Aspire Fall 2018

ASPIRE Connecting to a healthier you

FALL 2018 • VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4

No More

Hide and SEEK 3-D mammographies can find more aggressive breast cancer p. 3

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GO NATURAL TIPS FOR GOING NATURAL THROUGH YOUR PREGANCY AND DELIVERY p. 4

A 3-D mammogram detected Marva Amerine’s breast cancer early, when it was most treatable.

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Inflammation inflammation signals your body may be sending you Sometimes our bodies tell us when chronic inflammation is occurring with one of these symptoms: ( Excess fatigue ( Mouth sores ( Chest pain ( Stomachaches ( Fever ( Rash ( Joint pain If you’re experiencing any of these for more than two weeks, see your physician to get to the root of the problem.

Dr. Marek Odehnal

Inflammation is a little like ice cream. In

moderation, it’s very good. But too much can lead to problems.

Inflammation is our internal body guard, designed to fight infection and help heal wounds, says Marek Odehnal, MD, an internal medicine physician with CHPG Primary Care Longmont.

When you cut yourself and the skin around the wound turns red, that’s inflammation doing its good work, fighting off pathogens and triggering healing.

But when inflammation becomes chronic, or ongoing, it becomes harmful. Odehnal, who treats many types of diseases that have links to chronic inflammation, helps us better understand the ills of inflammation.

Spice of Life Taming inflammation may be as easy as strolling through your local grocery store. Here’s what science says may be the top four anti-inflammatory spices:

Inflammation’s Dirty

Dozen

When inflammation becomes chronic, it can cause harm, and its damage is often unseen. Chronic inflammation has been linked to:

1. Coronary artery disease 2. Diabetes 3. Certain cancers 4. Alzheimer’s disease 5. Rheumatoid arthritis 6. Asthma 7. Chronic peptic ulcer 8. Tuberculosis 9. Ulcerative colitis and

Crohn’s disease

disease

10. Sinusitis 11. Inflammatory bowel 12. Gum disease Drop (inflammation) and give me 20

Is there anything exercise can’t do? A recent study confirmed Turmeric Peppers Cardamonin Ginger that just 20 minutes of This Asian spice The higher the Found in cardamom, black Long appreciated moderate treadmill exercise has long been capsaicin level, pepper, and ginger, it may by expecting moms caused a 5 percent reduction recognized as the better. help inhibit growth of for its anti-nausea in inflammationa potent antibreast, colon, and other prowess, ginger also generating inflammatory. cancers; cardamonin is seems to inhibit cells called Fermented preventive medicine’s many types of cytokines. dairy foods, such new darling. inflammation. as yogurt and kefir, may fight chronic inflammation, To make an appointment with Dr. Odehnal or another provider at CHPG recent studies Primary Care Longmont, call 720-652-8400. Or to schedule a same-day show. appointment online, go to centura.org/sameday.

ASPIRE is published four times annually by Longmont United Hospital. Executive editor is Kirsten Pfotenhauer. As part of Centura Health, our mission is to nurture the health of the people in our community. The information herein is meant to complement and not replace advice provided by a licensed health care professional.

For comments or to unsubscribe to this publication, please email us at aspire@centura.org. ASPIRE is produced by Clementine Healthcare Marketing.

1950 Mountain View Avenue | Longmont, CO 80501-9865

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LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL

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The body’s protector — and internal threat

Catching Hidden Cancer New 3-D mammography helps detect up to 40 percent more breast cancers

O

Dr. Horacio Gutierrez

Thanks to 3-D mammography, Marva Amerine’s breast cancer was caught and treated early, leaving her lots of time to celebrate life with her husband, Dave, and 3-year-old son, JT.

PHOTO: ©JUSTIN LEVETTE

Many health screenings, including mammograms, are paid for by insurance without a patient deductible or co-pay. However, some insurance plans are still in the process of updating their coverage. If you have any questions about coverage of your screening mammogram at Longmont United Hospital, please call one of our financial counselors at 303-485-4110.

n her birthday last December, Marva Amerine got what she now calls “the best gift I could have received.” It was a diagnosis: invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. While it’s not a gift anyone would want, the 47-year-old LaSalle resident counts herself lucky to have caught her cancer early when it was easier to treat successfully.

Amerine has dense breasts, which can make cancer particularly difficult to spot. So, she underwent a 3-D mammogram, which creates a three-dimensional picture of the breast using X-rays to provide a clearer view than traditional 2-D mammography. And that’s a good thing, because Amerine’s particular cancer would not have been visible in 2-D, says Horacio Gutierrez, MD, a fellowship-trained breast radiologist at Longmont United Hospital.

“3-D mammography has actually been shown to detect up to 40 percent more invasive breast cancers — the more aggressive kind — than 2-D mammography,” he says. “In dense breasts, cancerous tissue can hide and look much like normal breast tissue on a mammogram. But 3-D mammography offers thin-slice views much like the pages in a book that keep it from hiding.”

The technology also decreases the likelihood of a callback for further testing, Gutierrez says. And it’s quickly becoming a preferred method for breast screening.

Because her cancer was caught so early, this gave Amerine more treatment options.

“The technology that they have worked, and I feel fortunate that they caught it,” she says.

Longmont United Hospital’s breast care program is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer survivorship continues to climb, thanks in part to better screenings and earlier treatment.

To schedule a 3-D screening mammogram at Longmont United Hospital, call 303-651-5121.

303-651-5111 | LUHCARES.ORG

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Best of both worlds S You can have a natural delivery with the safety of a hospital Prepregnancy

o, you’re having a baby. There’s almost no more exciting, giddy, and uncertain time. You want to do everything right, and that involves keeping your body and your environment as healthy as possible.

Here’s good news: At Longmont United Hospital, expectant moms can experience natural childbirth while relying on the safety of a hospital delivery. Certified nursemidwife Erin HarperSanchez, CNM, MSN, FNP, explains how they go hand in hand — plus she offers extra tips on how to keep your pregnancy natural and comfortable.

In some ways, healthy prepregnancy is basic subtraction and addition. “It’s time to eliminate bad habits like drinking, smoking, or drugs, including marijuana,” Harper-Sanchez says, adding that processed foods and sugary foods also need to go. “The goal is to encourage the patient to start the pregnancy as healthy as possible,” she says.

Add a prenatal vitamin with folic acid and adopt a “clean eating” diet, which relies on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

And while you’re at it, make sure Dad stops smoking and get him eating right. Secondhand smoke can harm the developing baby, and getting in the habit of eating right as a family will carry over when baby joins you at the dinner table.

Pregnancy Early in pregnancy, it’s all about nausea control. Harper-Sanchez recommends small, frequent meals, plus mints and ginger chews or capsules to keep morning sickness at bay.

As pregnancy progresses, aches and pains and lack of sleep kick in.

Longmont United Hospital offers prenatal massage to help ease back pain. And for sleep? “It’s important to stay away from sleeping pills,” Harper-Sanchez cautions, adding that some simple steps can help you get a better night’s sleep: • Warm shower before bed • No TV, phone, or tablet screens in the bedroom • Caffeine-free chamomile tea Later in pregnancy, many women feel a strong urge to prepare the home for baby. While nesting, stay away from strong chemicals like bleach and oven cleaner.

You’ll also want to spend some time preparing siblings and pets for the baby’s arrival. Kids age 3 to 8 can take a Care Kids class to help them get ready for their role. And be sure to sign up for Infant CPR classes, a BirthPlace tour, and other helpful classes at Longmont United Hospital.

Labor and delivery After nine months, it’s showtime. Longmont Hospital is ready to help moms experience natural childbirth in the safety of a hospital setting. Many women bring their own music and essential oils. “We also provide a birthing ball and a Jacuzzi tub in every delivery room to facilitate movement and pain relief,” Harper-Sanchez says.

Longmont also offers TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. A natural and unique alternative to epidural use, TENS units send stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. Harper-Sanchez says all women can utilize the self-administered technology, but they must take a class at Longmont during pregnancy to prepare.

“We approach pregnancy as a natural occurrence,” Harper-Sanchez says. “Part of this is allowing women to be up and out of bed and labor in a way that feels natural to them.”

Once you give birth, consider a post-natal massage, available in the massage suite or right in your own room in the hospital’s BirthPlace.

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3 FOODS FOR MOMS TO BE

To get your body ready to support a healthy pregnancy, try adding these foods:

a B vitamin that reduces the risk of some birth defects.

Milk will help you get the extra calcium and protein you need while you’re pregnant.

Veggie omelet: Eggs are a great alternative protein source if you’re a vegetarian or meat simply doesn’t sound appetizing. Stuff your omelet with broccoli, peppers, and spinach. The vitamin C in the first two will help you absorb iron from the spinach, plus you’ll get plenty of fiber.

Peanut butter sandwich: Your developing baby

Home away from home Make your hospital delivery room a bit cozier by packing these items:

needs healthy fats, peanut butter and nut butters are a delicious source. PB also has vitamin E, an important antioxidant. Spread it on whole-wheat bread for healthy servings of fiber, iron, and zinc.

Special music | Create a playlist to soothe you and welcome your baby.

Be sure to bring earbuds or miniature speakers.

Your own pillow | Nothing else is as comforting.

Aromatherapy | Candles and flames are a hospital no-no, but diffusers can create a relaxing mood. Electric candles also are allowed.

Fluffy warm socks with slip-proof soles | Your hormones are on a roller coaster, and your body temperature goes along for the ride.

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Cereal and milk: Fortified cereals contain folic acid,

For more information, or to set up a tour or childbirth classes at Longmont United Hospital, call 303-485-4224.

303-651-5111 | LUHCARES.ORG

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s t r a t s p Jum FOR ts

r a He

New technology helps keep the heart’s electronic system humming in rhythm

Dr. David Liff

Dr. Layth Saleh Longmont United Hospital recently welcomed interventional cardiologist David Liff, MD, and electrophysiologist Layth Saleh, MD, to its cardiology team.

Your body generates an electrical signal that tells the heart when to beat. When something interferes with that signal or causes it to malfunction, the result can be an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, says Layth Saleh, MD, a Longmont United Hospital cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology, the study of the heart’s electrical system. Some arrhythmias, Saleh says, put patients at high risk of stroke.

Although life-threatening, many arrhythmias go undiagnosed and untreated, either because they don’t cause any symptoms or patients chalk up the symptoms to something else. Symptoms of irregular heartbeat often include: • Fatigue • Feeling dizzy or light-headed • Chest pain or discomfort • Difficulty breathing • Fainting • Palpitations

New tools for tickers Saleh has a large arsenal of tools to identify and treat irregular heart rhythms, including: Electrocardiogram (EKG): A noninvasive procedure in which electrodes are attached to the chest to detect the heart’s electrical activity.

Echocardiogram: A noninvasive procedure, like a sonogram, in which a transducer transmits sound waves, which are converted into moving pictures of the heart’s activity.

Event monitor: Patients can wear this device for several weeks to record the heart’s activity.

Holter monitor: A small, portable device that can be worn for several days to record the heart’s activity over time. It helps physicians identify intermittent irregular rhythms.

In some cases, Saleh says, “We can implant a device that can monitor your heart for up to three years, and episodes of irregular heart rhythm generate a report that gets back to me within a few days.”

Plotting a treatment These and other tests give cardiologists a detailed picture of the heart’s rhythm, and help them plot a course of treatment, Saleh says.

Sometimes, treating arrhythmias is as simple as changing a patient’s medication, as many drugs can contribute to an irregular heartbeat.

In other cases, patients may benefit from procedures, including the following: Pacemaker: This implanted device regulates the heart rhythm of patients with severe bradycardia, or slow heart rate. Recently, tiny leadless pacemakers have been approved, Saleh says. These are implanted through a vein in the leg, which eliminates the need for a chest incision. “This means less risk of complications such as valve disease.”

Ablation: This minimally invasive procedure delivers heat or extreme cold to precise locations in the heart, scarring or destroying the tissue that triggers abnormal rhythms.

WATCHMAN device: The irregular, often rapid heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk. This newly approved device, which is implanted, reduces stroke risk and eliminates the need for blood-thinning drugs in certain patients who are not candidates for blood-thinning medications.

Longmont United Hospital is part of the Centura Health Heart & Vascular Network. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our Longmont-based cardiologists, please visit centura.org/heart.

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You may not ever have to plug it in or recharge it, but your heart is an electronic device.

Taking health care in a new direction Innovative community nurse navigator program aims to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital

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t Longmont United Hospital, we care about each of our patients. But we also hope we don’t see you again too

soon. Unfortunately, research shows about 20 percent of Medicare patients return to the hospital within 30 days of release. A follow-up program at Longmont United Hospital, led by community nurse navigators Renita Henson, RN, and Kelly Roth, RN, is designed to reduce the number of rapid returns by making sure patients get the help they need after leaving the hospital, so they can stay home and out of the hospital.

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Reducing readmissions “Our job is to work with people to reduce their chances of going back to the hospital for the same issue,” Henson says. This means that the pair individualizes 30-day post-discharge care plans, based on patient needs. This may include a series of phone calls, home visits, help scheduling follow-up appointments, medication consultations, and navigating other post-discharge care. In addition to education and support, Henson says one of the most important things they do is help patients identify the specific thing that will motivate them to participate in their own care.

For example, a physician might tell a congestive heart failure patient to weigh herself every day. “I can tell her how to weigh herself,” at the same time every day, “and why,” Roth says. But that patient has to find her own motivator to do the weigh-in. Maybe it’s to remain living independently, to travel, or to be healthy enough to play with grandkids.

“We do whatever it takes to help people get the care they need and to help activate them to be in charge of their own health,” Henson says.

Automated assistance The hospital also has a program, called EMMI, that makes an automated follow-up call to all recently discharged patients. The interactive system asks a series of questions and, if a patient has any concern, it triggers a red flag for Henson or Roth to make a personal follow-up call. The call helps identify patients with early warning signs who have not contacted a provider yet.

Focus on follow-up Another one of Roth’s essential tasks is providing additional services to patients with primary care physicians in the Centura Health system. She calls each patient to schedule follow-up appointments, reviews medications, assesses their needs, and helps connect them with community resources, which may include a referral to a social worker, chaplain, or chronic pain management group. Henson does the same with all patients who have been discharged to a nursing home to make sure they are settled in and things are going well and, of course, to get them on a course to get back home.

303-651-5111 | LUHCARES.ORG

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NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID

DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 3280

1950 Mountain View Avenue Longmont, CO 80501-9865

Christina Johnson, MD, new CEO of Longmont United Hospital

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fter a nationwide search, Longmont United Hospital realized the perfect CEO candidate was in its own backyard.

Christina (Tina) Johnson, MD, took over as CEO in May, becoming only the second female physician to hold that job in Colorado. She previously served as chief operating officer at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, and before that she was an ER physician during her 20 years of practicing medicine.

Johnson, the mother of two sons and a daughter, already has learned what area residents know: Longmont United Hospital is a cherished community fixture.

Her mission, she says, is to build on that foundation, while also assuring the hospital remains at the forefront of new technology and best practices.

She calls it blending high tech with high touch.

The hospital is growing and evolving, she says. “But we will always be a hospital that is dedicated to caring for the community in the community. I feel lucky to be here. This is a special place.”

Events

UR K YO !

MAR ENDAR CAL

FALL

WALK TO REMEMBER

The Longmont United Hospital BirthPlace invites all families and friends who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or other infant death, at any time in their life, to remember and honor their child(ren). No registration required.

When | Sat, Oct 13, 9:3011:30 a.m.

Where | Longmont United Hospital Cost | FREE Info | 303-651-5295

STOP THE BLEED, SAVE A LIFE

Bleeding Control Basics is a course designed to teach bleeding control principles to first responders and civilians. The course covers identification and recognition of life-threatening bleeding and how to control or stop the bleeding.

When | Thu, Oct 25, 6-7:30 p.m. or Sat, Nov 17, 9-10:30 a.m.

Where | Longmont United Hospital Cost | $25 per family Registration | tinyurl.com/luhfullcalendar

2018 CALENDAR

DO YOUR SUPPLEMENTS STACK UP?

From vitamins to minerals to herbs, dietary supplements can be a great way to enhance a healthy diet. But are the supplements you’re taking effective for you? Colleen Kilcullen, nurse practitioner with Centura Health Physician Group, will discuss what works and what doesn’t.

When | Thu, Nov 15, 9:30-11 a.m.

Where | Longmont Senior Center Cost | FREE Registration | 303-651-8411

LIGHTS OF LOVE

Join us for our annual Lights of Love event and enjoy our tree lighting ceremony, carolers, and refreshments. Santa and his helpers will be in attendance to greet guests of all ages.

When | Tue, Dec 4 Where | Longmont United Hospital Cost | FREE Registration | None required

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING

Mental Health First Aid is an eighthour course that gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it does build mental health literacy, helping the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness.

When/Where bit.ly/mhfalongmont Cost | FREE Registration | 303-651-8469

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New leader continues legacy of caring for the community

Longmont United Hospital is part of Centura Health, the region’s leading health care network. Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2018. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 303-485-3439 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 303-485-3439 (TTY: 711).