Category Archives: Preventative Care
Telemedicine: Evenings, Weekends, and Daytime Hours
By: ARIEL WARDEN-JARRETT, M.D.
Did you know that since the start of the pandemic, MPCP created ways to be more available to meet your medical needs? MPCP offers telemedicine visits to enable you to get medical care right in the comfort of your own home. This not only lowers your risk of being exposed to the coronavirus but offers a very convenient way of getting care. Telemedicine allows you and your provider to see each other while you talk together. It can be scheduled during regular office hours, but after-hours and weekend appointments are also available.
What equipment do I need for a telemedicine visit?
You just need your smartphone, an iPad, or a home computer with a camera and microphone. MPCP uses Zoom and a few other HIPAA-safe apps to connect with patients.
Is telemedicine really effective?
Most of our patients say it works very well for most appointments. Your doctor will listen to your symptoms and ask questions, just as if you were in one of our exam rooms. Using video, your doctor will be able to see things that will help make a diagnosis. But if there is a concern at the end of your visit that something is still unclear, your doctor will have you come into the office as safely as possible for a face-to-face evaluation.
Can I get a prescription filled from the visit?
Yes, your provider can send any necessary prescriptions to your pharmacy electronically. If you need blood tests, X-rays or other tests, your provider will arrange for you to get them safely.
How do I schedule a telemedicine visit?
You can simply call your MPCP office to schedule a telemedicine visit. If you prefer a particular video platform, just let the scheduler know when you make your appointment. Otherwise, a medical assistant will call you before your appointment to help you connect. You may also be advised to collect your medication bottles, gather information such as your blood sugar or blood pressure logs, and to take your temperature or weigh yourself prior to your visit.
What about after-hour appointments?
MPCP offers evening and weekend telemedicine visits for acute care (illness or injury) to better fit your schedule. Appointments can be scheduled Monday to Friday 5-10 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. Call 410-729-3368 to schedule an after-hours telemedicine appointment, or see this video to learn more.
Will my insurance cover telemedicine visits?
Yes, insurance companies are encouraging doctors to connect with their patients through telemedicine. However, deductibles and co-pays may be applied. You should check with your insurance company as it relates to your specific coverage.
Dr. Warden-Jarrett is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She holds her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and sees patients in the Bowie office.
COVID-19 Update: How It Affects You
By: MEDICAL DIRECTORS FALANA CARTER, MD and JERRY I. LEVINE, MD, PA
COVID-19 continues to spread in Maryland. Individuals who remain unvaccinated are at the greatest risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 including highly contagious variants resulting in hospitalization and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance recommends booster vaccines for adults over 65, those with high-risk medical conditions, and individuals at risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due their occupation or institutional settings. The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine has been approved for a booster after two months. The Pfizer vaccine is available for children 12 and older, and soon will be approved for children 5 years and older. Here’s how the latest COVID-19 news affects you.
The Delta variant
Like many other viruses, the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) continually changes, producing new strains with features different from the original virus. The Delta variant is the most common form of the virus in the U.S. today and is very dangerous, causing most new COVID-19 infections. Here’s what you should know:
- The Delta variant is significantly more contagious than previous variants, infecting many more people.
- The Delta variant appears to cause more severe illness in unvaccinated people than previous variants, leading to more hospitalizations and deaths.
- COVID-19 vaccines are very effective in preventing Delta infections, and the vast majority of new hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people.
- Fully vaccinated people can get “breakthrough” Delta infections, but they are rare and are generally less severe than in unvaccinated people.
- Fully vaccinated people with Delta breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others, but vaccinated people appear to be contagious for a shorter period of time.
Booster shots
COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective against the virus months after vaccination, but their effectiveness will decrease over time. The effectiveness of the vaccine is enhanced by getting a booster shot. Based on CDC recommendations, these groups are eligible for booster vaccines:
- Adults 65 or older who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago
- Adults 18-64 with underlying high-risk medical conditions
- Adults 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their work or institutional settings
- All adults 18 or older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least two months ago
Also, individuals with compromised immune systems are eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after the first two doses.
Boosters may be “mixed and matched,” heterologous dosing. While preference remains to obtain the same booster as the primary vaccine, either Moderna or Pfizer can be received as a booster for the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. This can be discussed with your primary care provider.
MPCP administers the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines in our offices, and many of our offices will also offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine starting November 1.
Call your MPCP office to schedule an appointment to receive a booster dose. Vaccines are also available at your local pharmacy or health department clinic.
COVID vaccines for children
The CDC is recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children 12+. Here’s the latest:
- Fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 than adults, but they can still get sick from the virus and spread it to others.
- CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a vaccination to protect them and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- The two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective for children 12+. As with adults, serious side effects from the vaccine are rare in children, and the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the potential risks.
If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine, contact your MPCP doctor or visit Maryland’s covidLINK website.
Dr. Levine is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He serves as MPCP’s Medical Director and Vice President, and sees patients in the Columbia office.
Dr. Carter is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians. She serves as Assistant Medical Director and sees patients in the Arundel Mills office.
What’s the Buzz About Bug Spray?
By: LISA GOLDBERG KEITHLEY, M.D.
Summer’s here and as you shop for insect repellant, you will be faced with a choice: Should you get one with synthetic (man-made) ingredients or one that is “natural”?
Some people worry that synthetic materials used in sprays – such as DEET and picaridin ‒ may be harmful. Others claim that natural sprays don’t work well, so why use them?
Here’s what you need to know about choosing a product that will safely keep biting beasties away this summer.
Synthetic sprays
The most popular bug sprays at your local store will probably have the chemicals DEET or picaridin as their main active ingredients.
DEET is one of the most effective repellants available. It works well against mosquitoes (up to 12 hours), ticks (up to 4 hours) and other insects. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved DEET for both adults and children 2 months and older, but frequent and heavy use may cause skin irritation. For adults, look for products that contain 15%-30% DEET, but kids 12 and under should use a product with 10% DEET or less.
Picaridin is made from piperine, the alkaloid that gives pepper its peppery characteristics. It is odorless to humans but smells repulsive to insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and flies. It keeps mosquitoes away for up to 8 hours and ticks for up to 5 hours. Picaridin is slightly milder than DEET, and skin irritation is less likely. Look for spray products, which generally work better than lotions or wipes, containing 20% picaridin.
Natural sprays
Natural insect sprays use plant-based substances instead of man-made ones. Not all natural sprays work equally well, so here’s what you need to know.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is one of the most effective natural ingredients. It keeps away some ticks, flies and gnats, but it’s most useful against mosquitoes (up to 6 hours). Though it is natural, it isn’t recommended for kids under age 3. Look for products with 30% oil.
Sprays containing 2% soybean oil have been shown to provide up to 4 hours of protection against mosquitoes. Soybean oil is safe to use on infants and children.
Unrefined essential oils such as citronella, geranium and rosemary are promoted as all-natural repellants. But despite their popularity, they typically only work for about half an hour, and then the bugs will be back.
So what works best?
For the best protection against biting insects, choose a spray with synthetic DEET or picaridin. They repel a greater variety of bugs and stay effective longer. This is especially true if you live in an area heavily infested with mosquitoes.
If you prefer a plant-based product, and you live in an area where mosquitoes are less of a problem, sprays containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or soybean oil may give you adequate protection.
Besides using bug spray, see these tips from the CDC for preventing bug bites.
Dr. Keithley cares for patients in the Arnold office. She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice.
What the New CDC COVID-19 Guidelines Mean to You
By: FALANA CARTER, M.D.
With growing numbers of people getting COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC has released new guidelines to keep us safe as we leave our homes and return to public life. The guidelines include recommendations for both those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume some of the activities you did prior to the pandemic
You are considered fully vaccinated 1) two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or 2) two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen vaccine.
- You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except where required by local governments or businesses. Maryland’s mask order — which required face coverings indoors at schools, day care centers, medical settings and on mass transit — ended July 1. However, a federal order requiring masks on planes, subways, buses and other mass transit remains in effect, and local governments can set their own rules. Also, as we informed patients in a recent email, MPCP is following CDC and OSHA guidelines that healthcare staff should continue to wear masks and personal protective equipment, and people visiting our offices should continue to wear masks.
- If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested or self-quarantine after travel.
- The COVID-19 situation varies greatly around the world, so check international conditions if you plan to travel abroad.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- If you have a health condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, talk to your MPCP provider about your activities.
If you are not fully vaccinated, continue to take all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19
About 25% of Marylanders have not gotten any of the vaccine (as of July 15), which means the virus still has plenty of opportunity to spread. If you aren’t fully vaccinated:
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Stay six feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Get vaccinated as soon as possible.
With the arrival of new types of the coronavirus, and the possibility that infections will again spike in the fall, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. Call your MPCP office today to schedule your vaccination.
Dr. Carter is an MPCP partner and received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians and provides patient care in the Arundel Mills office.
