As Snow Falls and Temperatures Drop, Physicians Emphasize Importance of Staying Healthy This Winter

This was originally published in Friday Musings.

Matthew Griffin, MD, an Emergency Medicine physician, and Matthew Ajluni, DO, a Family Medicine physician, serve as leaders at Trinity Health Livonia and the Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care – Schoolcraft Campus, respectively. With the winter months upon us, these physician leaders detailed when community members should go to the emergency room as opposed to the urgent care, how to avoid common wintertime conditions, and more.

Q: This first question is for Dr. Griffin. How does your military background, your role as the lead hospital administrator at Trinity Health Livonia, and/or your background as an Emergency Medicine (EM) physician influence how you and your team deliver care to the community?

Dr. Griffin: As a General Medicine Officer (GMO) in the Navy, as well as a trained EM physician after my time in the Navy, I bring an appreciation for the importance of the whole team. The quality of care our community recieves in the emergency department depends on the work and coordination that takes place in departments throughout the hospital. Every department and unit must work together, in concert with one another, to ensure our patients receive the safest, highest quality care possible. I credit my time in the military with developing an extreme sense of “team before self,” so that translates directly into my work, and I hope it translates to my team’s work as well. It is truly a team-based approach when it comes to taking care of our patients.

Q: What are the differences between the emergency department and an urgent care, and what should patients consider before determining where to seek care?

Dr. Griffin: The way I always describe it is emergency departments can do anything an urgent care can do, but urgent cares cannot do everything an emergency department can do. Most of the time, as is the case at our Livonia hospital, emergency departments have advanced forms of care that an urgent care does not. However, ED’s also tend to have times when there is overcrowding, so less severe cases can be delayed in seeing the ED physician.

I always advise patients, if they feel their condition is not severe or life threatening, to call their primary care doctor first before going anywhere, simply because they know their health history and can help determine the most appropriate site of care.

Q: What are some common wintertime conditions you treat patients for?

Dr. Ajluni: When the snow starts to fall and the sidewalks are slippery from ice, we tend to see more slip and fall injuries at Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care – Schoolcraft Campus. We treat many patients who hurt their back, hip, shoulder or wrists from slipping and falling.

We also see patients who suffer cardiac events related to the weather. People can strain their heart from going outside to shovel their driveway. That increased physical activity, combined with the cold temperatures, can put people at risk for heart attacks. In these instances, we highly recommend patients go to the Emergency Department, as they will likely have serious symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.

Q: What are some of the best ways to avoid wintertime injuries?

Dr. Ajluni: When it comes to slip and fall injuries, I encourage people to walk cautiously, keep their hands free to help with balance, and to always be aware of what is under their feet. If there is ice on the ground, move slower than normal. Wearing the proper footwear, with good traction, is a great way to avoid slipping and injuring yourself. Finally, if you have to shovel snow, take your time and know your limits. It is never worth risking a major cardiac event just to try and get it done faster.

Q: What other services does the urgent care have that patients can benefit from?

Dr. Ajluni: There are multiple services inside the Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care – Schoolcraft Campus patients can benefit from. There is a pharmacy on-site, so patients can gather everything they need before heading home. There are also radiology services, advanced imaging such as CT scans and MRI, and much more. It’s our goal to be a one-stop shop for many services an urgent care patient might need.

Dr. Griffin: If I could add, the great thing about Trinity Health Livonia and Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care – Schoolcraft Campus is they are within four miles of each other, so no matter how severe the need is, the access to high-quality care is a really great benefit for residents of Livonia and surrounding communities.

To schedule an appointment at an urgent care near you, please visit https://ihacares.com/urgent-care-save-my-spot.