Lifespan Lyme Disease Center opens at Newport Hospital

LIFESPAN HAS created the Lifespan Lyme Disease Center at Newport Hospital, which it said is the first of its kind in the state.
LIFESPAN HAS created the Lifespan Lyme Disease Center at Newport Hospital, which it said is the first of its kind in the state.

NEWPORT – Lifespan has created the Lifespan Lyme Disease Center at Newport Hospital, which it said is the first of its kind in the state.
Lifespan, in a news release, noted the rise in the incidence of tick-borne diseases over the past decade, particularly Lyme disease in the Northeast.
It said the center unites academic and clinical infectious disease experts, adding that therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and physical therapy, and nutrition guidance and more, are available to those who need it.

“This is a big medical problem and a big challenge, particularly in Rhode Island,” Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan, medical director of the Lifespan Lyme Disease Center, said in a statement. “Reported cases of Lyme disease in Rhode Island alone rose fourfold over the past six years, and the rise in other tick-borne illnesses, such as babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, is almost as steep.”

“Our team of infectious diseases specialists is highly experienced in treating patients with these conditions,” he added, “particularly those coping with post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, sometimes called chronic Lyme disease. We collaborate with specialists in neurology, rheumatology and other fields to provide integrated, seamless care for patients with acute tick-borne illnesses, especially those who continue to struggle with symptoms after the initial infection has been treated.”

The center will offer diagnosis and testing for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. It also will create customized treatment plans for patients.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients treated for Lyme disease with a recommended two- to four-week course of antibiotics will have lingering symptoms of fatigue, pain, or joint and muscle aches. In some cases, these can last for more than six months, the release stated.

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“There are newer tick-borne illnesses that we are just starting to discover and all of these can affect patients’ lives – their ability to work and live as they wish,” said Dr. Rebecca Reece, a lead physician at the Lifespan Lyme Disease Center. “This is a place where patients will be cared for long term. It’s not enough to tell patients that the infection has been treated. We want patients to know that we’re going to work through the lingering effects to help them feel better.”

The Lifespan Lyme Disease Center is accepting patients. It is in Suite 340 of the Borden-Carey Building, 19 Friendship St. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with clinics held on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only. For information, please call 401-845-1644 or visit www.Lymediseaseri.org.

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