WINTER NEWSLETTER

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Winter 2005

Newsletter Contents:
Reminder about "Open Access"
The Healthy Lung Initiative

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR

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We would like to remind you of our open access scheduling during the winter cold and flu season. What this means is that, in order to serve our patients better, we hold appointment slots open to allow for same-day visits that are more urgent in nature. Our commitment to you is that if you call by noon, we guarantee that you will be seen the same day. Furthermore, because the treatment for the flu is time sensitive, we will always do our best to see suspected flu cases on a same-day basis.

DIAGNOSING EARLY LUNG DISEASE

We are proud to announce Weaverville Family Medicine’s new healthy lung initiative. As many of you are aware, the incidence of asthma and chronic lung disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) has been increasing dramatically. This is especially true in Western North Carolina. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) now accounts for 120,000 deaths per year and is the 4th most common cause of death in this country. COPD is often thought of as a disease just affecting older individuals and men. In fact, 70% of patients with COPD are younger than age 65 and women with COPD now outnumber men.

Therefore in keeping with the newest recommendations from the National Lung Institute, we have had instituted a lung function testing program performed by a certified respiratory therapist every Thursday afternoon in our office. Formal lung function testing allows us to detect early lung disease as well as monitor our treatment in patients with known lung disease. Chronic lung disease can come on very slowly, and therefore patients are often not diagnosed until they have severe disease. This program will allow for intervention in the earlier stages of lung disease when treatment is most effective. There are now very effective prescription medicines to aid in the treatment of this disease. Furthermore, smokers are much more successful in quitting if they know that they have already decreased their lung function.

Who should have their lung function tested?
· Individuals with chronic or intermittent cough
· Individuals with chronic phlegm or sputum production
· Individuals with repeated episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia
· Individuals with shortness of breath especially if it occurs every day, worsens with exercise, or worsens with colds.
· Individuals who have smoked for more than 20 years or have work-related fume exposure.
· Individuals with asthma or COPD for periodic monitoring and 3 months after any change in therapy.

What is involved in lung function testing?
The afternoon of your appointment you will be greeted by our respiratory therapist. You will be instructed on how to blow into a special instrument called a spirometer to measure your lung function. You will then be given a breathing treatment and retested to see if this improves your function. You will also walk on a treadmill at a slow to medium pace for 6 minutes while your oxygen level is monitored. The complete test takes about 30 minutes. Afterwards your doctor will discuss the results of your test with you.

Please join us this spring, for the next edition of the Weaverville Family Medicine Newsletter.
Do you have questions about The Weaverville Family Medicine Newsletter? For medical questions, please contact us at 645-3066. If you have a website related question or comment, then please contact our website manager.

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