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FastMed Urgent Care in North Carolina reports dramatic spike in flu cases

CDC Reports Epidemic Flu Levels and Recommends Flu Vaccine; Available At All FastMed Locations

Clayton, NC – January 12, 2014 – FastMed Urgent Care, the largest urgent care organization in North Carolina, reports a dramatic increase in patient volume associated with the flu and flu related illness. FastMed encourages residents to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation to get the flu vaccine, which is still available at all FastMed locations throughout the state, as the flu season typically peaks from December to February but can stretch into May.

“At FastMed clinics throughout North Carolina, we are seeing hundreds of confirmed flu cases each week,” said Melvin G. Lee, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for FastMed Urgent Care in North Carolina. “The best action you can take is to get your flu shot. If you think you have the flu, come in as soon as possible for a rapid test and receive treatment if you are diagnosed.”

As the CDC has reported, it is an unusually bad year for the vaccine, with just over half the strains tested not covered by the vaccine due to a mutated strain that was not being spread at the time the vaccine was designed.  However, according to the CDC getting vaccinated is still the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others, and the vaccine may make the illness milder if you do get sick.

Each year FastMed promotes a three-pronged campaign to combating the flu, which includes:

  1. 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.  FastMed provides online educational content to help prevent the flu, and encourages patients to visit www.fastmed.com/flu for detailed information.
  2. Diagnosis: If the flu is suspected, to avoid prolonged illness and spreading it to others, it is extremely important to get care right away. At FastMed we can perform a no needle noninvasive nasal swab flu test that takes as little as 10 minutes to get results.
  3. Treatment: There are convenient treatments at FastMed to reduce the severity of the flu by one to two days, and importantly 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.

There are a number of strategies to help stop the spread of the flu virus and help speed recovery. Visit www.fastmed.com/flu for more information or to find your nearest FastMed Urgent Care location.

About FastMed Urgent Care:
FastMed Urgent Care is an 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. FastMed clinics hold The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation in compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory health care. 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 Communications | Marketing
FastMed Urgent Care
Phone: 919.550.0821×1016
Email: r.heyden@fastmed.com

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