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With so much strep, mono, colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis and flu going around, this has been a very busy flu season. One characteristic shared by all these infections is fever, a temperature > 100.4°F. But if we step back a moment to understand our immune system, we are forced to ask the question, “Are fevers really that bad?” We have known for decades that both viruses and bacteria have optimal temperatures for reproducing. A team from Yale demonstrated that the cold virus spreads faster at lower temperatures (http://www.pnas.org/content/112/3/827), and even more interesting, the capsule of many viruses becomes harder and rubbery at lower temperatures making it more resistant to our immune defenses. We also know that most infectious bacteria are mesophiles, meaning they grow best between 68°F (20°C) – 104°F (40°C). Enough with the science though. The take-home message is simple: Our bodies mount fevers to help fight and slow the […]

First of all, we have to thank all our patients who entrust us with their care. We hope you have found our version of Direct Care refreshing, convenient and personal. It’s hard to imagine that 1 year ago we had just opened our doors, but truth be told, the planning and preparations began well before that. Ryan, Andy and I have begun what we believe is a revolutionary step toward better care in Kentucky. We expect many changes in the coming months that we hope will make care and even insurance more affordable. Still, real change starts from the ground level. In order to improve patient care, we decided to start treating patients like people and take the time to know and listen to our patients. In the past year we have enjoyed bringing the patient-provider back to center stage and we look forward to what the next year holds. […]

Earlier this week I sat in the surgeon’s office waiting for my daughter’s last appointment of the day. No wonder patients get frustrated. We spent 45 min waiting on the doctor and another 35 min waiting to be discharged. After multiple surgeries, the trust factor was there, but the convenience factor… not so much. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s important for providers to offer both trust and convenience. That is one of the main reasons we adopted the Direct Care model. Bypassing the hurdles associated with insurance allows us to get to know our patients well. It also allows us to be flexible whether they need to text a quick question, call the doctor after hours, arrange a quick visit before work, or sit down with the whole family to go over medications. Plus, we understand some emergencies happen evenings and weekends. Basically, Access Med lets us get back to […]

3 Things We Can Predict… The election is finally over and the nation must hold its breath to find out what will become of Obamacare and insurance cost. Yet, there are 3 things we can predict with reasonable certainty. 1. Don’t expect anything to change for 2017: both the current president and president elect have agreed on this point. It’s just too late in the game for insurance companies to changes their plans no matter what happens next. 2. Expect insurance regulations to loosen: I would be surprised to see the insurance mandate go away completely, so everyone will probably still need to carry some sort of coverage or pay a tax. Most experts seem to think that the federal govt. will loosen its definition of a qualifying plan, and that should drive cost down. 3. Obamacare does have 2 popular components: coverage for pre-existing conditions and coverage for adult […]