Category: COVID-19

We understand the notion of vaccine fatigue, but there is important news:

The FDA has authorized a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna to individuals 50 years of age and older (at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any other Covid vaccine.)

The FDA has also authorized a second booster dose for ages 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise.

Davidson Family Medicine has Moderna, Pfizer, and pediatric Pfizer ages 5-11 in stock.  Please call (704) 892-5454 to schedule the booster with your medical home. Patients can get either Pfizer or Moderna as a booster although we generally recommend staying with original series.  And even though the CDC has not weighed in on the decision by the FDA, the second booster has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing severe Covid disease in Israel.  The timing seems to be appropriate as we are seeing a slight uptick in cases probably due to the recently emerging subvariant BA.2.

We are encouraging our elderly and immunocompromised patients to get the second booster.

Of course, every patient’s situation is unique.  We are happy to answer any questions.

We now have available for DFM patients a Rapid Covid PCR test in addition to our current Rapid Covid Antigen test. The Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV results are available in 25 minutes. So now there is no need to go to any other testing facility or to navigate hospital or pharmacy websites. Both of our Covid tests are FDA authorized. The PCR is 100% accurate in assessing Covid positivity when compared to Quest (CVS) or Labcorp with no waiting for results. Ideal for travelers, students, or return to work. Just call us at (704) 892-5454 to schedule.

No, we do not have the vaccine yet, but… we are pleased that Davidson Family Medicine has been approved as a vaccine site by NCDHHS.

We do not know when we are getting the vaccine or which vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna, both equally effective). If you are getting this email, we will notify you through this email address when we receive the vaccine and what the next steps would be as far as which groups would be vaccinated. We will also update our website and Facebook. Please do not call with general questions about the vaccine, but feel free to email info@davidsonfamilymedicine.com.

As you probably know, in our state of North Carolina, Groups 1 and 2 (Healthcare workers, etc. and persons 65+) are now eligible for the vaccine. There is very limited supply locally. As we are waiting for the vaccine to eventually arrive at our office, we do encourage eligible patients who are interested to attempt to obtain the vaccine in one of 3 ways:

1) If you have an active Novant My Chart or My Atrium account, you may have received an email about signing up for a vaccine. Reports are that these appointments are months in the future.

2) If you do not have an active Novant My Chart, you can create one to request the vaccine: https://www.novantmychart.org/mychart/signup Or call Novant scheduling line at (855)-648-2248. Appointments are made on a week-to-week basis.

If you do not have an active My Atrium account, you can create one to request the vaccine: https://my.atriumhealth.org/MyAtriumHealth/publicforms.asp?mode=showform&formname=SignUpOne&_ga=2.185168553.1297599094.1611012112-2091031579.1582736708 Or call Atrium scheduling line at (704)-468-8888, option 1, then option 2.

3) Through a county health department. You do not need to be a resident of the county administering the vaccine.

For Mecklenburg: Eligible individuals ages 75 and older https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/83g1hcpv/ or call 980-314-9400 Option 3 to schedule an appointment for your first dose. Reports are that January appointments are filled and MCHD has not yet begun scheduling 65-74 year-olds.

For Iredell: There will be drive up clinics only for 1a Healthcare workers and persons 75+ on Friday, Jan. 20 in Mooresville and Sat., Jan. 21 in Statesville. Anticipate lengthy waits! Details here: https://www.co.iredell.nc.us/DocumentCenter/View/16175/CVMS-Registration-form—Generic

For Lincoln: Vaccinating only 1a healthcare workers and 75+ at their health department. Advised to call (704)479-2202.

For Cabarrus: https://www.cabarrushealth.org/605/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information (Latest check, these appointments are filled).

Groups 3 (Frontline workers), 4 (Adults at high risk for exposure and increase risk of severe illness), and 5 (everyone else that wants a safe vaccine) should await further instructions.

Please rest assured that Davidson Family Medicine has been attempting to obtain the vaccine since late November with the earliest announcement of vaccine availability. We feel it is important to receive vaccines from medical staff you know and trust. However, given the current limited supply and overwhelming demand, we encourage getting the vaccine as soon as practical.

We are excited to provide this service as soon as possible. In the interim, please feel free to reach out with questions: info@davidsonfamilymedicine.com. And if the need arises for testing or treatment of any medical condition (including Covid-19) please reach out to our office.

We are here to help, and there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Sincerely,
Davidson Family Medicine

We all do it. We watch others do it all the time. Our mom used to tell us to stop doing it.

That nasty habit of rubbing our eyes, or touching our nose and mouth is now more than just annoying. Even the CDC is telling us to stop. How many times have you just touched your face reading this far?  It could be boredom or a nervous habit, but let’s look at some ways to break the habit of touching your face.

Continue reading “Ways To Break The Habit Of Touching Your Face” →

No need to go anywhere else. Accurate, reliable, and available when you need it.

Davidson Family Medicine now has ample reliable and trustworthy  Covid-19 testing capability through our national lab partner Quest Diagnostics.

If there is a need for you or your family to test for infection with or without symptoms, we can do that (safely) here in the office with results in 3-7 days.  There is no need to travel to an unknown CVS, urgent care clinic, or hospital lab center for these tests. 

The Quest PCR test, which is performed through a naso-pharyngeal specimen, is extremely sensitive and specific. It is more accurate and should not be confused with the “Abbott PCR rapid test” that is being performed elsewhere.  CVS has given no details about who is performing their tests, the reliability of their tests, and results are not rapid.  Click here for the details of the Quest test. 

Examples of testing situations:

• An employer is requiring testing for work re-entry.
• You or a family member develops symptoms of Covid-19.
• If there is a need to test before visiting relatives or friends to confirm lack of disease.
• We continue to offer the IgG antibody blood (serology) tests to determine if a person has had active infection in the past.

Please contact us with any concerns or questions.

Antibody testing is now available at our office– should you get it? 
 
The antibody (a serologic blood) test may show whether you have been infected with Covid-19 and suggests some level of immunity. 
 
Along with our laboratory partner Quest Diagnostics, Davidson Family Medicine is now offering this Covid-19 Antibody testing through a venipuncture draw performed safely inside our office or outdoors. 
 
Who might consider antibody testing? Most people do not need antibody testing at this time. People who might consider this testing include 1) healthcare workers and 2) those who think they may have had Covid-19 or its symptoms 3 or more weeks ago. 
 
These tests are not intended for diagnosis of Covid-19. That would be done through a nasopharyngeal swab (and is called a molecular or PCR antigen test.) For anyone with suspected Covid-19, please contact our office so that we can perform a virtual visit and facilitate this testing through Atrium or Novant. 
 
If you feel that ANTIBODY testing would be helpful, please call our office to schedule the venipuncture followed 3- 7 days later with a 10-15 minute virtual or telephone visit for your provider to explain the results. This follow-up visit will be billed to your insurer and should be covered 100%. During this follow-up visit, your provider will provide recommendations based on your individual history and other medical problems.  
 
A note about the test:  These particular Quest antibody tests are authorized by the FDA under the CDC Emergency Use Authorization.  These tests should not be confused with other tests that may be offered elsewhere that are not FDA authorized under the EUA.  We have extreme confidence in the validity of the results or we would not be providing them at this time.   
Details :  Quest uses one of 2 tests:  1)  the Abbott IgG test with 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity (page 6 in the product package insert), and 2)  the Euroimmune IgG test with 98.5% sensitivity (top of page 9 in PI) and 99 % specificity (page 9 in package insert).  
In other words, a negative test when performed after 2-3 weeks of symptom onset accurately assesses whether a patient has had a previous Covid-19 infection.  A positive test means that the patient has had the infection.  There may be some immunity, for how long we do not know at this time. Each individual case is different, and part of the follow-up virtual/phone visit is to review the results to give you and your family guidance based on your history of symptoms, underlying medical condition (if any), and guidance going forward. 
 
There is no simple “negative” or “positive” for these tests. One thing is certain, regardless of the result, social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and protecting the immunocompromised among us should be continued. 
 
We are happy to help during this time. Please feel free to call us with questions. 

Now accepting appointments for well child checks and adult preventive care

For the past month, we’ve adapted to the new world of virtual visits. We will continue this. However, many patients understandably have delayed needed preventive care. We realize that virtual visits cannot meet everyone’s needs. There are certain medical visits that should be done in person.

Following the cautious advice of our medical societies, beginning Monday, May 4th , we will be inviting you back into our office! We have missed seeing you! We will be providing in-office well child checks and some adult preventive care. At these visits, we will perform necessary overdue examinations and update immunizations to prevent childhood diseases.

Rest assured, we have been planning this for weeks, and our top priority is to keep you and our staff safe. Our office will seem different. You will not be in a reception area. We will all be wearing masks, gloves, and keeping appropriate distance. All staff will be prescreened for optimal health each day. After each visit, our facilities will have enhanced disinfection processes. Our entire second floor is dedicated only to well care. Some healthcare delivery may even be performed in your personal vehicle
if requested and feasible.

We ask only that you bring with you a cloth or surgical mask if possible. And if you are immunocompromised, please let the receptionist know. These types of exams may not be appropriate, and we can help you decide.

So, give us a call today and let’s get going with that well child exam. Let’s listen to your heart, your lungs, examine your abdomen and check your pulse, and give your skin a close look. Let’s do that yearly cancer screening. And give that overdue vaccine. And let’s do it with the utmost safety in mind. We are here ready to serve!