Holiday Hours – Thanksgiving Weekend
Lacamas Medical Group will be closed Thursday, November 25th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be open on Friday, November 26th from 8am – 7pm for urgent care and Saturday, November 27th from 9am – 2pm for urgent care.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
« Previous Page Next Page »Welcome, Katherine Moon ARNP
Katherine Moon, ARNP is set to begin practicing at Lacamas Medical Group on December 1, 2010.
Katherine is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began her professional career as a Bachelors degree prepared RN working in various settings including Medical/Surgical, Orthopedics, Neurological, Telemetry, Pediatrics and Newborn ICU. She loved all kinds of medicine and all ages of patient. Thus, it was no surprise when she completed her Masters of Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1996. As a primary care provider in family medicine she has the option to care for patients of all ages and with various health issues from prevention to complicated disease processes.
Katherine taught Nursing fulltime at Salt Lake Community College for 6 years and then left the teaching setting to practice on a full time basis as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Since that time, she has worked in various settings including family practice, occupational medicine, urgent care and internal medicine.
Her areas of interest include Hypertension, Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic issues, Lipidology (cholesterol control) and Preventative Health for both men and women of all ages. The truth is, she really enjoys all kinds of medicine. She loves teasing out an answer to any medical issue. Katherine’s philosophy of medicine is that she is treating the patient, not the lab or the textbook. Providing individualized care, based on sound medical principles, is her strength.
Katherine and her husband moved to Vancouver in 1998. Katherine’s personal interests include her husband, children (she has three at home), grandchildren (her third is due December of 2010), family and friends! She is fun loving and tries to make everyday responsibilities enjoyable! If she could get away to any location it would be to a quiet retreat in Hawaii where she finds pure relaxation!
Katherine is excited to begin treating you in her new Camas location. Call today to schedule your appointment. 360-838-2440.
« Previous Page Next Page »So, you need to have some blood tests
For many of us, giving blood or having a sample taken for diagnostic lab tests is fairly easy. But if you get queasy just thinking about it or were not blessed with bulging veins, having your blood drawn can be stressful. There are some things you can do to optimize your blood drawing experience:
- Drink water.
Most laboratory tests are ordered as fasting blood work. That means that you do not eat for 12-14 hours prior to the test, usually overnight (fasting longer than 14 hours is not a good idea). Not only can you drink water during that time, you should. Adequate hydration makes your veins easier to find and ensures that your test values are accurate. Besides, you will feel better! Having that morning cup of java or tea won’t adversely affect most tests, but it must be black: no additives, such as cream or soy milk, syrups, sugar, honey, lemon, or artificial sweeteners. - If possible, schedule your blood work when you are not on a tight schedule.
The staff cannot predict how busy they will be, so you may have to wait awhile. Allow for that. Being stressed out will not improve your health and may negatively influence your lab tests. - Alert the phlebotomist if you have ever passed out when you had your blood drawn.
Do not be embarrassed; you cannot will yourself NOT to faint. There is no reason to risk a fall or injury. Prevention is as easy as providing you with a place to lie down while your blood is drawn. Fainting is your body’s way of getting your head level with the rest of your body so blood flow returns to your brain. You cannot faint when you are lying down. Your health care providers will be happy to accommodate you. - If you are a difficult draw, tell the phlebotomist where you have successfully had blood drawn before.
You know your body and your experiences better than anyone else. A good phlebotomist will appreciate knowing which site is best. Even if you have the same person draw your blood every time, you may need to remind them. - If the person drawing your blood can’t get a sample after two tries, someone else should be called. If not, it is OK for you to ask for another phlebotomist.
Standard laboratory practice is for the phlebotomist to ask for assistance after two unsuccessful attempts to get a blood sample from a patient. Anyone can have an off day. Fresh eyes always bring a new perspective, and there may be someone else on duty with more experience or better skills.
~Kristi B. Weber, MT (ASCP)
Laboratory Director, LMG
Adult Flu Shots Available Now!
We now have adult flu vaccinations available! Cost is only $30 – we are happy to bill most major insurance companies. Walk-ins are welcome!
« Previous Page Next Page »Holiday Hours – Labor Day Weekend
Lacamas Medical Group will be open it’s regular hours on Saturday, September 4th. We will be closed on Monday, September 6 in observance of Labor Day.
« Previous Page Next Page »Back to School – Immunizations and Sports Physicals
It’s that time of year again! Lacamas Medical Group will hold a FREE back to school immunization clinic on August 18 from 4 – 7pm. Free immunizations are for uninsured or underinsured school age children only. You must bring your child’s immunization record and a parent or guardian must be present.
Walk-in sports physical clinics will be held Wednesday, August 4th 4 – 7pm, Tuesday, August 17th from 4 – 7pm and Wednesday September 1 from 4 – 7pm. Bring your athletic participation packet with your section filled out. The cost is $40 and is not billable to insurance. Washougal High School and Camas High School require participants to have a current physical exam report on file in the school office prior to the first turn-out. Physical exams are good for two years from the date of exam. Washougal forms may be downloaded here. Camas forms may be downloaded here.
« Previous Page Next Page »Protect Your Skin
Choosing the Right SPF in Sunscreen
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the better protection against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. The SPF number lets you know how much longer you can stay out of the sun without burning. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. Put another way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for maximum protection. SPF is available in levels from 2 to 60. Does highest mean the best protection? Not necessarily. An SPF of 50 only provides 1% to 2% more protection than an SPF 30.
UVA and UVB Protection
The label of the sunscreen will indicate the UVA or UVB protection. UVA rays are responsible for the aging effect of the sun; however, overexposure to UVA rays can cause skin cancer. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.
There is currently no uniform measure of UVA absorption. There are broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB radiation although it is important to remember that the SPF does not predict UVA protection. The UV index is a public health education tool reported by meteorologists in 58 U.S. cities. It offers a daily report of UV light levels on a scale from 1-10+.
Waterproof vs. Water Resistant
If you are looking for a sunscreen to use while in the water, choose a sunscreen that is “waterproof” or “water resistant.” “Waterproof” sunscreen should provide protection in the water for 80 minutes, while “water resistant” provides only 40 minutes of protection.
Holiday Hours for July 4th Weekend
We will be open our regular business hours on Friday, July 2 (8am – 7pm) and Saturday, July 3 (9am – 2pm). We will be closed on Sunday, July 4th and Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day. We hope you and your family will have a safe and happy 4th of July!
« Previous Page Next Page »In-Home Sleep Diagnostics Now Available
Watermark Medical, the developer of the ARES(Apnea Risk Evaluation System) has recently contracted for services with Lacamas Medical Group to offer the latest technology available for In-Home Sleep Diagnostics. Recently, as a result of studies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changed their national coverage determination to include these devices for home sleep testing for sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea.
This marks a momentous step forward for the recognition of in-home sleep testing as an effective, cost efficient means of diagnosing sleep-related illnesses. Many people aren’t being tested or treated because of the cost and inconvenience of overnight lab testing and we are very excited to be in a position where we can now reach out to more people to help and fight these debilitating disorders. We believe that if sleep related illnesses are diagnosed sooner, patients will receive treatment which could improve their quality of life.
Sleep Apnea, which affects over 10 million Americans, with an estimated additional 10 million undiagnosed, is characterized by loud snoring interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing (obstructive sleep apnea). Serious episodes last more than ten seconds each and occur more than seven times per hour. Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night. These episodes can reduce blood oxygen levels, causing the heart to pump harder and over time incur added risk levels for Stroke and Cardiac disorders. This new technology now offers patients a cost effective, easy to use, and reliable device for the home diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, useful in diagnosing outcomes for the surgical and non-surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children. To schedule an appointment to discuss your eligibility for a sleep study, please call 360-838-2440.
« Previous Page Next Page »Memorial Weekend Hours
We will be open normal business hours Friday, May 28 (8:oo am – 7:00pm) and Saturday, May 29 (9:00am – 2:00pm). We will be closed Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.
Have a safe and happy Memorial Weekend!
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