January 2022 Newsletter
It is an exciting time for us here at Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh! With our recent launch, we are thrilled to expand our services and locations to provide more of our friends and neighborhoods with quality, personalized care.
As we reflect on the past, we are so grateful to all of you for supporting us through this exciting transition and value each and every one of you. Instead of resolutions this year, we want to ask you a couple questions: What is it you want to bring with you into 2022? What is it that no longer serves you? What can you leave behind?
A new beginning provides the opportunity to reassess, reimagine and recognize what matters.
And you matter to us.
Exciting Updates from Our Doctors
* Dr. Natalie Gentile just became ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified as a group fitness instructor and will be continuing to lead more workouts through Walk at Home, as well as in-person at the Walk Run Lift Studio in the Strip District. DCPP patients are invited, and Dr. G would be thrilled to see new and familiar faces! For more information, follow @nataliegentilemd on Instagram for updates or email her at drg@directcarepgh.com.
She was also featured on KDKA-TV weighing in on a new subvariant of Omicron. Her advice: try to stay calm. "It seems we don't want to get too alarmed right away. We don't want to panic. We want to stick to things we know are helpful," Dr. Gentile said. Watch the full segment on the CBS Pittsburgh website.
* Dr. Kirsten Lin was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS). She will serve a three-year term. Dr. Lin hopes this role will put her in a position to be of service to members in this area, which will ultimately benefit every member of the community. She will continue to fight for the rights of independent medical practices in this health conglomerate-dominated city. At DCPP, our patient panel includes many members. If you are a physician with ideas about what ACMS can do to serve you, or if you would like to become more involved with ACMS, please email Dr. Lin at drlin@directcarepgh.com.
Due to this new role, Dr. Lin will be stepping down from the COVID-19 Task Force at the Western PA Montessori School, where her children attended preschool. She’s served on that committee for the past two years, assisting the school in creating and (frequently!) updating guidelines related to the pandemic.
* Dr. Rebecca Byard will be teaching this winter more Little Medical School classes at the Mt. Lebanon Community Center. Activities mimic what real health professionals do and are designed for ages 4-14. Curriculum is designed to promote critical thinking and inspire students to consider career options in health and medicine. To sign up or learn more, visit littlemedicalschool.com/pgh/winter-programs-2022-2.
Also, beginning this month, Dr. Byard is accepting patients over 65 years of age. "It is important to me to be able to see my patients from all walks of life, at any stage of life," she said. "I look forward to expanding my practice under DCPP and welcoming new faces." Connect with her at our Mt. Lebanon location at 750 Washington Road, Unit 15. Contact her office by phone: 724-288-6964 and via email: DrByard@directcarepgh.com
Latest COVID-19 News
Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh now offers a COVID-19 resources section on its website. If you or a family member gets COVID, here’s what to do:
- Don’t panic: The overwhelming majority of cases at this time are mild and can be treated at home, similarly to the common cold or flu.
- Consider treatment options: If you are at higher risk, consider getting monoclonal antibody treatment. This can help your body fight off the virus and minimize the risk of hospitalization or death.
- Be proactive: It’s not too late to get vaccinated or boostered. Learn more at vaccines.gov.
- Get tested: At-home tests are appropriate for people who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 (i.e., approximately 6 feet away from someone with the virus for 15-plus minutes in a 24-hour period) and for those experiencing mild symptoms. If experiencing moderate symptoms, it’s recommended to get checked out by a physician. If experiencing severe symptoms – including shortness of breath, chest pains or dehydration – be tested and evaluated in the emergency room.
- When to test: If you’ve had a significant exposure to COVID-19 but are experiencing no symptoms, wear a mask indoors for 10 days and get tested within 1-5 days from exposure. If you have symptoms, rapid tests are most accurate between Days 2-5 of symptoms, and results are usually available within 10-30 minutes. PCR tests can be done at any time when symptoms are present, but results typically take at least a day or longer to come back.
Recipe of the Month
Here’s something warm and comforting to try on a cold winter’s day. This lentil soup recipe is a favorite for Dr. Kirsten Lin and her family. She recommends serving it hot over rice or with garlic bread.
“When I swapped out the curry for chili powder, the kids told me it tastes just like chili,” she said.
Introducing the DCPP Patient Spotlight
We love our DCPP patient family, which includes so many talented entrepreneurs, artists, and more. A new regular feature in our newsletter will be the “Patient Spotlight,” a chance for us doctors to showcase some of our patients and what makes them so special.
Would you like to be spotlighted? Do you know another DCPP patient who would make for a great profile? Let us know, and you could be featured in a future newsletter.