RECOMMENDED FOR THE WEEK OF 01/12-16/26. 

PLEASE DO NOT AIR AFTER JAN. 31.

HealthQ Cold and Flu Cut Copy Script

HealthQ Cold and Flu Feature Script (with host intro and outro)

HealthQ Cold and Flu Webpost Copy

HealthQ Cold and Flu Webpost Image

 

HEALTHQ_Cold and Flu Cut Copy Script

Cold and Flu C/C    

TRT: :50 

Emergency rooms see an influx of patients during the month of January, part of the peak of cold and flu season. But ERs tend to be overused.Dr. Milner Staub specializes in infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. She told our partners at HealthQ [Health-Q] that ERs are the best option if you’re experiencing one of three serious symptoms.

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STAUB: “So shortness of breath to the point that they’re distressed. They’re sweating, they’re using extra muscles to get breath. And then either severe unresponsive-to-pain-med headache, or chest pain.”

If you have typical respiratory symptoms, going to the ER will likely cost much more and take significantly more time than going to your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic.

 

HEALTHQ_Cold and Flu_Feature_Script

 

AMSN STATIONS INTRO/OUTRO:

TRT: 3:49

HOST INTRO: We’re in peak winter cold and flu season. If you feel under the weather, how do you know when it’s time to see a doctor? Through the Appalachian Midsouth Newsroom, we bring you a new project called “HealthQ” [Health-Q]. Reporters Cara [CARE-uh] Anthony and Blake Farmer are your approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system. (:20)

HealthQ_COLDFLU_Feature.wav (3:19)      …. washing my hands.”

See transcript below.

HOST OUTRO: That’s Blake Farmer and Cara [CARE-uh] Anthony of HealthQ [Health-Q] — from WPLN and KFF Health News, coming to you through the Appalachian Midsouth Newsroom. (:10)

 

 

PARTNER STATIONS INTRO/OUTRO:

TRT: 3:43

We’re in peak winter cold and flu season. If you feel under the weather, how do you know when it’s time to see a doctor? Reporters Cara [CARE-uh] Anthony and Blake Farmer are your approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system in a new project called “HealthQ” [Health-Q]. (:16) 

HealthQ_COLDFLU_Feature.wav (3:19)      …. washing my hands.”

See transcript below.

HOST OUTRO: That’s Cara [CARE-uh] Anthony and Blake Farmer of HealthQ [Health-Q]  — from WPLN and KFF Health News. (:08)

 

 

TRANSCRIPT: 

CARA: Hey Blake, look, we’re both parents, and personally it seems like I’m always taking my daughter to the doctor – but I’ll be honest when it comes to me, I’m less likely to go. 

BLAKE: I’m the same way. My go-to is to tough it out.

CARA: Me too. But I also rely on my unofficial snot theory.

BLAKE: You have a snot theory?

CARA: Yes, I’ll explain. If me or my daughter, if we have clear snot, I assume that we’re fine. Yellow, just like a stoplight, means use caution. And green means go to the doctor now. 

BLAKE: Is that real though?

CARA: No. This is NOT medical advice, I have to say that. But the point is…It’s not always easy to know when to go see a doctor. 

BLAKE: Which is why we gave ourselves this assignment to find out when a cold or flu is bad enough to go get some help. 

CARA: So what did you learn? 

BLAKE: I talked to Dr. Matt Rosenberg, a primary care physician in Michigan. This time of year he sees a lot of patients who expect antibiotics to make them feel better. And the problem is, they usually don’t work on runny noses, coughs and fevers.

Dr. ROSENBERG: “When we look at the data, like 80, 90% of these things are not bacterial. They’re allergies and their viruses and, you know, we don’t have a lot of great treatments for viruses.”

BLAKE: Most of the time he’s going to recommend over the counter meds. And your immune system does the rest. 

CARA: So is it even worth it to go?

BLAKE: It’s never bad to see a provider when you’re not feeling well. But being “worth it” is a judgment call. They can reassure you, direct you to the best medicine you need. If you really need antibiotics, they can write a prescription. And if you test positive for the flu, even at home, your doctor can prescribe Tamaflu, though you do have to start that early.   

CARA: And I found out that where you go for care really matters. Every winter, a lot of people end up going to Emergency Departments for respiratory illnesses. But if you have typical symptoms, going to the ER is going to take way more time and money than going to your doctor or an urgent care.

BLAKE: So, when is it the right time to go to an ER?

CARA: I spoke with Dr. Milner Stuab. She’s a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who specializes in infectious disease. 

Dr. STAUB: “I  think there’s three major symptoms, right? So shortness of breath to the point that they’re distressed. They’re sweating, they’re using extra muscles to get breath. And then either severe unresponsive-to-pain-med headache, or chest pain.”

CARA: To say it again: If you’re having a really hard time breathing, a severe headache, or chest pain, get to the ER.

BLAKE: The question is: has any of this changed your mind about what you’re going to do the next time you’re sick?  

CARA: Not really, but I feel more informed. What about you?

BLAKE: Well, it’s good to know the symptoms to take seriously. But I am putting more stock in something else Dr. Rosenberg said: the best thing we can do is taking care of ourselves. Eat well, exercise, get fresh air, even in the cold. Goes a long way. 

CARA: And I gotta give a shout out for the classics: wash your hands and get your flu shot.

BLAKE: Oh, gotta be better about washing my hands.

 

HealthQ Cold and Flu Webpost Copy

HED: HealthQ: An utterly practical guide to finding care during flu season

BYLINE: Blake Farmer, Cara Anthony & Emily Siner

It’s peak winter cold and flu season, which means, more than likely, someone in your family is feeling crummy right now.

In the moment, it can be hard to know what symptoms are serious enough to merit a trip to your doctor’s office or urgent care — or when to go straight to the nearest emergency department.

Here are three things to know when you’re seeking our care for common cold and flu symptoms.

1. The fix for most run-of-the-mill symptoms may be at the drug store.

Dr. Matt Rosenberg, a primary care physician in Michigan, says he sees a lot of patients who expect antibiotics to alleviate their runny noses, coughs and fevers. The problem is, most of these symptoms are not caused by bacteria, he says. “They’re allergies and they’re viruses, and we don’t have a lot of great treatments for viruses.”

What a primary or urgent care provider can do is reassure you and direct you to the best over-the-counter medicine. And if you test positive for the flu, even at home, your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medication that can curb symptoms, such as Tamiflu or Relenza.

1. Save the trip to the ER for severe symptoms.

Every winter, emergency departments see an influx of patients with respiratory illnesses. But going to the ER generally takes way more time and money than going to your doctor or an urgent care.

Dr. Milner Staub, a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who specializes in infectious disease, says there are three major symptoms that indicate an ER visit is necessary: “Shortness of breath to the point that they’re distressed. They’re sweating, they’re using extra muscles to get breath. And then either severe, unresponsive-to-pain-med headache or chest pain.”

1. To reduce the risk of illness, focus on prevention basics.

The best thing we can do for ourselves during cold and flu season, according to Rosenberg, is maintain generally healthy practices: Eat well, exercise and get fresh air, even in the cold. Plus, the classics: Wash your hands and get your flu shot.

People and policy

Insurers have been pushing for “site-neutral payments” so treating patients for cold or flu symptoms is the same price no matter where the care is provided. But at the moment, emergency departments and even hospital-owned urgent care clinics charge considerably more than independent urgent care or primary care clinics. This means your health plan is increasingly interested in where you choose to go when you need care for cold and flu symptoms — and may pass on some of the additional cost to you.

HealthQ is a health series from reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system. It’s a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News. Katherine Ruppelt and Emily Siner contributed to this reporting.

HealthQ Cold and Flu Webpost Image

CAPTION: January is part of the peak season for respiratory illness in the U.S. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN News