As the dry season in Arizona intensifies, a spike in Valley fever cases is anticipated, provoking Banner Urgent Care to deploy innovative technology aiming to diagnose the infection in its early stages, potentially saving lives. Fox 10 Phoenix reports that Banner has implemented a new Valley fever dashboard incorporated into digital health records, giving physicians up-to-the-minute data on the fungal infection.
One patient benefiting from this advance is 71-year-old Marlene Starley, who described feeling so weakened by the disease that she was momentarily wheelchair-bound, "I just knew I was at the point where I didn't feel like I could raise my arms or my legs. They were so heavy," Starley recounted her ordeal to Fox 10 Phoenix. Valley fever, originating from fungal spores in soil, manifests with symptoms ranging from fever, cough, and exhaustion to more dire consequences, such as acute respiratory failure and in some isolated cases, patients may even die.
In a concerted effort to pre-empt the disease's progression, Banner Urgent Care's new protocol includes testing all pneumonia patients for Valley fever, unless a different cause is identified, with the help of their new dashboard, which is especially active in Maricopa and Pima County according to the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Robert Johns, the medical director at Banner Urgent Care, explains that while most infections are mild and resolve without intervention for cases that worsen, it's essential to stay ahead to prevent hospitalization or surgeries that might be required to remove lung tissue if untreated.
"Valley fever can occur all year round but is especially likely when the ground dries out and those fungus spores get into the air," Dr. Johns emphasized the endemic nature of the disease in the southwestern United States in a statement obtained by the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona. With approximately 25 locations, Banner Urgent Care offers accessible, cost-effective care for various non-emergency conditions in addition to their pioneering efforts in combating Valley fever, leveraging real-time data to understand, track the prevalence and manage outbreaks efficiently.
As Starley looks forward to a full recovery in two weeks, according to her doctors, Banner Urgent Care's initiative demonstrates the transformative power of intersecting healthcare and technology, poised to make significant strides in patient outcomes for those affected by Valley fever.
