MONDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2022
MANASSAS OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TODAY. WE WILL HAVE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 2022 BETWEEN 10AM-6PM.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2022
MANASSAS OFFICE WILL OPEN WITH 2 HRS DELAY AT 12:00PM TODAY. OFFICE WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 6:30PM FOR ALLERGY SHOTS.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH, 2022
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OUR GERMANTOWN OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED THIS AFTERNOON.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 6TH BETWEEN 10AM-6PM
MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2022:
OUR MANASSAS OFFICE IS CLOSED TODAY DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
WE WILL HAVE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2022 BETWEEN 10AM-6PM.
Limited Allergy Injections Hours due to COVID-19 until further notice
Dear Immunotherapy Patients,
We hope that everyone is doing well and staying healthy.
First, we would like to thank all the patients who came to our office last week and followed all suggested precautions. We were impressed by everyone’s considerate behavior and patience. Thank you!
Here is an update on our immunotherapy hours for the month of April 2020:
Germantown office will be OPEN only on Thursdays between 10:00am and 6:00pm (4/9; 4/16; 4/23; 4/30).
Manassas office will be OPEN only on Fridays between 10:00am and 6:00pm (4/10; 4/17; 4/24).
If you need to schedule an appointment, need medication refill, or any other assistance please call us at 855-528-7348, or email us at info@allergycurecenters.com
Please do not call with questions about dose adjustments, or your shot schedule. We will answer all these questions during your visit at the office.
General guidelines for your IT/biologics visit:
Please do not visit our office if:
• in the past 14 days you’ve experienced any symptoms of COVID-19.
• in the past 14 days you’ve had close contact with someone who has exhibited COVID-19 symptoms.
• you’ve traveled to a geographic region where sustained COVID-19 community transmission has been identified.
Please do not bring family members with you.
Only one parent/adult is permitted to accompany a child patient.
No siblings will be allowed in the waiting area.
Maximum of 6 patients will be allowed in the waiting area – we ask everyone to maintain 6 ft distance.
If you have a face mask, please wear it during your visit at the office.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Please stay healthy and safe!
Dr. Bocek and staff at AACC
Novel Biologic Therapies
We are continuously adding new biologic therapies for our patients as soon as they are approved by the FDA and as the medications become available. Please call us at 855-5CURE4U (528-7348) to schedule your appointment and your next biologic treatment at Allergy and Asthma Clinical Centers. Here are some of the allergic/inflammatory conditions currently managed with biologic therapies in our offices:
ASTHMA:
- Xolair (Omalizumab) – moderate to severe asthma, age > 6 years
- Dupixent (Dupilumab) – moderate-to-severe asthma, patients age > 12 years
- Nucala (Mepolizumab) – severe asthma, age > 12 years
- Fasenra (Benralizumab) – severe asthma, age > 12 years
- Cinqair (Reslizumab) – severe asthma, age > 18 years
CHRONIC URTICARIA (chronic hives)
- Xolair (Omalizumab) age > 12 years
ATOPIC DERMATITIS/ECZEMA
- Dupixent (Dupilumab) age > 18 years
EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMATOSIS with POLYANGITIS
- Nucala (Mepolizumab) age > 18 years
WASHINGTONIAN TOP DOCTOR AWARD 2017
We are proud to announce that our doctor – Dr. Petr Bocek, MD, PhD has been again selected by his fellow doctors as one of The Top Allergists/Immunologists in the Washington Metro Area. He has been awarded “Washingtonian Magazine 2017 Top Doctors Award”.
It is good to know that your doctor is “one of the top”. For the details, see the recent “Top Doctors” issue of the Washingtonian Magazine.
MYLAN EPI-PEN RECALL
FDA Alerts Consumers of Nationwide Voluntary Recall of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. Please check your Epi-Pen whether the recall applies to you. The products can be replaced at no charge by calling (877) 650-3494 or emailing customer.service@mylan.com.
The 0.15-mg EpiPen Jr auto-injectors affected by the U.S. recall are:
- Lot 5GN767, with expiration date of April 2017
- Lot 5GN773, with expiration date of April 2017
- Lot 6GN215, with expiration date of September 2017
The 0.3-mg EpiPen auto-injectors affected by the U.S. recall are:
- Lot 5GM631, with expiration date of April 2017
- Lot 5GM640, with expiration date of May 2017
- Lot 6GM082, with expiration date of September 2017
- Lot 6GM072, with expiration date of September 2017
- Lot 6GM081, with expiration date of September 2017
- Lot 6GM088, with expiration date of October 2017
- Lot 6GM199, with expiration date of October 2017
- Lot 6GM091, with expiration date of October 2017
- Lot 6GM198, with expiration date of October 2017
- Lot 6GM087, with expiration date of October 2017
The new drug DUPIXENT injections for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis/eczema in adult patients has been finally approved by the FDA!
DUPIXENT is the first and only FDA approved injectable biologic for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies. We and our eczema patients have been patiently waiting for the approval of this new promissing drug. The drug is dispensed in single use, pre-filled syringes and administered as subcutaneous self-injection once in 2 weeks after the initial loading dose. DUPIXENT carries a list price of $37,000 per year and its coverage will require a prior authorization by patient’s insurance. We have obtained prior authorization enrollment forms and hopefully, we will be able to initiate treatment soon for our eczema patients. You can find additional information here: https://www.dupixent.com/?moc=DPXCO25237WB
NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOP DOCTOR AWARD 2017
It is a great pleasure to announce that our Allergist Dr. Petr Bocek has yet again been awarded for his outstanding work, knowledge and dedication to his patients and has been named Norther Virginia Top Doctor 2017 in the field of Allergy/Immunology. He is featured in Northern Virginia Magazine’s February 2017 issue.
WASHINGTONIAN TOP DOCTOR AWARD 2016
We are proud to announce that our doctor – Dr. Petr Bocek, MD, PhD has been again selected by his fellow doctors as one of The Top Allergists/Immunologists in the Washington Metro Area. He has been awarded “Washingtonian Magazine 2016 Top Doctors Award”.
It is good to know that your doctor is “one of the top”. For the details, see November – the “Top Doctors” issue of the Washingtonian Magazine.
NUCALA (Mepolizumab) treatment for our patients with severe asthma is provided in our offices with excellent results
Nucala is administered as a small subcutaneous injection once every four weeks. It targets and reduces inflammation of the asthmatic airway resulting in fewer asthma flare ups and decreased need for inhaled corticosteroids. If you have asthma which is not well controlled on your daily steroid inhaler call us today at 855-528-7348.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOP DOCTOR AWARD 2016
It is a great pleasure to announce that our Allergist Dr. Petr Bocek has yet again been awarded for his outstanding work, knowledge and dedication to his patients and has been named Norther Virginia Top Doctor 2016 in the field of Allergy/Immunology. He will be featured in Northern Virginia Magazine’s February issue.bocek-web-nova-2015
TOP DOCTOR AWARD 2015
We are delighted to announce that our doctor – Dr. Petr Bocek, MD, PhD has been selected by his fellow doctors and peers as one of The Top Allergists/Immunologists in the Washington Metro Area. He has been awarded “Washingtonian Magazine 2015 Top Doctors Award”.
It is good to know that your doctor is “one of the top”. For the details, see September – the “Top Doctors” issue of the Washingtonian Magazine.
OUR NEW GERMANTOWN OFFICE SUITE IS OPEN AND OUR OPENING HOURS ARE MODIFIED AND EXTENDED IN ALL LOCATIONS
As we have announced earlier, our brand new, state-of-the-art Germantown office suite has been completed and we are expanding our office hours both in our Germantown, MD and Manassas, VA locations. Our new Germantown office suite remains in the same building but it has moved to the first floor, Suite # 180, conveniently located right next to the Pharmacy.
Starting September 8, 2015 our new office hours will be:
Germantown; 19735 Germantown Road, Suite # 180
Tuesday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Manassas; 8100 Ashton Avenue, Suite 207B
Monday: 11:00am to 6:30 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday: 9:00am to 6:00 pm
Please do remember that the last allergen immunotherapy injections are administered 30 minutes before the end of our business hours. Please also remember to take an antihistamine at least 2 hours prior to your injection(s) and report any changes in your allergy or asthma symptoms as well as any changes in your medications since your last visit.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bocek and AACC staff
New Germantown office will be opening soon!
We are excited to let you know that our brand new Germantown office is being completed. It is located in the same building as our current one but on the first floor – suite 180. We will keep you posted as far as the office’s opening and the new expanded office hours.
Dr. Bocek and AACC Staff
Xolair (Omalizumab) treatment is available in all our offices for patients with asthma and chronic hives
There have been great advances in the treatment of autoimmune, rheumatologic and malignant conditions in the recent years using humanized monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies target very effectively and precisely specific human body proteins which are responsible or involved in the disease process. They can render those proteins inactive and accelerate the cure of the disease. One such a monoclonal antibody developed is Xolair (omalizumab). It is a recombinant DNA-derived humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to a human immunoglobulin E (IgE) and it is available as a subcutaneous injection. When the IgE is bound by Xolair it can no longer trigger or mediate allergic diseases. Xolair is currently indicated for adults and adolescents (12 years of age and above) with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma. However, recent clinical studies (Asteria II, Glacial) found Xolair to be greatly efficacious and safe in management of chronic hives and associated itching (chronic urticaria) even in patients who did not respond to antihistamines and oral steroids. Even though the FDA approval of Xolair for the treatment of chronic urticaria is still pending, many insurers already recognize Xolair as a breakthrough in the management of this condition and cover the medication. We have been successful to secure Xolair treatment for patients with chronic hives who had Medicare, BC/BS, Aetna and other insurance carriers. Xolair is administered as a simple subcutaneous injection once in 28 days. Most of our patients have relief within few days already after the first injection. Thus, if you suffer from chronic hives and uncontrollable itching of chronic urticaria, your suffering may be over. Just call us for an appointment at 855-5CURE4U (855-528-7348) and start your Xolair treatment!
Reminder to our patients: safe and fast testing for penicillin allergy is available in all our offices
As you may know, allergy to penicillin and its related antibiotics such as amoxicillin and Augmentin is the most frequently reported medication allergy. The patients who carry label of penicillin allergy are treated with alternative antibiotics. These are usually more expensive, may have more side effects, be less tolerated and may not provide as good bacterial coverage as does penicillin and amoxicillin. Thus, it is very important, from patient’s and doctor’s perspectives to know who is truly allergic and who is not. Many patients believe that they are penicillin allergic only because they were told by their parents that sometime in their childhood they had reaction to the drug. It is usually impossible to establish retrospectively that such a childhood reaction or rash was indeed due to the penicillin. Frequently a body rash, while being treated with penicillin, may not be due to this drug but rather due to the illness itself, especially during viral infections. It is also known that penicillin allergy fades over years of avoiding the drug and thus, someone allergic in childhood may not react in adulthood. It is not surprising then that when patients labeled penicillin allergic are tested with penicillin skin test only about 15% would test positive. Clinical studies showed that 97% of patients who tested negative by penicillin skin test were safe to receive this antibiotic without having any serious allergic reactions to it. The skin test for penicillin allergy is fast, safe, well tolerated and constitutes just few pinpricks on the skin. It can be administered to both pediatric and adult patients who are suspected to be penicillin allergic. Your office visit and the entire test will take less than an hour. If you would like to be skin tested for penicillin allergy or discuss your penicillin allergy in more detail, please call us for an appointment at 855-5CURE4U (855-528-7348).
NEW AACC Patient Care and Account Portal
We are very excited to inform you that our “Patient Care and Account Portal” has now been enabled to allow you to access your account and see your up-to-date balance, download your current and past statements and pay your balance using credit cards including MC, Visa, Amex and Discover.
As you may know, the AACC Portal also allows you to:
- access your allergy testing and lab results
- update your demographic, pharmacy and insurance information
- update your medications, see the prescribed medications and your remaining refills
- request medication refills
- review your individualized allergy educational materials
- view and change your upcoming appointments
The “Patient Care and Account Portal” can be accessed on our home page using your login userid and temporary password which were emailed to you prior to your first AACC appointment. If you need the login information re-send, please email our administrator: info@allergycurecenters.com or call: 855-5CURE4U (528-7348).
Inclement Weather Update
Dear Patients,
As you know, during the winter season we all face challenges due to the sudden weather changes, occasional snow, ice or morning sleet which result in schools’ closings or delayed openings and slow driving conditions. Unfortunately, these unexpected events impact our staff as well. We make every effort to assure that our offices do open for allergy injections according to the regular schedule but there may be times when even our staff ends up being slightly delayed. Thus, we kindly ask that you call ahead (855-528-7348) if you are heading to one of our offices for allergy injections in the morning hours during an inclement weather day (schools delayed or closed, Government closed etc.).
Thank you for understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Staff of Allergy and Asthma Clinical CentersWalk-in Sick Visit Hours Extended
The winter season is the time of more frequent common colds, sinus infections and upper respiratory infections rather than seasonal allergies for most of our patients and allergy sufferers. Thus, we are pleased to announce that we are extending our Walk-In Sick Visit hours to our regular opening hours in all of our VA and MD offices. Please refer to our “Hours and Locations” tab under “Office Information” for our business hours in both Virginia and Maryland offices.