THEA NEWSLETTER OF THE OKLAHOMA ALLERGY & ASTHMA CLINIC Fall/Winter 2008

AllergistOAAC Spotlight:

James Claflin, M.D.

www.oklahomaallergy.com

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Raised in Wakita, Oklahoma, now fa-mous as the setting of the movie, Twister, James Claflin received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He completed his medi-cal school training at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

His pediatric training was accom-plished at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, with a Fellow-ship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. After serving several years in the Air Force, Dr. Claflin established South-west Asthma and Allergy Clinic at Fort Worth, Texas.

After several years in solo practice, he returned home in 1989 to become a member of the OAAC.

Dr. Claflin also suffers from allergies and asthma and discovered his calling to the field while he was in the military.

He is active in the Oklahoma Coun-try Medical Society serving as a director, president-elect and president. He has also served as a past chair and on various

James Claflin, M.D., Board Certified Allergist

The Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic recently launched a completely revamped website, www.oklahomaal-lergy.com.

“The new website is softer, more functional and user friendly. It allows patients to communicate, at their leisure, with staff and receive rapid responses when making appointments or inquir-ing about immunotherapy.” said Joseph Schraad, M.H.A., OAAC Chief Execu-tive Officer.

Two key components to the new web-site are the ability to make and resched-ule appointments and complete the “in-teractive” OAAC’s patient questionnaire on-line. Both processes are simple and automatically sends information to the Central Appointment Desk. “To main-tain patient confidentiality, all sensitive information is sent secured using special-ized encryption technology for privacy,” said Schraad

Patients can also communicate with the Extract Lab via email. They can place their allergy shots on hold if they going out of town. They can also update their mailing addresses through the website.

The website offers a wealth of in-

OAAC Revamps Website

formation. OAAC physician’s photos and biographies and several OAAC de-partments are listed. The links section can help with other websites that offer information to become more knowl-edgeable about allergies and asthma conditions. New patient information can also be helpful and the site has a question and answer area concerning asthma and allergies.

OAAC’s main office and satellite locations are listed with the hours for each, a photo of the buildings, maps, contact information and exact ad-dresses. You can also find driving di-rections from your house to the OAAC location.

On the main menu, you can ac-cess educational materials regarding allergies and asthma and print them for your reference.

The Allergy Report/Pollen Count are still posted but a new feature will allow web visitors to look back in time over the last three years to see what the conditions were on a certain day.

This is just a small sampling of what is available on the new website. Check it out!

Allergic reactions to latex happen more commonly in medical settings, where rubber gloves are in abundant supply. However, less-visible elements in other environments can also pose danger, according to John Bozalis, M.D. Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic board certified allergist.

of the allergy and request accom-modations as needed. Remember that the federal Ameri-cans with Disabilities Act provides workplace protections for individ-uals with latex allergy. If protective gloves are required for your job, your employer should consider an alternative synthetic material, which is equally effective in most situations. Ask your physician if you should

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Look Out for Latex in Unexpected Places

wear a medical bracelet identifying your allergy. An allergist/immunologist is the

best-qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat latex allergy and other allergic diseases. For more in-formation about latex allergies, con-tact your Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic physician at (405) 235-0040.

John Bozalis, M.D.

“Many restaurant meals are fre-quently prepared by cooks wearing la-tex gloves. School cafeterias may also be a threat but there is also potential ex-posure to latex in school supplies,” Dr. Bozalis said. “This type of inadvertent exposure poses a serious health risk to millions of Americans.”

Reactions to latex can result in skin irritation or anaphylaxis – which can be life threatening.

“Avoidance is the key to preventing an allergic reaction and the responsibil-ity of education often falls to the pa-tient,” he said.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) rec-ommends these tips for latex-allergic patients:

Avoid contact with latex products, including gloves, balloons and condoms. Inform your doctors, dentist, fam-ily, employer and school personnel

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Seasonal allergic rhinitis, often re-ferred to as “hay fever,” affects more than 35 million people in the United States. OAAC is also the source for pollen and mold counts for television and radio in Oklahoma City.

These seasonal allergies are caused by substances called allergens. Airborne pollens and mold spores are outdoor allergens that commonly trigger symp-toms during the spring and fall. During these times, seasonal allergic rhinitis suf-ferers experience increased symptoms-sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and itchiness in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears-depend-ing on where they live in the country and the exact allergen to which they are allergic.

Do’s and don’ts Following are some Dos and Don’ts

that you may want to follow during the pollen and mold seasons to lessen your exposure to the pollens or molds that trigger your allergy symptoms.

DO keep windows closed at night to prevent pollens or molds from drifting into your home. Instead, if needed, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools, and dries the air. DO keep your car windows closed when traveling. DO try to stay indoors when the pol-len count or humidity is reported to be high, and on windy days when

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dust and pollen are blown about. DO take a vacation during the height of the pollen season to a more pollen-free area, such as the beach or sea. DO take medications prescribed by your allergist regularly, in the rec-ommended dosage. DON’T take more medication than recommended in an attempt to less-en your symptoms. DON’T mow lawns or be around freshly cut grass; mowing stirs up pollens and molds. DON’T rake leaves, as this also stirs up molds. DON’T hang sheets or clothing out to dry. Pollens and molds may col-lect in them. DON’T grow too many, or overwa-ter, indoor plants if you are allergic to mold. Wet soil encourages mold growth.

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AAACHOOOO! It’s Hay Fever Time

“The Allergist” is published quarterly by the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic. Contents are not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician.

“The Allergist” welcomes your letters, comments or suggestions for future issues.Send to:The Allergist750 NE 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104-5051Phone: 405-235-0040www.oklahomaallergy.com

Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma ClinicEditorial Advisory BoardDean A. Atkinson, M.D.John R. Bozalis, M.D.James R. Claflin, M.D.Warren V. Filley, M.D.Richard T. Hatch, M.D.Charles D. Haunschild, M.D.Patricia I. Overhulser, M.D.James H. Wells, M.D.Karen Gregory, MS, APRN-BC, CNS, RRT, AE-C

Chief Executive OfficerJoseph A. Schraad, M.H.A.

Dr. Claflin... (continued from page 1)

councils, committees and taskforces for the Oklahoma State Medical Associa-tion.

Governor’s Task Force for HIPAA Implementation, and the Needlestick Injury Protection Committee. Ameri-can College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) activities have included Speaker, House of Delegates, and multiple committee assignments including Adverse Reaction to Foods (Past Chair), By-Laws (Chair), Site Se-lection, Membership Recruitment (past Chair) and Continuing Medical Educa-tion/Continuing Professional Develop-ment (Chair).

Dr. Claflin is also a member of the governing Board of Regents for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He has served as an Alternate Delegate to the American Medical Association for the Oklahoma State Medical Association.

Since 2001, Dr. Claflin has estab-lished a physician exchange program

with Oklahoma’s Sister-State, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China. The first “class” of Chinese physicians participated in educational observation from March-August, 2007, in Oklahoma City. The second “class” started educa-tional observation in April, 2008. For time spent with Chinese physician col-leagues, Dr. Claflin received the George Nigh Global Trade Award, 2006, and the Dunhuang Award from the Gansu Pro-vincial Peoples Government, 2007.

Dr. Claflin and his wife, Marcee, live in Edmond where they are or have been actively involved in community activi-ties, such as Edmond Fine Arts Coun-cil (President, Marcee). During 2007-2008, he was Secretary of the Leadership Oklahoma City Alumni Board. They are members of the Henderson Hills Baptist Church. The Claflins have two children and five grandchildren.

“I enjoy everything about the OAAC. I enjoy seeing the patients and working with the staff,” Dr. Claflin said.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association recently announced that leading manufacturers of pediatric over-the-counter cough and cold medicines would voluntarily modify the labels on these products to state that they should not be used in children under four years of age.

Previous product labels stated that medicines should not be used for chil-dren under two years old. Existing products with these labels will not be removed immediately from store shelves but are expected to be replaced eventu-ally with newly-labeled products.

Serious injuries and deaths have been reported among infants and chil-dren who received over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, but most ad-verse events resulted from overdoses or unsupervised taking of medicines.

For more information, visit the Con-sumer Healthcare Products Association

at www.chpa-info.org. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are develop-ing materials to educate parents, health-care providers and consumers about how and when these products can be used safely.

If you have questions about giving your children these types of medicines, please contact your Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic physician at (405) 235-0040.

Revised Product Labels for Pediatric Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medicines

Fall Allergy Capitals 2008

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America announced its 2008 Fall Al-lergy Capitals report, the annual research project that ranks the fall’s 100 most challenging cities to live for people with seasonal allergies. Many Americans may not be aware of fall allergies, but spring is not the only time you can have a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and/or con-gestion from upper respiratory allergies. In fact, the fall brings new allergy trig-gers that are not prevalent in the spring, such as ragweed. The Fall Allergy Capi-tals research, funded by a grant from the makers of Zyrtec, also shows that overall pollen concentrations have increased in the top allergy cities. Outdoor allergy triggers can make fall a very difficult time for the more than 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.

This year’s top 10 Fall Allergy Capi-tals are:

Greensboro, NCGreenville, SCLittle Rock, ARRaleigh-Durham, NCJackson, MSKnoxville, TNGrand Rapids, MIWichita, KSOklahoma City, OKMadison, WI

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.

Meet the Edmond Satellite OfficeThose who live in the Edmond area

can have the same conveniences and ser-vices available close to home. The Okla-homa Allergy and Asthma clinic has a satellite office at Sycamore Square, 120 N. Bryant, Suite A4, near Second Street and Bryant, across from Edmond Medi-cal Center.

Delma Clenney, RN, is the nurse manager at the satellite office which opened 13 years ago in Edmond. It has been at Sycamore Square for five years. Clenney has worked with the OAAC for 12 years.

Four OAAC physicians rotate through the Edmond office, Dr. Atkin-son, Dr. Claflin, Dr. Overhulser and Dr. Hatch.

Services offered at the office include allergy and asthma testing, pulmonary screening (function tests), patch testing for chemicals, food testing and allergy treatments.

“We pretty much do ev-erything they do down at the main location at the Oklahoma Health Center,” said Clenney.

The satellite office is staffed with rotating nurses who rotate with the physicians. “The office is centrally located in Edmond and our patients don’t have to travel outside of Edmond,” she said. “We have a friendly staff and are patient advocates. We also take many insurance programs.”

The Edmond office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-5:20 p.m. On Fridays, the office opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 11:40 a.m. For more information about the Edmond office, call the OAAC at (405) 235-0040. Visit the website to see a map of the location at www.oklahomaallergy.com

Staffing the Edmond Satellite office (front row left to right) Gillienne Castillo, Maria Koch, Christina Letender, and Tina Foster, (back row left to right) Dr. Patricia Overhulser, Dr. Richard Hatch, Delma Clenney, Dr. Dean Atkinson, and Dr. James Claflin.