NOVEMBER 2023 - A Healthier, Happier Holiday Season
With the holiday season just around the corner, now is a great time to explore healthy, nutrient-dense recipes that are easy to whip up during the week so you can focus your time and energy on family gatherings, fun festivities and rest as you look ahead to the new year. Check out our monthly recipe below for some inspiration! This can be a challenging time for sticking with your health goals, so connecting regularly with your DCPP doctor can be beneficial. We encourage you to reach out, and have a happy and healthy holiday season!
The Latest Vaccine Information
Updated COVID-19 vaccines:COVID vaccines are here. Dr. Natalie Gentile, Dr. Emily Scott and Dr. Ashley Loughner have them available at their respective offices. Please schedule with your DCPP physician today.
Does insurance cover the COVID-19 vaccine? Most insurances will cover the vaccine at DCPP, but it's important to check with your physician first for support with evaluating your insurance's coverage. Most pharmacies now have the vaccine, as well. We can’t predict which plans will cover the vaccine so it's always important to contact the pharmacy first to check about coverage. Visit this website to find the vaccine options near you.
What if I don’t have insurance?Can I still get the COVID-19 vaccine? Because this COVID-19 vaccine is now part of routine use, it's not being covered or offered at a lower cost. Learn more here and talk with your DCPP doctor to discuss your options.
Have you gotten your flu shot? It’s not too late!
- Patients can schedule an appointment online for a flu shot with Dr. Gentile’s nurse Diane at her practice in the East End.
- DCPP Allison Park with Dr. Kirsten Lin will be offering flu shots (both regular ones for ages 6 months to 64 years and high-dose ones for those 65 and older) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays by appointment. Sign up for an appointment online.
- Patients can schedule an appointment online(opens in a new tab) with a flu shot with Dr. Scott at her practice in the East End.
The RSV vaccine has arrived:The FDA has approved two new RSV vaccines. It is recommended for certain groups, including people 60 and older and pregnant people. They are currently available at several pharmacies. People can visit their local pharmacy’s website for more information. It can be given along with a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC(opens in a new tab). Talk to your DCPP doctor to see if it's a good choice for you.
DCPP docs now seeing new patients
Dr. Loughner and Dr. Rebecca Byard are accepting new patients at their practices in Wexford and Mt. Lebanon, respectively. Dr. Loughner is now seeing patients once a week at the Allison Park office, as well.
Our newest doctor, Dr. Scott (she/her), is a doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with specialties in primary care, sports medicine and preventative medicine. She is currently accepting meet-and-greet appointments. Her practice is located at 201 S Highland Ave. #101 in Pittsburgh’s East End.
DCPP in the News
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.
Recipe of the Month: Dr. G's recommendation for the best vegan alfredo sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 1-2 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2-3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 4 extra-large minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 heaping cup of raw unsalted cashews
- 1/2-1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
HOW TO MAKE IT
1. Add the onion and 1 cup of the broth to a large pan over medium to medium-high heat.
2. Cook for about 8 minutes until the onion is very tender.
After 8 minutes, add garlic and cook a couple of minutes more. Stir often. (NOTE: All of the broth should have evaporated by now. If not, keep letting it cook until the broth is gone.)
3. Add the cooked veggies (i.e., the onion and garlic) to a blender. Start out by adding 1/2 cup more of the remaining broth and add the remaining ingredients (i.e., salt, pepper, cashews, 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice and nutritional yeast). Blend on high for a couple of minutes until very creamy and smooth. Add any more broth to reach desired consistency, if necessary.
4. Taste and add more salt and pepper or lemon, if desired.
SOURCE: Adapted from thevegan8.com
Patient Spotlight: Jean Kestner
Jean Kestner has been a patient of Dr. Lin’s for more than a decade and is a survivor of sepsis, the body’s extreme and life-threatening response to an infection. In 2015, one week before Jean was admitted to the hospital with septic shock, she felt like she had a stomach bug, which disappeared within 24 hours. The following day, her face, lips and throat swelled, and she went to the hospital, where they prescribed her medication for a preliminary diagnosis and sent her home.
Three days later, her gastrointestinal symptoms worsened and additional symptoms presented. When she began speaking “gibberish,” as she described it, she was rushed to the hospital in full septic shock.
Before the doctors found the perforation in Jean’s small intestine, her blood pressure flatlined and the doctors told her husband to prepare for the worst. Once they found the source of the problem, they were able to perform a surgery to repair her intestine.
Dr. Lin helped Jean throughout her sepsis recovery, recognizing that she could benefit from PT and therapy for the PTSD from the medical trauma she experienced. Each time a new long-term effect of sepsis arises, Dr. Lin helps her solve the problem or finds the right specialist to help, Jean said.
These health challenges caused by her sepsis diagnosis forced Jean to move from long-term disability to retirement. Jean stresses the importance of knowing the symptoms of sepsis and going to a hospital that is equipped and staffed with doctors who can quickly recognize and treat the disease. Sepsis needs to be identified quickly in order for patients to have the best chance of survival.
Jean appreciates the time Dr. Lin takes to learn about her patients and the research she does to find workable solutions to her patients’ issues. She appreciates how easy it is to connect with the doctors at DCPP and how the office atmosphere is relaxed and cordial. As part of her recovery, Dr. Lin encouraged Jean to set aside time for something she loves. Jean loves to bake, which started a wonderful tradition where Jean makes the DCPP staff a tray of cookies around the holidays each year!
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.