August, 2024

Setting the Standard in Urgent Care

Life’s little bumps and mishaps are often unavoidable. An unexpected bout of the flu, an injury during a game of football with friends, or an episode of dehydration from spending time in the scorching Florida sun are just a few of the scenarios where you could find yourself in need of immediate medical care. Thankfully, Watson Clinic’s three walk-in care facilities – Urgent Care Main , Urgent Care South and XpressCare Highlands – are open extended hours seven days a week ...

Provider Receives Recognition from FSC

Emily Beriswill, APRN , a registered nurse practitioner in the office of Watson Clinic South Internal Medicine specialist Dr. Guillermo Vasquez , was recently awarded special recognition for her contributions to Florida Southern College nurse practitioner students. Emily has precepted a total of nine students from FSC since 2018, which has constituted 1,276 hours of her time. During this process, the college’s nurse practitioner students shadow her patient appointments and other work she p...

Should you get a shingles vaccination?

If you've had chickenpox, even as a kid, you're at risk for shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. You can recover from chickenpox and forget all about it for decades—until the virus reactivates in your body and gives you a case of shingles. Symptoms of shingles Shingles' trademark symptom is a painful rash or blisters that are on one side of the body only. It usually shows up around your midsection or on your face. The blisters typically ...

What to know about psoriatic arthritis

If you have psoriasis, you should know about psoriatic arthritis PsA . These related autoimmune diseases both cause itchy, red patches and inflammation on the skin. PsA also causes pain and swelling in your joints. Researchers don't know why some people with psoriasis also develop PsA. They suspect it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Here's what you need to know about PsA. Watch for symptoms Be aware that symptoms often appear and disappear. Times when you experience increas...

The Importance of an Annual Eye Exam

Among the many routine healthcare screenings that patients are encouraged to prioritize, there’s one that is too often overlooked: the annual eye exam. Eye exams are essential for the screening of potential vision-threatening diseases says Dr. Elizabeth George , a board-certified Optometry specialist at Watson Clinic Main in Lakeland. During a routine exam, we assess the structures of the eye, screen for eye diseases, check eye muscle function, and even evaluate peripheral vision. If we no...