5 Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu

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As flu and respiratory season approaches, we’re answering the top 5 Frequently Asked Questions we get most!

  1. What are the symptoms of the flu?

The flu commonly presents with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and headache. Some individuals may also experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. ExperCARE is open 7 days a week with extended hours and can help determine the best course of action for you. You never need an appointment, but can book ahead for your convenience.

  1. How long does the flu last?

The duration of flu symptoms can vary from person to person. In general, the flu can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks. It is crucial to rest, stay hydrated, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for a speedy recovery.

  1. How is the flu spread?

The flu is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes. Practicing good hand hygiene, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals can help prevent the spread of the flu.

  1. Who is at risk of complications from the flu?

Certain individuals are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying health conditions. It is important for individuals in these groups to take extra precautions, such as getting an annual flu vaccine, to help protect against the virus.

  1. How can I prevent the flu?

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting an annual flu vaccine. Additionally, practicing good hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces, can help reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu.

Note: It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and information about the flu. ExperCARE is here for you. Walk-in 7 days a week or schedule an appointment today and meet with one of our ExperCARE providers.

For more information about the flu, visit the CDC website.

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ExperCARE founder and CEO, Catherine Grant discusses COVID-19, vaccines, testing and more on Savannah Morning News

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Recently, ExperCARE founder and CEO, Catherine Grant, set aside some time to meet with Savannah Morning New’s Adam Van Brimmer to discuss COVID-19, vaccines, testing and more! Tune in to “The Commute” or read the transcription here!

The following is an excerpt from a “The Commute” podcast interview with ExperCare CEO Catherine C. Grant. ExperCare is a Savannah-area medical urgent care provider.. Comments have been condensed in the interest of space. Full episodes are available at SavannahNow.com/podcasts or through mobile device podcast apps by searching “The Commute with @SavannahOpinion”.

Question: The COVID-19 news is coming fast and furious these days. The Pfizer vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA, and at the same time the delta variant is causing a surge in cases and hospitalizations. When somebody asks you, ‘You’re in the health care field, what do I really need to know right now?’ what do you tell them?

Catherine Grant: “The hardest thing about it is we’re all hearing a lot of different statistics and a lot of things that are being presented as evidence. So it’s hard to know what to believe and how it applies to you. We’ve been working through this pandemic since March of last year and been involved in everything from testing to vaccinating to treating patients. We share the unanimous position of area health care providers that what we’re experiencing right now is unlike what we have seen prior. The demand for health care and for testing is exceeding the capacity of our health care system right now, whether its at point-of-care places such as urgent cares or primary care offices or pediatricians offices or hospitals. So the most important thing we can focus on is what we can do right now to mitigate the spread of this illness that’s burdening the health care system. We need to do everything we can to slow it down a bit and allow the health care system to catch up.”

Q: Your urgent care centers have been working with the state since the start in performing COVID-19 testing, and of all the disturbing stats we’ve seen lately, the percentage of positive tests is one of the most telling. What’s going on there?

CG: “We’re definitely seeing an exponential increase in the demand for testing. We track our data very carefully, and as of the middle of July, we were seeing positivity rates that were very low, below 5%. Since then the rate has climbed, and for the first three weeks of August, it’s been over 20%, sometimes even getting as high as 25%. That means our community transmission is high, and people are infecting others whether they know it or not.”

Q: Let’s take this opportunity to talk a little bit about the testing. There’s a lot of myths or exaggerations about the COVID-19 tests and about how effective they are, how accurate they are. What do people need to know about these COVID tests and their accuracy?

CG: “First, tests are just tools that help us in making decisions. So there are different types of testing: Rapid antigen testing and PCR testing. Rapid testing can mean a whole lot of different things but most people think of it in terms of getting an answer quickly. PCR testing, on the other hand, is typically performed in a lab but there are some point-of-care providers who can do PCR testing as well. Rapid antigen testing is very, very reliable, especially when you already have symptoms, and PCR testing is very reliable when the specimen is taken properly and you make sure you have a piece of that viral matter.

“The big takeaway is like anything else, a COVID test is not 100% and should be taken in context of everything else that’s going on. For example, if you develop a fever and a cough and you’ve recently had a negative test, remember that test is just a snapshot in time. You may need another COVID test. You may need a flu test. You may need to be checked for some other illness entirely. Testing is helping us in terms of making clinical decisions and helping us identify people who, whether they have symptoms or not, could potentially be spreading the virus.”

Link to Video:

https://www.savannahnow.com/videos/opinion/2021/08/26/covid-19-testing-what-know-chatham-bryan-effingham-georgia/5605047001/

Link to Transcription:

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/opinion/2021/09/02/covid-19-delta-variant-swamping-health-care-system-patients-seek-testing-treatment-vaccine-pfizer/5686318001/?fbclid=IwAR3xWf-cAKil1FDQJB1GunT786l_B90acFTK0_5k2KiftXfLdj3Mb-Dn7gc

Link to Audio:

https://omny.fm/shows/from-the-newsroom-savannah-now/the-commute-august-26-catherine-c-grant-on-what-yo

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ExperCARE Donates Thousands of Hand Sanitizers to Area Churches for Holiday Services

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ExperCARE is proud to have recently donated over 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to area churches ahead of their holiday services.

They say their primary concern is their patient’s health and wellbeing. “2020 has been a year of challenge and change for every business, family and person,” said ExperCARE CEO and founder Catherine Grant. “ExperCARE is grateful for the patients who choose us as their first choice for on demand healthcare. We want everyone to do their part to keep safe during the holidays and we’re happy to help in this small way.”

In an effort to spread holiday cheer and promote hand hygiene, ExperCARE is thankful for the opportunity to deliver hand-held hand sanitizers to 25 different churches in the Savannah and Richmond Hill area.

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My COVID-19 Memories: A TimeCapsule Workbook

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Attention Parents & Teachers! “Stay-at-Home” Learning has provided so many unique memories for each of us, as families, and we want to help you document them! ExperCARE has created the perfect activity for you and your kids this week! We’ve created an interactive COVID-19 Kids Memory Book! Download, and print! It’s super-easy, kid-friendly and FUN!

We couldn’t leave out any of the parents, young adults, and seniors. We know you guys also want to get in on all the fun, so download a more adult-friendly version of our COVID-19 Adult Memory Book.

We’d love to see some of your masterpieces… Take photos and share with us by tagging @expercareuc

 

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Access to Award-Winning Care During COVID-19 Pandemic

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WTOC goes behind the scenes with us to show how we’re continuing to provide award-winning access to care for anyone in need, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you WTOC for your coverage! Check out the full story here:  https://www.wtoc.com/2020/04/02/urgent-care-facilities-changing-procedures-still-aim-help-patients-quickly/

“One of the things that we’ve done well is responding to, how do we take care of people while also minimizing risk for our team? Also looking at, what are the different ways we can see people that may be a little outside of the box considering current circumstances,” ExperCARE CEO Catherine Grant said.

 

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and want testing or think you have been exposed to someone who has it and aren’t sure what to do next, ExperCARE is here for you!

“We can see them virtually and sometimes the whole thing can be taken care of virtually. However if they have respiratory symptoms, if they have a cough, if they have a fever or if they have other respiratory complaints, sore throat, we’re actually seeing all respiratory complaints outside of the clinic and we’re going to see people in their cars,” Grant said.

 

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