health issues

  • Josyann Abisaab, MD: Who Should Get the Flu Shot?

    The Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that every person over 6 months old should be vaccinated against the influenza virus. They voted for this policy last winter, on February 24, 2010. Their recommendation was that there should be “universal” flu vaccination in the United States and that the program at that time should be expanded to meet this goal. The groups most ‘at risk’ should be especially careful to get their flu shots early in the season which begins in September, but it is not too late even now, in January. If you fall into any of the following groups and are still not vaccinated,…

  • Asthma and Emergency Care

    Having a child with asthma can be very stressful. It is hard to know when an ER visit is necessary. Emergency care doctors such as Dr. Josyann Abisaab recommend you prepare for such a visit in advance, and become familiar with the symptoms that need emergency care. Some of them are: If your child’s coloring changes; blue or gray lips and/or fingernails. If your child has difficulty talking. If your child’s peak flow reading drops below 50% and does not improve with medication. If your child repeatedly uses rescue medications for severe flare-up symptoms which do not go away after five or ten minutes or return quickly. If the areas…

  • New Emergency Room Care Procedures

    USA Today featured this interesting story recently, covering one solution that the Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services have found to the problem of overcrowding in the emergency room. Whether you are a potential emergency room patient, or an emergency room doctor like Dr. Josyann Abisaab, it’s certainly worth a read. With the new program in place, the lowest priority calls are being diverted to a nurse who can spend time with patients and help them find treatment and solutions. While the program is a fresh idea in America, it’s widely used in the United Kingdom and Australia, says Jeff Clawson, medical director for the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

  • Salmonella Treatment & Precaution: Dr. Josyann Abisaab

    If you or someone you know have recently had salmonella poisoning, it’s important to understand your various treatment options. Many patients will come to the emergency room and receive treatment from the emergency room doctors, like Dr. Josyann Abisaab, while others will seek out their primary care physician. Most people with salmonellosis recover on their own in four to seven days with no antibiotics or other treatments.  The main goal of salmonellosis treatment is to prevent dehydration. In order to prevent salmonella infections, it’s very important to cook food thoroughly to prevent food poisoning and wash hands carefully during food preparation. Children should also know to wash their hands after handling…