Melaina Blomenkamp is one of MeMD’s board-certified Physician Assistants! She graduated from the Arizona School of Health Sciences with a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies and received her Bachelor of Science in Physicological Studies from the University of Arizona. She has over 17 years of clinical experience and has been with MeMD for over three years. Below she discusses how she became involved with telemedicine and how to treat poison ivy if you come in contact this summer:
What inspired you to become a Physician’s Assistant?
I had the amazing opportunity to shadow a PA whose dedication to his patients and love for his career I had never seen before. I wanted to take care of people the way that he did. My mother is also a Nurse Practitioner and I have been able to witness first-hand the ways she has changed her patient’s lives and at the same time have such satisfaction in the care she provides.
What prompted your interest in telemedicine?
My best friend works for MeMD and she introduced me to this amazing opportunity. I was intrigued to be able to provide patient care in a non-office setting with such convenience for everyone involved. I absolutely love the premise of telemedicine and I am so blessed to be a part of this company.
Has telemedicine impacted your perspective as a provider? If so, how?
I work full time in Emergency Medicine which is a very high-stress and high-energy job; telemedicine helps me to slow down and more fully enjoy what I do. It allows me to provide convenient patient care for urgent conditions. People are so thankful and appreciative which helps me remember how much I do enjoy medicine and helping others.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I spend most of my free time with my husband, two teenage children and Leonard our Whoodle (he is a Soft Coated Wheaten and Poodle). I enjoy developing and making healthy recipes, working out and finding creative outlets like decoration or painting.
Can you offer some tips to our readers for what to do if they come into contact with poison ivy or poison oak this summer?
- Remember the old saying “leaves of three let them be”
- Wear clothing to protect yourself from exposure
- If exposed, washing with a detergent soap, or one specially made for poison ivy, can be beneficial
- Topical therapies like oatmeal baths and cool compresses may be helpful
- Topical cortisone cream may also be helpful for itching, along with over the counter antihistamines
- You may require steroid medication prescribed by a medical professional deepening on the severity of symptoms
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If you find yourself suffering from symptoms of poison ivy, remember you can speak with a licensed medical provider privately and securely from the comfort of your own home or office using MeMD 24/7 – 365.
