Medical Minute: Staying safe and healthy as flu cases rise locally

Flu season is not over yet. Cases are on the rise in our region and across the state. High flu activity is also being reported in Michigan. “Low vaccination rates, weather conditions, with cold weather being more favorable for the spread of the virus, and breaches in prevention measures can...

Medical Minute: Understanding, treating and preventing frostbite in dangerously cold weather

Bone-chilling temperatures are headed for our region, which increases the chances of frostbite if we are outside for too long. Young children and infants, as well as older adults and seniors, should be especially careful when heading outdoors. Frostbite leads to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it...

Medical Minute: Beacon physician offers update on increasing COVID-positive patients at hospitals

This week, we spoke with Beacon Medical Group President Dale Patterson and members of our Beacon Infection Prevention team about the status of COVID at Beacon and in our community. We have recently seen an increase in: COVID-related emergency department visits at Beacon Community flu-like illness rate (patients reporting fever along...

Medical Minute: What you should know about the slight uptick in COVID cases in our community

Our community is seeing a slight increase in the number of COVID cases, and our Beacon hospitals are seeing a slight uptick in the number of patients with COVID, said Dr. Dale Patterson, President, Beacon Medical Group. “I want to reassure everyone that this is nowhere near the level that we...

Medical Minute: Beacon athletic trainers keep student-athletes safe in extreme heat

The heat this week is very concerning when it comes to student-athletes playing sports. Just ask our Beacon athletic trainers, who have been working on heat- and humidity-related recommendations and adjustments for each sport with their respective school administrators. “If someone is not acclimatized to this type of heat and humidity, then...

Medical Minute: What a family doctor wants you to know about staying safe in extreme heat

Heat and humidity. We’re feeling it already. There’s a heat advisory in effect today, and when you factor in the humidity, it’s going to be challenging to stay cool the rest of this week. So we asked a doctor for some advice. In our new Medical Minute, Dr. Johnny Gerardot, family physician...

Medical Minute: How the Canadian wildfire smoke may affect your health

If you’ve been wondering if the lingering haze from the Canadian wildfires might affect your health, you’re not alone. Dr. Jason Marker from the Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program answers some common questions patients have been asking about air quality and what precautions you and your family might need...

Medical Minute: Staying healthy during respiratory illness season

In this Medical Minute video below, Dr. Jason Marker, associate director at the Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency program, breaks down what you need to know to stay safe and healthy heading into respiratory illness season. He explains how the flu, RSV and COVID-19 might make you feel, prevention strategies,...

Medical Minute: Cold, allergies, flu or COVID? Beacon physician outlines key differences for parents

https://youtu.be/OZvXnV6tV2I   Dr. Jason Marker, Associate Director Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program It’s that time of year again when families in my practice are asking me questions about how to sort out the major differences between the common cold, COVID-19, RSV, allergies and even influenza. So we're going to unpack that today real...