Frequently Asked Questions

Our doctors in Altamont, Effingham, Teutopolis & Dieterich use HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, IL if an admission is needed. Our Greenville Doctors use HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, IL.

All of our Physicians are Board Certified. All maintain privileges at HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital or HSHS Holy Family Hospital which carefully monitors its physicians and compares them to national standards. All meet state and federal requirements for licensing and continuing medical education.

Please ask to speak to the office manager or a nurse. Please be frank about your problem. Perhaps we did not understand the issue. Perhaps we can help with a second opinion.

Call the billing office at 217-347-2707.  We are glad to set up a reasonable payment plan.

A cold and the flu (influenza) are two different illnesses. A cold is relatively harmless and usually clears up by itself after a period of time, although sometimes it may lead to a secondary infection, such as an ear infection. However, the flu can lead to complications, such as pneumonia and even death. What may seem like a cold, could, in fact, be the flu. Be aware of these differences:

Cold Symptoms

• Low or no fever
• Sometimes a headache
• Stuffy, runny nose
• Sneezing
• Mild, hacking cough
• Slight aches and pains
• Mild fatigue • Sore throat
• Normal energy level or may feel sluggish

Flu Symptoms

• High fever • A headache very common
• Clear nose
• Sometimes sneezing
• Cough, often becoming severe
• Often severe aches and pains
• Several weeks of fatigue
• Sometimes a sore throat
• Extreme exhaustion