January 6, 2020 – Happy New Year to all of our RCAM families.
With the change of season, it is our tradition to change our banner picture – wishing an appreciative “goodbye” to Young Girl with Yellow Umbrella and a welcoming “hello” to Three Girls On a Sled (Editor’s Note: please operate all snow sledding devices with the utmost care, particularly when young children / infants are involved).
1-Flu Season Update: Ready or Not, Here We Go
Above are the last three years of flu data – including this year up to 12/28/2019.
This year’s numbers of new cases of influenza in the state of North Carolina is the red line that has been moving upwards the last few weeks.
The previous two years data is also shown on this graph and you may notice this year has begun the upward climb a bit earlier.
Therefore, if you are planning to get a flu vaccine, you want to do that pretty soon (NOTE: October and November are typically the best months to get your flu vaccine to be as ready as you can for when flu starts being active).
2-We Still Have Lots of Flu Vaccine Available
From the above graphic, you can see that Flu activity doesn’t typically peak until February – so, there could still be some benefit from getting your flu vaccine if you haven’t gotten yours yet.
3-Long Time RCAM Office Manager Debbie Maness to Retire After 41 Years
Debbie began working with RCAM as a nurse on May 1, 1978 when it was known as “Fleming, Edwards, and Goldman”.
Also in 1978:
- Jimmy Carter was president
- Smallpox was eradicated
- First birth of an infant from in vitro fertilization
- “Stayin’ Alive” from the Bee Gees was the 2nd most popular song (How did that get beat out by Players’ “Baby Come Back” for number one?)
- Grease was the most popular movie
- Most TVs had about 3 channels (and no cable bill) and the number one show was “Laverne and Shirley“
One day, Dr. Fleming asked her if she would be the office manager and – yada yada yada – its been 41 years and her last day before retirement will be February 28, 2020.
Debbie has seen our office through countless transitions: new Pediatricians, new Offices, Second Offices, computer systems, electronic medical records… and I think we had all those things happened in 2006. So, if you just multiply all that by 40 and you have an idea of Debbie’s spectrum of work.
Probably the hardest thing is not answering to just one person. Instead, she had between 3 and 8 bosses at any one time – keeping all those physician-owners happy was the impossible task that was placed on her shoulders every day.
We have been so lucky to have had her fill such an important job for us for so long. I know of no one who has been more dedicated to the success of our office – who has put more blood, sweat and tears into it than Debbie Maness.
We have had some pretty big losses over the last few years with the retirements of Leigh Lehan, MD and Marjorie Carr, MD – this loss leaves just as big of shoes to fill.
[NOTE: We are excited that Brian Carter has agreed to fill Debbie’s role as RCAM Office manager after February 28th. More about him later. You may have noticed him around the office this past month as he has been taking some time learning the ropes.]
4-Holiday Card Record Eclipsed
Thank you for send us your Holiday Cards (Note: the above pic is NOT one of your Holiday Cards).
It is a highlight of our year when your cards cover the walls of our office.
This year a total of 319 cards were displayed in our Duraleigh Office. This surpassed last year’s previous record total of 278 cards.
We save your cards each year and display each family’s cards together. For the month of December we get a clear visual of our families growing and maturing.
Next year, add us to your list of card recipients:
Raleigh Children & Adolescents Medicine
Holiday Card Department
3100 Duraleigh Road, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27612
