January, 2025

Is it strep throat?

If you have a sore throat, you may decide to see your health care provider to determine whether you have strep throat, a condition that can be very uncomfortable. Strep throat is caused by the bacteria group A streptococcus. It's a generally mild disease that infects the throat and tonsils. When an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, they spread strep-containing droplets into the air. You may breathe them in or touch your mouth or nose after touching an infected surface or object. If you'r...

Lung cancer screening saves lives

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. One reason: It doesn't often have symptoms in its early stages, when it's easier to treat. That's why an annual low-dose CT LDCT screening is a lifesaving test for people at high risk for lung cancer. Screening can help find lung cancer early, before symptoms start. That can mean more treatment options—and better outcomes. Who should get screened? LDCT screening is recommended for people who are at high risk for developing lung c...

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. 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 scab over in about a ...

Watson Clinic Medical Provider Name Changes

Three Watson Clinic medical providers have recently undergone name changes. Please make note of these changes if scheduling an appointment with either of them. Brooke Bambridge, APRN , a registered nurse practitioner who works with board-certified OB-GYN specialist Dr. Samantha Curtis from our Watson Clinic Bella Vista Building location, has changed her name to Brooke Chang, APRN . Appointments may be scheduled by calling 863-680-7243 or online at WatsonClinic.com/BrookeChang . Makenzie Gordon, ...

Be a blood donor—and a hero

Every blood donor is a hero. One generous donation can save multiple lives. If you have never donated blood before, or if it has been a while, now is a perfect time to roll up your sleeve. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is needed every day of the year. Blood is essential for emergencies, such as when someone experiences a severe injury in a car accident. It is also needed daily for various medical procedures, including cancer treatment, surgery and blood transfusions. ...

Important Notice Regarding Appointment Scheduling

Due to high call volumes, we encourage you to utilize your MyChart Patient Portal account for prescription refills, questions for your care team or to cancel an appointment. This will ensure shorter call wait and response times for all of our patients and team members. If you don't have a free MyChart account of your own yet, you can register in minutes at WatsonClinic.com/MyChart . Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.