Telehealth is a broad term for tech-enabled healthcare services, while telemedicine specifically refers to remote medical services via video or other technology. Telehealth aims to improve healthcare access by meeting people where they are, while telemedicine focuses on remote diagnosis and treatment. Telehealth is becoming increasingly important in healthcare, offering convenience, cost-effectiveness, and improved access for vulnerable populations.
Food poisoning symptoms range from mild to severe. While rest and hydration often help, urgent care is needed for persistent vomiting/diarrhea, severe pain, high fever, dehydration, or if you're in a high-risk group. Ignoring symptoms can lead to complications.
Why Does My Skin Get Dry in the Winter? As winter approaches, Hickory residents might find themselves dealing with that dreaded dry, parched skin. Whether you’re checking out cool planes at the Hickory Aviation Museum, hunting for treasures at the Hickory Furniture Mart, or just trying to keep up with the daily chaos, dry skin can quickly go from a minor nuisance to a major irritation. This winter, be proactive and take some preventive ...
Urgent care centers offer fast, convenient medical care for non-emergency illnesses and injuries. They are open extended hours and provide a cost-effective alternative to the ER. They also bridge the gap between primary and specialty care, streamlining referrals and follow-up treatments.
Oh, the holiday season. All of the delicious food, cozy nights on the couch and flowing drinks can make this a wonderful time of year to revel in another season of life surrounded by friends and family. However, all of this celebration can be hard on your body! Running around getting everything done ahead of time can put a strain on your immune system, and feeling sluggish after too many celebrations can end in a ...
Is getting strep without tonsils possible? Yes. Strep throat is caused by bacteria that can live in the nose and mouth, spread through saliva or contact with contaminated surfaces. Strep throat symptoms include sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, red/swollen tonsils, and swollen lymph nodes. Tonsillitis and strep throat are different. Strep throat is caused by bacteria, while tonsillitis can be caused by bacteria or a virus. If you think you have tonsillitis or strep throat, visit an urgent care center for diagnosis and treatment.
Bronchitis, an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, can sometimes develop into pneumonia if left untreated. This is more likely in individuals with weakened immune systems. Pneumonia is a lung infection with symptoms such as cough, chest pain, chills, and fever. Both conditions require medical attention, but treatments differ depending on the cause and severity.
What Are the Degrees of Burns? A Guide to Identifying Burns So, what are the degrees of burns? If you’ve been wondering how to identify burns, we’ve got the answers for you. Burns are a common injury that can occur from various sources, including hot liquids, fire, chemicals, and sun exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is crucial ...
RSV can seem like a scary virus for new parents to be aware of, and unfortunately, it sometimes is. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can cause some serious breathing issues for your newborn or infant. While anyone can become infected with RSV, it disproportionately affects small children and older adults and can even be life-threatening in severe cases. Our AFC Urgent Care Hickory team wants you to be prepared as we head into RSV season ...
Being a parent during the height of the cold and flu season can be really challenging. Navigating sick kids, keeping a clean house and calling in to work yet again because your youngest spiked a fever in the middle of the night can have us all dreaming of the warmer months ahead. No one wants their children to get sick at this time of year, but it is incredibly common as so many different infections ...
As a prominent care provider of accessible primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine services nationwide, American Family Care (AFC) is uniquely positioned to guide and educate the public on pertinent health issues, such as the FDA’s recent decisions on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine. The FDA held a Non-Prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting on September 11-12, 2023, to deliberate on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough ...
Why You Should See an Urgent Care Doctor for Wart Removal Home remedies for warts might not be as effective as you hope, so we recommend seeing an urgent care doctor for wart removal to treat these pesky growths at their source. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can appear almost anywhere on the body, causing both physical discomfort and self-consciousness. This article takes you through everything you need to know about ...
As we enter into the heart of cold and flu season, it is important to be on the lookout for any signs of illness for your entire family. A single cold or the flu could sneak in and spread throughout your household if you aren’t careful. While it is impossible to completely prevent illnesses, taking preventive steps can help you stay healthy. This is especially true when strep throat, the flu and COVID-19 cases ...
We can almost guarantee that if we asked you if you knew someone who had a serious or even deadly COVID-19 case over the past couple of years, you would say yes. It affected our entire country in ways we could have never imagined. We are so grateful that cases haven’t reached the peaks that they did back in 2020 and 2021, but COVID-19 is still out there and can still make you really ...
Now that the kids are back in the school rhythm once more, we hope you are, too! All of the homework, activities, sports and chores come back with a vengeance and life as a parent gets busier once again. It always seems like once you have your routine nailed down that someone in the household gets sick. While there are many different illnesses circulating about at any given time, one common symptom across those illnesses ...
Back-to-school sports physicals are vital for student athletes. They ensure health and meet requirements. Urgent care clinics offer quick, comprehensive exams with convenience and confidentiality. AFC provides affordable physicals, prioritizing your child's well-being.
Getting sick can be a really big source of frustration, especially when you have a busy week ahead! It can be even more frustrating when you are feeling sick but have no idea what is causing your symptoms. Thankfully, we are here to help! Our team is dedicated to caring for you and we are grateful to have multiple different diagnostic tools, like a state-of-the-art lab, at our disposal to help us along the way ...
If you have an STD but haven't been sexually active, you may have contracted it through sharing needles, tattoos/piercings, blood transfusions, or other means. Some STDs are asymptomatic but can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated. AFC urgent care clinics offer confidential STD testing and treatment.
Sure you can! You can do anything you set your mind to, though it may be a difficult thing to do. Quitting an addictive habit is hard work and takes determination, but you can do it. Smoking cigarettes and using other forms of tobacco are two of the most common addictions, so know that you are not alone and that there are other people out there wanting to quit as well. Our AFC Urgent Care ...
You never want to think about the possibility of getting sick. It’s never fun to feel unwell, but it can cause anxiety if you aren’t sure what is causing your symptoms. That is certainly true when it comes to STDs! Sexually transmitted diseases can not only make you feel uncomfortable, but they can have a significant impact on your health later in life if they aren’t treated properly. Our AFC Urgent Care ...
