Jacksonville Nephrology
  • Home
  • Your Team
  • How We Help
    • Dialysis
    • Hyperkalemia
    • Hypertension
    • Hyponatremia
    • Kidney Disease
    • Nutrition
    • Proteinuria
    • Remote Patient Monitoring
    • Transplant Managment
    • Community Connections
  • Dialysis
  • Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Book List
  • Online Access
    • Connect Health Tracker
    • Healow App
    • Patient Portal
  • Contact Us
  • The Bean
Picture

THE BEAN:
Kidney Empowerment

Our Fabulous Front Desk

6/30/2022

 
    The front desk team here at Jacksonville Nephrology does it all. Not only are they the first and last faces you see in the office, they are a well-oiled machine to make all of your visits and interactions smooth and efficient. They have a variety of responsibilities and a broad knowledge base that make them an invaluable asset as a part of your care team. You can often find our team multitasking with phone calls, chart notes, and handling interactions within the office.
    This part of the team is responsible for all aspects of the appointment process. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduling, retrieving lab and imaging results, processing new patient and outgoing referrals, and checking insurance and referral authorization status. Additionally, they are responsible for coordinating tasks associated with Dr. Munjal’s rounding outside of the clinic. Our front desk team handles most communications for the office including faxes, voicemails, emails, and other practices and providers. 
    Beyond this, our front desk team is the first line of defense when protecting your health information. HIPAA’s Privacy Rule sets strict standards and guidelines for the uses of patients’ health information. They work hard to maintain those standards by requiring annual reviews of HIPAA compliant contacts and all contact information (including all phone numbers on file, and mailing and email addresses), screening callers for HIPAA authorization, and other standard privacy protocol. They also frequently sanitize the waiting area and ensure safe social distancing practices within the waiting room.

Thank you to our front desk team for all that you do! We are so grateful for your hard-work and dedication.

Picture

Sunshine State Summer Safety

6/23/2022

 
Picture
Summer has arrived! Summer in Florida comes with relaxation and a plethora of fun activities and events. However, it also comes with many risks to be aware of and proactive in avoiding.

  • Sun Exposure: Always wear SPF when participating in outdoor activities. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is recommended 30 minutes before and every two hours after, especially if you’re swimming or sweating. It is also recommended to wear large-brimmed hats, covering with clothing, and wearing UV-blocking glasses. 
  • Dehydration: The summer heat can make us feel like we need to increase our fluid intake to stay hydrated. However, it is important to avoid overhydration, especially if you are a patient with a condition that causes swelling and water retention. Consult with your physician if you have questions or concerns about your suggested fluid intake.
  • Bugs: Florida has a wide variety of seasonal bugs with the most common being mosquitoes, love bugs, fire ants, and palmetto bugs. Keep bugs at bay by trying:
    • Citronella candles
    • Planting herbs that act as a deterrent such as lavender, basil, thyme, mint, and lemongrass
    • Removing standing water from outdoor areas
  • Disaster Preparedness: See our previous blog post for disaster preparedness checklists and other resources for this hurricane season here. 
  • Water Safety: Summer is full of water-based activities, so it is important to maintain good water safety practices. These can include swimming with a buddy, learning CPR, not swimming when ill, wearing proper flotation devices, and more. For more information and safety tips, visit the American Red Cross here. The National Weather Service has additional safety information about rip currents for those going to the beach here.
  • Signs of heat related illnesses: It is important to monitor for heat related illnesses, especially in the summer in Florida. There are a variety of symptoms to be aware of and ways to treat them. The CDC has a comprehensive list here.

We hope you have a fun-filled summer! As always, stay safe!


References
6 water safety tips to help save a life this summer. American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2021/6-water-safety-tips-to-help-save-a-life-this-summer.html
Ask the expert: Does a high SPF protect my skin better? The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2022, March 26). Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/ 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, September 1). Warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html 
Kanuckel, A. (2022, May 17). 10 insect-repelling plants that are known to keep the bugs away. Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-to-plant-to-keep-bugs-away-24734 
US Department of Commerce, N. O. A. A. (2021, July 13). How to avoid getting caught in a rip current. National Weather Service. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://www.weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent 

Rock You Like a Hurricane

6/6/2022

 
Hurricane season (June 1- Nov 30, 2022) is upon us. It’s important to be prepared if or when disaster strikes. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sales tax relief package into law that extends the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from 10 to 14 days (May 28- June 10, 2022). This package includes pet, household, and survival supplies. The price ranges for tax relief on these products are listed below. More information and advice for preparing for hurricane season can be found here:
https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/preparing-for-hurricane-season/

https://www.ready.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.htm

In addition to basic food and household supplies, it is important to have an emergency supply of prescription medications. We recommend that there is at least 2 to 3 weeks worth of all medications on hand in an emergency preparedness kit. A great way to store these are with pill bags or resealable plastic bags. The prescription name, dosage, frequency, and expiration date can be written on the front of the bag for ease of identification. Please contact your pharmacy for timely refills of your medications. 

For those who may want or need to evacuate or do not feel comfortable traveling to our office, we will be continuing to offer virtual visits. The virtual visit coverage under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has been extended through July 15th, 2022 for Medicare patients. For commercial insurance, please contact your insurance carrier to inquire about virtual visit coverage under your plan’s contract. This is subject to change as more information is released.

As always, stay safe!



References:
Florida Dept. of Revenue - Home. Florida Department of Revenue. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep/Pages/default.aspx 
Home. FloridaDisaster.org. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://www.floridadisaster.org/ 
Renewal of de​​termination that a public health emergency exists. Renewal of De​​termination That A Public Health Emergency Exists. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://aspr.hhs.gov/legal/PHE/Pages/COVID19-12Apr2022.aspx 

Picture
Picture

    About The Bean 

    The Bean is a blog on a mission to share valuable information in the world of Nephrology.  We believe in empowering through education and The Bean is a great place to find resources and information on topics related to high blood pressure, kidney disease, dialysis, and topics that enhance the kidney minded lifestyle.    Enjoy and be sure to subscribe!

    ​

      Subscribe to The
      ​Bean Blog!
      Get empowering updates right in your inbox.

    Subscribe

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All

Contact Us

Careers

Connect With Us

13241 Bartram Park Blvd., Suite 305
Jacksonville, FL  32258
Open Map

​
Tel: (904) 260-9898
​Fax: (904) 260-9891
Interested in joining our team?  Jacksonville Nephrology is dedicated to compassionate patient care through teaching and giving our team the tools needed to go above and beyond.  Learn more about current openings.  Learn More​
Picture

Empowering Through Education.

  • Home
  • Your Team
  • How We Help
    • Dialysis
    • Hyperkalemia
    • Hypertension
    • Hyponatremia
    • Kidney Disease
    • Nutrition
    • Proteinuria
    • Remote Patient Monitoring
    • Transplant Managment
    • Community Connections
  • Dialysis
  • Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Book List
  • Online Access
    • Connect Health Tracker
    • Healow App
    • Patient Portal
  • Contact Us
  • The Bean