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Medicine for People!

January

Published: January 2022

Note: This information was current when written. Please check with your own healthcare provider before taking action.

Welcome 2022!

New Plans for the Rienstra Clinic

Contents

  • January 2022 COVID update
  • Twenty-One Easy Habits
  • New Plans for the Clinic
  • Please help!

COVID Update

Having bid farewell to 2021, let's look ahead to a healthier 2022.

COVID activity in our area is high enough that our health department, as with all healthcare resources, is overstretched and asking your help.

Health Department Guidelines

If you have been exposed to or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please follow these guidelines <https://www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/DocumentCenter/View/12518/Testi ng-Flowchart> from our health department, included here for your convenience.

Here is more health department information about https://www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/1429/COVID-19 omicron, vaccination, and general preventive measures.

Is This the End?

Omicron could be a development in the right direction. To judge by the experience in South Africa, it spreads more quickly but doesn't increase total deaths. So it spreads immunity faster, and if you are vaccinated and boosted, is less likely to put you underneath a tombstone. At the time of this writing, it seems to be infecting fewer South Africans, suggesting there are now fewer susceptible people there for it to infect.

Looking further ahead, it's likely that the COVID-19 virus will continue to evolve. So will we. Meaning that our immune systems will get wise, especially if we stimulate them through vaccination.

Remember, COVID-19 is a form of coronavirus and coronavirus has been with us for a long time. My prediction is that whatever further variants of COVID develop, we'll add them to the annual flu vaccine and life will go back to normal.

Masking

We're still at the masquerade ball so don't forget yours. Ideally, wear a KN95 as per our recent newsletter. Time has made clear that cloth masks do not protect you or your loved ones nearly as well.

To repeat, beginning January 6th we will give you a complimentary KN95 mask if you come by our office on a Tuesday or Thursday morning between 9 am and noon.

Twenty-One Easy Habits

Start off 2022 right with this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXTy_dKwMa0&t=140s video of one- or two-minute habits guaranteed to improve your days.

Check off how many you already do, and choose a few to bring you better health and enjoyment of life.

My New Year's Resolution

Practicing medicine and being of use brings me joy and I intend to continue in practice. However, I'm wanting to give my brothers a break caring for my mother in Texas, and Jill keeps saying something about "vacation" so, a little more time off would be welcome.

For about ten years I have been searching for someone to work with me and eventually take over the practice.

Although we've interviewed several doctors, NPs, and PAs, we have yet to find the right person to join us, partly because as a sole provider, I do not have the patient volume some would like to see. So, we are resuming our advertising campaign and upgrading our internet presence for 2022 in hopes of attracting additional patients and with that, the right provider to help me care for you!

And so.

Please Help Us Move Ahead!

If you've noticed the https://www.rienstraclinic.com/what-we-do testimonials on our <https://www.rienstraclinic.com/what-we-do/getting-care/telephone-consultati ons> web site, I want you to know those are all unsolicited and used by permission. It's the same with our online star ratings; we've not asked for them-until now. Those stars are at risk every time I turn down a request for a narcotic prescription for an addict or a handicapped parking permit for someone who doesn't qualify. On a couple of occasions over the past forty years, I've told new mothers that we might need to call child protective services if they didn't get medical attention for a chronically unwell child-in the last case, that resulted in a negative online review that included a completely made-up story of negligence.

So, I'm putting my vanity aside here and asking your help. If you think we've served you well, please go online and tell others.

Thank you for choosing me as part of your health care team. And a happier, healthier new year to us all.