Recent Blog Posts

Schedule Online Introduction As our healthcare system continues to evolve, patients are searching for new and innovative ways to access medical care. Urgent care is a popular choice because it provides high-quality medical services for non-life-threatening conditions conveniently and cost-effectively. In this article, we'll look at why urgent care may be the best option for your healthcare requirements, giving you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about your medical care. Urgent ...

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Schedule Online Preparing for a DOT (Department of Transportation) physical is important to ensure that you are able to pass the exam and maintain your commercial driver's license (CDL). If you're a truck driver, you need to have a clear understanding of your upcoming DOT physical which is a medical examination required by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). DOT physical is for commercial drivers who operate vehicles that weigh over 10 ...

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Schedule Online Sexually transmitted infections (STDs) are likely far more prevalent than we realize. Every year, nearly 20 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed. This corresponds to 110 million Americans living with STDs, or more than one-third of the total US population. STDs mainly affect individuals between 15 to 24 years. But according to the American Sexual Health Association, merely 12% of the youth, who comprise 50% of all new STD infections, have recently ...

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So, what is mono, and what are the symptoms? American Family Care in Southcenter has answers, and treatment, for you.  Mononucleosis (mono) is an infectious viral disease most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but other viruses can also cause it. Also sometimes known as the “kissing disease,” mono is spread through saliva and can even be passed from person to person from sharing cutlery and utensils. According to the CDC, mono occurs mainly ...

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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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Urgent care providers offer convenient, time-saving alternatives to visiting an emergency room for minor, non-life-threatening medical conditions. These healthcare centers typically have shorter wait times and offer services like X-rays, urgent treatment of colds and flu, sprains, strains, and fractures, on-site lab tests, and physicals. Urgent care centers provide efficient diagnoses of various health problems, ranging from minor to severe. Some are also equipped with on-site lab testing capabilities so that patients can get results ...

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A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is a frustrating ailment that causes a runny nose, congestion, swollen and/or itching eyes, a sore throat, headaches, and other symptoms. While there isn’t necessarily a quick sinus infection cure, there are certainly ways that you can ease your discomfort and speed up your recovery.  If you’re suffering from sinusitis, know that you aren’t alone; approximately 90% of patients with colds have an element of viral ...

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Local urgent care centers in Southcenter, 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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Schedule Online Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals are crucial for drivers who wish to continue their trucking or commercial driver career. The main purpose of this physical exam is to promote safety behind the wheel and on the road. See what you need to do when you have a DOT physical coming up. Prepare your medical information Before you enter for your exam, ensure that all your medical information is available and up to date ...

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Schedule Online You must meet certain requirements to drive buses for students. Your DOT physicals must be updated regularly and your vehicle should be in good shape to ensure safe driving. To renew your DOT physicals, you must: Be able to Hear normal conversational sounds Not have any mental, heart, and brain issues. Not have any physical deformities Be able to drive at any time. As a school bus driver, you must apply for a ...

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Schedule Online Many people have become complacent in practicing the CDC safety guidelines that are intended to keep the public safe by slowing the spread of the virus. Now it is more important than ever to practice COVID-19 safety guidelines to protect yourself and your family. Millions of people across the globe travel every year during peak holiday and vacation season, as well as for work. Many people are questioning their travel plans and wondering ...

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Schedule Online Coughs are a part of everyday life and can occur for many reasons. Therefore, it isn’t a cause for concern when a random cough occurs. Young children frequently cough when eating, trying new foods, and learning to eat. Irritants in the air or weather changes can also cause random coughs for adults and children. A bad cough can be scary and may signify a worsening condition or someone choking. These incidences are ...

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The fall 2021 season is especially complex due to the rise of COVID-19, colds, flus, and other seasonal illnesses. When patients start to feel sick it could be one or more seasonal illnesses impacting the patient’s overall health. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, we have noticed that strep throat cases are rising throughout our local communities. Patients in Tukwila, Renton, SeaTac, Kent, WA and other nearby towns are having a greater volume of strep ...

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At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, we want to give patients the best possible care experience to help address and treat early seasonal illnesses, such as strep throat, right away. We’ve noticed an influx of strep throat patients in recent weeks and want to provide some helpful guidelines on how to address strep throat treatment at home and at our urgent care center. Patients that already know if they have strep throat should book an ...

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" Commercial truck drivers are required by law to maintain specific health standards. Whether this is your first DOT physical exam, or you have been driving a commercial truck for years, there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself for a successful DOT physical. Requirements to Pass the DOT Physical Exam The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has developed a set of health standards that must be met in order to begin or continue ...

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" Commercial truck drivers are required to meet health criteria standards that are set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or the FMCSA. The goal of these standards is to improve the safety of commercial motor vehicles on the roadways. In order to meet these standards drivers must keep themselves healthy enough to be deemed safe drivers. Traditionally, drivers tend to make appointments with their primary physician to have these physical exams completed. With ...

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" Patients more than ever need accessible medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 has proven to be a difficult year for many families, but trust in getting safe healthcare services is a particularly challenging concern for patients of all walks of life. Many families are not sure whether or not to forgo healthcare altogether due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need to quarantine at home. However, neglected necessary medical care and urgent care services may ...

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" As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, patients need increasing access to physical medical facilities that can safely treat patients. In the greater Seattle, WA and Renton, WA area patients also need important preventive care services such as STD testing. Local news outlets recently covered the referendum on youth STD education and explained that high rates of STDs in youth populations exist due to lack of education, while publicly reported rates of STDs in general have grown ...

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" With the coronavirus pandemic at its peak in the United States, all states are making necessary changes and updates to their traveling rules and regulations. Therefore, if you were planning to spend your vacation in another state, you must be aware of the updated rules and regulations. In some US states, you won’t find any such restrictions when it comes to travel. However, they have set some mandatory requirements related to traveling during COVID-19 ...

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