United States Steel Family Medical Center

HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH

March 23rd, 2012

Fresh Spring breezes make us want to go outside and enjoy warmth, but they also remind us of allergies. Don’t shut yourself inside. People who have allergies or asthma, there are ways to reduce reactions or “attacks”.  Avoid tobacco smoke, car exhaust, hair spray and perfume.  Wash your hair at night, before going to bed to prevent pollen from settling on pillows and bedding.  Stay inside when pollen counts are high.  Wash bedding weekly in hot water – using special mattress and pillow covers can help too. Keep carpets vacuumed and rooms clean.  Use air conditioning dehumidifiers inside your home, and make sure you have efficient ventilation.

April – June Wellness Programs

March 23rd, 2012

Here are the upcoming Wellness programs that will be held at the medical center:

  •  Diabetes Class for New Diabetics” will be on the following Tuesday’s from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM:     Tuesday 4/3/12,  5/1/12, and 6/5/12.
  • “Diabetes Class” will be on the following Tuesday’s from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM:   Tuesday 4/17/12,  5/15/12, and 6/19/12.
  • HealthyCooking with Honna” will be presented on Tuesday 5/22/12 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
  • “Weight Management Class” will be on Tuesday 5/8/12  from 10:30am – 11:30am.

All wellness programs are offered at no charge and no registration is required.  The diabetes classes are taught by our wellness coordinator and a registered dietitian.  Healthy recipes are often taste tested in our classes, so come out and join us.

Our Weight Management classes will consist of a six week program with a weigh-in weekly.  A prize will be awarded to the individual with the highest percentage of weight loss after the six week program concludes.  If you are looking to start a weight loss program come to the medical center on May 8th  at 10:30am and get a start in the right direction.  We look forward to seeing you there!

All programs subject to change without noticePlease call to verify date and time.

Who is Eligible?

February 14th, 2012

The USS Family Medical center is an employer sponsored primary care center for U.S. Steel employees, retirees and their dependents.  Each time an appointment is scheduled, the Registration staff will verify eligibility through USS employment records. Additional rules governing eligibility are as follows:

Active Employees and their dependents that are covered by U. S. Steel’s insurance. Dependents are covered until the end of the month of their 26th birthday.

Retirees and their dependents that are covered by U.S. Steel’s insurance, Medicare, or have a commercial insurance.

If you have been told you are not eligible and you think you are, please call the medical center for further contact information.

 

“You Can’t Beat the Deal at US Steel”

February 10th, 2012

             This little slogan actually came from one of our pharmacy technicians at the USSFMC in Merrillville. There were so many customers commenting on the low co-pays for their medications that the staff began kicking around some ways to describe the pleasant surprise when we told them the price total. Many of these customers were new to the pharmacy and others were just benefiting from the 2012 pricing.

            US Steel, like employers all over the country, encourages its employees to use less expensive generic medications to lower overall healthcare costs. You are being rewarded for using these medications with lower co-pays. Affordable medication and remembering to follow your doctor’s directions on that medication contribute to a healthier you and a few more dollars in your wallet. We encourage you to take full advantage of all the services we offer at the clinic to keep you healthy because it benefits all of the US Steel family.

            As we being the new year, we would like to thanks those who use our pharmacy, welcome those who are new customers, and invite those who use other retail pharmacies to look into our services and benefit from the low pricing. Our hours of operation are; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8am to 8pm. Wednesday 8am to 6pm. Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm. We are closed Sundays and certain holidays. Our drive-thru is open during these hours as well. We offer touch-tone refills, express-pay credit card billing, auto-refills and much more. We accept US Steel Express Script insurance and well as many major Medicare Part D plans for US Steel retirees. Next time you are in the clinic, stop by for a price quote or just give a call.

 

Mike Wichlinski RPh.

US Steel Pharmacy Merrillville

Is it a Cold or the Flu?

February 3rd, 2012

It’s important to know the difference between flu and cold symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks.

What are common cold symptoms?

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

With cold symptoms, your nose teems with watery nasal secretions for the first few days. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark mucus is natural and does not usually mean you have developed a bacterial infection, such as a sinus infection.

How long do cold symptoms last?

Cold symptoms usually last for about a week. During the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to others.  If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.

If your cold symptoms begin quickly and are improving after a week, then it is usually a cold. If your cold symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, check with your doctor.

What are common flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it’s not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.

Is it flu or cold symptoms?

How do you know if you have flu or cold symptoms? Take your temperature, say many experts. Flu symptoms often mimic cold symptoms with nasal congestion, cough, aches, and malaise. But a common cold rarely has symptoms of fever above 101 degrees F. With flu symptoms, you will probably have a fever initially with the flu virus and you will feel miserable. Body and muscle aches are also more common with the flu.  Usually, the time of year will give you some sense of what you’re dealing with. The standard flu season runs from fall to spring of the next year.

Can I prevent flu or cold symptoms?

The most important prevention measure for preventing colds and flu is frequent hand washing. Hand washing by rubbing the hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds helps to slough germs off the skin.  In addition to hand washing to prevent flu or cold symptoms, you can also get a flu vaccine to prevent seasonal influenza.

Help Yourself Over Diet Hurdles

February 3rd, 2012

 It’s the time of year when those New Year’s Resolutions are getting more difficult to keep, and the winter weather isn’t making it any easier. You probably had a lot of enthusiasm for the first few weeks—you learned some healthy recipes, bought more fruits and vegetables, probably even turned down your boss’s famous chocolate cake. But as the weeks go by, more obstacles start to creep in. Don’t be dismayed! The good news is that there are helpers to get you over those diet hurdles.


Hurdle #1: “I don’t have time to cook.”

Helpers:

When preparing food, purposely make extra for leftovers.

Plan your meals on the weekend for the upcoming week.

Buy foods that are pre-prepped: bags of chopped vegetables, pre-cut fruits from the produce section, canned beans instead of dried.

Throw all your ingredients into a Crockpot and voila! A healthy, home cooked meal awaits you after a long day at work.

Buy healthy foods and meals that take only a few minutes to cook. Examples include: stir fry (look for pre-cut veggies), soup, instant brown rice, oatmeal, and sandwiches on whole grain bread.

The night before, set-up your breakfast (dishes, utensils, etc), pack your lunch, and plan what you’ll do for dinner.

 Hurdle #2: I’m suffering from a case of “Portion Distortion”

 Helpers:

Order the lunch-sized portions when eating out.

Know serving sizes and be accurate in tracking. Ask the server to box up half of your entrée before it arrives.

Avoid buffets and all-you-can-eat dining options.

Educate yourself! When you learn what proper portions really look like, you won’t have trouble knowing when to stop

 Hurdle #3: I’m an emotional eater.

Helpers:

Plan ahead and keep busy during downtime to avoid eating out of boredom.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You might actually be thirsty instead of hungry.

Don’t keep sweets and junk food on hand at home or at work.

When you’re about to eat, ask yourself if you are actually hungry, or if you’re upset, sad, lonely, or bored. If your emotions are driving you to eat, find a healthy way to deal with them: write in your journal, call up a friend, go on a short walk, or read a book.

Hurdle #4: I don’t know what to do when I eat out.

Helpers:

Share an entrée with someone.

Order dishes with lots of veggies.

Enjoy a healthy snack before you go out so that you aren’t too hungry

When eating out, decide what healthy option you are going to order before you look at the menu.

Don’t be afraid to make substitutions and special requests. Ask for dressing on the side, tell  the waiter you’ll pass on the bread basket, and ask for your veggies to be steamed instead of fried.

Don’t let the restaurants win—you’re in control.

 Hurdle #5: I don’t eat breakfast

Helpers:

If you aren’t hungry first thing in the morning, pack a healthy snack and eat it around 9 a.m.

Eat a piece of fresh fruit every morning.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

October 5th, 2011

Please be advised of the following changes to normal operating hours at the USS Family Medical Center:

Until further notice, the medical center is closing at 6 pm every Wednesday.