Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus first identified in 2019. Flu is caused by infection with a flu virus. From what health experts know, COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and can cause more serious illness in some…
Monkeypox is a rare disease that causes a rash and flu-like symptoms and usually goes away on its own after two to four weeks. Monkeypox is spread when a person comes into contact with an infected animal or a person infected with the virus, although person-to-person transmission is less common. In the United States, the…
University Medical Center’s new clinic in Livingston is UMC’s sixth location and represents another step forward in its mission to bring primary health care services to West Alabama communities. Together, the UMC clinics form the largest community medical practice in the region with more than 150,000 annual patient visits. University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa is…
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University Medical Center opened a clinic in Livingston July 25 that will provide primary health care services to the Sumter County community. UMC is operated by The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences. Dr. Richard Friend, dean of the UA College of Community Health Sciences, said access to primary health…
The Health Matters Podcast is a series created in collaboration with WVUA-23 and Alabama Public Radio that features University Medical Center physicians and providers who bring awareness of important health issues and relevant and timely health information to the public. Gynecologic surgeries used to be major operations that left patients with large incisions and long…
As summer begins drawing to a close, many people are taking trips and vacations. Dr. Tom Weida, chief medical officer with University Medical Center, said travelers should continue to consider COVID-19 precautions when planning their trips. Learn More. Rural hospitals provide essential health care to rural communities, but when they close, residents must travel farther…
Drinking enough fluids is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heat illness, and water is generally sufficient for hydration. Dehydration, a primary contributor to heat exhaustion, occurs when people lose more fluid from the body than they take in. When this happens, the body doesn’t have enough water and other…
Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions or long COVID. The conditions can last weeks, months or years. Post-COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness. People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and…
A Message from Dr. Richard Friend, Dean of the College of Community Health Sciences Unfortunately, COVID-19 numbers are on the rise again. While we are hopeful that this spike is short lived, we are seeing a significant number of COVID-19 positive cases in Tuscaloosa and statewide. Positive COVID-19 cases are also spiking in many parts…
About this time every year, a new group of doctors joins The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program – and our team of physicians at University Medical Center. These interns, as they are called in the first year of the three-year residency, are medical school graduates seeking additional education and training so that…
