Winter 2017 | Volume 9, Issue 1
Peggy Van Auken's nextgeneration knee has eliminated her pain and made it possible for her to get back to doing the things she loves. See Page 4.
Designed for
SUCCESS Custom-built joints provide a more natural knee replacement than off-the-rack options.
PLUS...
East Meets West Cancer Care
Mental Health First Aid
The Best Start for Your Baby
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PAGE 6
PAGE 7 PHOTO BY ELLEN JASKOL
Winter health briefs
Q: How do you know
2 common winter
when you need to go to a hospital-based ER?
injuries to watch for
The arrival of winter can create minor hazards as well as downright dangerous conditions. We spoke with Chris Winter, MD, medical director of Trauma Services at Parker Adventist Hospital, about two injuries he sees frequently:
1
Slips and falls. “This is especially common with the first snowfall of the season. You think about breaking extremities like an arm, but people can hit their head on the ice or break their pelvis and end up with more serious injuries,” he says.
2
Decorating injuries. “Usually the injuries we see are from people falling off ladders and roofs. Taking down decorations can be especially dangerous, because in January it’s likely colder and icier,” he says.
A: Some minor illnesses and injuries can be seen in an urgent care setting but for serious problems — like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe injuries — you need a hospital-based ER that can perform X-rays and admit you for further care, if needed. Dr. Chris Winter “In Colorado, we’ve worked with prehospital ambulance crews to educate them on where to take patients in a real emergency, but if you’re making the decision yourself, it can be more difficult,” Winter says. “If you feel like you’re really hurt, or it’s something serious, go to the hospital ER.”
Is it a cold, the flu, or RSV?
Influenza
Cold
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
Common symptoms
Fever, body aches, fatigue
Runny nose, sniffling, congestion, cough
A combination of cold and flu symptoms that are more severe (and potentially dangerous) for children under 2; in adults, symptoms generally look very similar to a cold
When to seek care
“This really depends on the age of the individual. Most healthy adults can treat their cold and flu at home,” Hansen says. But there are a few clear indications that it’s time to seek care for the very young, older adults, or those with chronic diseases: • For the flu, to ensure antiviral treatments will be effective, they should be started within 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms • For children, any increases in breathing difficulties; a fever that doesn’t respond to home treatments; not eating, drinking, or urinating; or the inability to get their nose cleared within 24-48 hours
Take it from Harold Bane
, winter can be a dangerous season, even for the young and healthy. While hanging Christmas lights last year, Bane, then 43, slid from the roof and landed headfirst onto the driveway. His first memory after that came Jan. 5 when he was leaving Parker Adventist Hospital after spending 18 days there in a drug-induced coma to allow his head injury to heal. Bane’s hard-learned lesson is a cautionary tale for all. “In hindsight, I admit I was in rush to get the lights up,” he says. “I probably should have taken the time to use my extension ladder instead of being on the roof in the first place.” 2 ■ Winter 2017 ■
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Ashley Hansen, BSN, MS, certified family nurse practitioner at Centura Health Physician Group Primary Care Meridian, helps us break down the key differences between three common winter illnesses — and how to know when to seek care.
HOLISTIC CANCER CARE Integrative model blends traditional and complementary cancer care
counseling services as well as specialized training caregivers receive WHEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, many patients feel they in fostering hope in patients battling cancer. have to make “either-or” decisions. Either surgery or radiation. Why all the different angles? Three cancer care Either traditional medicine or natural remedies. Instead, providers at Parker Adventist Hospital explain how it imagine viewing treatment through a broader lens. all fits together. At Parker Adventist Hospital’s Cancer Center, oncologists and surgeons work alongside a For more information, please call The naturopathic doctor to treat cancer from Cancer Center at Parker Adventist different angles. Called integrative What is the benefit of pairing Hospital at 303-269-4975. care, this blending of traditional and conventional care with complementary care, complementary care is a model that rather than choosing one or the other? positions Parker Adventist Hospital with major cancer centers in the Brita Mutti, ND U.S. It includes nutrition and Naturopathic “Complementary care uses natural supplements, Doctor herbs, and diet to optimize conventional treatment. There are ways to support healthy cells, reduce treatment side effects, help with detoxification after treatment, Nadine Mikhaeel, MD and enhance immune function. This is not the same as Medical Oncologist Christine Rogness, MD, FACS ‘alternative medicine,’ which some patients pursue Medical Director, The Breast instead of conventional treatment. Many of these Care Center at Parker patients come back with widely metastatic Adventist Hospital disease that was once treatable.”
Q: A:
Q:
Q:
It’s trendy to talk about treating the “whole person.” How does Parker Adventist Hospital’s approach actually do that?
What can happen when patients take vitamin supplements or herbal remedies without telling their medical oncology team?
“We use therapies that empower but don’t ‘cheat’ the patient. We don’t tell them, ‘If you take vitamin X, that’s going to drive cancer cells underground.’ We do acknowledge that each piece has its value. If a mix of chemotherapy, herbal supplements, and surgery gets the best results — and gives patients control amid a diagnosis that feels out of control — then we are doing our job. We are treating the whole person.”
“Some nutritional supplements may actually interfere with conventional treatment. For example, for chemotherapy to kill the cancer cell, that cell needs to be in an active state. Some supplements are able to place the cell in a dormant phase, which would diminish the effect of the chemotherapy. Other supplements may increase the toxicity or side effects of the drugs. Having a naturopathic doctor participate in the management of patients can help identify supplements that work with chemotherapy, not against chemotherapy.”
A:
A:
The Cancer Center at Parker Adventist Hospital is part of the Centura Health Cancer Network, delivering integrated, advanced cancer care across Colorado and western Kansas. 9395 Crown Crest Boulevard, Parker, CO 80138 grow is published quarterly by Parker Adventist Hospital—Portercare Adventist Health System—as part of our mission to nurture the health of the people in our community. To comment or unsubscribe, please email grow2@centura.org. grow is produced by Clementine Healthcare Marketing. Executive Editor: Jacqueline McDonough
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■ parkerhospital.org ■ 3
A Perfect Fit
Custom joints built specifically for patients are changing knee replacement surgery
Getting Results
The introduction of custombuilt knee joints comes at a time when the demand for knee replacement surgery is on the rise. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,
A study shows that the custom-built knee replacements being used by Parker Adventist Hospital result in 27 percent less bone resection. In other words, patients keep more of their own bone. 4 ■ Winter 2017 ■
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the number of total knee replacement surgeries more than tripled between 1993 and 2009. By the year 2040, a staggering 78 million American adults are projected to have arthritis, the No. 1 reason for knee replacement. Johnson explains how patient-specific implants are changing the game. “First, patients have a CT scan from the hip to the ankle. We make 3-D models of the femur and tibia and re-create the radius and dimensions of the knee,” Johnson says. Computer software maps the surface of the joint and defines the area of disease, accounting for bone spurs or other individual anatomical issues. From there, a joint is built to fit the exact anatomy of the patient.
“Instead of picking the implant that fits you best out of two dozen implants sitting on a shelf and then cutting your bone to make that implant fit, we’re actually making the implant that fits your knee,” Johnson says.
Faster Recovery, Less Pain
The result? “We are able to save more bone, and we’re seeing a more normal-functioning knee replacement. Patients are able to go up and down stairs more quickly and with a less painful, more balanced, stable knee,” Johnson says. Van Auken can attest to that. She had her left knee replaced nine years ago with a standard implant and while it reduced her pain, the recovery was long and difficult. That experience caused her to put off having her other knee replaced. To limit the pain, Van Auken limited her life. But now, nearly two years after getting the custom knee replacement, Van Auken reports feeling like “a million bucks.” “I’m back to my normal life — only really I’m not because for 12 years my ‘normal’ life was with pain,” she says. Now hiking, walking, and playing with her grandkids with ease, the next-generation knee has eliminated her pain and helped her move the way her knee was built to move. “I can’t say enough good things about the experience,” she says. “I’m back to doing everything I want to do.”
Derek Johnson, MD, will give an overview of this and other advances in hip and knee replacement surgery at a FREE seminar on March 9. He will also answer the top two questions patients ask — when is it time for Dr. Derek Johnson knee replacement, and what are my options? For seminar details, see back cover.
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The Joint Replacement Program at Parker Adventist Hospital is Joint Commissioncertified and dedicated to providing you with innovative, high-quality treatment.
Peggy Van Auken, a 67-year-old Colorado Springs resident, was one of the more than 600,000 patients in the U.S. who underwent knee replacement surgery last year. But she is in a far more exclusive group of patients whose new knee implants were custom-built to mimic the natural shape of their knees. “Really, it’s the only couture thing I own. Everything else is off the rack,” quips Van Auken, who read a newspaper article that led her to Derek Johnson, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of joint replacement at Parker Adventist Hospital. “This is truly one patient, one implant. Peggy’s implant will only fit Peggy,” says Johnson, who has performed more than 1,250 knee replacements at Parker Adventist Hospital, including 250 using the new customdesigned joints.
Two years after getting a new custom knee replacement, Peggy Van Auken feels like "a million bucks."
Haven’t got time for the pain? While knee replacement surgery can alleviate pain in the long term, patients understandably do not relish the short-term pain associated with surgery. Parker Adventist Hospital is continually improving the techniques used for joint replacement to minimize that pain. Orthopedic surgeon Derek Johnson, MD, outlines the approach.
BEFORE surgery: F olic acid and iron supplements to increase blood recovery after surgery L ow-impact exercise to reduce weight — and reduce stress — on the new knee implant N on-narcotic pain medication just prior to surgery
DURING surgery: S oft-tissue pain medicine injection for local pain control without the motor weakness that results from a nerve block
AFTER
surgery:
S cheduled non-narcotic medication M obilization within the first few hours after surgery E xtensive rest and elevation to control swelling; Johnson’s patients are instructed not to be up for more than an hour the first two weeks following surgery New custom-built implants provide a better fit and more normal-functioning knee replacements.
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■ parkerhospital.org ■ 5
FIRST
AID Could you recognize a mental health emergency?
A mental health emergency is a common occurrence in every
corner of our communities. But if you witnessed one, would you recognize it? Would you know what to do?
Anytime people are a danger to themselves or others, it’s a mental health emergency that requires immediate attention. This includes someone who: Is expressing a desire to commit suicide Shows signs of a psychosis (delusions, paranoia, fear) that impairs functioning Is extremely agitated, wildly overactive, and unable to calm down An all-too-common problem Nearly 500,000 Coloradans struggle with diagnosed mental health issues, according to the Colorado Health Foundation. And Colorado has one of the nation’s highest suicide rates. “We all face mental health issues or know those who could experience a mental health crisis,” says Doug Muir, director of Porter Adventist Hospital’s Behavioral Health Service Line. “Mental health is a huge part of our overall health. People need to know that mental illnesses are often caused by chemical imbalances, which can be alleviated by medication and/or treatment.” Mental illness emergencies rarely arise suddenly, or in a vacuum. Most people who experience them have some history of mental health problems. Common kinds of mental illness include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
Helping each other “We want to reduce the stigma around mental health and help more people be in a position where they feel comfortable supporting people in a crisis and connecting them to the help they need,” Muir says. People who have a friend or loved one struggling with mental health issues can and should prepare before a crisis by getting to know the mental health services available in their area, such as mobile crisis teams and walk-in crisis centers. They also should learn some basic tools, which they can get at area classes or from mental health providers, such as:
If someone seems suicidal, ask if
the person is thinking of hurting himself. Offer to take the person to a mental health professional, call a suicide hotline, or call 911 — don’t leave him alone.
I f someone around you is threatening violence, call 911, or take the person to the nearest emergency room if you feel safe to do so.
Mental Health First Aid classes nts, hospitals, local public health departme In 2015, Centura Health South Denver tal men tified iden ers lead r othe and churches, police agencies, government, al community needs, prompting the critic as n entio prev de suici and care health lth First Aid classes. Class participants development of a series of Mental Hea offer reassurance, give information and learn how to listen nonjudgmentally, essional help, and help them find it. encouragement to those needing prof
held: Mental Health First Aid classes will be a.m.-5:30 p.m., 8:30 20, l: Mon, Feb Parker Adventist Hospita nce Room
Inspiration B Confere ms 3 & 4 Feb 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Conference Roo Littleton Adventist Hospital: Tue, Mar 3, 8:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m., st Hospital: Fri, Castle Rock Adventince Room 2 fere Con d nlan Gree l: Tue, Mar 14 8 a.m.-5 p.m., pita Hos st enti Adv r orte P Room nce fere Con a Mes d Gran ister. go to southdenverhealth.org/reg Classes are FREE to attend. To register,
6 ■ Winter 2017 ■
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M E N TA L H E A LT H
The BirthPlace
at Parker Adventist Hospital
High-level care when and where your family needs it most LAST YEAR, Savannah Loftis was struggling through the holidays during a touch-and-go pregnancy that illustrates how essential high-level care is when a pregnancy doesn’t go as planned. Her water broke dangerously early at 25 weeks, requiring quick action to stabilize her. Then it was hurry up and wait. And wait. She bided her time on hospitalmonitored bed rest, knowing that each day longer helped her unborn son develop. Loftis credits the quick action and high level of care at Parker Adventist Hospital for helping her family’s story have a happy ending.
High-tech care for high-risk pregnancies Parker Adventist Hospital’s Level III NICU is equipped with the latest technologies — including four “Giraffe bed” incubators that simulate the uterine environment — for high-risk newborns born 28 weeks or later. This technology, combined with perinatal and neonatal expertise, means that fewer than 1 percent of babies born at Parker Adventist Hospital require transfer to a higher-level nursery. “We have maternal-fetal medicine specialists available 24 hours a day,” says Lori Adams, RNC, clinical manager of Parker Adventist Hospital’s BirthPlace. And for the highest-risk or smallest babies born prior to 28 weeks, they work closely with Children’s Hospital. That experience was essential when Loftis came in at 25 weeks. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists moved swiftly to stabilize her and the baby before she was transferred to University of Colorado Hospital, where their Level IV ICU was at the ready in case she delivered before 28 weeks.
A happy, healthy ending Loftis was able to make it past the 28-week mark and was transferred back to Parker Adventist Hospital, at her request, on Dec. 3. Finally, after nine weeks — from roughly Halloween through Christmas — Loftis gave birth to a New Year’s Eve baby. Born at 34 weeks, Jameson weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces, and was healthy except for a clubfoot and dislocated hip due to weeks of limited mobility from the absence of amniotic fluid in utero. He went home on oxygen after eight days in Parker Adventist Hospital’s NICU. His foot and hip now repaired, and his coordination catching up, Jameson is happy, healthy — and a handful. “He’s cutting teeth, flipping over, and kicking his legs. He’s still a little stiff in the hips, but he’ll figure it out,” Loftis says.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
PHOTO BY ELLEN JASKOL
See our beautiful private birthing suites and meet our top-notch clinical team during a BirthPlace tour. Call 720-619-2071 to schedule or visit parkerhospital.org/birthplace.
Born at Parker Adventist Hospital six weeks early, Jameson Loftis is happy and healthy and giving his mom, Savannah, a run for her money.
parkerhospital.org ■ 7
PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES
Portercare Adventist Health System
CHPG Cornerstar Primary Care
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
CHPG Southlands Primary Care
Denver, CO Permit No. 4773
AURORA
15901 East Briarwood Circle, Suite 200 Aurora, CO 80016 303-269-2626 • cornerstarprimarycare.org 6069 South Southlands Parkway Aurora, CO 80016 303-928-7555 • southlandsprimarycare.org
PAID
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard Parker, CO 80138
CASTLE ROCK
Ridgeline Family Medicine at the Meadows 2352 Meadows Boulevard, Suite 300 Castle Rock, CO 80109 720-455-3750 • ridgelinefamilymedicine.org
Ridgeline Family Medicine — Castle Pines
250 Max Drive, Suite 102 Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-649-3350 • ridgelinefamilymedicine.org
CENTENNIAL
CHPG Grace Family Practice
6909 South Holly Circle, Centennial, CO 80112 720-528-3559 • gracefamilypractice.org
CHPG Holly Creek
5500 East Peakview Ave., Centennial, CO 80121 303-649-3820
DENVER
CHPG Clermont Park
2479 South Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80222 303-649-3155 • clermontparkseniorcare.org
free WINTER Seminars & Events Join Parker Adventist Hospital for a series of FREE events and seminars. All seminars are held in the Inspiration A and B conference rooms in the Parker Adventist Hospital Conference Center, located on the Garden Level at the west entrance, unless otherwise noted. A light lunch is served during daytime programs, and light snacks are served during evening programs. Registration is required for all seminars. Register online at parkerhospital.org/seminars.
CHPG Primary Care Highlands
2490 West 26th Avenue, Suite A120 Denver, CO 80211 303-925-4580 • chpghighlands.org
Jan 24
950 East Harvard Avenue, Denver, CO 80210 303-649-3200 • porterprimarycare.org
CHPG Primary Care Cherry Creek
300 South Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80209 303-316-0416 • primarycarecherrycreek.org
GREENWOOD VILLAGE
CHPG at DTC
8200 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303-770-6500 • dtcfamilymedicine.org
HIGHLANDS RANCH
Highlands Ranch Medical Associates 9135 South Ridgeline Boulevard Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 303-649-3140 highlandsranchmedicalassociates.org
LITTLETON
Mon, Feb 13 | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Join us for a women’s Valentine’s Day event! Chair massages will be available at Parker Adventist Hospital, and a FREE gift will be given to women who receive a mammogram at any of our three screening locations on Feb. 13.
Xi Robot Test-Drive
Tue, Jan 24 | 3-6 p.m. Join us to watch a test-drive of our new surgical robot in the main lobby of the hospital.
Custom Knee Replacements
Thu, Mar 9 | 6-8 p.m. Join Dr. Derek Johnson, orthopedic medical director, to learn about custom knee replacements.
Chatfield Family Medicine
10789 Bradford Road, Littleton, CO 80127 303-738-2714 • chatfieldfamilymedicine.org
Clement Park Family Medicine
6901 South Pierce Street, Littleton, CO 80128 303-932-2121 • clementparkfamilymedicine.org
South Suburban Internal Medicine
7750 South Broadway, Littleton, CO 80122 303-347-9897 southsuburbaninternalmedicine.org
PARKER
Sinusitis: What Is It, and When Should You Be Concerned?
Wed, Mar 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. Join Dr. Ben Milam, ear, nose, and throat surgeon, to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for sinusitis.
Are You Managing Your Diabetes or Prediabetes?
Wed, Mar 22 | Noon-1 p.m. Learn how to manage your diabetes or prediabetes properly, and learn tips and tricks for staying healthy.
Family History and YOU: Using family history to personalize your health care Thu, Mar 30 | 5:30-7 p.m. Learn how genetic counseling can be used to personalize care.
CHPG Primary Care Meridian (formerly Parker Primary Care)
9949 South Oswego Street, Suite 200 Parker, CO 80134 303-649-3100 • meridianprimarycare.org
Timberview Clinic at Parker
9399 Crown Crest Boulevard, Suite 200 Parker, CO 80138 303-269-4410 • timberviewclinic.org
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 303-804-8166. Copyright © Centura Health, 2017.
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Love Yourself
CHPG Primary Care Porter