Leader0311 b by Street Media

Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Page 1B

Medically Fragile Changes to legislation put Texas children at risk Lori Martin loves living in the Houston Heights. She and her husband Neil are raising two children in the community: a daughter, 3-year-old Quinn, and a son, 8-year-old Will. Will’s school is just a few blocks from their home, which is helpful as he is what healthcare professionals call “medically fragile;” he is a child at constant risk of a life-threatening health crisis. Will Martin has Mitochondrial Disease, or Mito, a rare, inherited disorder of the mitochondria, a substance found in almost every cell of the body. Symptoms include loss of muscle coordination, vision, speech and hearing problems, heart, liver and kidney disease, and neurological issues involving activities such as walking and swallowing. Like other disabled children in Texas, Will’s care fell under the state’s Medically Dependent Children’s Program, a Medicaid, fee-for-service waver program. MDCP allowed the

Martins to keep Will healthy and at home, while helping them meet the challenges faced by a child with Mito. Under the waiver program, they have amassed a chorus of Mito specialists, care providers, and pharmacies to keep their son’s lifesaving medical needs flowing. Then, that changed. “In November, 2016, state legislators took the Medicaid fee-for-service program away, and replaced it with the STAR Kids program - a collection of ten, private, for-profit, Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs. The transition has been frightening, and has put some children at great risk,” stated Natalie Gregory, Director of Public Relations for “Protect TX Medically Fragile Children,” a nonprofit agency raising awareness for the state’s severely disabled kids. Lori Martin has witnessed this situation personally. “We are lucky in Harris County, there are so many fine medical professionals here. That is not the case throughout Texas. Still, after the transition to STAR Kids, Will went three weeks without a critical

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chiropractic care

Northwest ChiropraCtiC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com

Major Hospitals

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE

Photo supplied Heights resident, 8-year-old Will Martin is one of 5,600 children in Texas defined as “medically fragile.”

Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation to open new Heights clinic For The Leader

Contributed photo The benefits of Essential Oils are gaining more traction in the news of late.

Essential Oils 101 By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

YOUR TIME

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Medical Suppliers

Complete Medical Supply 1714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd) Houston, TX 77008 Tel: (713) 880-4000 www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net

Texas Medical Supply, Inc. 1906 W 18th St. Between Ella Blvd. & 610 N. Loop West Tel: 713-864-7636 www.txmedicalsuply.com

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in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575

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Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation-Greater Heights is making it easier than ever to get back to daily living and sports activities with the opening of a new stand-alone, outpatient facility. Slated to open on March 13, this 5,000-square-foot clinic features advanced technology and exceptional patient care, along with free, convenient, curbside parking. Moving to 300 North Loop West, Suite 300, between Shepherd Drive and Yale Street, Memorial Herman Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation -- Greater Heights will be located just two exits east of Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. Patients will continue to receive high-level treatment from certified physical and occupational therapists who are exceptionally welltrained and eager to help patients reach their goals. “Our patients will keep benefiting from our outstanding staff that includes several therapists who have been with us for more than 20 years,” said Donnita Burrell, PT, ATC, LAT, clinic manager. “In addition to convenient parking, they’ll enjoy an intimate, light-filled interior space, new technology and three private rooms for treatment and evaluation.” Therapies Help Patients Resume Activities Memorial Hermann physical therapists take great pride in helping their patients correct and prevent short- or long-term movement problems that affect their ability to perform everyday activities. Whether patients are recovering from surgery, a sports injury or managing chronic pain, physical therapy usually includes a combination of exercise, strength training, gait training, manual therapy techniques and education to promote optimum health and functioning. Occupational therapists, including a certified hand therapist, help patients gain greater movement and range of motion. Whether treating carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, trauma to the hand, wrist and/or forearm, Memorial Hermann therapists use proven treatment techniques such as manual therapy, soft-tissue mobilizations, splint fabrication, myofascial release and more.

Specialized Treatments for Back, Neck and Athletic Injuries Also available at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation -- Greater Heights, is the McKenzie Method, a reliable assessment process intended for all musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities. This treatment uses the body’s potential to repair itself. Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation is one of the few physical therapy programs in the Greater Houston area employing the McKenzie Method. The new clinic continues to offer sport-specific rehabilitation under the guidance of a licensed physical therapist-athletic trainer. In addition to helping athletes return to their sport after injury or surgery, this specialized rehabilitation can improve an athlete’s performance and prevent re-injury. For example, multi-directional agility training improves quickness, while plyometrics promote proper jumping and landing techniques to help athletes gain explosive power. New Technology Improves Strength and Conditioning Patients at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation -- Greater Heights will also benefit from advanced technology including the Total Gym® jump trainer, which allows for a range of squat and jumping variations to strengthen lower body muscle groups. TRX® Pro Gym Suspension Trainer enables users to engage in unlimited movements which enhance fluidity and range of motion and decreases the risk of injury. To learn more about Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation -- Greater Heights, or for a physician referral or to make an appointment, please call 713-8772300.

St. Joseph Medical Center

I have been reading a lot about essential oils lately – both about the benefits that people say they derive from them, and about the dangers of not using them correctly. So I asked Leader reader Tara Lehr, who sells essential oils, to give me the low down. Lehr says that basically essential oils are what gives plants their wonderful smell. “Technically speaking, they are the ‘aromatic compounds’ found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of the plants,” she said. “The oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease, fight infection, initiate cell regeneration, and possess wonderful properties from the plants they come from.” These oils are extracted from the plant material by a gentle steam distillation process which separates the essential oil from the rest of the plant material. That is the pure oil that is bottled. Lehr thinks that essential oils are gaining popularity due to the simple fact that they are extremely effective, and very potent - so potent that Lehr says they can create changes, improve normal detox, improve circulation, or improve neurological function because of the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. “The molecules of an essential oil are so minute, smaller than the cells in our bodies, [so] they are able to enter through your skin, cross through the fatty lipid area, enter your blood stream and support every cell within 20 minutes,”

she says. There are hundreds of essential oil companies to choose from and Lehr cautions it is important that you do your due diligence in researching a company since there is no regulation of essential oils. Questions include: Do they provide complete distill or first distill oils? Do they distill their oils using solvents? If so, which ones? Do they distill their own oils or purchase from third parties? Do they bottle their own oils? Do they own their own farms? Can they provide you with a Certificate of Analysis? Do they recommend to NOT ingest their oils? What sustainable practices are in place for their global footprint? If essential oils are something you want to know more about, Lehr suggests the following resources: Essential Oils Desk Reference by Life Science Publishing, The Essential Oil Truth: The Facts without the Hype by Jen O’Sullivan, Healing Oils of the Bible by Dr. David Stewart, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple by David Stewart and www. seedtoseal.com. Although there are many oils with many different benefits, here’s a sample of a few Lehr likes: Frankincense - inhale directly to increase spirituality and inner strength, lift mood, and inspire balance. Apply to face to help smooth the appearance of healthy looking skin. Lemon - inhale for a clean, fresh, and uplifting citrus scent. Use directly to easily remove sticky residue or add to natural household