Allergies and Asthma Are Nothing To Sneeze At.

Welcome

The Verona and Sparta offices are open for in person office visits.  Please wear a mask when you come in to the office.

You can find the NEW PATIENT FORMS on the New Patients Tab on this website.  Thank you.

PLEASE EMAIL VERONA NEW PATIENT FORMS TO verona@sneezedoctors.com

PLEASE EMAIL SPARTA NEW PATIENT FORMS TO sparta@sneezedoctors.com

We are also continuing with telemedicine appointments via the ZOOM app.

We are continuing with immunotherapy on a weekly basis and with biologics administrations.  

For provider/doctor office visits, please come right into the office and check in with the front desk.  

You MUST have your epinephrine with you or we will not be able to administer your immunotherapy.  The nurse will direct you regarding procedures that need to be followed right after the shots are given. This is for your safety. 

Telemedicine visits are conducted through Zoom Healthcare.  Although HIPAA requirements have been made lax temporarily due to this COVID 19 pandemic, we are using Zoom's HIPAA compliant product.  Provider patients, please download the Zoom app on your smart phone and we will send you an invitation to your cell phone number or email (cell phone preferred) very close to your appointment time -- maybe a few minutes before or after.  Simply click the link texted to your phone and you will be on with one of our providers.

For in person visits, allergy prick skin testing is available, allergy patch testing, oral challenges and spirometries.  Please call the front desks for your appointments.    

If you have any questions after your telehealth visits, please contact the receptionists in each office.  Inquiries to telehealth contact numbers are not monitored after the visits.  

OFFICE HOURS IN BOTH OFFICES MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN POSTED AT TIMES.  PLEASE CALL THE OFFICES FOR INFORMATION. 

 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION (COVID-19) AS OF  March 2021:

The following symptoms of the coronavirus may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Call your doctor if you:

1.  Develop these symptoms AND 

2.  Have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset OR

3.  If you had close contact with a person with COVID-19 or if you have visited a hospital.  

Due to the recommendations of the CDC, we may be asking these important questions when you call for an appointment in order to ensure the safety of all, please do not be offended.  We will take your temperature when you enter the offices. 

Overall safety is first and foremost and we wish to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible.

VERONA OFFICE -- 197 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, VERONA, NJ  07044     973-857-0330 

SPARTA OFFICE -- 89 SPARTA AVENUE, SUITE 230, SPARTA, NJ  07871     973-726-8850

SCHOOL FORMS FOR SCHOOL - 2021 :

Please note that Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) has been omitted from our Food Allergy Action Plan.  The wording on the plan is as follows:

 ** Benadryl has been intentionally omitted from this form.  Antihistamines treat only mild allergy symptoms and do not treat the serious symptoms that may occur during anaphylaxis such as hypotension, bronchospasm and acute laryngeal edema.

Avoid antihistamines as a first line treatment for anaphylaxis. 

The safety of our patients is our main concern and antihistamines cannot be relied upon if an anaphylactic reaction occurs.  

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   CASTLE CONNOLLY AND JERSEY CHOICE TOP DOCTORS IN ALLERGY SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY

  What do patients want from their physicians?  A speedy appointment when you need it!  A physician who will listen to me (and not discount what you have to say!)

We have 2 Board Certified Allergists, available from 7:30 am until 7 pm and weekend hours.    Based on our surveys, 99% of our patients are very satisfied with their office encounter. We are chosen as Top Doctors by our medical colleagues, but our greatest referral source is satisfied patients. 

 If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, call now for an appointment! We are always accepting new patient appointments; you are welcome here.  

 Allergies and asthma affect millions of lives. But they can be managed effectively. Allergy Consultants, P.A. is one of Northern New Jersey’s premier medical practices for the treatment of allergies, asthma, sinus disease and immune system disorders.  Trust your treatment to the best asthma and allergy specialists you can find and that is us. 

Our renowned “Sneeze Doctors” – Arthur F. Fost, MD and David A. Fost, MD are Board Certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Cited multiple times as “Top Doctors” in the NJ /NY Metropolitan area, the asthma and allergy specialists at Allergy Consultants are well known for the compassion, care and concern they show to every one of their patients.  You will always be treated with respect and dignity by our doctors and our entire staff.    

Dr. Arthur Fost has been VOTED IN again as a Jersey Choice New Jersey "Top Doctor" for 2020, 2019....and...  

                           ...any many years prior ! 

NJ Monthly Top Doctors features doctors that have been voted in by their peers as the best in their specialties by JERSEY CHOICE TOP DOCS.  

Inside Jersey Top Doctors features doctors that have been voted in by their peers as the best in their specialties by CASTLE CONNOLLY TOP DOCS.           2019, 2020 and 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010......any many many years prior as well.  

Dr. Arthur Fost has been a CASTLE CONNOLLY Top Doctor every year since 1998.  

Dr. David Fost has been a CASTLE CONNOLLY Top Doctor every year since 2010.    

They were both honored in the fall 2019 issue of Inside Jersey Top Doctors magazine.  The confidence that their peers have in them is surely taken to heart by our doctors.  They were both featured in the list of phsicians that have been VOTED IN by their peers 5 years in a row or longer.  

Dr. David Fost was VOTED IN as NJ Family's 2020 Favorite Kids' Docs !!   

Dr. David Fost was again selected as one of Montclair Magazine's Top Doctors and he was recognized in a special section appearing in the Back-to-School edition of their magazine.   

Convenient Verona and Sparta locations.  We look forward to seeing our Belleville patients in the Verona and Sparta offices where you will see Dr. David A. Fost and Anthony J. Piccolo, PA-C.     

Allergy Consultants, P.A. has two state-of-the-art offices located in Verona and Sparta, each with the most advanced diagnostic equipment and treatment plans for adult and pediatric patients. We stay current with the latest medical advances and are currently involved in a number of nationwide studies to develop new allergy and asthma treatments.  Our doctors attend the Mt. Sinai Food Allergy programs to stay abreast of all food allergy news and research.  They also attend programs at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute.    

 

Call For An Appointment

Don’t let an allergy or asthma problem affect your quality of life or the life of your child. Contact the Sneeze Doctors. We’ll make every effort to get you into our offices quickly – usually the same day.

Verona
197 Bloomfield Ave
(973) 857-0330
Directions
Sparta
89 Sparta Avenue, Suite 230
(973) 726-8850
Directions

For the most accurate pollen count, visit www.aaaai.org

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David A. Fost, MD is the school physician for the North Caldwell Public School system. 

He continues to serve in this capacity since 2008 and is pleased to do so.

Pictured with Dr. David Fost are the Gould and Grandview school nurses Pat Keenan and Mary Ann Nazaretta respectively.

We are very proud of our patient Bryan Mendelson who recently completed the Ironman in spite of his exercise induced asthma and allergies. The Ironman consists of 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycling segment and a 26.2 mile run.  We tell all our allergy and asthma patients to be as active as can be. Bryan is an inspiration. 

Please contact our senior nurse and study coordinator Libby Moss to see if you are eligible to participate in any one of pharmaceutical studies.  Drs. Arthur and David Fost continue to be on the cutting of edge of trials for new, safe and effective medications used in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunonology.

Look for a detailed list of the current studies in Patient Resources - CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL STUDIES 

Please call 973-857-1604

 

TREE NUT COMPONENT TESTING IS AVAILABLE FROM LABCORP AND QUEST FOR ALL OF THE TREE NUTS.

Dr. Arthur Fost, Dr. Satya Narisety and Certified Medical Assistant Jessica attended the 6 th Annual Patch Test Workshop in Tempe, AZ over the weekend of January 13, 2017. It was presented by the Contact Dermatitis Institute. Course Directors were Joseph F. Fowler, Jr., MD and Curt Hamann, MD. We take our patients' skin conditions very seriously and endeavor to be on the cutting edge of treatment protocols for irritant and contact dermatitis.

Dr. Antonio A. de la Cruz has retired from Allergy Consultants, P.A.  His kind and compassionate heart will be sorely missed by his colleagues, staff and his patients!  Have a blessed retirement, "Dr. D.", we will miss you!

See the video here  

Treatment for Asthma and Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria: We now have over 150 patients receiving Omalizumab (Xolair) for management of severe asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Ask us about this remarkable medicine.

PENICILLIN ALLERGY?

Many people report that they cannot take penicillin but in fact only a very small percent of the population are truly allergic. If you tell the doctor that you cannot take penicillin, and need an antibiotic, then you will get a more expensive and potentially more toxic medication. We have a safe test to determine if you are truly allergic to penicillin. Ask!

Dr. Arthur Fost and Dr. David Fost have been voted in as New  Jersey's Favorite Kids' Docs in the 2019 New Jersey Family magazine campaign! Thank you for voting for us !!

     

Our amazing patient PAULA DICKSON TAYLOR has exercise induced asthma and competes in National and International track meets.  She recently medaled in the World Games in the over 60 age group in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes.  Overall she finished in third place.  Very impressive!

 

Happy Birthday to our esteemed

Dr. Arthur Fost !

 

JACI Study Finds Around Half of Parents May Not Understand Their Children’s Asthma Controller Medications

Only 49% of Parents Surveyed Knew What Kind of Medication Was to Be Used and How Often

Milwaukee, WI – An article published this week 5/20/2016 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) shows that many caregivers, like parents, may not fully understand their providers’ instructions when it comes to keeping their children’s asthma under control. Overall, only 72% of parents knew which class of controller medicine their provider prescribed and about half of the parents knew neither the medicine class nor frequency it was supposed to be given.

Please see the entire article: http://www.aaaai.org/about-aaaai/newsroom/news-releases/understand-asthma-meds

Here at Allergy Consultants, P.A., you will receive a written clinical summary / instruction sheet immediately after your visit that will clearly indicate which asthma controller your child should use, under which circumstances and how often. Always query your provider in the exam room so that all of your questions are answered. Your complete understanding of your child's visit is very important to us.

 

If you're among the many millions of dog owners in the Unted States, You're probably more active than most people without a canine companion at home. But that's just one of the heart-protecting benefits dog owners enjoy, says Dr. Elizabeth Frates, director of wellness programming at Harvard affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.  "A dog provides love, companionship, and a sense of purpose that propels you to get outside walking every day", says Dr. Frates.  Daily exercise is probably the most tangible benefit of dog ownership, she notes.  Current exercise guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise each week and most dog owners (87%) in a recent study met those guidelines versus 47% of non-owners.  Check the study out at www.health.harvard.edu/DOG.  

NEILMED SINUS RINSE

The instructional video below will clearly show you how to use your rinse kit.

Click Here to View Video

Dose counters on rescue inhalers display the amount of medication remaining in the device, but are not standard for all meter dose inhalers.

An asthma study conducted by the chair of the Public Education Committee of the ACAAI (American College of Asthma Allergy & Immunology) reports asthma related emergency room visits are estimated to be 55 percent lower in people with asthma who use dose counting inhalers than in those who use inhalers without dose counters.  Dose counters help patients know if they are getting enough medication and warn if the inhaler is nearing empty, both of which can help reduce asthma attacks.

Dr. Michael Foggs of Chicago, the ACAAI president-elect reports in this article posted November 12, 2013 that "While dose counters can help reduce the number of asthma related emergency department visits annually, this alone is not enough."  "Research has shown that effective asthma treatment includes regular care by an allergist who can closely monitor the disease, help identify and avoid asthma triggers, and develop an emergency plan for severe attacks."   

Improved outcomes with a board-certified allergist include:

  • 54 to 76 percent reduction in emergency room visits
  • 60 to 89 percent reduction in hospitalizations
  • 77 percent reduction in lost time from work or school

All of the four physicians at Allergy Consultants, P.A. are board certified in Allergy and Immunology and regularly attend the ACAAI conferences.  The winter's cold and windy climate can trigger asthma attacks. Our allergists advise asthmatics always carry and use prescribed inhalers.

The Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire is an instrument that was specifically developed to assess quality of life in patients with CIU (Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria).

It is a self-administered 23-item questionnaire where patients have to indicate, on a Likert scale with multiple options (1: NOT AT ALL; 5: VERY MUCH), how much they have been troubled by each problem, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life.  This form is now part of your Xolair approval packet and we will have you fill this out typically 3 - 4 times a year.  This lets your doctor know exactly how you are feeling both physically and mentally.     

Flu shot and egg allergy. New guidelines support giving the flu shot to all patients, including those allergic to eggs. We do this carefully in measured doses to insure safety.

"The Price of Poor Communication"

An article in the Wall Street Journal reported that patients often don't understand or retain what the doctors say. This survey shows that 80% of what doctors tell patients is forgotten as soon as they leave the office and 50% of what is recalled by patients is incorrect. Physicians trained in communication skills improve patients' adherence to their regimens by 12%. That is why you will walk out of our office with a clinical summary each and every time after your visit with us. Your "plan" will provide clear instructions on how and when to take your medications.

One of our patients was recently transferred to Switzerland due to his job.  He will be there for about 2 years.  He is in the process of receiving allergy immunotherapy in our office and is progressing beautifully.  He was disappointed that he could not continue this allergy desensitization process here with us.  Have no fear ... Libby RN is here ... and she arranged for the delivery of his allergy serums to his medical facility in Switzerland.  He can continue his allergy shots there with our mixes until they need to be remade.  They were very impressed with the doctors' desensitization protocols and high standards. Thank you nurse Libby for going the "extra mile" for our dear I.T. patient (3,936 miles to be exact) ! 

Verona • (973) 857-0330 • 197 Bloomfield Avenue   |     Sparta • (973) 726-8850 • 89 Sparta Avenue, Suite 230