Washington Health System

Your Personal Portal Your Personal Portal Weather in g Winter I llness: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH CARE. Once upon a time, it took some effort to get all of your healthcare information organized in one location. anks to the myWHS Patient Portal at Washington Health System, this inconvenience is a thing of the past. e Patient Portal allows you to easily communicate with your WHS physician's office around the clock to send messages, check appointment times, request refills and check test results. Radiology and cardiology reports have also been added for your convenience. e myWHS Portal also pairs with the free healow™ app, which allows you to access all of this information from your smartphone or tablet. "It's very important for patients to play an active role in their health care," says Amy Hoyle, Ambulatory Systems Analyst at Washington Health System. "is feature, along with others that we offer, helps patients get a better grasp on their results, diagnosis and treatment." » VISIT WHS.ORG/MYWHS TO ACCESS THE PORTAL. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THE MYWHS PATIENT PORTAL, CALL (724) 229-2657. TAME THE RISK OF COMMON WINTER SICKNESSES BY SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION. MISCONCEPTION #1: You should not get your annual flu shot, because it will actually give you the flu. Truth #1: "If the annual influenza vaccination contains the flu virus, it is a virus that has been inactivated or killed, which cannot infect people," says Ereny Eskarous, MD, Family Medicine Physician with Washington Health System Family Medicine – California. "Getting the annual flu vaccine is essential to preventing symptoms and infections." MISCONCEPTION #2: Antibiotics are your best defense against colds and the flu. Truth #2: Your healthcare provider will recommend antibiotics only in the case of a bacterial infection. If antibiotics are given when they are not needed, you may develop a resistance to them. MISCONCEPTION #3: If you take vitamin supplements, your immune system will be cold- and flu-proof. Truth #3: Taking in plenty of nutrients, such as vitamin C and zinc, is important. But you should also remember to avoid spending time in crowded places during cold and flu season, drink plenty of fluids, and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly to avoid picking up an unwanted virus. Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow and keeping your hands off your face are also helpful in avoiding the spread of germs. » IF YOU NEED A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, CALL WHS FAMILY MEDICINE – CALIFORNIA AT (724) 938-7466 OR OUR PHYSICIAN REFERRAL LINE AT (724) 250-4310. THE FACTS W I NTE R 2018 | connections whs.org 3

• Cover