The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation’s Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) Project understands how difficult it is for physicians to deal with the many patients who visit their offices with colds or other viral infections and expect a prescription for an antibiotic. Patients don’t usually understand that antibiotics will not alleviate their symptoms or cure their illness any sooner. Studies have shown that patients leave their clinician’s office satisfied if they receive a contingency plan or tips to soothe their discomfort.

In addition to plenty of rest and lots of fluids, physicians can now offer their patients a cough and cold kit that contains:

• Package of facial tissues
• Thermometer strip
• Sample pack of Mucinex DM
• Sample bottle of Delsym
• Flu fact sheet
• Cough/cold brochure (English/Spanish)
• Tips for staying healthy this cold and flu season (English/Spanish)

The cough and cold kits are free to physicians. For more information or to order, visit the AWARE website.

Contact: Sandra Navarro, 916/ 779-6637 or snavarro@thecmafoundation.org.