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HEALTHY LIVING FOR YOUR FAMILY WKHS.COM
VIM &
SPRING 2015
Senior
Class
32
ways to make the
later years your best
PLUS how the show must go
on for actress Judi Dench
despite a serious eye condition
HOW EXERCISE
BENEFITS THE BODY
AND BRAIN
Willis-Knighton
is innovating
heart care
REHAB BRIDGES THE
GAP FROM HOSPITAL
TO HOME
FdVVSP1593_00_Cover.indd 1
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Contents
SPRING 2015
THE BIG
STORY
2
3
4
6
7
8
40
42
44
46
50
Perspective
Fit & Well
In the Know
Inside The Oaks
Bon Appétit
Spotlight
Plan & Prepare
This Just In
The Truth About Allergies
Healthy Buys: Golden Gifts
Quiz: Freak Out or
Chill Out?
52 At a Glance: Smoke Alarm
54 In the Market: Spinach
56 Health by the Numbers:
Focus on Fertility
Studies show
that people often
save the happiest
years for last.
PAGE 16
FEATURES
9
Age Is Just a Number
Past your prime?
Maybe not. See some
amazing achievements by
older folks.
10
The Long View
Despite a serious
eye condition,
actress Judi Dench
is determined to
do what she loves
at age 80 and
beyond.
14
You: Part 2
Life is full of surprises, and they
don’t stop when you’re on
the other side of 50.
22
Going Through
the Motions
Our joints endure
a lifetime of bending, twisting and rotating. Here’s how
to keep them in top shape.
IN EVERY ISSUE
28
Your Last
Chapter:
Expressing
End-of-Life Wishes
It’s something that no one
wants to think about, but
everyone needs to.
38
What Rehab
Can Do for You
If you want to
see the full benefits of
therapy at Willis-Knighton’s
Rehabilitation Institute, just
ask Mark Thompson.
Can too much
gaming cause
osteoarthritis?
PAGE 43
33
Mending
Broken Hearts
Willis-Knighton
is an innovator for cardiac
care in the Ark-La-Tex and
beyond. Read three people’s
stories that illustrate why.
36
Well-Rounded
Workout
Physical activity
is important to physical wellbeing and mental health.
See the many opportunities
available to residents at
The Oaks of Louisiana.
6
Community
Garden
Residents of The Oaks
of Louisiana can plant,
grow and harvest their
pick of fresh vegetables
and herbs.
COVER PHOTO BY NEIL TINGLE-ALLSTAR-GLOBE PHOTOS INC.
SPRING 2015
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PERSPECTIVE
GOOD HEALTH
THROUGH THE YEARS
Life after 50 can be exciting and fulfilling
VIM &
VIGOR
PRESIDENT AND CEO, WILLIS-KNIGHTON HEALTH SYSTEM
James K. Elrod
FACILITY ADMINISTRATORS
Jaf Fielder, Willis-Knighton Medical Center
Keri Elrod, Willis-Knighton South
Cliff Broussard, WK Bossier Health Center
Sonny Moss, WK Pierremont Health Center
Margaret Elrod, The Oaks of Louisiana
Joshua Mason, WK Innovation Center
REGIONAL EDITOR
Marilyn S. Joiner
CONTRIBUTORS
Marian Dehan, Kim Foulk, Darrell Rebouche, Terrie M. Roberts,
Lyne Robinson
A new year, another spring, the rebirth
of nature. It’s a beautiful and invigorating
time. Just like nature, Vim & Vigor has
been renewed with a fresh design introduced last year
and an overall theme for each issue. This issue is one
of my favorites because it focuses on making the most
of your life after 50.
As I look forward to celebrating my 50th year at
Willis-Knighton in April, I am constantly reminded that the later years can be
just as exciting and fulfilling as the earlier years. It’s certainly the case for noted
actress Judi Dench, our cover celebrity. It’s as if that cover feature on her was
written to reinforce exactly what we offer at The Oaks of Louisiana. Be sure to
read Terrie Roberts’ story on the vibrant active lifestyle there and what residents
at The Oaks are enjoying. You’ll find it on page 36.
Just as older vehicles need repairs, so do older bodies, and where we receive
care for our bodies is important. I believe that Willis-Knighton has the finest
range of services in our region to support healthcare, particularly those of us
who need some of those “body repairs.” And when that happens, we’re also
fortunate to have wonderful options to help people recover, from home health
to inpatient rehabilitation. Lyne Robinson covers some of those options in her
story on page 38.
Some of us remember when heart surgery was in its infancy in our community, when Dr. Stan Shelby performed the first open heart surgery in Shreveport.
Today, heart surgery is quite different, thanks to superb technology, including
our hybrid operating suite at the Willis-Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute. Look
for Darrell Rebouche’s story that features some of the outstanding developments for mending broken hearts. It’s on page 33.
As you read through this magazine, I hope you’ll gain knowledge and information to help you be healthier and happier. An old Arabian proverb says, “He who
has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”
My wish for you is good health, now and in the future.
PRODUCTION
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Amy Saunders
EDITORS: Erin Feeney, Meghan Krein, Matt Morgan, Ellen Olson,
Tom Weede
COPY EDITOR: C.J. Hutchinson
DESIGN
CHIEF ART DIRECTOR: Tami Rodgers
ART DIRECTORS: Rod Karmenzind, Kay Morrow
PRODUCTION
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER: Laura Marlowe
SPECIAL PROJECTS & PRICING MANAGER: Jenny Babich
IMAGING SPECIALIST: Dane Nordine
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS: Julie Chan,
Sonia Fitzgerald
CIRCULATION
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE GROUP:
Tracey Lenz
POSTAL AFFAIRS & LOGISTICS DIRECTOR: Joseph Abeyta
CLIENT SERVICES
CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER: Beth Tomkiw
CLIENT STRATEGY AND SERVICES MANAGERS:
Annika Honkanen, Lauren Keeton, Gerry Kubek, Barbara Mohr
ADMINISTRATION
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Matthew J. Petersen
SVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – HEALTHCARE:
Gregg Radzely, 212-574-4380
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Marc Oxborrow
VIM & VIGOR FOUNDER: J. Barry Johnson
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS: Preston V. McMurry Jr.
2600 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71103
318-212-4000
wkhs.com
If you wish to be removed from the mailing list,
please visit mcmurrytmg.com/circulation.
James K. Elrod
President and CEO
2
Vim & Vigor™, Spring 2015, Volume 31, Number 1, is published
quarterly by McMURRY/TMG, LLC, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix,
AZ 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & Vigor™ is published for the purpose
of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the
general public and its subscribers. The information contained in Vim &
Vigor™ is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing.
Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical
treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
Vim & Vigor™ does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2015 by McMURRY/TMG, LLC.
All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues).
Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions, write: Circulation Manager,
Vim & Vigor™, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
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Fit & Well By Joyce Florance
Joyce
Florance,
fitness
coordinator
Someone to Guide You
A fitness center’s value is in the people who work
with you to achieve your goals
Fitness center promotions
often include hours, locations, amenities, cleanliness,
equipment, classes and cost. But what
do you know about the fitness staff? It
doesn’t matter how long a gym is open
or what it charges unless it also offers
the proper guidance, encouragement
and motivation to allow you to fully realize the benefits of exercise.
Your fitness specialist should:
• Communicate with you about your
goals, also discussing other things that
may affect your exercise, like time commitments, family, job and history.
• Hold a college degree and/or certification from a reputable institution or
accrediting body.
CALL
• Use kind words and encouragement,
not intimidation.
• Be patient and understand that
everyone has different goals.
• Show interest in you and
your progress.
• Devote his or her life to helping
others through fitness and wellness.
• Talk on your level, avoiding fitness
jargon.
• Work with all ages and abilities.
• Perform an initial fitness assessment
and then track your progress, scheduling
updates regularly.
• Speak to you as a person and not as
a customer.
Here’s a glimpse of this kind of professionalism as described in a letter
written to a fitness specialist by one of
our members.
“I just want you to know how
much I appreciate all you do. You
are so amazing! As a trainer, you are
truly in tune with what my body is
doing, how I am breathing, if I am
tensing up and how far to push my
exercises. Your attention to detail
shows me that you truly care about
my well-being. I feel confident about
placing myself in your care. You help
me to feel good about what I am
doing, because physical fitness not
only makes me strong, but helps pick
me up emotionally as well. … You are
an encourager who makes me want
to do more. You are a positive person
who is fun to be with; always quick
to smile and share some laughter. …
I think you must already know that
you are not only my trainer, but I
consider you my dear friend.”
I tell my staff members that each
day their goal should be to strive to say
something to someone that makes that
person glad they came in on that day.
I think it demonstrates that WK Fitness
& Wellness specialists really care about
your health and well-being and want to
help you achieve your fitness goals. n
bottom photo by thinkstock
We’re Here
to Help
Want to get started on
an exercise program?
Call 318-212-4475 or stop
by and talk to the friendly
and encouraging staff at
a WK Fitness & Wellness
Center today.
SPRING 2015
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IN THE KNOW
Anthony Martin
TAKE WILLISKNIGHTON HOME
WITH YOU
4
Warmer weather won’t be the only enticement drawing Oaks of
Louisiana residents outdoors this spring.
The all-adult community promotes an active, healthy lifestyle, and activities in the sunshine are encouraged. This spring,
residents have a new croquet lawn, chipping green and putting
green to enjoy.
The croquet lawn and chipping green are in the center of campus, on the lawn between the Tower at The Oaks and the Chapel
at The Oaks. The putting green is behind the Tower at The Oaks.
“The croquet lawn is part of a long-range plan that has been
in place from the outset,” says Margaret Elrod, executive director of The Oaks. “One of the
things we noticed when we
first started traveling to the
East Coast looking at communities like The Oaks is a few
of them had croquet lawns.
The one in Asheville, N.C., was
very much used and enjoyed.”
Chipping and putting greens
were included at the request
of residents.
More opportunities to
stay engaged and active—
and enjoy the beauty of
The Oaks campus.
Margaret Elrod
CROQUET PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
When you have been impressed with your care at
Willis-Knighton, know that you can take that same
level of professionalism with you by choosing
Willis-Knighton for your home care. “Home care is
a vital part of the continuum of care for patients,”
says Anthony Martin, director of Home Care
Services for Willis-Knighton Health System. “Our
professionals pick up when the patient leaves the
acute-care professionals.”
Every patient’s No. 1 goal is to get home, Martin
says. But sometimes the person is not prepared for
the reality of being home and dealing with recuperating from the disease or condition that prompted the
hospital visit. Willis-Knighton Home Care provides a
variety of services like wound care, IVs, fluid regulation, Coumadin monitoring and education about the
condition. And Martin says he is always willing to talk
to a doctor about something a patient might need.
“We may not have offered it before,” he says, “but
if there is something we can do to help a patient at
home, we’re open to new ideas.”
Martin acknowledges that there are many companies, including for-profits, that provide care in the
home and that people may not be as familiar with
them as they are with Willis-Knighton. Thankfully,
they can have an extra level of confidence in the care
being delivered by Willis-Knighton, knowing that
home-care employees are affiliated with the hospital
and must meet the exacting standards that hospital
employees meet.
Come Out and
Play Croquet!
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BY THE
NUMBERS
706
Complimentary
3-D screening
mammograms
performed during
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
(October)
26
Quarterly
issues of Vim &
Vigor magazine
(including this
one) presented
by Willis-Knighton
Health System
since 2009
$1,563
CROQUET PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
Minimum monthly
cost to live
independently
at The Oaks
of Louisiana,
including
apartment,
lunch, scheduled
transportation,
activities,
entertainment
and security
Joyce Hooper
Better Technology,
Better Mammograms
The introduction of 3-D breast imaging
at Willis-Knighton last fall has been well
received by patients and their physicians
and will continue to make an impact
throughout Willis-Knighton Health
System. The technology was phased
in at outpatient screening locations at
Pierremont, Bossier and South and will
be at all WK campuses by midyear. This
is a significant investment but one that
is important, says Joyce Hooper, administrative director of radiology.
“This technology allows radiologists
to better see the breast tissue in a 3-D
view of scans of the entire breast, meaning that they can identify abnormalities
when they are very small and easier to
treat,” Hooper says.
“With this also comes a reduction in
the number of callbacks for additional
views or other tests,” she says. “This not
only reduces anxiety but helps to control
the cost of healthcare, because it means
we won’t have to perform additional
tests when they are not needed.”
The 3-D imaging is added to a 2-D
screening mammogram and takes only
a few additional seconds. If a patient
chooses to have 3-D imaging and it is
not covered by insurance, the additional
cost can be paid out of pocket.
SPRING 2015
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INSIDE THE OAKS BY TERRIE M. ROBERTS
Recycled
gutters
make great
containers
for planting
herbs and
strawberries.
Residents Opal Wimberly (left) and Louise Choate enjoy
planting, growing and harvesting vegetables in The Oaks’
community garden. Eating the bounty is especially satisfying.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Much grows where residents are planting
Preparing soil. Planting
seeds. Watering, weeding
and harvesting.
For some, gardening is work. For
others, it is therapy.
The power of nature was the impetus behind the creation of a community
garden at The Oaks of Louisiana. That,
and “the opportunity for residents to
enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs that
they’ve grown themselves,” says Sharon
Champagne, campus and grounds manager for The Oaks.
“We want everyone here to be healthy
and happy,” she says. “We don’t use
insecticides or pesticides, so everything
is pure, natural and organic.”
The community garden is on the north
side of Garden Apartments at The Oaks
and consists of eight raised boxes to
6
allow not only able-bodied residents to
garden, but also those who use walkers
or wheelchairs.
Attached to the fence that surrounds
the garden area are recycled gutters
filled with herbs such as thyme, oregano,
mint, basil, dill and parsley.
Nearby is a plot of land, in addition to the raised boxes, that has been
tilled. “This spring, that area will include
broccoli, kale and lettuces, mustard
greens, English peas, radishes, spinach,
carrots, even flowers,” Champagne says.
“Residents are welcomed, even encouraged, to come and pick what they want—
even flowers for their homes.”
Opal Wimberly, Louise Choate, Al
Fischer and Max Greene were among
residents last spring who planted, grew
and harvested such seasonal favorites
A larger area
near the
community
garden is
tilled by Oaks’
groundskeepers
and is the
perfect place
for planting
corn, pumpkins,
squash, peas
and more.
as okra, potatoes, onions, tomatoes
and cucumbers.
“The residents who tested their
hands in gardening had so much fun,”
Champagne says. “I ate a little too well.
They made zucchini bread. One day
they fixed me a lunch of purple hull
peas, corn on the cob, cornbread and
pork chops!”
The garden, though, yields more than
delicious bounty. “There are psychological benefits for those who take part,”
Champagne notes. “Having something
to care for and nurture helps you live
longer. It also improves hand strength
and hand-eye coordination and is a mild
form of aerobic activity.”
Adds Fischer: “Gardening gives me
pleasure, even if I’m not good at it, and
it’s good for you. It gets you in the sunshine, if nothing else.”
Champagne agrees. “Research shows
that enjoying activities in natural environments is beneficial. We have the perfect
natural environment for community gardening here at The Oaks. It’s easy to be
healthy and happy.” ■
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BON APPÉTIT
SUPER SALADS
Toss your conception of traditional greens
and enjoy these savory dishes
Broccoli Bacon Salad
INGREDIENTS
1 clove garlic, minced
¹₃ cup fat-free mayonnaise
¹₃ cup light sour cream
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Splenda artificial sweetener
4 cups finely chopped broccoli crowns
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped
¹₄ cup diced red onion
3 slices cooked turkey bacon, crumbled
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
¹₄ teaspoon black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
PHOTOS BY THINKSTOCK
Whisk garlic, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar and Splenda
in a large bowl. Add broccoli, water chestnuts, red onion,
bacon, cranberries and pepper; stir to coat with the dressing.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Yield: 12 servings. Serving: ¹₂ cup.
Calories: 66. Fat: 2 grams.
Recipe modified by Alicia Smith,
MS, RD, LDN, CDE, Willis-Knighton
Diabetes & Nutrition Center.
Smoked Salmon Salad
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces fresh salmon
Salt and pepper to taste
1 8-inch wood plank (cedar preferred)
Salad:
1 whole English cucumber
3 radishes
2 scallions
Fresh spinach, about 10 ounces
Vinaigrette:
3 lemons
2 limes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dill, chopped
¹₃ cup extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat plank on grill. While plank is heating, prepare
vegetables for salad: Slice cucumber in half, lengthwise,
then slice thinly on the bias. Wash and thinly slice
radishes (thin enough to see through). Slice scallions.
Next, prepare vinaigrette: Squeeze juice from lemons
and limes into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon olive
oil to juices (citrus liquid) and whisk to blend. Stir in
fresh dill.
Season salmon with salt and pepper. Slice salmon
into thin strips. Place salmon strips on hot plank and
cook roughly 3 to 5 minutes. Remove salmon from
plank and place in refrigerator to cool.
Place spinach, cucumber, radishes and scallions in
a bowl and toss to combine. Drizzle with citrus vinaigrette and additional extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
Stir gently to distribute vinaigrette. Divide salad evenly
among three plates. Top salad with cooled salmon.
Yield: 3 servings.
Recipe submitted by Billy Wiethaupt III, chef at
The Oaks.
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Spotlight
Management Profile
Chief Traffic
Controller
Glenda Turner
Glenda Turner feels like an air traffic controller. As
executive assistant to Willis-Knighton President and CEO
James K. Elrod, Turner manages a dizzying array of incoming and outgoing traffic, all while preventing dangerous
“midair collisions.” She juggles phone calls, emails,
drop-ins and dozens of daily demands for a priority
place on the boss’ schedule. She keeps things moving.
From her forward position, she says she sees how it
takes so many people to make the health system thrive.
During her tenure with Willis-Knighton, which began
in 1981, she has witnessed a remarkable evolution
in healthcare in general and the expansion of WillisKnighton in particular. “As Mr. Elrod has said many
times,” she says, “healthcare is constantly evolving
and we always need to be prepared for change or to
make changes. Every day in this office presents a new
challenge; therefore, we always must be prepared for
those challenges.”
Turner knows Willis-Knighton’s remarkable growth
and success have been thanks to a collaborative effort.
She cites top-notch physicians and thousands of
dedicated co-workers. “We all have a common goal
of serving our patients and community to the best
of our ability,” she says. “I’m fortunate to be a part of
this team.”
8
WK Employees
Active in the
Community
Every day, Matt Armstrong sees people who have been hurt,
and every day he helps them recover. A physical therapist in
outpatient rehabilitation at Willis-Knighton South, he has a
calling to help people.
Each July, Armstrong joins a group of healthcare providers
to visit Ecuador to help farmworkers. The Ecuadorian climate
creates a year-round growing season, which means neverending physical labor for people harvesting bananas, flowers,
melons, coffee, vegetables—the list goes on and on. The work
is demanding and taxing. “We’re doing a lot of things where
we’re instructing them to make their jobs a little bit easier and
also things to help them be more mobile,” Armstrong says.
“Most of them are working well into their 80s.”
Typically, the group offers four clinic days and has a steady
stream of patients. “Each day is an adventure,” he says. “It’s
amazing the things that will make a difference there but that
we take for granted here, like giving someone crutches or a
cane to help them walk. … A knee brace does a world of good
for somebody who’s working in the field all day long.”
Matt Armstrong
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Haughton High
School coach Rodney
Guin is surrounded
by his players at a
practice session.
Mending R
Broken
Hearts
Meet three people who illustrate
why Willis-Knighton is an innovator
for cardiac care BY DARRELL REBOUCHE
ODNEY GUIN is a busy
man, but he will fi nd time
to talk with you. His life’s
pace is far less frenetic than
it was a year ago, a dramatic change
for a man who has dedicated his life
to coaching football and teaching at
Haughton High School.
Guin, who almost always leans
forward, instead subtly reclines as he
sits behind the desk in his spacious
coaching office on campus. The conversation inevitably turns to April 25,
2014, the day he had a heart attack in
his Haughton home. He was rushed to
WK Bossier Health Center, where procedures were performed that helped him
cling to life, and then he was immediately transferred to the Willis-Knighton
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Trusted Care Near Home
T.J. JACKSON is 38 years old with a
wife and three young children. There
was a time when he feared his kids
might not remember him. Jackson
started fighting heart disease at age 19,
and his heart deteriorated over time
to the point where it just would not
sustain his life.
In October 2008, he had a left
ventricular assist device, or LVAD,
implanted. It’s often described as a kind
of mechanical heart, but it’s more of a
helper. It pumps blood for a heart that
is too weak to do it on its own. It’s a
lifetime commitment for the Shreveport
native who says he is not inclined to
pursue a heart transplant.
In May 2014, Jackson noticed some
changes in his device. He was directed to
the LVAD program at Willis-Knighton.
“They took care of me,” Jackson says,
“and now I’m making regular visits
to Willis-Knighton.” His LVAD was
implanted at Baylor University Medical
Center in Dallas, and while he visits
there twice a year for checkups, the
availability of an LVAD program in
Shreveport is a major convenience, not
to mention a significant cost savings.
“At Willis-Knighton, they can take care
of any problem I might have,” he says.
34
LVAD program here. If I need something, I don’t have to pack up and go all
the way to Dallas,” she says.
“Those centers are telling patients to
come to us,” says Kellie Hart, coordinator for Willis-Knighton’s mechanical
circulatory support and VAD program.
Why are they recommending WillisKnighton? “Because they know we have
the staff and the equipment to take care
of them,” she explains. “They trust us
with the care of their patients and are
very appreciative.”
T.J. Jackson, outside his Shreveport
home.
CAROLYN HOWARD, a 70-yearold from Shreveport, had her LVAD
device implanted in 2011. “It’s given
me new life,” she says. Howard participates in the shared care program.
Willis-Knighton is caring for patients
like her and Jackson, who were originally treated in Dallas, along with
LVAD patients from New Orleans and
Durham, N.C. “It’s nice to have the
National Acclaim
for Saving Lives
The cardiovascular surgeons who work
with Willis-Knighton Heart & Vascular
Institute provide the full spectrum of
cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgical services, excelling in state-of-theart technology, including minimally
invasive techniques, and off-pump
bypass heart procedures. A highly
skilled surgical team is in place, and
now all cardiovascular surgery in the
Willis-Knighton system is consolidated
at the Willis-Knighton Medical Center
Kellie Hart evaluates parameters and history of Carolyn Howard’s left ventricular
assist device during a checkup at Willis-Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute.
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PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
Heart & Vascular Institute. Guin shakes
his head. “I’m told they didn’t think I
would make it,” he says. His doctors
confirm that assessment.
Guin’s heart was so severely damaged
that it simply couldn’t function well
enough to keep him alive, but things
went his way. At the Heart & Vascular
Institute, cardiothoracic surgeons are
proficient in a procedure called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation,
or ECMO.
Curtis Prejean, MD, and ECMO came
through. “My heart got fi xed at WillisKnighton,” Guin declares. “They saved
my life. That’s the only way to put it.”
website
Committed
to Excellence
photo by thinkstock
Cardiologists are on the
front line of heart care at
the Willis-Knighton Heart &
Vascular Institute, identifying
and treating heart disease.
Learn more about the specialty medical services available for heart conditions at
wkhs.com/heart. Search
Find a Doctor at wkhs.com
for the right doctor for your
condition.
and its Heart & Vascular Institute. This
is a real benefit, since patients have a better chance of a good result when treated
at a center that sees a large number of
patients, especially one that is supported
by experts in cardiology, cardiovascular
surgery and care teams that routinely
deal with cardiovascular patients.
J. Stanford Shelby, MD, a retired cardiothoracic surgeon, says that when the
heart program was in its nascent stages,
Willis-Knighton was “just a little suburban hospital.” He and others marvel
at what it has become: one of the largest
health systems in the South with four
full-service acute care hospitals, a thriving active adult community and a growing heart program. It’s no surprise that
Willis-Knighton’s heart services are
receiving national acclaim for its technology and success in saving lives.
Rodney Guin spent some time in
Dallas for what he terms “other issues,”
but he’s quick to make a point: “The doctors at Baylor said Willis-Knighton did
everything that needed to be done for my
heart. We’ll never repay them for that.” n
Forward-Thinking
Heart Care
Sophisticated and comprehensive
heart services at Willis-Knighton
save lives daily. The health system’s
long-standing commitment to making cutting-edge equipment and
procedures available to top-notch
cardiologists and surgeons has not
wavered. J. Stanford Shelby, MD,
a retired cardiothoracic surgeon,
helped build the heart program
that is now the most respected in
the region. “We built it up from
scratch,” he says.
He remembers the first heart
surgery his team performed at
Willis-Knighton. “A woman was in
really bad trouble. We operated
on her and we were about to have
kittens wondering if she was going
to survive. We got the bypasses
done and she did fine. In fact, she
sent us a card every year on the
anniversary of her surgery saying,
‘I’m still alive.’ ” Chuckling as he
recalls the story, Dr. Shelby marvels at the technological progress
made in cardiac technology, as
well as the prowess of the doctors
using it.
“The health system has always
been supportive of new technologies,” says Kathy Walker, director
of cardiovascular services. “It keeps
us forward thinking.” An example
of this is a nonsurgical procedure
to address the risk of stroke that
accompanies a common heart
rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation.
A part of the heart called the left
atrial appendage (LAA) is often a
source of blood clots that lead to
stroke in atrial fibrillation patients.
This new procedure is called
LARIAT (think of a lasso). Doctors
use a catheter to enter the heart
and seal off the LAA with a suture
loop, like a lariat. In some patients,
this can be an alternative to open
heart surgery and possibly to
blood thinners. This is the kind of
thing Dr. Shelby has in mind when
he points out that cardiology and
cardiac surgery have changed dramatically since he started.
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Well-Rounded
Workout
At The Oaks,
body and brain
both get good
exercise
by Terrie M. Roberts
Residents have a variety of health
and wellness classes from which to
choose—all aimed at keeping them
healthy, active and independent.
36
T
o live life well, you need to
be active. You need to engage
not only your body in exercise,
but your brain as well.
“Your brain is no different than any
other part of your body,” says Holly
Winterrowd, manager/senior wellness
coordinator for The Oaks of Louisiana.
“You either use it or lose it.”
Residents at The Oaks of Louisiana
have plenty of opportunities to live
life well. The active adult community
promotes healthy living through a wide
range of classes that support physical
health as well as brain health and programs that help participants stay cognitively active.
That component of The Oaks lifestyle
is appealing to Doris and Jerry Grass,
who moved to The Oaks in October 2011.
They live in the Tower at The Oaks,
one of four residences in the 312-acre
all-adult community.
“The Spa & Wellness Center is one of
the best amenities we have,” Jerry says.
“We don’t have to get up, get dressed
and go scrape ice off the car windows.
We just get in the elevator and walk
down the hall.”
Both he and his wife have long made
exercise a part of their daily routine.
“Before we moved here, we worked out
at WK Bossier Wellness Center,” Jerry
says. While Doris enjoys walking, both
do cardio on the machines, alternating
machines on different days to work different muscle groups.
“The more exercise you do, the better
health you are going to be in,” Jerry says.
“We want to be able to get up and go.”
Good for the Body
Being physically active on a regular
basis is one of the healthiest things
you can do for yourself, Winterrowd
says. “Research shows that physical
activity provides many health benefits and helps you maintain your independence as you age,” she says. “It is
extremely important.”
As people age, Winterrowd says,
they begin to lose muscle mass.
Endurance declines. Muscles tighten,
and there is less flexibility. Bone mass
decreases. Joints are less supple.
Balance is compromised.
“Many older adults are reluctant to
exercise because they don’t feel good
or they are afraid exercise will be too
hard,” Winterrowd says. “However, by
not doing anything they lose their ability to do things on their own.”
Winterrowd suggests seniors do
30 minutes of cardio exercise five days
each week and strength training two
or three days each week.
“Not only will they feel better, but
regular exercise can help prevent or
delay many diseases and disabilities,
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
some cancers and arthritis,” she says.
At The Oaks, residents stay physically
active through group fitness classes,
such as cardioblast, which uses combinations of chair and ball exercises, circuit
training and dancing; total body, which
includes elements of endurance, core
work, strength, flexibility and balance;
water aerobics, consisting of cardiovascular moves and muscular toning with
noodles and hand weights; and yoga.
In addition, the Spa & Wellness Center
features an indoor saltwater pool and
a fitness room with Keiser resistance
equipment, which is designed with
older adults in mind. There are no
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CALL
Live Healthfully.
Live Here
Stop by The Oaks and ask
about all the fitness activities (for body and mind!)
available at the active
adult community. Or call
318-212-OAKS (6257) to
talk to a lifestyle consultant.
The Spa & Wellness Center, with its indoor saltwater pool and a fitness room
with Keiser resistance equipment, is part of The Oaks’ appeal for Doris and
Jerry Grass. Both make exercise a part of their daily lifestyle.
heavy plates or pins to move. Moreover,
trained exercise specialists assess residents on an individual basis and design
workout programs to meet their specific needs.
Good for the Brain
As important as physical activity is
to one’s physical well-being, research
shows it also improves mental health,
particularly of those suffering from
depression, Winterrowd notes. Therefore,
physical exercise at The Oaks is offered
in tandem with monthly activities to
keep residents’ brains healthy.
Rhonda MacIsaac, director of
independent living, acknowledges the
importance of stimulating the brain
and building brain capacity to prevent
mental decline. “The brain’s pathways
start to disconnect if there is a lack of
learning,” MacIsaac says. “The best way
to keep your brain fit besides physical
exercise is through brain stimulation.”
The Oaks of Louisiana offers a
number of activities each month to do
just that.
Residents stay socially active through
events such as monthly birthday celebrations, block parties, teas and cookouts.
“Holding conversations and contributing
to discussions requires a lot of mental
dexterity and helps form new neural
pathways,” MacIsaac says.
There are trips to intellectually stimulating places like museums, presidential libraries and historical sites. There
are book reviews, lectures on world
religions, the University at The Oaks
history series, symphony and opera performances, painting classes and more.
“We play board games, which are
associated with a lower risk of developing dementia and activate strategic,
Sunshine and the beauty of Lake
Eleanor often entice residents to
work out outdoors.
spatial and memory parts of the brain,”
MacIsaac says. “Residents work jigsaw
and crossword puzzles and participate
in word games, bridge and dominoes.”
The inclusion of the iN2L (It’s Never
Too Late) touch-screen computer system, MacIsaac says, offers more varied
programming and activities tailored to
individuals. Residents enjoy brain exercises, educational and travel videos,
interactive games, TV games, card games,
puzzles, word games, history and news
topics, and trivia.
At The Oaks, healthy living is about
keeping the body and brain healthy. n
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Rehab
H
You
What
Can Do for
For Mark Thompson
and so many like him,
returning to a functional
quality of life is the ultimate goal
by Lyne Robinson
ave you ever stopped to
think about the effort
your body makes to carry
out day-to-day activities?
Mark Thompson never really did—
until he began experiencing numbness in his arms and legs. Within days,
he was undergoing spinal surgery.
Afterward, Thompson came to WillisKnighton Medical Center’s inpatient
Rehabilitation Institute with little to
no use of his body from the neck down.
Paul Bellotte, physical
therapist at Willis-Knighton
Physical Medicine &
Rehabilitation, helps Mark
Thompson improve his
walking and balance.
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Helping patients
return to a highfunctioning quality
of life is important
to physical therapist
Lydia Finger.
Relearning basic functions makes
a person appreciate the little things
that most take for granted, like walking, running or simply squatting to lift
a grandchild.
At Willis-Knighton, rehabilitation is
more than learning to stand and walk
without assistance. “Our goal is to take
the patient from injury or surgery all
the way back into the home with a highfunctioning quality of life,” says Chris
Mangin, director of physical medicine
and rehabilitation for Willis-Knighton
Health System.
Thompson is a testament to the quality of care the Rehabilitation Institute at
Willis-Knighton Medical Center offers.
“The care and professionalism of this
department was top-notch,” he says.
“The staff Willis-Knighton has assembled is the best you will find anywhere.”
In Good Hands
Physical therapists like Lydia Finger,
occupational therapists like Keith
Hedges, and nurses, case managers
and social workers all compose the
caring, highly skilled team that works
with patients undergoing rehabilitation. Thompson’s condition limited
his mobility and his ability to function
independently, yet he remained optimistic about walking again. “Immediately
after I arrived at Willis-Knighton, the
nursing staff took over and began to
help me. I knew I was in good hands,”
Thompson recalls.
To return patients to a functional
quality of life, the team works together
to move individuals from inpatient rehab
to the next step in the continuum of care,
which may be outpatient rehab, skilled
nursing, home health or assisted living—
all services available through WillisKnighton. “We strive to be a system that
can provide quality patient care in every
rehabilitation setting,” Mangin says.
“Willis-Knighton fits in every niche.”
Thompson has been through all the
levels of rehab, interacting with therapists, nurses, case managers and others.
“I was determined to walk out and not
be confined to a wheelchair or become
a permanent resident within the skilled
nursing facility,” he says.
Chris Mangin, director
of physical medicine
and rehabilitation,
reinforces that
Willis-Knighton has
provided exceptional
rehabilitation services
for more than 30 years.
housekeeping staff who washed his garments. “They went above and beyond,”
he says.
After two surgeries on his spine and
subsequent rehabilitation at WillisKnighton, he left on his own two feet
with the aid of a walker. “The rehab
process and therapists who worked with
me were incredible at returning me to a
walking stage of life,” Thompson says.
One thing that really impressed
Thompson was the consistently excellent care at each WK facility. “Paul
Bellotte at WK Portico outpatient is
“Our goal is to take the patient from injury or
surgery all the way back into the home with a
high-functioning quality of life.” —Chris Mangin
With confidence in his team of therapists, Thompson kept moving forward
throughout his therapy, reaching milestone after milestone. He indicates that
everyone kept his spirits high, encouraged him and rejoiced with him when
he stood without assistance for the first
time. He recalls each of these moments
vividly, with emotion in his voice. “The
look on their faces reflected the true joy
they felt in sharing that moment with
me,” he explains.
Walking Out the Door
Throughout his time in Willis-Knighton’s
Rehabilitation Institute, Thompson was
impressed with the concern everyone
exhibited for him, from therapists who
pushed him daily to exercise to the
just as committed to my physical therapy
success as every other therapist I worked
with in the hospital,” Thompson says,
citing one example.
Thompson’s most recent milestone
was graduating from a walker to a cane
for support.
Once confined to a wheelchair,
Thompson is a walking testimony for
the Willis-Knighton Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation Institute. “This staff
cared for more than just my injury,” he
explains. “They cared about me as a person. I have a lot of gratitude for that.”
Thompson’s success, and his praise for
the rehabilitation staff, makes Mangin
smile. “Bridging the gap from hospital
to home,” Mangin says. “That is what
rehab is all about.” n
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Plan & Prepare
Live & Learn
FEATURED EVENT/ WILLIS-KNIGHTON
WK and The Oaks host a variety of
informative programs each month
Space is limited for all events, and advance reservations are required. Make
your reservations for any event at The Oaks or Willis-Knighton by visiting
classes.wkhs.com or calling the WK call center at 318-212-8225.
The Oaks of
Louisiana
Celebration of
Violins
Maestro Michael
Butterman, concertmaster Matt Albert
and violin soloist
Jennifer Carsillo team
up with members
of the Shreveport
Symphony Orchestra
to bring you an afternoon recital of violin
favorites. The program will feature the
Concerto for Two
Violins by J.S. Bach,
along with other works
for solo violin. The
Painted Violins, a yearlong project of the
symphony engaging
local artists, will be on
display for a complete
violin experience.
When: Thursday,
April 30, at 4 p.m.
Where: Alta and John
Franks Community
Centre
Cost: Free for
residents, $5 for
nonresidents
Willis-Knighton
Punctuating
Health
With the Internet and
social media, it’s easy
to be inundated with
health information.
How do we find the
credible information
about cancer, orthopedics, digestive health
and gender-specific
topics in a pinch? Learn
firsthand from WillisKnighton physicians
and health experts at
this health fair. Move,
connect and find
answers for many of
your health concerns.
When: Thursday,
May 14, 5:30 to
7:30 p.m.
Where: WK Bossier
Health Center
Auditorium
Cost: $5 n
Dance Fest
Dancing burns
as many calories
as activities
like swimming,
walking and
bike riding. It doesn’t matter if
you’re ballroom dancing or grooving
to the latest tunes on your iPod.
Dancing provides physical and
mental health benefits. Whether
you have two left feet or all the right
moves, bring your family and friends
to Dance Fest to participate in health
screenings, listen to music, and learn
fun and simple ways to dance to
better health.
When: Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30 to
7:30 p.m.
Where: WK Pierremont Health Center
Auditorium
Cost: Free for WK Fitness & Wellness
Center members, $5 for nonmembers
Painted Violins
40
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Willis-Knighton Health System
2600 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71103
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Vim & Vigor
The World’s First ProteusONE™
Proton Therapy System Now at Willis-Knighton
Willis-Knighton Cancer Center is the first cancer center in the world to
offer revolutionary radiation therapy treatment with ProteusONE™.
This unique pencil beam scanning (PBS) system delivers radiation into
the tumor, conforming exactly to the shape of the tumor while protecting
the surrounding healthy tissue.
WK Proton Therapy Center at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center will treat
the following cancers:
 Prostate
 Brain
 Central Nervous System
 Pelvic & Abdominal (pancreatic, rectal, anal, vulvar)
 Head & Neck
Learn more and
view videos at
wkproton.com or
call (318) 212-4639.
FdVVSP1593_C4.indd 4
 Breast
If you or a loved one is facing a diagnosis of cancer, you owe it to yourself
to discover more about this revolutionary technology.
12/10/14 3:50 PM