more. It’s important during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, to be proactive in maintaining your health and keeping the extra pounds off, so you may have an easier time with your upcoming New Year’s Resolutions.  WebMD has offered a few tips that won’t impede satisfaction of the yummy holiday feasts.

  • Get active
    • Exercise before eating your favorite foods
    • Increase the number of days, and length of workouts before Thanksgiving
    • Plan a post-meal walk and/or workout the following day
  • Eat breakfast
    • Eating a small meal in the morning can give you better control over your appetite
    • More disciplined appetite makes for healthier food and beverage choices
  • Lighten up
    • Whether preparing the meals, or bringing add-ons, try and make your dishes with less sugar, no added fat, and less calories.
    • Use sugar substitutes, and reduce oil/butter when you can
  • Police your proteins
    • Survey the options and select reasonable sized portions
    • Smaller portions allow you to enjoy whatever you’d like
    • Resist the urge for second helpings
    • Stop eating when you’re satisfied. If you wait til your full, it might be too late 😉
  • Slowly savor
    • Eating slowly allows you to taste every bite while being satisfied after one plate
    • Try eating only two meals on holidays and keep them within 8 hours of each other. So perhaps skip breakfast if you expect to eat a big lunch or dinner. This style of eating is called Intermittent Fasting and has been very helpful in weight loss/weight maintenance.
  • Go easy on alcohol
    • Have a glass of wine or sparkling water in between alcoholic drinks to avoid dehydration and the calories that alcohol provide
  • Be realistic
    • During the holiday times, it’s very difficult to try and lose weight, therefore shifting focus to maintaining weight provides more desirable outcomes.

If you’re looking for which foods to include in your Thanksgiving menu you can turn to the Mayo Clinic and/or EatingWell for an assist. They provide countless recipes that are not only fresh, but contain less fat, sodium, and calories to provide guests with healthy options that are equally flavorful. If you have a particular diet or health plan that you’re on, reach out to your R-Health doctor for any meal suggestions. Otherwise, enjoy the holiday and celebrate this time with your family and friends!

Defeat Diabetes!

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With Thanksgiving approaching, it may seem like a joyous occasion for most, but for a segment of the population, it may be another day of battling your urges, for the sake of long-term health. November is recognized as American Diabetes Month; and with diabetes affecting nearly 30 million people and their families, it’s important to remind them that they are not alone, and to share information to those who are newly diagnosed.

For a quick summary of the condition, we turn to the Mayo Clinic. Diabetes affects how your body uses glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is a major source of energy for the cells in your muscles, tissues, and your brain. However, too much glucose in your blood can cause major health risks such as:

  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Nerve, Kidney, Foot, and/or Eye Damage
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Skin infections
  • Alzheimer’s

Since there are different types of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) there are different risk factors associated with each, and we’ll share a few below:

  • Type 1 Diabetes – more prevalent during childhood/adolescence – removes insulin production from the body.
    • Risk Factors
      • Family History
      • Dietary Factors
      • Environment Factors
      • Geography
  • Type 2 Diabetes – more prevalent during adulthood – body becomes insulin resistant.
    • Risk Factors
      • Family History
      • Age/Weight/Race
      • Inactivity
      • High Blood Pressure
      • Abnormal Cholesterol levels

Consequently, knowing these risk factors, what should you do if you’re diagnosed? Binge eating will certainly not be the answer, however, Diabetic Living shared a few tips on how to approach a new diagnosis.

  1. Inspect your health plan – find the best and most affordable health plan that will cover your upcoming medications and supplies.
  2. Consider medications to lower your blood sugar – It’s now recommended to take at least one glucose-lowering medication as soon as you’re diagnosed (e.g. metformin).
  3. Create a diabetes eating plan – Monitor what you eat, but also track it to see its impact on your blood glucose levels. Most times you don’t have to make drastic changes.
  4. Create a physical activity plan – Just like your diet, physical activities are important when diabetic. Food provides the energy, and the activity helps burn some of it. Incorporating this into an everyday routine can have great impact.
  5. Shop for Diabetes supplies – Blood glucose meters, test strips, and a blood glucose journal are just a few things that can help you along the way.
  6. Connect with others – As we mentioned earlier, you’re not alone in this fight. Connecting with others can relieve you of any anxieties and motivate you to take care of yourself.
  7. Choose your primary care provider

Now if you’re not a diabetes rookie, you’d be more focused on how to manage your diabetes. With help from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they shared 4 major actions you should take to manage your diabetes throughout your lifetime.

  1. Learn More about Diabetes
    • Get a better understanding about the type of diabetes you have and ones you’re not sure of (e.g. Gestational diabetes).
    • Take classes, join support groups, and talk to your doctors (i.e. dentist, dietician, eye doctor) in your health team to see how it can affect other areas
  2. Know your diabetes ABCs
    • A – A1C test. It measures your sugar levels over a 3-month span
    • B – Blood pressure. Have blood pressure goals and know what gets it too high or too low
    • C – Cholesterol. Like blood pressure, have cholesterol goals and ask your doctor what those numbers should be
  3. Learn to live with diabetes
    • Ask for help, discover new hobbies, voice your concerns to your support system
    • Spend time developing a food palette and compare your sugar levels to see what part of your diet needs changing
  4. Get routine care
    • Getting routine care at least twice a year can help catch any future problems, early
    • Get the A1C test twice
    • Ask your primary care doctor and other members in your health team if any other tests are required

If you’re already an R-Health Member, you’ve already got a great primary care doctor. Your R-Health doctor can spend the time with you to create your own health plan, covering what to eat, medication suggestions, and how to balance physical activity. A strong relationship with your primary can help you overcome some of the obstacles associated with diabetes, including a loaded Thanksgiving plate.

The R-Health Experience, Vol. II: True Mobility

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Sarah, the mother of two young children, had been looking for a new doctor. Of the utmost importance to her was convenience since she is extremely busy with her kids. She had been looking for the right fit, but just couldn’t find it, until she got a postcard about Dr. Randi Protter’s practice at R-Health.

Like most people, she thought that what she was reading about R-Health sounded too good to be true, but she soon realized it was everything she was looking for.

“I love the mobile app. I developed a rash and instead of going to the office, I used the app to upload pictures and send it to Dr. Protter. She looked at the pictures, got back to me right away, and sent a prescription to my pharmacy. Not having to take my two children into the doctor’s office for me to be treated for something simple, was fabulous.”

Sarah has experienced a little bit of all the R-Health offerings. She got a same-day urgent care appointment, she has done her comprehensive wellness exam, and she loves to use the Spruce mobile app. For her, more than anything, she loves how Dr. Protter truly listens to her. “It’s so nice to talk to a doctor and have her actually listen.”

Sarah’s husband is also a member of R-Health and has been seeing Dr. Protter for almost a year. He recently had a cold that kept lingering for multiple days. He called the office, got a same-day appointment, and immediately had a prescription sent to the pharmacy.

“For us, the responsiveness of R-Health is so unique, we feel like we are privileged clients. We feel so lucky to have found Dr. Protter and R-Health.”

The Battle of Flu Prevention

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Although the weather is a bit misleading, we are in the start of flu season. While many people may have misconceptions about the vaccine, think they are immune to the flu, or may even believe the flu is a myth, it is very important to take the preventative measures to thrive during flu season. Moreover, if you were skeptical about the flu and its vaccine, here are some WebMD stats that might change your mind.

  • Between 5% to 20% of the U.S. population will get the flu, each year
  • 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year from the flu and its complications
  • In the U.S., 3,000 – 49,000 people will die each year from flu-related causes
  • Finally, it can take between 1-4 days before flu symptoms begin to show, and you may still be contagious 5-10 days after the illness starts.

As you see, it’s important to take the preventative steps that aid in virus prevention, not only for yourself, but for those around you. Where can you find these tips? Look no further than your R-Health doctors, who are always available for you.  Remember, staying positive and relaxed helps the immune system.  If you are not yet an R-Health member, here are some tips to get you started.

  1. Get the Flu vaccine
  2. Wash hands frequently
  3. Eat Well (plenty of veggies, fruits, and healthy fats, while avoiding added sugar)
  4. Stay well hydrated.
  5. Get enough sleep.
  6. Wear a coat and other cold weather gear (hat/gloves/scarf) when needed
  7. Vitamin D (take 1000-20000 iu daily) unless otherwise recommended by your doctor

In the unfortunate instance you contract the flu, there are a few treatment options you can explore as well.   Talk to your doctor as soon as you have symptoms to find out if a prescription anti-flu medication is needed.  If you don’t have any special medical circumstances, often natural measures are best.  Subsequently, below are some natural treatment tips for the flu:

  1. Elderberry – Take Sambucol (1 tablespoon, 4x a day, for 5 days at first sight of the flu).
    • If you have contact with the flu you can also use Sambucol as means of prevention (2 tablespoons, 2x a day)
  2. Zinc – Take Zinc Lozenge (avoid intranasal zinc) every 1-3 hours for 3 days at first signs of the flu
  3. Steam inhalation with Eucalyptus oil and Chamomile can ease congestion, cough, and mucous membrane irritation
  4. Bone Broth – Soup helps boost the immune system
    • Beef bone broth, and yes, even chicken noodle soup works well!
  5. Honey – A natural cough suppressant, honey works better than Delsym. Take ½ to 1 tsp every 1-2 hours as needed.
  6. Treat a fever only to feel comfortable – High temperatures boost your immune system, but if needed, use the lowest effect dose of fever reducers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
    • Try the wet sock technique: put on a pair of wet socks, then a dry pair overtop

As a note, it’s important to inform your doctor on all herbal medicines you plan to take, and more importantly, if you experience shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion, and/or the inability to keep fluids down.  Remember you have unlimited access to your R-Health doctors who are available to you.

 

The R-Health Experience, Vol. I: The Best Thing to Happen to my Healthcare Toolkit

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Last fall, Risa Morris went to the State’s Passport to Benefits event to learn more about the new benefit offerings. While there, she met the team from R-Health and learned that she could join an R-Health doctor’s office for free as part of her state health plan. She was intrigued and she signed up for the R-Health Ewing location, which was set to open in January.

When she heard about R-Health, Risa was excited but she also kept thinking there had to be a catch. Once the Ewing office opened in January, she realized there really was no catch and she was astounded by the level of care she received from Dr. Protter and the rest of her team.

“R-Health is a far superior doctor’s office,” said Risa. “My R-Health doctor helps me manage everything related to my health. She calls me just to answer my questions and I can e-mail with her anytime. It feels great to know that I have access and can just keep in touch on the little things.”

Risa also likes that she doesn’t have to try to remember everything that Dr. Protter tells her during each appointment. She can access a full overview of everything discussed at her appointment through the electronic patient portal and if she still has follow up questions, she just e-mails or calls Dr. Protter to review. Says Risa, “It’s refreshing that I don’t have to keep track of everything on my own.”

One of Risa’s favorite aspects of her R-Health doctor’s office is the ability to get her blood work done onsite, saying, “It’s so nice to have everything done in one place.”

With R-Health, Risa feels like she has her own concierge doctor, but without the added access fees, and of course, with no co-pays. “I used to wait hours to see my doctor and I felt like my time wasn’t as important as theirs. With R-Health, I never wait more than 5 or 10 minutes to see my doctor – it’s a miracle.”

When asked to sum up her R-Health doctor and experience, Risa said “I love Dr Protter. She is caring, warm and friendly, yet very professional and detail oriented. I have recommended her to all my friends. R-Health is the best thing to happen in my healthcare tool kit.”

Risa also thinks it is a great thing the State of NJ is offering Direct Care for those with state health benefits, noting “R-Health is far superior to other doctor’s offices.”

R-Health Recognized as 2017 Healthcare Innovator

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Every year, the Philadelphia Business Journal recognizes titans of the healthcare industry that are not only innovative in practice, but transformative with their impact on their industry’s ecosystem. Game changers as they call them, and this year, R-Health was awarded as one of the prestigious HealthCare Innovators.

In recognizing R-Health, the Philadelphia Business Journal noted R-Health’s innovative model of healthcare delivery, which focuses on expanded access to primary care alongside better patient care, lowered costs, with higher patient and physician satisfaction, as opposed to the traditional model of maximizing billing. Not only recognized for Direct Care, R-Health was also acknowledged for our Accountable Care division, which offers commercial and government value-based healthcare delivery.

The entire R-Health team couldn’t be more proud of this award which recognizes the company’s hard work, dedication, but most importantly, our commitment to helping members achieve their best health. We would like to thank the Philadelphia Business Journal for this esteemed award, and hope for many more in the future.

Prostate Cancer Awareness

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September is prostate health awareness month. Just in 2017, the American Cancer Society reported over 160,000 new cases. Outside of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, affecting about 1 in every 7 during their lifetime. September is a month for raising awareness of prostate health in hopes of encouraging men to get their necessary screenings.

There are a variety of symptoms related to prostate cancer, chief among them are urinary. Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) described these symptoms being a result of the proximity between the prostate gland to the bladder and urethra. The following can be urinary symptoms of prostate cancer:

  • Burning or pain during urination
  • Difficulty urinating (trouble starting/stopping while urinating)
  • More frequent urges to urinate at night
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Decreased flow or velocity of urine stream
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)

Outside of urinary symptoms, other signs and symptoms that may be related to Prostate cancer:

  • Swelling in legs or pelvic area
  • Numbness or pain in the hips, legs, or feet
  • Lingering bone pain that leads to fractures
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in semen

While Men’s Health offers a few tips for a healthy prostate, one of the best methods to prevent Prostate Cancer from affecting your life is to get screened. There is no definitive opinion on when or how often men should get screened, but it is important for the screening to occur.

Research has indicated that typically, men who are aged 40 or older, should be screened for risk factors. The Prostate Cancer Foundation urges all men to be proactive in their prostate health plan, but especially men who are at higher risk (i.e. positive family history or African American men).

There are different prostate screenings, including but not limited to a digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If either of these tests detect an abnormality, doctors may recommend some additional test including:

  • Ultrasound
  • Collecting a sample of prostate tissue
  • MRI

These tests typically aid in confirming the presence of Prostate cancer and the extent to how aggressive it is may be.

As you can see, prostate health is important, especially if you’re at higher risk. Although many prostate cancers grow slowly, it’s best to get your screening sooner rather than later to treat any cases early. As always, your R-Health doctor is available for you to help answer any questions you may have, so reach out to your doctor to help you decide what’s best for you.

Back to Healthy Foods

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It’s September and Back to School season. Between the books, school supplies, outfits, and event scheduling, healthy eating is often the last thing people focus on. However, it’s important to stay focused on health, especially as work/school days get longer, activities more vigorous, and time becomes more limited. A healthier diet for children may lead to less stress for parents.

Healthy eating can be very simple if you have the right tips. The Huffington Post published a few Healthy Back to School Tips which we’ll discuss.

  1. Start the day off right – Eating breakfast as a family is not only great bonding experience, but also a time where you can prepare a nutrient-filled breakfast that last children until lunch. I know many adults who skip breakfast. Growing children may do better with a nutritious morning meal.
  2. Nix the added sugar – Avoid soda and other sugary drinks (i.e. iced tea, fruit punch) as well as sugary foods/condiments like cookies, ketchup, and sugar sweetened cereals to improve your children’s overall diet and avoid sugar rushes.
  3. Swap juice for whole fruit – Fruits are rich in fiber with high water content, and can help avoid added calories found in many juice pints.
  4. Pack a healthy snack – Always pack at least one fruit and vegetable. Some great options include apples, pears, bananas, yogurt, hummus, baby carrots, and nuts.
  5. Keep portions healthy – It’s important to serve healthy portion sizes to your children. Proper portion sizing prevents nutrient imbalance, overeating and even mood swings.
  6. Skip the white food – White bread, rice, and pasta are notoriously low in fiber, high in processed carbohydrates and lead to overeating. There are plenty of healthy non-processed alternatives such as white beans, cauliflower, along with most green vegetables that grow above ground such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and asparagus
  7. Get moving – Integrating exercise and sports is always a great way to keep your children healthy. Since it’s the beginning of school year, there are always an abundance of activities children can partake in, so make sure they’re active.

These are just a few simple tips to keep your children’s diet in check and healthy especially during frenzied times like the beginning of the school year. We know that a Happy wife means a Happy Life. Well, healthy children make happy parents! If you are searching for more health tips, your R-Health doctors are always available, ready to help answer any questions you may have.

Open Dialogue with your Doctor

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Questions. A fundamental aspect of any conversation. Asking questions can help you feel at ease and bring clarity to any discussion. And one person you’ll really want to be sure that you’re asking questions of is your doctor.

While we previously discussed the role of patient engagement, asking your doctor questions is a continuation of that conversation. While R-Health doctors have the patient’s best interest in mind, sometimes messages can be lost in translation, or otherwise misconstrued, which is why questions are needed for clarity. Too often patients go along with a plan without having a full understanding, which can ultimately cause the plan to fail. Thus, TIME provided a list of things you should be asking your doctor.

  1. “What are the different treatment options?” – Regardless of your condition, there should be a shared decision-making process about your options.
  2. “What outcome should I expect?” – Knowing outcomes may impact your decision on moving forward with a treatment and/or which option to choose.
  3. “Do we have to do this now, or can we revisit later?” – Gives your doctor more time to consider the severity of an ailment, which may halt pre-mature action. Some health issues work themselves out with time. Others need to be addressed sooner.
  4. “Is there anything I can do on my own to improve my condition?” – Making changes to your lifestyle can be very important. If you treat your body correctly, it pays you back with good health.
  5. “What are the side effects?” – Patients should know of possible side effects ahead of time so they can factor them into their decision-making on the course of treatment and/or what to expect from it.
  6. “How will I hear about my test results?” – If not explicitly stated, it’s important for the patient to know how they will receive test results to prevent uncertainty and anxiety.
  7. “How much will this cost me?” – There are many uncertainties regarding cost due to insurance, different tests or medications, etc. Therefore, it’s important to ask in order to financially prepare for that commitment.
  8. “What questions haven’t I asked that I should have?” – Sometimes amid asking your doctor questions, he or she may forget to mention a discussion topic they wanted to introduce. Therefore, this question can help serve as a reminder for the doctor, and get you more information.

Questions don’t always have to be this heavy. But at R-Health, we want to foster an opening and trusting dialogue between our doctors and patients. Take the initiative. Ask for help. Get your questions answered. You have tremendous access to your R-Health doctor, whether by phone, email or other electronic media.  Your R-Health team is willing and able to answer any questions you may have.