BestMed

Today's a day off for most people, but those in essential services, like many of us at BestMed, are on the job to ensure our communities have the care they need. It's a good reminder that while Labor Day has come to represent the last hoorah of summer, its significance is rooted in the celebration of the labor movement. We encourage everyone to take a moment today to reflect on and celebrate all that is made possible thanks to the dedication of workers like our team members... and you, too! BestMedClinics.com

We can’t claim this as a scientific study but based on our casual observations at BestMed Urgent Care, stomachaches are the #1 vacation-wrecker. We blame a combination of air travel; hot weather that breeds bacteria in food; lowered immunity related to exhaustion from having so much (too much?) fun; and changes in eating habits. Learn more about stomachaches and when to head for urgent care on our blog (bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/5-illnesses-that-love-summer-heat/) plus 4 other illnesses that don’t care that it’s your vacation.

Earaches don’t take summer vacation… in fact they love to jump on board for yours! Fluids and bacteria from swimming and changes in air pressure from flying can aggravate existing earaches and introduce germs that are happy to make your ears their new home. Some ear aches will resolve on their own, but sometimes it’s time for a trip to urgent care. Learn more about earaches and 4 other summertime fun-wreckers on our blog: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/5-illnesses-that-love-summer-heat/

It’s time to play! Whether that’s ball, cross-country or an individual sport, a sports physical for your young athlete can help identify any concerns before they surface – and it’s often a requirement before the season begins. It’s easy to take care of this important step: our clinics offer walk-in sports physicals and we’re running a special now. Learn more about sports physicals on our blog: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/kids-sports-physicals.

In the meantime,… like adults, kids can push through pain when adrenaline is flushing through their body. If your child is limping, throwing differently or rubbing a leg during activity, we encourage you consider pulling them from play – at least for long enough to give their body time to ‘catch up’ and give them cues of injury. Some injuries, particularly over-use injuries like shin splints and joint issues, can be prevented by recognizing the need for rest. If the issues persist, head to an urgent care for assessment. Many issues can be addressed there, and more serious musculoskeletal concerns can be referred to a specialist. Walk-in: BestMedClinics.com

What's that rash? Here’s the scoop on impetigo, which is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that is common among young children. It appears all year long, but is more prevalent in warm, humid weather. The bacteria often enter the skin through a scratch (insect bites, etc.) and it spreads easily. The image shared here is just an example – impetigo can appear anywhere on the body. It begins as small blisters which rupture and create a yellow crust.

If the rash has spread beyond a small patch of skin, antibiotics might be prescribed. More information on impetigo – including when to keep a child home from day care or school -- is available here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279537/ Need professional help? Walk right in to one of our clinics: BestMedClinics.com

This summer we’ve been sounding the alarm about avoiding heat stroke and heat exhaustion through hydration. But hydration plays an important part in overall health, too. Dehydration can cause muscle aches, bloating, headaches, constipation and sleep and cognition problems. Hydrating properly helps long term with joint health, cellular health and organ function.

So, keep up the hydration habit all year, even as temps cool. Women should drink about 11 cups of water per day and men should aim for 16. Flavored water and tea count toward this number, but soda, fruit juice and energy waters don’t deliver the same benefits.

Dehydrated? Learn more on our blog: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/signs-of-dehydration-and-how-to-treat-it/

A typical summer day in an urgent care clinic includes a whole lot of foot and toe injuries and many of them could be prevented. From cuts and stings to jammed toes, we'd love to save you some pain: Wear your shoes! Learn more about caring for toe and foot injuries at home and when to head to urgent care. Check out this month's blog: BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/foot-toe-injuries/

Learn more about preventing all-too-common summertime foot and toe injuries, how to care for injuries at-home and when to head to urgent care. Check out our blog, here: BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/foot-toe-injuries/

Kids' sports can get aggressive, but most of the injuries we see at urgent care actually happen during practice. That makes sense given the hours spent practicing versus the hours spent at a game. But it means that doubling up on the same good game-day habits is important:

* Wear sunscreen.
* Warm up slowly.
* Drink more water.
* Wear the protective gear recommended for the sport (shin guards, mouth guards, helmets, etc.).
* Pay attention to signals from the body related to over-use, take it easy and check in at urgent care if pain persists.

And of course, be sure your child has had a sports physical! Learn more about why sports physicals are important here: www.bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/kids-sports-physicals

It’s travel season! No matter where your adventures take you, we hope you travel safely and in good health! Of course, there’s some sort of Murphy’s Law of Vacation that seems to land travelers in bed with the crud. If this happens to you, remember that BestMed Urgent Care has clinics around the region and you can just walk in. It’s as easy as your home BestMed clinic. Nowhere near home? Check out our telehealth services. Depending on the situation, we can help you get on with feeling better… hopefully before your vacation runs out! BestMedClinics.com

Happy 4th of July from all of us at BestMed! We hope you have a fun-filled day ahead. Please remember to celebrate safely and to be sure you're drinking lots of water. The combination of heat, sun and a long day can create dangerous conditions for dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

* Learn what to watch for and what to do in the case of heat-related illness here. bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/heat-related-illness/
* Learn more about dehydration symptoms, go here: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/signs-of-dehydration-and-how-to-treat-it/

Better yet, skip the risk with the 3 easy steps of: 1) shade, 2) water and 3) sunscreen!

Right in time for summer sports, we're bringing back our easy-peasy, walk-right-in, low-cost sports physical special! It's a great way for you to check out our walk-in urgent care clinics, too. Take the stress out of summer and walk right in. Find your location on our website: BestMedClinics.com

Young athletes are tough – especially when they love their sport. Player-on-player injuries are hard to anticipate and avoid, but some of the most common sports-related injuries can be prevented with three easy habits:

1. Warm up: Yes, they’re flexible and fit, but even kids need a gentle warm-up before hard play. Slow pre-play drills or stretches like arm swings, quad stretches, lunges and toe taps are examples.
2. Cross-train: Mixing it up helps distribute physical demand across the body. Some sports are especially good combinations, like soccer and track.
3. Drink water: Young athletes should begin play fully hydrated and drink 4-12 ounces of water every 15 minutes, with the variation depending on temperature and the child’s age. Tip: 4 big gulps from a fountain is about 4 ounces of fluid. Learn how to watch for dehydration here: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/signs-of-dehydration-and-how-to-treat-it/
4. Have a sports physical. Walk in to any of our clinics BestMedClinics.com. Learn more about sports physicals on our blog: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/kids-sports-physicals.

Each year, we learn more about our imperfect history... and how together we can build a more just and equitable future. Today is Juneteenth, a time to commemorate this date in 1865, when enslaved Black people in Texas were finally informed of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. We hope you will join us in joyfully celebrating Black freedom and resilience today.

It's bright out there! This is the perfect time to remind you about the importance of sun protection for your eyes as the UV exposure climbs during summer months. If you’re not in the habit of wearing sunglasses every time you’re outside, we hope you’ll start.

No matter what style you prefer, be sure you opt for glasses that protect from UV-A and UV-B rays. Whether you’re at the gas station or a fancy sunglass shop, don’t assume this level of protection. If the glasses aren’t labeled with that protection, they probably don’t have it. Get more great summer safety tips on our blog: www.bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/6-summertime-safety-tips/

We’re celebrating Pride Month by reasserting our commitment to caring for and celebrating each person in the LGBTQ+ community. As employers and health care providers this means we:

1. Recognize the contributions LGBTQ+ team members make to our organization every day – and have made for many years.

2. Dedicate ourselves to building and maintaining a culture and environment in which everyone is comfortable being their authentic self at work.

3. Acknowledge an additional responsibility to understand and address the health disparities faced by our LGBTQ+ patients. These disparities are often exacerbated by the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in accessing care.

At BestMed, we will never discriminate against, refuse care or provide lesser treatment to any individual who comes to us for help. We are united by our compassion, kindness and commitment to providing care that is personal to every one of our patients. BestMedClinics.com

We changed today’s name a bit, adding that (or Cry). Seriously, we see so many painful sunburns and associated illness during the summer months. We’d love to spare you the pain and the damage it does to your skin. So check out our articles on sunscreen and sunglasses here: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/6-summertime-safety-tips/ and what you should know about heat-related illnesses here: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/heat-related-illness/.

it’s time to “shine some light” on what the scale means. These days, the UV level is just about always 3 or higher, which means you need sun protection. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses, and seek shade to avoid exposure. Learn more on our blog, here: bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/6-summertime-safety-tips/

During the summer, we see a lot of people for insect bites. We offer other tips for caring for insect bites and stings and when to head to urgent care here: https://www.bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/treating-common-summer-bug-bites. Also, if you or someone in your home uses an EpiPen, now is the time to be sure you know where it is and that everyone knows how to use it!

During the summer, we see a lot of people for insect bites. We offer other tips for caring for insect bites and stings and when to head to urgent care here: https://www.bestmedclinics.com/health-blog/treating-common-summer-bug-bites/. Also, if you or someone in your home uses an EpiPen, now is the time to be sure you know where it is and that everyone knows how to use it!

Over the past decade, urgent care clinics have become a go-to resource for people who are injured or become ill on the job for many reasons:
* Walk right in!
* We're here when you need us.
* We “get” injuries and illness – quickly.
* Full range of testing, vaccines and more!
Read more about urgent care and occupational health on our blog: BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/occupational-health-services/

Working in an urgent care clinic, we see a fair number of people in pajamas. Especially little kids. So, it took us a bit to figure out why so many people are wearing their PJs today – and wearing them everywhere! Now we know: It’s National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.

We’ll be sticking with our scrubs, but it seems like a good time to answer a common question: “Do I need to get dressed to go to urgent care?” Nope! We don’t care what you’re wearing. We just want to help you feel better! Not feeling great? Walk in. BestMedClinics.com

It’s National Pet Day and we’re here to tell you that pets can be dangerous. AND they’re also very good for your health. (Like many things, both facts can be true.)

First the good: Pets are good for their humans. They lower blood pressure, ease anxiety and depression and encourage physical activity. (Though cats, hamsters, fish and the like are not as likely to get you out for a walk as a dog.)

On the other hand, you wouldn’t believe how many people end up in urgent care because of pet mishaps. From being wound up in leashes, tripped up on toys, and knocked on noses during play, we’ve seen – and helped out with – it all. Still, we can’t imagine life without an animal pal. So from all of us, Happy Pet Day! BestMedClinics.com

Right in time for springtime ooops, ouches and achoos, we just opened a BestMed Urgent Care clinic in Gillette, Wyoming! Whether you call Gillette home, or you're a BestMed fan who is passing through, we're here to help. Walk-in and experience high-quality medical care that is personal.

Whether your post-hibernation injury ultimately needs urgent care or not, start with RICE! A simple first aid technique, the RICE protocol is often all it takes to reduce swelling, ease pain and speed healing. But even if pain or swelling is still around after two days and you need urgent care, RICE at onset contributes to better long-term outcomes. Learn more in this month's blog! BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/injuries-coming-out-of-hibernation/

As soon as the sun shines, BestMed Urgent Care clinics begin to see more patients with injuries of all sorts -- especially strains, sprains and breaks. When spring comes along and people go from “0 to 60” on the activity scale, it can create all sorts of issues. Learn more here: BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/injuries-coming-out-of-hibernation/

If you’re emerging from your winter den, be sure to gradually increase your activity level and listen to your body to avoid injuries. “Overuse” injuries like shin splints are common but you can avoid them by warming up, easing in and taking rest days. If you stumble, slip or end up on the wrong end of a tackle, we’re here to help. Walk in and we’ll provide care that is personal. BestMedClinics.com

Did you know? When you feel a cough come on, taking small breaths through only your nose might calm the cough reflex. Learn more about coughs and tips to ease them on our blog: BestMedClinics.com/health-blog/tips-and-tricks-for-that-persistent-cough/

The symptoms of Flu A, Flu B, RSV and COVID-19 are similar to each other, but can present differently for each person. Isolating which virus made you ill is the first step to treatment that gets you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Walk-in to any BestMed Urgent Care for a quick test for all four illnesses, so we can get you on the road to recovery.