Resources can help educate patients about flu vaccine, acute bronchitis

This is part of an ongoing series of articles focusing on the tools and resources available to help FEP^® members manage their health.

Half of U.S. adults hospitalized for the flu have heart disease, and the risk of having a first heart attack is six times greater following a flu infection, according to the American Heart Association.** That risk can be substantially lowered by receiving the flu vaccine, but less than half of U.S. adults do so.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a flyer, Treating Influenza: Information for People at High Risk for Serious Flu Complications,** to help health care providers educate patients with chronic conditions on the importance of flu vaccinations.

Preventing and treating bronchitis

If a patient develops acute bronchitis or bronchiolitis, the CDC also developed a patient education flyer, Preventing and Treating Bronchitis,** you can distribute. The flyer provides information on what acute bronchitis is, symptoms, when to seek medical care and treatment recommendations, including why antibiotics aren’t used.

Information about FEP

For information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program^® benefits, providers and members can visit fepblue.org or call Customer Service at 1-800-482-3600.

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.