Exciting news: Advanced Primary Care is now contracted with Blue Cross / Blue Shield! Come visit our Key Largo location (100460 Overseas Highway) to be seen as a Primary Care patient.
Advanced Urgent Care is now formally partnered with Florida Keys Cardiologists: Dr. Boros, Dr. Berger and now Dr. Betancor!
We are pleased to be able to provide cardiovascular services in Key West and Key Largo (appointments required). For more information on cardiology, please visit www.keyscardiologists.com Thank you! Our Key Largo team is pleased to now offer ongoing primary care to our patients. From chronic health conditions and travel-related needs, to pain management and head-to-toe wellness, Advanced Primary Care is here for you.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Advanced Urgent Care is pleased to finally offer Breast MRI services at our Marathon location.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, but can occur in men as well. Routine check ups are recommended for women – particularly as they age. WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Any new lump in the breast should be taken seriously and screened by a physician. HOW CAN I PREVENT BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 5-10% of women who acquire breast cancer have mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Other women have several contributing risk factors, while some women have none. Therefore, the best approach for preventing breast cancer is simply to pay attention to your family history, lifestyle, and changes in your breasts and body:
HOW CAN ADVANCED URGENT CARE SUPPORT ME? At Advanced Urgent Care, our doctors can assist you in diagnosing a potential case of breast cancer. While any combination of tests may be required after examination, our standard protocol might involve:
Depending upon the findings, a treatment plan or referral to a specialist may be recommended. Note: If your primary care or referring physician has requested a CT Scan, Ultrasound, MRI, or bloodwork, please call us at 305-294-0011 to schedule your appointment. JUST REMEMBER... Breast cancer is a very common disease, and there are more treatments available now than ever before. While some procedures to eliminate the cancer are more severe than others, only you can make the decision on what's best for you and your body (after considering professional advice). Throughout the process, please remember to stay calm, find community, and know that you are far from alone. We are here for you. For more information, please visit: www.breastcancer.org Dear Patients,
We are now contracted with Aetna for our MRI in Marathon. This is exciting news. Since MRI is a new service, it takes some time for the insurance companies to catch on. Advanced Urgent Care can accept Aetna, Florida Blue, Medicare, and Worker's Comp for MRI, and we also have affordable cash pricing. Additional insurance companies will be added soon. Thank you! Without further ado, our MRI unit is now live. The magnet is ON!
At Advanced Urgent Care Marathon, our MRI machine can provide data on the following areas of your body:
PLEASE NOTE:
IS MRI SAFE? To date, there are no known adverse side effects of MRI. The scanner has full approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MRI images are produced using magnetic field and radio waves unlike X-ray equipment that uses radiation to obtain images. The MRI scanning delivered at our office is generally painless and causes little or no discomfort to patients. WHAT DO I DO DURING AN MRI? MRIs usually take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to perform, depending upon the area being scanned. During this time, patients will lie on a padded table, and will be placed inside the core of the MRI. It is critical that patients remain completely motionless once inside in order for the machine to capture accurate imagery. WHEN DO I GET MY RESULTS? MRI studies will be interpreted by a Board Certified Radiologist within 24-48 hours. The assessment will be relayed to your referring physician and/or to you via your Patient Portal. HOW DO I MAKE AN MRI APPOINTMENT? To make an MRI appointment, please call us (305)-294-0011 (extension 7). HOW MUCH DOES MRI COST? At Advanced Urgent Care, we are pleased to offer MRI studies for affordable cash prices. For cash-paying patients, our MRI fees are:
KeysKares members are offered an additional 10% discount on MRIs. For patients paying with insurance, the cost is based upon your insurance coverage and deductible. PLEASE NOTE: Since MRI is a new addition to Advanced Urgent Care, we are currently only contracted with Medicare, Aetna, Florida Blue, and Worker's Comp for MRI. More insurance plans will be accepted shortly. We appreciate your patience. This spring, Advanced Urgent Care is thrilled to be offering MRI services at our Marathon location.
With limited MRI options throughout the Keys, we are pleased to provide affordable diagnostic services to our community. Whether you're in Key West or Key Largo, drive an hour to save a bundle! Most insurances will be accepted as well as cash payments. KeysKares members receive a 10% discount. For more information on MRI, please visit our MRI page. Thank you! As fall transitions into winter, viruses are abound! Increased time indoors, less exercise and sunshine, holiday travel, frequent social gatherings, and rapid fluctuations in temperature all put pressure on our immune systems. Now, in 2022, we find ourselves battling not one, not two, but THREE different famous families of viruses. "Ah, Humbug!" Given this news, if you find yourself feeling unwell, how can you tell the difference between them all? What can you do to protect yourself? SYMPTOMS OF COVID AND THE FLU Both COVID and the flu share the following symptoms: fever, chills, headache, cough, muscle soreness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath, runny nose, and sore throat. As a general principle (although not always guaranteed), COVID usually presents a clear loss of taste or smell. COVID also tends to last longer than the flu, and may lead to "long COVID" symptoms. Serious cases of COVID and the flu can lead to hospitalization for anyone, but especially those with weakened immune systems due to age or underlying conditions. SYMPTOMS OF RSV Overall, RSV presents more like a cold (sore throat, runny nose, cough) with milder symptoms in most healthy adults. However, intense fever and wheezing can occur in infants and the elderly. Be on the lookout for rapid breathing, blue fingernails, and extreme exhaustion in small children, and take them to the nearest emergency care center if those symptoms occur. HERE'S A HANDY CHART HIGHER RISKS COME WITH AGE
The flu and COVID tend to be riskier for older adults, whereas RSV is primarily riskier for children (although anyone can get RSV). HOW CAN I KNOW FOR SURE WHAT I HAVE? At Advanced Urgent Care, we can test you for COVID as well as for RSV and the flu. Our team of medical professionals will evaluate your condition and medical history and make appropriate recommendations. CAN I JUST TAKE ANTIBIOTICS AND GO HOME? A common misconception is that antibiotics should be taken whenever one has a fever or feels sick. The truth is, antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria only. COVID, the flu, and RSV are all viruses, so antibiotics are not useful -- in fact, they may even worsen your condition. WELL, WHAT CAN I DO?
If you feel yourself declining in a serious way, call your doctor, visit Advanced Urgent Care, or go to the nearest emergency clinic or hospital. HOW CAN I PREVENT THESE HOLIDAY VIRUSES TO BEGIN WITH?
Anyhow, from everyone at Advanced Urgent Care: Happy Holidays! Please enjoy yourself, stay safe, stay healthy, and remember we are here for you! Is an excellent time to talk about...diabetes! And we're not alone: 1 in 10 Americans (or about 37 million Americans) have diabetes. COMMON MYTHS ABOUT DIABETES
MYTH - I went CRAZY on Halloween and ate a ton of sugar! I generally eat a lot of sugar anyway, so I will probably get diabetes. Luckily, for you trick-or-treaters, this is somewhat false. Sugar itself does not cause diabetes. Becoming overweight from eating too much sugar on a regular basis, however, can increase your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes. To be clear: diabetes is when the body does not make enough insulin. Insulin moves the sugar in our blood into the cells to produce energy for our bodies. When there's too much residual sugar not making it into the cells (as is the case with diabetics) the blood sugar level rises. For general health reasons though, you really should cut back on sugar (particularly refined sugar) as much as possible. MYTH - I have no family history of diabetes, so I won't get it. False. While family history can play a part in increased risk of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, many factors and lifestyle choices can influence your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes. These include:
It's important to take a truthful and comprehensive look at your family history, health choices, and genetic risk factors when assessing your odds of acquiring diabetes. MYTH - Only overweight people get diabetes. I am skinny, so I have nothing to worry about. Regardless of weight, anyone can get diabetes. Like with any disease, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, keeping stress down, and getting adequate sleep all assist in keeping you healthy overall, and lowering your chances of getting diabetes. MYTH - Now that I have diabetes, I can never eat sugar or Halloween candy again! Not true. While extra precautions (such as increasing your dose of insulin for the day) should be taken to prevent complications, diabetic folks can eat sugar. It just requires some planning, and be sure to speak with your doctor on how best to approach occasional, celebratory "sugar fests" like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I'M CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT BE PRE-DIABETIC OR I'M ALREADY DIABETIC. WHAT CAN ADVANCED URGENT CARE DO TO HELP ME? At Advanced Urgent Care, we are very familiar with handling diabetic patients. Our physicians will obtain your medical history and perform a physical examination. Blood work (including a glucose study) will be performed to assess your blood sugar levels. Depending upon the results, our doctors might make dietary and lifestyle suggestions, prescribe insulin or other medications, and / or recommend more acute monitoring of your condition. Diabetes is a serious disease, which can affect other aspects of your body's functions. However, with preventive measures, a proper diagnosis, and thoughtful health maintenance, patients with diabetes can expect to have a good quality of life. For more information on diabetes diagnosis, prevention, and care, visit the American Diabetes Association. |
AuthorAdvanced Urgent Care of the Florida Keys Archives
January 2024
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