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Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 Your Health Rx | 2 Journey Towards a Healthier Future 3 Patient Perspective Patient and Family Centered Care 4 WHS Spotlight 5 Ask the Expert 6 Smart Choices in Restaurants Knee Replacement 7 Women and Strength Training 8 Weight Loss... and You! www.whs.org Journey Towards a Healthier Future As health care has transformed over the last several decades, so has The Washington Hospital. Founded in 1897, the hospital mainly provided overnight care for inpatients. Today, Washington Health System has become more focused on outpatient, preventive and post-acute care. Washington Health System provides services such as the Washington Physicians Group, a multi-specialty practice with 25 locations; the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center for preventative and wellness care; Greenbriar Treatment Center for chemical dependency rehab; hospice care for postacute treatment; and many other outpatient and physician services at more than 40 locations throughout Washington, Greene and Allegheny counties. Patients and their families don’t want fragmented care. They want care that is integrated, where they don’t fall through the cracks. And that’s really the challenge and the benefit of building a health care system. Washington Health System wants to partner with each individual and family in order to help patients move seamlessly from one part of the system to another without delay and with full information exchange. -Gary Weinstein, President and CEO 2 Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 Patient Perspective The Story of Linda McNeely Linda McNeely was referred to the Washington Health System by her family doctor. “I started to see Dr. Marks because of an infection in my toe, I know to keep an eye on my feet because I am a diabetic,” she says. When Linda’s foot became infected again a year and a half later, she was worried that she would have to have the entire foot amputated. “I woke up with a missing toe but he saved my foot, I am forever thankful,” she says of Dr. Marks. “I am so incredibly lucky to have been recommended to the Washington Health System and Dr. Marks, I truly believe that he changed my life.” Linda’s recovery went very well, which she credits to Dr. Marks and the staff of nurses and specialists who worked together to facilitate her recovery. “I have been recommending Washington Health System and I will continue to do so. The community of Washington is so lucky to have such a great health care center in the area with exceptional doctors and nurses. I cannot express how happy I am.” ~ Linda McNeely To schedule an appointment, please call 724-222-5635 or visit www.whsdocs.org. I cannot express how happy I am. Patient and Family Centered Care Patient and Family Centered Care is a partnership with patients and families to ensure that the highest quality care is provided. In this partnership, patients, family members, and community members help us improve the healthcare experience by shaping policies, programs, facility design, and daily interactions. We are currently looking for people to serve as Patient and Family Centered Care Advisors. Complete an application or get more information at www.whs.org. To ensure the highest quality care is provided. Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 3 WHS SPOTLIGHT Restoring Confidence through InterStim Therapy Over 30 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder (OAB). OAB not only can affect one’s physical activity and self-esteem, but also can limit participation in normal activities. For those who are struggling with OAB and believe that they have to live with the problem, or for those who have tried conventional medication without relief, InterStim Therapy may be a life-changing solution. OAB results when the sacral nerves near the tailbone are not communicating properly with the brain. These nerves normally communicate with the bladder and its surrounding muscles telling it to function properly. Error in this process results in difficulty storing urine. The proven method called InterStim Therapy targets the sacral nerves through an implant that sends continuous, mild electrical pulses, stimulating communication with the brain. InterStim Therapy has helped over 100,000 patients return to their normal daily activities and WHS is playing its part in restoring confidence through this therapy. Dr. Malay Sheth, OB-GYN, has seen his patients’ lives restored, now able to enjoy a normal lifestyle after receiving the implant. “I want my patients to know that this is not something they have to live with…there is a life-changing solution available,” said Dr. Sheth. “Karen Sworden was one of my patients who had been experiencing overactive bladder symptoms for years and I found that she was a candidate for InterStim,” said Dr. Sheth. Karen explains, “I never dreamed that a solution was out there. After having the implant for four years, my life is dramatically changed! I am now able to fully enjoy my grandkids and live the active lifestyle that I always had before.” Dr. Jason Smith, Urologist at WHS, has also been treating his patients with InterStim Therapy. “My patient, Caroline, struggled for a long time with 4 Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 OAB. She had been on three different types of medication before she came to see me and was frustrated because nothing seemed to help,” said Dr. Smith. After being referred to Dr. Smith for InterStim, Caroline was finally relieved of the burden that had been plaguing her for years. Caroline explains, “InterStim has been a godsend… I can now go shopping and go out in public without worrying about being embarrassed.” Just like these patients, you can take the first step towards a normal lifestyle by talking with a physician. OAB is an extremely common condition with a life-changing solution. For more information on OAB and InterStim Therapy or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.whsdocs.org or call one of the WHS offices: WHS OBGYN Associates at 724.225. 3640 WHS Urology Specialists at 724. 222.8871 Ask The Expert Dr. Jim Marks Bunions are a complex deformity, resulting when the big toe points towards the second toe and results in inflammation of the tissue surrounding the joint. Q What are the most common causes of bunions? A Some common causes of bunions are the prolonged wearing of poorly fitting shoes, genetic factors that are exacerbated by shoe use, and arthritis or trauma. Q How do you know when you need bunion surgery? A Bunion surgery is recommended when pain from the bunion prevents a patient from wearing normal shoes and performing normal daily activities. If you are considering bunion surgery, make sure you fit the following criteria: • Pain is present and it is limiting your ability to do the things you like, love, or have to do. • You have tried conservative treatments without relief. • You have realistic expectations about surgery results. Q What should I expect when undergoing bunion surgery? A The most frequent procedure to correct bunions is an osteotomy, or a controlled cut of the first metatarsal bone. Most bunion surgeries take between six and twelve weeks for recovery, and often include time on crutches and in surgical shoes or camwalker boots. Most patients only require narcotic pain medication for a few days after surgery and then use anti-inflammatories to control their discomfort and swelling. If you are suffering from bunion pain, talk with your primary care physician about a referral to Washington Health System Foot and Ankle Specialists or schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations by calling 724-222-5635 or go to www.whsdocs.org. New patients are welcome. Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 5 APPLE A DAY A Guide to Making Smart Choices in Restaurants By Jacqueline Ely, RD, LDN, nutritional counselor, Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center of Washington Health System Many restaurants and fast-food establishments are now providing customers with nutrition information on their products. How many people really study this information prior to making a decision? Take advantage of the wealth of information prior to making your selections, and you’ll know what you are indulging in and be more accountable for your actions. This will help you make better decisions that will impact your health and your waistline! Use these general guidelines to help determine if a food item is a healthy choice. Recommended Intake for 2000-Calorie Daily Diet Total fat - Less than 65g Saturated fat - Less than 20g Cholesterol - Less than 300mg Sodium - Less than 2,400mg Total carbohydrate - 300mg Dietary Fiber - 25g Check out some common foods and what they offer: Panera Smoked Ham and Swiss 700 calories 10g saturated fat (half the recommended daily intake) 2,350mg sodium Better choice – Half sandwich and a half salad McDonald’s Frappe Mocha (small) 450 calories 20g fat 13g saturated fat 1g trans fat 56g sugar (56g of sugar looks like 14 teaspoons of sugar if you measured it out) Better choice – Iced latte with sugar-free syrup Your Body, Your Health I have been told I need a knee replacement…What is it? By Allan Tissenbaum, M.D., Washington Health System Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure performed to replace worn out cartilage. Cartilage can be worn out from overuse, trauma, or as a result of previous surgery. Before considering knee replacement, a person should try conservative therapy, including medications, knee injections, weight loss and/or physical therapy. In a full knee replacement, the surgeon will replace the worn out cartilage with a prosthetic knee made of metal and plastic. The metal parts sit on the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia (these are the two major leg bones). Depending on what part of the knee is worn, a surgeon may elect to only replace the worn out part and leave parts of the knee alone. Partial knee replacements tend to function better and have a quicker recovery. The goal of any replacement surgery is to restore function, decrease pain, and enable patients to lead a more normal and fuller life. 6 Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 Washington Health System Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Building One, Suite 202 95 Leonard Avenue Washington, PA 15301 724-206-0610 Get Your Lift On! By Rebecca Feist, MA Fitness Operations Director Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center of Washington Health System I often hear women say, “I only have 30 minutes to work out so I am just going to do cardio.” Big mistake! Cardiovascular exercise is necessary to maintain heart health, however, smart women will spend an equal amount of time on strength training as well. For women, strength training benefits include increased bone density, increased metabolism, strong ligaments and tendons, and increased quality of life. When strength training, there is an applied force on the tendons, and this stimulates bone growth as well as supports the joints. In addition, women wishing to lose fat will do so more easily if they strength train. By participating in a regular strength training program and lifting heavy enough weight, muscle fibers will increase, and as a result will gain more energy. That means a faster metabolism! It’s important to address the statement that makes exercise physiologists cringe each time they hear it from their female clients: “I don’t want to lift too heavy because it makes me bulky.” This is absolutely and unequivocally NOT true. Women simply do not have high enough amounts of certain hormones or the right bone structure to build big bulky muscles. This myth has contributed to many women choosing to lift very light weights, but in order for a muscle to build and change, it must be challenged to do more than is comfortable, so it needs to adapt. When strength training, women should lift a weight that fatigues the muscle in 8 to 12 repetitions. With consistency and the right amount of weight, women may see benefits from as little as 20 minutes per day. The best way to get started on a program to assure proper form and a well-rounded routine is to meet with an exercise physiologist. Go ahead ladies – Get Your Lift On! For more information on weightlifting or to schedule a personal training session, please call the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center at 724-250-5228 or visit www.wrcameronwellness.org. Your Health Rx | Volume 1 Issue 1 7 155 Wilson Avenue Washington, PA 15301 (724) 225-7000 www.whs.org Visit us on the web at www.whs.org or “Like” us on www.facebook.com/washingtonhealthsystem. Your Health Rx | is a publication of Washington Health System. The articles are for informational purposes and should not be used as medical advise. Consult your personal physician for any health related issues. Weight Loss…and You! There is HOPE for success Losing weight is a challenge for many, but there are new treatments and procedures, both non-surgical and surgical, to help fight the battle. A common term used in reference to weight loss is BMI. What is BMI? How is this magical number created and why is it so important? BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women. It is important because it acts as an indicator of overall health. If your BMI is high, you may have an increased risk of developing certain diseases including: high blood pressure, osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint), high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast and colon cancers. There are always exceptions, such as athletes or body builders, but the normal adult BMI range is 18.5 – 24.9. WEIGHT in pounds X 704 If your BMI is 40 or more, you are more than 100 pounds HEIGHT in inches2 overweight or you have a high BMI with ‘comorbidities’ (such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, high blood pressure or physical conditions relating to obesity) , you may be a candidate for a range of surgical procedures used to help manage weight loss. BMI Formula Dr. Geoffrey Wilcox and Dr. Michael Felix are excited to bring the Hope Bariatrics Center of Excellence to Washington Health System. For more information or to make an appointment, visit Hope Bariatrics at www.hopebariatrics.com or call 724-741-8862. To find out if you are a candidate for surgical weight loss treatment, seminars are held on the first Wednesday of every month at: Washington Health System Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center 240 Wellness Way, Washington, PA 15301 Conference Rooms A & B at 11:30 a.m. 724-250-5228 (July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4)