FastMed Urgent Care Offers Front-line Vaccinations and Treatment for Flu Season in North Carolina
RALEIGH, NC, October 22, 2013 – With flu season upon us and cases already being reported, FastMed Urgent Care, the largest urgent care network in North Carolina, has launched a statewide “This Fall Go Flu Less” campaign, encouraging North Carolinians to combat the flu this season through a three step process: prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
“Every year up to twenty percent of US residents contract the flu, resulting in 200,000 hospitalizations, increased health care costs, substantial disruptions to individual lives and the workplace, and a huge drain on the overall economy,” said Jason A. Williams MPAS, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Region. “At FastMed, we believe that urgent care clinics that are well integrated into the communities they serve are the front line of defense against the flu, helping to educate the public on prevention, provide vaccinations, quickly diagnose and effectively treat the flu.”
Unlike a cold, the onset of flu symptoms develop quickly, and due to their ability to diagnose and treat acute illnesses like the flu and strep throat on a walk-in basis, urgent care centers are quickly becoming the frontline defense against wide spread flu outbreaks. Hospitals have historically been the first to experience a strain on their capacity to treat patients due to the flu season, but with the growth of convenient, affordable clinics, such as FastMed Urgent Care, flu patients can receive immediate treatment and avoid waiting 3 to 4 hours in the emergency department for the same treatment.
FastMed’s “Go Flu-less” Campaign is built on three pillars:
- Prevention
Vaccination is the surest way to prevent the flu, and FastMed offers low cost vaccinations seven days a week, 365 days a year with extended evening hours. FastMed also counsels patients to frequently wash their hands, use hand sanitizer and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth. In addition, FastMed provides online and in-clinic educational content to help prevent the flu (Click HERE), including FastMed’s Seasonal Flu Q&A (Click HERE). FastMed is currently offering discounted flu shots for $20. Click HERE for your nearest FastMed Urgent Care location.
- Diagnosis
If the flu is suspected, to avoid prolonged illness and spreading it to others, it is extremely important to get to FastMed right away, where in just 10 minutes or less there’s a no-needle nasal swab test.
- Treatment
There are convenient treatments at FastMed to reduce the severity of the flu by one to two days and decrease how contagious it is to family, friends and coworkers. Antiviral medication is the most common treatment for the flu, which can also lessen complications, such as pneumonia.
For educational content to help prevent the flu; FastMed’s Seasonal Flu Q&A or to find your nearest FastMed Urgent Care, visit www.fastmed.com.
About FastMed Urgent Care:
FastMed Urgent Care is a North Carolina-based owner and operator of urgent care facilities with locations throughout North Carolina and Arizona. FastMed focuses on the delivery of non-appointment based medicine to the non-emergency patient market. The urgent care centers are open 365 days a year and are staffed with experienced and licensed physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. For more information, please visit www.fastmed.com. FastMed is managed by an affiliated entity of one of the investment funds of the Comvest Group.
About the Comvest Group:
The Comvest Group, with $1.2 billion of assets under management, provides flexible financing solutions to lower middle-market companies through its equity and debt funds, often meeting time-critical and complex funding requirements. The firm includes seasoned, senior level operating executives who partner with managers and owners of companies to operationally improve businesses and create long-term value. Since 2000, Comvest has invested more than $1.5 billion of capital in over 105 public and private companies. For more information, please visit www.comvest.com.
Contact:
Reuel Heyden | Sr. Dir. of Marketing & Community Relations
FastMed Urgent Care
Phone: 919.550.0821×1016
Email: r.heyden@fastmed.com