Take Back Your Health

Part one of an in-depth, three-part series on refocusing, recommitting and taking care of YOU. Body. Mind. Spirit.

The Clear Way to a Confident Smile

Premiere Orthodontics is now open and has put new procedures in place with patient safety in mind.

A beautiful smile not only improves your image but it boosts your confidence. Even now, during times of stress and uncertainty, familiar activities such as working out or getting a haircut make you feel good and have the power to completely change your mood. Dr. Jason Battle of Premiere Orthodontics says teeth are an important part of that. 

“When you look good, you feel good,” he says. 

Over the past two years, Dr. Battle has brought new technology into his practice that reduces the number of orthodontics visits required of his patients. An initial visit is no longer necessary to establish patient goals and treatment plans, and many follow-up visits can also be completed through virtual appointments. Not only does this offer peace of mind, but it also makes the process much easier. 

Using a traditional method for a clear aligner treatment plan using Invisalign and 3M, with minimal assistance from traditional braces, aligners are changed out every one to two weeks. The accelerated treatment plan allows Dr. Battle to cut the treatment time in half. Even complex surgical cases involving major under bites and over bites can be handled with the same treatment plan as more simple orthodontics cases, and these patients can take advantage of virtual visits, too. 

“My patients can reach their smile goals faster with the accelerated treatment plan, and I’m there for them every step of the way,” he says. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get them to happiness.” 

Additionally, patient safety is a priority at Premiere Orthodontics. That’s why Dr. Battle has established several changes to his practice with safety in mind for when in-office visits are needed. The goal is to have less traffic and less contact points while providing the same great service and treatment. New procedures include: 

• Taking the temperature of every person who enters 

• Keeping patients 6 feet or more apart in accordance with social distancing guidelines

• Asking patients to wear masks while inside the office

• Asking patients to text when they’re outside and meeting them to record their temperature and survey their health history before entering

• Bringing one patient at a time into the office

• Hand sanitizer for patient use

• Adding air filters 

• Private operatory areas with walls

With these new in-office precautions and availability of virtual visits, there’s no need to put off your orthodontic treatment. 

How Do Virtual Appointments Work?

Once a treatment plan is set, Dr. Battle offers HIPPA- compliant virtual consultations so his patients’ progress can be monitored from the comfort of their own home. The process is simple. 

1. The patient uses their cell phone to take six photos of their teeth. Sample photos are available on www.BattleOrtho.com. 

2. Then, the patient texts the photos to the Premiere Orthodontics office, along with their name, email address, any concerns for their teeth and a photo of their dental insurance card to verify information. 

3. Dr. Battle reviews virtual consultation submissions seven days a week to offer a prompt response.

Hope in a Time of Crisis

How local organizations are working together to meet the needs of the community with mobile crisis response services. 

Many individuals struggle with mental health on a daily basis. Feelings of hopelessness, anxiety and even anger are familiar, and these feelings are heightened during times of stress, such as with the current global healthcare crisis. Many local organizations are working together to ensure mental health services are accessible both in person and remotely for those who need them. 

Through a partnership among Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Orange County Government, Central Florida Cares and the Florida Department of Children and Families, a unique program is offered to children and adolescents throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Mobile Crisis Response Services provides round-the-clock mental health support through the expertise of masters level and licensed clinicians to rapidly respond and provide immediate on-site crisis intervention and stabilization.  

Clinicians have specialized training to address the following:

•  Depression

•  Anxiety

•  Self injury

•  Suicidal thoughts

•  Anger outbursts or tantrums

•  Child/parent conflict

Parents, guardians, school personnel, law enforcement officials, and other caregivers may access this service by calling 2-1-1 for immediate screening. If the situation meets eligibility, a clinician responds to the situation within an hour to de-escalate and resolve behavioral and mental health crises, as well as assess and link to services and support.  

Mobile Crisis Response Services are available to individuals ages 0 to 24 at the time of crisis. Clinicians will respond to homes, schools, public settings or anywhere in communities throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Mobile Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and holidays and at no cost to the recipient. 

These services can be accessed by calling 2-1-1, pressing 1 for the crisis help line and requesting Mobile Crisis Services, or text your zip code to 898-211. Calls are connected to a multilingual 2-1-1 specialist to determine eligibility and facilitate connection with Devereux and other local organizations providing critical services to improve and save lives.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health also operates a specialized mobile crisis model in partnership with the University of Central Florida Police Department. This added service enhances the mental health services offered at the university and provides support to law enforcement, who may seek involvement from a Devereux clinician for a second opinion and to work in close collaboration with mental health experts to support students.

Mental Health Mobile Crisis Services are now available 24/7 in a remote/telehealth format. These services can be accessed by calling 2-1-1. 

For more information about this program, contact DevereuxFlorida@devereux.org.

Virtual House Calls for Your Health Care Needs

By Tim Hendrix, MD, AdventHealth Centra Care

As we all practice responsible social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, we still need to manage the health of our families. With today’s technology, sheltering at home does not mean you can’t get access to quality health care. Medical providers are now offering virtual house calls for many of your non-urgent medical needs. This technology allows you to live chat with experts in primary care, specialty care, pediatrics and even physical therapy — all from the safety of home, on your phone or tablet. It’s a great example of how providers are helping you stay connected and healthy during extraordinary times like these.

Primary and Specialty Care From the Comfort of Home

Primary care physicians are well-equipped to take advantage of virtual technology. They can talk to you about your treatment plan, renew your prescriptions and review your test results without you having to leave the safety of home. And if you need to see a specialist, virtual house calls are a great option. A wide range of specialists are using virtual house calls to treat and consult with their patients, such as a neurologists, cardiologists, digestive health experts, OB/GYNs, mental health specialists, pediatricians and diabetes experts.

24/7 Virtual Urgent Care

If you don’t have a primary care physician, or if your doctor isn’t available after hours or on the weekend, you can get non-life-threatening urgent care virtually. It’s the easiest way to receive treatment for common conditions like allergies, sprains, stomach aches and sore throats. You can see a health care provider at any time, right from your smartphone or tablet. There’s no need to leave the house or spend hours in a waiting room. The provider can assess your condition and order prescriptions for you. If necessary, they can schedule a follow-up appointment for you to see a physician in the office.

Sports Med & Rehab From a Distance

Aches and pains don’t go away just because there is a pandemic. Fortunately, physical therapy services are also available in the virtual setting. You can live chat with a physical therapist or rehab specialist, so your care can continue without interruption during this time of uncertainty. Important pediatric and neurological rehab is also available. 

And, if you need more than a virtual house call, clinics are open to serve you in person. Next-day appointments are available for rapid access to the care you need, and physical therapy can by scheduled without a physician’s referral in some cases. 

It’s important to continue to take of yourself and your family during this time. Take advantage of the virtual technology offered by medical providers to get the safe and effective care you need. To learn more, visit VideoVisitCare.com.

How to Keep Your Body Strong

Tips for healthy eating, exercising and staying hydrated during these hot summer months.

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease — these are all ailments that can be controlled with a healthy diet and exercise. However, developing a solid plan maintaining the motivation to continue with it can be difficult.

Healthy doesn’t need to be complicated. A balanced diet that includes protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals is crucial. Making good choices, such as picking the healthiest items from each of these categories and preparing your own meals so you’re in control of the ingredients, will keep you on the road to success. Combine a healthy diet with at least 30 minutes of activity each day, choosing something that increases your heart rate, such as swimming or walking around your neighborhood.

Additionally, staying hydrated is very important. Water makes up 60% of your body. It regulates your body temperature, flushes waste, lubricates your joints, and more. Think about it: One can survive three weeks without food but only three days without water. 

While individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, lifestyle and where you live, experts suggest drinking at least 12 to 15 glasses of water a day during the hot summer months. This is especially true if you’re active and outside frequently. You can also consume water from food, such as watermelon, tomatoes and soup broths. 

Some signs of dehydration include lack of energy, headache, heat stroke, dizziness and extreme thirst. It’s important be aware of these signs and treat them quickly. A person may go into shock or become unresponsive if treatment is delayed.

Make your health a priority by adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and making sure you’re staying hydrated. 

The ABC Method

How to keep your stress in check during stressful times.

Stress is a mundane yet unavoidable part of life. If not properly managed, it can make us feel like the walls are closing in, leading to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It may also impact how we interact with others, both at work and at home. However, we can take the power back and choose how we manage daily stress. We can learn strategies that will help us deal with stressful situations. Simple practices such as establishing a well-rounded daily routine that addresses all three parts of our essence as human beings — mind, body, and spirit — can be an effective way of teaching ourselves to combat stress whenever it arises.

Studies have shown that a healthy amount of manageable stress, or positive stress, can lead to enhanced brain functioning, a boosted immune system and better prep for future stressful situations. However, when left unmanaged or chronically unaddressed, it will build into a negative form of stress that will manifest into somatic or physical symptoms of stress such as insomnia, loss of libido, depression, headaches, indigestion, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, digestive disorders, ulcers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Unmanaged stress may also manifest in the form of panic attacks, indecision, confusion, decreased working memory, and anger outbursts, among others.

The ABC Method

By Vintee Narang, MD, Psychiatrist at Community Health Centers – Forest City

Awareness/Acknowledgement of Stress: The first step to tackling stress is to identify the source or cause. Monitor your state of mind throughout the day. If you feel stressed, write down the cause, your thoughts and your mood. Once the source is identified, the plan for resolution becomes more feasible.

Balance:Find balance between positive and negative stress. This is often done through behavioral modification, which we can do on a daily basis.

Control: Keep the negative effects managed so they are less likely to build up and manifest into larger, more chronic issues.

Stress is, unfortunately, a natural part of our daily lives. The important thing to consider is that, although we are often not in control of what causes us to feel stressed, we can control the way we deal with stress. This involves taking ownership for the things we have control over, while also recognizing that some things are simply not in our control. In these situations, the best thing we can do is to put forth our best efforts and have faith that bad times are temporary with better days ahead.

It’s important to reach out to our support system during stressful times. It never hurts to get a second opinion on ways in which we can more effectively address the stressful situation. Performing selfless acts of kindness toward others, such as volunteering at a charitable organization, can be a wonderful way to divert our minds from our own personal troubles. Finally, if you’re a person of faith, then it’s important to continue or to re-establish your connection with your belief system, which can be so helpful in getting through the tough times. These are trying times for everyone, so try not to put excess pressure on yourself to accomplish too much, and be kind to yourself.