Recent News
Get a Handle on Tumbles
It could impact your long-term quality of life. The numbers don’t lie: Adults age 65 and over are tending to fall more than ever, according to a study published last year (2015) by the University of Michigan Health System. Falls are already the most frequent cause of injury among older adults – about a third…
Recent Studies Look at How Statins Reduce Cholesterol
September is National Cholesterol Education Month and SoFHA physicians would like to alert patients to new research published this year (2016) related to statin drugs. Statins are medications often prescribed to reduce bad cholesterol or LDL (low density lipoprotein) in the blood. Having too much LDL is a primary risk factor for heart disease and…
SoFHA Walk-in Clinic Extends Hours, Making ‘Call-Ahead Walk-in’ Option Even More Convenient
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The State of Franklin Healthcare Associates Walk-In Clinic is making it even easier for patients to get call-ahead, walk-in medical care in the Tri-Cities. Starting September 1, the clinic will have expanded hours that run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily – even on weekends and most holidays. It closes…
Qualuable Medical Professionals Medicare Shared Savings Program Performance Year 2015 Quality and Financial Results
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the 2015 performance year results for the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model that show physicians, hospitals and health care providers participating in Accountable Care Organizations continue to make significant improvements in the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, while…
Avoid Making School Time, Sick Time at Home
While the start of a school year is an exciting time for kids – they’re anticipating new friends and adventures – it’s also when they encounter a multitude of illness-causing organisms in their classroom environments. Notably, germs that cause colds and flu have the capacity to survive on common surfaces in classrooms for up to…
State of Franklin Healthcare Associates Selected to Participate in New National Initiative to Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes
State of Franklin Healthcare Associates has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of 516 awardees in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes among millions of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. Health care practitioners, such as State of…
Brave Up and Get Your Shots: It Could Save Your Life
Few of us think much about vaccinations. But their value was made starkly clear in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released last year (August 28, 2015) by the CDC. The report stated that childhood vaccinations given from 1994 through 2013 (a 20-year period) in the United States will be preventing 732,000 early deaths, in…
Five Tips to Make Your Summer Safer
Summer is prime time for vacations and fun, but it can also be a hotbed for trouble and misery if the right planning isn’t done or if precautions aren’t taken. Below are five tips to make summer road trips healthier and happier for everyone involved. Visit your local mechanic for a tune-up before you leave….
To Take a Daily Low-dose Aspirin or Not: That’s the Question!
If you’re an older adult, is taking a low-dose of aspirin every day good for you or asking for trouble? Historically, research has suggested that taking a low-dose aspirin (81 mg) daily helps prevent blood clots in the arteries, possibly preventing heart attacks and strokes. Currently, nearly 40 percent of American adults ages 50 and…
Your Skin, Your Life: An Update
With more sun and fun ahead this season, remember that protecting your skin from sun damage is of utmost importance. Always apply about an ounce of sunscreen to exposed areas 20 minutes before going outside. Make sure your product has at least a 15 SPF (Sun Protection Factor) and protects from both ultraviolet A (UVA)…