17 Healthcare Tips for 2017

Protect yourself from injury by wearing helmets and other activity-appropriate gear. Prevent disease by using sunscreen or insect repellent when necessary. Make an appointment with a medical professional for a check-up, vaccination, or screening. Wash your hands often with soap and water to prevent the spread of infection and illness. Make healthy food choices. Prepare healthy snacks in advance to have in your car or at your desk. Be active to improve overall health. Try simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Stand up every hour if you typically sit at a desk/computer all day. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Be smokefree. Get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Reduce auto-related injuries by using seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats that are appropriate for your child's age and weight. Learn positive parenting tips to keep kids safe in school and teens safe on the road. Gather your/your family's health history, and keep it on hand for easy reference. Drink more water. Smile and laugh as much as possible. We hope that you do not need us next year, but we are here for you every day until 10:30pm if you do.  Have the happiest and healthiest of holidays!

How to Avoid the Dangers of Summer Temperatures

Before the summer ends, the Atlanta metro area will see days where the temperature will be in the 100 degree range. Extreme heat is a real threat and knowing the signs of heat-related illness and what to do can be critical for your safety. The CDC offers these three components to staying safe in hot weather:


STAY COOL - Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness.

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.
• Find an air-conditioned shelter.
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Check on those most at-risk twice a day.

STAY HYDRATED - Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat.

• Drink more water than usual.
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.
• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
• Remind others to drink enough water.

STAY INFORMED - Stay updated on local weather forecasts so you can plan activities safely when it’s hot outside.

• Check local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips.
• Learn the symptoms of heat illness.

Urgent Care at Peachtree's own, Dr. Clinton Carter recently appeared on Channel 46 News to explain the dangers of heat exhaustion and how to prevent it. You can watch the report HERE.

How Does Our Simplified Global Fee Structure Save You Money?

This is a simplified fee structure with one price covering everything. Regardless of how many different things we have to do to treat you, we won’t increase your cost. This doesn’t include major outside tests or lab work, but it does include everything that we provide at our urgent care. This is especially beneficial for people who have high health insurance deductibles.

What Can You Expect From Your Visit to Urgent Care at Peachtree?

When we launched Urgent Care at Peachtree in partnership with Absolute Care, we knew we had a great opportunity to offer people both the quality care that can only come from a local ER Doctor owned and operated urgent care PLUS the comprehensive healthcare that Absolute Care is known for in Atlanta.  So, a visit to Urgent Care at Peachtree not only provides convenient medical services for non life-threatening injuries and illnesses, it also provides quick and full access to our Absolute Care partners and our broad network of specialists.  Our goal is to always consider the patient needs first and foremost and to provide the best care in the most professional and accessible atmosphere.  So, when we received this letter from a patient this week, our team was so proud, that we had to share it…

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"I came to the clinic because of the high reviews online I read about the Urgent Care team. I was worried due to changes in my body over the past week and needed to see someone right away. I was seen by Dr. Ferrara who realized the urgency and he promptly referred me to specialists that I should see. After I left, he personally called me to let me know what he found with my test results and it was not good news. When I told him I couldn't see the doctor for a week or so, he said he would make some calls to see what he could do. I had an appt the next morning at 8am. Most doctors would have just told me see what I could do to get an earlier appt and go to the ER if something bad happened. Dr. Ferrara found a specialist who wasn't currently seeing patients the next day, helped get me an appt within 24 hours and by all accounts probably saved my life with his quick action. PS - his nurse while I was at the office was super sweet and professional. 

After Dr. Ferrara reached out to the other side of the clinic, you took me in outside of normal practice hours to make sure I was taken care of (as a first time patient no less!). I was met by a friendly front office team and then greeted by someone (Matt or Mark I think) to tell me all about the clinic and to provide me a full range of services offered and the mission of AbsoluteCare. I have been seeing doctors for 16 years - this level of attention was a first. Dr. Rosenstock and Mary Burns took their time, tested EVERYTHING, and made me feel like I was going to be okay. They took the stress of this type of a visit off of my mind so I could focus on my health. I am eternally grateful. I know Dr. Rosenstock won't be my long term physician as he was seeing me due to the urgency of my health issue, but knowing he is leading the organization gives me confidence that my health and well-being is a genuine concern and a priority of the team. 

I was terrified, and still am, but I feel like you guys are here with me and I can't thank you all enough for that. I am not sure everything will be okay but I feel like you won't stop until it is. 

I am rarely blown away by customer service in any industry but you guys were masterfully solicitous with my care. Thank you!”

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When a patient takes the time to let us know that we are doing a great job, it means the world to us. We are proud to offer our very best care and expertise to the Greater Atlanta area, and when you come to Urgent Care at Peachtree and Absolute Care, you can expect nothing less than the best! Urgent Care at Peachtree is Atlanta’s only ER Doctor owned and operated urgent care open until 10:30pm daily. And, we are the only Urgent Care in Atlanta offering concierge House Call services powered by MedZed. We truly hope you don't need us, but if you do, we are here for you...night AND day!

What is heat stroke, how can you protect yourself from it and how is it treated?

Urgent Care at Peachtree was proud to serve as the first aid staff for the BB&T Atlanta Tennis Open last week.  It was a scorching week on the court and in the stands.  Since we are likely to have more high heat index days before this Summer is over, we wanted to remind everyone that heat exhaustion can happen even when you are just watching a sporting event. 

To illustrate this point, click here to see the footage that ESPN captured of Dr. Ferrara and the Urgent Care at Peachtree medical team assisting an overheated fan at the tennis tournament. 

Whether you are on the court, at the park or in the stands, you can be overcome by heatstroke quickly, so read over the below from The Mayo Clinic and stay hydrated when you are sizzling in the Summer sun!

Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious complications or death.

Heatstroke symptoms include:

• High body temperature. A body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher is the main sign of heatstroke.
• Altered mental state or behavior. Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke.
• Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry to the touch. However, in heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercise, your    skin may feel moist.
• Nausea and vomiting. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit.
• Flushed skin. Your skin may turn red as your body temperature increases.
• Rapid breathing. Your breathing may become rapid and shallow.
• Racing heart rate. Your pulse may significantly increase because heat stress places a tremendous burden on your heart to help cool your body.
• Headache. Your head may throb.

If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help. Call 911 or your local emergency services number.

Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment.

• Get the person into shade or indoors.
• Remove excess clothing.
• Cool the person with whatever means available — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits and groin.

Fourth of July Fireworks Fun and Safety

Although the Fourth of July is truly meant to celebrate our country's independence with extravagant fireworks displays and great fanfare, it is also an opportunity for individuals to put on their own backyard celebrations.  Before this year, Georgians were relegated to sparklers and smaller fireworks without much bang.  New laws went into effect today allowing Georgians to purchase and play with the larger fireworks that before were only available in neighboring states.  For more information on those new laws, click here to watch this 11 Alive news segment. 

While this may mean more fun for the Fourth of July, it also means more danger for those who don't handle their fireworks safely.  After decades of working in Emergency Rooms across the country and in the Metro Atlanta area, the ER Doctors at Urgent Care at Peachtree are all too familiar with the dangers of fireworks.  Dr. Ferrara said, "We have seen burns and massive wounds and even life and limb-threatening injuries as a result of fireworks mishandling.  All of those could have been avoided with some simple precautions."

With that in mind, Urgent Care at Peachtree is sharing a great infographic here that was put together by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission about fireworks injuries and safety.

"We want everyone to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate on the Fourth of July...we just want them to do it safely," says Dr. Ferrara.  

Everyone at Urgent Care at Peachtree hopes you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Is it Spring Allergies or a Sinus Infection?

It’s raining pollen in Atlanta, and you can’t stop sneezing.  How can you tell if your symptoms are related to allergies or if you might have something more serious, like a sinus infection?

According to Dr. Anthony Ferrara at Urgent Care at Peachtree, here are some symptoms that are likely to indicate allergies:



• Watery Eyes
• Stuffy Nose
• Sneezing
• Loss of smell or taste
• Cold symptoms that last for more than 10 days with no fever
• Constant sniffling
• Dark circles under the eyes

If these are your only symptoms, it is most likely an allergy.

Allergies are simply your immune system reacting to foreign substances, like pollen.  When your immune system reacts to pollen, it releases histamines causing a myriad of different symptoms.

On the other hand, Dr. Ferrara says that sinus infections result from blocked mucous becoming infected with bacteria.  And, severe upper respiratory allergies can lead to a sinus infection.  The symptoms for sinus infection include:

• Facial or dental pain
• Headache
• Sensation of pressure
• Congestion
• Green nasal discharge
• Eye pain
• Fever
• Malaise
• Bad breath
• Nighttime cough

Sinus infections are often the result of a cold or allergies that have been present for at least 10 days.

Regardless of the cause of your sinus symptoms, if they last more than 4 days, you should see a doctor to ensure that you don’t have a medical issue that needs treatment.

With so much pollen in the air, if you do suffer from allergies, remember to wash your hair, face and hands and change your clothes after being outside to help reduce the amount of pollen you are exposed to in the Spring.  It may be raining pollen outside, but you don’t have to bring it in with you!