The healthcare industry has evolved to include telehealth urgent care, an innovative technology that has made it easier for people worldwide to access healthcare virtually.  This medical service offers faster urgent care visits through virtual appointments, providing services from physical exams to diagnostics, which allows healthcare providers to connect with patients remotely, providing care, support, and information from a distance. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with mobility or transportation issues, with busy schedules ...

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Of course sex doesn’t always have to lead to an unwanted STD or STI. If you learn more about them, what your risk factors are and ways to test and treat them, you can avoid them altogether. This April is STD/STI Awareness month and the message is very clear: The risk is not knowing. Get yourself tested to know your status! At the same time, you don’t want to leave an STD ...

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This winter wasn’t too cold, right? It’s fair to say that our climate is changing, and because it’s changing, our allergies, or when they happen, may change too. Since we had a warm winter, this spring, the pollen levels may be heavier and longer lasting compared to the previous years. There’s going to be a lot of sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes this spring. Let’s keep in mind that COVID-19 ...

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Urgent care providers offer convenient, time-saving alternatives to visiting an emergency room for minor, non-life-threatening medical conditions. These healthcare centers typically have shorter wait times and offer services like X-rays, urgent treatment of colds and flu, sprains, strains, and fractures, on-site lab tests, and physicals. Urgent care centers provide efficient diagnoses of various health problems, ranging from minor to severe. Some are also equipped with on-site lab testing capabilities so that patients can get results ...

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A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is a frustrating ailment that causes a runny nose, congestion, swollen and/or itching eyes, a sore throat, headaches, and other symptoms. While there isn’t necessarily a quick sinus infection cure, there are certainly ways that you can ease your discomfort and speed up your recovery.  If you’re suffering from sinusitis, know that you aren’t alone; approximately 90% of patients with colds have an element of viral ...

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Local urgent care centers in Natick, or family walk-in clinics, offer patients convenient and affordable urgent healthcare services. When you visit a family walk-in clinic, you can expect quick, quality care at a fraction of the cost of your local emergency room.  Emergency rooms tend to be very busy and crowded and are associated with longer waiting times and higher fees. By going to a walk-in doctor’s office for a non-life-threatening illness or injury ...

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“I thought strep throat was a symptom of COVID-19?”. You may have seen this question circulating across the internet, but strep throat is actually a completely different illness. The major difference between the two is that strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection while COVID-19 is a viral infection. We get that it’s confusing, but don’t always assume it’s COVID-19. We’re seeing patients coming in with sore throats, but they ...

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What is an urgent care clinic? And how does it differ from the emergency room? When should you go to the emergency room, and when should you go to an urgent care center? Whatever questions you may have, AFC has the answers.    What Is An Urgent Care Clinic? Urgent care is the level of healthcare that lies between your primary care physician (PCP) and the emergency room. When you go to urgent care, you can ...

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The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front of the neck. Sadly, millions of Americans are diagnosed with a Thyroid condition. Thyroid disease is a common endocrine disorder, and can cause a wide range of symptoms, from fatigue and weight gain to depression and anxiety. Being educated on Thyroid Disease will help you better understand the cause, symptoms, and treatments available.  You may be at a higher risk of developing a thyroid ...

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RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common respiratory virus that can make anyone with a weak immune system or pre-existing lung conditions very ill. While RSV usually has no lasting effects, it can be especially dangerous for very young children and people 65 years of age and older. In these groups, RSV may cause serious complications like pneumonia or bronchiolitis (swollen airways in the lungs).  Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your child’s risk ...

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