Corona Update - Virtual Visits are Working - emailed 3/23/2020

To My Patients,  Hope you're well, keeping your distance, and avoiding contact with objects that could be contaminated by COVID 19.  Staying at home can be so boring...  Send me your ideas and pictures of the projects that keep you busy; with your permission, I'll share them with the rest of our patients!  Telemedicine Is Here! Virtual Office Visits via Video are Now Available Just Call 203-853-1919 or email istaw@drstaw.com to Set Up an Appointment!  We have minimized our office hours to the bare necessities, seeing some patients only when absolutely safe and necessary.  All the rest is done on the phone (I actually use my iMac most of the time), using FaceTime for those who have an iPhone, and using Zoom (click here for the Android app) for those who have an Android-based phone.  If you have an iPhone, there's nothing special for you to do, I just call you and turn on the FaceTime option.  If you have an Android phone, please download the Zoom app. When I call you, you'll receive an email invitation on your phone to "join the meeting." Accept it by clicking the link on the email invite. It's easy!  Please note: Insurance companies, including Medicare, will cover the cost of the telemedicine call; no copay. This will last at least until early May.  Another note: You can now use telemedicine for any medical issue, not just Corona virus issues.  Please continue to follow the general guidelines for corona precautions. But in addition, I urge you to get tested as soon as any symptoms appear, or if there's a suspicion of contact with an infected person or material. You may want to leave your mail or even grocery foods untouched in a safe place for two days before opening. Use gloves when necessary and change them frequently.  Above all: follow your sense of best, safe behavior!!!  Looking forward to seeing you in person, not just on the phone - as soon as the "storm is over."  Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook

COVID Update and Virtual Visits - emailed 3/20/2020

To My Patients,  The temperatures outside are rising and spring is here, but COVID 19 is still with us. As a primary care and pulmonary physician with many respiratory patients, I'm taking the present situation very seriously.  In an attempt to prevent the spread of disease, I've decided to temporarily reduce office hours.  Instead, we'll conduct "virtual visits" by smart phone - remember to smile, we'll be seeing each other on the phone. Here is what you need to do:  Call the usual telephone number, 203-853-1919. We'll tell you how to proceed. When you leave a message, don't forget to leave your telephone number. we'll respond as soon as possible.  Contact me by my personal email (as many of you have been doing all along) - istaw@drstaw.com.  If it's imperative that you need to be seen, we'll make special arrangements for that when we speak with you.  Routine medications will be refilled as usual, but in certain cases we'll do a virtual visit before renewal. Above all, adhere to the official guidelines, avoid potentially harmful contacts, and keep social and reasonable distance.  If you develop a fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other "suspicious" symptoms, call immediately - don't wait.  If you need a breath of spring air, walking outdoors is good. Just keep your distance. If it's still too chilly, exercise indoors; the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise Plan (developed in the 1950's) is an excellent way to do it, you can find it on the net.  Stay well and away from crowds. See you on the phone,  Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook

More Coronavirus Info - emailed 3/8/2020

To My Patients,  Welcome to daylight savings time (hope you remembered...). We're back in the office from Denver, had great weather, enjoyed the family!  The Coronavirus calls are coming in daily; some are worried, others just looking for information.  As mentioned in last week's letter (now on my blog drstaw.com), and I re-state it here, follow the CDC guidelines as stated on their website.  We are taking special precautions in the office (in addition to the usual measures): Our patients will bypass the waiting room. Call before you get into the office; you can do it from your car in the parking lot, and we'll give you instructions: 203-853-1919.  We will not "overlap" patients, so that patients are separated from each other in both office space and time. But equally important is that you stay in the best health you can.  Make sure that: You've had your flu vaccine and, where indicated, the pneumonia vaccine.  Every acute respiratory illness is looked at.  Any chronic medical condition you have is optimally treated. This includes conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension (and many others), and many others.  If you're on immune suppressing medications (e.g., certain biologicals, long term cortisone therapy, chemotherapy), be even more vigilant.  Get enough sleep and do what you can to reduce stress, your immune system will thank you for it. If you have any questions or concerns about prevention or health optimization, call 203-853-1919 or email istaw@drstaw.com.  Please be reminded that we now participate in more insurance plans, including: Anthem/Blue Cross (including Emblem)  United Health (including Oxford)  ConnectiCare  Aetna  Medicare/Medicaid (including most Advantage programs)  There is no reason to panic, but there's all the reason to avoid risky behavior.  Stay well!  Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook

To My Patients - emailed 3/1/2020

Greetings from sunny Highlands Ranch, Colorado. The skies are really blue, the snow crested mountains are great, and all is well with the younger generation.  I keep getting questions about the Coronavirus. While there's no US epidemic at this time, precautions are in order. There's no need to repeat here what has been recommended by the CDC on their website.  However, at the office we may need to go beyond the usual recommendations, but certainly not to panic.  If you feel that there is a chance, even a very small one - or you're not sure - that you may have been at risk for exposure to the Coronavirus, then: Make sure you follow the CDC guidelines.  Call about 30 minutes before arriving at the office (even from the parking lot), so we can take appropriate measures and give you additional instructions. Above all, don't panic; call or email if you have any questions, we're back in the office on Wednesday (but feel free to call us sooner).  Stay well!  Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook

To My Patients - emailed 2/22/2020

Hope all is well. Winter is still with, us but not nearly as cold as some of us (the older guys) can remember. Some of our patients are home-bound and required urgent medical attention, so I made a few house calls (does anyone else still do that?). 

Our next mini vacation will be at the end of the month - a repeat Denver trip - the youngest grandchild's 7th. A little while after that, it will be Israel, we haven't been there in over two years. We'll be out of the office from Wednesday PM, February 26, through Tuesday, March 3. 

We'll be back in the office on Wednesday morning, March 4th. 

Please call (203-853-1919) Monday morning if you need anything before we go! 

And now to the business of medicine: 


The Flu

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The flu is still here, it's a second wave. If you think that you're coming down with it, don't wait to be treated. The earlier the better, the treatment can be a life saver. It's not time (yet) to worry about the Corona virus, but let's have the flu vaccine under our belt. 


Good Rx

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The high cost of medication continues to be the subject of so many (justified) complaints. If that's a problem you face, arm yourself with a coupon from goodrx.com. The price you'll pay is frequently less than your copay, and could be much less than the un-insured price. It may be worth doing pharmacy-shopping for expensive medication. 


CT Screening For Lung Cancer, a re-visit

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Cancer of the lungs and bronchi (the breathing tubes) remains, by far, the number one cause of cancer deaths in the US (projected to be approximately 137,000 in 2020), mostly caused by smoking. A lot has been said about prevention - just don't smoke - but early detection is also of major importance. 

Low-radiation CT scan of the chest has been recommended for several years by pulmonary physicians and the USPSTF (US Preventive Services Taskforce). It is recommended for people between the ages of 55-80 who smoked the equivalent of one pack a day for 30 years (2 pack a day for 15 years will qualify...), even if they quit smoking less than 15 years ago. 

When it comes to lung cancer, early detection is the key to survival. Many insurance companies will pay for lung cancer screening, and some radiology facilities will do it free of charge when there's no insurance. If you need it, don't think twice, just do it. 


Aspirin, Not Only For The Heart

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Several large-scale studies have shown that low dose aspirin taken on a regular basis is associated with a significant decrease in gastrointestinal cancer (for example, a 40% decrease in colon cancer, 38% decrease in stomach cancer, and a 34% decrease in pancreatic cancer). But it's not for everyone and there are side effects, so don't do it on your own, get a medical opinion - sounds like a great topic for our next visit! 


Do You Like Your Chocolate?

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It's OK to have some, even every day, as long as it's dark chocolate with over 70% cocoa. There are several claims for medical benefits, mainly through the flavanols in the cocoa. Some studies even suggest that it improves memory and recall (the proof: once you get used to it you never forget to eat it again. Take it from a chocoholic). 

Stay well, until next time! 

Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
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