April 9, 2023, Happy Easter, Happy Passover!

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Your Weekly COVID-19 Updates

Paradise Valley Medical Clinic,

Douglas M. Lakin, M.D.

Kaitlin A. Kraemer, M.S., PA-C

9977 N 90th Street, Suite 180, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

480.614.5800 (phone), 480.614.6322 (Fax)

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ATTN PATIENTS:

Dr. Lakin is using FaceTime ,
WhatsApp and Zoom to connect with you
for a 'Telehealth' visit. You can connect using your iPad, iPhone, Android phone, a laptop, or a PC with a camera.

Please watch these videos so you can be prepared and know how to connect with Dr. Lakin for a 'Telehealth' visit.

CLICK ON THE PICTURES

Our New Extended Phone Hours

We have extended our office phone hours to better serve you. Our new phone hours are 7:15am - 11:30am, and 1pm - 4pm, Monday - Thursday.


Please contact us at 480.614.5800 or see our website for more information

FROM THE DOC

April 9, 2023


THE CROWDS ARE GONE…AND VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE MASKING, BUT THE VIRUS REMAINS AROUND……IT’S NOT FINISHED WITH US…ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID YET.

 

 CONSIDER WEARING A GOOD MASK (KN95 OR N95) SELECTIVELY AT BUSY INDOOR LOCATIONS TO STAY HEALTHY. IF GOOD VENTILATION, OPEN SPACES…NO NEED TO MASK AS A GENERAL RULE.

 

CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND GO OUT AND ABOUT AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE…… AND YOU SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO.

  

AN ADDITIONAL COVID SHOT WILL BE APPROVED VERY SOON BY THE FDA. THIS WILL BE OPTIONAL FOR THOSE OVER 65 YEARS OLD.

CONSIDER GETTING AN ADDITIONAL BOOSTER IF:

 

YOU ARE OVER 65 AND HAVE NOT HAD COVID

 

YOU ARE AT HIGHER RISK DUE TO ILLNESS/MEDICATION (ANY AGE) AND HAVE NOT HAD COVID.

 

IF YOU HAVE HAD COVID OVER 4 MONTHS AGO AND WISH TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY.

 

YOU ARE TRAVELING EXTENSIVELY IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS OR ARE GOING TO LARGE FAMILY EVENTS.


IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID AND NOT HAD 5 SHOTS…AND ARE OVER 65…THE DATA IS COMPELLING THAT ADDITIONAL SHOTS WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.

 

FLU IS ON THE DECLINE AND LEAVING THE VALLEY.   RSV IS LOW…

 

COVID REMAINS STABLE IN ARIZONA AT MODERATE LEVELS.   WE ARE STILL SEEING 10 CASES OF COVID PER WEEK AMONG OUR PATIENTS AND MOSTLY AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET HAD COVID.  

 

 

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET ANOTHER COVID BOOSTER. DATA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT IT’S USE AND BENEFITS.

IF YOU ARE OVER 65 YOU SHOULD GET 5 SHOTS IN TOTAL…. THE DATA SUPPORTS THIS.


**Read Dr. Lakin's Full April 9th,

Comments. . . CLICK HERE

TOP PODCAST DONE WEEKLY

BY DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM

(UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA)  

 

He is a world-renowned epidemiologist who was credited with first elucidating TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME in the 1980’s.

He provides comprehensive and understandable/actionable ideas related to COVID.

 

Dr. Osterholm Update: COVID-19

April 6, 2023


https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/episode-128-light-end-tough-two-weeks


'A Light at the End of a Tough Two Weeks'

In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world, the latest news on vaccines, and the current Marburg virus outbreaks in Africa. Dr. Osterholm also answers two COVID queries and shares a beautiful place from one of our listeners.




According to Dr. Osterholm……


  • 5 VACCINATIONS IS THE MAXIMUM AT THIS TIME.  I ANTICIPATE THEY WILL RECOMMEND EITHER ONCE A YEAR OR TWICE A YEAR VACCINATIONS BUT WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR.
  • A GOOD MASK, N95 OF KN95, DOES HELP REDUCE TRANSMISSION…. USE IT AT HIGH-RISK LOCATIONS
  • GOOD VENTILATION IN ROOMS/HOME/BUSINESSES IS A GREAT WAY TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION
  • VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE…THIS IS OUR PROTECTION.  ALL VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AND WITH TIME WE ARE SEEING THAT THE J&J VACCINE IS PICKING UP STEAM AND GIVES SOLID LONG-TERM PROTECTION.
  • BOOST, BOOST, BOOST…THIS WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RECURRING SURGE AND TO RAISE ANTIBODY LEVELS IN THOSE ALREADY SET WITH THE PRIMARY COVID VACCINE SERIES.
  • ANTIGEN TESTING IS USEFUL, BUT OF LIMITED VALUE. DON’T DEPEND ON IT…BUT USE IT.


Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection.  Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.

Another COVID-19 Booster Shot May Be Coming. . . . . But Interest Is Waning

As government officials close the book on the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities are turning their attention to the next chapter of the vaccination campaign.


Though nothing is etched in stone, federal officials are considering the authorization of another booster shot this spring.


The timing of that decision — and who would be eligible — remains unclear. But for older residents or those with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to develop a severe COVID-19 illness, another booster could provide peace of mind and an additional jolt of protection.


Read more here. . .


After you received your COVID vaccinations, please let us know!

We would like to document this information into your chart.



BUT FIRST.......

PLEASE COMPLETE THE INFORMATION ON THE CARD BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO US!

What we need:

  1. Your name
  2. Date vaccination received
  3. Brand name
  4. Lot number if available
  5. Which dose you have received


**Email your COVID vaccine completed info HERE


Mask Policy in Our Office

At our office, we are continuing to follow CDC guidelines and will strive for ways to keep our patients and staff safe.



We recommend that all unvaccinated and vaccinated patients and visitors entering our office cover their nose and mouth at all times.


To prevent further spread of the Delta & Omicron variants, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on March 21, 2022, to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of Covid-19.


We have a limited supply of paper masks and will make these available to patients while they last, however, we encourage you to bring your own facial covering.



We Are Here to Take Care of Your Healthcare Needs.
We Are Here to Serve!
 
Our office is using all techniques to reduce exposure to a minimum during your visit. These include: 
·       Temperature checks of all patients and staff.
·       Masks for all people in the office.
·       Cleansing of hands and surfaces repeatedly.
·       Multiple Super-HEPA filters to filter out potential virus and particles in the office.
·       High Level UV light air cleansing in the office to eliminate bacteria and viruses in the air.
  
OUR OFFICE SCHEDULE
 
DOORS OPEN     
7AM - 4PM Monday through Thursday
7AM - 11AM Friday
 
IN OFFICE
APPOINTMENTS: MONDAY – THURSDAY
7AM – 11:15AM & 1PM – 3:30PM
 
APPOINTMENTS: FRIDAY
7AM – 10:30 AM
 
DR. LAKIN WILL CONTINUE ‘TELEHEALTH’ VISITS WITH FaceTime, WhatsApp or ZOOM WHEN NEEDED.
Dr. Lakin's Info For COVID-19 Kit &
Recommended Treatments

SUMMARY OF A COVID KIT & CHECK LIST:

 

This is what you should have at home to prepare for possible COVID, to monitor yourself if you were to get infected:

 

DIGITAL ORAL THERMOMETER: MANY BRANDS ARE FINE…HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-Reading-Waterproof-Indicator/dp/B087T3S4TR/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=THERMOMETER&qid=1597159324&sr=8-6

 

PULSE OXIMETER:  TO CHECK OXYGEN LEVELS. MANY BRANDS ARE FINE...HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Innovo-Fingertip-Oximeter-Plethysmograph-Perfusion/dp/B07YVGZPRZ/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=PULSE+OXI&qid=1597159388&sr=8-20

 

OTHER ITEMS FROM THE HOME MEDICAL KIT:

 

·       TYLENOL, ADVIL, OR ALEVE

·       Sudafed 30mg tablets

·       Chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets

·       Robitussin DM syrup

·       Imodium AD


**CLICK HERE TO READ COMPLETE INFORMATION