Health Quest

To ease a child's discomfort, keep him or her cool with Popsicles and plenty of fluids. Instead of covering a child in heavy blankets, opt for lightweight sheets and pajamas, which allow heat to radiate off the body. Use medication as directed by a provider. TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, CALL 8885254767 TTY/ ACCESSIBILITY: 18004211220. Coping with A fever doesn't always necessitate a medical visit. Sometimes, the best treatment is a little love and care. READING A FEVER "Fever is only a symptom, not a disease," says Dr. Francis Mayle III, primary care physician with HealthQuest Medical Practice. "Fevers are a normal reaction to help protect the immune system." Not all fevers should cause worry, and it is important to consider all of a child's symptoms before calling his or her healthcare provider. A child who is eating normally, drinking fluids and breathing consistently and who doesn't have any questionable rashes or other concerning symptoms can often be treated at home. Any fever above 101 degrees — 100.5 degrees in children younger than 1 year old — requires a visit to a healthcare provider. Fevers, particularly those as high as 106 degrees, can cause serious damage if left untreated. ATHOME TLC STAND DOWN, SEPSIS Reducing sepsis is the primary goal of Health Quest's Antibiotic Stewardship Program, an effort to eliminate antibiotic overuse and keep patients healthy and safe. Your immune system's job is to fight infection, but if it responds too robustly, it can cause inflammation throughout the body. is reaction is called sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition that can disrupt the function of major organs and cause shock. Symptoms include excessively high or low body temperatures and rapid heart rate and breathing. Hospitalized individuals are often vulnerable due to surgical wounds and intravenous lines. "Sepsis patients are our largest group of antibiotic recipients," says Dr. Keyur Ajbani, medical director of the emergency department at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. "Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death both at the hospital and nationwide." e Antibiotic Stewardship Program includes protocols to ensure patients get the most effective antibiotics for their specific infections and that they receive the right doses of those drugs for the proper amount of time. You can continue these measures at home. "If you're given an antibiotic prescription, finish all the medication," Ajbani advises. "Don't stop taking them too soon. And never take someone else's antibiotics. If you have an infection, talk with your doctor and get the appropriate antibiotic for your specific illness." When you're in the hospital, you canplayan important part in stopping serious infections. "Wash your hands, and ask all of the providers who care for you whether they've washed their hands," says Brenda Martin, R.N., CIC, infection control officer at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. "ese are the most important things you can do to reduce sepsis risk." Health Quest 4

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