SmartCare Adds a Healthy Dose of Convenience to This Year’s Flu Shot Season

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ — SmartCare Family Medical Centers, which operates retail-based, walk-in medical clinics inside 15 Front Range Wal-Mart Supercenter locations, kicks off its flu shot season Oct. 1. Emphasizing convenience, vaccines are available seven days a week, with no appointment needed. Guests 18 months and older can receive the vaccine for $25.

Guests can receive a flu shot during SmartCare’s regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., without making an appointment. In addition, flu shot clinics — with extra medical staff to ensure little or no waiting — will be held Sundays in October and November from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each SmartCare location.

“For many people, particularly families, the hardest part about protecting themselves against the flu virus is actually finding time to get a flu shot,” said SmartCare’s Chief Nurse Practitioner Rebeca Imgrund, FNP-C. “At SmartCare, we place a premium on wellness and illness prevention, so we have made it more convenient for adults and children to do the single most important thing to protect themselves against the flu by getting a flu shot. Flu season typically begins in the fall and can last into springtime, so October and November are the best times to get vaccinated.”

Flu shots will be administered by SmartCare nurse practitioners; master’s degree-level educated registered nurses who are licensed to both diagnose ailments and prescribe medication, Pneumonia vaccinations for those at risk of chronic illness and those over 65, also are available for $49 each.

Imgrund suggests the following additional steps to protect against the flu and other respiratory illnesses:

    Wash your hands: This is the most important way to keep germs from    spreading and to avoid getting sick. Wash often with soap and water,    especially after you cough or sneeze. Teach your children this important    habit.     Use a tissue: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or    sneeze, and then throw the tissue away.     Eat smart: Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of    fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Certain foods and nutrients may help    your immune system, including garlic, vitamin C, zinc, ginger and even    chicken soup.     Stay hydrated: Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it    hydrates you. Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids a day.     Exercise regularly: To increase your body’s resistance to viruses, try to    get in an aerobic workout 3-4 times a week.     Avoid smoking and alcohol: Smokers tend to get more severe colds and more    frequent ones. Drinking can lower your resistance and dehydrate the body.   

“While following these guidelines isn’t a flu-free guarantee, they will improve your overall health. And if you are sidelined with the flu, you’ll increase the odds in your favor for a quicker recovery,” Imgrund said.

   SmartCare locations   Located within Wal-Mart Supercenters    Aurora:                                           Loveland:   5650 South Chambers Road   Denver:                1325 North Denver Avenue   6101 South Aurora Parkway  7800 East Smith Road   3301 North Tower Road                             Parker:                             Greeley:                11101 South Parker Road   Brighton:                 920 47th Avenue   60 West Bromley Lane                              Thornton:                             Lakewood:               9901 Grant Street   Broomfield:               7455 West Colfax Avenue   500 Summit Boulevard                              Westminster:                             Littleton:              9499 Sheridan Boulevard   Centennial:               13420 Coal Mine Avenue  200 West 136th Avenue   10900 Briarwood Avenue      About SmartCare Family Medical Centers  

Denver-based SmartCare Family Medical Centers operates retail-based, walk-in medical clinics for everyday family healthcare needs. Formed in 2004, the company aims to revolutionize the experience and delivery of healthcare by being the premier provider of specific-scope healthcare offering convenient, quality care from dedicated health professionals. SmartCare’s practitioners provide treatment for minor acute illnesses, blood tests, physicals and screenings, while emphasizing wellness and guest education. No appointment is necessary; centers are open extended hours — including evenings and weekends. SmartCare accepts most health insurance plans and self-pay. For more information, visit http://www.smartcarecenters.com/.

SmartCare Family Medical Centers

CONTACT: Sarah Cullen, +1-303-623-3366, scullen@johnstonwells.com, forSmartCare Family Medical Centers

Web site: http://www.smartcarecenters.com/