Did you know that Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help keep your company healthy? Employers and health insurance leaders across the country are booking their spots for the National Corporate Wellness Conference in Los Angeles Sept. 20-22. While there, they’ll learn what smart business leaders and Solantic already know - that healthy, happy employees contribute to your company’s bottom line by boosting productivity and employee morale.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care's occupational medicine and executive physical services can help keep you, your employees and your company healthy.

A 2004 study by Cornell University shows that “presenteeism” (employees showing up for work despite being ill) costs the American economy $180 billion in lost productivity annually. A 2009 survey by CCH Inc., which provides employment law information for human resources professionals, concluded that unscheduled employee absenteeism (primarily for illnesses) cost companies an average of $755 per year. And substance abuse and addiction costs American companies billions in absenteeism, insurance costs (including insurance for treatment of health conditions exacerbated by substance abuse) and related costs each year.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care can help keep your employees healthy and your business running smoothly with our occupational medicine services. Each of our urgent care centers located throughout Florida offers confidential employment and pre-employment drug screens, immunizations, X-ray and EKG services, vision testing, hearing testing and pulmonary functioning testing, plus physicals for DOT workers, OSHA physicals and customized examinations tailored for your company’s specific needs. We also offer an “Executive Physical” designed to help evaluate an executive employee or candidate’s ability to handle the rigors and strains of a high-pressure positions. HIV and STD serologic testing also is available.

Whether you’re an HR professional for a large company with thousands of employees or a small business owner with a staff of just a few, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers occupational medicine at a budget that works for your company or department. To keep your business in top shape, contact the center nearest you for more information Solantic’s occupational medicine and corporate wellness services today.

Since news of the tragic explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon and the resulting BP oil spill hit, concerns about health risks associated with oil exposure have taken center stage in the media. Florida urgent care facilities are getting lots of calls from both coastal residents and would-be vacationers worried about whether the Sunshine State’s beaches are safe to swim in, the air is safe to breath and the seafood is safe to eat.

Health advisories have been issued at beaches in three Florida gulf counties as a result of the BP oil spill.

When it comes to needing urgent care, Florida beaches in three counties could pose a risk. The state’s Division of Health has issued impact notices for fifteen beaches in Escambia, Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Tar balls, tar mats and a light, oily sheen have been spotted along these beaches in the water and in the sands. While there have not yet been any reports of major illnesses or injuries caused by contact with tar, oil or dispersant deposits found in Florida, prolonged contact can cause health problems that could carry long-term impacts.

The most common urgent care risk Florida beach-goers face is respiratory problems induced by odors and fumes given off by oil and toxic oil dispersants. Nasal irritation and nausea may occur, particularly in people with seasonal allergies, sensitivity to pollen or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. If you experience this, leave the area immediately, avoid strenuous activity and get to an air-conditioned space. If symptoms worsen, go to the nearest Florida urgent care clinic immediately. Seafood purchased at restaurants and markets have been sampled and deemed safe. But NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) just recently expanded the no-fishing zone and various agencies have differing standards of safety. Petroleum contamination (whether by touching, ingesting or inhaling) is known to cause cancer and neurological conditions down the road.

To minimize your potential health risk while visiting beaches in Florida, Solantic Urgent Care and the Florida DOH offer these tips:

- Avoid wading or swimming, skiing or using personal water craft in oil-affected areas;
- If your skin comes in contact with an oil product, quickly wash it with grease-cutting liquid dishwashing detergent and water;
- Avoid contact with oil and oily materials spotted in the water or on the beach. Note that items such as tar balls may be buried beneath the sand, so be careful digging your feet into the sand and closely watch children digging holes and building sand castles (in fact, young children age five and younger should be kept from affected areas altogether);
- Do not collect tar balls or other items for souvenirs;
- Do not pick up oil product to throw in the trash. Instead, notify local officials. Only trained community workers are authorized to remove and dispose of oil product from Florida’s beaches;
- Avoid contact with dead or dying fish or other aquatic life that may be impacted by the oil. If you see an animal in distress, call (866) 557-1401;
- Do not boat through oil slicks or sheens and exercise caution when hoisting boat anchors from waters that may be affected;
- Young children (five and younger), pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and pets should not visit oil-affected areas.

If you believe you are suffering a medical condition from contact with oil products or fumes, head to your nearest Florida Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care clinic.

ORLANDO, Fla. – (July 5, 2010) – There were the much-anticipated panoramic pyrotechnics, thunderous booms, and lots of “oohs” and “aahs” at the City of Orlando’s 32nd annual Fireworks at the Fountain Fourth of July extravaganza.

However, amidst the fanfare and festivities there was an added – and unexpected – element: FLASH. As in FLASH MOB.

A group of 80 Solantic walk-in urgent care “doctors” descended unannounced on the venue to communicate the company’s value proposition: “Seeing A Doctor Has Never Been this Easy!”

Solantic’s 10 central Florida urgent care centers offer care provided by board-certified doctors, online and call ahead registration options, $5 prescriptions onsite for patients, in-center digital x-ray and lab test services and more.

The Legion of Docs Flash Mob coursed its way through Lake Eola Park, engaging with event patrons and distributing hand fans with 3-d embedded glasses for fireworks viewing, Solantic brand attributes and summer safety tips before disappearing into downtown Orlando as quickly as they arrived.

Twenty lucky revelers who had registered at one of Solantic’s 10 Central Florida urgent care centers for the chance to win a VIP viewing experience had the opportunity to view the procession and the fireworks from the Lake Eola pagoda. “I first started going to Solantic over three years ago when I could not get into my regular doctor and was having an asthma attack,” said Elli Armstead. “Since I started using Solantic my husband and son have also become patients, so it was such a treat for all of us to celebrate the Fourth of July as special guests of Solantic.”

To view pictures of the Solantic Legion of Doctors in action, visit http://www.facebook.com/SolanticUrgentCare

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 29, 2010) – Solantic walk-in urgent care, the state’s largest and fastest-growing provider of urgent care, workers’ comp and occupational health services, has opened its newest center in the bustling east Seminole County city of Winter Springs.

Located at 5355 Red Bug Lake Road, a highly traveled thoroughfare for east Seminole County residents, the 3,200-square-foot center brings the total number of Central Florida Solantic walk-in urgent care centers to 10 and is the first in the market to offer wireless internet access. This is the 34th Solantic center statewide.

“We’re always looking to provide locations and services that offer convenient access and enhance our customers’ experience,” said Solantic CEO Karen Bowling. “This center is well-placed to meet the needs of the many residents of Winter Springs, the neighboring city of Oviedo and those who work at or attend the University of Central Florida. Plus, the availability of free wireless internet access should appeal to the tech-savvy residents of the university corridor region.”

Center hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Appointments are never needed, and Solantic offers the added convenience of online registration, in which patients can request a call or text message when the doctor is ready to see them, or can call ahead to be placed in the patient queue in advance of their arrival.

In addition to call-ahead and online registration options, Solantic offers: $5 prescriptions for patients, on-site digital x-rays and lab services; separate kids’ waiting rooms; flat-screen televisions in exam rooms; and a Three-Day Feel Better Guarantee. For locations and to read more about Solantic’s urgent care, workers’ comp and occupational health services, visit www.solantic.com.

If you’re looking for a way to get in shape without straining your wallet, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care suggests small group fitness training. June’s end marks the year’s half-way point and most have long ago skipped out on their New Year’s resolutions. This year, many are blaming the tight economy for their fitness woes. But imagine sharing the costs of getting fit while enjoying the added benefits of a support system. That’s the beauty of small group fitness training programs popping up all across the nation. Multiple participants keep costs down. And having someone share your fitness journey can make it easier, more fun and more effective. Statistics show that fitness partners can help encourage all participants to stick to the program, even as it gets tougher.

Small group fitness training programs are an affordable way to get in great shape. Visit your nearest Solantic urgent care clinic to make sure you're ready for a new fitness routine.

The recession is affecting the physical health of thousands of people forced to forego fitness training because of financial difficulties. And it’s affecting the financial health of personal fitness trainers and gyms. Small group fitness training programs are proving to be the answer for both parties. Many of these programs are known as “fitness boot camps.” They can take place inside gyms or community centers, or outside, utilizing parks, beaches, even parking lots as fitness obstacle courses.

One attractive feature of small group fitness training is the range of workout types. Popular workouts today include:

- Zumba, which involves Latin beats and salsa-inspired moves;
- Cardio Hula Hoop, using weighted hoops to help whittle your waist, flatten your abs and boost your muscle tone;
- Cardio Pole Dancing for those who want to put a little spice into their workouts while building upper body and core strength and toning legs;
- Punk Rope, which centers on jumping rope to punk rock tunes;
- Forza, a Samurai-inspired core workout that involves thrusting, chopping and slicing your way through core, shoulder, arm and leg training using wooden swords.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care recommends you undergo a physical examination before taking on a new workout program. We offer age-appropriate basic physicals that help you determine your current health and fitness level so that you can make an informed decision about your new exercise plan. Also, if you or your child plans to participate in school or collegiate sports come the new school year / fall semester, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care centers offer school / sports physicals required by many athletic governing bodies and in some cases, by state law.

To prepare for your new workout program, visit your nearest Solantic urgent care clinic today. No appointment is necessary and your insurance company may reimburse you all or part of your physical cost.

SOLANTIC TAPPED FOR KEISER UNIVERSITY’S
EMPLOYER CHOICE AWARD

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 25, 2010) – Solantic walk-in urgent care, the state’s largest provider of urgent care, has been presented with Keiser University’s Employer’s Choice Award.

The award recipient is chosen by Keiser faculty and staff only twice a year and is based on the recipient organization’s community involvement, Keiser job fair and Advisory Board participation, and hiring of recent Keiser graduates.

“Keiser University has been a valued partner in recruiting efforts for our 34 urgent care centers across Florida, and we are honored to have been recognized with the ‘Employer’s Choice Award’ for our efforts,” said Kelli O’Leary, Solantic V.P. of Human Resources . “We share a common commitment with Keiser to be actively involved in the communities we serve by advancing the quality of health care we provide and assisting graduates with employment that offers opportunities for professional growth.”

“Over the past year, Solantic has hired a number of Keiser University graduates, from Medical Assistants to Radiologic Technologists,” said Toni S. Callahan, Keiser University Jacksonville Campus Director of Student Services. “We’re proud to be training students who meet the high standards of Solantic and look forward to continuing a close working relationship with the organization to help ensure the health and well-being of the community’s citizen’s.”

Keiser University is Florida’s leading statewide provider of career-focused, post-secondary education and is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Keiser University serves approximately 16,500 students seeking associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 50 high demand degree programs at its 13 campuses and through its online and Graduate School divisions.

Site Designed To Support Spanish-Speaking South Florida Patients

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (June 14, 2010) – Solantic walk-in urgent care, Florida’s fastest-growing provider of urgent care, wellness, worker’s comp and occupational medicine services, today announced the launch of its Solantic South Florida Spanish website.
The site, http://www.solanticsurdelafloridacuidadourgente.com/, was designed to accommodate the region’s large Spanish population. “With 25 percent of the Broward County population being of Hispanic or Latino origin, it was important to create a website that ensures Spanish-speaking patients can enjoy the ease of use that our English site offers and will allow them to access information in their native language about our urgent care centers located in Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, Tamarac and Pembroke Pines,” said Karen Bowling, Solantic CEO.
Like Solantic’s primary site, the Spanish web site features online registration, a full listing of services provided and accompanying prices, insurance plans accepted, click-through links to Google location maps and the option of receiving a text message with links to center directions for cell phones with web browsing capability.
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June 6-12 is dubbed “Sun Safety Week” nationwide, but living here in the Sunshine State makes it all the more important. Each summer, Solantic Baptist Urgent Care sees multiple patients with painfully severe sunburns or sun poisoning, an allergic reaction to the sun also called “photodermatitis.” This time of year, students of all ages are out of school on summer break and vacationing or weekending adults are looking for a little R&R. What better place to relax, recreate and have some fun than Florida’s sandy, sunny beaches. But if you’re not careful, you could end up back indoors nursing a painful condition for the remainder of your time off.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the Sun Safety Alliance offer tips to "block the sun - not the fun!"

With a typical sunburn, your skin will take on a not-so-flattering shade rather than the bronze glow flaunted by swimsuit models fronting bottles of sun screen. It likely will itch and eventually peel. Chances are, you’ve had lots of experience with those. But severe sunburn may also bring small blisters that can become infected and require topical treatments. And if your day in the sun ends with nausea, fever, headache, dizziness, fluid loss and / or electrolyte imbalance, chances are you’ve got a case of sun poisoning. In this case, head to your nearest Solantic Baptist Urgent Care Center for treatment as soon as possible. If your condition worsens into extreme pain or vomiting, or if your fever tops 104 degrees, we’ll get you to an emergency room where you may need IV fluids to restore your hydration. A physician may also prescribe an oral steroid to reduce inflammation.

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and the Sun Safety Alliance offer a few tips for avoiding and treating sunburns and sun poisoning:

- Keep covered whether you’re sunbathing or playing sports. Don a wide-brimmed hat and smooth on a sun block of at least SPF 30. Know that different beaches have different colored sands that reflect the sun in various intensities. The whiter the sand, the worse you’re liable to burn.

- Insect repellants can reduce your sunscreen’s SPF by 1/3rd, so up your SPF if you plan to use both a sunscreen and bug spray.

- Don’t count on just one slathering of the sun block. Reapply after dips in the water or playing sports. Be sure to reapply sun block to children’s skin even more often - especially rambunctious little ones who run, splash and play a lot.

- Seek the shade, especially between 10 am and 4pm when the sun’s UV rays are strongest.

- If you do get a sunburn that causes mild discomfort, drink lots of water and apply ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling or itching. Apply aloe and avoid oils, fragrances and exfoliants. Take aspirin or beta-carotene supplements to ward off pain and inflammation.

- For a more painful sunburn, soak for a bit in cool (not cold) water and pat, don’t rub your skin dry. Up your water intake and, if nausea hits, head to the urgent care center or emergency room.

- Keep in mind that a sunburn is more than a temporary nuisance. Each one makes you more likely to develop skin cancer in the long run.

Remember the Sun Safety Alliance’s motto: “Block the sun - not the fun!”

SOLANTIC BAPTIST OPENS 13TH NORTH FLORIDA URGENT CARE CENTER

Beach & Hodges Location To Offer
High-Speed Wireless Internet Access

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 27, 2010) – Solantic Baptist Urgent Care announced today the opening of its newest center in the Walmart Supercenter Plaza at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard.

This brings the total number of Solantic Baptist North Florida centers to 13, including a dedicated occupational health facility located on the Westside. This is the 34th Solantic walk-in urgent care center statewide.

The center address is 13460 Beach Boulevard. Center hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

Appointments are never needed, but patients can register online and receive a call or text message when the doctor is ready to see them or call ahead to be placed in the patient queue in advance of their arrival.

The 3,000-square-foot Beach and Hodges center is the second new facility to open since Solantic and Baptist became joint venture partners earlier this year and is the first to feature wireless internet access and a new digital menu board.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the patient experience by offering locations and services that improve our patients’ comfort and convenience,” said Solantic CEO Karen Bowling. “This newest center is in a highly populated area and brings needed resources to the large number of people who live or work in the area. Plus, the free wireless internet access feature should be very appealing to those who need to stay connected, even when they may not be feeling well.”

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care offers call-ahead and online registration options; $5 prescriptions, digital x-rays and lab services on-site; separate kids’ waiting rooms; flat-screen televisions in exam rooms; and a Three-Day Feel Better Guarantee. For locations and to read more about Solantic Baptist’s urgent care and occupational health services, visit www.solantic.com

Solantic Baptist Urgent Care physicians and staff urge you to participate in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World No Tobacco Day May 31, 2010. This year’s theme focuses on warning women about tobacco risks and delivers a stern message to tobacco marketers: Stop targeting women with manipulative, downright deceptive advertisements.

Smoking poses unique and potentially deadly health risks for women.

WHO researchers and smoking cessation advocates criticize tobacco marketers for what they consider insidious messages. Beautifully crafted print, television and online ads suggest smoking lends women a sexy, empowered image and that smoking light or low-tar cigarettes is safer than smoking regular cigarettes. Research shows that tobacco marketers increasingly are targeting women who live in low-income and middle-income countries, where women are gaining spending power and independence. Many of these women are, for the first time in their lives, enjoying the financial and social freedom to smoke tobacco, but lack the knowledge of the health risks that smoking poses.

WHO, and Solantic Baptist Urgent Care want to make sure our female patients of all ages are fully aware smoking causes an increased risk of:

- Infertility and trouble conceiving children;
- Cervical cancer, vulvar cancer and premenopausal breast cancer;
- Premature delivery, stillbirth, newborn death or reduction in breast milk for pregnant smokers;
- Cardiovascular conditions such as blood clots, heart attacks and strokes for smokers using hormonal birth control;
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause ectopic pregnancies, pelvic adhesions and other fertility problems;
- Menstrual problems such as abnormal bleeding or amenorrhea (the absence of periods);
- Osteoporosis;
- Early menopause among women who start smoking as teenagers.

Women also are at risk for many of the same smoking-related medical conditions as men, such as mouth cancer, emphysema and lung cancer. Nearly 23 million U.S. women (roughly a quarter of the nation’s female population) smoke cigarettes, and more than 1.5 million teenage girls smoke. Despite the fact that smoking is the nation’s most preventable cause of death, smoking related conditions kill more than 140,000 U.S. women annually.

If you are a female smoker looking to kick the habit, don’t wait until May 31. In fact, don’t wait another minute. Contact Solantic Baptist Urgent Care at 904-223-2320 or via our online email form. Our wellness services including full physicals and screenings, and your Solantic Baptist Urgent Care physician can offer smoking cessation tips based on your unique lifestyle and healthcare needs.