Winter sports injuries often have the same three things in common – crash, twist and pop! Ohh yes, then there's number four - PAIN!
 

As the weather warms up, we tend to get more active outside. Whether it’s gardening, walking the dogs or going to the pool, summer is a time of increased activity for most people. With that increased activity, it is common to notice new aches and pains. A frequent injury we see year-round but more often in the summer months is injury to the tendons in your shoulder, called the rotator cuff. It is the most common cause of shoulder pain we treat at Denver Health.

When it comes to getting care when you suddenly get sick or injured, it's important to know the difference between urgent vs. emergency care and what type of care you should seek out. 

This has been a hot summer so far in Denver, and in addition to taking precautions for heat when we work or play outside this year, we are all encouraged to monitor for symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Heat Illness Symptoms versus COVID-19 Symptoms

The hot weather may make it difficult to tell the difference in symptoms of heat illness versus symptoms of COVID-19, as some symptoms of the novel coronavirus are similar to those of heat injuries. 

Similar symptoms include:

When your child gets sick or injured and you cannot get an appointment with their pediatrician right away, taking them to urgent care is a good option to make sure they get the care that they need. At the new Denver Health Downtown Urgent Care, we treat all patients, including children six months of age and older.

With summer now winding down – we can reflect on the memories of having fun: water slides at Elitch Gardens, basketball and kickball in the park, riding bikes and scooters around town and skateboarding. Every once in a while during those activities, you may twist an ankle or fall on an arm, which leads to a broken bone. As a doctor in Denver Health's Adult Urgent Care Center, I treat broken bones every day, year round – not just during the summer time.

Blue skies and sunshine are standards of living in Denver. Biking down your favorite mountain or relaxing in one of the parks is a big perk of summer in our state, but this can also mean dangerous sun and heat exposures, especially during the middle part of the day when the sun is the strongest. With the temperature set to hit 100 degrees this week, it is time to be aware of heat dangers and how to protect yourself and your family.

Heat Rash and Sunburn Symptoms

Effects from the heat range from mild to severe. On the mild end of the spectrum is heat rash.

When you or a loved one is suddenly injured or feeling very sick, there's a critical decision to make – do you need to go to urgent care or the emergency room?

By: Chi Zheng, M.D., Patrick Ryan, M.D. and Marisa Echaniz, M.D.

How Providers Are Working Together to Bridge the Divide

As hospitalists, we build bridges quickly. We build bridges with our patients when they are admitted, with the myriad of nurses they encounter in different departments throughout the hospital, with the emergency department and with our consultants. However, the important relationship bridging hospitalist and primary care providers (PCP’s) can be easily overlooked.