Season 15 American Idol finalist Gianna Isabella, Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Monmouth County Freeholders, Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso and representatives of American Family Care Urgent Care (AFC) were at the ribbon-cutting for the walk-in medical facility in Aberdeen last week. The facility is located at 1140 Route 34.
According to a press release issued by the practice, “AFC urgent care center provides a comprehensive suite of medical services that save families time and money. The center is staffed with skilled medical professionals who are deeply committed to providing outstanding medical care.”
The practice will be open seven days a week provides treatment for patients with non-life threatening injuries and minor ailments, Albert Saad, CEO of AFC Urgent Care, explained about the walk-in medical practice.
“We don’t sell a product — we sell a service. “Lacerations, coughs, colds, bruises, cuts or infections, please come see us. We are going to take really good care of our patients.”
In what Saad describes as a “moderately complex lab,” there is the of full scope digital x-rays, state-of-the-art diagnostics and routine heath exams are among the services the medical practice offers patients. Saad added the practice strictly hires board certified physicians: “You always will know that you will be treated by a knowledgeable and experienced medical professional.”
Dr. Avery Browne, Medical Director at AFC Urgent Care, was asked in an interview if medical professionals will conduct cardiac exams during routine sports physicals as a way of detecting ailments such as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and could result in cardiac arrest or death. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “HCM is the most common cause of sudden death in young competitive athletes and pre-participation screening programs have to be implemented to avoid these tragic fatalities.”
“We try to prevent Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” Browne said. “We start off with family history. This is very important because (the disease) is genetically linked. From there, if there is any history that indicates heart attack or death from a heart attack under the age of 50, that triggers a more extensive electrocardiogram (EKG).
“If (a patient’s) history is negative, then we go to a basic physical exam,” Browne continued, noting that an EKG is not performed unless a heart murmur is detected in the patient. He said certain murmurs require different medical exams.
A team physician for William Patterson University in Wayne, Browne said “he follows the standard guideline for precautions” when conducting sports related physicals.