AMHERST, NY—The Exigence Group has hired Brenda Ackley as Site Administrator for Western New York Immediate Care’s Transit Road location.

Ms. Ackley will oversee all administrative and operational aspects of her Immediate Care facility. This will include planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the clinical department and the employees, providing leadership and direction to professional and clerical staff. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Bassett Park Manor in Williamsville. She earned a Master of Health Services Administration from Xavier University in Ohio and a B.S. in health Services Administration from the State University College of New York Brockport.

AMHERST, NY—In light of the current whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic in California, which is on pace to be the largest there in decades, and increasing pertussis activity in Pennsylvania and in upstate New York (as reported by the New York Times), physicians at Western New York Immediate Care express concern for the residents of the Buffalo area:

While whooping cough (pertussis) mostly affects infants under one year of age, it can also cause significant symptoms in toddlers and school-age children as well as adults that can last up to three months or longer if untreated. The bacteria that cause pertussis can be spread by children who did not receive their vaccines or by adults who may have received the vaccines as children but did not receive a booster and are no longer immune.

While all infants and children should be vaccinated in the regimen recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, older children and adults also must be up to date with their vaccines, both to prevent them from getting sick themselves and so they don’t aid and abet the transmission of pertussis to others.

“While pertussis in infants and children remains an on-going health concern, what is emerging is a renewed concern for teenagers and adults who have let their childhood vaccinations lapse,” says WNY Immediate Care medical director Joseph Chow, M.D. “This appears to be part of the problem in California and what we want to avoid in Buffalo - we can’t let teens and adults off the hook.”

“Adults and teens who have not kept up with their booster shots leave themselves vulnerable to this highly infectious bacteria – they can catch it and suffer the serious effects of whooping cough AND they can spread it to others.”

Pertussis starts like a common cold but then often progresses to intense, almost violent, fits of coughing followed by a forced gulping for air with a “whooping” sound (hence, its popular name). There is often no or only low grade fever. This can be a tricky symptom for older patients as the characteristic "whoop" is mostly absent.

Pertussis can cause pneumonia, seizures and death, particularly in infants less than four months of age. In adults, it causes a stubborn, annoying, sometimes violent cough that just doesn’t go away or get better.

Dr. Chow’s immediate recommendations:

• Parents should make sure their children receive the recommended 5-dose primary vaccination series against pertussis (DTaP) at 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months and at 4-6 years of age. This series is required of children before they enter school.

• Parents must seek medical attention immediately if their child develops a severe cough that interferes with feeding and/or sleeping and for milder coughs that don’t improve after a week.

• Adolescents (ideally at age 11-12) and adults should receive a booster vaccine for pertussis.

• Anyone who has been in close contact with a known or suspected case of pertussis should seek medical care to determine if testing, antibiotic prophylaxis and/or boost vaccination is indicated.

• Adults and adolescents with severe cough or coughs lasting longer than two weeks should be evaluated by a physician.

• Practice good cough hygiene (cover your cough, wash your hands frequently, etc.).

• Adults: Stay away from infants when you are coughing.

AUSTIN, TX--In light of the current whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic in California, which is on pace to be the largest there in decades, physicians at Austin Immediate Care express concern for the residents of the Austin, Texas area:

While whooping cough (pertussis) mostly affects infants under one year of age, it can also cause significant symptoms in toddlers and school-age children as well as adults that can last up to three months or longer if untreated. The bacteria that cause pertussis can be spread by children who did not receive their vaccines or by adults who may have received the vaccines as children but did not receive a booster and are no longer immune. While all infants and children should be vaccinated in the regimen recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, older children and adults also must be up to date with their vaccines, both to prevent them from getting sick themselves and so they don’t aid and abet the transmission of pertussis to others.

Most states have public health regulations that require immunization against pertussis (as well as tetanus and diphtheria) among infants and pre-schoolers, “but not every parent follows these guidelines,” says Austin Immediate Care medical director Jordan Laroe, M.D. “This appears to be part of the problem in California and what we want to avoid in Texas.

“Parents who do not vaccinate their children leave them vulnerable to a highly infectious and devastating disease.”

The California Dept. of Public Health, in a July 19th press briefing, says the state is facing an epidemic. Between Jan. 1 and July 16, there were 1,496 reported cases of pertussis and another 700 cases under investigation. Six infants have died. During all of 2009, there were 965 reported cases and three deaths.

Dr. Laroe is concerned by the rising number of cases of pertussis, both here in Austin and nationwide. She and her colleague at Austin Immediate Care, Brian Bobb, M.D., have seen several cases of pertussis during the past few months, including a patient whose illness was severe enough to require hospitalization.

Pertussis starts like a common cold but then often progresses to intense, almost violent, fits of coughing followed by a forced gulping for air. Some patients present with atypical symptoms, and many infants in particular do not exhibit the characteristic “whooping” sound (hence, its popular name), which can make the diagnosis difficult to make. There is often no or only low grade fever.

Pertussis can cause pneumonia, seizures and death, particularly in infants less than four months of age.

Dr. Laroe’s immediate recommendations for the residents of Austin:

• Parents should make sure their children receive the recommended 5-dose primary vaccination series against pertussis (DTaP) at 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months and at 4-6 years of age.
• Parents must seek medical attention immediately if their child develops a severe cough that interferes with feeding and/or sleeping and for milder coughs that don’t improve after a week.
• Adolescents (ideally at age 11-12) and adults should receive a booster vaccine for pertussis.
• Anyone who has been in close contact with a known or suspected case of pertussis should seek medical care to determine if testing, antibiotic prophylaxis and/or boost vaccination is indicated.
• Adults with severe cough or coughs lasting longer than two weeks should be evaluated by a physician.
• Practice and teach your children good cough hygiene (cover your cough, wash your hands frequently, etc.).
• Stay away from infants when you are coughing.
  
  

The basis for Dr. Laroe’s concern is a rising incidence of whooping cough in Travis and the other counties surrounding the Austin area. While not nearly approaching epidemic proportions, the numbers have risen significantly in the past five years, as expressed below as incidences of pertussis per 100,000 population. Preliminary 2010 figures for Travis County indicate a slight decrease early in the year but then an increase since June.

Source: Texas Dept. State Health Services: Incidence per 100,000 population

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY—Fueled by overwhelming demand for its services, Western New York Immediate Care is opening its third facility at 3050 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park on July 22, 2008. WNY Immediate Care provides a fast alternative to emergency room visits for patients with non-life- threatening medical emergencies.

The new location provides access to immediate care in the Southtowns. It is also home to Pulse Occupational Medicine. WNY Immediate Care opened a facility in January 2008 at 2099 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst; its first location at 7616 Transit Road in Williamsville opened in 2005. WNY Immediate Care is managed by Exigence, LLC, headquartered in Williamsville.

“The community has embraced WNY Immediate Care,” said Dr. Gregory Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Exigence. “By providing convenient, quality healthcare by board certified physicians and experienced staff, WNY Immediate Care is meeting a critical demand.” Combined, the facilities expect to provide service to more than 50,000 patients each year. Currently, more than 50 people work at WNY Immediate Care and Pulse.

In most cases, patients at WNY Immediate Care are treated and released in less than one hour. The cost to both the patient and insurance provider is significantly lower than the cost of a visit to an emergency room.

“When primary care physicians are unavailable, we are an alternative to long wait times at emergency rooms. By treating low-acuity patients we help to alleviate overcrowding at local ERs, allowing them to treat the more urgent matters,” said Dr. Joseph Chow, Medical Director of the Orchard Park facility.

WNY Immediate Care facilities offer state-of-the-art treatment rooms, CLIA-certified laboratories, x-ray and diagnostic imaging. “In addition to clinical excellence, patients are impressed by the facilities themselves which are designed to be efficient, comfortable and welcoming. The entire patient experience is of utmost concern to everyone in our organization,” said Dr Daniel.

Western New York Immediate Care is one of only two urgent care centers in New York State to earn the Urgent Care Accreditation Award of Distinction. The Award is the final product of an extensive accreditation process by the Urgent Care Association of America which examines both clinical and operational procedures. The award is granted to urgent care centers that consistently demonstrate the meeting of exceptional quality standards in the daily delivery of care.

Pulse Occupational Medicine has extensive experience helping businesses reduce injuries, lower costs, and promote a safe workplace. Pulse offers customized programs and individual case management support to more than 150 companies, from small start-ups to large corporations with hundreds of employees.

Pulse’s occupational health team includes board-certified physicians and specially trained nurses and technicians who stay current with federal and state workplace safety and workers compensation regulations. Pulse offers a range of customized services including injury care, case management, pre-placement evaluation, drug screening, DOT physicals, Medical Review Officer (MRO) services, executive physicals, educational programs and health and wellness programs.

WNY Immediate Care and Pulse Occupational Medicine are open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The centers are open 365 days a year, including holidays.