Recent Blog Posts

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (historically referred to as STDs)  are more prevalent than many think and if left undetected and untreated, can have severe consequences. Regular STI testing ensures early identification of any infections, enabling prompt medical intervention and preventing further transmission.  Consistent STI testing helps individuals take control of their sexual health. Many STIs may not display obvious symptoms after contraction, making testing the only reliable method for detection. Regular testing allows individuals to ...

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Do you feel like recently you and/or those around you have been getting sicker in recent allergy seasons? AFC Portland’s very own Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrew Miller, has some insight on what’s going on and what may be causing this uptick in illnesses. “The current allergy season is the worst that it’s been in years, so we are seeing a lot of visits for congestion, sore throat, and cough. These ...

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Summer is approaching along with warmer weather in the Pacific NW. After a long wet winter and spring, there is excitement for most of us. That said, it’s important to take precautions to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful rays and the overall heat itself. Prolonged exposure to either sun or high temperatures can lead to symptoms such as sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Because of all these factors, it is ...

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Mental health refers to the overall state of an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It encompasses a wide range of conditions that affect how we feel, think and behave. Mental health is important just like physical health, and a positive state of mental health is key to overall health.  The importance of mental health awareness can’t be overstated. Despite increased attention to mental health issues in recent years, the stigma surrounding mental ...

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Spring is a season of renewal and rejuvenation in Portland, Oregon, as the city wakes up from the long winter slumber. The cherry blossoms bloom, the daffodils sway in the gentle breeze, and the temperatures start to climb. However, for many residents, springtime also heralds the arrival of allergy season, bringing with it sneezing, itching, and congestion.  As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, the trees in Portland begin to release pollen ...

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The healthcare industry has evolved to include telehealth urgent care, an innovative technology that has made it easier for people worldwide to access healthcare virtually.  This medical service offers faster urgent care visits through virtual appointments, providing services from physical exams to diagnostics, which allows healthcare providers to connect with patients remotely, providing care, support, and information from a distance. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with mobility or transportation issues, with busy schedules ...

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With the rise of telemedicine, there is an increasing availability of virtual doctor appointments. This is often a more convenient option for patients, but it is important to know when an in-person doctor’s appointment is necessary. However, in some cases, a virtual appointment may actually be the best option available.  In-person appointments should be booked when a physical exam is needed. This includes physical conditions such as broken bones, lacerations, or other ailments that ...

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Local urgent care centers in Portland OR, or family walk-in clinics, offer patients convenient and affordable urgent healthcare services. When you visit a family walk-in clinic, you can expect quick, quality care at a fraction of the cost of your local emergency room.  Emergency rooms tend to be very busy and crowded and are associated with longer waiting times and higher fees. By going to a walk-in doctor’s office for a non-life-threatening illness or injury ...

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What is an urgent care clinic? And how does it differ from the emergency room? When should you go to the emergency room, and when should you go to an urgent care center? Whatever questions you may have, AFC has the answers.    What Is An Urgent Care Clinic? Urgent care is the level of healthcare that lies between your primary care physician (PCP) and the emergency room. When you go to urgent care, you can ...

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If you’ve ever arrived at the emergency room with an urgent medical concern, you know how frustrating it can be to sit in a waiting room while you continue to suffer. Emergency rooms these days are just too overcrowded, and they often fail to treat the specific ailments that you are facing. Urgent care facilities have revolutionized the emergency care process, making it faster and easier to receive immediate medical attention. Emergency room visits ...

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Getting medicine when you need it in America isn’t too difficult most of the time. Knowing how and where to get your medicine and healthcare is important, though. While many still believe the Emergency Room to be the go-to destination for any injury suffered while primary care physicians are unavailable, it’s actually Urgent Care centers which are most effective when it comes to non-life threatening injuries. There are a few reasons for this ...

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Not a lot of people know what level of care provided by community health clinics. Most people are still likely to admit themselves to an emergency room if they suffer a medical ailment. Rightly so, if the situation is an emergency. In less severe cases, people may schedule an appointment with their primary care physician, though the availability and operating hours of most primary care facilities limit people from going there during off hours. That ...

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When it comes to your family, you only want the best possible care for them, but you also want care that is accessible and affordable. Urgent care centers are steadily growing in popularity, with about two clinics opening their doors every single day. By 2019, that means there will be about 15,000 centers! The reason they have been so successful is in part due to the convenience that families are finding in them. Here ...

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Did you know that less than 30% of primary care physicians offer after-hours coverage? This can make it difficult for parents to get their kids an appointment, while also juggling their work schedule.  Luckily, there’s urgent care. Aside from offering more convenient hours, almost 70% of urgent care centers boast waiting times of less than 20 minutes, much less than that of an emergency room. Here are just five medical issues children and young ...

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The panic that sets in when you or a loved one gets into an accident or is stricken with a serious illness is more than enough to cloud anyone’s judgement. Unfortunately, finding medical care as quickly as possible is not always an easy task. Even for those who happen to get to a hospital on time, there is no guarantee that they won’t be sitting in line for hours, waiting for the next ...

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With about two new urgent cares opening each day, by 2019 there will be 15,000 locations in the United States. These centers are known for providing emergency care, much of which people end up at the emergency room for. Many people don’t realize just how capable and fast the doctors at urgent care centers are. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 129.8 million individuals go to the ...

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Did you know? According to the National Kidney Foundation, it is estimated that one in 10 people living in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in their lifetime. What Is the Main Cause of Kidney Stones? A kidney stone occurs when crystal-forming substances (like calcium and uric acid) stick together rather than dilute. Kidney stones, then, are hard masses of those substances that form inside the kidneys. They may affect ...

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According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, Inc., irritable bowel syndrome (also known as IBS) affects approximately 25 to 45 million Americans. Are you one of them? Who Gets IBS? While anyone can get IBS, there are some groups of people who are at a higher risk than others. Women, people under the age of 50 and those who have a family history of IBS are most at risk for the disease that affects ...

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While every person has their own set of ideals, quirks, and opinions, there is one thing that everybody can relate to: getting sick. Falling ill is certainly not a fun experience, and it’s even more excruciating when you are forced to wait on hold to set up an appointment, only to sit for another hour in the waiting room when you arrive at the hospital. At medical walk in clinics, patients get to simply ...

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With as little as 29% of primary care doctors offering extended business hours, it’s no wonder why walk in medical clinics are becoming more popular. For those who have questions about urgent care, here are a few things you may be interested in learning. Do I have to make an appointment? No. With a walk in medical facility, you do not have to make an appointment to be seen. You may simply come in ...

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