Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Medical Conditions
At Urban Health, we utilize a patient-centered approach to diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses and injuries.
What is Acute Care Management? Acute care diagnosis and treatment is required for the occurrence of sudden and unexpected medical conditions. This can be the result of an accident or a sudden illness.
The following is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the evaluation and care of your primary care physician. Examples of acute illnesses and injuries are:
- Various types of pathogens cause respiratory infections. Symptoms can include a sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, fever, and fatigue. Risk factors are exposure to others with similar symptoms through personal contact or touching an object that carries the pathogen. Respiratory infections are easily transmitted in the household.
- Prevention includes covering your face when coughing or sneezing and frequent washing of hands.
- While many respiratory infections do not require a physician’s care, those with severe symptoms should be evaluated by their doctor. Treatment can include antihistamines, acetaminophen, nutritional supplements, and in some cases, antibiotics.
- Viral influenza can present with a combination of symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, a cough, and a sore throat. The flu is transmitted through contact with others, and the most frequent complication is pneumonia. Medical attention is needed if you have trouble breathing, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, or a high fever. Those at risk of serious complications are pregnant women, young children, people over the age of 65, or those with underlying medical conditions.
- Treatment can include rest, fluids, acetaminophen, and anti-viral medications.
- Urinary Tract Infections are prevalent in females, the elderly populations, those using catheters, or patients with neurological conditions that affect the bladder. Symptoms may include pain or difficulty urinating and fever. A urine sample can diagnose this disorder and identify the appropriate treatment regime to be ordered by a physician.
- Ear infections can be of bacterial, fungal, or viral origin. Although more common in children, adults are often in need of treatment for this condition. Symptoms include pain, a sensation that sound is muffled, dizziness, ear discharge, and fever. Contributing risk factors are upper respiratory infections, air pressure changes such as airline travel, swimming in polluted waters, or deformities in the anatomy of the ear. Treatment can include antibiotics, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Skin infections can occur through a pathogen entering the skin, perhaps due to a break in the skin through a recent injury. Other risk factors include an accumulation of fluid due to poor circulation or being overweight.
- Skin infections can be chronic or acute conditions, and there are various types, such as cellulitis, abscesses, and boils. Treatment may include antibiotics and keeping the area clean and dry.
- Sprains and strains are injuries to the ligaments, muscles, or tendons.
- The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation and pain. Depending on the severity of the injury, your primary care physician will evaluate and order the proper therapy for healing. A treatment regime can include rest, ice or heat, supportive bandaging, elevation to reduce swelling, and physiotherapy to assist in the recovery.
- Simple lacerations require attention by a primary care physician when the wound is large, deep, or is contaminated with dirt or another foreign body. Your physician will evaluate the injury for infection, which can delay closure with sutures, wound closure adhesive, or steri-strips. Antibiotics can be ordered if there is a high risk of infection, such as cases of poor circulation, deep punctures, or contaminated wounds.
By taking a thorough history, using diagnostic tools, and performing a physical examination, the medical staff at Urban Health can assess your medical issues quickly. We can diagnose and treat acute illnesses and injuries in the office or identify those that require treatment in the hospital.
What is Chronic Care Management? Acute care injuries and illnesses can become chronic if they persistently impact on your quality of life. Urban Health uses a proactive approach to keep our patients as healthy and functional as possible. It is not unusual for patients to have multiple chronic care issues. Some examples of diagnoses that require constant care management are:
- Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure can put stress on the heart and the arteries, leading to serious medical consequences. These can include heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.
- In the treatment of high blood pressure, a primary care physician may order appropriate medications and frequently monitor their effectiveness, in conjunction with recommendations for lifestyle changes. Necessary lifestyle changes can include eating a heart-healthy diet, decreasing salt intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress.
- Chronic respiratory ailments are diseases of the airways and structures of the lungs. Some common conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma. Causes of lung disease can consist of smoking, air pollution, allergens, or occupational toxins. Although not curable, a primary care physician can monitor and control your symptoms, to improve the quality of life. Shortness of breath, coughing, and frequent respiratory infections are symptoms of chronic respiratory ailments. In addition to medications and oxygen therapy, lifestyle changes such as attending a smoking cessation program, learning proper breathing techniques, and avoiding sick people are very helpful in managing these diseases.
- Arthritis symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in movement, due to joint inflammation, in one or more joints in the body. There are different types of arthritis, and a medical practitioner can evaluate arthritis through a physical exam and diagnostic testing. Recommendations for treatment include the usage of anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications, and in severe cases, medications that suppress the immune system. Physical and Occupational therapies are useful tools in the treatment of arthritis.
- Stroke is a type of brain injury that can have severe and debilitating effects on mobility, speaking, or thinking. There are various causes of strokes, and those at high risk are those with hypertension, diabetes, or history of smoking, excessive alcohol, or drug usage. Risk factors can be reduced by careful and frequent monitoring by a physician and engaging in healthy lifestyle changes.
- Persistent pain can be the result of an injury, disease, or anatomical disorders of the body. Chronic pain is also associated with feelings of anxiety and depression.
- In the treatment of persistent pain, it is essential to discuss your Choice for pain management with your primary care physician. In addition to medications, there are other safe and effective methods to help control pain. Some of these include education, community support groups, exercise, and massage.
- Diabetes is a chronic disorder of the pancreas and requires daily testing, medication, and frequent monitoring by a physician. The goal is the management of blood glucose levels. Complications of diabetes can affect all the body’s systems. Preventative measures to fend off complications include diagnostic testing, exercise, a healthy diet, and yearly flu vaccines.
The Urban Health Team provides Patient-Centered Care
The medical staff’s philosophy at Urban Health is to treat the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a disease. Some of the services that we provide include medication monitoring, pain management, diagnostic testing, and therapies that promote wellness.
Wendimere Reilly, RDN LDN, the primary care dietician nutritionist at Urban Health, provides a customized approach for wellness through individual appointments, classes, and community outreach. We believe that patient education is essential. When patients are informed about proper care and treatment, they can improve their health status.
Additional Resources that include Community Services
As part of a treatment plan, some patients require assistance at home. Home care services can be ordered with a trusted home care agency overseen by the team at Urban Health. For those that need short term or long term in-patient rehabilitative services, we have admitting privileges in local rehabilitation centers.
At Urban Health, we want to be your Choice in the Management of your Health Care.
The primary care team is led by Dr. Jaime C. Gonzalez, Dr. Jose A. Moreno. For over 25 years, we have been Clermont’s trusted primary care office, proudly serving the community.
We believe in “Better Care, Better Health, Better Living.” Call the Clermont office for an appointment with one of our experienced health care providers. We are here for all of your acute and chronic needs for a healthier tomorrow. Call us for an appointment at 352-394-5535.