d87eee0f

Dr. Erika Gonzalez Appointed to CPS Energy Board of Trustees

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:57:37 GMT

SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS DR. ERIKA GONZALEZ TO THE CPS ENERGY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

This article was originally published by CPS Energy Newsroom. To view the original publication, please visit the link here .

SAN ANTONIO — On January 15, 2026, in San Antonio, the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved the nomination of Dr. Erika Gonzalez to the CPS Energy Board of Trustees. Dr. Gonzalez’s five-year term will commence on February 1, 2026. This decision follows the approval of Dr. Gonzalez’s nomination by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, which had previously voted in favor of her selection from Northeast Quadrant (2).

STAAMP Allergy Expands Care with New South Side Clinic

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:31:54 GMT

South Side San Antonio clinic Opens as live oak allergies flare up

This article was originally published by Texas Public Radio . To view the original publication, please visit the link here .

South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) opened up a new clinic in an underserved area of San Antonio's South Side on Wednesday, just as live oak pollen fills the air.

The clinic is located at 3120 Sidney Brooks Drive.

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, the CEO and president of STAAMP, said access to allergy care and respiratory care, like that in zip code 78207, is "essentially non-existent."

"Those areas of town tend to have not only worse symptoms of asthma, but also higher hospitalization rates," she said. "And we also saw that they had the increased numbers of missed school days due to asthma."

The clinic's opening comes just in time to treat those allergic to live oak pollen, which can exacerbate asthma and is one of the city's most notorious allergy seasons. The others are spring and summer grasses, ragweed and cedar in the winter.

Live oak trees across San Antonio, like this one, slowly shed old leaves and pollen before new leaves appear, a process that can run from March and into May.

The lime green live oak pollen can coat vehicles, driveways, and sidewalks and even people themselves. The particles cause sneezing, congestion, and eye irritation.

There's so many live oaks in the city because the native plant is popular among landscapers for its tolerance against drought, freezes, insects, and most diseases, except for oak wilt.

Gonzalez said the best advice for the worst of sufferers is to avoid spending the morning hours outdoors during live oak pollen season, which she said tends to start in March, peak in April, and trail off in May. She said walks are best reserved for the afternoon.

"When [you] come back inside, go and shower or at least put on some new clothes because it tends to stick to your clothes and also to your hair," she said. That includes men's beards, so they need to be rinsed of pollen too.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation said San Antonio ranked 37th among allergy capitals in the nation in 2025, but Gonzalez said the Alamo City is often in the top 10.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg appeared at the ribbon-cutting to show his support.

"Access to quality health care should not be determined by zip code," he said. "This clinic not only addresses a critical health need in our community but also reflects the broader effort to expand medical resources and improve health equity for all San Antonians."

The clinic also unveiled a mural by Bernadette Pena called "Nuestra Gente" that honors Hispanic innovators in the STEM fields.

"Women to Watch" - Dr. Erika Gonzalez

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 18:26:32 GMT

Dr. Erika Gonzalez Featured in SA Woman Magazine’s “Women to Watch” 2025

We’re proud to share that our very own Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO and President of STAAMP Allergy, has been recognized in San Antonio Woman Magazine’s “Women to Watch” section—an initiative that highlights influential women making a powerful impact in the community.

This feature is a testament to Dr. Gonzalez’s leadership and the meaningful work STAAMP Allergy is doing to improve lives across San Antonio.

�� Read the full feature on SA Woman Magazine

We’re honored to see Dr. Gonzalez celebrated among such inspiring women!

Mountain cedar allergies peak gently, weather brings relief to South Texans soon

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:14:01 GMT

The average peak for cedar is between 20,000 and 25,000 grains per cubic meter.

This article was originally published by KENS5. To view the original publication, please visit the link here .

SAN ANTONIO — With many experiencing allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose, most in south Texas immediately point to Mountain Cedar - especially during the wintertime where cedar counts rise.

Late January to early February represents the peak of cedar season as juniper trees release cedar pollen and cold fronts help transport it across the state.

But, cedar quickly drops off by the end of February and by early March, we're done with mountain cedar so relief is on the way!

As for the mountain cedar season, data shows it was generally mild. San Antonio's peak was 9,600 on our pollen count while the average peak for cedar is between 20,000 and 25,000 grains per cubic meter.

According to Dr. Erika Gonzalez with STAAMP allergy, the current drought has led to less pollen and lower cedar counts for this winter season.

So, for those suffering from cedar - this is good news from the Texas drought!

�� Want to learn more about what caused this milder season and what’s ahead?

Check out the short video in this KENS 5 feature , where Dr. Gonzalez explains how drought conditions have impacted pollen counts

Dr. Erika Gonzalez Named a Top Doctor in San Antonio Magazine

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:14:39 GMT

Named Among the Best - Dr. Erika Gonzalez Recognized in San Antonio Magazine – Top Doctors 2025

Photo By : San Antonio Magazine

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO and President of STAAMP Allergy , has been named one of San Antonio’s Top Doctors for 2025 in the field of Allergy and Immunology by San Antonio Magazine – Top Doctors 2025!

Each year, San Antonio Magazine publishes its Top Doctors edition , highlighting physicians who demonstrate excellence in patient care, medical advancements, and leadership in their respective fields. In the 2025 edition , Dr. Gonzalez was one out of the seven distinguished allergists featured under the "Allergy and Immunology" section—a testament to her dedication and expertise in allergy, asthma, and immunology car e.

At STAAMP Allergy, we are committed to providing cutting-edge, compassionate care to our patients, and Dr. Gonzalez’s recognition underscores our mission of excellence. Her leadership continues to make a lasting impact on both the medical field and the San Antonio community.

To view the full list of Top Doctors in Allergy & Immunology , check out the digital edition of San Antonio Magazine – Top Doctors 2025 on page 66 .

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Gonzalez for this well-deserved honor and grateful to our patients for their continued trust and support. Congratulations, Dr. Gonzalez!

Wishing You a Joyous and Healthy Holiday Season:

marketing@staampallergy.com (STAAMP Allergy) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:34:13 GMT

As the holiday season approaches, it's a time of joy, festivities, and gatherings with loved ones. Thoughtful preparation can make all the difference in ensuring a safe and enjoyable celebration for individuals with allergies and asthma.

In this season of warmth and togetherness, let's explore some practical tips to make your holiday season merry, bright, and health-conscious for everyone involved.

Decorate Mindfully:
Opt for hypoallergenic decorations: Glass, plastic, and non-porous surfaces are easy to clean and reduce the accumulation of molds.
Check your Christmas ornaments : Unwrap them outside if possible and vacuum or wipe them down before setting them up to minimize dust and mold exposure.
Choose synthetic or non-allergenic Christmas trees: P ine pollen allergy is rare, but dust and mold can cause allergy symptoms when exposed to natural Christmas trees. Fir, Spruce, or cypress trees are alternatives if a pine allergy is present. Clean your natural or artificial tree before bringing it indoors.

Allergy-Friendly Menu:
Communicate dietary restrictions: Ask your guests or inform your host about specific food needs to accommodate everyone.
Label dishes with common allergens: peanuts, nuts, wheat, milk, eggs, fish, soy, shellfish, and sesame are the most common food allergens in the US.
Have a separate food preparation zone: Pre pare allergen-free dishes separately to avoid contamination.

Asthma Management:
Avoid strong-smelling candles and air fresheners: You can naturally scent your home by baking or creating potpourri from fresh ingredients like citrus and vanilla. If you enjoy candles, use non-scented or battery-operated ones.
Keep indoor air clean: Use a certified air purifier or HEPA Filter, and ventilate rooms frequently.

Eczema and Urticaria (Hives) Prevention:
Prefer Fragrance-Free: Provide fragrance-free hand soaps and moisturizers in the restroom or as gifts to prevent skin irritation.
Use soft, hypoallergenic linens and blankets: Prioritize bedding sets and sitting linens that are gentle on the skin, reducing the likelihood of irritation for sensitive guests

Emergency Preparedness:
Ensure that your emergency medication, such as epinephrine auto-injectors or rescue inhalers, is readily available.

As you embrace these holiday tips for a safer and more allergen-conscious celebration, may your festivities be filled with warmth, joy, and shared moments.

Here's to a season of good health, happy gatherings, and cherished memories.

Traveling with Allergies

marketing@staampallergy.com (STAAMP Allergy) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:28:17 GMT

Here are some tips to help you travel safely and healthily with allergies and asthma during the Thanksgiving holiday season:

Traveling during the holiday season can be challenging for individuals with allergies and asthma due to increased exposure to allergens and potential stress. Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones while taking steps to prioritize your health and safety. Open communication, preparation, and awareness of your triggers will help you successfully navigate Holiday gatherings.

For Traveling:

Visit Your Trusted STAAMP Allergist: Before your trip, schedule a visit with your trusted STAAMP allergist to discuss your travel plans. They can provide personalized advice, review your medications, and update your action plan. People on biologics or allergy shots should consult their provider regarding long-term travel plans to ensure appropriate adjustments.
Pack Medications and Supplies: Ensure you have an adequate supply of asthma and allergy medications, including inhalers, EpiPens, antihistamines, and other prescribed medications. Carry them in your carry-on bag to have easy access during flights.
Allergy Translation Cards: If you're traveling to a foreign country, creating allergy translation cards that list your allergies and dietary restrictions in the local language can be especially useful when dining out. Consider international travel insurance that covers health emergencies to provide peace of mind during your trip.
Research Destination Allergens: Learn about common allergens at your travel destination, such as pollen types, food allergens, or air quality issues. This information can help you plan your activities and avoid triggers.
Choose Allergy-Friendly Accommodations: When booking accommodations, consider options that offer allergy-friendly rooms or have policies to address allergens like pet dander, smoke, or mold. Consider bringing your allergy-proof pillowcase or bedding covers if you have sensitivities to dust mites.
Check Air Quality: Monitor the air quality at your destination. Air quality apps or websites can help you plan your outdoor activities on days with lower allergen levels. Consider packing a portable air purifier for your hotel room, especially if you have environmental sensitivities.
Be Weather-Ready: Dress appropriately for the weather, and carry extra layers if you'll be in a location with temperature variations that might trigger asthma symptoms. If environmental allergens are a significant concern, consider wearing a mask to reduce exposure.
Avoid Smoke and Smoke Zones: Stay away from smoking areas, both indoors and outdoors, as smoke can trigger asthma and other respiratory symptoms. If the gathering includes a fireplace or outdoor fire pit, choose seating upwind or indoors.
Plan for Dietary Needs: If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, research restaurants and eateries that can accommodate your needs. Carry safe snacks and inquire about ingredients when dining out.
Carry Important Documents: Keep a copy of your medical records, including your allergy and asthma action plans, with you in case of an emergency.

For Thanksgiving Gatherings:

Communicate Dietary Restrictions : If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, inform the host or cook about your needs. Offer to bring a dish that you can safely enjoy and share with others.
Safe Food Preparation: If you're hosting a Thanksgiving meal, take extra precautions to prevent cross-contamination when preparing dishes for those with allergies. Wash utensils and countertops thoroughly, and label allergen-free dishes.
Allergen-Free Recipes: Consider finding allergen-free or alternative recipes for traditional Thanksgiving dishes to enjoy a traditional meal without triggering food allergies.
Create a Safe Dining Area : Consider setting up a separate, allergen-free dining area, away from potential allergen sources like pet dander or smoking.
Medications at Hand: Keep your allergy and asthma medications close, especially during meals. The excitement and stress of gatherings can sometimes trigger symptoms.

Stay safe and healthy on your travels with allergies and asthma by planning and communicating effectively. Consult your healthcare provider to ensure you're prepared for potential health challenges.

Celebrate Halloween Allergy-Free 🎃

marketing@staampallergy.com (STAAMP Allergy) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:27:50 GMT

Halloween is a time for everyone to have fun, including those with allergies. Here are some STAAMP tips to help you have an allergy-free Halloween celebration:

Read Labels: If you're handing out candy, read labels carefully. Many sweets may contain allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, or dairy. Consider offering allergen-free candy options that are available in stores.

Offer Alternatives: Besides candy, have non-food treats available, such as temporary tattoos, bouncy balls, pencils, or miniature games.

Communicate with Parents: If you're hosting a Halloween party, communicate with parents about any food allergies their children may have. Ensure all snacks and treats are clearly labeled with ingredients.

Safe Costume Makeup: If you plan to use costume makeup, choose hypoallergenic options and test a small patch on the skin before applying it to ensure no allergic reactions.

Costume Materials: Opt for costumes made from natural fibers like cotton, less likely to cause skin irritation than synthetic materials.

Allergy-Friendly Recipes: If you're hosting a Halloween party, consider preparing allergy-friendly recipes that cater to common allergens such as nuts, dairy, and gluten.

Label Allergenic Foods: If you're attending a Halloween event where food is served, clearly label dishes that contain common allergens to help those with allergies make safe choices.

Check Treats Carefully: Parents of children with allergies should carefully inspect all collected treats and discard any that may pose a risk. Consider swapping them with safe alternatives from your supply.

Educate and Raise Awareness: Use Halloween to educate others about food allergies and the importance of allergen-free options. Share information about the Teal Pumpkin Project and encourage others to participate.

Together, we can make Halloween a safe and fun experience for all. Have a spooktacular and allergy-free Halloween!

Now Hiring - Medical Assistant

marketing@staampallergy.com (STAAMP Allergy) — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:39:43 GMT

Job Description

Exempt or Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt

Location: 341 East Hildebrand, 78212

Duration: Full Time

Supervisor Status: No

Telework Eligible: No

Position Summary:

A Medical Assistant assists the medical physician with physical examinations, performs nursing treatments, and carries out other healthcare procedures and administrative tasks as directed by the healthcare provider. The goal of this position is to provide superior clinical and administrative support for the provider staff and deliver top quality customer service to patients.

Our Philosophy:

We take great pride in providing a comprehensive evaluation accompanied by selective and efficient testing. We believe that many allergic concerns can be helped greatly by proper education and lifestyle changes, with careful use of medications. Our staff believes in providing the best care possible and works diligently to stay up to date on all the latest advances in the field of Allergy & Immunology.

Responsibilities:

Answering in-coming phone calls, checks voicemail, schedules appointments and checks patients in/out.
Verifies prior authorizations and enters prescriptions.
Completes patient registration forms as well as school and work excuses.
Takes and records height, weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and temperature.
Reviews medical history and records the patient's chief complaint.
Prepares treatment room, equipment, and patient for examination by provider.
Assists medical providers in the treatment, examination, and testing of patients.
Performs procedures including ABIs, spirometry, PFTs, phlebotomy, and oral food challenges.
Performs Xolair and Rush clinic procedures as well as allergy inject processes.
Updates patient care plan under direction of medical provider.
Inputs pertinent information into the patient’s electronic health record (EMR) as necessary.
Restocks the treatment room and other clinic areas as necessary.
Provides postoperative and/or self-care instructions as directed by the medical provider.
Escorts patients to the business area for check-out and/or follow-up scheduling.
Decontaminates all treatment areas, sterilizes instruments, and disposes of contaminated materials after each patient appointment.
Monitors all incoming and outgoing lab work.
Performs housekeeping duties as required.
Process equipment and facility repair requests as needed.
Complies with and enforces all practice policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Complies with and enforces all OSHA policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, and reports incidents and/or violations as required.
Complies with and enforces all HIPAA standards, and reports ethics and compliance violations as required.
Complies with assigned work schedules and the practice’s timekeeping policies.

Required Qualifications:

Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of (1) year medical assistant work experience.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Medical Assistant (CMA) certification.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to do the following:

Must have good or corrected vision as well as effective peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Must have good manual dexterity and be able to use repetitive motion of the hands and arms.
Must be able to remain in a stationary position.
Must be able to occasionally move about inside the office to perform administrative tasks.
Must be able to constantly operate a computer and/or other office equipment such as a calculator, copy machine, or printer.
Must be able to frequently and effectively communicate in both written and verbal form.
Must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and/or push/pull objects up to 100 pounds.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills in the English language.
Must possess effective problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
Ability to maintain professional relationships while addressing complex or sensitive issues with patients, families, medical staff, and coworkers
Ability to respond to emergent or stressful situations in a calm or professional manner.
Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, work independently, multitask, and produce results in a high stress environment.
Must possess intermediate computer skills using basic applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet browsing.
Must possess knowledge of federal, state, and commercial insurance regulations and programs.
Ability to read and comprehend patient medical history information, insurance explanations of benefits, computer screens and performance metrics.
Ability to use good judgment and critical thinking skills; ability to identify and resolve problems
Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and protocols
Ability to maintain medical record
Ability to self-motivate, prioritize, and be willing to invest in a change process to improve efficiencies
Excellent written, verbal and listening communications skills
Ability to work with a diverse patients/family population
Ability to work in a emotional stressful and fast-paced environment

Required Documents:

Attestations Applicants – Please attach the following for job consideration

Resume
Transcript
Proof of Certification

Benefits:

STAAMP offers you and your eligible family members a comprehensive and valuable benefit program. Further details can be obtained upon request.

Please submit the required documents and apply by emailing isabel@staampallergy.com

September is National Food Allergy Month

marketing@staampallergy.com (STAAMP Allergy) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:51:11 GMT

At STAAMP, we are committed to the well-being of our community, including education, prevention, and treatment. This month provides us with an excellent opportunity to increase awareness about the potential risks of food allergies and the crucial measures that can help prevent allergic reactions.

Read our insightful tips on food allergies and safety below:

Understand what food allergies are: Food allergies are immune responses triggered by specific proteins in foods that the body identifies as harmful. When the immune system comes in contact with the allergic food, it releases chemicals like histamines, leading to various symptoms that range from mild to severe.

Read food labels: When grocery shopping, carefully read food labels for allergen information. Common allergens are Milk, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Crustacean Shellfish, sesame, peanuts, fish, and tree nuts.

Prevent cross-contamination: Even trace amounts of allergens can trigger allergic reactions. To avoid this, use separate cutting boards, preparation areas, and utensils when preparing meals.

Home Cooking-safety: Wash your hands and preparation areas thoroughly before cooking. Explore allergen-free recipes that align with your dietary needs.

Communicate your needs: When dining out at a restaurant or a friend's house, communicate your allergies beforehand. Ask about ingredients, preparation methods, and cross-contact risks. If the occasion allows it, you can carry a safe food alternative.

Recognize the signs of a food allergy reaction: Pay close attention to your body’s signals after eating. It could be a sign of a food allergy reaction if you experience sudden unusual symptoms such as hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Emergency Preparedness: Always carry your Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) in case of a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. Ensure those close to you know how to use it in an emergency. Do not wait to use your EpiPen if you suspect a food reaction; seek immediate medical attention for further evaluation and care.

Allergist consultation: Consult your trusted STAAMP Allergist regularly to stay updated on your allergy treatment plan and receive personalized guidance.

Identifying the symptoms of a food allergy reaction is crucial for a quick and life-saving response. By incorporating these measures into your daily activities, you‘re taking proactive steps to ensure your family’s health and safety.

Back to School with Allergies & Asthma: Tips for a Safe and Successful Year

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 03:32:31 GMT

Excitement fills the air as the new school year approaches! Taking proactive measures to support children with allergies and asthma to have a wonderful experience is important. Read our helpful tips on how to make the most of this fresh start and create an environment that fosters your child's optimal health and happiness. Let's make this back-to-school journey safe, successful, and filled with positive memories all year round!

Update their Treatment Plan:

Before the school year starts, schedule an appointment with your STAAMP provider to review and update your child’s allergy and asthma treatment plan. Check medications, inhalers, and Epinephrine auto-injectors are up-to-date and easily accessible.

Inform and Involve the School:

Communicate with teachers, the school nurse, and administrators about your child’s allergies and asthma. Consider a tour of the school together to identify potential triggers. Additionally, discuss your child's condition with relevant school personnel and complete an Anaphylaxis Action Plan if needed for life-threatening reactions.

Pack safe lunches and snacks:

For children with food allergies, prepare allergen-free lunches and snacks they enjoy. Talk to the teachers and children about the importance of not sharing food to avoid risks.

Allergy-free classroom:

Suggest using allergy-safe materials, avoiding strong fragrances, and prohibiting pets in the classroom. Ask the teacher to keep windows closed during low air quality and promote hand-washing for a healthier learning environment.

Allergy and Asthma action plan:

To ensure your child's safety, provide their school with a copy of their allergy, asthma, or anaphylaxis action plan. Confirm teachers and staff are familiar with the plan and know how to administer medications if needed.

Stay prepared for emergencies:

Provide your child's teacher with emergency contact information. Keep a spare set of medications at school in case of emergencies.

Educate classmates and friends:

Encourage open communication about your child's allergies and asthma among their classmates and friends. Promote understanding and support to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Let's work together to make this school year a positive and healthy experience for your child! With these tips, your child can thrive and enjoy the best the new academic year offers.

Tenemos polvo del Sahara en Texas: aquí te explicamos cómo se ve | EN VIVO

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:41:45 GMT

Univision 41 San Antonio es el espacio digital de noticias para que los residentes de la comunidad hispana en la entidad encuentren información útil que les ayude a vivir en los Estados Unidos. Noticias relacionadas con el tiempo, la temperatura, olas de calor, tormentas de arena, granizadas, así como temas de migración, deportaciones, política, resultados de la lotería, economía, negocios, finanzas personales, educación, salud, crimen, tráfico y la guía local son algunos de los tópicos que el grupo de periodistas reportean para la audiencia local.

¿Por qué tenemos mala calidad del aire en San Antonio y el centro de Texas?

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:18:20 GMT

Univision 41 San Antonio a las 4 PM. Gabriel Torres te explica aquí por qué en la ciudad hay poca visibilidad en el horizonte y de dónde provienen estos contaminantes.

Tips for Controlling Dust Mites During Summer Days

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 17:26:00 GMT

Dust mites are tiny creatures found in bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys in all homes. They thrive in hot and humid environments and feed on dead skin and organic matter. Dust mites can trigger allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, and dry, itchy skin.

Wash bedding frequently.

Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets every 1-2 weeks in hot water (at least 120°F or 49°C) and dry them in a hot temperature setting to kill dust mites and remove allergens. For oversized blankets/comforters, heat dry them for at least one hour.

Use dust mite-proof covers.

Cover your mattresses, box springs, and pillows with zippered dust mite-proof covers. These washable covers are a barrier, preventing dust mites from infesting your bedding.

Reduce the clutter in the bedroom.

Remove unnecessary items such as decorative pillows, extra blankets, and stuffed animals from your bedroom.

Choose machine-washable stuffed toys.

When selecting stuffed toys for children, choose those that can be machine-washed. Regularly wash these toys in hot water to eliminate dust mites and allergens.

Opt for hard flooring.

Choose wood or vinyl flooring instead of carpet. Carpets can trap dust mites and their allergens, making it harder to control their population. If you have carpets, vacuum them at least once a week using a vacuum cleaner equipped with a double-thickness HEPA filter bag.

Protect yourself while cleaning.

Cover yourself from inhaling allergenic particles by wearing a mask during vacuuming. We also recommend using a damp cloth while dusting your furniture weekly since dry dusting can make allergens airborne and cause allergy symptoms.

Use blinds instead of curtains.

Cover your windows with blinds instead of curtains, as blinds are easier to clean and less likely to trap dust mites. Clean the blinds regularly with a damp cloth to remove any accumulated dust.

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your exposure to dust mites and alleviate allergy symptoms, allowing you to enjoy a more comfortable and allergy-free summer.

Avoiding Heat Exhaustion

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:17:46 GMT

Heatstroke is a severe heat-related illness when the body's temperature regulation system overwhelms and fails to cool down properly. Some individuals are particularly vulnerable, like older adults, young children, individuals with chronic conditions, and those who work or exercise outdoors. Everyone must be aware of the signs of heatstroke and take proactive steps to prevent it.

Stay Informed:

Stay updated on extreme heat alerts and safety tips through local news sources.

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing :

Choose clothes that allow air circulation and help your body cool down. Opt for fabrics like cotton and linen on hot days. Silk, chambray, and cotton jersey are good options but can cause hot spots. Avoid polyester, rayon, and denim.

Stay Cool Indoors:

Spend time in air-conditioned places and check for heat-relief shelters near you.

Schedule outdoor activities carefully :

Try to limit your outdoor activity to early morning or evening. Rest frequently in shady areas.

Pace Yourself

Reduce exercise intensity during hot weather and gradually increase your pace. If you feel lightheaded, weak, or confused, or your heart is pounding, stop all activity, find shade, and rest.

Wear Sunscreen

Protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Reapply according to the package directions.

Avoid hot and heavy meals:

Opt for lighter and fresh meals to help regulate your body temperature.

Stay hydrated:

Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid sugary or alcoholic beverages. Consult your doctor for guidance if you're on restricted fluid intake. Consider sports drinks to replace lost salt and minerals if you're sweating heavily.

Know warning signs:

Throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, temperature over 103, hot, red, dry, or damp skin, rapid pulse, fainting, and loss of consciousness. If you experience these symptoms, hydrate and rest in a cool place immediately and, if needed, head to Urgent Care.

Remember, prevention is vital when it comes to heatstroke. Stay cool, hydrated, and care for yourself, your loved ones, and your pets. Never leave kids or pets in cars; ensure your pets have access to water and shade.
Stay safe, and enjoy the summer!

Heat and Humidity: Effects on Urticaria and Prevention Tips

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:04:35 GMT

Heat and humidity can impact individuals with urticaria, a condition characterized by itchy and raised hives. The combination of high temperatures and moisture in the air can trigger or worsen symptoms for those prone to urticaria.

To manage urticaria this summer, consider the following prevention tips:

Learn your triggers:

While it’s not always possible to find the cause, keeping track of flare-ups may help figure out what triggers your hives making it easier to avoid triggers.

Stay Cool:

Avoid overheating in air-conditioned environments or using fans to circulate air. Dress in loose, breathable clothing and use natural fabrics like cotton to promote airflow and prevent excessive sweating.

Minimize Sun Exposure:

Limit your time in direct sunlight, especially during the peak hours when the sun is the strongest. Wear protective clothing, such as hats, sunglasses, and lightweight long sleeves, to shield your skin from the sun's rays.

Use Sunscreen and Moisturizers:

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Choose a non-irritating, hypoallergenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.

Use cooling measures:

If heat triggers your hives, apply cool compresses or lukewarm showers to alleviate itchiness and soothe skin. Avoid hot baths and showers since they can aggravate symptoms.

Medication and Consultation:

If your urticaria symptoms persist or worsen during heat and humidity, consult your STAAMP Provider. They may recommend antihistamines or other specialized medicines to manage symptoms effectively.

Tips for an Allergy Free Summer

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:03:35 GMT

As we welcome the first day of summer, it's time to embrace the warmth and beauty of the season. However, summer can bring challenges for individuals with allergies.

To enjoy an allergy-free summer, here are some valuable tips:

Stay Informed:

Monitor the local pollen forecast and plan outdoor activities when pollen levels are lower, such as early mornings or late evenings.

Protect Yourself:

Shield your eyes from pollen by wearing sunglasses and using a hat to cover your head. Apply a non-greasy sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun, and consider wearing loose and fresh long sleeves and pants to minimize direct contact with allergens.

Clean Up After Outdoor Activities:

When you return indoors, take a shower and change your shoes and clothes to remove any lingering pollen that may have attached to your hair, skin, or clothing.

Pack Allergy Essentials:

Before heading out for summer outings, ensure you have antihistamines or nasal sprays recommended by your healthcare provider. If you have known insect or food allergies, carry an epinephrine auto-injector in emergencies.

Choose Allergy-Friendly Destinations:

Consider visiting destinations with lower pollen levels, such as beaches with fewer allergens than grassy or wooded areas. On high pollen count days, opt for indoor activities to minimize exposure to allergens.

Communicate Food Allergies:

If you have food allergies, inform the host or those responsible for food preparation about your specific dietary restrictions, so they can take appropriate measures to avoid cross-contamination and provide safe food options.

Stay Hydrated:

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Here's to a joyful and allergy-free summer ahead! You can make the most of the summer by following these tips. Remember, it's always best to consult your trusted STAAMP provider for personalized advice and treatment options.

Tips for an Allergy Free Mother's Day Celebration

Mon, 01 May 2023 04:22:09 GMT

Mother’s Day will fall on May 14th, and we would like to take the opportunity to celebrate motherhood and appreciate all the mothers and mother figures in our lives.

Traditionally flowers, cards, and self-care items are given to show our love and gratitude. Some families cook breakfast and take over household chores. Consider the following allergen-free ideas to make the celebration inclusive:

Prepare an allergen-free meal or candies:

Show your love and appreciation by preparing a homemade meal or sweets catering to dietary restrictions. Use fresh ingredients, and avoid cross-contamination to ensure your dishes are safe and delicious.

Choose allergen-friendly flowers:

Flowers are a classic Mother's Day gift, but some can trigger allergies. Consider giving allergen-friendly flowers like daffodils, geraniums, irises, lilies, pansies, roses, or tulips. Avoid daisies and baby's breath.

Use hypoallergenic beauty products:

Many contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin or trigger allergies. Opt for hypoallergenic products, and avoid products with essential oils that can be strongly scented.

Remember, it's the thought that counts, and making an effort to consider allergen-free options shows your mom how much you care. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Allergy & Asthma Awareness

Mon, 01 May 2023 04:14:22 GMT

May is Asthma and Allergies Awareness Month, and it's the perfect time to raise awareness about these conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. With this in mind, we've compiled some information about allergies and asthma to help you understand the importance of recognizing and managing symptoms.

Allergies and asthma are two related conditions that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a foreign substance like pollen, pet dander, or food, leading to symptoms including sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and rashes. Asthma, however, is a chronic lung disease that affects the airways, causing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

Did you know?

Approximately 25 million people in the United States have asthma, including 20 million adults and 5 million children.

Food allergies affect approximately 32 million Americans , including 26 million adults and 6 million children.

One in 13 people in the United States are living with asthma.

Male children are more likely to have asthma than female children. This trend reverses in adulthood, where female adults are more likely to have asthma than male adults.

About 24 million Americans have rhinitis (hay fever) or nasal allergies, including 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children.

There is no cure for allergies or asthma, but effective treatments are available to help manage symptoms and prevent complications.

Talk to your trusted STAAMP Provider to create an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs and enables you to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Controlling Spring Allergies

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 15:43:51 GMT

As Oak season is in full swing, everything has been covered in yellow pollen lately. With the high pollen counts of the trees and grasses, this can be a particularly irritating time of year for allergy symptoms.

Here are some tips to help you take control of your spring allergies:

Avoid outdoor activities during high pollen count times:

Early morning is when pollen counts are highest. Try to limit outdoor activities during these times and shower and change after spending time outdoors.

Keep your windows closed:

To prevent pollen from entering your car and home, keep your windows closed. You can also use recirculation mode on your car's AC to keep outdoor allergens out.

Keep indoor air clean.

High-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) help reduce the amount of pollen inside your home. They can be installed in heating and air conditioning units, portable air purifiers, and vacuums.

Be proactive.

Use your preventive and controller medicines as prescribed, even if you feel alright. These measures can help minimize the impact of allergies on your daily life.

Seek expert advice.

Keep an eye on weather conditions, which can contribute to the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms. Follow daily pollen counts on STAAMP's social media and website .

5 Tips on How to Take Control of Your Spring Allergies

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 04:26:02 GMT

Spring blooms with new things to do and places to see. During March, tree pollen counts predominate. In addition, grass pollen and molds can trigger allergy symptoms during this season.

Read below to learn how you can take control of spring allergies this year.

Check your allergy forecast daily.

Weather conditions can contribute to the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms. Keep outdoor activities limited when pollen counts you’re allergic to are high. You can follow daily pollen counts on STAAMP’s social media and website .

Reduce contact with outside allergens.

Wear protective clothing when working in the garden, and keep windows and doors closed at night. Change clothes and shower after being outside to avoid carrying allergens indoors.

Keep indoor air clean.

High-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters reduce the amount of pollen inside the house. Install them in heater and air conditioning units, portable air purifiers, and vacuums.

Be proactive.

Use your preventive and controller medicines as prescribed, even if you feel alright.

Seek expert advice.

Seasonal allergies vary from person to person; talk to our STAAMP experts to determine the best treatment option for you and your family.

Valentines and Food Allergies

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:47:39 GMT

Valentine's day is a Holiday where we take the opportunity to show our love and appreciation to our friends and family. Follow our tips below for an allergy-free holiday.

Plan ahead :

Know you and your loved one's allergy triggers to prepare for the holiday. Talk to your children’s school teacher about your child’s allergies and how to ensure a safe celebration for everyone.

Give out Allergy-free Gifts:

Nickel-free jewelry, hypoallergenic stuffed animals, and non-food treats are great ideas for your special valentine’s gift.

Check the Label:

Common allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, and sesame. Avoid foods processed in the same place as allergens to avoid cross-contamination.

Be Prepared:

Always carry two EpiPen injectors even if you don’t plan to eat, and teach your friends and family how to use them.

If you want to learn more about how to live with your allergies and have a safe holiday, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our STAAMP Providers.

2023 Tips to Stay in Control of Your Allergies This Year

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 17:40:09 GMT

With the new year starting, we want to help you gain better control of your allergies, hives, and asthma.

Here are some tips to make this new year’s resolution possible.

Set Goals:

Do you want to use less medication? Have more energy? Write a wish list of things you want to do and enjoy.

Review Your Treatment Plan:

Considering your established goals, lifestyle, and any barrier you might face, talk to your doctor about any concerns with your treatment.

Plan Ahead:

Clean air filters and dust regularly. Start treatment for seasonal allergies 3-4 weeks before your symptoms usually appear.

Ban Smoke:

People with asthma have a higher chance of hospitalization when exposed to smoke. Avoid smoking, secondhand smoke, campfires, and fireplaces.

Know Your Triggers:

Keep a journal on what foods, medications, or weather conditions trigger your flare-ups, and discuss them in your follow-up appointment.

See Your Allergist:

The beginning of the year is an excellent time to plan and set up new treatment plans if needed. You can schedule an appointment with one of our providers at 210 616 5385 or our online booking tool at staampallergy.com .

How to Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:15:28 GMT

The holiday season is upon us, and we want you to enjoy this time with friends and family. With the weather changing to a colder season, it can be challenging to differentiate between the common cold, flu, COVID, or allergies. These are a few tips on how to take care of yourself during the holidays.

Understand Your Symptoms:

Allergy symptoms can involve runny nose, clear mucus, sneezing, eye itching, and watering. It might not be allergies if you have body aches, fever, or have been in contact with somebody positive for Flu/COVID.

Remove Allergy Triggers from Your Home:

Pet dander, dust mites, and molds cause allergy issues during winter since we spend more time indoors.

Fight Mountain Cedar Pollen:

December and January are the months where Mountain Cedar allergies peak. Keep the pollen out of your house by closing windows and changing air filters regularly. Wearing a hat and mask outside, as well as changing your clothes and shoes when you come inside, are also practical measures.

Get Vaccinated:

If you’re eligible for the COVID and Flu vaccines, you can get them simultaneously in your STAAMP clinic nearest you.

Ask Your Trusted Provider:

If you have questions before your holiday parties, email us at info@staampallergy.com for a personalized consultation.

6 Tips for an Allergen Free Thanksgiving

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 13:43:04 GMT

Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday to spend with friends and family. Follow these tips for an Allergen-free gathering.

Be Prepared:

If you are hosting dinner, ask your guests if they have any food allergies, or let your host know if you have any food allergies.

Read all the Labels:

Some products may contain hidden allergens, read all the ingredients before using them.

Avoid Cross Contamination:

Keep food with allergens properly marked in different containers. Serve the plates of people with food allergies first to avoid touching other foods.

Know Your Substitutions:

Milk, egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts are some of the most common allergens during thanksgiving. You can substitute them for other options; just don't replace one allergen with another.

Be Safe:

If you’re unsure what will be served, carry your dinner and dessert plate with you. Remember to bring your two EpiPens with you.

Say Thanks:

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to be grateful for the people and things in our lives that are important to us.

For more tips for thriving with food allergies, remember to talk to one of our experts at STAAMP.

Que es Legionella y cómo se transmite?

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:22:33 GMT

Vacunas Otoñales: Influenza y Coronavirus

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:22:15 GMT

2022 Diversity & Inclusion Awards winners revealed

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:23:00 GMT

The San Antonio Business Journal proudly presents the winners of the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

The winning companies are working to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are priorities, not only for their companies but for their clients. Moves that impressed the judges included diversity in top leadership positions, health care benefits for nontraditional families and unconscious bias training.

This article was originally published on the San Antonio Business Journal. To read the original post, please click here .

The winners are:

Codeup
CPS Energy
Hispanic Serving Institutions Career Collaborative
JP Morgan Chase
Junior League of San Antonio
San Antonio Area Foundation
San Antonio Zoo
Security Service Federal Credit Union
South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals
Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Dr. Uchenna Lizmay Umeh, PLLC
Visionworks

An awards ceremony will be held on Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. More details will be announced soon.

6 Tips for Ragweed Season

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:08:26 GMT

Ragweed pollen allergy, also known as “hay fever”, starts setting in mid-August and lasts until mid-October. It’s one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies, causing symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and itching in children and adults.

Here are 6 tips to make the allergy season more manageable:

Ragweed pollen peaks in the mornings:

Track ragweed pollen counts by visiting STAAMPAllergy.com and limit your outdoor activities to the afternoon and evening.

Start allergy treatment in the summer:

Talk to your STAAMP Provider before the peak of ragweed season in mid-September.

Avoid plants related to Ragweed:

Sunflowers, sage, burweed marsh elder, rabbit brush, mug wort, groundsel bush, and eupatorium plants are some you should avoid.

Oral allergy syndrome:

Some foods have proteins similar to the ragweed pollen and can cause symptoms like itching in your mouth. Foods to avoid are cantaloupe, bananas, watermelon, and sunflower seeds.

Prevent Ragweed pollen from coming into your home:

Covering your hair with a hat, using sunglasses, and wearing a mask can reduce your exposure to pollen. Leave your shoes outside and take a bath after spending time outdoors.

Pay attention to indoor air quality:

Clean and maintain your air conditioner filters and air purifiers.

Biologics Basics

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 12:22:45 GMT

Biologics Are Used to Treat Uncontrolled Asthma, Urticaria, Nasal Polyps, and Atopic Dermatitis.

Some people continue to have uncontrolled respiratory and dermatologic symptoms despite taking their prescribed medications. For situations like this, doctors rely on biological agents that target specific pathways in the immune system that cause these symptoms.

Biologic agents are used for a variety of conditions like Asthma, Urticaria, Nasal Polyps, and Atopic Dermatitis.

Here are some of the options we have available for you:

Asthma

Omalizumab (Xolair) for > 6 years of age.

Dupilumab (Dupixent) for > 6 years of age

Mepolizumab (Nucala) for > 6 years of age

Reslizumab ( Cinqair) for > 18 years of age

Benralizumab (Fasenra) for > 12 years of age

Tezepelumab (Tezpire) for > 12 years of age

Nasal Polyps

Omalizumab (Xolair) for > 18 years of age.

Dupilumab (Dupixent) for > 18 years of age

Mepolizumab (Nucala) for > 18 years of age

Chronic Urticaria

Omalizumab (Xolair) for > 12 years of age.

Atopic Dermatitis

Dupilumab (Dupixent) for > 6 months of age

Ask your provider if you think this therapy could help you at your next appointment.

Allergen Immunotherapy

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 20:47:35 GMT

Take Control of your Allergies!

Learn About Allergy Shots and “SLIT” – The Basics of Immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy is a treatment used to reduce allergy symptoms throughout the year. The therapy consists of exposing the body to a small amount of the allergen it reacts to, preventing the immune system from overreacting to it whenever there’s an exposure.

HOW?

It can be done through shots, which are subcutaneous injections that are administered once a month after a buildup period, and “SLIT” which are self-dissolving tablets or drops taken daily under the tongue.

WHY?

This therapy can help people with allergy symptoms and asthma triggered by allergies, and people who have had anaphylaxis due to stings by honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ants. It is not used to treat allergies to food, latex, or medications.

Ask about or RUSH procedure, which allows you to reach therapeutic doses for allergy shots much faster.

Our providers at STAAMP can help you decide if this is the right choice of therapy for you.

4 Tips to Celebrate this 4th of July Allergy & Asthma Free!

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 13:15:34 GMT

To celebrate the Nation's Birthday, you can enjoy celebrations all over the country with fireworks, parades, concerts, and family gatherings. Here are 4 tips to celebrate this 4th of July:

If you are having a celebration outdoors, be sure to take your allergy medication early to avoid any symptoms throughout the day.
Try sitting upwind of any campfires or fireworks and consider wearing an N95 mask to avoid getting smoke in your lungs. Don’t forget to carry your rescue inhaler at all times.
To avoid cross-contamination on the grill you can wrap your food in foil and consider using different color utensils for making and serving your food.
Chlorine from a swimming pool can cause allergy-like reactions and trigger breathing problems in people with asthma. If irritation occurs, wash the affected area with clean water .

If you are experiencing allergy & asthma symptoms that are interfering with your fun summer activities, talk to one of our providers at STAAMP, who can help find the best course of action for you and your family.

Chronic Care Management Program for Medicare Beneficiaries in San Antonio

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:47:36 GMT

Have your free healthcare coordinator available for you with our Chronic Care Program (CCM).

We encourage all our Medicare beneficiaries to join our CCM program. If you want to keep your chronic conditions in check, get medication refills when you need them, and enhance communication between your healthcare providers; CCM is the program for you. With the orientation of our Chronic Care Coordinator, you can set health goals, keep track of appointments, answer basic health-related questions, and much more!

We invite you to improve your quality of life and get back to the things you love with the support of our CCM program. If you wish to know more about this program, contact our team of health care experts by calling our dedicated numbers:

(210) 851-8577 and (210) 614-6673.

Tips on How to Stay Unaffected by Grass Pollen

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 31 May 2022 12:50:59 GMT

Seasonal Allergies: Grasses

We may not think of pollen when it comes to grasses, however, these plants also exude small pollen particles and they can cause allergies. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your summer, unaffected by pollen grass.

Limit your time outside when the pollen count for grasses is high. You can check the daily count on STAAMPs website and social media.
Keep the lawn short. When mowing your grass, use a mask and wear a hat to reduce your exposure to pollen.
Keep doors and windows closed during high pollen counts days. If you use the air conditioner, make sure the filters are certified.
Keep pollen out by changing clothes , bathing, and washing your hair before bedtime.
Wash bedding in hot soapy water once a week. Use hypoallergenic detergent if you have sensitive skin.
Wear long pants if you’ll be in contact with grasses.
Dry your clothes in a dryer instead of outdoors.
Wipe off your pets with a towel when they come inside the house. Avoid having them on the bed and couches.
Remove shoes when entering your home and vacuum your floors at least once a week.

If you continue to have allergy symptoms even with all your precautions, contact our staff at STAAMP and our providers will help find the right treatment for you.

STAAMP Medical Clerk

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:32:26 GMT

Job Description:

Exempt or Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt

Location: Medical Center: Medical Tower II: 7940 Floyd Curl Dr # 1050, San Antonio, TX 78229

Duration: Full Time

Supervisor Status: No

Reports to: Assistant Manager

Telework Eligible: No

Position Summary:

A Medical Clerk is to ensure seamless processing of patients, maintaining appointments, ensuring accurate treatment, and billing records, and delivering top quality customer service and support for both patients and staff.

Our Philosophy:

Responsibilities:

Clerical:

Retrieves high volume of incoming calls, screen callers, takes messages, and/or directs caller to appropriate personnel/department.
Organize and prepares medical records for staff prior to patient arrival.
Inputs all necessary patient reports and information into company database.
Reviews benefits with patients prior to being roomed.
Maintain patient schedules productively busy throughout the day verifying patient insurance eligibility.
Reviews charge tickets for accuracy and completeness, determines appropriate fees for services rendered, calculates totals, collects copays from patients, and properly records information.
Complies with and enforces all company and OSHA policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, reporting compliance violations as required.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
Minimum one year of clinic experience in the medical field
Basic Life Support Certification

Physical Requirements:

Must have good or corrected vision as well as effective peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Must have good manual dexterity and be able to use repetitive motion of the hands and arms.
Must be able to remain in a stationary position i.e., 50%
Must be able to constantly operate a computer and/or other office equipment such as a calculator, copy machine, or printer.
Must be able to frequently and effectively communicate in both written and verbal form.
Must be able to occasionally lift to 25 pounds and/or push/pull objects up to 100 pounds.
The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
Position requires occasional lifting, bending, and pulling not to exceed 10 lbs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to work occasional weekends and travel to other clinic locations.
Ability to consistently adhere to the company’s attendance and punctuality policies.
Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills in the English language.
Must possess effective problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
Ability to maintain professional relationships while addressing complex or sensitive issues.
Ability to responds to emergent or stressful situation in a calm or professional manner.
Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, work independently, multitask, and produce results in a high stress environment.
Ability to ensure professionalism while maintaining excellent customer service.
Ability to independently mange request inquiries from all patients’ visitors by responding rapidly and appropriately to complaints, and initiates de-escalation, remedies and resolutions or elevates to that appropriate person.

Required Documents:

Resume
Transcript
Basic Life Support Certification

Benefits:

STAAMP offers you and your eligible family members a comprehensive and valuable benefit program. Further details can be obtained upon request.

Please submit the required documents and apply by emailing Marketing@staampallergy.com

Keep Mold Out of Your Home During Springtime

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:56:39 GMT

April showers bring May Flowers... and Mold.

While warm, windy, and dry days carry tree and grass pollen, rainy days washes these allergens away. However, spring rain can promote mold growth inside and outside your home. The mold count tends to increase after a heavy rain followed by a sunny day with high temperatures.

Here are a few tips to keep mold out of your home:

Dehumidifiers

Keep humidity in your home below 60%; Dehumidifiers and air conditioners might help.

Monitor Your Levels

Buy a humidity meter in a hardware store to keep watch on humidity levels.

Wipe Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces Dry

Clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces of soap scum and grease. An exhaust fan or open window in the bathroom will help lower humidity levels.

Use Bleach

If you spot mold in your house such as in plastic, tile, or glass, clean it with a bleach solution. If mold is in your drywall, call for professional advice. It's important to find the source and keep it from happening again even after cleaning.

If you f ind yourself having allergy symptoms every year during this season, you may be experiencing seasonal allergies. You can book an appointment with one of our providers at STAAMP where we can help you identify your allergy triggers and provide you with a personalized treatment.

Biden chooses San Antonio physician for committee to decide who should win the National Medal of Science

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:58:50 GMT

A San Antonio physician has been selected b y U.S. President Joe Biden to serve on a committee to help evaluate nominees for the nation’s highest scientific honors.

This article was originally published on San Antonio Report. To read the original post, please click here .

Dr. Erika Gonzalez was appointed March 25 to serve as a member of the Committee on the National Medal of Science. According to the National Science Foundation , only distinguished scientists and engineers are included among the appointees.

Gonzalez said she was “humbled and honored” for the appointment.

“It is through the recognition of our scientists that we are able to honor all of the advances that have been made in science, especially in light of the (COVID-19) pandemic,” Gonzalez said. “I am thankful for this opportunity and look forward to the work ahead.”

Gonzalez is president and CEO of the South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals and the centers’ clinical research center, which she founded in 2015. Gonzalez also serves as co-chair of Small Business for America’s Future, a national coalition of business owners who work to ensure small businesses have a voice in government.

“In addition to her remarkable professional accomplishments, Dr. Gonzalez is a passionate and inspiring advocate for improving access to quality healthcare and strengthening small businesses,” said Rhett Buttle, a senior adviser at Small Business for America’s Future. Buttle called her recognition “well-deserved” and said Gonzalez will be a strong asset to the committee.

She also serves on the board of the Latino Victory Project, a national committee to empower Latino voters, as well as serving as chairwoman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and chairing the San Antonio Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Recently, Gonzalez founded Con Corazón, a nonprofit organization to address health disparities in underserved communities in Bexar County. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the group worked with STAAMP to administer 15,000 vaccines to adults and children and tests to 20,000 patients, according to a news release on the appointment.

The National Medal of Science has been awarded to 506 scientists or engineers since 1962, with the most recent one being awarded in 2014. The NSF is seeking nominations for the National Medal of Science through May 20.

La cadena de Univision entrevista al Dr. Raúl Rubio Moreno

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 05:05:01 GMT

La cadena de Univision entrevista al Dr. Raul Rubio en donde explica cómo prepararse para no sufrir de las alergias.

Update on FDA Authorization for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months to 4 Years of Age

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 23:57:26 GMT

(SAN ANTONIO, TX) – [February 10, 2022] Families across San Antonio and the nation have been eagerly awaiting news from the CDC and FDA for when COVID-19 vaccines will be given the green light for their children under the age of 5. South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) has been steadily tracking this progress and is hopeful to see this happen in the near future.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products advisory committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, to discuss the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children who are 6 months to 4 years of age. The FDA will issue a formal authorization following this meeting at a later date.

Many of our patients have asked when they will be able to vaccinate their children who are currently not eligible. Administration of the COVID vaccine for children in this age group can only begin once the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued clinical recommendations signed by the CDC Director.

“So many parents have expressed the sentiment of how they’re ‘almost there’ to being able to get back to public activities with their kids, especially their toddlers,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, President & CEO of STAAMP. “As soon as the green light is announced by the CDC, our team is ready to offer these kids the vital protection of the vaccine that has saved countless lives from the virus.”

The ACIP is scheduled to meet at a future date following the February FDA meeting. DSHS will issue guidelines when providers can begin administering vaccines. STAAMP will continue to keep our patients updated as the announcements and recommendations are made public to us.

4 Tips on How to Minimize Oak Allergies

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:06:30 GMT

February officially marks the start of that yellow-green pollen we know so well in South Texas: Oak.

With over 600 species of Oak, these trees produce a large amount of pollen that coats our cars, sidewalks, and more in a thin dust of allergens. Unfortunately, their tiny pollen grain structure make them easy to inhale and cause allergy symptoms. Thankfully this is not our first go around!

Here are a few tips to help minimize the affects of this pesky pollen.

Avoid Peak Pollen Times

Pollen count for Oak is typically highest in the morning until noon. If possible, try to stay indoors until after peak hours to minimize the amount of oak pollen you are exposed to.

Take Extra Care When Washing

If you do find yourself outdoors on any given day, be sure to change your clothes when you get home, and take extra care when washing your face, hair, and clothes to remove any pollen particles that may have attached to you outside.

Be Preventative

Even if you don't feel any symptoms yet, allergies can be unpredictable, so it's always a good idea to take preventative medications before the allergy season is in full effect. There are over the counter solutions such as nasal sprays, or you can contact any of our STAAMP locations to get a recommendation.

Pick Up an At Home Sublingual Immunotherapy Kit

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is an at home treatment we offer at STAAMP that treats allergies by giving small doses of what you're allergic to, which then starts to develop your immunity toward the allergen to reduce your symptoms. Contact us today to learn more.

‘When in doubt, get tested’: Mountain cedar season coincides with latest COVID-19 surge

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:30:39 GMT

STAAMP seeing increase in patients, local allergist says.

This article was originally published on KSAT and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – The timing couldn’t be worse. COVID-19 cases are surging in the middle of mountain cedar season , causing doubts for some who may have seasonal allergies.

“We’ve been extremely busy these last couple of weeks,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, founder, president and CEO, of South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP).

Gonzalez said December and January have historically always been busy with mountain cedar in the air.

But with the omicron variant taking hold in Bexar County, Gonzalez said, “It mimics so many of the symptoms of allergies that we’re also seeing those people with concerns coming in.”

She said, thankfully, the majority of patients so far have been suffering from allergies.

“They have a history of previously not doing well during the cedar season,” Gonzalez said.

However, she said her office had seen increased COVID-positive cases in the past week.

Gonzalez said it’s probably allergies if someone has a history of allergies, such as cedar fever, and the antihistamines and nasal sprays are working. Also, she said an itchy nose and throat aren’t usually the result of an infection.

Gonzalez said allergies also could cause low-grade fevers, no higher than 100.4 degrees. She urges anyone with a higher fever to get checked out by their physician.

“It’s very important to try to reassure patients that even though COVID is increasing, there’s other things that are going to mimic those symptoms,” Gonzalez said.

“We just have to be vigilant,” she continued. “When in doubt, get tested.”

San Antonio ISD’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics aim for equity, keeping kids in schools

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 20:09:39 GMT

SAISD has partnered with local clinic to administer vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11.

This article was originally published on KSAT and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Independent School District’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics kicked off Friday afternoon at the Burnet Learning Center for kids ages 5 to 11.

In an effort to make vaccinations available to all students, the school district has partnered with South Texas Allergy And Asthma Medical Professionals, or STAAMP.

Day one of the clinics drew in about 200 students to receive the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Burnet Building in Southtown.

Lylli Jade is an SAISD student enrolled in the fourth grade. She admits there were concerns over the vaccine.

“I was nervous about, like, what would happen if there was, like, a side effect or something,” Jade said.

Doctors like Erika González say the side effects could be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

“When you think about it, the risk of a kid having COVID and having complications is much higher than the risk of them having any long-term effect from the vaccine,” said González, CEO, president and founder of STAAMP in San Antonio.

Ultimately, Jade decided to get her vaccinated, and she was registered for Friday’s clinic by her mother.

“Honestly, I just want it to be safe, and I don’t really want to get sick,” Jade said. “I didn’t want to get (my mom) sick.”

Jade’s mom, Betty, supports the decision.

“She’s seen so many people pass (away), and it really made her scared and paranoid to go to the grocery store,” Betty said. “I am a retired nurse. (I worked for) 35, so I’m all for immunization to protect the kids.”

On Friday, STAAMP medical staff vaccinated about 200 kids ages 5 to 11. Kids’ anxieties and fears were eased in part by the support staff like Leia.

“We also have an emotional support dog (Leia),” González said. “She’s been a great help because she’s very, very loving, and she’ll just sit on their laps. (The kids will pet) her, so they’re distracted while they’re getting their shots, and that’s been really a game-changer for us.”

Their biggest hurdle, however, is getting weary parents on board to get their kids vaccinated.

“I understand their anxiety, but the science behind it is actually pretty solid,” González said. “Although (the COVID-19 vaccine) did come out to market faster than most vaccines, well, it did not skip any of the FDA required steps.”

SAISD interim Superintendent Robert Jacklich said the vaccine clinics aim for equity and helping keep kids in school.

“By providing vaccinations for all of these stakeholders, (it) allows us to keep our commitment to keeping (students) safe (and) healthy,” Jacklich said. “(It also allows for) them to enjoy their families over the holidays.”

They’re reunions students and their families already look forward to this holiday season.

“It makes me feel happy because I kind of want to go with (my uncle),” Jade said.

For dates and to register for upcoming vaccine clinics for SAISD students, click here .

Consejos para cuidar a los niños antes y después de vacunarse contra el coronavirus

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 04:11:20 GMT

La doctora Erika González comparte algunas recomendaciones para mantener a los niños cómodos antes y después de recibir la vacuna contra el coronavirus, especialmente si perciben efectos secundarios.

Entendemos que darle a su hijo la vacuna COVID-19 puede parecer aterrador, ¡pero permítanos aliviar sus preocupaciones! Mire este útil video con nuestra directora ejecutiva, la Dra. Erika González, que explica la mejor manera de cuidar a su hijo después de que reciba la vacuna : https://www.univision.com/local/san-antonio-kwex/consejos-para-cuidar-a-los-ninos-antes-y-despues-de-vacunarse-contra-el-coronavirus-video

SAISD expecting first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine for younger students to arrive soon

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 03:04:11 GMT

Rollout of vaccinations will likely begin next week for SAISD students ages 5 to 11

This article was originally published on KSAT and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – SAISD students ages 5 to 11 will be some of the first in line to receive the kids COVID-19 vaccines in San Antonio. The school district has partnered with South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals or STAAMP to reach as many students as possible, as quickly as possible.

In a statement sent Wednesday morning, SAISD Interim Superintendent Robert Jaklich said he believes it’s the right move for the school district, especially ahead of the holidays.

The first order of the kids vaccine for the school district has already been ordered and approved.

“We put an order in for 5,000 (kid vaccines),” Dr. Erika González said. González is the CEO and Medical Director of STAAMP. “We know that it’s been allotted to us already, and we’re just waiting for shipment.”

Once shipped, González said they could arrive overnight, but parents must register their student first.

“Since it’s the initial rollout, they will be registering through the school system,” González said. This will give volunteer and staff at STAAMP a better estimate of how many children to expect at each clinic.

In a press release, STAAMP stated their medical staff will set up a total of eight mobile clinics at designated sites chosen by SAISD. Details on time and location are still pending however, they are expected to start as early as next week before Christmas Break.

In a statement to KSAT 12, SAISD said, “We are excited to collaborate with STAAMP on our first vaccine clinics for the 5- to 11-year-old age group so that children have access to both doses before winter break. This timing may give parents comfort and security during the holidays, especially if they plan to travel and celebrate with extended family.”

González plans for the process at clinics to be quick and more organized than what adults experienced during last year’s vaccine rollout.

Some minimal side effects could include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, muscle aches and a low grade fever which González said can be treated with Tylenol and Motrin.

“(The vaccines will help) guarantee that we have safer holidays, and the studies have shown that this vaccine is safe and effective,” González said. “So, people should take advantage of it and know that it’s much better than having COVID itself.”

Orders for additional vaccines will be placed weekly as needed in order to reach as many SAISD students as possible.

SAISD released a schedule of dates for the clinics contingent on STAAMP receiving timely shipment of the newly approved pediatric doses:

Friday, Nov. 12, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 19, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit staampallergy.com .

San Antonio ISD plans COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 02:58:35 GMT

San Antonio ISD working with STAAMP Allergy to vaccinate young students.

This article was originally published on KSAT and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – With COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 to 11 expected to be approved in a matter of days , local school districts are making plans to vaccinate students.

One of the largest school districts in our area, San Antonio ISD, said it has identified some partners to help with the vaccinations and hopes to get as many young kids vaccinated before the end of the year.

“We already have plans underway, and our focus, of course, will be to try to get as many students in that 5- to 11-year-old group vaccinated as possible. We’re preparing to have some outreach to parents,” said Toni Thompson, associate superintendent of Human Capital Management at SAISD.

San Antonio ISD said it is teaming up with STAAMP Allergy. Thompson said the clinic has already worked with the district to offer vaccines in the past.

“We probably will do most of them at pop-up sites. So, for instance, Alamo Convocation Center, which is somewhat centralized, but plenty of parking, easy to access, and it’s close to the STAAMP clinic office in case they needed to go back in and secure more vaccines,” Thompson said.

Thompson said district leaders hope to get kids vaccinated starting in early November.

“These clinics that we’re in the process of scheduling now will probably run from about 3 to 6, or 3 to 7, to make it more convenient for parents to get there. We will offer transportation if that’s needed. We’ll also host some on Saturdays to make it more convenient for parents,” Thompson said.

Thompson said young children count for most of the district’s COVID positive cases, and it’s crucial they get vaccinated.

“We know that the vast majority of our students need to be attending school in-person, so that’s first and foremost. Secondly, we want to make sure that they’re safe, that they’re healthy, that our staff members are safe and healthy and protected. But then the third is that it just offers some stability for parents because every time a child has to stay home -- because the child ends up testing positive or a child has to quarantine because they were a high-risk exposure -- that means parents have to stay home,” Thompson said.

The district is planning to host meetings for parents to ask questions they may have regarding the vaccine.

SAISD said it is finalizing plans to partner with UT Health San Antonio in collaboration with the University of the Incarnate Word and Health Collaborative.

KLRN ¡Salud! Leading With Fuerza

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 02:50:42 GMT

From military to civilian life, Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO of STAAMP Allergy, talks about how she leads in medicine and business.

This episode was originally published on KLRN and can be found here .

Tras aprobación definitiva de la vacuna de Pfizer contra el coronavirus, experto local aclara dudas

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 02:45:57 GMT

La aprobación de la FDA se da para el uso en personas de 16 años en adelante. Pero ¿qué significa esto? ¿Antes no estaba aprobada? A continuación, las respuestas a las preguntas más frecuentes de los seguidores de Univision 41.

La FDA da plena aprobación a la vacuna Pfizer / BioNTech contra el covid-19. Lucía Salas , Profesional Médica de STAAMP, explica las fases por las que debe pasar toda vacuna: https://www.univision.com/local/san-antonio-kwex/fda-pfizer-vacuna-covid-19-coronavirus-dudas-frecuentes-aprobacion-emergencia-completa-fotos

100 Doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Administered to SAISD Faculty, Staff Members

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:31:57 GMT

STAAMP Allergy administered the vaccines Tuesday morning.

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Independent School District teachers and staff members received Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday morning.

The clinic, STAAMP Allergy, administered 100 doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine, which received emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 27.

“With the Johnson a nd Johnson (vaccine), there’s 100% protection rate from death in the studies. So, nobody in those clinical trials, even when they got infected with severe COVID, died,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, with STAAMP Allergy. “And that is really what the point is — right — to save lives. And so the Johnson and Johnson is just as good as the other two vaccines.”

SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the district has nearly 8,000 employees. He hopes all staff members can get vaccinated.

“We have been able to get our at-risk teachers vaccinated, and we think we have almost all of them now on a path to get the vaccine, especially after today,” Martinez said.

Martinez said getting faculty and staff vaccinated is critical to keeping the virus under control at schools.

“We have not had any outbreaks in our schools, but we have cases, and the cases reflect the community. We’ve even had deaths within our SAISD family members, and it’s just very tragic,” Martinez said. “We are serving the most at-risk ZIP codes in the entire county. The death rate in our ZIP codes is five times higher than it is in the north.”

Last week, the Department of State Health Services announced that Texas teachers and school and child care staff are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

San Antonio ISD employees say they are thankful for the opportunity to get a vaccine.

“This is the right direction for teachers getting the vaccination, coaches getting the vaccination, just so we can be allowed to help out more kids, be around the kids and keep our safety in mind as well as,” said Adan Velazquez, a San Antonio ISD teacher.

“I think it’s great, you know, that they’re, you know, making a priority for, you know, people to get this vaccine to go back to work,” said Andre Eley, an employee of SAISD.

100 SAISD Employees Vaccinated Against COVID-19, Kicking Off Local Effort to Immunize School Staff

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:28:52 GMT

District leaders said they hope to have employees vaccinated by the end of May.

This story was originally published by Kens5 and can be found here .

Author: Vanessa Croix

Published: 4:32 PM CST March 9, 2021

Updated: 5:02 PM CST March 9, 2021

SAN ANTONIO — More than 4.5 million Texans have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, and due to a recent announcement by the Biden administration, teachers and other school staff are now eligible to be immunized.

Those efforts are under way this week, as San Antonio ISD partnered with South Texas Allergy and Asthma Professionals (STAAMP) to vaccinate 100 employees on Tuesday.

Michael Rodriguez in an electrician with the district and was one of the dozens who received a prick in his arm.

“It’s very important so that I don’t get sick and I don’t infect others,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said his days consist of traveling to different campuses and coming in contact with many different people.

“We’re around kids, teachers, and we just want to make sure everyone is safe and healthy,” he said.

The vaccines made up the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that STAAMP has received.

“We’re happy to be able to have that service for them to help protect our some of our true first line heroes that are out there,” said Erika Gonzalez, CEO and president of STAAMP.

Gonzalez said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – which consists of just one dose, unlike the Pfizer and Moderna options – has a 100% protection rate from death, according to studies.

“That’s really what the point is here, to save lives,” Gonzalez said. “The Johnson & Johnson (vaccine) is just as good as the other two vaccines. So, to the teachers out there – not just from the SAISD district, but from everywhere – we are thankful for you guys being out there, putting your lives on the line.”

SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the district has around 40% of students receiving in-classroom instruction.

“We know that we need more,” said Martinez. “We have many children that are remote right now, that are struggling, and parents are worried. So is our staff.”

The district partnered with Community Labs a few months ago to administer rapid COVID-19 testing to students and staff.

“We’re one of the few districts in the country that offers that to our students and our staff, and that really reduces the anxiety,” Martinez said. “What scares them the most is the unknown.”

Martinez said the partnership with STAAMP marks the beginning of the effort to get local teachers, school staff and child care workers vaccinated.

He said around 25% of district staff has already received their vaccine.

The 100 employees who received the vaccine on Tuesday work at high schools, because many are still working doing extra-curricular activities and other events.

They also selected support and maintenance staff like Rodriguez who are continuing duties through Spring Break.

“We’re going to be planning with STAAMP and other partners to try to get all of our staff done,” said Martinez. “My hope is that we get them done by no later than mid-May.”

As for Rodriguez, he hopes his colleagues will get their vaccine when it’s available to them.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry, and we’ve already seen what sorry means,” he said. “(There’s) so many that we’ve lost already.”

SAISD Realiza la Vacunación Contra el Coronavirus de Maestros y Personal Escolar

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:25:08 GMT

This story was originally published by Univision – KWEX 41 and can be found here .

Cien maestros y empleados del distrito recibieron este martes la vacuna contra el coronavirus de la empresa Johnson & Johnson. Estas personas fueron seleccionadas ya q ue trabajarán durante el periodo de ‘spring break’.

Mira el video aquí

SAISD Teachers Among First to Receive Johnson & Johnson Vaccine in San Antonio

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 02:48:07 GMT

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

The STAAMP Center in Olmos Park received 100 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines and imm ediately administered them to San Antonio ISD teachers.

Watch Video Here

San Antonio Clinic Seeks Approval for Remdesivir to be Used Outside of Hospital

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 00:24:25 GMT

Study could help provide vital information to researchers as they develop COVID-19 treatment .

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

San Antonio – A local clinic hopes to get remdisivir, the FDA-approved treatment option for COVID-19, approved for use outside of the hospital setting.

“We want to be able to have this treatment available to people as soon as they get sick, so we can actually prevent them from needing to go to the hospital,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO of the South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals or STAAMP Allergy.

Currently, remedisivir is being used as a treatment for COVID-19 patients only in the hospital.

“Remdesivir is an antiviral drug, meaning it’s something that specifically fights viruses. We’ve had this around for a long time. Previously, it was used for treatment of Hepatitis C. They used it in Ebola. They also used it when SARS came out. And so we know it works well with some viruses to prevent it from replicating,” Gonzalez said.

STAAMP Allergy is conducting a study focused on learning more about remdesivir.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug as a treatment for COVID-19 in October.

“It’s approved to be used in a hospital, so now they’re trying to get to the approval so that it can be used outside of the hospital setting,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said there are about 60 sites across the United States participating in the study.

“We’re trying to identify people who have tested positive for coronavirus, who may have some type of risk factor, so that can be anything from obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, any chronic condition. If you’re older than 60, that already qualifies you as higher risk,” Gonzalez said.

The clinical trial is being sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gonzalez said other studies show the drug has been helping patients.

“It does reduce the length of either hospitalization stay or treatment progression of symptoms almost by about a week. So we are seeing people, especially if they were intubated, have a shorter amount of periods of requiring to be on the ventilator if they are giving this treatment,” Gonzalez said.

The trial is free to patients who participate.

Gonzalez said they will monitor people who participate in the study for at least six months.

For more information on the study, click here .

San Antonio Report Board Welcomes New Chairman in New Year

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 20:09:17 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

The turning of the calendar brought a turn in leadership to the San Antonio Report’s board of directors . A.J. Rodriguez ascended to board chairman late last month, after John “Chico” Newman Jr. stepped down from that position and the board after more than five years.

The changes went into effect at the board’s Jan. 25 meeting.

Rodriguez joined the board in 2020, after briefly serving on the San Antonio Report’s Board of Community Advisors . Founding Vice Chair Newman, who served as chairman for a year, decided to retire from the board because he believes the organization needs a fresh set of eyes. Newman served on the board since its inception, when the San Antonio Report, founded in 2012, reorganized as a nonprofit in 2016.

The change in board leadership comes three months after the board named Angie Mock publisher and CEO of the nonprofit news organization, replacing co-founder Robert Rivard, who continues to serve as editor and lead columnist. Mock previously served as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio and had been a member of the San Antonio Report’s board since 2018.

“We are deeply grateful for Chico’s vision, dedication, and passion that led us from a blog to a thriving nonprofit news organization,” Mock said. “Equally, I’m excited about what the future holds with A.J.’s leadership. A.J. brings a wealth of nonprofit success and strategic vision to the San Antonio Report.”

Rodriguez joined the nonprofit Texas 2036 in September 2020 as the executive vice president. Texas 2036 is a nonpartisan organization that provides research-based solutions to make Texas a better place for all residents by the state’s bicentennial. Before that, he served as vice president of external affairs and on the executive leadership team of Zachry Group, a privately held construction and engineering business. Rodriguez also served as the deputy city manager for the City of San Antonio from 2008 to 2011.

This experience makes Rodriguez the best fit to lead the board of directors as the San Antonio Report continues to evolve, Newman said.

“He is the right person at the right time,” Newman said. “You really can’t be any better than the leadership of an organization. With the combination of Angie and A.J., the San Antonio Report has outstanding leadership.”

A longtime fan of the San Antonio Report, Rodriguez said he joined the Board of Community Advisors and then the board of directors because he truly believes in the organization’s mission.

“I’ve felt compelled to participate in any way I could to support the mission of the organization,” he said.

Retired SBC Southwestern Bell President Wayne Alexander is the vice chair and treasurer of the board, while San Antonio Report founder and Editor Rivard serves as secretary. Other board directors include Teach for America Chief People Officer Laura Saldivar Luna, attorney Brian Steward, former Rackspace Community Affairs Director Cara Nichols, and Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO, president, and co-founder of South Texas Allergy and Asthma Professionals. Kate Rogers, a longtime H-E-B executive and the former vice president of community outreach and engagement for the Charles Butt Foundation, rounds out the eight-member board.

As the new board chairman, Rodriguez said he wants to serve as a resource for the organization, to help grow and develop the San Antonio Report at “an increasingly rapid rate,” and to maintain the high standards of journalism it upholds. He also said he is excited to work with Mock as she carries the organization forward under her leadership.

“There’s nowhere to go but up,” Rodriguez said.

Looking back over the past five years, Newman said he could not agree more. If someone had told him five years ago that the San Antonio Report would be where it is today, he would have said that was “aspirational.”

“For a small group, we punch way above our weight,” he said.

Newman has watched the organization evolve from just a handful of people to a staff of 20, from a small startup to a professional organization. He said the shifts in leadership are part of the same evolution for the San Antonio Report and will help further its mission to build a more informed community.

“We should constantly be learning, evolving, and getting better – and we have,” he said. “The organization has come a long way in five and a half years.”

San Antonio ISD to Stand Up COVID-19 Vaccine Site at Alamo Stadium

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:05:50 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez is not waiting for the go-ahead from state officials to offer SAISD staff the coronavirus vaccine .

Martinez announced earlier this month that the school district planned to offer the vaccine to employees who qualify to receive it under state guidelines, such as people over age 65 and those with certain chronic medical conditions. San Antonio ISD has paired with South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) to offer the vaccine at Alamo Stadium, district spokeswoman Laura Short said Wednesday.

Edgewood Independent School District announced Thursday that it has partnered with University Health System to provide COVID-19 vaccines to 100 teachers at the Wonderland Mall of the Americas on Tuesday, according to a press release. The teachers qualify to receive a vaccine under state guidelines.

Superintendent Eduardo Hernández said in a statement that EISD has been striving to offer teachers the vaccines.

“We deeply value our EISD teachers who have had to transition and adjust so frequently to new teaching methods during this pandemic,” he said. “I’m glad we can start with 100 and hope to bring more vaccines to our staff and community.”

No firm date has been set for when SAISD will be able to offer COVID-19 vaccines, but the district is talking to several health care industry partners, including STAAMP, to coordinate staff vaccinations, Short said. STAAMP also is working with other area school districts to offer the vaccine.

“We are working on a strategic plan to manage the rollout, including a registration process that allows prioritized SAISD employees to sign up and receive the time and date of their vaccine administration,” she said. “We will focus on providing the vaccinations on weekends.”

The school district will start offering vaccines to all educators after the employees who qualify to receive the vaccine under state guidelines have been inoculated, Short said.

During a virtual staff town hall Tuesday, Martinez said he expects the vaccine supply to “ramp up” in the coming weeks. He wants the school district to be prepared for when that happens.

“We know that your work is essential, and you’ve done an amazing job of keeping our children safe, keeping our schools safe,” he said to staff members. “We owe it to you to do right by you and to keep you safe.”

Martinez and other area superintendents have advocated for the state to add teachers and other school staff to its list of first-tier priority groups so they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Many school boards have adopted resolutions calling for the same, including Northside, Judson, and Southwest ISDs’ school boards.

Texas’ Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel identified who should receive the coronavirus vaccine first to protect the most vulnerable populations and vital resources, according to the Department of State Health Services website. The panel decided health care workers, frontline workers at greater risk of getting COVID-19 such as emergency medical service providers and others who transport patients to hospitals, adults 65 and older, and chronically ill people who are more likely to contract the disease and die from it should receive the first doses of the vaccine.

The only school staff included in the first round of people to receive the vaccine were school nurses. They are listed alongside outpatient physicians and nurses, pharmacy staff, medical examiners, and morticians. Some SAISD school nurses have been vaccinated, Martinez said.

DSHS expects the vaccine to be available in the spring to people who don’t fall into the established parameters, according to its website. A department spokeswoman said roughly 8 million Texans are eligible to receive the vaccine. The next group has not yet been determ ined by the expert panel.

Disclosure: South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals is a San Antonio Report business member. Dr. Erika Gonzalez, who practices at STAAMP, sits on the San Antonio Report board of directors.

Local Doctor Gives Tips on Telling Mountain Cedar Allergies and COVID Symptoms Apart

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 20:02:44 GMT

This story was originally published by Fox29 and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO- If you are sniffling a lot right now, mountain cedar might just be the culprit.

The season lasts until about February. Doctors are reminding you to monitor how you are feeling and they have one way you can tell COVID and allergies symptoms apart.

“If you have a fever, that’s pretty much a tell tell sign that it’s not allergies. Alle rgies do not give you a fever, so if you have a fever you should really be thinking this may be COVID or another virus. If there is a lot of itching: itchy noise, itchy eyes, that’s very commonly associated with allergies,” said Dr. Erika Gonzales of Staamp Allergy.

Watch Video Here

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Now in San Antonio

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 19:59:09 GMT

Some 500 health care professionals will begin getting the vaccine, including school nurses, according to South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals.

This story was originally published by Kens5 and can be found her e .

SAN ANTONIO — Some of the first doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine arrived this morning at South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals, also known as STAAMP Allergy.

According to STAAMP Allergy, 500 health care professionals will begin getting the vaccine as it works with more than 20 local clinics to vaccinate their healthcare worker staff and teams. STAAMP will also begin administering the shots to local San Antonio school nurses.

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services chose STAAMP as an official COVID-19 vaccine administration site after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use last Friday.

“We are working hard to meet the needs of the community. Our population has been hit hard by this pandemic and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and we have to trust in the scientists and health experts and take this crucial vaccine,” Dr. Erika Gonzalez, STAAMP Allergy’s CEO and Medical Director said. “STAAMP is working diligently and will be administering 500 doses of the vaccine this week.”

STAAMP Allergy to Administer 500 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines to Health Care Workers

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:55:43 GMT

Moderna vaccine expected to be delivered this week .

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals, also known as STAAMP Allergy, will begin administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to 500 health care professionals.

“We are working hard to meet the needs of the community. Our population has been hit hard by this pandemic and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and we have to trust in the scientists and health experts and take this crucial vaccine,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, CEO and Medical Director at STAAMP Allergy.

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services selected STAAMP as an official COVID-19 vaccine administration site. The clinic is expected to receive the Moderna vaccine this week.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine’s emergency use authorization on Friday.

The vaccine will be administered in phases throughout the state of Texas, with health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities at the front of the line. The next phase will include high-risk patients.

STAAMP says it’s working with more than 20 local clinics and organizations to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers. It will also be administering it to San Antonio school nurses.

STAAMP is one of a handful of entities on the list to get a portion of the 30,000 doses of Moderna vaccines headed for Bexar County this week. You can see the full list of other sites getting the vaccine by clicking here .

COVID-19 Fatigue Showing in Bexar County

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:52:43 GMT

Texas MedClinic doctor says weddings and family dinners are behind cases he’s seeing .

SAN ANTONIO – As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, local doctors say “COVID fatigue” is real as residents get sick, not of the coronavirus but of dealing with it.

“’You know, ‘I’ve had it up to here, and I’m not doing it anymore,’” said Texas MedClinic Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gude, who said he has seen people going to more events they may have avoided earlier on in the pandemic.

While this past weekend saw supporters of both President-elect Joe Biden and President Donald Trump gather across the country, including in South Texas, it’s not big events that are currently sending patients to Gude’s chain of urgent care clinics. Instead, he says, it’s events like family dinners and weddings.

“Last week, I was seeing several people who went to a wedding,” Gude said. “There were five people so far that had tested positive because the wedding had been put off in May, and they just didn’t want to have to put it off any longer. So they had the wedding, and now multiple people are ill.”

Despite instances like this, Bexar County case numbers remained relatively low until Monday since the large wave of cases this summer. Meanwhile, the U.S. as a whole, has been hitting record highs for new cases in the past week.

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, the president and CEO of South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals, thinks the local infection rate may play a role in local perceptions.

“You know, luckily, we did see the rate of infection kind of steady here in San Antonio. So I think that that also made people kind of get a false sense of security that, ‘Hey, you know what? Maybe this thing is over,” Gonzalez said.

Gude agreed that the relatively low stats might provide a false sense of security, and he does not be lieve the numbers would hold.

“I don’t think that it’s because we have a shield on,” Gude said, regarding Bexar County’s previously low case numbers. “I think it’s just that we live in an environment that we can be outside, and we can get our social milieu by being outside. But once we have to move indoors, I’m still concerned that we’re going to see significant spikes.”

San Antonio Allergy Center Tests Blood Clotting Drug that Could Mitigate COVID-19’s Lethal Impacts

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 18:48:19 GMT

This story was originally published by SA Current and can be found here .

A San Antonio allergy center is one of six U.S. research clinics offering free trial medication that may mitigate the lethal impacts of COVID-19.

South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) is offering offering brand name anticoagulant Xarelto for free to patients who test positive for coronavirus and have an underlying risk factor, KSAT reports .

The medication, provided through the Bill and Melinda Gates Research Institute, could be useful in stopping deadly blood clots, according to STAAMP President and CEO Dr. Erika Gonzalez.

“We know from the beginning that [COVID-19] is an inflammatory disease,” Gonzalez said in an interview with the TV station. “One of the things that it does in the process is increase the risk of clotting.”

Fighting the deadly affects of COVID-19 moved beyond a professional pursuit after Gonzalez’s mother died from the coronavirus at age 69, seemingly healthy and with no underlying health conditions, KSAT reports.

“Especially seeing how it affected my family and how quickly my mom got sick and unfortunately passed away from that, I always feel like it’s better to err on the side of being conservative,” she said.

By treating people early with Xarelto, Gonzalez told the station she hopes they can avoid hospitalization.

Patients who meet the criteria can call STAAMP at (210) 980-7711 to participate. Those who qualify will receive a telemedicine exam. The clinic will send the medication and trial materials to the patient’s home.

Three Named to San Antonio Report Board of Directors

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 18:45:09 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

The San Antonio Report board of directors has elected three new directors.

Confirmed during a board meeting on Monday, the three new directors are Dr. Erika Gonzalez, Cara Nichols, and A.J. Rodriguez. They will begin serving at the Oct. 28 board meeting.

With the addition of these new members, the San Antonio Report board, which provides oversight of the nonprofit news organization, better reflects the ethnic and gender makeup of the San Antonio community, said board Chairman John “Chico” Newman.

“I truly am very excited about these three individuals,” Newman said. “They’re just going to make the board a lot better – just having different perspectives is really important. The better we can be in the boardroom, the better off it is for the organization and for San Antonio.”

The additions expand the board to 10 members and follow the Aug. 10 renaming of the San Antonio Report that occurred during its eighth year as a local news source.

“The San Antonio Report continues to be my go-to news source for high-quality, timely, well-researched, thorough local updates on important community activity,” said Rodriguez, who is executive vice president of the nonprofit think tank Texas 2036 . “I’m thrilled to participate on the board to support the publication’s ongoing growth and commitment to excellent service for our readers.”

Prior to his recent appointment at Texas 2036, Rodriguez was vice president of external affairs at the San Antonio-based Zachry Group .

A former director of community affairs for Rackspace Technology , Nichols said the San Antonio Report continues to lead the way in creating an informed citizenry with integrity, relevance, and credibility. “I am honored to join the board of such an outstanding organization and to continue to advocate for San Antonians to be aware of, and take an active role in, our city’s progress,” she said.

Nichols serves on the board of the employee-funded Rackspace Foundation and previously served as editor of a high-end lifestyle magazine, C San Antonio. She is currently writing a book.

A physician and 2020 chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce , Gonzalez said she is joining the board during a time when people are looking in many places for news and information, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The San Antonio Report’s nonprofit approach to news is helping our community receive their news in an equitable way,” Gonzalez said. “I am excited to join the board of directors for a news source that has earned the respect of San Antonians.”

Newman, an investor and president of the John and Florence Newman Family Foundation, began his term as chairman of the board in February. He succeeded founding Chairman Richard “Dick” T. Schlosberg III, who is now chairman of the San Antonio Report’s Board of Community Advisors , an advisory group of 20 nonvoting members established in July .

Newman said the significant changes happening within the organization in the last year have been in the works long before now. “It just so happens it’s all coming together right about now,” he said. “The steps we’re taking now will make us successful and sustainable in the future – that’s the game plan.”

Retired AT&T executive Wayne Alexander is vice chairman of the board, and other board officers include treasurer Angie Mock, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, and Robert Rivard, the San Antonio Report’s publisher and editor who serves as the board’s secretary.

“The addition of these three outstanding community leaders will give the San Antonio Report a more diverse and representative board of directors,” Rivard said Monday.

Rounding out the San Antonio Report board are Kate Rogers, vice president of community outreach and engagement for the Charles Butt Foundation; Laura Saldivar Luna, chief people officer for Teach for America; and trial attorney Brian Steward.

Board members serve for three years with the opportunity to renew for a second three-year term.

The San Antonio Report, founded in 2012 as the Rivard Report, reorganized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2015.

Friday at San Antonio CityFest

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:41:46 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

City policing, access to health equity, and the future of San Antonio drive Friday’s conversations on San Antonio CityFest’s final day of civi c engagement events.

The third annual San Antonio CityFest, a virtual urban ideas festival, runs through Friday. Its weeklong lineup of events, panel discussions, and entertainment features an array of topics including public health, business and job growth, transportation and development, and recovery from the economic and health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic.

All CityFest 2020 programming is free and open to the public, with pre-registration required . Once attendees are registered they will receive an email giving them access to the festival web app. Registered attendees are also invited to download the Whova app for more opportunities to network, ask the panelists questions, and take the festival anywhere they go.

10 a.m.

San Antonio Report Senior Reporter Iris Dimmick speaks with Elizabeth Provencio, the City of San Antonio’s first assistant city attorney; Michael R. Smith, criminal justice professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio; Oji Martin, founder of Fix SAPD; and Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, for a panel on “ Policing in San Antonio. “

11 a.m.

San Antonio Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson” and The Foreign Arm come together for a lively poetic performance , followed by a conversation with San Antonio Report Arts and Culture Reporter Nicholas Frank on the inspiration behind their work.

Noon

A panel on “ Health Equity in South Texas ” where city leaders and health professionals discuss the community’s joint effort to provide equitable access to health care.

San Antonio Report Managing Editor Graham Watson-Ringo is joined by Dr. Somava Saha, Well Being In the Nation Network executive lead; Dr. Colleen Bridger, City of San Antonio assistant city manager; Dr. Erika Gonzalez, South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals president and CEO; and Jaime Wesolowski, Methodist Healthcare Ministries president and CEO.

2:30 p.m.

San Antonio Report Photo Editor Scott Ball and staff photographer Bonnie Arbittier will co-moderate “ Photojournalism During a Public Health Crisis ” – a discussion with Bria Woods, executive producer at KAVU-TV in Victoria, and photographer Chris Lee about how the pandemic has prompted new ways of documenting current events.

3:30 p.m.

For the final event of San Antonio CityFest, San Antonio Report Editor and Publisher Robert Rivard moderates a conversation with city leaders in “ Future of the City .”

Panelists include Brian Dillard, City of San Antonio chief innovation officer; John Burnam, Burnam | Gray co-founder and principal; Ximena Alvarez, U.S. Census Bureau media specialist; Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation president and chief executive officer; and Alex Birnel, MOVE Texas advocacy manager.

The full schedule is available here .

CityFest: Turning Redlining Into ‘Greenlining’ with Health Equity

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:37:16 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

Take a 1930s map of San Antonio’s redlined communities – used to avoid “hazardous” loans in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods – and compare it with a map of families currently living below the poverty level and coronavirus cases. A disturbing pattern emerges: structural racism in action.

Across the country, communities of color have been disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of economic and health outcomes, said Dr. Somava Saha, executive lead of Well Being in the Nation Network . “If you look at those places, what you’ll see is that they lack the underlying conditions of [a successful] place,” such as a clean environment, healthy food, and access to health care.

Depending on how communities handle the pandemic, Saha said, “this is either a moment where we are going to erase those red lines or … we’re creating the future redlining maps. … That’s the charge for all of us in this moment in history, is to think about how we use this moment to ‘greenline’ the areas that have been redlined.”

The City of San Antonio’s response and recovery plan is aimed at erasing those lines, said Colleen Bridger, assistant city manager and interim director of Metropolitan Health District. “Literally everything we’re doing is steeped in a focus on equity. … I love calling it greenlining.”

Saha and Bridger spoke during a panel discussion on Friday as part of the San Antonio Report’s five-day urban ideas festival CityFest. They were joined by Erika Gonzalez, president and CEO of South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals, and Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, to discuss Saha’s keynote address on health equity and possible paths forward.

Saha, who is a primary care doctor and public health practitioner, likened public health to a fire.

“We [could be] the best-organized bucket brigade trying to put out a fire, [but] there is a tanker full of gasoline going into the fire at the same time,” Saha said.

Similarly, doctors typically address the patient in front of them but not the underlying cause of the illness, she added. “What would it take for us to strategically shift those underlying things in the environment that are driving poor outcomes?”

Doctors treat children with asthma with medication – that’s an example of a “downstream” need, she said. But if someone digs further and finds out that their home has dust and mold that is causing the asthma, moving the child to a different home is a “mid-stream” solution.

“If we both remediate [substandard housing] and also create policies that make it possible for those places to [sustain] high-quality housing – and often mixed-income housing – then we begin to change the underlying legacies of disinvestment that got us here,” Saha said. That’s one of the so-called “upstream” solutions.

Saha is working with Methodist Healthcare Ministries to formulate an equity plan for the hospital system to address internal equity and start looking outside its traditional role of treating patients. The hospital system and nonprofit that serves 74 counties in South Texas is looking to broaden its scope to include upstream solutions.

“We need to evaluate not just health outcomes but those upstream social determinants of health … food, housing, education, the list goes on and on,” Wesolowski said. The nonprofit will undergo an internal equity, diversity, and inclusion audit starting next week.

This equity work will involve partnerships with local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and – most importantly – the underserved community, he said.

Door-to-door outreach to low-income communities of color is a priority in the City’s recovery plan, Bridger said, but one of the main barriers is trust.

“Redining happened in the ’30s and here we are today and we’re still seeing those same communities suffering from those same problems,” she said. “They don’t believe us when we say, ‘Oh yes, this time we’re going to help you.’ … The only way to build trust is by saying what you’re doing to do and then doing what you said you were going to do. We’re just now in that transition from the saying to the doing part.”

A key element to building that trust is forming relationships with neighborhood leaders and doctors who are established in those communities, Gonzalez said. Building those networks will help the city roll out its plans to stem the spread of coronavirus and help underserved populations take advantage of workforce development programs and other assistance that is available.

“We’ve often used the Promotoras with our health workers in the community who speak the language, who understand the culture, who look like the people they are trying to help,” she said.

That trust should work both ways, Saha said.

Successful programs that see 50 to 75 percent improvement in health outcomes “are often the ones that are led by or have substantial leadership by those people with lived experience of inequity.”

Health leaders need to trust that the community knows what it needs, she said.

Wesolowski, of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, has learned that an important piece of equity work is listening. “We can’t come in there and tell them what they really need.”

COPD

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:59:29 GMT

About the Condition:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response, in the airways and the lung, to noxious particles or gases. While the disease course is marked by progressive deterioration in airflow it is punctuated by acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) which contribute to the overall disease severity and which increase in frequency as the disease worsens. In addition to the increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with COPD exacerbations, these events place a significant economic burden on healthcare systems which is predicted to increase with the increasing global disease prevalence.

References: Vedel-Krogh S, Nielsen S, Lange P, Vestbo J, Nordestgaard BG . Blood Eosinophils and Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The Copenhagen General Population Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016;193: 965–974

Purpose of the Study:

The clinical research study is being conducted to learn more about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and if study treatment with a study drug can or cannot improve your COPD or make someone with COPD feel better. We also would like to answer the following questions:

How well does the study medication work to treat people with COPD and does it reduce the exacerbation of their disease and their admission to hospital?

How safe is the study medication when used for the treatment of COPD?

Participant Info:

All qualified participants will be compensated up to $912 for your time and travel.

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost.

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you to participate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team.

Eligibility Criteria

Age 40 years of age or older
Are a current or former smoker living with COPD
Take 2 or more medications for your COPD
Have had 1 or more “flare-ups” of your COPD symptoms in the past year that required treatment or hospitalization

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

Nasal Polyps

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:56:55 GMT

About the Condition:

Nasal polyps are benign growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. The cause of nasal polyps has been associated with chronic inflammation due to infection, immune disorders, allergies, and genetic predisposition. The symptoms associated with nasal polyps often depends on the size and location of the polyp. Small nasal polyps are generally asymptomatic but when located in areas such as the middle meatus, they may produce symptoms. Patients with multiple and/or larger polyps may suffer partial or complete obstruction of the nasal passages which may result in chronic or recurrent acute sinusitis symptoms. Thus, signs and symptoms of nasal polyps may include runny nose, persistent stuffiness, post-nasal drip, loss of smell and/or taste, facial pain, or headache.

References: Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Mullol J, et al. European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2012. Rhinology 2012;50(suppl 23): 1-298.

References: Meltzer EO, Hamilos DL, Hadley JA et al. Rhinosinusitis: establishing definitions for clinical research and patient care. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004; 114(6 Suppl):155-212.

Purpose of the Study:

The clinical research study is being conducted to see if the study medication is safe and effective in reducing specific nasal symptoms and the size of nasal polyps in children between the ages of 12 and 17.

Participant Info:

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost.

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you toparticipate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team.

Eligibility Criteria

Age 12 – 17
Have nasal polyps in both nasal cavities

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

Observational Asthma

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:54:29 GMT

About the Condition:

Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, making it difficult to breath. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. If you have asthma your airways are always inflamed. They become even more swollen and the muscles around the airways can tighten when something triggers your symptoms. This makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness.

References: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/asthma

Purpose of the Study:

The study doctors are looking at a possible new treatment (called the "study medicine") for patients with asthma to see if it can make them breathe better. In addition, the doctors want to find out how safe the study medicine is and if it works for patients.

Participant Info:

All qualified participants will be compensated for your time and travel.

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost.

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you to participate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages 8 and up
Diagnosis of asthma
Are currently taking or not taking medications to control your asthma

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (Hives)

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 05:05:17 GMT

Study Details:

If you have reddish areas on your skin that are itchy or raised, you may be suffering from hives or welts, also known as urticaria. Urticaria can occur anywhere on the body including the face, arms, legs, chest, back, or face, and is associated with intense itching which can have a major impact on a patient’s well-being. Whenever your Urticaria (hives) has lasted for more than 6 weeks and occurs spontaneously, this is called Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU), also known as Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU) is defined as the spontaneous occurrence of itchy wheals (hives), angioedema (swelling) or both lasting for at least 6 weeks. Usually the cause of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria cannot be identified but is often autoimmune, meaning the body’s own immune system is attacking the normal tissues of the body and causing hives as a result.

References: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy library/hives-angioedema

Purpose of the Study:

The clinical research study is designed to determine what dose of an investigational drug is most effective for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and learn about the safety and effectiveness of this investigational drug.

Participant Info:

All qualified participants will be compensated up to $1000 for your time and travel.

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you toparticipate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team

Eligibility Criteria

At least 12 years old
Suffering from itching and hives for more than 6 consecutive weeks despite treatment
Suffering from CSU that was diagnosed at least 6 months ago

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

Pediatric Asthma

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 05:03:21 GMT

About the Condition:

Childhood asthma (pediatric asthma) is the most common serious chronic disease in infants and children; yet is often difficult to diagnose. In infants and children, asthma may appear as:

Wheezing (whistling sound) when breathing
Coughing
Rapid breathing
Complaints of chest hurting
Reduced energy
Feeling weak or tired

Some children have symptoms only when exercising or playing a sport. This is called exercise-induced bronchospasm or exercise-induced asthma. Childhood asthma, just like asthma in adults, can't be cured. But with the right medications and treatment plan, symptoms can be controlled. This is extremely important in order to prevent damage to growing lungs. Risk factors for developing childhood asthma include:

Allergies
Family history of allergies and/or asthma
Frequent respiratory infections
Low birth weight
Second-hand smoke before and/or after birth
Growing up in a low income, urban environment

References: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/asthma

Purpose of the Study:

The study doctors are looking at a possible new treatment (called the "study medicine") for children with severe asthma to see if it can make them breathe better. The doctors want to find out how safe the study medicine is and if it works after your child tak es it.

Participant Info:

All qualified participants will be compensated up to $1400 for your time and travel.

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you to participate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team

Eligibility Criteria

Ages 6 – 11
Diagnosis of severe asthma for at least 12 months
Weigh 15 kg or more

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 05:01:21 GMT

Study Details:

Do you or someone you know suffer from red, itchy, or dry skin? If so, you may have Atopic Dermatitis, commonly referred to as Eczema. Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where affected skin may be red, itchy, swollen, cracked, weeping with crusting, and/or scaling. This condition normally appears on the cheeks, arms and legs, but can appear anywhere else on the body. Patients with moderate-to-severe AD have a poor quality of life through a combination of symptoms, emotional stress from poor self-image, the burden of applying topical treatments regularly, sleep disturbance, and reductions in work productivity.

Although some treatment options exist, not everyone responds well and some experience side effects that outweigh any benefits. As such, there is an unmet medical need for an alternative treatment.

References: Kiebert G, Sorensen SV, Revicki D, Fagan SC, Doyle JJ, Cohen J et al. Atopic dermatitis is associated with a decrement in health-related quality of life. Int J Dermatol. 2002;41(3):151-8.

Purpose of the Study:

The clinical research study is being conducted to see if the study medication is safe and effective to treat adults with moderate to severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Participant Info:

All qualified participants will be compensated up to $1200 for your time and travel.

All medical examinations, physician visits, and medications will be provided to you at no cost

No insurance is needed for your visits since all costs are covered by the study. We pay you toparticipate!

You’ll receive expert care from a highly educated and experienced team

Eligibility Criteria

Age 18 – 75
Have had a history of Atopic Dermatitis for at least 1 year
Not have any other active skin condition that could interfere with the examination of your skin

Contact Us Directly:

raul@staampresearch.com

More Clinical Studies:

President Trump’s COVID-19 Comments Draw Reaction from San Antonio Coronavirus Survivors, Loved Ones

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 22:02:35 GMT

‘It’s careless to put it mildly,’ says daughter who lost her mother .

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – “Don’t be afraid of Covid,” and similar recent statement s made by President Donald Trump, despite his coronavirus diagnosis, were considered “careless, to put it mildly,” by Dr. Erika Gonzalez, who lost her mother to the virus in September .

Gonzalez said her father, who is dealing with the death of his wife of 51 years, is home from the hospital but relies on a tracheotomy to help him breathe because of COVID-19.

“I think that, obviously, my mom’s perspective would be you should be very afraid of the virus,” Gonzalez said.

The president and CEO of South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals said it should be “a healthy fear, but definitely not disregard the true damage that this virus can do.”

Ron Wilkins , a noted musician and kidney transplant recipient who was finally released from the hospital in the summer after testing positive for the virus, said, “It’s not nearly as touch-and-go as it used to be.”

Wilkins is teaching trombone again at Texas State University.

“I’m more mobile and more able, but I still deal with a few aches and pains I didn’t have before,” he said. “Mentally, you know, there’s at times I’ll have these little gaps still in the thought process.”

Wilkins said he considers President Trump’s statements “a travesty.”

He said the President should tell the people who’ve already died, their friends and families, and those still suffering from COVID-19, “Don’t let it dominate your life.”

Gordon Hartman, the philanthropist and founder of Morgan’s Wonderland, said he was among the luckier ones.

Hartman said he was never hospitalized but was diagnosed with a “moderate” case of COVID-19. He later donated convalescent plasma to help others .

“I had an incredibly bad headache. I had chills, fever, coughs, a lot of typical things you hear that come with COVID,” he said. “It stuck around pretty aggressively.”

Hartman said one of the plumbers helping build Morgan Wonderland’s Camp died from COVID-19 despite being a 49-year-old man with no known health conditions.

“So to say that we can ‘look the other way’ or that ‘we’re past this’ or ‘don’t let it take control of your life,’ I would say is something that has to be definitely heard with much caution,” Hartman said. “It’s something that does need to be taken very seriously.”

CityFest 2020: A Weeklong Festival of Ideas Focused on San Antonio’s Resiliency

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 21:58:27 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

The changes went into effect at the board’s Jan. 25 meeting.

This experience makes Rodriguez the best fit to lead the board of directors as the San Antonio Report continues to evolve, Newman said.

A longtime fan of the San Antonio Report, Rodriguez said he joined the Board of Community Advisors and then the board of directors because he truly believes in the organization’s mission.

“I’ve felt compelled to participate in any way I could to support the mission of the organization,” he said.

“There’s nowhere to go but up,” Rodriguez said.

“For a small group, we punch way above our weight,” he said.

“We should constantly be learning, evolving, and getting better – and we have,” he said. “The organization has come a long way in five and a half years.”

Médicos de STAAMP Allergy prueban medicamento para evitar formación de coágulos en pacientes con coronavirus

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 21:48:51 GMT

This story was originally published by Univision and can be found here .

Expertos aseguran que los coágulos son el factor que provoca más daños en pacientes con coronavirus, por lo que esperan que este nuevo fármaco ayude a proteger el sistema respiratorio de los pacientes.

Mira el video aquí

Esperanza Hall Residents to Receive Monthly COVID-19 Tests

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 21:09:28 GMT

This story was originally published by The Mesquite (TAMUSA) and can be found here .

Students living at Texas A&M University-San Antonio will receive monthly COVID-19 tests. Provided by the A&M System, 700 tests per month will be administered without cost to Esperanza Hall dorm residents.

Located in portable 101B behind the Central Academic Building and open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday – Friday, the administering of tests is overseen by STAAMP Allergy, a local service provider, while Curative Inc., a Los Angeles national testing company, provides confidential results.

According to Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin, vice president of Student Success and Engagement, with over 100 dorm residents tested, the decision to require monthly tests was made the final week of August starting the 26th after the number of COVID-19 tests provided to the university was verified the second week of school.

The university wasn’t sure of how severe COVID-19 was going to be or how many tests they were being provided when school opened up. Fuentes-Martin said because of this uncertainty, wellness stations were set up to take the temperatures of new residents moving in.

“The reason we’re very interested in that population is that they spend 24/7 together, unlike a classroom,” Fuentes-Martin said. “…You’re just in such close proximity to each other for a very extended amount of time, so we wanted to be extraordinarily careful.”

Though there have been zero positive cases among dorm residents, the university already has accommodations in place for Esperanza Hall residents who test positive.

Positive residents will be moved to an isolated apartment and asked to quarantine in place, while those potentially exposed to them are tested and quarantined for at least 48 hours.

Fuentes-Martin says A&M-San Antonio’s main goal is to provide the safest environment possible through preventative measures. To develop these measures, A&M-San Antonio partnered with American Campus Communities, the operators of Esperanza Hall, to find the best way to approach the situation.

“We looked at their safety protocols, we looked at their signage, and we were able to blend a lot of those things and expectations that we had for safety with what they also had,” Fuentes-Martin said.

Education freshman Paige Borenheim started living in the dorms at the beginning of the fall 2020 semester and is witnessing the effects of COVID-19 on Esperanza Hall firsthand. Masks are needed on short trips outside rooms and visitors aren’t allowed; doorknobs and handrails are cleaned systematically and elevators have limited capacity.

While Borenheim has a roommate, she says most dorm residents don’t because many potential residents canceled their plans to move in.

“I know a lot of people who have no one to hang out with or they’re kind of just actually isolated with no one,” Borenheim said.

Along with these changes comes the monthly COVID-19 testing requirement.

“I have mixed feelings on it because obviously it takes a lot out of your day to go get tested,” Borenheim said. “I got tested a week ago, and they sent us an email the day before we had to get tested like, ‘by the way, you have to get tested every month.’ So there was a long line of 30-plus people in the hot sun for an hour plus.”

Borenheim says she now has conflicting feelings about how the process is currently being handled.

“I do like it,” Borenheim said. ”I know they’re trying to make sure no one’s contracting the virus or anything but at the same time it’s kind of like, I wish there was a better way to go on with it.”

Fuentes-Martin said she wants students to know that A&M–San Antonio is adapting and that the university has services to help deal with COVID-19 which can be found at https://www.tamusa.edu/community-safety-together/index.html

“If you need a laptop, or if you need Wi-Fi…The library’s open, advising is open, you know, so we’re here to help students,” Fuentes-Martin said. “We don’t want you all to think that we’re invisibly not here. We are here.”

This story was updated at 5:49 p.m. Sept. 11 to correct “Stamp” to “STAAMP Allergy” and to explain that Curative Inc. provides confidential results.

San Antonio Physician turns Mission into Passion after Losing Mother to COVID-19

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:06:11 GMT

Dr. Erika Gonzalez lost her mother to the virus but she hopes to raise awareness through non-profit

This story was originally published by KSAT12 and can be found here .

SAN ANTONIO – The fight against COVID-19 has taken on a new meaning for Dr. Erika Gonzalez. Her parents were hospitalized after they contracted the virus.

“Having the virus affect my immediate family sheds a new light on it,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said her parents took every precaution to stay safe.

“They did all the right things and unfortunately for them, they were still infected,” she said.

Her father, Heriberto, remains hospitalized but is recovering. However, her mother Laura died last month and was laid to rest this week.

She said her mother was able to be treated with convalescent plasma but wonders what the outcome would have been if she received it earlier.

Gonzalez said her mission for Con Corazon San Antonio has become more important. She serves as the chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and launched the charity in April.

She said the first initiative was to raise awareness on the importance of donating plasma, so COVID-19 patients have it when they need it.

“That is our goal, and it is an achievable goal,” she said.

Gonzalez believes the pandemic has shed light on health inequities and the risk hispanic families face. She said one of the many challenges is access to health care, which leads to medical problems.

“They’re also more often untreated or uncontrolled, which only puts them at higher risk,” said Gonzalez.

The charity also works to make sure people know how to access testing, as well as protective gear and sanitizers.

Although she is still mourning the loss of her mother, she said her mission isn’t over.

“As a compassionate community, we need to make sure that we’re all safe and healthy and can enjoy time with our family,” she said.

A Mother’s Death from COVID-19 Leaves Hispanic Chamber Leader ‘Powerless’ but Determined to Help Others

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 21:01:22 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

Dr. Erika Gonzalez is a mother and a military veteran, a community leader on the rise, a practitioner in and owner of an allergy practice with three locations in San Antonio.

But the coronavirus outbreak has proved unsparing and, on Wednesday, Gonzalez will join her two sisters in reciting the rosary before laying to rest their mother, Laura Gonzalez, who died Aug. 13 from complications of COVID-19. She was 69.

Her death came despite the precautions she took to keep from contracting the virus and efforts by her physician daughter, her family, and the doctors to save her. Having connections to the medical community and knowledge of the health care system were not enough.

“You can bet that we did everything we could, no stone left unturned, no connection that I didn’t try to use,” Gonzalez said. “We were powerless.”

Now Gonzalez is keeping a watchful eye on her 80-year-old father, Heriberto, who is still hospitalized with the virus but appears to be recovering.

The couple fell ill within days of one another in mid-July. Unlike many victims of the virus, Laura’s symptoms did not include fever, a cough, body aches, or shortness of breath – the most common signs of coronavirus.

Only when she couldn’t eat due to persistent nausea and vomiting – and Laura’s daughters worried their mother could become dehydrated – was she diagnosed and hospitalized. By then, her blood oxygen levels were dangerously low even though she was not complaining of shortness of breath. Heriberto’s hospitalization followed a day later.

Within the week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added nausea and vomiting to the list of coronavirus symptoms, Gonzalez said.

Remembering a mother

Gonzalez describes Laura as the strongest woman she knows. As a young wife and mother who learned English watching daytime TV, Laura returned briefly to her home in Mexico to attend dental school, then rejoined her husband in the U.S. and started her own practice in a border town.

“I have great memories of going to work with my mom,” Gonzalez said of those years in which the seeds of her own medical career were planted.

But Laura was also devoted to her son with special needs and other medical conditions who required extra care and attention. “Not until I became a mom did I fully realize how hard that must have been to take care of a child with special needs and three other young girls and own a small business,” Gonzalez said. “It’s unbelievable to me, honestly.”

In Laura’s later years, following retirement and the death of their son, she took advantage of every day, especially to travel, Gonzalez said. “She lived it to the fullest and never let anything slow her down.”

But when the coronavirus outbreak began in March, Laura and Heriberto sheltered at home, only venturing out to the grocery store. Gonzalez doesn’t know how her parents contracted the virus.

Family advocates

Laura’s first coronavirus test came back negative but it soon became obvious she needed to be hospitalized.

“Like any other family, my two sisters and I were doing our best to advocate for my parents,” Gonzalez said. “We were in touch with all their physicians either because we knew them personally or knew someone who knew them.”

After her mother was intubated and put on a ventilator, the sisters decided to transfer the couple from a private hospital to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). They hoped Laura could receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment at BAMC, one of only two local hospitals equipped for such care.

The hospital was also a familiar place for them. Gonzalez had done her fellowship training at BAMC and her sister would soon be working there as a specialty surgeon. It felt like home, she said, and Heriberto, as a veteran and one of the first physician assistants to be trained in the Air Force, and his wife were eligible to receive treatment at BAMC.

“It turned out to be one of the best things we did for them,” she said, though Laura’s condition deteriorated before she was able to receive ECMO treatment.

But as her mother faded, the hospital allowed Gonzalez the chance to be with her mom in her final hours – an opportunity she doesn’t take for granted, since many family members have not been permitted to be present as their loved ones died.

Using her voice

A former military physician and now community leader as chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce , Gonzalez hopes she can help military medical facilities pioneer a solution that allows families like hers to be with their loved ones dying of the virus. “Because we all know that if we’re taking proper precautions that the risk is a lot lower, and I think in situations like that it will just prevent a lot of mental anguish that some of these families go through,” she said.

The pandemic also accelerated her plans for a nonprofit she founded in April. Months before her own parents fell ill, she established Con Corazón San Antonio , an organization that will work to address health inequity and emergency preparedness in underprivileged communities.

Due to the pandemic, the first initiative of Con Corazón is raising awareness about the importance of donating convalescent plasma to help others recover from illnesses such as COVID-19. While her mother was able to receive plasma therapy, Gonzalez believes it could have improved her chances if she’d had it sooner.

“We’re hoping to turn a very tragic moment in my personal life into hopefully seeing some good come out of it and maybe helping somebody else or another family down the road,” she said.

Gonzalez said she chose to serve as the Hispanic chamber’s chairwoman this year to use her voice to support the small business community, especially in health care.

“Never in my mind did I ever imagine that it would take on a whole different meaning with this pandemic,” she said.

But her platform is now more personal than ever. Despite her grief, she is speaking out now in the hopes she can influence how the community responds to the public health crisis.

“People might think that somebody in my position, whether it’s because I’m a doctor, or whether it’s because I’m the chair of the chamber … I can make it better by my knowledge or connections or whatever,” she said. But in this case, she was powerless to change the outcome for her own mother.

When Gonzalez saw her mother’s perplexing symptoms worsen, she said she felt as bewildered and fearful of the virus as the rest of the medical community.

“How does a virus do what I’m seeing?” she said she thought to herself. “It was a very sobering realization.”

‘Death is all around us’ – Novel Coronavirus Deaths Concentrated on San Antonio’s South Side, New Data Shows

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:55:17 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Express News and can be found here .

Even City Council members know what it’s like to lose loved ones to the coronavirus.

In Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia’s family, six people have died of COVID-19 — all cousins on her father’s side who lived on the West Side.

“My dad, he was crying every day for weeks,” said Garcia, who represents District 4 on the Southwest Side, which has one of the city’s highest rates of coronavirus infection. “He thought his whole family was going to pass away.”

Garcia’s firsthand experience puts a spotlight on the disproportionate impact the virus has inflicted on the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Nearly half of those who have died of COVID-19 lived on the West and South Sides, parts of town that are overwhelmingly Hispanic, figures shared with the San Antonio Express-News show.

Previously, the city had not released data showing deaths by geography.

More than a third of the 276 deaths that occurred within city limits as of Aug. 2 were in two council districts: District 3, which covers the Southeast Side, and District 5, which includes parts of the South Side and the heart of the West Side.

Neighboring District 4, which covers the Southwest Side, accounts for 11 percent of the city’s deaths.

Compare that to the three North Side districts — 8, 9 and 10 — which together accounted for 16.3 percent of the city’s deaths as of Aug. 2.

The numbers came as no shock to South Side politicians and health experts.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t surprise me,” said Garcia, who pushed the Metropolitan Health District to provide her the figures. “I knew we were going to be affected. I was just sad because my theory proved true.”

An early hot spot of the disease helps account for the high numbers in District 3, represented by Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran. At Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 18 residents died of the virus. Critics pointed out the nursing home had low ratings in federal inspections.

The pandemic, officials and experts say, has taken advantage of the city’s pervasive poverty, high rates of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and gaps in health care access along racial lines — trends that have persisted decades after the end of policies of racial redlining and legal segregation.

“It just again magnifies the disparities that exist in our city,” Viagran said.

That’s a sentiment echoed by Dr. Erika Gonzalez, an allergy and immunology specialist and a board member at CentroMed, a nonprofit health network with clinics throughout Bexar County

“This is not a virus that at all discriminates,” Gonzalez said. “That alone should make us take a step back and ask ourselves if people on the North Side are equally at risk of getting the disease as somebody on the South Side.”

The West and South sides are home to thousands who work in the service sector — think grocery store clerks and restaurants servers, jobs that can’t be done remotely.

San Antonio city council district 5 leads the city for the most COVID-19 cases

“They’re asked to go into work,” Viagran said. “They’re asked to still be present and maybe not gain the appropriate protective gear that they need to work.”

Viagran added, “I can’t just tell people to stay home when maybe their livelihood is that they can’t stay home. They have to go out and work.”

If someone who lives and works in those parts of town contracts the virus, it often can be difficult for them to isolate themselves from family members. Residents of the West and South Sides often live with extended family members. Grandparents often take care of children while parents are at work.

Two employees at the West Side pawn shop owned by District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales have relatives who have died of the virus, she said — a mother and mother-in-law. Another employee’s mother has tested positive.

“You can’t isolate in your home when you have a lot of people living there,” said Gonzales, who lives next door to her mother.

Close proximity to other family members can result in an entire household coming down with the virus, said Gonzalez, the immunologist — something that happens more often in households where people have jobs that don’t allow them to work from home.

San Antonio city council districts 3 and 5 lead the city for the most COVID-19 deaths with 50 each.

That has Gonzales, the council member, on edge considering that many school-aged children live with their grandparents — raising the risk that once school starts, kids will bring the disease home to their elders.

Those elders are at risk of complications not just because of their age but because of those underlying health conditions that plague minority communities.

In-person schooling should be delayed “as long as possible” to prevent that, the councilwoman said.

“I feel like that it just has to happen because we’re going to leave children orphaned if we send them back to school,” Gonzales said.

In response to the concentration of deaths, Metro Health is “redeploying” teams in those areas to reach households in person to spread awareness of testing availability along with other information about the severity of the virus and tips to try to prevent transmission.

The workers will sound the now-common refrain: wash your hands frequently; keep 6 feet of social distance from people outside your household, including relatives; and wear masks when out in public, including at relatives’ homes.

Metro Health also is trying to obtain “a more granular understanding of deaths and cases, especially in those three districts,” Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, who is serving as interim director of Metro Health, told City Council members last week.

One idea pitched by Viagran is to add more permanent testing sites that don’t charge people for tests, especially walk-up sites.

The South Side has four free testing sites — three of which require appointments. Two are drive-thru sites and one allows walk-ins.

But there are no free testing sites in Gonzales’ district, according to a city map. There is one free walk-in site just outside the district.

For Councilwoman Garcia, the disease continues to take a heavy toll. At one point, 14 of her cousins were hospitalized with the virus.

A deacon at Divine Providence Catholic Church on Old Pearsall Road where Garcia attends Mass succumbed to the disease. And several nuns at the convent at Our Lady of the Lake University, where Garcia teaches, also have fallen to the virus.

“Death is all around us,” Garcia said. “Unfortunately, I feel like it’s all around me, my family, my church family and my Our Lady of the Lake family.”

For Gonzalez, the immunologist, COVID-19 also has become personal. Her mother and father are both hospitalized with the virus — and she doesn’t expect that they will leave the hospital together.

“I think it’s only a matter of time, really, for my mother,” Gonzalez said. “We’re just hoping for better outcomes for my Dad. I only say that because people need to understand that this is real.”

‘When we’re full, we’re full’: COVID-19 Pushes San Antonio Hospitals to the Limit

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 20:44:10 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Express News and can be found here .

The alarming surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations in San Antonio — where at least one in four new patients has the disease — is growing at a faster rate than in other major Texas cities.

For the last week, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the trauma-care region that includes San Antonio rose by 55 percent, state health department figures show.

If the surge continues, it could overload the local health care system in the next week or two.

The increase in hospitalizations over the past seven days was 44 percent in the Houston region, 34 percent in the Austin region and 21 percent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In Houston, the largest medical center in the world exceeded its normal intensive care capacity Wednesday.

Texas has emerged as a hotbed for the coronavirus pandemic, adding more than 43,000 cases in the past week alone. It was one of the states most aggressive about reopening its economy, but Gov. Greg Abbott has been forced to pause further business reopenings, shutter bars and suspend nonemergency surgeries in hard-hit areas to save resources for COVID-19 patients.

Abbott signed an executive order Thursday requiring nearly all Texans to wear masks in public , a reversal of his order earlier in the pandemic that barred local officials from enforcing their own mask mandates.

The state’s major metropolitan areas aren’t the only communities swamped by COVID-19 patients. Cities across South Texas, which rely on San Antonio as a medical hub, are experiencing some of the highest spikes, painting a dire picture of the stress on hospitals.

In the Corpus Christi area, the state reported last week that just nine intensive care beds were available for a dozen counties with a combined population of more than 600,000 people . Hospitalizations there increased by 100 percent over the past week.

In Laredo, the health department director announced Thursday that hospitals had reached maximum capacity . The next day, government leaders said hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley were full , too.

“If we get to that point, where we truly run out of capacity in our hospitals, it means that we won’t be able to care not just for COVID patients, but we won’t be able to care for patients that we care for all the time — that means patients with heart attacks, or strokes or cancer or trauma,” said Dr. Bryan Alsip, vice president of University Hospital in San Antonio. “When we’re full, we’re full.”

For more than two weeks, San Antonio has experienced some of the fastest COVID-19 case growth in the country, ranking fifth in the U.S. and first among large Texas cities.

One in 10 people who tested positive for the disease since the start of the pandemic in Bexar County has been hospitalized, the Metropolitan Health District reported.

In less than three weeks, the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in area hospitals has increased more than five-fold — from 176 on June 15 to 1,120 as of Saturday.

There are more COVID-19 patients in San Antonio hospitals now than there are in hospitals in New York, the original epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.

To keep pace with the surge, San Antonio leaders have tapped the state health department and the military to send more than 800 nurses to help staff hospitals. Nearly 180 arrived last week. Seventy more are expected Monday.

Area hospitals are scrambling to add new beds. Recovery rooms normally reserved for surgical patients are being converted into intensive care units. Pediatric intensive care units are being reconfigured to accommodate dozens of adult patients.

Without enough hospital beds or staff, patients could wait hours in emergency rooms before overnight rooms become free.

But hospital leaders say the efforts to rapidly add beds and staff will hit a limit. A disease model developed by Sg2, a health care consulting group, and UT Health San Antonio forecasts 1,800 COVID-19 hospitalizations by mid-July under the best-case scenario.

Initially, that model predicted a worst-case peak of 1,900 hospitalizations in mid-August.

If San Antonians don’t wear masks and continue to spread the disease, the worst-case trajectory now envisions 2,400 hospitalizations around July 21 — more than twice the current patient volume.

“The die is cast probably for the next 11 days. Those folks are infected. They will be coming in,” said Dr. Ian Thompson, CEO of Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center. “What you do today will determine what happens two weeks from now — whether you’re in the emergency room with no beds in the inn.”

San Antonio area hospitals had just 647 available staffed beds as of Saturday. The disease model health officials rely on projects that 600 more COVID-19 patients will need hospitalization by next weekend.

Eric Epley, executive director of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, said hospitals need to create staffed beds “out of thin air” to see San Antonio through the peak. The advisory council, known as STRAC, oversees trauma and emergency care in a 22-county area.

But if the worst-case scenario unfolds and hospitalizations continue to double almost every week, officials will be forced to exercise last-resort options, such as sending patients to specialty hospitals and the 250-bed field hospital at Freeman Coliseum. Eply said San Antonio wasn’t near that point yet.

“The reality is, if you’re in the hospital in the cafeteria in a bed, you still have radiology. You still have respiratory therapy. You still have imaging, lab capability,” Epley said. “You have lots of things that are in the hospital that become much more difficult once you leave the property.”

Catastrophe foretold

Public health experts saw a catastrophe in hospitalizations looming weeks before Metro Health did.

A few days after Memorial Day — and nearly two weeks before then-Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick acknowledged the arrival of a “second wave” of the virus — the Bexar County Medical Society sent a warning to Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

“Upon review of local data presented regarding current hospitalizations in the STRAC region due to COVID-19 positive cases, we see a concerning trend developing with an uptick of cases,” said the May 29 letter. “This may be in response to the recent ‘reopening’ of the economy.”

The letter recommended officials keep a close watch on COVID-19 hospitalizations and post a warning indicator on the city website whenever the numbers increase five days in a row.

“They thanked us for the input and passed it along to the appropriate committee,” said Dr. Vince Fonseca, a member of the organization’s board who signed the letter along with two others. “At that time, they were still touting, ‘We flattened the curve, we’re on the downside of the peak,’ and we thought that was incredibly unlikely just by the nature of respiratory pandemics that appear in the spring.”

Fonseca said the society’s concerns largely were dismissed. He believes Metro Health officials were lulled into a false sense of security at a time when they should have been fortifying the city’s defenses, upgrading outdated technology and hiring more case investigators to track the spread of the disease, as recommended by a city-county health transition team.

“We wasted our time,” Fonseca said. “We wasted those weeks. And now we’re scrambling.”

In the weeks that followed, the doctors’ worst fears were realized. Early on in the pandemic, experts had warned that San Antonio, which in 2018 had the highest poverty rate among the nation’s 25 largest metro areas, could be devastated by an uncontrollable outbreak of the virus.

San Antonio for years has been one of the most economically segregated cities in America, where many families live in crowded conditions, with grandparents, parents and young children under one roof.

The poorest residents are more likely to have pre-existing conditions — such as asthma and diabetes — that put them at higher risk if infected with COVID-19. The situation is similar in other South Texas communities, including Corpus Christi, Laredo and cities in the lower Rio Grande Valley, where hospitals are inundated with patients.

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, an allergy and immunology specialist and a board member at CentroMed, a nonprofit health network with clinics throughout Bexar County, said soaring COVID-19 hospitalizations in San Antonio are likely related to the prevalence of underlying medical conditions.

“Asthma rates here in San Antonio, we’re about 400 percent higher than the rest of the state as far as asthma exacerbations and asthma hospitalizations. It’s dramatic,” she said. “It’s not an environmental thing because we all have similar air quality. It’s something more internal, and a lot of it has to do with access to health care, and we’re seeing it mostly in the Latino and African American community.”

Latinos make up about 60 percent of Bexar County’s population but account for about 74 percent of COVID-19 infections. Black residents no longer account for a disproportionate number of cases, but they still account for 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths — even though they are 9 percent of the population, according to Metro Health data.

People of color also are more likely to be infected in part because they are less likely to be able to work from home, Gonzalez said.

“The majority of the essential workers, almost 80 percent of front-line workers at grocery stores, are either African American or Latino,” Gonzalez said. “They are exposing themselves more. That really is a socioeconomic thing. They don’t have the luxury of staying home and sheltering.”

Young infecting old

Over the past few weeks, the average age of patients who require hospitalization has changed. Hospitals have seen a surge of patients under 40. A significant portion have no underlying health conditions that would put them at greater risk from the disease.

Dr. Jan Patterson, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at UT Health San Antonio, said it appears younger people let their guard down when Texas reopened.

After Memorial Day’s large gatherings, the disease began to spread rapidly. And across the state, mixed messaging on masks from state and federal leaders meant many people didn’t wear face coverings in public or when gathering with relatives and friends.

“These younger people are getting infected, but the thing of it is, San Antonio is really big on family and we have a lot of multigenerational households,” Patterson said. “So even though that parent or grandparent may have not necessarily been out, it’s brought to their household by people who have been out.”

Patterson said more young people are being hospitalized — and when they arrive at the hospital, they often bring with them parents or grandparents who also contracted the disease.

The trend has spurred San Antonio’s health executives and government officials to beg residents to heed warnings — such as avoiding large gatherings, staying 6 feet apart and wearing masks.

Allen Harrison, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare System, put the danger in starkly personal terms.

“My dad died when I was in college. He never saw me graduate. He never saw me get married. He didn’t meet any of my kids,” Harrison said. “San Antonio is a family-centered city. There are a lot of people who regard their members of their family as precious to them— irreplaceable.

“Why would you gamble those relationships with your family in the midst of a pandemic right now?”

Local Leader to Advocate for Small Businesses in DC

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 20:32:40 GMT

This story was originally published by the San Antonio Business Journal and can be found here .

Dr. Erika Gonzalez , chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was chosen as one of four national co-chairs for the Small Business for America’s Future coalition.

The organization, based in Washington, D.C., consists of small business owners and leaders who advocate for policies that facilitate small business growth, while leveling the playing field with big business. The organization asks policymakers to prioritize Main Street businesses by advancing an economic framework and Covid-19 recovery plan for small businesses and their employees.

Small Business for America’s Future surveyed more than 1,200 small business owners nationally. Of those surveyed, 84% said they felt leaders favor big business over small business, and 81% of respondents said leaders do not understand the needs of small business.

The survey also found that 53% of respondents have incurred new debt related to Covid-19, with nearly 25% of them having new debt of more than $20,000, and 18% with debt over $100,000.

The organization is an evolution of the former organization called Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform, which launched in 2017 as an advocate for small businesses during tax reform. It will now focus on three areas of policy reform: health insurance, taxes and economic security.

“We’re committed to ensuring policymakers at every level of government prioritize Main Street by advancing an economic framework that benefits both small businesses and our employees,” Gonzalez said. “Reducing the crushing cost of providing health insurance will be important to ensuring small businesses are strong enough financially while maintaining coverage for employees.”

The other three co-chairs of the organization include Frank Knapp , president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce; Anne Zimmerman , owner of Zimmerman and Co. CPAs in Ohio; and Shaundell Newsome , owner of Sumnu Marketing and board chairman for the Urban Chamber of Commerce Las Vegas.

The group had been co-chairs for Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform, but wanted to be more geographically and racially diverse, specifically looking to add a Latina as a co-chair, said Gonzalez, who is CEO of the South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals PLLC.

The organization reached out to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which recommended Gonzalez.

“It lets me represent the Latino businesses nationally,” Gonzalez said.

Her Spanish speaking abilities has already enabled her to communicate the organization’s message to bilingual audiences across the nation.

Mental Health Experts’ Advice for Entrepreneurs Affected by COVID-19

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:50:00 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

Mental health experts encourage small-business owners wrestling with coronavirus-related stress and anxiety to talk openly and honestly about their struggles to cultivate a flexible work environment that can adapt to the needs of the business and its employees.

In a webinar hosted by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) on Thursday, the local experts said a “silver lining” to the coronavirus pandemic is that it highlights the need for people to pay attention to their mental health when they are struggling with heightened or overwhelming emotions.

“What we know is that there is a lot of power in acknowledging the struggle,” said Clarissa Aguilar, behavioral health consultant with the Center for Health Care Services, Bexar County’s mental health authority. “Checking in with people if they seem like they need help or resources, and helping people remember the mission and vision, will help keep people connected to the passion that” made the entrepreneurial venture possible.

Joining Aguilar in the conversation focused on “normalizing” conversations about mental health and the workplace were Adriana Dyurich, a licensed counselor with UT Health San Antonio, and Dr. Ted Williams, founder of Genesis Psychiatric Center and UT Health San Antonio psychiatry professor. Rivard Report Editor and Publisher Robert Rivard moderated the panel conversation, sponsored by UT Health San Antonio, on the videoconferencing platform Zoom.

SAHCC Chairwoman and webinar organizer Dr. Erika Gonzalez said that SAHCC’s health and bioscience committee had planned to spend this year creating a health and wellness program for employees of small businesses that included a strong mental health component, but “when the pandemic occurred, there were more and different mental health issues that arose as small business owners struggled to keep their doors open and people employed,” so the focus shifted to employers.

“We were in an existing mental health crisis in our country before the pandemic hit,” Aguilar said, noting “the mental health effects for this pandemic will be longer lasting than the physical health ones.”

“The first thing I have done is tried to help my employees understand at least my perspective of the facts,” Williams said. “Fear-driven behavior won’t help us very much.”

Mental health support

Center for Health Care Services
Adults: (210) 261-1250 ; Children: (210) 261-3350

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line, (833) 986-1919

Ecumenical Center of San Antonio
15-20 minute wellness visits by phone, (210) 616-0885

Guardian House
Free daily support group, noon Monday-Friday, (210) 733-3349

Cross Bridge Church
Pastor Shawn Sullivan, (210) 849-5905

Reflection International Ministries
Ramon Chapa, (210) 365-5250

CJC Life Church
Text (210) 724-3353 to begin the process

Mind Your Self Counseling
Support for ages 5 and up, (210) 564-9116

Stephen A. Cohen Clinic at Endeavors
Virtual appointments for veterans and immediate family, (833) 286-8387

Providence Place
Marriage and family therapy, (210) 643-7464

Aguilar said that by thinking “about what you value,” personally and professionally, and “the things that drive those values,” business owners can create a plan of action.

“Small-business owners are having to think about the challenges and ethics involved, because economically there is a need, but from a social or population health perspective” they may wonder if they are doing the right thing for the community, Aguilar said. “If you can focus on one thing that is related to what you value the most, it can help you feel better about making decisions and also help with mental health.”

For small-business owners to stay grounded, Aguilar used the metaphor “dropping the anchor,” which involves “acknowledging thoughts and feelings and engaging in the present moment to guide decision-making.”

“We are all facing a big storm but we may not all be in the same boat, and dropping the anchor won’t make the storm go away but it will keep the boat in place,” Aguilar said.

Williams recommended “giving each other quite a bit of grace to have differing opinions.”

“When people are afraid, they can’t help in that moment that they are afraid, and we need to not be judgmental abo ut their behavior so they won’t be judgmental about our behavior,” Williams said. “Remember that ultimately we want a good outcome not just for ourselves, but for each other, because that will win the day.”

But for those moments when people are too overwhelmed with their emotions to process them reasonably on their own or through conversations with trusted peers, the panelists said it’s important for people to know what resources are available to people who need help from trained professionals.

“There is a difference between being down and upset and being depressed,” Williams said, explaining that depression stays with a person; it’s not a feeling one simply moves on from.

In addition to talking openly about feelings both at and outside of work, panelists encouraged people experiencing overwhelming emotions to spend 30 minutes a day doing something active or meditative, including spending time outside or going for a walk, and “giving yourself grace and prioritizing what is important in a given moment.”

For those with children at home, it might be that math is not the thing needing to be prioritized at the moment. Remind yourself that teachers were trained to know how to teach their students, Dyurich said.

Noting that most entrepreneurs are high achievers, Aguilar said it can be important to “dial back down the expectations you set for what can be accomplished.”

“During this time people need to learn how to better embrace and respond to change,” Aguilar said. “We might not have the most optimal circumstance in our home or at work, but we can remember we are trying to do our best.”

Panel to Discuss Entrepreneur Anxieties Fueled by Coronavirus Pandemic

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Tue, 26 May 2020 19:42:11 GMT

This story was originally published by San Antonio Report and can be found here .

In an effort to address the unique challenges small business owners and entrepreneurs have faced during the coronavirus pandemic, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) is hosting a mental health webinar on Thursday to discuss stress and anxiety in the business community. The goal is to help “normalize the conversation” and empower those in need to reach out for help.

“The mental health concerns experienced by [small business owners] and entrepreneurs is something that we have seen” increase over the years, with more people dying by suicide and experiencing crises, SAHCC Chairwoman Dr. Erika Gonzalez said. “When the pandemic occurred, there were more and different mental health issues that arose as small business owners struggled to keep their doors open and people employed.”

The COVID-19 Mental Health Webinar, moderated by Rivard Report Editor and Publisher Robert Rivard, will discuss mental health challenges for small business owners, including entrepreneurs with children juggling work and home life demands, stresses and risks involved in owning a small business, and information about available resources for those needing support.

Panelists include Clarissa Aguilar, behavioral health consultant with the Center for Health Care Services, Bexar County’s mental health authority, Adriana Dyurich, a licensed counselor with UT Health San Antonio, and Dr. Ted Williams, founder of Genesis Psychiatric Center and UT Health San Antonio psychiatry professor.

Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, chair of SAHCC’s healthcare and bioscience committee, said the panelists were selected because of their mental health expertise but also their entrepreneurial experiences that “help give insight and reflection into the stresses of small business ownership.”

“How small business leaders have been handling the stress of COVID-19 is something important to talk about because mental health has quite a stigma attached to it, and at the same time, we have the least resources in San Antonio [to address it],” Ochoa said. “If a person had a previous mental health concern, it might be even worse for them now, and we need people to keep checking in on how they are being impacted.”

Ochoa said SAHCC’s health and bioscience committee had planned to spend this year creating a health and wellness program for employees of small businesses that included a strong mental health component, but “this pandemic turned everything upside down” and the focus shifted to the employers.

The committee is now dedicating that time to discussing how the anxiety and uncertainty already attached to the entrepreneurial experience is exacerbated due to coronavirus, and that it is more important than ever to reach out for help.

“As small business owners, we are used to handling stressful situations, but we are trying to make sure we put out there that despite the ability to handle stress, it’s OK if a person needs help,” Ochoa said.

The webinar will air on Zoom from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, and is open to the public free of charge. To register in advance, click here .

City Officials Collect More than 16,000 Cloth Face Coverings to Donate to Senior Centers

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Thu, 21 May 2020 19:37:44 GMT

This story was originally published by NEWS4SA and can be found here .