 TCU student diagnosed with RUBELLA Thursday AUGUST 27, 2015. Fort Worth Star-Telegram A Texas Christian University student has been diagnosed with the communicable virus rubella, also called German measles. Tarrant County Public Health officials confirmed the case late Thursday afternoon. The student doesn't live on campus. The student with rubella had recently traveled through a region known to have measles cases, health officials said. The virus is dangerous for non-immune pregnant women because it can cause serious birth defects or end the pregnancy, according to a statement issued by Tarrant County officials. The virus is spread by contact through coughing or sneezing. Half of people who have the virus do not have symptoms. Rubella causes a low fever and a rash in children that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Older children and adults may have cold symptoms and swollen glands before a rash appears. Aching joints may occur, especially in young women. Symptoms last 2 or 3 days. A person is contagious 10 days before the onset of the rash until 1 to 2 weeks after the rash is gone. Rubella complications. While the disease is often mild in people who are not pregnant, it can be very serious for pregnant women. Up to 90% of babies whose mothers had rubella during the first 3 months of pregnancy can develop congenital rubella syndrome, which can come with these problems (Source: Mayo Clinic): • Growth issues • Mental issues • Deafness • Congenital heart defects, and defects in other organs • Cataracts Dear Friends, If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, please have your rubella titer checked to be sure you have immunity. Take care, Dr. Zomnir  I want to take a moment and say thank you to God, my family, friends, and patients for making our practice a success. I'm eternally grateful, and I feel blessed every day.
Thank you! As a doctor, I've often seen death. I've seen things I can't unsee. When you ask a doctor, "What's the worst thing you've ever seen?" chances are, they will not tell you. They will give you a funny little story that turned out well for the patient. The first time I saw death, something surprised me. There were no flashing lights, intense music, people rushing around - all those things you see on television. What struck me was how "undramatic" it was. One moment the patient was here, and the next they were gone. I remember little things about the patients I've lost over the years. I remember the longjohns one man was wearing; I imagined he never thought today would be his last when he put those on under his coveralls. I remember a surgical scar on a man's abdomen, thinking his body will never have a chance to heal again. The grass on the bottom of a women's tennis shoes - she was working the yard when she had a heart attack. The scrape on my dad's knuckle that never got a chance to heal. I'll never forget.
 As many of you know, I recently attended Dr. Pamela Wible's Live Your Dream conference at the gorgeous Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon. I gave a talk on the nuts and bolts of opening a medical practice. I was there to teach, but I learned so much! Thank you to all the wonderful doctors, naturopaths, and nurse practioners who shared your stories and your knowledge. And thank you to all my fantastic patients! I find myself thinking about your stories and all the things you have taught me along the way. I look forward to our journey together in knowledge and health :-)
 Drowning does not look like it does in the movies. A drowning adult or child does not raise up their hands and shout for help. Drowning is silent. The victim may appear to be tilting their head back or climbing an invisible ladder in the water. They are too panicked to raise their arms out of the water. As summer approaches, and the weather warms up, please take precautions to keep your loved ones safe. Practice "touch supervision" for children. This means that a supervising adult should be within arm's length of the child with full attention focused on the child at all times when she is in or near water. Here's some more information on drowning prevention and emergency care in case of drowning: Prevent Drowning
In the current insurance-driven medical model, doctors are "dinged" by insurance companies if they prescribe a branded medication that it is not on your formulary. Sometimes doctors feel like they can't prescribe a particular medication for you due to the fear of being put on an insurance list. This sounds like insurance companies are practicing medicine, right? Wouldn't you rather your doctor make the decision about which medication you should be taking? Yeah, I thought so too.
At an insurance clinic, sick visits and well visits have to be on separate days since they involve different "codes." This is sometimes confusing for patients who would like to discuss more than one concern at their visit. At our clinic, patients can discuss multiple concerns at their visit. In fact, they can discuss whatever they want! And, as a patient recently discovered, patients can have a allergy visit and pap smear at the same time! Why take two days off work when you don't have to?
Welcome to the new age of medicine. Stop feeling like a "code" and start feeling like a patient again! This week I visited a patient in her home after a long stent in the hospital and outpatient rehabilitation. It is such a joy and a privilege to see patients in their own environment. I love connecting with their 4-legged children as well :-) So much fun!
At Zomnir Family Medicine, we love our patients and want to care for them through the good times and the hard times. That's why we've started a Silver Sponsor program. This program allows patients to sponsor other patients who may have trouble affording the cost of their membership due to financial hardship, illness, job loss, or other reasons. Thank you to our sponsors! 
According to a systematic review in this month's Annals of Internal Medicine, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig seem to be the most effective commercial weight loss plans. Here's the link:
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2214178
That being said, I believe eating real food (avoid the processed/fast stuff when possible) in moderation is the way to go. Good luck!
|
AuthorDr. Zomnir is a family doctor who has chosen to step out of the fray and care for patients with love and compassion. Archives
February 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed