How to avoid getting sick this winter ... and what to do when it inevitably happens
Dr. Carmen Teague is the Director of Internal Medicine with Carolinas HealthCare System and has been at Mecklenburg Medical Group for 12 years. Her no-nonsense advice may keep some of us from getting sick this season:
(1) Wash your hands 100x a day and carry hand sanitizer with you. Germs are everywhere, but be especially careful with doorknobs and elevators.
(2) Planes and trains are a petri dish of germs. If you have to travel, Dr. Teague says, “Be a geek and wear a mask. Inevitably someone will be coughing.”
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(3) Don’t share a beverage. Despite the common belief that alcohol kills germs, Dr. Teague says, “You are not safe. Slobber is slobber.”
(4) Avoid sick people. Dr. Teague recommends telling co-workers and friends to stay home and curl up in their fuzzy PJs and rest on the couch.
(5) Be sure your baseline health is good. Eat healthy (remember your fruit, veggies and grains) and exercise 4 times a week for 45 minutes.
In a perfect world, we would all follow Dr. Teague’s advice and stay healthy all season. If you are one of the unlucky, here are a few places that may be able to help you.*
*Check for hours of operation before visiting a location. Calling your insurance company ahead of time to determine costs and coverage is recommended.
Carolinas HealthCare System Urgent Care
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Costs: Costs vary based on insurance and tests performed
Wait time: May be checked here.
Appointment: “Reserve your spot” available at some locations, otherwise walk-ins welcome
Insurance: Most major insurance carriers accepted.
Mecklenburg Medical Group
Hours: Daytime hours with weekend and extended evening hours available
Costs: $150-200
Wait time: Varies
Appointment: Yes for all locations. Uptown clinic on College Street takes walk-ins.
Insurance: Most major insurance carriers accepted.
MinuteClinic at CVS
Hours: Weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Costs: Office visit is $89-99 for minor conditions.
Wait time: Call ahead for a wait time check.
Appointment: No. All clinics are walk-in.
Insurance: Yes. Most major insurance carriers are accepted.
Novant Health Express Care
Hours: Daytime hours with weekend and extended evening hours available.
Costs: Costs vary based on insurance and tests performed.
Wait time: Varies, but typical wait time is less than 30 minutes.
Appointment: No. All clinics are walk-in.
Insurance: Most major insurance carriers accepted.
Novant Health Urgent Care
Hours: Daytime hours with weekend and extended evening hours available.
Costs: Costs vary based on insurance and tests performed.
Wait time: Various, but typical wait time is less than an hour.
Appointment: Hold My Place reservations available.
Insurance: Most major insurance carriers accepted.
Virtual Visit
Carolinas HealthCare System setup a Virtual Visit demonstration for me. We pretended to have an issue and followed the steps on the site to get to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
Most common medical issues seen on Virtual Visit are sinus, colds, coughs, skin conditions and UTI. You do not have to be a CHS patient, but you do have to be in North Carolina at the time of the visit. After seeing the demo, I would definitely use it for a sinus infection or cold.
Hours: 24/7.
Costs: $49.
Wait time: 5 minutes.
Appointment: No.
Insurance: Accepting BCBSNC only.
App: Apple App Store and Google Play.
Dr. Teague said that 98% of most colds and flu are viruses and cannot be helped with any amount of antibiotic. Over the counter medications like decongestants and expectorants will help with symptoms, but rest and listening to your body is most important.
If after 7-10 days you are not feeling better, a trip to one of the places above may be a necessity.
Illustration: Chris Ware/MCT. Photo: Olivia Normandin.
This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 8:54 PM with the headline "How to avoid getting sick this winter ... and what to do when it inevitably happens."