From Fox 17 News: Having Flu Doesn't Mean You Can't Get it Again

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Right now, several school districts in Tennessee are closed tomorrow due to widespread flu.

The CDC says there have been more than 60 pediatric flu related deaths nationwide. Six children and one pregnant woman have died in Tennessee this flu season, according to the state health department.

It's busy season for Dr. Ty Babcock with Physicians Urgent Care in the mid-state.

The CDC latest data show the week of January 20, about 1 in 10 deaths for adults are due to pneumonia and influenza this year.

Dr. Ty Babcock with Physicians Urgent Care says, "Big risks for secondary infection certainly bacterial infections, pneumonia is the big one we always worry about. I heard a term a called rebound flu recently on social media. Medically, I don't know what that is but I assume they're talking about is people trying to go back to work too soon, or try to keep pushing through the flu, or catch a secondary infection like pneumonia or sinus infection, ear infection and they suddenly get sicker for 4 or 5 days."

Dr. Babcok says if you're still running a fever, you're still contagious. Take time to heal or it could take longer for you to feel...better.

"There are a lot more people catching the flu, Just because you've had it once, doesn't mean you can't get it again. I 've actually diagnosed flu twice in the same patients a couple of times this year, so continue to use the same precautions," adds Dr. Babcock.

Click here to watch the full news segment

 

From Fox 17 News: Middle Tennessee Woman Shares Her Flu Experience as Illness Remains Widespread

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Mid-State employee opened up about what it was like missing a week of work with Influenza A.

Rachel Smith, 33, is finally nearing that 100 percent mark — that point after the flu where you finally feel like yourself again.

”I haven’t had the flu since I was 13," Smith said. "I get the flu shot regularly, so to have to feel as bad as I did, practically laying down on my desk I just couldn’t move...It was surreal for me to have to call in and say I need help, I can’t, I’m not going to be there for I don’t know how long."

Smith, who says she hardly gets sick, missed nearly a week of work because of the flu.

"It just blows my mind because literally that’s not my norm," Smith said. "I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent healthy. I have allergies, and have regular things living in the basin here, but the severeness of the flu...I would wish that on no one. It hurt."

Across the country, people of all ages and medical backgrounds have contracted the Influenza A H3N2 strain. It's a strain that doctor Ty Babcock with Physicians Urgent Care in West Nashville says happens less frequently so that’s why this year has been more severe .

“Anytime that more numbers of people are getting the flu, more people will die from the flu," Babcock said. "There have been some reported of middle age younger, healthier people who died, which happens every year."

Dr. Babcock said people should take precautions even if they're had the flu before.

“The flu is a severe disease, and you could be prone to catch it even if you don’t get one of the severe complications," Babcock said. "If you catch it, you’re probably going to be out of work for a week."

Click here to watch the full segment

 

From The Tennessean: ER doctor-owned urgent care clinic to open in West Nashville

Holly Fletcher, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 5:22 p.m. CT Nov. 6, 2017

An urgent care clinic owned by local emergency room physicians is on track to open in West Nashville later this month.

Physicians Urgent Care will be open seven days a week for people who need treatment for minor issues for which an emergency room trip is not necessary, said Dr. Ty Babcock, managing partner and one of seven physician co-owners.

The Charlotte Pike location, part of the H.G. Hill Park phase of the Nashville West development, is the chain's fourth clinic — and a completely new market for the physicians. There are two in Franklin, the first of which opened in 2011, and one in Brentwood.

Babcock said West Nashville, where he lives, is ideal for a clinic because the area exploded in population and transformed in recent years.

The team was looking for a place with visibility as well as easy parking and entry.  The clinic will be in a standalone building visible from the road and the Nashville West shopping center.

"We think it has the potential to be one of our busiest clinics," he said.

The physicians who founded the chain wanted to give people who need quick care a venue other than the emergency room for a variety of problems, including broken bones, cuts that need stitches and the flu.

Six of the seven co-owners work in Saint Thomas Health emergency rooms, although there is no affiliation between the clinics and the health system, said Babcock.

People often visit when they couldn't get a timely appointment with their primary care provider or because they haven't been able to find a primary care office taking new patients, Babcock said.

The clinic encourages people to follow up on issues with primary care and doesn't want to be a primary care provider, Babcock said. But the urgent care clinic wants to be a resource for people who need treatment.

"I think there are enough people that we need more clinics,” said Babcock. "You don’t see too many urgent care or providers going out of business."

With the increasing number of people in high deductible plans, there's a growing need for affordable places of care, he said. The clinics take most private insurance companies but not TennCare, and lists its self-pay prices online.

"Getting some medical care for something is better than getting no medial care at all, our desire is not to do primary care,” said Babcock. "I think we do keep quite a few people out of the ER.”

Click here for the full article from the Tennessean

 

From The Nashville Post: Urgent Care Clinic for Nashville West

By Geert De Lombaerde, Nov 6, 2017

Physicians Urgent Care will this fall open a clinic in the Nashville West shopping center on Charlotte Pike. The location will be the six-year-old Franklin-based company’s fourth and its first north of Brentwood.

“My family and I are West Nashville residents, and we look forward to bringing our unique walk-in clinic concept to our neighbors,” said Ty Babcock, managing partner of Physicians Urgent Care.

The Nashville West clinic will be in H.G. Hill Park, the newest phase of Nashville West that is anchored by the historic Richland log home. It will feature on-site X-ray capabilities, labs and procedure rooms to handle common illnesses and minor trauma cases.

Click here to view the full article on the Nashville Post website

 

Dr. Babcock wrote an article for the Music City Moms Blog to discuss proper handwashing to prevent the spread of illness during the holidays:

Make Handwashing Part of Holiday Travel
Posted: Nov 21, 2017 

Traveling over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house can expose your kids to lots and lots of germs.

Think about all the things they’ll come in contact with — public bathrooms, airline food trays, remote controls, theater seat armrests, escalator handles, elevator buttons, shopping carts and more. Not to mention sneezing, coughing, runny-nosed cousins. All of these are breeding grounds for germs.

And parents, here’s one for you — University of Arizona research found that 71% of gas pump handles are contaminated with germs that can make you ill.

Since 80% of infections are spread by hand, the holiday season is a great time for parents to make sure kids wash their hands often and thoroughly, which is a proven healthy habit. Research has found that kids who wash their hands as least four times per day have 24% fewer sick days from colds, flu and similar illnesses and 51% fewer sick days from stomach ailments.

So, when should kids wash their hands?
• Before they eat
• Before putting in contacts
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing their noses, or coughing or sneezing into their hands
• After feeding, playing with, or cleaning up after their pets
• After taking out the garbage (congratulations if you can get them to do it!)
• After playing outdoors or being out in public

Teach kids the right way to wash their hands and make it easy for them to do it themselves, like getting a step stool so little ones can reach the sink.

And yes, there is a right way to wash, according to the CDC. Wet hands with clean running water, apply soap and lather by rubbing hands together with soap. Scrub all surfaces including palms, backs, fingers, between fingers and under nails. Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds (just hum “Happy Birthday” twice). Rinse under clean, running water and dry with a clean towel or air dryer.

Of course, while you’re traveling you may not be able to wash hands at a sink, so carry anti-bacterial wipes with you. Make sure you find a brand that guarantees to kill 99.9 percent of germs and can serve as a hand and surface wipe.

One more tip for keeping little hands germ-free. Instead of covering their mouths with their hands when they cough, teach kids to use their upper arm, kind of like Dracula holding his cape in front of his face.

Happy holidays, and may your travels be safe and germ-free.

Click here to view the full article on the Music City Moms Blog

 

Dr. Babcock was featured on WZTV Fox 17 morning news to dispel some major flu myths:

Flu season: Health officials say don't wait too long to get vaccine

Posted: Oct 30, 2017 6:49 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--With flu season upon us, the Tennessee Department of Health is calling on residents to get informed and vaccinated.

The flu vaccine is already available at county health departments, medical clinics, and pharmacies. The TDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises everyone over six-months-old get the vaccine, as well as pregnant women.

The CDC advises only getting the injectable vaccine and not nasal sprays. Brian Todd with the Tennessee Health Department says the biggest mistake made by residents is waiting too long to get the vaccine. Todd says it's common to see an uptick in flu cases in December when people increase travel for the holiday season.

Click here to see one of Dr. Babcock's flu myth segments!

 

Dr. Babcock wrote an article for the Music City Moms Blog to discuss flu prevention:

Your Kids and the Flu: Prevention is the Best Medicine
Posted: Oct 3, 2017 

Seems like summer has barely ended, but guess what? We’re almost in flu season. The exact timing and duration of the season can vary, but typically the flu starts showing up in October, with peak season between December and February.

It’s not always easy to tell if your child has the flu, since it tends to come on fast.

Symptoms generally include:

• A high-grade fever up to 104 degrees
• Chills and shakes with the fever
• Extreme tiredness
• Headache and body aches
• Dry, hacking cough
• Sore throat
• Vomiting and belly pain

If your child has these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a medical provider to rule out other conditions, such as strep, pneumonia or ear infections. If it is the flu, some providers may recommend antiviral medicines like Tamiflu, but I have found them to be ineffective and rarely prescribe them for children. Unfortunately, once little ones have the flu, all you can do is help them feel better as it runs its course. Make sure they get plenty of rest and liquids, and you can use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever and minimize aches. Both are available in children’s versions.

Get a flu shot

Of course, the best way to fight the flu is to prevent it with a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control says anyone six months and older should get one. Moms, don’t forget a flu shot for yourself, too.

Other preventative measures

The flu is highly contagious and spreads when you inhale or come in contact with droplets from coughs and sneezes from an infected person. It spreads particularly well in close quarters, like school classrooms, and when kids share things like pencils and toys or play tag or engage in other physical contact.

Unfortunately, kids can be contagious a day before their flu symptoms start (all the more reason to get a flu shot!). But to help fight the spread of the flu to your child and others, there are a few basic steps to take:

• Avoid close contact with kids you know are sick.
• Keep children home if you suspect they have the flu.
• Help kids practice good habits, like covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough, and washing hands with soap and water regularly.
• Clean and disinfect toys, school supplies and other items kids tend to share.

When it comes to the flu, prevention is the best medicine. With a flu shot and some healthy habits, you and your family should be able to get through the flu season just fine.

Click here to see the full text from Music City Moms Blog

 

From The Tennessean: Physicians Urgent Care opens second Franklin clinic

By Alex Hubbard, USA Today Network - Tennessee - Published 5:46 p.m. CT Aug. 18, 2017

Franklin has gained another option for walk-in urgent care.

Physicians Urgent Care has opened a location in the Berry Farms development. It is the clinic's second in Franklin and third in Williamson County, joining one in Brentwood.

The urgent care clinic can handle most nonemergency needs, like common colds, as well as minor traumas such as sprains and dislocations. The clinic advertises a relaxed atmosphere offering soft drinks and snacks, as well as colorful and entertaining exam rooms to keep children comfortable.

“Care in our clinics is either directly provided by or coordinated through specially trained ER physicians, who bring an added level of expertise to our patients,” Dr. Ty Babcock said. “At the same time, the average length of a visit is about 40 minutes, and our costs are a fraction of what you’d see in a hospital ER.”

The clinic is at 5021 Hughes Crossing, Suite 165. It is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

Click here to see the full text from The Tennessean

 

From Franklin Home Page: Physicians Urgent Care opens walk-in clinic at Berry Farms

By David Walsh - Date: August 18, 2017

Physicians Urgent Care, a group of walk-in clinics with care directed by emergency room physicians, has opened a new location in the Berry Farms Town Center, 5021 Hughes Crossing, Suite 165 in Franklin.

The walk-in clinic is the third Physicians Urgent Care facility in the Brentwood-Franklin area and is the latest amenity in Berry Farms, a 600-acre mixed-use master planned community that eventually will occupy three of the four corners of Peytonsville Road/Goose Creek Bypass and I-65 in south Franklin with residences, offices, a supermarket and other retail stores

Physicians Urgent Care treats patients with non-life- threatening emergencies. Locally owned by Board-Certified Emergency Room physicians, the clinics can treat a majority of cases normally seen in a hospital emergency room, without the high cost or long wait times.
“Berry Farms is a new, up-and- coming community with lots of families, the perfect match for our clinics,” said Dr. Ty Babcock from Physicians Urgent Care. “Patients will love our convenient hours and our unique pediatric rooms designed especially for kids.”

The clinic is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Physicians Urgent Care clinics are designed to look more like living rooms than doctor’s offices, with free snacks and soft drinks. Colorful pediatrics rooms feature toys, games, televisions and low seating to make children feel more at home.

"Care in our clinics is either directly provided by or coordinated through specially trained ER physicians, who bring an added level of expertise to our patients,” Babcock said. “At the same time, the average length of a visit is about 40 minutes, and our costs are a fraction of what you’d see in a hospital ER.”

Physicians Urgent Care clinics have on-site X-ray capabilities, labs and procedure rooms. The clinics can treat a variety of illnesses from colds, allergies and infections to bronchitis and pneumonia. They can also handle minor trauma; burns and cuts; insect bites; fractures, sprains and dislocations; and work-related injuries. Physical exams, including sports physicals, are also offered.

“No appointment is necessary, you can walk in at any time,” Babcock said. “Or you can call us and always speak to a real person who can answer your questions.”

In addition to Berry Farms, Physicians Urgent Care has two other locations — 155 Covey Drive, Suite 100 in Franklin; and 700 Old Hickory Blvd, Suite 207 in south Nashville near Brentwood. A fourth location in Nashville West is set to open later this year. Most private insurance is accepted. For more information, visit www.PhysiciansUrgentCare.com.