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TMCNet: Treating the Flu Within 48 Hours Could Cut Sick Time by 30 Percent

[January 14, 2013]

Treating the Flu Within 48 Hours Could Cut Sick Time by 30 Percent

NASHVILLE, TN, Jan 14, 2013 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Seeking treatment during the first 48 hours of flu symptoms can reduce the time a sufferer is ill, and lessen the spread of the flu virus, according to Apogee(TM) Doctor On Call. This measure is most important now, during one of the worst flu seasons to hit Tennessee in the past decade. Apogee Doctor On Call is providing flu care through convenient over-the-phone consultations with licensed and board-certified physicians, allowing flu sufferers to receive care without having to work around physicians' schedule, or even leaving home.
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"The first 48 hours is the window when physicians can treat the flu through anti-viral medication, and when the illness is most contagious," said Dr. Dennis Klein, Apogee Doctor On Call. "An early assessment could mean the difference between being sick seven days versus 14, for example. And by seeking care from the comfort of one's own home, flu sufferers will potentially prevent others at school, work, and the doctor's office, from getting ill." The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that cases of the flu have started earlier than usual in the state. Apogee Doctor On Call's case history supports the CDC's assessment, as 20 percent of calls have been flu related. The service is helping patients with flu and other common ailments receive a doctor's consultation without the hassle and delay associated with scheduling a doctor's appointment.

The convenient access to a physician is helping more flu sufferers receive treatment within the crucial 48-hour window for care.

"While the first line of defense is a flu shot, if you are already experiencing symptoms, or if someone close to you has been diagnosed with the flu, seek treatment as soon as possible to shorten the illness, or avoid contracting the flu altogether," advises Klein. Dr.

Klein noted that the medications that reduce flu's symptoms can also prevent the contraction of flu in healthy people.

Apogee Doctor On Call is one of the first ever over-the-phone medical evaluation services that connects patients directly to physicians. It is available to patients 24-hours a day, seven days a week. For a flat rate of $50, people can speak to a doctor by dialing 1-888-353-4555 toll-free without leaving their home.

The service accepts most Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) debit cards with no paperwork on the part of the patient as well as all major credit cards. No health insurance is necessary to access Apogee Doctor On Call. The service can provide patients with a summarized receipt should the patient like to submit it for possible reimbursement by their health insurance.

Apogee Doctor On Call patient information is archived in a HIPAA-compliant database that is accessible by the treating physician or directly by the patient. When a patient needs a prescription, it will be sent instantly and securely directly to their pharmacy through Allscripts(R), the most well-established and widely used electronic prescription database in the United States.

Apogee Doctor On Call is not a replacement for 911 and will not prescribe any controlled substances or lifestyle medications such as Viagra and Cialis. It was created by Apogee Physicians, one of the nation's largest physician groups caring for more than one million patients a year. Visit www.ApogeeDoctorOnCall.com to learn more.

Contact: Christina Borrego RIESTER Email Contact (602) 721-5779 Lauren Pearce RIESTER Email Contact (602) 462-2252 SOURCE: Apogee Doctor On Call http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct id=2AC7D02D04FB73E5 http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct id=66ADBC5E43AEC15C

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