The offices feature roughly 6,000 square feet of space and 14 exam rooms split among Norton Community Medical Associates primary care, a Norton Immediate Care Center and, eventually, a Norton Orthopedic Institute office. The new location also will have laboratory testing and X-ray capability to help providers accurately diagnose a variety of illnesses and injuries.

“Norton Healthcare is committed to expanding access to health care throughout the area,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “The comprehensive care that will be provided in this new space will make it easier for so many more people to receive the care they need.”

The new space, located at 10798 Dixie Highway, is Norton Healthcare’s southernmost primary care office and immediate care center in Louisville. The building is just off the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265/KY 841), allowing easy access for those using the city’s highway system, while also supporting population growth in the southwestern part of Louisville. The location also provides access to care for people just outside the city limits, including parts of Meade and Hardin counties.

“It’s very exciting to see the growth in this part of our city,” said Stephanie Harmon, practice manager for the new Norton Community Medical Associates office. “As someone who grew up in the south end of Louisville, I know this is something we’ve needed. To be a part of the team providing that care is extra special.”

The primary care practice will be led by Arilennis Medel Leyva, APRN, family nurse practitioner, who will move from Norton Community Medical Associates – Fairdale. Her diverse, bilingual experience as a clinician enables her to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care. Her philosophy emphasizes empathy, compassion and respect, focusing on individualized patient needs and holistic care.

“Access to primary care is essential for a healthy community,” Leyva said. “I’m excited to bring these services to Valley Station. I believe my experience and expertise can add to the level of care and trust we’ve already built in South Louisville, and I’m excited to care for and form relationships with patients in the area.”

The practice will have self-pay options and quick, easy access to the Norton Healthcare financial services teams for assistance with bill payment.

A Norton Children’s Medical Group pediatrician office will remain open in Fairdale at 189 Outer Loop, with plans to expand. Schedule an appointment by calling (502) 629-1234.

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While fever is often thought of as a common flu symptom, not everyone who gets the flu runs a temperature.

In addition to fever, common early flu symptoms include:

• Chills
• Body aches and pains
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Rhinitis — stuffy, runny nose and sneezing
• Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Early flu symptoms easily can be confused with a common cold, but while cold symptoms come on gradually — flu typically will affect you fast.

Flu symptoms alone aren’t enough for a diagnosis, and they can overlap quite a bit with COVID-19 symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration earlier this year approved an over-the-counter home test for flu and COVID-19. It works much the same way as existing home COVID-19 tests, using a gentle swab of the nostril to collect a sample, and can give you a result in about half an hour.

The test can detect influenza A, influenza B and COVID-19.

“For many, seasonal flu can come and go without the need to see a medical provider,” said Mary Rademaker, M.D., medical director of Norton Immediate Care Centers. “But it can be very serious for many others, and for those who are at risk of severe flu complications, we can prescribe an antiviral medication.”

What to do if you have the flu

The flu is contagious and, in some people, can be deadly. Older people, young children and people with certain health conditions can develop severe illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following steps if you have the flu.

• Stay home and rest.
• Avoid close contact with people in your house who aren’t sick.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Use over-the-counter medications to treat fever, cough and other symptoms.
• Call your doctor if you develop severe symptoms, including a high fever, are pregnant or have a condition that puts you at higher risk of a complication, like asthma. Your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral drug.

Related: When does the flu warrant emergency care?

If you have a fever, you can still spread the flu virus for about 24 hours after your temperature comes down. Stay home for another day after your fever is gone without taking any fever-reducing medicine such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

If you haven’t gotten the flu vaccine, it’s likely not too late to protect yourself and those around you. Flu season runs from fall through spring, and the flu shot takes effect after about two weeks. Even if it’s early March, you can still benefit from the vaccine’s protection.

The vaccine doesn’t always prevent you from getting sick from the flu virus, but it is very effective at reducing your symptoms or preventing you from developing flu complications if you do catch it.

The post Early flu symptoms may include fever, but not always appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The offices in the Towne Center shopping center at 157 Towne Drive, feature approximately 25,000 square feet of space and 39 exam rooms, adding diagnostic imaging services to expanded practices that include Norton Community Medical Associates primary care and endocrinology, Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Immediate Care Center and lab testing all at one location. These services will move from their original spaces at 2410 Ring Road and begin seeing patients in their new spaces on Oct. 23.

“Having access to proper health care is a foundation on which communities are built,” said Steven T. Hester, M.D., MBA, senior vice president and chief clinical and strategy officer, Norton Healthcare. “Norton Healthcare is committed to bringing quality care to families in Hardin County. We believe this space, and all that it now provides, is a great step toward building that for generations to come.”

New diagnostic imaging services include MRI scans, CT scans, ultrasounds, bone density tests, mammograms and X-rays. These imaging capabilities will make it easier for patients to receive care without driving to Louisville. Furthermore, it allows providers to review results quicker.

“It’s so important for us to be in this community, because people should be able to receive the care they need right here in E-town,” said Varun Samji, M.D., endocrinologist, Norton Community Medical Associates. “Expanding what we’re able to do, while cutting down drive time for patients, is an important aspect of what it means to provide quality care.”

The facility’s central location within Elizabethtown also allows for an easier commute for current patients in Hardin and surrounding counties, as well as for future patients looking for a convenient place to receive comprehensive care.

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute will remain at 2410 Ring Road. Plans are in place to expand cardiology and vascular services at that location, with details to be released in the coming months. Norton Orthopedic Institute will also be coming to 2410 Ring Road, filling the vacated space.

Several Norton Children’s Medical Group specialty services will also come to 2410 Ring Road. Meanwhile, a Norton Children’s Medical Group pediatrician office will continue to serve Elizabethtown at 1301 Ring Road, and also has plans to expand its facility.

The post Norton Healthcare brings full-service imaging services to Elizabethtown appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

“It’s important to know when you need care and the best place to get it,” said Steven T. Hester, M.D., MBA, senior vice president and chief clinical and strategy officer, Norton Healthcare. “This will ensure that our care teams can provide the most efficient care and keep your wait time down.”

If you think you may have the flu, you are otherwise healthy and you’re not having difficulty breathing, your symptoms could very well be managed at home with over-the-counter medicines, rest and fluid.

If you know you were exposed to COVID-19 but are not having any symptoms, continue to monitor your health. If you develop symptoms, start with a home test. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer more guidance on when to test after exposure to COVID-19.

“It’s also important to understand that you should never delay getting medical care if you are having a serious issue,” Dr. Hester said. “You can always contact your primary care provider for direction, especially if it is in regard to a pre-existing condition.”

COVID-19 and flu vaccines continue to be the best way to prevent severe illness from these two viruses.

Flu

You may schedule a Norton eCare appointment to talk to a provider virtually or by phone. If it is determined that a test is necessary, you will have the option of visiting Norton Healthcare Express Services for a drive-thru test. This option is only available with a physician order. Visit NortonHealthcare.com/Flu for more information.

Care for COVID-19, flu and other infections

Care from your home

Norton eCare offers video and phone visits for conditions that are not complex, emergency or life-threatening situations.

These include:

• Eye, nose and throat issues, such as pinkeye
• Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash, insect bites and poison ivy
• Urinary issues

Same-day care

If you need same-day care and are unable to get to your primary care provider, get urgent care at a Norton Immediate Care Center or a Norton Prompt Care at clinic for COVID-19 or Flu testing and treatment or other minor health issues including:

• Cough
• Earache
• Fever
• Flu
• Minor animal bites
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Minor burns or cuts
• Minor injuries
• Pinkeye
• Rash or skin irritation
• Sore throat
• Urinary tract infection
• Suspected broken bone (Norton Immediate Care Center only)

Emergency care

Serious issues requiring care in an emergency department are:

• Chest pain
• Stroke symptoms (numbness in face, arm or leg; trouble speaking; sudden severe headache)
• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
• Major injury or head trauma
• Seizure (for those not diagnosed with epilepsy)
• Severe shortness of breath or asthma attack
• Severe burn or wound
• Shock
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Vomiting blood

If you have a concern that you think is an emergency and your symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 or go to an emergency department right away.

The post Getting testing and care for the flu and COVID-19 appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

In addition to the groin area, a monkey pox rash can break out on the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth.

If you are concerned about symptoms or possible exposure to Mpox, use MyNortonChart to set up an eCare video visit with a Norton Heathcare provider.

“We have a lot of worried patients who are coming into our practices,” said Angela Burgan, R.N., Infection Preventionist with Norton Medical Group. “People have rashes and lesions for a variety of reasons, so our providers really have to get into that information with the patient about their level of exposure to infected individuals.”Mpox

Mpox is spread by close contact, often skin-to-skin. That includes sexual contact as well as kissing, hugging or massage. The virus also can spread on surfaces, bedding, towels and other objects used by someone with Mpox. Respiratory droplets also can be a source of infection, though most cases appear to spread by close contact.

Some people with Mpox will get a rash followed by other symptoms, but some will have just a rash.

If you think you may have Mpox, either because of a new and unexplained rash or other symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking the following steps:

• Avoid close contact, including sex or being intimate with anyone, until you have been checked out by a health care provider.
• If you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
• When you see a health care provider, wear a mask.

“Most patients are not acutely ill. Unless you’re having signs and symptoms of distress, the emergency room wouldn’t be appropriate,” Angela said.

Mpox rash symptoms usually start less than three weeks after virus exposure and a few days after developing flu-like symptoms. Mpox lasts up to four weeks until the rash has healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

Mpox symptoms also can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Respiratory complaints (sore throat, congestion, cough)

The post Is it a Mpox rash or something minor? appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Mitchell F. Elliott, M.D., a physician with Norton Immediate Care Centers, shares tips on preventing tick bites, at-home treatments and when you should see a provider.

How to prevent tick bites

Be aware of where ticks live before you venture outdoors. You’re more likely to encounter ticks in grassy or wooded areas, but you don’t have to go on a camping trip or a remote hike in order to come into contact with them. Ticks also can live in yards and neighborhoods. As a general rule of thumb, avoid areas with high grass and don’t go off trails.

Before you head outside, pre-treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, a nontoxic insecticide that can kill ticks on contact. Use insect repellents with DEET. Wearing long sleeves and pants can help avoid tick bites as well.

After you return indoors, check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks, and remove any that may be found. Wash all clothes with hot water. Putting clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes also can kill ticks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showering within two hours of returning inside can help prevent Lyme disease, a bacterial illness transmitted by tick bites.

Where to check for ticks

Upon returning inside, adults and children should check their bodies for ticks, especially in the following areas:

• Under the arms
• In and around the ears
• Inside bellybutton
• Back of the knees
• In and around the hair
• Between the legs
• Around the waist

How to treat a tick bite at home

When it comes to treating a tick bite, early intervention is key. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible. Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull the tick upward in a steady motion. Do not use twisting or jerking movements. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

When should I worry about a tick bite?

Tick bites can cause Lyme disease, and the longer a tick is attached to your skin, the higher the risk. See your provider if:

• You develop a rash that looks like a bull’s-eye.
• You’re unable to remove the tick completely.
• You experience pain or swelling at the site of bite.
• You have any of the following symptoms:
  • Difficulty breathing, headache, nausea, weakness, chills or swollen lymph nodes

Your health care provider may prescribe doxycycline or another antibiotic. If you retain the tick, it may be possible to identify the species and determine if it is a species that carries Lyme disease. If you can estimate the amount of time the tick was attached, it can help your health care provider determine the best course of action for how to treat the tick bite.

The post How to treat a tick bite at home and when to see a provider appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

A hospital-based emergency room (sometimes called an “emergency department” because there is typically more than one exam room) is equipped to help someone with a severe, critical or life-threatening condition. If you want to get medical care for something less severe, your best option is an urgent care center, a health clinic, your primary care doctor or a virtual visit.

One important way to decide where to seek care is to consider the severity of your medical condition or injury. If it’s not severe, then a better option would be calling your primary care provider, visiting an immediate care center or health clinic or choosing a telehealth visit, according to Mary Rademaker, M.D., medical director of Norton Immediate Care Centers. Not only is the wait likely to be shorter, but you may save money as well.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

“Norton Immediate Care Centers are staffed by excellent and highly skilled physicians and nurse practitioners who can handle many conditions that need to be treated right away but are not considered true medical emergencies,” Dr. Rademaker said. All Norton Immediate Care Centers can perform lab work and take X-rays.

When to go to a hospital emergency room

Anyone with a critical medical need of any age can go to an emergency room — that includes severe versions of common illnesses or minor injuries. For example, a suspected broken bone can be X-rayed, diagnosed and treated at a Norton Immediate Care Center. But if the bone is protruding through skin, you should get to an emergency room.

In any case, if you believe your condition is a matter of life or death, don’t hesitate to call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

You should seek care at the emergency room or dial 911 for a true emergency such as:

• Trouble breathing or difficulty breathing
• Passing out or fainting
• Severe chest pain, pressure or a suspected heart attack
• Severe head, neck or spine injury
• Sudden lack of ability to speak, see, walk or move
• Sudden weakness or droopiness on one side of the body or suspected stroke
• Heavy bleeding
• Major breaks or fractures
• Severe allergic reactions
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings
• Drug or alcohol overdose
• Sudden loss of vision

Emergency room visit pros

• Equipped for life-threatening conditions
• Access to a full range of diagnostic and treatment services

Cons

• Longer wait times for less-severe issues
• More expensive than other medical treatment options

When to go to an urgent care clinic

Norton Immediate Care Centers and other urgent care facilities are designed to treat conditions that aren’t life threatening, but require urgent attention. They serve as a middle ground between the ER and your primary care doctor. Norton Immediate Care Centers are equipped to perform lab tests and take X-rays.

Consider urgent care for:

• Cold, flu and other viral illnesses (unless you have trouble breathing, then go to the emergency department)
• Ear and sinus infections
• Bronchitis, pneumonia and mild to moderate asthma issues
• Rashes and allergic reactions
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration
• Bladder infections
• Minor fractures
• Skin infections
• Abscess care, including drainage
• Cuts, abrasions (scrapes) and minor burns
• Insect stings and bites
• Sprains and strains/concern for a possible broken bone

Urgent care pros

• Extended hours, including evenings and weekends
• Usually shorter wait times compared with an emergency room
• Cheaper than emergency care

Cons

• Limited services compared with the emergency room
• May not have access to certain diagnostic tools, like advanced imaging or intravenous fluids

When to go to a health clinic

Sometimes located in a grocery store or drug store, clinics like Norton Prompt Care provide a range of same-day services from nurse practitioners. Common reasons for a health clinic visit include routine checkups, preventive care and treatment for a minor illness.

This option can be a good substitute if you’re not feeling well and can’t get a last-minute appointment with your primary care physician. Health clinics also offer preventive services, such as sports physicals, sexually transmitted infection screenings, and immunizations. Norton Prompt Care treats patients ages 12 months and older.

Visit a health clinic for:

• Sports physicals
• Vaccinations
• Management of chronic conditions (like diabetes or hypertension)
• Health screenings
• Blisters and other small wounds
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Ear pain
• Pinkeye
• Minor sprains or strained muscles
• Seasonal allergies
• Skin rashes
• Sore throats, coughs, and other cold and flu symptoms
• Urinary tract infection

Health clinic pros

• Focus on preventive care and overall health management
• Often lower costs

Cons

• No X-ray equipment
• Not full lab capability
• May require an appointment, leading to potential wait times for walk-ins

Virtual care

Virtual care like Norton eCare provides care for minor health concerns through video, phone or messaging. Norton eCare is available through Norton MyChart for patients ages 2 years and older.

Opt for virtual urgent care for:

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Rashes
• Pinkeye
• Urinary tract infection
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Virtual care pros

• Convenient and accessible from home
• No travel time or waiting rooms
• Available 24/7
• Lower cost than an ER, usually the same price as an in-person urgent care visit

Cons

• Limited physical examinations
• Not suitable for emergencies or serious conditions
• May require an in-person follow-up visit for tests or treatments (Norton Healthcare offers drive-thru service at Norton Healthcare Express Services.)

The post Emergency room or urgent care? appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Norton Immediate Care Center – Audubon

The immediate care center will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. It will create 15 jobs for caregivers and support staff.

“Having a Norton Immediate Care Center in this area gives the community yet another option for urgent care when an emergency department visit is not warranted or when our Norton eCare service is not an option for a patient,” said Joseph M. Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP, chief administrative officer, Norton Medical Group, and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute. “We’ve also made technology a focus to improve the patient experience while maintaining a personal touch.”

The center will have technological features including a computerized self-check-in system that will allow patients to register for their appointment more quickly, a computerized patient education system in all exam rooms and, eventually, status boards for estimated wait times.

Norton Community Medical Associates – Audubon

The new primary care office will combine three practices moving from the Norton Audubon Hospital campus. Moving them to this singular location will give patients easier access.

The practice will consist of 24 currently employed primary care providers, some of whom are accepting new patients, and 70 support staff, including nurses, licensed practical nurses and office staff. It has 42 exam rooms, 10 telehealth rooms, two X-ray rooms and two procedure rooms. There also is space to expand the number of primary care providers.

“We see this new facility as an extension of the Norton Audubon Hospital campus,” Dr. Flynn said. “Once the primary care offices move out of the medical plaza buildings connected to the hospital, it will allow for additional subspecialty expansion in areas such as cardiology and vascular care.”

Physical space

• Norton Healthcare purchased the empty retail space for approximately $4 million in April 2019 with plans to convert the space in early 2020. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the space was needed to provide drive-thru COVID-19 testing. Construction began in November 2020, with a total renovation cost of $12.3 million.
• Total square footage: Approximately 40,580 square feet
• Architect and interior design: Stengel Hill Architecture
• General contractor: Messer
• Electrical/mechanical: CMTA Inc.
• Civil engineering: BTM Engineering Inc.
• Structural engineering: Brown + Kubican PSC
• Equipment planning: Med Equip Consultants LLC

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The deer tick can pick up Lyme disease, then spread the bacteria to humans.

Tick-borne diseases in general can cause things that a lot of people would mistake for the flu: aches, pains, rashes. If a tick is embedded in you and you remove it within 36 hours, you’re probably not going to get sick. If it’s longer than that, your chances start to go up.

Diagnosing tick-borne illnesses can be tricky. There are laboratory tests, but the test for Lyme disease isn’t 100% accurate. Other tick-borne illnesses will give themselves away in blood and platelet counts. If you develop flu-like symptoms days or weeks after a tick bite or if the reddish area surrounding the bite expands, speak to your primary care or urgent care provider about your concerns.

Ticks in Kentucky and elsewhere can be repelled by permethrin, DEET or other chemicals. Ticks use smell and other senses to find a host.

If you are bitten by a tick it may be a good idea to keep it in a small Ziploc bag in the event you’d like to identify it with a provider at a later date.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease

• Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes may occur in the absence of rash
• Target or bulls-eye rash
  • Occurs in up to 80% of those infected
  • May be less obvious on dark skin
  • Begins at the site of a tick bite and expands, gradually reaching up to 12 inches or more across
  • May feel warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful
  • Occurs as the rash starts clearing at the initial site of the bite

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is less common in Kentucky.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

• Fever
• Headache
• Rash
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Muscle pain
• Lack of appetite

Many with Rocky Mountain spotted fever also develop a rash a few days after the fever starts. The rash tends to be spread over the torso.

Common ticks in Kentucky

Deer tick – Coloring tends to be brown, but can be more rust colored after feeding on blood. They are sometimes called blacklegged ticks. They can range in size from about an eighth of an inch to about three-eighths.

American dog tick – This tick can range from about an eighth of an inch to three-eighths.

Lone star tick – About an eighth of an inch long, the female is distinguished by a white spot on the back.

The post Ticks in Kentucky – what to watch for appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The immediate care center is located beside the existing Norton Community Medical Associates – Mount Washington primary care practice. Both are located at the corner of Bardstown Road and Highway 44 East.

Norton Immediate Care Centers can perform X-rays and laboratory analysis, including COVID-19 testing, so patients can get their diagnosis faster. The centers also are equipped to handle a broad range of conditions that are not life-threatening, including broken bones and cuts that don’t need emergency room treatment. Patients do not have to have a Norton Healthcare provider to seek care at a Norton Immediate Care Center for their urgent medical needs.

For more information, visit NortonHealthcare.com/ICC.

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