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Saturday, April 12, 2014 • Page 1B

MHNW doubles size of ER By Karen Kephart for The Leader

In the 10 years he’s served as medical director of the Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital Emergency Center, Harparminder Chadha, M.D., FRCS, FACEP, has watched the Greater Heights area expand and flourish as new families moved into its neighborhoods, and new businesses and restaurants opened to meet their needs. He’s also witnessed the realization of a longtime dream – the creation of a modern, state-of-theart Emergency Center designed to move people in need of emergent care through admission, treatment and discharge quickly in a patientfriendly atmosphere. The redesigned Emergency Center opened in April. “By nearly doubling the size of

the Emergency Center and restructuring our processes, we’re striving to eliminate the long wait,” says Dr. Chadha, who directs a staff of 14 affiliated, board-certified emergency physicians. “Patients enter through the main entrance of the hospital at a convenient drop-off area and are greeted by a receptionist and security officer who guide them to the Emergency Center. Triage nurses are available to see patients immediately in two specially designed triage rooms. Stroke, chest pain and trauma patients receive immediate care. Patients who are stable are moved into the first available private exam room, where a healthcare provider assesses them and discusses treatment. The average time a patient See Emergency, P. 2B

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Ahh-choo Want to de-stress? Tips on preventing Consider a Heights’ Tai Chi class By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Brigitte Cunningham started doing Tai Chi when she lived in California and appreciated its benefits, including increased flexibility and balance. “It’s wonderful exercise,” she said. When she moved to the Heights, she was eager to continue the ancient Chinese martial art turned exercise, but couldn’t find a nearby class. That’s when she helped organize one. When looking for a suitable instructor Cunningham heard about Greg Illich, who leads Tai Chi classes at various places in Houston, including one on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings at the Houston

Arboretum & Nature Center. He also offers private lessons at 2990 Richmond. Illich’s class in the Heights is held from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Proctor Plaza Center, 803 W. Temple. The cost is only $5 per class. Tai Chi is also referred to as Taiji Quan. Taiji is usually translated “the grand ultimate, which refers to the balance between yin and yang (soft and hard) in everything. Quan means “fist” or self defense. It is an internal martial art which is practiced slowly with an adherence to certain principles which foster the development and flow of energy in the body to improve health and foster longevity. The ultimate goal is balance and har-

Greg Illich,left, teaches Tai Chi, at the Houston Arboretum as well as other venues throughout the city. (Photo by Betsy Denson)

mony with mind and body. Illich has more than 27 years experience in various Tai Chi forms. He studied Tai Chi, specifically the Yang Style Long Form, with Master Nguyen Cao Thanh at the University of St Thomas. His current teacher for the past 21 years is Grandmaster George Hu. “Grandmaster Hu taught me an older Yang style called the secret yang style or ‘Michuan’. It is the style I prefer because of its overall health benefits and embodiment of the three circles in Tai Chi,” said Illich. “After studying with Master Hu, I was able to improve my posture, be free of persistent lower back pain, and drastically reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. He taught me how to make Tai Chi work for me in a practical sense.” There are other major Tai Chi styles are named after the Chinese families who brought them into being: Chen-style - the oldest which originated in the 17th century, Wu Hao-style, Wu-style and Sun-style. For the group in the Heights, Illich is teaching the Michuan style, featuring the thirteen short form kinetic movements. “It emphasizes the non-linear movements of Tai Chi as you learn a See Tai Chi, P. 4B

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seasonal allergies

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The season of allergy-induced sniffles and other complications is right around the corner. If you are one of the millions of people affected by seasonal allergies that lead to nasal swelling, sneezing, watery eyes, and a scratchy throat, you may not be eagerly anticipating the warmer weather as much as others. Allergy research is ongoing, and in the future doctors may be able to prevent allergic reactions from occurring rather than treating the symptoms that ensue. Until then, you will have to work with the remedies that currently exist. These remedies include antihistamines, which can cause dangerous interactions with other medications and may cause drowsiness. These side effects can be dangerous for use in seniors. Consider these other options instead. Drink plenty of fluids. Although liquids can’t wash the allergens out of your system, water, juice and clear broths can help loosen congestion. Hot liquids can soothe inflamed membranes in the nose and throat. Avoid allergens as much as possible. Check weather reports for the levels of particulates in the air and stay indoors if they are high. Keep away from tall grasses and places with a lot of foliage. Use the air conditioning. Rather than keeping the windows wide open, use an air conditioner and dehumidifier to filter the air coming inside of the house and ensuring it is cool and dry. Head to the beach. If you want to spend time outdoors, areas by the ocean will have pollen counts that are much lower than in mountainous areas. Dry clothes indoors. Line-dried clothes may smell fresh, but they can bring molds and pollens indoors and exacerbate allergies. Shower frequently. After being outdoors, take a shower to rinse off any allergens clinging to hair and skin. Check with a doctor. Before mixing allergy medications with any prescriptions you are taking, ensure that they are safe to mix. If your doctor is unavailable, consult with a pharmacist about drug interactions.

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Non-profit Ibn Sina Foundation set to open medical clinic in October

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By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

When Dr. Aijaz Ali Khowaja co-founded the Ibn Sina Foundation’s first medical clinic 13 years ago in southwest Houston, it was only open four hours per week. Ibn Sina, a non-profit, has built five additional clinics and is open 12 hours per day, serving 85,000 patients per year. It is currently working on opening a sixth clinic, on N. Shepherd, to serve uninsured and underinsured patients in the area. The location is in a former bank and will be expanded from 4,073 square feet to 6,531 square feet. The City of Houston funded the construction of the new building through its Housing and Community Development Department, and medical and dental equipment were donated by Cullen Trust for Health Care, Episcopal Health Care and Houston Endowment. Ibn Sina handles the operating costs of the clinic. The clinic is open to anyone, and patients are treated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Khojawa, currently the CEO of the non-profit, said some See Ibn Sina, P. 2B

FREEDOM FROM

JOINT PAIN

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��������������� Ibn Sina Foundation co-founder Dr. Aijaz Ali Khowaja, left, and members of his staff look at the designs for the Ibn Sina Foundation clinic, set to open in October on N. Shepherd. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

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Stop suffering from hip or knee pain. Staying active is key to staying healthy. That’s why at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, affiliated joint specialists use the most advanced treatments to get you on the path to the life you want to live, including minimally invasive surgical options. And for the second time, our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for our knee replacement and hip replacement surgery. Call 713.222.CARE (2273) or visit memorialhermann.org/northwest to learn more. ADVANCING HEALTH


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