PrimaryPlus-Ashland

  While germs are always present throughout the year, winter in particular increases your chances to get the common cold and influenza. Now more than ever, with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, people need to ensure their health and increase their immune system. Luckily, there are ways to prevent cold and flu. Here are some tips from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention that help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from the flu and help stop the spread of germs. Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious re...

Arthritis affects more than 50 million people in the U.S. alone. In fact, there are over 100 types of arthritis, including the well-known osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect not only the elderly but people of all ages. Most forms of arthritis are not curable. However, with early diagnosis and some simple lifestyle changes, the resulting swelling, joint stiffness, and pain can be effectively managed. These five tips will help you to take control of your condition by reducing joint damage, improving function, and easing your arthritis pain. 1. Keep Active While Protecting Your Joints It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when your joints are in pain, but remaining active is critical to managing arthritis. Moderate exercise helps to reduce pain and stiffness, and perhaps more important, it helps strengthen muscles that support your joints. Some of the best low-impact exercises include stretching, yoga, walking, swimming, and biking as they take the str...

“The first wealth is health.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson  By now you’ve probably heard the phrase an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This phrase is especially true when it comes to your annual checkup. While your trusted physician should be an advocate for your health and wellness, it’s important for you to take control of your own health by scheduling annual exams and screenings.  According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 92-percent of Americans believe it’s important to get an annual physical, yet only 62-percent report actually following through with the exam. An annual checkup can serve as a baseline or road map of your health, your physician will check your vital signs, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, unhealthy trends that may be a cause for concern and indicators for heart disease, diabetes, and other serious diseases. Here are some compelling reasons to schedule an annual exam.  Saves you money Healthcar...

The Medical Home—also known as Patient-Centered Medical Home or PCMH is a primary healthcare delivery model that works to centralize healthcare for you and your family. Patient treatment is coordinated through a primary care physician , facilitating partnerships between patients, doctors, and their families. The medical home model grew out of a need to reinvigorate primary healthcare with the aim of achieving improved patient experience, better quality medical care, and lower healthcare costs. The medical home model aims to: Provide a cohesive medical team that delivers comprehensive care for both physical and mental health care needs, prevention and wellness, chronic care and acute care. Support the efforts of each patient’s self-care and get involved in each patients’ care plans by valuing each patient’s unique culture, needs, preferences, and values. Provide patients with full access to medical care with shorter wait times, as well as after-hours 24/7 services via tele...