Inspire Spring 2017

SPRING 2017 | Volume 3, Issue 2

A Healthier You

St. Thomas More Hospital

Edgar Meloen, 85, and his dog, Emma, are back to their morning walks after his hip replacement at St. Thomas More Hospital.

BREAK AWAY Leave the pain — and the cane — behind with an anterior hip replacement.

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FAST TREATMENT FOR STROKE Page 3

CLEARER DIAGNOSIS WITH 3-D MAMMOGRAPHY Page 6

NEW KID'S HEALTH SECTION! Page 7

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

inspiring health

SEE YOURSELF AS A

WINNER

DUSTY MAJORS is no weekend warrior.

Majors, manager of finance at St. Thomas More Hospital, is a lifelong runner with a passion to inspire others, whether they train competitively or run just for fun.

In the spring of 2016, a debilitating injury to her iliotibial band — the ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh — sidelined her for 10 weeks. But Majors didn’t let this injury keep her out of upcoming events, including a 12-mile obstacle race in August and a 5K in early October.

“With that injury, I looked back at my college years running competitively and

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VISUALIZATION STEPS Find a quiet spot.

Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and see yourself accomplishing your goal.

thought, ‘What else can I do to prepare?’”

THE ANSWER: She trained mentally, using visualization techniques she’d learned as a college runner.

Most elite athletes, including Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn, use visualization, or guided imagery, to improve their skills. But everyday folks use it, too, to overcome injuries, to train for big events, or to achieve goals outside of sports — like losing weight or writing a novel.

Visualization is using your imagination to create a vision of what you want in your life and how to make it happen. Majors learned

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Don’t skimp on the details.

Several times a day, Majors visualized herself running the race, what she was wearing, the hills she’d be facing — even the weather.

Dusty Majors put her practice to the test, and found success on her adventure run.

the technique as a college runner. And her strategy worked. With just two weeks of actual running before the event, Majors ran her race, finishing fifth overall in the women’s open.

See the pain, and the gain.

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Visualize the obstacles that stand between you and your goal, and then visualize ways to overcome those. Majors visualized hurting during the race, and strategies to overcome the pain. When it came time for the real race, Majors was ready. “Your mind can truly overcome because you’ve already visualized it.”

GET BACK INTO VASCULAR SURGERY may not be the most widely understood specialty, but Natalie Weger, DO, has a simple explanation for what she has done for more than 15 years: “If it’s not bleeding and should be, I give it blood supply. If it is bleeding and shouldn’t be, I stop it.”

Every month, Weger sees Fremont County patients at a vascular clinic at St. Thomas Dr. Natalie Weger More Hospital. One of the most common conditions she treats is peripheral vascular disease (PVD). PVD causes blood

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circulation vessels in arms, legs, and the abdomen to narrow, block, or spasm. People at greatest risk are those who smoke, are obese, have kidney disease, or have diabetes.

To treat PVD, Weger works first with the patient to change his or her lifestyle. She also may prescribe medication or surgery.

“We’ve revolutionized how we treat vascular disease with the advent of stents, balloons, and atherectomy devices,” which open narrowed and hardened arteries. Those minimally invasive techniques are now used in place of, or along with, open surgery, Weger says.

INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL | STMHOSPITAL.ORG

UP TO 20 PERCENT of Americans over 60 have PVD.

Symptoms include: • Leg pain when walking • A discolored toe • A wound on the foot that is not healing The vascular clinic at St. Thomas More Hospital is held on the third Tuesday of each month. To make an appointment, call 719-557-3145.

PHOTOS: DUSTY BY STEVE BIGLEY; SHOES ©SIRAPHOL — STOCK.ADOBE.COM; FIGURES ©JACARTOON — STOCK.ADOBE.COM

We challenge you to consider using visualization for a goal you are striving to meet. Use these three visualization steps by thinking of a goal you have set for yourself; then use the steps to help lead you to success!

inspiring health

STROKE

SAVER

Getting treatment fast during a stroke can prevent disability and death

WHEN IT COMES TO STROKE SYMPTOMS, the most important thing to know is: Time saves brain.

Nearly 90 percent of strokes occur when blood flow to the brain stops. This is called an ischemic stroke. Brain cells begin to die within minutes, which can cause death or permanent damage, such as paralysis or difficulty talking, thinking, or remembering things. Restoring blood flow is critical to reducing damage.

Dr. Rob Lins

“During a stroke, 160,000 brain cells die per second. The faster you can get treated, the better your chances of a full recovery,” says Rob Lins, DO, emergency medicine physician and medical director at St. Thomas More Hospital.

PHOTOS: STOPWATCH ©BOOKA — STOCK.ADOBE.COM; WOMAN ©KITE_RIN — STOCK.ADOBE.COM; LAPTOP ©PIXELALEX — STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Recognizing the signs of a stroke is the most important step. But getting help fast is the next. St. Thomas More’s ER is trained to evaluate strokes and start a drug, called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA. It helps break up clots and restore blood flow to the brain, but tPA can only be administered within three to six hours of the onset of stroke.

“If you wait too long before calling 911 or you drive to Colorado Springs or Pueblo for help, you could delay treatment that will mean the difference between a full recovery and permanent disability,” Lins says.

DID YOU KNOW?

BE FAST

Smokers are twice as likely to suffer a stroke than nonsmokers, according to the National Stroke Association.

Smoking restricts blood vessels and causes blood vessel walls to become thick, both of which make it harder for blood to get through. If you are a smoker looking to quit, get help through St. Thomas More’s FREE tobacco cessation program by calling 719-285-2010.

If someone is experiencing stroke symptoms, there’s no time to waste. Here’s an easy way to remember stroke signs:

St. Thomas More Hospital is part of the Centura Health Stroke Network, the region’s leading provider of stroke care.

B

balance. Is there a sudden loss of balance?

E

eyes. Is there vision loss in one or both eyes?

F

Face. Is one side of the face drooping?

A

Arm. Does one arm drop?

Is there weakness on one side?

S

Speech. Is the person’s speech slurred?

T

Time. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, call 911.

ACCESS YOUR

MEDICAL RECORD ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Looking for an easier way to manage your medical record and communicate with your doctor?

If you are a patient of any Centura Health hospital or physician, including St. Thomas More Hospital and its Centura Health Physician Group clinics, a new website provides tons of tools at your fingertips.

MyCenturaHealth.org is a secure website (think of it like banking online) that allows you to: › Email your doctor with nonemergency questions › Verify medications, allergies, and insurance information › Schedule and check in for your appointments › Check test results › Make payments To register, ask your physician’s office for information or go online to mycenturahealth.org, or download the app!

SPRING 2017

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timely treatment

NO CANE, NO PAIN Anterior hip replacement can get you back on track faster

EDGAR MELOEN’S HIP HAD BEEN HURTING for years.

He started walking with a cane, but eventually the pain got so bad he could no longer stand to take his dog, Emma, on their morning walk. That’s when he decided it was time to do something.

A few weeks later, Meloen was making local history, becoming the first patient at St. Thomas More Hospital to have a hip replacement using a surgical technique, called an anterior hip replacement, that would put him back on the end of Emma’s leash faster.

Dr. Lee McFadden,

Orthopedic Surgeon

Meloen says orthopedic surgeon Lee McFadden, MD, explained the anterior approach, and it sounded good to him. “He said it’s the preferred way to do it as long as your bones are in good enough shape. He said it would lead to a quicker recovery.”

Edgar Meloen and his dog, Emma, are picking up the pace after his hip replacement surgery at St. Thomas More Hospital.

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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL | STMHOSPITAL.ORG

IS YOUR HIP ON ITS LAST LEG? For many patients, deciding when it’s time to have hip replacement surgery can be tricky. And often, people put off hip replacement until the pain is unbearable.

 GENERALLY, IT MAY BE TIME TO

HAVE THAT HIP REPLACEMENT IF:

That may seem like a sign of toughness, but St. Thomas More orthopedic surgeon Lee McFadden, MD, cautions that waiting too long can make surgery more difficult, and slow your recovery.

“If you’re getting to the point where the joint is starting to erode, that is when cases become challenging,” he says.

Age is a factor, too, McFadden says. For those under 70, it’s natural to want to wait because you don’t want to face multiple hip replacements. But for those 70 and older, sooner may be better than later.

“If it’s not a question of if, but when, then what are you waiting for? You generally don’t get healthier as you get older, so it may be better to get on with it.”

There are three basic approaches to full hip replacement surgery, McFadden says: POSTERIOR The most common approach, in which the surgeon accesses the joint through the patient’s buttocks.

LATERAL The surgeon gains access through the side of the patient’s hip.

ANTERIOR The surgeon accesses the joint from the front side of the patient’s hip.

With posterior and lateral approaches, muscles and tendons must be moved or detached to reach the hip joint.

But with anterior hip replacement, “no muscles or tendons have to be detached. It’s more soft-tissue friendly,” says McFadden.

FASTER RECOVERY The anterior approach was once widely used, but was set aside because the instruments and joint implants were not precise enough. Now, the technique is re-emerging thanks to less-invasive surgery and more anatomically correct implants, McFadden says.

Although long-term results are equal between approaches, anterior hip replacement usually

 You can’t complete daily tasks without help or significant pain  Pain keeps you awake at night  Walking and bending over are difficult, and medications don’t provide relief  You are in discomfort physically, emotionally, and mentally  Your pain is limiting activity, which is harming your overall health

offers patients a faster recovery, with typical hospital stays of two to three days. In addition, most patients experience less pain after surgery, and decreased risk of dislocating the new hip after the procedure, says McFadden, who had both his own hips replaced using the anterior approach.

Meloen, 85, said his recovery was easier than he expected. “There was not a whole lot of pain; the healing went well; I never had a complaint,” he says.

A GOOD SURGERY FOR MOST Most patients are candidates for anterior hip replacement, McFadden says. Patients who are obese, short-statured, or who have significant joint deformity or deterioration due to years of arthritis, however, may need the posterior or lateral approach.

McFadden emphasizes that there isn’t a right way or wrong way to perform hip replacements. “You should have the procedure your surgeon does best. You’re looking for the best five-year postoperative outcome, not the best five-week postoperative outcome.”

Meloen, a retired medical equipment service manager, says he is extremely happy with his results. “Everything worked out great. I’m very happy with the way it went.” Emma’s happy, too. Meloen has resumed their milelong morning walks. Without the cane.

To LEARN MORE about hip replacement surgery, go online to stmhospital.org/orthopedic.

Or call 719-285-2646 to schedule an appointment.

St. Thomas More Hospital is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s leading health care network.

PHOTOS FROM LEFT: EDGAR BY STEVE BIGLEY; CAN ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FARAKOS; CANE ©TOKARSKI – STOCK.ADOBE.COM; HIP ©VISUELL – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

STMHOSPITAL.ORG SPRING 2017

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early detection

Less anxiety, more accuracy

New mammogram technology detects cancer earlier, reduces stressful retesting

detects 22 percent more cancers than traditional mammography.

“Three-D mammography gives us a better understanding and a higher level of confidence when we’re reading the mammogram,” says Dianne Bush, RT (R)(M), diagnostic imaging director and mammography technologist at St. Thomas More Hospital. Three-D mammography is especially beneficial for examining women who have dense breasts. With traditional mammography, it can be difficult to get clear images, and to interpret those images, Dianne Bush, RT, Diagnostic Imaging Director when breast tissue is dense.

And thanks to community donations, women in Fremont County will soon benefit from the improvements. The St. Thomas More Health Foundation recently purchased the latest breast screening technology, called tomosynthesis or 3-D mammography, for the hospital. This new technology provides more accurate images and better detection of cancer in its earliest stages. St. Thomas More expects the new screenings to be available beginning in May.

Decrease your risk of breast cancer by:

Eating fresh, whole, unprocessed foods

Exercising often

A 3-D Look Breast tomosynthesis allows radiologists to see more than they can with traditional two-dimensional mammography. With standard mammography, images of each breast are taken from two angles, producing a flat image. In tomosynthesis, multiple low-dose X-ray images are taken from many angles, moving in an arc around each breast. A computer algorithm uses the information collected to create an entire series of 3-D pictures.

Limiting alcohol

This technology is relatively new and not available everywhere. But it is proving itself where it is being used. Some studies show 3-D mammography

Thank you! 3-D mammography was brought to

St. Thomas More Hospital, thanks to community donations: Volunteer Auxiliary: $54k Associates: $40k Community: $89k

+

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+

INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL

Maintaining a healthy weight

Not smoking

TOTAL COST:

$183,000

Fewer Callbacks Because 3-D mammography provides a more vivid image, the technology also helps cut down on one of mammography’s more unsettling side effects: the anxiety of being called back for a second, or even third, look.

With less ability to see the breast from multiple angles, traditional mammograms sometimes detect a spot that needs further imaging. In those cases, women will be called back for an additional mammogram and maybe ultrasound, Bush says. But according to the American Cancer Society, 61 out of every 100 women called back will not have cancer.

The callbacks can cause days or weeks of worry for these women.

Early research suggests that only about 8.78 percent of women screened with 3-D mammography get called back, compared with 10.4 percent for 2-D mammography, according to breastcancer.org.

“We’re very fortunate to have this technology at St. Thomas More Hospital,” Bush says. “Anything that helps reduce anxiety and encourages women to keep coming in for their mammograms is a wonderful thing.”

To schedule your annual breast screening, call 719-285-2255.

While all insurance plans cover screening mammographies, some do not cover 3-D mammography.

Please check with your insurance provider.

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AS GOOD AS MAMMOGRAMS are for

women’s health, they have gotten even better.

INSPIREKids

EAT NOW, PLAY LATER Childhood choices lay the foundation for a healthy adulthood

STACKING YOUR CHILD’S PLATE WITH VEGETABLES, whole grains, and lean proteins is the best way to ensure healthy growth. But did you know that you’re also setting a place for a healthy adulthood?

Indeed, one recent study linked a teenage diet high in fruits and vegetables with reduced breast cancer risk later in life.

ALLERGY PREVENTION IN A NUTSHELL

TWO OF THE WORST childhood habits: excess sugar and sodium.

About 6 million children in the U.S. suffer peanut allergies, and the rate has quadrupled since 1997.

Both are hidden in common foods, especially processed foods. In fact, nearly three-quarters of packaged toddler dinners are high in sodium, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

Fortunately, researchers say peanut allergies may be prevented through early, careful exposure.

“Childhood is where you learn healthy habits,” says Amanda Nedzinski, DO, a pediatrician with St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services.

“Introducing peanuts early can give your child’s immune system a better chance of avoiding a peanut allergy,” says Janet Krein, PA-C, certified physician assistant at the St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services clinic. “If you don’t have a family history of nut allergies, you can start to experiment with peanut products around 9 months.

Put a little on the skin below the bottom lip. If there’s no reaction, give your kiddo a little bit to taste.”

Often, the consequences don’t wait for adulthood.

“We see many kids with elevated cholesterol,” the result of too much fried, fatty food, Nedzinski says.

Dr. Amanda Nedzinski

So what’s a parent to do? Aim for less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, and indulge your child’s sweet tooth with raisins and other fruits.

“Kids like to have a say,” Nedzinski says. “Offer them a choice — carrots or grapes with dinner? Milk or water?” And, model healthy choices — if you’re drinking soda with your meal, kids will want it, too.

Learn more about our team at stmhospital.org/physician-group.

e m o c l e W

NEW NURSE PRACTITIONER ASHLEY HUYNH

Always check with your pediatrician if you have concerns.

ASHLEY HUYNH, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, is the newest addition to the St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services team.

Huynh holds bachelor, masters, and doctorate degrees in nursing — all from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She also is certified in emergency and trauma care, and has experience in labor and delivery.

Huynh believes in working with patients and families to make treatment and health care decisions together. She is dedicated to being accessible to patients and families, so they can reach her when they need her. “I love being able to get to know children and to watch them grow as I care for them over the years,” Huynh says.

Huynh plans to celebrate the coming of spring by zip-lining with her sons, Sami, 5, and Maddox, 10, and baking a fresh strawberry-rhubarb pie.

For a list of do’s and don’ts on introducing new foods to infants, go online to stmhospital.org/ inspire-kids.

Make an Appointment

St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services is accepting new patients. To make an appointment with Dr. Nedzinski, Nurse Practitioner Ashley Huynh, or one of our other providers, call 719-285-2091.

STMHOSPITAL.ORG SPRING 2017

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Over 75 years of pioneering health care for you.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

St. Thomas More Hospital

PAID

1338 Phay Avenue Cañon City, CO 81212

Denver, CO Permit No. 4773

INSPIRATION

Join our health experts to learn how you can make small changes that make a big impact on improving your health! For a complete list of classes and details, visit stmhospital.org/calendar.

SAFETY JAM

SATURDAY, JUN 3  10 A.M. SATURDAY, APR 29  7 A.M.-NOON

Fremont County’s largest annual health fair is brought to you by St. Thomas More Hospital, in partnership with 5Health Fair and 9Health Fair. Enjoy FREE and lowcost health screenings and education. To learn more or prepay for screenings, visit 9healthfair.org.

Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street Info: 719-285-2630

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION

TUESDAYS, MAY 9 AND 16; JULY 11 AND 18  5:30-8:30 P.M.

Prepare yourself and your partner for labor and delivery! Learn what to expect in your third trimester, labor techniques, pain management, breastfeeding, and postdelivery care.

Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, Community Room Cost: $25 for you and a support person; scholarships available upon request Registration: stmhospital.org/ calendar or 719-285-2058

A fun, festival-like environment to provide safety and health information, education, and equipment to children and families; intended to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of Fremont County; presented by American Medical Response and other local organizations.

Location: Rudd Park, 1200 College Avenue Cost: FREE Info: 719-285-2345

St. Thomas More Hospital offers the following ongoing education, support, and resources: Diabetes education classes and monthly support group; for details, visit stmhospital. org/diabetes or call 719-285-2712.

Monthly support group for bariatric weight loss; for details, call 719-285-2548.

Women’s Wellness Connection provides FREE breast and cervical cancer screenings to qualifying women; for details, visit stmhospital.org/wwc or call 719-285-2473.

SPORTS PHYSICALS TUESDAY, JUN 27  1-6 P.M.

This annual event provides middle and high school student athletes with a FREE sports physical by the St. Thomas More Physician Group and a sports readiness assessment with our rehabilitation and orthopaedic services experts. This fulfills the sports physical required by the school district.

Cost: FREE Location: St. Thomas More Outpatient Rehabilitation Center Registration is required and starts May 1: 719-285-2964

PHOTOS: BEARS ©DIETL – STOCK.ADOBE.COM; GIRL ©SYDA PRODUCTIONS — STOCK.ADOBE.COM

INSPIRE

INSPIRE is published quarterly by St. Thomas More Hospital as part of our Mission to nurture the health of the people in our community. The information herein is meant to complement, not replace, advice provided by a licensed health care provider. To comment or unsubscribe, email us at inspire@centura.org.

INSPIRE is produced by Clementine Healthcare Marketing. Executive Editor: Jillian Maes.

St. Thomas More 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 303-804-8166. Copyright © Centura Health, 2017.

S T M H O S P I TA L.O R G