Month: August 2020

Garlic Lime Tofu with Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Onion

Make two delicious tofu-based recipes at once. The ingredients are similar but are flavored with different savory sauces. This is meal planning the easy way!

Note: Our two recipes are presented separately, but it is easy to prepare both at the same time, as Christy demonstrates in our video. Just prepare tofu exactly the same for each recipe, prep and roast all vegetables, and prepare two separate sauces!

Sesame Chicken Mason Jar Salad

I enjoy recipes that are flexible with ingredients you already have in your kitchen—and most of these ready-to-go mason jar salads are no exception.

Tips: Use a wide-mouth, 16-ounce mason jar (or other tall glass or plastic container with tight lid).

  • Put the dressing in first, to avoid a soggy salad.
  • Pile in individual ingredients, in the order listed—hardy vegetables or proteins on the bottom, delicate leaves and seeds on top.
  • You can store the salad for 1-2 days.
  • When ready to eat, shake and tumble jar until contents are mixed, and enjoy! Eat it straight from the jar (great for a picnic!) or pour into a bowl.

Rainbow salad

Mason Jar Rainbow Salad

I enjoy recipes that are flexible with ingredients you already have in your kitchen—and most of these ready-to-go mason jar salads are no exception.

Tips: Use a wide-mouth, 16-ounce mason jar (or other tall glass or plastic container with tight lid).

  • Put the dressing in first, to avoid a soggy salad.
  • Pile in individual ingredients, in the order listed—hardy vegetables or proteins on the bottom, delicate leaves and seeds on top.
  • You can store the salad for 1-2 days.
  • When ready to eat, shake and tumble jar until contents are mixed, and enjoy! Eat it straight from the jar (great for a picnic!) or pour into a bowl.

PacMed stands against racism

Let us stand against racism

PacMed wants to state, loud and clear, that racism needs to end, in all forms and everywhere. The recent murders of George Floyd and others have been haunting reminders of deep-seated injustice that continues to plague our country. At PacMed, our diverse caregivers are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve and to patients from all walks of life. To reclaim a space for justice, love and belonging, we stand with you against acts and systems of injustice wherever we see them. We are listening, thinking deeply and taking steps with you toward an equitable, empowered community.

You can read our full executive letter to the community and follow our actions against racism on our Facebook feed.

TAKE ANTI-RACIST ACTION:

Back to Basics: Visiting your doctor

Visiting DoctorWith PacMed, you can see your doctor in person or get care without leaving the comfort of your home. PacMed offers phone visits, video visits and an online portal where patients can manage their care. These are all great ways to get the care you need while helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“We are using telehealth much more,” adds Dr. Katumu, “such as telephone consultations, the MyChart patient portal, and Zoom meetings in MyChart.” As always, patients can use MyChart to look for test results, request prescription refills, request appointments and send a message to their care team.

The benefits of virtual visits are clear. “They help reduce exposure in the COVID-19 pandemic and are also convenient,” says Dr. Simon Katumu, a primary care provider at the PacMed Puyallup clinic. “We’ve seen great benefits for our patients.”

Technology can be particularly useful for vulnerable populations. Dr. Katumu initially worried that older patients might not warm up to technology, but that hasn’t been the case. “They can do it, or they get assistance from someone in their family who is tech savvy. It hasn’t been much of a problem,” he adds.

Virtual visits do have limitations. “We can’t draw blood virtually. We can’t complete physical examinations like listen to hearts and lungs,” acknowledges Dr. Katumu. “So, it’s not a replacement for face-to-face care, but it is a great addition to our toolkit.”

Check with your insurance provider or Medicare about coverage for telehealth/virtual care. Many have waived many rules and limitations to accessing these services during the current health crisis.

Telehealth or virtual care refers to medical care (like office visits, psychotherapy, consultations and other services) that is provided by a health provider who isn’t at your location. Instead, you and the provider use an interactive, two-way telecommunications system (like real-time audio and video)