Featured Archives - TrueCare

Patients & Vaccines with Dr. Kelsey Carrio | The O Factor

Guillermo Ramirez — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 22:04:49 +0000

Updated on: Oct 17, 2025

Summary

Host Dr. Jorge Otañez, TrueCare’s Associate Chief Medical Officer, sits down with Dr. Kelsey Carrio to talk about what actually helps patients say yes to vaccines: trust, clear conversations, and meeting people where they are. Published during Hispanic Heritage Month, the episode explores real barriers patients face and practical ways providers help people move from hesitation to action.

Key Takeaways

Trust beats fear. When care feels like family and explanations are clear, decisions get easier. Cost worries, language gaps, and “I’d rather not know” can delay visits, but low-cost options, on-site pharmacies, insurance enrollment support, and mobile clinics change the equation. Short daily movement, adding more color to your plate with fruits and vegetables, and 7 to 8 hours of sleep still matter more than hacks.

What We Covered

Patients don’t arrive as blank slates; they arrive with stories, obligations, and sometimes a backlog of questions. “Sometimes the prescription they need is just a social visit,” Dr. Otañez says, and you can hear it in the way both clinicians talk about showing up. Dr. Carrio describes the resilience she sees daily and the power of taking it one step at a time for people who’ve put off care.

Language is a turning point. When Dr. Carrio walks in and greets someone in Spanish, the visit changes. “Oh, you speak Spanish—now I can ask all the questions I’ve had for three visits.” That moment unlocks care, and it’s why having more than 60% bilingual staff matters. It shortens the distance between worry and plan.

Hesitancy isn’t stubbornness; it’s often risk management with bad inputs. Social feeds tell people vaccines make you sick or aren’t necessary. The reality is less dramatic: soreness or fatigue is a sign the immune system is doing its job, and serious reactions are rare. When someone is due for multiple shots, the advice is practical, not pushy: start with the most important today and schedule the others. One of Dr. Carrio’s favorite stories ends with a daughter convincing her dad to finally get his flu shot—sometimes the nudge comes from home.

Flu season is long, and access matters. You can get vaccines at our health centers or at mobile events that bring care into neighborhoods. If cost is a concern, ask about low-cost options and help with insurance enrollment. For general fitness questions, Dr. Otañez notes that exercising while fasting is usually safe for healthy people, but anyone with diabetes, insulin use, or certain medications should check with their provider first.

About the Guest

Kelsey Carrio, MD, is TrueCare’s Associate Clinical Director for Adult Medicine and a primary care provider at TrueCare Oceanside. Her work focuses on preventive care, patient education, and addressing vaccine hesitancy with clear, compassionate conversations.

Educational information only; not a substitute for personal medical advice. Talk with your provider about what’s right for you and your health care needs.

Ready to prioritize your health? Get your flu shot and Get Care today.

The post Patients & Vaccines with Dr. Kelsey Carrio | The O Factor appeared first on TrueCare.

Fulfilling Our Promise of Care: Adapting to Change, Staying True to Our Patients

Shannon Mbuthia — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 20:29:02 +0000

To Our Valued Patients,

The outcome of the 2024 election has many community members talking about the future of health care. We want to take a moment to reaffirm a truth that is at the heart of everything we do at TrueCare: Your health and well-being remain our top priority.

Our organization, which began over 50 years ago, continues to fulfill its mission of being a central resource of health and support to our community, regardless of changes in the political climate.

Here’s what you can always count on:

Everyone is welcome here: Your background, economic situation, or immigration status will never affect the care you receive.
Compassionate, quality care: We provide health services tailored to your needs, ensuring you feel safe, supported, and valued.
Advocacy for balance: We actively stand up for the rights of all individuals to access the care they deserve, regardless of external changes or challenges.

We know that times of change can bring uncertainty, and while we don’t know what the future holds, one thing we are certain of is that we are here to support you every step of the way. We are proud to be a part of this community and are committed to monitoring the health care and legislative environment to provide you with any updates that might impact your ability to access health care.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at (760) 736-6767.

Thank you for trusting us to be your partner in health and well-being.

The post Fulfilling Our Promise of Care: Adapting to Change, Staying True to Our Patients appeared first on TrueCare.

Self-Care Tips for Postpartum Depression

Shannon Mbuthia — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 23:39:02 +0000

We understand that pregnancy and childbirth can be a challenging time for new mothers. In this blog, we discuss postpartum depression and self-care tips to promote your own well-being. We hope that this information helps you feel more confident and empowered as you navigate this new chapter in your life.

As a new mom, there is a lot going on after your baby arrives. You spend almost every waking moment caring for your newborn, which makes taking time for yourself difficult.

As hard as it might be at times, we encourage moms to make sure they at least schedule and make it to their postpartum checkups. These medical checkups are to make sure you’re recovering well from labor and delivery, and adjusting to all the changes a new baby brings. Even if you’re feeling fine, this is an important part of your overall pregnancy care.

Self-care for Postpartum Depression

Diet – It is important for new mothers to continue their well-balanced pregnancy diet, which should include whole grain breads, cereals, fresh fruit, vegetables, protein, and dairy products. Drinking 8-10 glasses of liquids a day is also recommended. If breastfeeding, it is advised to add one additional milk serving daily. It is best to limit drinks like coffee, teas, sodas, or other caffeinated drinks, and to avoid alcohol while breastfeeding.

Breast Care – Proper breast care is essential for nursing mothers. It is recommended to wash your hands before nursing and clean your breasts with only water. If you have sore nipples, make sure you have a proper positioning/latch. A little of your own breast milk or lanolin rubbed in after each feeding will help symptoms resolve. If you need additional assistance with breast care related to nursing, lactation professionals are available to help.

If you need additional assistance with nursing, TrueCare offers virtual breastfeeding support groups. If you are a WIC member, call our Breastfeeding Helpline at (888) 477-6333 (7:30am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri).

Cesarean Birth – If you have had a cesarean birth, you will see a clinician approximately one week after delivery. In the meantime, it is important to keep your incision clean and dry and avoid scrubbing it. Washing with soap and water is okay.

TrueCare’s Dr. Eimaneh Mostofian adds, “I highly recommend avoiding any type of cleaning products, soaps, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol on the skin to clean the incision. Effectively, leaving the incision alone and keeping it covered and supported by placing a peri-pad over the incision is sufficient. If you start to notice a separation, excessive moisture, a foul smell, or bleeding from the incision site, please call your provider.”

Bleeding – After giving birth, you will have a menstrual type bleeding called “lochia.” It is similar to a heavy period the first few days. The flow will become lighter, and its color will change from red/brown to light pink to yellow. It is recommended to rinse around your vagina every time you use the toilet. Do not put anything in your vagina, not even a tampon, until you have been seen for your postpartum exam.

Stitches – If you have stitches and they are uncomfortable, warm showers and baths are soothing. You may also take Tylenol or Motrin/Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours. If you experience severe or constant pelvic/abdominal pain, please call your provider.

Hemorrhoids – If hemorrhoids are bothering you, you may put Tucks pads on your hemorrhoids. Adequate fluid and fiber intake, as well as walking, will help you avoid constipation. If you have a bathtub, soaking in a hot bath can help too.

After Birth Pains – You may notice cramps as the uterus returns to normal size. If they are uncomfortable, taking Tylenol or Motrin/Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours will help with the pain. If you experience severe or constant pelvic/abdominal pain, please call your provider.

Emotional Changes – Many new mothers feel emotional and may feel like crying one minute and laughing the next. Physical changes and lack of sleep can make this more difficult. It is important to set aside some time for yourself and try to relax with a bath, reading, or meditation/journaling. Allowing friends and relatives to help you so that you can get plenty of rest is also recommended. If you feel your emotional changes are troublesome to you, or if you need to talk to someone, please call your provider.

Rest – It is important to rest whenever the baby rests. Getting help so someone else can do the housework, cooking, and shopping is recommended. After two (2) weeks, you may start walking 15-20 minutes a day for exercise. Do not pick up anything heavier than your baby until you have your six (6) week postpartum exam.

Bottle-Feeding Mothers – If you choose to bottle-feed your baby, avoid any stimulation to your breast and wear a properly fitted bra. Apply ice packs if breasts are full or engorged. You may also take Tylenol or Motrin/Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours for discomfort. It may take 3-5 days for your milk to dry up; but it is not unusual for it to take up to 10 days. Medication is not needed for milk to dry up. We do not encourage pumping if you choose to exclusively formula-feed your baby, as this will only cause you to produce more milk.

When to call your provider:

If you develop a temperature of 100.4 or greater.
If you are saturating two (2) pads in an hour.
If you are having trouble urinating.
If you are having difficulty breastfeeding or if you have painful red lumps in your breast.
If you have strong abdominal pain that is not better after taking Ibuprofen.
If you have foul smelling vaginal discharge or discharge from your stitches.
If your cesarean incision appears red, has discharge and/or is getting more painful.

Is it the Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?

The baby blues may start within a few days of giving birth and fade away after the first 2 weeks. New mothers may feel weepy, drained, anxious, irritable, and overwhelmed.

Up to 20% of new mothers may have feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, irritability, sadness, and loneliness that last longer than a few weeks. They may also cry a lot, have trouble eating or sleeping, may not feel bonded to the baby, and may think about hurting themselves.

Many mothers may experience postpartum anxiety on its own or together with symptoms of depression. Mothers may feel nervous or have a constant worry about the baby. They may feel panicky or experience panic attacks that feel like they are losing control. They also may have repetitive thoughts of harming or harm coming to the baby. Some mothers may have had a traumatic pregnancy or birth experience that they keep re-experiencing in their mind.

Postpartum Psychosis is a rare condition often associated with an underlying mental health disorder and usually occurs within the first few weeks after birth. The mother may have severe mood swings, hallucinations, and irrational or delusional thoughts involving harming themselves or baby. Postpartum Psychosis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Do you ever feel like this?

Crying a lot
Irritable, anxious, or overwhelmed
Sleep or eating problems
Feeling like something is just not right

If you experience any of the above symptoms, reach out for help.

TrueCare’s Women’s Health providers are here to ensure your prenatal care, labor, delivery are as healthy as they can be. That level of quality care continues after pregnancy too! Contact TrueCare for all your women’s health needs. Our providers are here for you!

Additional resource: The San Diego Postpartum Health Alliance operates a support and referral line: at (619) 254-0023 or visit PostpartumHealthAlliance.org for more information.

Resources:
National School of Healthcare Science
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Cleveland Clinic

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this website.

The post Self-Care Tips for Postpartum Depression appeared first on TrueCare.