October, 2017

Am I a Candidate for Hip Replacement?

Each year in the U.S., more than 330,000 people have surgery to replace diseased, injured or worn-out hips with new artificial parts, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The typical hip replacement patient is between 50 and 80 years old. But recommendations for surgery are based on a person's pain and disability, not age. Regardless of age, most people who have hip replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction in pain and a noticeable improvement in mobility and qu...

5 Ways to Avoid a Return Trip to the Hospital

Having to stay in the hospital is probably not your idea of a good time. And when you're discharged, chances are you don't want to return. It's nice to have skilled, compassionate care you can depend on when you need it. But staying healthy—and avoiding a return trip to the hospital—is everyone's preference, and it's what we want for you too. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of people discharged from hospitals nationwide are readmitted within 30 days. Reducing readmission rate...

Why You Need a Will

Do you have a will? If not, then it's time to get serious about putting one in place. Experts say that virtually everyone with anything of value should have a will—a legal document in which you say how your money,property and other assets should be distributed after you die. Having a proper will in place can help you accomplish a lot of things that may be important to you. For instance, you can: • Say how much of your estate you'd like to leave to your family and your favorite charit...

Could it be Asthma?

Imagine the challenge of trying to breathe through a straw for minutes or hours on end. That's how breathing can sometimes feel for people who have asthma—a chronic lung disease that causes the airways to narrow, making it difficult to breathe. More than 25 million Americans now live with asthma, and that number continues to rise. While the disease affects people of all ages, it most often starts in childhood. It's important to recognize the symptoms of asthma and to get medical ...

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Thomas McMicken

We are deeply saddened to announce that Watson Clinic Bartow family medicine physician Dr. Thomas McMicken passed away on Wednesday, October 11. Dr. Tom McMicken will be deeply missed here at Watson Clinic and in our greater community. Tom was one of our Clinic’s most beloved physicians. The McMicken family will receive friends Friday, October 20, 2017 in the afternoon,2-4 pm, and in the evening, 6-8 pm, at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 EastMain Street, Bartow, Florida. The fun...