Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Smart Health Great care is right here. Check out our new and improved website Page 3 Longtime volunteer Dottie Stahl was honored with an endowment in her name Page 6 Van Wert County Hospital Association 1250 S. Washington St. Van Wert, OH 45891 Spring 2013 Welcome two new physicians to the team Page 4 Ahhh-choo! We shed some light on five seasonal allergy myths Page 8 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Smart Health Everyday Tips to Keep Your Joints Healthy Learn how orthopedic care has improved the lives of people like you—near you—with an interactive map to find patient stories by age, region and condition. Page 7 recipe Small Doses Zesty Raspberry Frozen Yogurt This luscious raspberry dessert supplies protein along with dietary fiber. The berries are also a good source of disease-fighting antioxidants. Ingredients: 1 c. fat-free vanilla Greek-style yogurt • 1⁄3 c. honey ⁄ c. low-fat milk • 1 tsp. grated lemon zest • 1 c. fresh raspberries, mashed • 13 What Are You Doing About ... Getting Screened for Prostate Cancer? Every man is at risk for prostate cancer, whether it runs in his family or not. The good news is that men can protect themselves from the disease with screenings. Directions: Beat yogurt and honey together in large bowl. • Stir in milk, lemon zest and raspberries. If mixture isn’t cold, refrigerate 1 hour. • Process in ice cream machine, according to manufacturer’s directions; serve immediately. Makes 4 (½-cup) servings. Nutritional information per serving: 152 calories; 0.6 g total fat; 6.4 g protein; 32 g carbohydrates; 1.65 mg cholesterol; 36 mg sodium; 2 g dietary fiber. Thinking About It Men have a one-in-six risk of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, but the risk of dying from it is much less, a one-in-36 chance. That, at least in part, has to do with high rates of early detection. how to Manage Menopause Symptoms Naturally Worried About It Two types of screenings are available to detect prostate cancer. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test, while the digital rectal exam involves a doctor feeling the prostate for lumps or hard areas. Annoying. Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. And those are some of the nicer words that describe the hot flashes and night sweats that commonly go along with menopause. Many women seek relief, but a lot of them would rather tough it out than deal with Ignoring It potential side effects and consequences of hormone It’s normal as a man ages for the prostate gland to enlarge and cause symptoms such as a weak urine stream, urgency or incontinence, and frequent urination. But these symptoms also could signal prostate cancer, and so it’s important to get screened. therapy. So would you jump at the chance to alleviate your symptoms of menopause naturally with zero risk or side effects? Now you might be able to—with good old diet and exercise. If we haven’t lost you yet, hear us out. A recent study published in the journal Menopause found that losing weight by exercising and eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains helps lessen Acting On It The American Cancer Society recommends talking to your doctor about prostate cancer screening at age 50 for men at average risk or as early as 40 for men at high risk. For more on screening, visit cancer.org and search “testing for prostate cancer” in quotes. 2 SPRING 2013 • vanwerthospital.org or eliminate hot flashes and night sweats. How does Download a Menopause Calendar Today Menopause is confirmed one year after your last period. To keep track of your cycle, visit menopause.org and search “calendar.” it work? Some researchers believe it’s simple science. Fat tends to retain heat better than lean body mass, so less fat equals fewer hot flashes. Study participants who lost at least 10 pounds over a year were more likely to have no or fewer hot flashes and night sweats than women who maintained their weight. Small Doses New and Improved Van Wert County Hospital and Van Wert Medical Services are pleased to announce the launch of our freshly updated websites. The new sites provide a more comprehensive source of need to know keep tabs on information and services. Now you can meet our physicians, stay up to date with current news and events, learn more about our services and much more. Check out our new look by visiting vanwerthospital.org. How to Avoid Food Safety Mistakes Cooking for your family is a big responsibility. Avoid these top mistakes when it comes to food safety. Mistake: To find out if a food is still safe to eat, you taste it. Never taste food that has a potential of being spoiled. Not only is the method inaccurate, but eating even a small amount of contaminated food can make you sick. Mistake: You thaw food on the counter. Always thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. Mistake: Rinsing meat or poultry. It’s unnecessary to rinse meat and poultry before cooking—doing so spreads raw meat juices in your sink and on countertops. Mistake: Cooling leftovers on the counter before refrigerating. Bacteria can grow on food within two hours of cooking, so refrigerate leftovers soon after eating. Source: foodsafety.gov Get Up-to-Date Information on Food Safety Follow foodsafety.gov on Twitter, @foodsafetygov, to get daily tips and information about food recalls. vanwerthospital.org • Spring 2013 3 A Warm... Van Wert is happy to introduce two new physicians Carrie Huber, MD Van Wert Medical Services is pleased to welcome Carrie Huber, MD, a doctor with a focus on overall wellness for women. Her clinical interests and expertise include specialized areas of obstetrics and gynecology for women from adolescence through adulthood. She assists patients with general Ob-Gyn exams, infertility evaluation and treatment, sexual dysfuncCarrie Huber, MD tion, menopause management and post-menopausal care. In addition, she offers comprehensive obstetric care and performs minimally invasive surgeries to treat conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding or ovarian cysts. Dr. Huber will be joining Shane Gerber, C.N.P. in suite 102 of the Van Wert Health Center. She will also be seeing patients weekly at Dr. Sell’s office in Rockford at 506 S. Main St. Dr. Huber received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine in Kentucky and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at TriHealth/Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Dr. Huber served as the Department Head and Staff Physician for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Tenwek Mission Hospital and World Medical Mission in Bomet, Kenya, East Africa. She is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Medical Association. She is fluent in Spanish. “I enjoyed growing up in a small community in Kentucky. I wanted to become established in a small, growing community, much like home, where I could have the opportunity to genuinely know my patients and make a difference in women’s healthcare. Van Wert County more than met my expectations and I am pleased to be serving this community,” Dr. Huber says. Find Your Dr. Right Need a new physician? Carrie Huber, MD, is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Huber, call 419-238-3047. 4 SPRING 2013 • vanwerthospital.org Ziad Khatib, MD Ziad Khatib, MD Internal medicine physician Ziad Khatib, MD, who specializes in comprehensive medical care for adults, recently joined the Van Wert Medical Services team. Dr. Khatib will be joining Scott Jarvis, MD, and Certified Nurse Practitioner Chris Ulrich in suite 105 of the Van Wert Health Center, just across the street from the hospital at 140 Fox Road in Van Wert. Dr. Khatib will also be managing the care of hospitalized patients at Van Wert County Hospital. Dr. Khatib completed his doctor of medicine and internal medicine residency at the University of Jordan and the University Hospital of Jordan, respectively. He completed his postgraduate medical training at the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York and he is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Prior to joining Van Wert Medical Services, Dr. Khatib served as the chief medical officer for Electronic Health Solutions. He was also chair of the Department of Medicine for both Prince Hamza Hospital as well as Hashemite University, and served as medical director for North Buffalo Medical Park, Herle Elmwood Medical Center and Gates Circle Health. A 16-year veteran of the medical profession, Dr. Khatib practiced medicine in both Buffalo, New York and Amman, Jordan. • The Doctor Will See You Now When patients are in need of superior healthcare they turn to the professionals at Van Wert Medical Services. Dr. Khatib is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 419-238-7727. Welcome vanwerthospital.org • Spring 2013 5 Leaving a Legacy Friends create an endowment fund to honor Dottie Stahl F Friends and colleagues of Dottie Stahl have established a $5,000 endowment fund in her honor. Stahl retired in July of 2011 after serving as the American Red Cross Volunteer Coordinator at Van Wert County Hospital for more than 20 years. “Dottie Stahl put forth tireless efforts in the development of the Van Wert County Hospital Red Cross Volunteer Program,” says Mark Minick, Van Wert County Hospital President/CEO. “The new fund honors Dottie by ensuring that Van Wert County Hospital can build on her legacy. We believe this type of recognition is the most fitting way to acknowledge Dottie’s persevering work and contributions to our patients, staff and community” The principal of the Dottie Stahl Endowment Fund will never be spent. Only the interest income from the principle will be used by the hospital, thus creating a perpetual “living memorial” to Dottie. “Assisted by Dottie’s leadership, this group expanded from providing blood transportation to offering patient assistance services, courier services and many other services throughout the hospital. This fund is a testament to the number of individuals touched by Dottie’s passion and devotion for volunteerism,” Minick says. • Ready to Give Back? Mark Minick, Van Wert County Hospital President/CEO, alongside Mike Holliday, Vice President of Fiscal and Administrative Services, presents a commemorative clock to longtime volunteer Dottie Stahl. 6 SPRING 2013 • vanwerthospital.org The Dottie Stahl Endowment Fund is continuing to grow, and additional contributions are welcome. For further information on participating in the fund, contact Amy Rode, Director of Community Relations, at 419-238-8623 or arode@ vanwerthospital.org. Joint Solutions Everyday tips to keep your bendy parts healthy When we’re young, we take our joints for granted—running, jumping, reaching and climbing with wild abandon. It’s not until we’re older or face an injury that we realize what our joints do for us, and why protecting them matters. Here, we answer common joint health questions to help keep yours jumping. • By Allison Thomas Q & A What can you do to protect your joints? It’s all about keeping your joints moving, according to Taizoon Baxamusa, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “When patients come to us, their problems can run from something as minor as an exacerbation of arthritis to something as major as a motor vehicle accident. But the basic principle is the same: to get the person up and moving,” he says. Because being immobile can lead to stiffness even in normal joints, exercise is key. Aerobic activity such as brisk walking helps with weight loss, which lessens stress on your joints. Baxamusa also recommends strength training, which aids your muscles in stabilizing your joints, and he suggests low-impact activities such as yoga and tai chi as well—especially for older people. “They not only keep the joint in a full arc of motion but also enable some weight-bearing movement, which will help strengthen or tone the muscles around the joints.” When should you seek help for joint pain versus treating it yourself? If your joint hasn’t experienced trauma or a severe injury, mild to moderate aches and pains can be managed through the tried-and-true RICE principle: rest, ice, compression and elevation. This regimen can be accompanied by over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications as well. “But if your symptoms persist for more than a week or so, or you have a sudden spike in pain, it may be time to see your family physician or an orthopedic surgeon if you have one,” Baxamusa says. Minor pain or injuries are usually easy to recognize, but knowing when to seek help for more serious yet not life-threatening issues can be tricky. There are signs to look for such as “a sudden, forceful injury where you feel a crack, snap or pop,” Baxamusa says, “or if you experience severe swelling, bruising, a pronounced limp or asymmetry in a body part.” How do you know if joint surgery makes sense for you? If conservative approaches such as weight loss, physical therapy or medications have failed to provide relief and keep you mobile, you may want to ponder surgical options, including joint replacement. At this point, the most important thing is to do your homework: Research the procedure you’re considering, ask your doctor questions and educate yourself. Most joint replacement programs offer educational sessions for patients considering surgery such as knee replacement, Baxamusa says. This allows you to learn the specifics ahead of time, so there are no surprises. “You’ll learn what to expect, from when the stitches come out to how long rehab will take. And you can talk to other patients about their experiences,” he says. Read Stories of People Like You with Joint Pain Learn how orthopedic care has improved the lives of people like you—near you. Use the interactive map on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ website at anationinmotion.org to read patient stories by age, region and condition. vanwerthospital.org • Spring 2013 7 The Essential Five Ahhh-Choo! We shed some light on five seasonal allergy myths Many myths swirl around the topic of seasonal allergies. Here are five we’d like to set straight. Have you ever heard people say 1. Only flowers, not grass or weeds, cause allergies. they can’t mow the lawn because they’re allergic to cut grass? Did ✿ ✾ ❀✽❁ you automatically assume they were fibbing and really allergic to manual labor instead? You’re not alone. This one is false. “Ornamental flowers, like all pollen-bearing plants, certainly are a major contributor to allergy symptoms. But weeds have flowers, too,” says Rick Madden, M.D., family practice physician and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Grass and weeds contain pollen, and are most potent between late May and midJuly. Tree pollen, on the other hand, will hit the air mainly from late April into May. Wind and humidity can make symptoms worse. 2. If you’ve never had allergies, you never will. “Not true,” Madden says. “The most common onset of seasonal allergies is in the teens and 30s. But they can start at any age.” An allergy is, quite simply, when the body’s immune system overreacts to any number of substances, which are called allergens. Seasonal allergies cause symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchiness and watery eyes. Food and medicine allergies can cause serious reactions that may be life-threatening. 3. You don’t need to take allergy medication until you notice symptoms. antihistamine, before the allergy season or exposure hits,” Madden says. 4. Hay causes hay fever. This is a bit of a misnomer, says the doctor. While hay can, in fact, cause allergy symptoms because it’s a plant, many other things also cause hay fever, which is just another name for seasonal allergies. Also, there is no fever associated with allergies. Also false. “It’s best to begin allergy medicine, such as an over-the-counter 5. Allergy shots contain the very thing you’re allergic to. This one is true. Though it sounds a little ludicrous, it actually makes sense. The allergen in a shot, such as grass pollen or ragweed, stimulates your immune system to create antibodies to fight the allergen. Then, over time when you and this allergen meet, these new antibodies will help to block it, resulting in less severe symptoms. This form of immunotherapy isn’t a cureall for all allergies, so ask your doctor if it’s right for you. • By Amanda Myers Get Allergy Twitter Tips! Follow the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on Twitter, @AAFANational, for tips and tricks specifically for allergy sufferers. Amy Rode, Patient and Community Relations Director, 419-238-8623 SmartHealth is published as a service to our friends and neighbors by McMurry/ TMG, LLC for Van Wert County Hospital. Material in SmartHealth is obtained from a wide range of medical scientists and healthcare authorities. If you have any concerns about specific items that appear in SmartHealth, consult your personal physician about their effects on your health. To stop receiving SmartHealth, call Van Wert 8 SPRING 2013 • vanwerthospital.org County Hospital at 419-238-2390. EDITOR: ELLEN OLSON; Art Director: MAGGIE CONNERS; PROD. TECH. Specialist: Sonia Washington; Production Manager: TANYA CLARK © 2013 McMurry/ TMG, LLC Volume 7, Number 3. 79