mercy urgent care

Mercy Urgent Care expands weekend hours

October 2, 2022 by Keely Knopp

Mercy Urgent Care is expanding weekend operating hours at two of its locations in Western North Carolina. These new hours will go into effect on Sunday, October 2.

The Weaverville and West Asheville clinics will now be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Their weekday hours remain 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The East Asheville, South Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Columbus and Waynesville location hours remain the same — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Find your nearest location.

Mercy Urgent Care is Western North Carolina’s only local, dedicated, not-for-profit urgent care network, with four locations in Buncombe County and one each in Haywood, Polk, Transylvania and Yancey counties. Mercy Urgent Care treats non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as cuts, strains and sprains, broken bones, ear infections, sinus pain, flu, mild allergies, digestive issues, animal bites and minor burns. Other services offered at Mercy Urgent Care include telemedicine visits, COVID-19 tests, standard medical examinations and screenings and assessments, including those required by educational institutions, employers and the Department of Transportation. A complete list of services offered can be found at mercyurgentcare.org.

Monkeypox

August 5, 2022 by Keely Knopp

The United States is currently experiencing a widespread outbreak of monkeypox, a rare viral infection caused by the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. The country documented its first case on May 17, 2022, and in the months that followed, thousands more have been reported across 48 states.

As of Aug. 1, more than 60 cases have been reported in North Carolina alone, with as many as five coming from the Western region of the state. So, what does all of this mean?

Here at Mercy Urgent Care, we completely understand that, more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, news of another virus is likely the last thing you want to hear about. Still, it’s important to be aware — and to know what to do — should you or a loved one begin to exhibit the signs or symptoms of a monkeypox infection. Here are the facts:

What is monkeypox?

According to the CDC, monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder — and monkeypox is rarely fatal.

The illness typically begins with a fever, followed by a blistering rash. Other symptoms can include: headache, sore throat, cough and swollen lymph nodes. The rash often looks like pimples or blisters, usually appearing on the mouth, face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet and genitalia, and these lesions may be painful or itchy.

Though this may be the first time you’re hearing of it, monkeypox is not a new disease. The virus was first discovered in 1958, affecting colonies of non-human primates kept for research, with the first human case recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is endemic to several Central and West African countries.

The U.S. first saw an outbreak of monkeypox in 2003, with 47 cases reported across the Midwest. All people infected during this wave became ill after having contact with infected exotic animals, however, and no instances of the infection were attributed to person-to-person transmission.

How does it spread?

Monkeypox spreads in a few different ways, according to the CDC.

It can spread through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including: direct contact with the rash, scabs or bodily fluid of someone who is infected with the illness; contact with objects (such as clothing, bedding or towels) that have been used by someone with monkeypox; or contact with an infected person or animal’s respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing).

It can also spread through intimate contact during sex, hugging, kissing or prolonged face-to-face contact with someone who is infected. A pregnant person can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta, as well.

Infected animals can also spread the illness through scratches or bites — and humans can become infected by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal.

A person or animal with monkeypox is contagious from the onset of lesions until all scabs that have formed have fallen off. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks.

Unlike COVID-19, monkeypox is not typically spread through the air, requiring prolonged face-to-face contact to effectively transmit this way. Research suggests that it is also not spread by asymptomatic people.

Treatment

Most patients with monkeypox recover on their own, but the virus can be dangerous for young children, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised.

While there is no treatment specifically for monkeypox infections, two antiviral medications developed for smallpox have been approved to treat monkeypox. Because the two viruses are genetically similar, these medications can be used to reduce the illness in those who are likely to get severely ill.

Preventative measures

To protect yourself from risk of infection, avoid close skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox, and avoid contact with objects that a person with monkeypox has used.

Just like with COVID-19, it is important to wash your hands often with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), especially before eating or touching your face and after using the restroom.

If you have a new, unexplained rash or other symptoms…

Avoid close contact with anyone until you have been checked by a healthcare professional.

Mercy Urgent Care is able to evaluate and test for monkeypox at all eight of its Western North Carolina locations.

National Urgent Care Awareness Month

May 12, 2022 by Keely Knopp

This May, join Mercy Urgent Care in celebrating National Urgent Care Awareness Month, a time in which we give special recognition to the important role urgent care centers play in our national health care system.

When unexpected injuries or health issues arise, many people’s first reaction is to head to an emergency room. But when those illnesses and injuries aren’t life-threatening, these trips often end up costing patients more in both time and money.

And that’s where urgent care centers like Mercy come in. Knowing the best option for care can be essential in beginning the healing process, and urgent care centers fill a critical gap in the health care industry.

Urgent Care bridges the gap between primary care and emergency care. Treating minor burns, scrapes and cuts is a vital, yet singular piece of the urgent care puzzle. Urgent care also treats conditions such as allergic reactions, ear infections and strep throat; provides X-ray imaging and lab services such as testing for COVID-19, STI’s, pregnancy and blood glucose; provides support and treatment for mental health concerns; and provides preventative services in the way of physicals and vaccinations.

Facilities like Mercy help to alleviate the burden on emergency rooms. Providing urgent care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses enables area hospitals to make better use of their resources and provide faster ER care for true emergencies. Mercy Urgent Care partners with ERs and primary family physicians to work together — primary care for wellness, urgent care for non-life-threatening care when a primary care physician is not available, and area hospitals for acute care.

“When people know where to go based on their circumstances, the system works best,” said Dr. Robert Kimball, president of the UCA Board of Directors.

Open 362 days a year, seven days a week, Mercy Urgent Care has eight convenient locations in Western North Carolina.

Greatest Gift to Healthcare Workers: Help Curtail COVID Spread

February 21, 2022 by Keely Knopp

After nearly two years of life within the confines of a global pandemic, I constantly find myself in awe of human resilience. For health care workers everywhere, it’s been a marathon — each day, fighting the same battle, with new and unpredictable twists. Yet through all the ups and downs, they show up. They carry on with compassion.

Make no mistake: Here at Mercy Urgent Care, our patients are not on ventilators. We’re neither an emergency room nor an overflowing ICU. Our role, as an urgent care organization, is to funnel patients with non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses away from the ER, freeing up hospital staff and resources for true emergencies, and to provide assistance when primary care isn’t available. Though we may be just one piece of the community’s health care fabric, each thread plays an important role in holding the structure together.

But the pandemic disrupted the system. When outbreak surges hit our community, it puts immense strain on health care workers across the spectrum — from hospitals to urgent care, primary care to public health organizations. The entire sector is put under more weight than it was designed to hold. There have been times, especially during these surges, that it’s felt impossible to care for everyone arriving at our doors, and I know we’re not alone.

I’ve seen firsthand the weight of this pandemic on our front line workers. Once widely celebrated as heroes, they watched that sentiment wane over time. They watched people move on.

Now, multiple years into the pandemic, health care workers are still picking up the pieces of a drastically changed world. They are tired, but they’re still here for the community. And they still need our support — perhaps now more than ever. The question is: How do you thank someone when “thank you” doesn’t seem like enough?

In all honesty, when surges do occur, what health care workers need is some of the burden lifted — and, to do so, they desperately need your help. For the last two years, the health of our community has relied on the choices its members make, and every individual has an opportunity to make a difference. At times when case numbers are on the rise, doing your part to curtail the spread of COVID-19 is the greatest “thank you” that you could possibly give to health care workers on the front lines. Help us reduce strain on the system, so that we’re all better able to provide you with the care you need, when you need it.

Mercy Urgent Care has a long history of caring for the people of Western North Carolina, and I can’t help but see a parallel between our 122-year history and the pandemic today. First arriving in Asheville during the tuberculosis epidemic of 1900, the Sisters of Mercy opened an 18-bed sanatorium on French Broad Avenue — the first iteration of St. Joseph’s Hospital — to serve the community in a time of crisis. Guided by the core principles of sacredness of life, human dignity, mercy, justice, excellence and service, they provided compassionate care to those most in need.

While much has changed in the century that’s passed since our humble beginnings, these foundational values still live on in Mercy Urgent Care today — and that’s never been more apparent as I’ve watched the pandemic unfold. For two years, I’ve witnessed the resilience of health care workers in a way that I’ve never experienced before. I’ve watched different health care organizations collaborate, for the benefit of the community, on an unprecedented level. Through all the hardships this pandemic continues to bring, I still find myself inspired by all the good that I’ve seen.

If the last two years have shown us anything, it’s that the strength and connectedness of our community makes us capable of great things — even when we’re physically apart. To all health care workers across Western North Carolina, at Mercy and beyond: Thank you. We stand behind you, united. We’re stronger together.

Rachel Sossoman is the president and CEO of Mercy Urgent Care, a nonprofit health care organization based in Western North Carolina. With a mission to provide high-quality, affordable and convenient medical services to all, Mercy Urgent Care treats patients with non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses from its eight urgent care centers across the region, with three locations in Asheville and one each in Brevard, Burnsville, Columbus, Waynesville and Weaverville.

Winter Safety Tips

January 3, 2022 by Hayley Benton

Despite winter’s weather howling at your door, it’s easy to feel safe and secure from the warmth of a cozy home, nestled up against the fire with hot cocoa in hand. But, when freezing temperatures and stormy weather combine, dangerous situations and health hazards can easily (and unexpectedly) arise.

Mercy Urgent Care shares these tips and tricks to help you and your family stay safe this winter — because thinking ahead is critical in winter months, and, sometimes, danger lurks in the places you’d least suspect.

First, prepare for the long freeze by winterizing your home:

Professionally service your heating system to ensure that it’s clean, working and ventilating properly.
Test smoke detector batteries, install a carbon monoxide detector and have an alternate (and safe) source of heat, along with a supply of necessary fuel. (And never run a generator in a garage or other enclosed space, even if doors and windows are open.)
Keep an emergency kit containing flashlights, a battery-operated radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, extra medicine and a cache of nonperishable food items that do not need to be cooked.

In addition to in-home safety, prepare your vehicle for winter road conditions by:

Checking tire treads to ensure proper traction on slick roads.
Keeping fuel lines free of ice by maintaining a full gas tank.
Creating an emergency car-kit that includes a portable cell phone charger, blankets, food and water, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, a tire pump and a bag of sand or cat litter for emergency tire traction.
Being aware of winter weather advisories and traffic conditions before driving — and avoiding travel when advisories are in place.

During a winter storm or blizzard, stay indoors as much as possible, wear warm, layered clothing and keep hydrated. And don’t forget your furry friends: Bring any pets or outdoor companion animals inside (or move to properly sheltered areas), and ensure that each animal has access to a constant supply of nonfrozen water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of carbon monoxide poisoning drastically increase during winter — and a CDC study cites that, in January, at least two people die per day from the odorless, colorless gas. Given off by gas furnaces, cars, grills, propane stoves and portable generators, carbon monoxide gives little warning (headache, lightheadedness and nausea) to its presence and, in prolonged, steady doses, is fatal without proper ventilation.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the CDC recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors around the home (and testing detector batteries frequently) — and adhering to the following precautions when using heaters, stoves, generators or other sources of CO:

Keep all generators or other gasoline-powered machinery outdoors, more than 20 feet from the home, and away from any windows, doors or vents.
Ensure that all chimneys or vents are free of debris and lead outside the home.
Never leave your vehicle’s motor running while parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage — even if the door is open.
Do not use a gas range or oven to heat a home — and do not use charcoal grills or portable gas camp stoves indoors.
Call 911 immediately if CO poisoning is suspected.

When outdoors in freezing conditions, wear layered clothing, including water-repellent outer garments, gloves or mittens and a hat. Keep dry and watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite — and remember that overexertion or strenuous outdoor labor (the kind that makes you sweat) can easily lead to hypothermia.

Avoid icy sidewalks and other slick surfaces when possible, and take the following precautions to protect against a slip or fall:

Wear shoes with thick-treaded rubber or neoprene soles when walking on icy surfaces and prop yourself up by using a walking stick or gripping walls or handrails where applicable.
Learn the penguin walk: Feet apart, knees slightly bent, arms out for balance — and take slow, shuffling steps.
If a fall is inevitable, minimize impact by leaning forward, bending the elbows and knees and relaxing your muscles. Try to break the fall with your thigh, hip or shoulder, as bones in the arms, wrists and knees are easier to fracture — and protect your head from hitting the ground.

And, while you’re at it, come in for a flu shot! Vaccines are your body’s best defense against the flu, which ramps up during the colder months. Learn more about the flu shot (including a flu shot FAQ) here.

Cold weather comes and goes each and every year. But don’t be caught off-guard. Save yourself some slips and chills, and, from all of us at Mercy Urgent Care, have a safe winter.

Safer Ways to Gather for the Holidays

December 17, 2021 by Keely Knopp

As the holidays draw closer, many of us look forward to gathering with family, friends and coworkers. That said, we should not lose sight of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. There are several ways that we can celebrate holiday traditions and still protect our health. Reminding yourself and your friends, family and coworkers of some simple and effective preventative measures is a great way to ensure a safer and healthier holiday season.

Vaccination remains one of the best protection methods to help keep yourself and your community healthy. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine and wearing a mask indoors in public in areas of high transmission is the best way to mitigate disease transmission for COVID-19 — and it may also help eliminate transmission of other diseases, like the common cold and seasonal flu.
Protect those not yet eligible for vaccination, such as young children, by getting yourself vaccinated and encouraging other eligible people around them to become vaccinated.
Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Outside is safer than inside. Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
If you are sick or feeling unwell, don’t host or attend a gathering.
Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow the CDC’s domestic travel or international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people. If you plan to travel in a group that includes unvaccinated individuals, choose safer travel options. Everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated, is required to wear a mask on public transportation and follow international travel recommendations.

Special considerations:

People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected, even if they are vaccinated and have received a booster dose. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
If you are gathering with a group of people from multiple households or from different parts of the country, you may want to consider additional precautions (like avoiding crowded indoor spaces before travel, taking a COVID-19 test prior to travel) in advance of gathering to further reduce risk.
Remember: Do not put a mask on children younger than 2 years old.

By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect our own health, as well as the health of our family, friends and coworkers.

Mercy Urgent Care can help with testing prior to the holidays. We have rapid testing available — and we even offer a cash-only COVID test at our South location. Learn more at mercyurgentcare.org/covid-tests-and-results/.

Source: CDC.gov