August 2024 - Let's Get Physicals!
Can you believe it is time to go back to school? And you know what that means – ‘tis the season for pre-participation sports physicals! The preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) is an annual exam required by most state high school athletic associations for participation in school-based sports.
During the PPE, the physician determines general physical and psychological health, evaluates for life-threatening or disabling conditions, including risk of sudden cardiac arrest and other conditions that may predispose the athlete to illness or injury. It is recommended to have this exam performed at least 6 weeks prior to the start of their season.
If your family is in need of a PPE, schedule with your doctor soon. Dr. Emily Scott also offers Pre-participation physicals to non-DCPP members; learn more and register here.
For college students in your family, some DCPP doctors offer special plans to meet the needs of young adults who are seeking a primary care doctor in the Pittsburgh area during the academic year. Contact your DCPP doctor to learn more; policies may vary by physicians.
Enjoy the final weeks of summer!
Updates from your DCPP Docs
Congratulations to Dr. Emily Scott on her one-year anniversary with Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh! To learn more about her areas of expertise around family and sports medicine click HERE.
There are only a couple of months left in the Walk with a Doc outdoor series: Join the docs from Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh who are teaming up with Drayer Physical Therapy on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 9:30 a.m. This month, we are walking in Highland Park on Aug. 14 and 28. Meet at the fountain, and let’s have some fun!
- There will be a SPECIAL Walk with a Doc happening at this year’s Pittsburgh VegFest on Aug. 10! Join us for a 1.5 mile walk around Allegheny Commons Park before the festivities begin! Details HERE.
DID YOU KNOW: It's possible to earn money while you walk. Participants with an eligible health plan can get an initial payment of $50 sent to them for being a part of Walk with a Doc. For each three months of activity after that, Grouper will send $20, if you stay active and keep Grouper updated on your in-person social activity. Learn more about how to get paid to walk.
Welcome Shirley Chang, medical assistant
We are excited to welcome Shirley Chang to Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh: Dr. Rebecca Byard’s office.
Shirley graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2023 with a bachelor of science degree, majoring in biological sciences and minoring in Japanese and chemistry. She is enrolled in Pitt School of Medicine's Biomedical master’s program and expects to graduate in August. She is currently preparing to apply to medical school next year. Shirley also volunteers on Thursday afternoons/evenings for a program called Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at UPMC Shadyside. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing video games and scrolling through the 10,000+ photos of her Shiba Inu named Kain on her phone.
DCPP in the News
- Have you checked out DCPP’s new YouTube page? DCPP co-founders Dr. Kirsten Lin and Dr. Nataile Gentile chat about why they became direct primary care physicians, how they avoid burnout and how DCPP helps both patients and small businesses. Watch the videos HERE.
- #ICYMI Dr. Gentile has a regular segment on KDKA-TV’s talk show, “TALK Pittsburgh.” See her segment at 3 p.m. every other Wednesday to discuss the health issues that matter most to you. If you missed them, watch her latest segments on the CBS Pittsburgh website.
Keep up to date on vaccination information
UPDATES ON COVID-19:The FDA has changed its strain recommendation for the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. Health Regulator is asking manufacturers to update the new shots to focus on the KP.2 variant, if feasible, instead of the JN.1 lineage it sought to target earlier for the fall 2024 vaccines, making it more effective against COVID. More information will be following, but this is exciting news because this variant is currently the most prevalent, and targeting it (also known as the FLiRT variant) will provide more robust protection than the waning JN.1 variant. As always, a layered approach to safety is recommended – including masking in crowded public spaces, testing if exposed to COVID or feeling sick and isolating when you don’t feel well. The COVID-19 vaccines work to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death, as well as reduce your chances of long COVID, which has debilitated millions of Americans.
Chat with your DCPP doc about when and if you should receive the latest vaccine when roll outs begin in fall 2024.
RSV VACCINE: The FDA has approved two new RSV vaccines for older adults. They are currently available at several pharmacies. People can visit their local pharmacy’s website for more information. It can be given concurrently with a flu shot but not with a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your DCPP doctor to see if it's a good choice for you.
PNEUMONIA VACCINE: There is a new pneumonia vaccine called PCV20 appropriate for children, senior citizens and some adults who are considered to be high risk. Please ask your direct primary care doc if you qualify and how it could support your overall health. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
Recipe of the Month: The BEST Tofu Scramble
Adapted fromNora Cooks
Now that summer is winding down and school is gearing up, it’s always nice to have a few simple, delicious and FAST breakfasts that can be on the table in less than 10 minutes – no really! Try this one that requires just seven ingredients and one pan!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- (1) 16-ounce block of firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk, unsweetened and unflavored
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Mash the block of tofu right in the pan, with a potato masher or a fork. You can also crumble it into the pan with your hands. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes until the water from the tofu is mostly gone.
- Now add the nutritional yeast, salt, turmeric and garlic powder. Cook and stir constantly for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the non-dairy milk into the pan, and stir to mix. Serve immediately with sliced avocado, hot sauce, parsley, steamed kale, toast or any other breakfast item.
Patient Spotlight | Jason Reis
As a creative person, it is no surprise that Jason Reis’ career is a unique mix of creative pursuits: graphic design, music instruction and hosting a YouTube channel. At a time in his life when he felt stuck, Jason found graphic design. He particularly enjoys designing logos, condensing the brand into one recognizable icon. Also, having been in a band himself, Jason began to teach guitar lessons in 2022 after he moved back to Pittsburgh. In 2018, while living in Virginia, Jason initially began his YouTube channel because he missed being in a band and having friends to discuss music with.
Shortly after the start of the pandemic, his friends joined the channel, which has evolved into a platform where they discuss topics such as new music releases, rank albums in an artist’s discographies and make lists of their favorite albums from different years. One of Jason’s favorite parts about the YouTube channel is the comments section, where viewers interact with the hosts and each other to express their own views.
The channel is called Tastes Like Music, for which Jason designed the logo and artwork, and has 17,300 YouTube subscribers and a Patreon with a few hundred monthly subscribers. They plan to expand Tastes Like Music into a record label within the next year, producing their own music.
When Jason and his wife moved back to Pittsburgh, they were looking for a simple healthcare system where they would have direct access and communication with their doctor. Since becoming members of DCPP, Jason has found it to be an easy, personalized experience that feels genuine. Now, he is much more comfortable bringing up a health concern without fearing the consequence of a large medical bill.
You can find Jason on YouTube @TastesLikeMusic and on Instagram at @tastes_like_music.
Do you know a DCPP patient who would make for a great profile? Let us know, and you could be featured in a future newsletter. Talk to your DCPP doc to learn more.