You Can Always Ask!

Establishing care is the process of beginning a long-term relationship with a primary care provider (PCP) that will be your trusted source for all your day-to-day medical needs. By teaching you ways to manage your health, treating a wide range of illnesses and injuries and helping you access specialty care when you need it, your PCP can help ensure your well-being long into the future. The first time you see your PCP, the appointment will be billed as “establishing care.”

Every Thanksgiving friends and family reminisce about memorable moments for which they are grateful. The afterglow of sharing gratitude can do wonders for one’s well-being. Just a few words of kindness can go a long way. So, why not treat every day like Thanksgiving? Daily practice is really the only way to make something a habit. If you exercise daily, your muscles grow. If you brush your teeth daily, you prevent cavities. If you practice gratitude daily, you enhance your well-being and the well-being of others.

Did you know that as much as half of the U.S. population has some kind of chronic illness, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease, that could have been prevented? The fact is, preventive care is one of the most important ways you can optimize your current health and catch any concerns early on, so they don’t develop into something more serious down the line. Immunizations, annual wellness visits, tests and screenings are just some of the ways you can proactively manage your health.

The lack of physical contact, working from home, school closures, the loss of a job, fear for our loved ones — if life right now feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Stress, loneliness and depression are all natural responses to the pandemic, so don’t be hard on yourself for having any negative emotions. Acknowledge them and then focus your attention on staying positive in the present moment. Here are some ways to help boost your mental health.

Some people think I love my dogs more than most people — and in part, that may be true. Don’t get me wrong, I love people as well, but my dogs are my therapy. My two dogs, Peyton and Eli, give me so much joy and help me focus on what is important in life. They teach me so much more than anything I’ve ever learned in a classroom. Here are some helpful things my furry friends have taught me about life.