Troy Family Practice, PLLC
Troy, Michigan (248) 813-0124

Whether a fever is serious or not depends on your child’s age and how high the temperature is.   In general, call the doctor if:

* Your baby is younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher
* Your baby is between ages 3 months and 6 months and gets a temperature of 101 degrees or higher, even if the child  doesn’t seem sick
* Your child is age 6 months or older and gets a temperature of 103 degrees or higher, even if the youngster appears to feel OK
* Your child has a seizure
* Your child has an earache or sore throat in addition to a fever

Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, or ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin, help reduce fevers.   Do not give ibuprofen to children younger than age 6 months, though.   And ask your doctor before giving any medicine to children younger than age 3 months.   Do not give a child aspirin unless your doctor advises it.   Aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.

These other strategies can also make your little patient more comfortable:

*Sponge your child with lukewarm water to reduce fever, but do not use rubbing alcohol or cold water for baths. Cold baths can cause shivering, which raises body temperature.
* Keep your child’s room cool.
* Dress your child in light clothing.
* Encourage your child to take in extra fluids by drinking water and eating popsicles, gelatin and soup.

It’s important to realize that fever is the body’s response to fighting off an infection.

One of the biggest worries parents have about high fevers is the risk for brain damage.   Knowing the facts may help you breathe a little easier.   It turns out that fevers do not usually cause brain damage unless they are higher than 107.6 degrees, according to the National Institutes of Health.

(from BCBS Newsletter- Feb 2010 )

Apples, oranges, bananas, oh …boring? Health experts say we’re not eating enough fruit and veggies, but sometimes choices can seem limited. Check out these exciting fruits to spice up your diet.

Fruits are nutrient powerhouses and important for your body. For a 2,000 calorie diet, eating 2 cups every day is recommended. Try these out-of-the-ordinary fruits if you are looking for a little variety.

* Tomatillos are small, round, green or yellow fruits wrapped in a light-brown husk. They contain vitamin C. Like their cousin the tomato, tomatillos can be used in salads, salsas or sauces. Just remove the husk, wash and slice.
* Asian pears are round, yellow, fiber-rich fruits that are crisp and juicy like apples. Their flavor is slightly sweet and tart. They are ripe straight from the store. You can eat them as is or add them to slaws and sandwiches.
* Cherimoyas are green fruits that resemble pinecones and are loaded with vitamin C. They have a pulp that tastes like a combination of pineapple, papaya and mango. To eat, cut one in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the inside with a spoon.

In June of 2009 Troy Family Practice, PLLC became one of 11 practices affiliated with Beaumont Hospitals to be designated a “Patient Centered Medical Home” by BCBS of MI.   Many patients have asked what is this, what does it mean for me and what do I need to do.  I am hoping  that the following information taken from an article in MD News published in November 2009 will help answer these questions.

Patient Center Medical Home is a concept that started in the 1960’s as a model for primary care practices.  It was originally intended for patients with chronic health conditions, especially diabetes.  In the past 4-5 years, the concept has been adopted and expanded by the professional societies for pediatrics, family practice and general internal  medicines.

The PCMH is an approach that provides comprehensive care for patients through their primary care physician.  The PCP coordinates the patient’s health status, manages chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma, tracks all medications, can provide expanded office hours, and generally supervises the patients medical care.  One of the goals of the PCMH is to keep patients healthy and reduce the risk of complications through proactive and preventative health care management.   Another goal of PCMH is to provide cost-effective health care.     It is believed that if every American used a primary care physician as their usual source of care, health care cost would decline by an estimated $67 billion per year nationwide.

In the PCMH model,  patients with chronic conditions who are not seen on regularly can be contacted on a scheduled basis to schedule their appointments.  Providers utilize electronic prescribing and have better communication with specialty offices that their patients see.   Part of the model also includes a patient-provider agreement in which the physician works with the patient to establish the  patient’s own goal for improving his or hers health by helping the patient set self-management goals.

By no means does PCMH apply to only those patients with chronic conditions.  By patients taking a more proactive  role in their health and healthcare decisions, the patient feels that they have a health care working for them.

We at Troy Family Practice, PLLC are pleased that we were designated a PCMH office in June and feel that many of the goals set forth by  PCMH are what our providers approach to patient care and that of the staff  have been for the past 8 years.   It is truely a team approach which our  patietns will benefit from.

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 1/2 cup (4 ounces) baby portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 medium zucchini
• 2 cloves  garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon black  pepper
• 2  (6 inch) whole wheat pita breads
• 1/4 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped basil

Preheat broiler.  heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add bell pepper; stir-fry 1 minute.  Add mushrooms, zucchini and garlic; stir-fry 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.  Stir in black pepper; remove from heat.

To separate pitas into 2 rounds, use a small knife to cut around edges of the pita.  Place pita rounds on a baking sheet and broil 4-5 inches from the heat source for 1 minute or until lightly toasted.  Remove from broiler.  Turn pitas over; top with pizza sauce, vegetables and cheese.  Return to the broiler; broil 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Top each round with basil.

Makes 4 servings 

Dietary exchange: 1 fat, 1 starch, 2 vegetables

Calories 175, total fat 5g,  saturated fat 2g, protein 9g, carbs 25g, cholesterol 9mg, dietary fiber 5g, sodium 381mg.

Do you have a child bound for college this fall?

The Centers for Diease Control (CDC), strongly recommends that students who will be living in a dormatory type setting receive the Meningitis Vaccine prior to heading off to school this fall. The physicians at Troy family Practice agree with this assessment. We also feel that this is an opportune time for your son or daughter to come in for a general health check up and a re-evaluation of their immunization records.

In addition to the Meningitis vaccine many colleges and universities also recommend the following: Hepatitis B Vaccine, Heptitis A Vaccine and Tetanus Booster.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the office during regular business hours.

We are pleased to roll out our new, improved website. Please take a look around and see what you think. It is still a work in progress, so if you see some areas that are incomplete, or think that some other information needs to be made available, chances are it is already in the works and will be in place the next time you visit.

Please feel free to leave a comment below.  We look forward to your feedback.