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After working for forty years as a bank’s financial officer, Ginnie was enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Then one day after taking a hot shower, she noticed a group of itchy red bumps on her arms and legs. They soon disappeared and Ginnie thought little more of them until they recurred the next day and the next. Now, they were becoming annoying. Soon the hives were coming and going at all times of the day and night, not just after showering. They could pop up after Ginnie played tennis or wake her in the middle of the night. Nothing Ginnie did seemed to help. She tried changing her diet, smearing herself with all manner of salves, even eating kale! Yet, after 2 months, the blasted hives would continually come and go, come and go and Ginnie seemed helpless to do anything about it. Ginnie decided to consult a Board Certified Allergy and Asthma Specialist. We spoke to Ginnie extensively about her hives, taking time to find out all we could about what brought them on, where and when they occurred. Allergists know that it is often the fine details one gleans from talking to a patient about their medical problems that best lead to a diagnosis and, ultimately, a solution to the problem. After an exam and some specialized tests, we determined that Ginnie was making antibodies against cells within her own skin, a not uncommon condition called Chronic Autoimmune Urticaria. We recommended initially a daily medication that would immediately control her hives and restore some normalcy to her life. Eventually, Ginnie decided with us that the best treatment choice for her was a once monthly injection that would also prevent her hives and allow her to enjoy her retirement free of itching.
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Nicole is a sixth grade science teacher who has always taken good care of her health, particularly her asthma. She exercises regularly, watches her diet and gets regular check-ups with her doctor. All through college she took her Advair twice daily as her doctor directed and was on her school’s crew team. Rarely did her breathing interfere with either her studies or her sports. Now in her 30s though, Nicole has found she needs more and more of her “rescue inhaler,” albuterol, just to get through her normal daily activities, like rushing to work in the morning. The doses and number of drugs she takes for her asthma has gradually crept upwards over time, but her symptoms don’t seem to be getting any better. When even exercising at the gym became difficult, Nicole came to a Board Certified Allergy and Asthma Specialist for help.
We started by talking to Nicole about her asthma, about how it affected her life and how her ability to control it had changed. We did a specialized physical exam and some tests to see what type of asthma she had and what triggered her symptoms. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lung’s small airways, and what causes that inflammation in any given person can vary. In Nicole’s case, we found she had an excess of eosinophils in her blood. Eosinophils are a particular kind of white blood cell which some people overproduce causing allergic swelling in the lungs and worsening asthma. We recommended a medication that, when taken just once every two weeks, lowered Nicole’s eosinophil count to normal levels. Soon she was able to get back to her normal active life without having to rely on the bag full of inhalers she initially carried in to our office. Take the Asthma Control Test. If your score is not at least 19, your asthma may not be as well controlled as it could be! Make an appointment at MN Allergy, Asthma and Immunology with a Board Certified Allergy and Asthma Specialist today! 651-795-9800 July 22, 2018 - Minnesota-based professional management services company Aalto, LLC (d/b/a “Aülto”) announced it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Dr. Jay Lou’s Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Clinic ("AAIC"). AAIC is a well-established and highly regarded provider of allergy and asthma specialty medical services with clinic locations in Shoreview and Stillwater, Minnesota. Aülto will provide its clinical and administrative support services to AAIC’s providers, staff, and patients with an emphasis on improving the quality of patient care and overall patient experience.
Aülto’s management team is enthusiastic about the partnership. Russ Rosckes, CEO of Aülto, emphasizes that “AAIC and Aülto are a natural fit for each other. Both organizations are aligned that the highest quality of patient care and experience is best accomplished in an independent setting”. Jon Farnsworth, COO and General Counsel of Aülto, noted “physicians want to remain independent, but don’t expect it to be a reality in today’s healthcare environment. Too often independent medical clinics feel like their only option is to be acquired by big health care. Aülto is excited to offer an alternative practice model that will enable AAIC to remain independent while providing the highest level of patient care.” |
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