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Things to Know About Flu Season

Joseph Toscano, MDJoseph Toscano, MD, a leader in urgent care medicine with the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), recently sat down with the ABPS to share helpful information about flu prevention and treatment.

ABPS: Dr. Toscano, what should individuals do if they get sick with the flu?

Dr. Toscano: Influenza symptoms include some combination of fever, cough, headache, body aches, and sore throat. They are usually more severe than a simple “cold” and often start fairly suddenly. Fatigue is common, and with some flu strains, there is nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When a healthy person gets these symptoms and flu is circulating in the community, there is no need for a test to diagnose flu. These patients should limit their exposure to others, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medications can be used for fever and other symptoms based on package dosing and precautions. Those who have probable flu and underlying medical issues, or who have family members with any of those issues, or who have more worrisome symptoms, should seek medical care.

ABPS: Which segments of the population are most at risk for complications from the flu?

Dr. Toscano: People most at risk for complications from the flu include those who have:

  • Asthma
  • COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, other chronic lung diseases
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
  • Sickle cell disease and other blood disorders
  • Diabetes (type I or II), pituitary and adrenal gland disorders
  • Kidney and liver disease
  • Inherited metabolic and mitochondrial disorders
  • A suppressed immune system from cancer chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive medications or untreated HIV, for example.

Other at-risk individuals include children age 5 or younger, adults age 65 or older, pregnant women, and nursing home residents.

Different than people who are general healthy, those in any of these higher-risk groups who have probable flu or those who have probable flu and have at-risk family members should seek medical care. Those who are at risk for complications and have been exposed to someone with the flu may also benefit from seeking care for preventative medication.

ABPS: When should a person suffering from the flu seek treatment at an urgent care center?

Dr. Toscano: There are several medications that can reduce the severity of flu symptoms, shorten the duration of illness, decrease contagiousness, and decrease the chance of complications. Currently, these medications require a prescription and are strongly recommended for all flu patients at high risk for complications, as explained; for everyone else, these medications are optional. So, anyone with symptoms of the flu may seek care, but it is very important for those with high-risk conditions to seek care once they develop flu symptoms. Medications are most effective when started as soon as possible. They are less effective when started later than 48 hours after the onset of flu symptoms.

ABPS: When should a person go to an emergency room?

For most patients, an urgent care facility will be able to diagnose their flu symptoms and write prescriptions. But some symptoms or situations have a higher likelihood of needing more intensive treatment or diagnosis. These include patients with flu symptoms and:

  • Moderate or severe shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or abdominal pain
  • Uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea
  • Unconsciousness, confusion, or moderate or severe lethargy
  • Unexplained skin rash

ABPS: How can individuals best protect themselves from the flu?

There is no doubt that getting vaccinated—”getting a flu shot”—each year is the best prevention. True adverse reactions to the shot are very rare and the risk of getting the flu after vaccination, though never completely eliminated, is much lower. And if someone has had a flu shot and actually ends up getting the flu, the severity will be lower and the chance of complications is lower as well.

Dr. Toscano: How are urgent care centers managing this season’s significant flu outbreak?

Most UCs are increasing their staff coverage and taking precautions like making hand sanitizer more widely available and offering patients surgical masks. Some UCs have instituted flu-testing protocols to ease workflow and reduce wait times. Of course, educating patients about self-care, reducing contagiousness, and prevention through immunization are all crucial urgent care management strategies!

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Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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