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Coryell Health expands Pain Management services to Waco, TX. Pain management specialist, Richard Hurley, MD, is overseeing Mrs. Sherri Davidson, at the medical clinic’s location on Franklin Avenue.

As a team, they bring a combined forty years of experience diagnosing and treating different causes of pain.

“Mrs. Davidson’s training as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner will continue to serve her well, providing our patients with comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based assessment and treatment of pain,” says Dr. Hurley. “We have so many patients making the drive over from Waco, but now they can see Mrs. Davidson quickly and conveniently.”

A native of Central Texas, Mrs. Davidson, attended McLennan Community College where she completed her associate nursing degree. She received her bachelor and master of science degrees in nursing from University of Texas at Arlington.  In addition to having experience in ICU and hospitalist coverage, she has ten years of pain management experience.

Staying active with her husband, three children, and three grandchildren is a priority for Mrs. Davidson. She enjoys biking, hiking, running, reading, checking off her bucket list, and spending time with family and friends. She has served on several local community boards, as well as professional boards at the state and local level.

Mrs. Davidson is now practicing at Coryell Health Medical Clinic – Waco and accepting new patients. Please call (254) 865-2166 for appointments and ask about our Rapid Appointment Program.

Your mask isn’t about you — it’s about everyone else. Whether your mask is paper, cotton or professional-grade, it reduces the spread of the virus. Wear your mask. Protect your community. #HelpKeepTexasOpen #TeamCoryellHealth

Coryell Health would like remind our community of our COVID-19 testing hours:

Monday – Friday  ǀ  8:00 am – 5:00 pm

After hours testing would be by appointment only for symptomatic patients.

Patients who need routine medical care or are having non-COVID-19 related issues can still be seen by our Quick Care Walk-In Clinic.

Important reminders:

1. Individuals who were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID and are asymptomatic should wait minimum of 5 days until testing or test when symptoms develop.
2. If an individual tested positive at another facility, that person will need to do follow-up testing at that facility or provide our medical clinic with physician orders for testing.
3. When testing positive for COVID at Coryell Health, we contact patients and set up telehealth appointments to help guide the patient and family out of quarantine using a test based strategy.

 

Resources

Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

Coryell Health Medical Clinic/ Quick Care Walk-In Clinic/ Telehealth (254) 865-2166

Coryell Health COVID-19 Website https://coryellhealth.org/covid

Your Well-Woman Check-up is More Important Than Ever

As a female, keeping up with routine medical exams is crucial. During these well-woman appointments, you’ll develop a better understanding of your body and health, allowing you to make knowledgeable decisions about your lifestyle. Below are a few benefits of these routine appointments so that you can schedule an exam at your local medical clinic with peace of mind.

3 Reasons to Not Miss Your Well-Woman Exam

1. Talk With Your Physician

Appointments consist of more than pelvic or breast exams. They also allow you to have an open conversation with a doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding your health or body. You can also discuss any recent changes in your health or habits to inform the physician if they should change any treatments or update your medical history. This ensures you can make informed decisions about contraceptive options and family planning. “Your doctor can better assess your symptoms if he or she is already well-acquainted with your overall health,” says Dr. Diedra Wuenschel, Coryell Health Medical Clinic Director. “The more familiar your doctor is with your health, the easier it is to notice a symptom that sounds unusually strange for you or identify when an abnormal lab result is more than just an anomaly.”

2. Allow for Early Detection

When you visit your primary care practitioner for exams regularly, you can detect women’s health issues early. For example, regular pelvic exams could make your doctor aware of developing pelvic support issues or sexually transmitted infections. During a Pap smear, they’ll also look for early warning signs of ovarian and cervical cancers. When a physician finds these problems early, they can begin treatment and give you the best chance to stay healthy.

3. Maintain Your Medical Regimen

For many women, taking prescription medication is a normal part of their health care routine. This might include medicines for birth control, cholesterol, or sexually transmitted diseases. However, the only way to access these supplies is to get prescriptions from a doctor. You may also need to change treatments if your current ones cause unexpected side effects. Since most physicians won’t provide or update medications without routine appointments, visit them regularly.

“I know going to your doctor’s office might make you nervous right now, but we’re taking every precaution needed to keep you safe,” adds Dr. Wuenschel. “Staying safe from COVID-19 is a priority right now, but so is your overall health.

If you need to schedule a women’s wellness exam, visit Coryell Health in Gatesville, TX. Whether you have trouble with arthritis, diabetes, or weight loss, our qualified team can help. Visit us online for more information about our primary care services. Call (254) 865-2166 to schedule an appointment.

Dant Hughes, native of Louisiana and avid sports fan, graduated with honors from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge with a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a specialization in human movement. Dant attended The University of Rhode Island where he received his doctorate degree in physical therapy. Married to a physical therapist with two sons, Dant stays active lifting weights, hiking, barbecuing, and woodworking.

Dant will join RehabLiving’s short-term inpatient therapy team in the new rehabilitation wing.

If you have a loved one that is recovering from a hospital stay, illness or injury, call Coryell Health RehabLiving or take our virtual tour at https://youtu.be/euwqxuhfw98.

Find out why calling 911 for an ambulance is the fastest way to get life-saving treatment to a patient. Heart attacks and strokes are common medical emergencies where time is of the essence. The more time that passes, the greater the risk of damage, and the harder it becomes to reverse symptoms.

Coryell Health paramedics or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on board can provide pain relief en route, for example. A person who’s in shock can receive IV fluids right away. In the event of a heart attack, “Our EMTs can perform electrocardiograms as well as decide the best hospital to head to, since some medical centers offer more specialized heart and stroke care,” says Jeff Bates, MD, Coryell Health Chief Medical Officer. For heart attack patients, ”Our EMS team will take them directly to the hospital that has a cardiac catheterization lab,” he says. “They know where the patient can receive the most appropriate care. Sometimes it is here at Coryell Health Emergency Department and sometimes they take them to other facilities.”

The paramedics will also inform the ER of your condition before you arrive. Coryell Health Emergency Medical Service (EMS) coordinates care while in route to the ER, so they are prepared before the patient arrives.

Guidelines from the American College of Emergency Physicians can help you make that decision. Ask yourself these questions. If the answer to any of them is “yes,” call 911:

• Does the condition seem life threatening?
• Could it get worse and become life threatening on the way to the hospital?
• Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the victim to the hospital?
• If you try to move the person, will it likely lead to more harm?
• Does anyone in the household have or have symptoms of COVID-19?

Among the common symptoms and signs that point to a medical emergency are:

• Shortness or breath or breathing difficulty
• Pain in the chest or upper abdomen that lasts two minutes or longer
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
• Speaking difficulties
• Mental confusion
• Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
• Bleeding that won’t stop after 10 minutes or longer
• Coughing up blood
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings
• Severe allergic reaction, such as to an insect bite

If you call 911:

• Speak slowly, calmly and clearly.
• Give the patient’s name, the address and phone number. If you’re on the road, note the street or highway you’re on and the direction you’re traveling.
• Briefly describe what’s going on and when the problem started.
• Don’t hang up until you’re sure the dispatcher has all the information she needs and that you’ve followed any instructions she’s given you.
• Leaving on the porch light, even during the day, assists the ambulance in finding the correct location. If possible, have someone flag down and meet the ambulance.
• Secure pets and move all the furniture out of the way.

Preparing for emergencies

Medical emergencies are unexpected, but there are some things you can do to prepare for one.

• Organize your medical information. List the names and contact info for your regular doctors, chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma, surgeries and hospitalizations, and medications. Keep copies at home, in your car and in your wallet.
• If you have kids, complete a ”consent to treat” form for each child. Make copies for the babysitter, school nurse and anyone else who cares for your children.
• To learn more about preparing for emergencies visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html

Know your 911 service area. To set up a “test 911 call” visit this website and select your state http://www.nasna911.org/state-911-contacts

Coryell Health COVID-19 Testing Totals ǀ Record Highs of New Cases

Getting consistent numbers of positive COVID-19 tests ​in Texas and its local counties can be a challenge and with cases on the rise, it is important for residents to understand the increasing risk of infection. “The state often lags behind in their reporting”, explains Dr. Wuenschel, Coryell Health Medical Clinic Director, Chief of Staff and Director of RehabLiving. The numbers the state reports are based on the county where the person lives. “We get our real time numbers each day from our own on-site testing lab.  A few weeks ago, we saw 12 cases in a week. This week, we saw 13 cases in a day.  Coryell has done 7,000 tests since March and is seeing increases both in cases and the percentage of tests coming back positive.”

Dr. Wuenschel adds, “As we go into the holiday weekend, we must keep our guard up. I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masks and social distancing, is one of the most likely places for COVID-19 to spread.”

Testing for COVID-19 will help reduce transmission, when individuals become aware they are positive and take proper precautions. “We are trying to be diligent in our contact tracing- so if a patient tests positive at Coryell Health- we encourage those that were exposed to get tested at our clinic,” adds Wuenschel. “This helps us identify if a new ” hot spot” is arising somewhere in our area. We are concerned about that the upcoming Fourth of July weekend could cause the coronavirus spread to intensify if people don’t take precautions.” Social distancing includes staying away from friends and neighbors. That means wearing a mask and keeping 6 ft. apart from non-family members – is important to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. So is wiping down surfaces or objects where the virus can live and then be transferred by touch to the mouth, nose and eyes.

 

Resources:

Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

Coryell Health Medical Clinic/ Quick Care Walk-In Clinic/ Telehealth (254) 865-2166

Coryell Health COVID-19 Website https://coryellhealth.org/covid

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Calling 911 for an ambulance is the fastest way to get life-saving treatment to a patient. Heart attacks and strokes are common medical emergencies where time is of the essence. The more time that passes, the greater the risk of damage, and the harder it becomes to reverse symptoms.

 

1. EMS Can Start Giving Medical Care Right Away.

Your car probably doesn’t have the equipment to monitor or manage heart attack symptoms on the way to the hospital like an ambulance does, says the NHLBI. The EMS providers can start giving medication right away, monitor vital signs, and give other treatments all before arriving at the emergency room.

1. Ambulances Can Get to the Closest Emergency Room Faster.

If you drive, you’ll have to obey the speed limit and stop at red lights, halt for pedestrians, and find a place to park once you arrive at the emergency room. Construction or traffic could hold you up or you may need to get gas.

If you call 911, an ambulance with lights and sirens can fly through traffic jams, red lights, and speed limit restrictions without getting pulled over.

1. You Can Focus on Your Loved One.

If your loved one is panicked about their symptoms, she’ll be relying on you to keep her calm. You might not be able to do that as well if you’re driving. You’ll need to focus on the road. Also, if she’s having nausea or lightheadedness, you might have trouble getting her into your vehicle.

1. Calling 911 Can Mean Quicker Care.

If your loved one arrives at the emergency room by ambulance, they won’t have to check in and wait to be seen. The paramedics will also inform the ER of your condition before you arrive. Coryell Health Emergency Medical Service (EMS) coordinates care while in route to the ER, so they are prepared before the patient arrives.

Coryell Health is here for you, if you need us, this holiday weekend.

 

Coryell Health Medical Clinic

Please note holiday hours:

Friday, July 3^rd:

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Saturday, July 4^th:

CLOSED

Monday, July 6^th:

Regular hours resume

8:00 am – 8:00 pm

 

Coryell Health EMS ǀ Call 911

Please call 911 if you have an emergency 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or if you or someone in your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or exposed to COVID-19 and you need urgent medical care.

 

Coryell Health Emergency Room

Will remain open 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week to care for urgent and emergency care needs.

 

Let’s all join together to help slow the spread of Coronavirus and help keep Texas open!

Resources:

Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

Coryell Health Medical Clinic/ Quick Care Walk-In Clinic/ Telehealth (254) 865-2166

Coryell Health COVID-19 Website https://coryellhealth.org/covid

As businesses try to remain open and employees are back at work, masks can play a pivotal role in helping block the spread of the virus. The more people that are wearing a mask in any given space, the greater the expected benefit. Sheldon Chaffer, MD, Coryell Health Nephrologist, Vice Chief of Staff and Dialysis Center Medical Director, confirms that a simple mask, including home-made cotton mask, likely results in some decrease in the wearer’s risk of being infected by the virus that causes COVID-19. But, he also states that the greatest benefit seems to be in reducing the mask wearer’s ability to infect other people.  Patients without any symptoms can be infected and spread the virus without knowing they are infected. “We are seeing evidence that the least symptomatic individuals may be the greatest spreader of the virus. Some patients who have tested positive have gone 7-14 days without any symptoms. During that time, Dr. Chaffer explains, “They expose everyone they come in contact with. To limit the risk of transmission, we all need to wear a mask in public spaces, practice physical distancing, frequently sanitize hard surfaces, and wash our hands regularly.”

Wearing a mask is just one of the tools we have to fight the spread of the virus. As Dr. Chaffer notes, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says masks potentially help prevent transmission when used as a complement to physical distancing.” Masks, he says, should be used in conjunction with physical distancing, hand washing, and regular testing, not as a replacement of that practice.

Resources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021850219305403?via%3Dihub

Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

Coryell Health Medical Clinic/ Quick Care Walk-In Clinic/ Telehealth (254) 865-2166

Coryell Health COVID-19 Website https://coryellhealth.org/covid

Please call 911, if you or someone in your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or exposed to COVID-19 and you need urgent medical care.  Our Emergency Medical Service can direct treatment by determining the best hospital to go to, notifying the emergency department head of arrival, allowing them to be fully prepared to care for a COVID positive patient. 911 dispatch, local hospital and EMS services all coordinate to determine the best course of care for each individual patient.

Call our medical clinic now if you’ve been waiting for care or are having non-urgent medical concerns. You have the options of scheduling an in-person office visit, a primary care telehealth virtual visit or provide you with a referral to see a specialist.  Keep your regular preventive screenings- wellness checks, school screenings and imaging- including CT scan, MRI, X-Ray, and mammogram. Detecting problems early increases the success of treatment.  “We have seen an increase in mortality rates since the pandemic began to for non-COVID-19 patients due to people postponing care and not seeking treatment for urgent care issues,” says Jeff Bates, Coryell Health Chief Medical Officer. “Let the 911 dispatcher know right away if you believe you have COVID-19 or are experiencing known symptoms,” adds Bates. “This will help them take care of you, limit their own exposure, and protect other patients.”

Resources:

Coronavirus Online Screening Tool https://coryellhealth.org/covid-19-screening

Coryell Health Medical Clinic/ Quick Care Walk-In Clinic/ Telehealth (254) 865-2166

Coryell Health COVID-19 Website https://coryellhealth.org/covid

Join us on our journey to wound health awareness during #WHAM. The incidence of chronic wounds is rising, mainly due to increased rates of diabetes and obesity. Without prompt treatment, chronic wounds can lead to a diminished quality of life, severe infection, or limb amputation. Fortunately, you can fight back with specialized treatment at a wound care center. Coryell Health Wound Center can speed healing and limit serious complications. #CoryellHealthHeroes  #WoundHealthAwareness