Influenza makes an early arrival in NJ -- Get your flu vaccine early this year

This year, the flu has arrived early and is hitting hard. CDC says that NJ is in a VERY HIGH flu activity category and the NJ Department of Health says that the entire state in in a MODERATE flu activity category. But these numbers will only get worse as we progress through the fall and into winter. Along with a surge in RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and COVID persisting and possibly increasing, it is more important than ever to receive the flu vaccine this year. The risk is even greater if you have any underlying medical conditions. Please call our office to schedule a flu shot or if you have any questions. References: NJ DOH, CDC.

COVID-19 Home Test Recall

Digital diagnostics company Ellume announced it is voluntarily recalling specific lots of the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test, the company’s rapid, at-home COVID-19 antigen test, because of an increased chance that tests from the affected lot numbers may give a false positive result. If you purchased one of Ellume's test kits, read their recall announcement for affected lot numbers and instructions on how to proceed. Globally, ore than 2 million test kits are affected by this recall.

Flu Vaccine

The annual Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot) is now available. We don't know yet what this year's flu season will look like, or when it will start, but it is better to be prepared, so get your flu shot NOW! We have both the standard dose and the high dose (for patients age 65+). You can receive this while in the office for any reason, or just give us a call and come in for the vaccine alone. In addition, if you complete the Flu Vaccine Sign-up Form we will send you an email when we receive the vaccine in future years. And Yes, you can receive a flu vaccine and a COVID vaccine together (separate arms) or in close temporal proximity.

COVID Vaccine Information

For the latest information on COVID vaccines, visit our new COVID Vaccine Information Page. Here we give you the full low-down on the vaccines, why you should get one, myths & truths, and boosters/third doses. There are resources for more information and to track the progress of COVID and the vaccines. We will update this page as new information becomes available. Last Updated: 07/19/2022 And Yes, you can receive a flu vaccine and a COVID vaccine together (separate arms) or in close temporal proximity.

Changing of the Guard - Dr. Lubin to Retire at the end of October

With the arrival of Dr. Yadav, Dr. Lubin has announced his retirement, effective October 31. Dr. Lubin joined Hightstown Medical Associates in 1986. He was the driving force behind HMA’s first computer system and created and still maintains the Hightstown Medical Associates web site. After 35 years of practice, and the arrival of his first grandchild, he has decided to start the next chapter of his life. We at HMA and Penn Medicine/Princeton Health wish him well on this journey. If you would like to do the same, you can read his retirement statement and post your well wishes on his farewell page. You can send him a message and, if you would like, upload a photo to help him remember you.

Dr. Avi Yadav joins HMA

Please join us in welcoming our newest physician, Aviral Yadav, DO, to our team. Dr. Yadav was born and raised in central New Jersey. He received an academic scholarship to Drexel University, where he dedicated his time on research into metabolism and obesity. After graduating magna cum laude in Biological Sciences, Dr. Yadav went on to earn his medical degree from LECOM-Bradenton in Florida. Here he finished at the top of his class while developing a passion for primary care medicine. His interest in primary care led him back to the northeast, where he completed his Family Medicine residency training at Jefferson Health. Dr. Yadav is Board Certified by the American Academy of Family Medicine (ABFM).

NJ Announces new Docket App to access your COVID Vaccine Status

Docket is a new app from the NJ Department of Health that makes it easier for you and your family to securely access your COVID-19 vaccination record. If you don't have your vaccination card with you or you have lost it, you can easily access your record through the app to provide proof of COVID-19 immunizations as needed. Individuals with an email or phone number on file with the New Jersey Immunization Information System can access and download their COVID-19 vaccination record using the app. The app can also provide access to family members' records through a shared account. For more information, and to download the app, go to the Docket Page on the Department of Health website. And while you are at it, why not also download the COVID Alert NJ app, which will notify you if you have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive?

Phillips Respironics CPAP Recall

Phillips Respironics has initiated a recall of many of their CPAP machines. If your machine is affected, it is recommended that you discontinue use of your machine. It is unclear if machines will be refurbished or replaced by the manufacturer. If your current device is over 5 years old, your insurance may cover cost of replacement. We recommend contacting your durable medical equipment provider (the company that provided you with your Respironics machine) and see if you are eligible for a new machine, and if not, whether your device will be replaced or repaired. Use the Respironics website to register your device - this will confirm that you have an affected device and begin the process of replacement by the manufacturer. There is also a contact number at Respironics if you would prefer to speak to someone there: 1-877-907-7508 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm Eastern Time (U.S.). For additional information, visit this website: https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/e/sleep/communications/src-update.

COVID-19 Vaccine -- Register for your vaccine

Two COVID vaccines are now approved in the US, with more coming (2-4 more in the next month or two). If you would like to get yours, you should register NOW. There are a number of places you can register; start with the state site, but then go to the other sites as well as this is not a well-coordinated system. For out of county sites, you may be rejected as a non-resident (possibly not until you show up for your appointment). Appointments open at unpredictable times and often fill very quickly, so keep trying. Here is the list of sites: NJ Site State list of sites state-wide <== This is a comprehensive list of megasites and by-county sites Princeton Healthcare System <== Not shown on the state-wide list (!?) Virtua.org Atlantic Health Hackensack Meridian RWJ Barnabas If you learn of other options, please let us know and we will add them.

CoronaVirus Information

Rather than re-invent the wheel, we thought we would provide you some links to help you find information on the Coronavirus and COVID-19. But we would like to point out one thing: the number of patients infected will ultimately turn out to be much larger than the numbers you are seeing. This is because we have only been testing symptomatic patients and the evidence suggests that 85+% of infected persons are asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic. So, until we have widespread testing to see who has been infected and not counted so far, I suggest you look at the Global Data link and compare countries by the Deaths Per Million Population column to see how the US compares to other countries. So here are the links: : UPenn : CDC - protecting yourself : CDC - cases in the US : CDC - evaluating & testing : US Data in real time : Global data : WHO Situation Reports (update daily at noon) : For comparison, some influenza numbers in the US this season

Happy Birthday HMA

1969 was a momentous year. Sure, there was that "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" moon walk. And a bunch of musicians got together in the mud at Woodstock. The US Air Force officially ended its investigation into UFOs. ARPANET was launched, the predecessor to the Internet. The Boeing 747 and the Concord made their first flights. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (movie), The Godfather (book) and Abbey Road (Beatles last album) released. The Miracle Mets win the World Series and Willie Mays becomes the first MLB player since Babe Ruth to hit 600 home runs (without steroids!). And a whole bunch of famous people were born. But the really momentous event of 1969 was the formation of Hightstown Medical Associates. This year is our 50th Anniversary. A lot has happened over those years, including our becoming part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System for the second time. So party on in our honor. And say Happy Birthday when you are in the office!

Now we are Penn Medicine (Again!)

With the start of 2019, and the merger of the Princeton Healthcare System into the University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System, we are once again* Penn Medicine! Our official name is now Penn Medicine Princeton Medicine Physicians - Hightstown Medical Associates, but we are the same HMA you have known since 1969. We have the same address and phone number, and the same commitment to your care that you have always known. But now we have access to all of the resources of the Penn Health System, including their world-renowned specialists. And, since we are on PennChart, the Penn implementation of Epic, we share records with Penn and any Princeton Medicine Physician you see. Or any other care you receive by an Epic doc nationally! * We were part of Penn from 1995-2000 - life goes full circle!

Nicole Mitchell joins HMA

Nicole joined HMA upon the retirement of Ginger Azarchi in 2018.

Danielle Daab joins HMA

Allow us to introduce Danielle Daab, who has replaced Jim Robin. Danielle received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Scranton, followed by her master's degree in critical care nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Over the next 25 years, she worked as a critical care nurse at numerous major hospitals including Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Capital Heath System in Trenton, and Princeton Medical Center. As a Registered Nurse, Danielle has extensive experience in cardiology, neurology, emergency medicine, organ transplantation, wound care, surgical trauma and post-anesthesia care. She received her master's degree in Advance Practice Nursing from Seton Hall University, and was a Nurse Practitioner at Capital Health System in Hopewell before joining Penn Medicine/Princeton Health. She has been with HMA since May, 2018, but has worked in other locations within the Health System for several years.

CIGNA & AETNA Enrollee Letters

We have learned that both CIGNA and AETNA insurers have sent letters to some of our patients informing them that we are no longer in-network. This is NOT correct. Both insurers have agreed that they screwed up & should be sending letters to those patients who received the original letters. If you received one of these letters, you can safely ignore it. We are & have been in-network & plan to remain so. Please call us if you have any questions.

Flu Vaccine

We have received our first shipment of the 2016-17 High Dose Influenza Vaccine. This is for the 65+ age group. We expect to receive the regular vaccine very soon. We will update this space as the vaccine arrives. In addition, if you complete the Flu Vaccine Sign-up Form (see the menu to the left) we will send you an email when we receive the vaccine.

Princeton Medicine Affiliation

As of July 1, 2016 we have strengthened our affiliation with the University Medical Center of Princeton by joining Princeton Medicine. Why did we do this? The answer is complicated, but simply put the practice of medicine is changing. In order to be able to provide the best care as we go forward, it became apparent that we needed to be part of a more integrated network. Fortunately, the Princeton Healthcare System saw the same handwriting on the wall & set out to create this network. We just jumped on board! The Princeton Medicine network, as part of the larger Princeton Healthcare System, and, soon, the University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System, is in a position to provide us seamless access to the best specialists & facilities available, while we all work together to improve the quality & control the cost of healthcare. For us, this means that we will be in a better position to weather the storms coming in Healthcare & continue to provide the best care possible. For you, our patients, it should be completely transparent; nothing really changes in how we operate, including our hours, location, or the care that you receive.

We've Moved!

We've changed our location but not the quality of care we provide Our landlord declined to renew our lease, so, after 45 years on One Mile Road Extension, we had to leave. We searched the area for space that would meet our needs & found it in Windsor Business Park, in West Windsor. Since November 21, 2014, we have been in our new space, which is just 4 miles from our old office. Our new address is:    Windsor Business Park    186 Princeton-Hightstown Road    Building 3A, Suite 101    West Windsor, NJ 08550 This is across from Community Park on Route 571 and is halfway between WW-P High School South & McCaffrey's Supermarket. We are across Slayback Drive from Princeton-Nassau Pediatrics. Our phone number is the same, but we have a new fax number (see top left). Click here for more maps & directions, plus see our new floor plan!