Inspire Summer 2016

SUMMER 2016 | Volume 2, Issue 3

A Healthier You

St. Thomas More Hospital

TEAMING UP The best game plan for preventing sports injuries in teens is to have experts on the sidelines. Page 4

St. Thomas More Hospital is partnering with local high schools to minimize the injury risk to teen athletes.

From left to right: Jeremy Nix, Florence High School’s varsity football coach; Dr. Jacob Patterson, orthopedic surgeon; Rick Kamerzell, physical therapist; and Tom O’Rourke, Cañon City High School’s head football coach.

DO YOU NEED A NEW KNEE? Page 2

PET THERAPY BENEFITS Page 6

JOIN US FOR A GROUNDBREAKING Page 7

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

inspiring health

DO YOU NEED A

KNEE REPLACEMENT? THIS PAST WINTER, the St. Thomas More Physician Group welcomed orthopedic surgeon Lee McFadden, MD. We asked him, “Who needs a knee replacement?” His answer might surprise you.

“My answer is no one needs a joint replacement,” McFadden says. “The people who should consider a joint replacement are those whose quality of life is impacted enough by their arthritis that it’s worth it to them to do it.”

Dr. Lee McFadden, Orthopedic Surgeon

Look back at yourself five years ago, McFadden suggests, and compare it to where you are now. Have you gradually given up activities along the way to the point that your former self wouldn’t recognize you today?

“Joint replacement can dramatically improve people’s quality of life,” he says. “It’s very rewarding to participate in that.”

A West Point graduate, McFadden studied medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. Fellowship-trained in primary and revision hip and knee replacement, he also treats sports injuries and trauma. Entering active duty as a second lieutenant in 1987 and retiring from the U.S. Army as a colonel in 2013, McFadden’s first and last assignments were at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.

GET IN TOUCH

To make an appointment with Dr. McFadden, call 719-285-2646.

He and his wife, Janice, have both served overseas in a combat theater — him in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Janice in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. They have four children, two in high school and two in college.

MAN TO MAN: HEALTH MATTERS IT’S A FACT. GOOD HEALTH FEELS GOOD.

Boggs and his wife go hiking almost every weekend in the summer. And while staying active is fun and relaxing, it’s serious business, too. The health benefits of an active lifestyle can help improve your odds of a long and healthy life.

Here are three notable numbers every man should know: 1. BLOOD PRESSURE

2. WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE

3. YOUR BIRTHDAY

Left untreated, high blood pressure can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction, and vision loss. A healthy lifestyle can help control blood pressure, which tends to rise as you age.

The size of your waistline rather than your weight may be a better predictor of your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and premature death.

Why not let your birthday be a reminder to schedule an annual exam? “It’s good to get in to your doctor once a year,” Boggs says. Screening tests are scheduled according to age, as well as personal and family history, so a regular connection with a personal physician is an important piece of preventive health.

120/80 is considered normal

40 inches or less is ideal (35 for women)

It’s never too early to start annual checkups

To establish a relationship with a primary care provider, visit stmhospital.org/primary-care.

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Trent Boggs

INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL

PHOTOS: STRETCH ©SMOKOVSKI – STOCK.ADOBE.COM; BOOTS ©DUNCANANDISON – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

“I feel 10 times better after a long hike,” says Trent Boggs, who works in radiology at St. Thomas More Hospital. He visits the wellness center there to keep up to date on health information and periodically monitor his body fat.

inspiring health

DON’T SWEAT IT

EVERYONE HAS HEARD the dictate to drink 8 cups of water a day. That’s easy to remember, but it’s really not that simple.

Summer is prime time for dehydration

Recommendations for hydration vary by gender, age, health, activity, and climate. The ideal amounts range from 4 glasses to more than 16!

According to the Institute of Medicine, men should drink about 13 cups, while women need about 9. For pregnant women, the USDA recommendation is 12-13 cups a day.

PHOTOS: WATER ©DIGITALGENETICS – STOCK.ADOBE.COM; COFFEE © KEVINMAYER – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Water, which makes up about 60 percent of your body weight on average, is essential for every function your body performs, from carrying nutrients to cells to flushing out waste and cooling you on a hot day.

Even slight dehydration through perspiration or Dr. Aaron Lloyd inadequate intake can make you feel tired, achy, dizzy, or even dull your thinking, says Aaron Lloyd, MD, with St. Thomas More Physician Group Family Medicine.

In our dry climate here in Colorado, I believe it is very common for symptoms of headache, dizziness, and fatigue to be at least in part caused by dehydration. I try to recommend to all my patients to ensure they are drinking sufficient amounts of noncaffeinated fluids daily.”

If you rarely feel thirsty and your urine is not dark, your intake is probably sufficient.

Caffeinated drinks have long been suspected of causing dehydration.

However, recent studies suggest caffeine has a slight diuretic effect — but it doesn’t dehydrate.

YOU CAN LEAD A HUMAN TO WATER To avoid dehydration and function optimally:

 Drink a glass of water or healthy substitute with each meal and between each meal

 Drink before, during, and after exercise

 Drink more when the

weather is hot or humid

 Drink more at a high

altitude, which is considered to be any elevation over 5,000 feet

 Eat fresh fruit and

vegetables with high water content

 Drink more when you

YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION ONLINE, ANYTIME YOU WANT IT

24/7

CENTURA HEALTH, Colorado’s largest health care network, makes it easy for patients to keep track and share all of their medical records between doctors and the hospital.

MyCenturaHealth keeps all test results, doctor notes, images, and any other type of medical record from any Centura Health doctor, hospital, or outpatient facility in one electronic record. On MyCenturaHealth, you can:  Review medications, conditions, test

results, allergies, and immunizations  See and get reminders about appointments (with St. Thomas More Physician Group providers only)  Download and print your medical records  Email your doctors Members of the network, from primary care doctors to hospital emergency rooms, can provide better care by having instant access to your health records, including past tests or allergy records. And once you are in the system, you will save time each visit during registration — you simply will verify your information.

Learn more and sign up for MyCenturaHealth at stmhospital.org/mycenturahealth.

have a fever, diarrhea, or are vomiting

 Drink more if you have a bladder infection or kidney stones

If you experience confusion, seizures, fainting, shortness of breath, or do not urinate for 12 or more hours, seek immediate care at the nearest ER. To find out wait times at the St. Thomas More Hospital ER, go online to stmhospital.org.

STMHOSPITAL.ORG SUMMER 2016

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orthopedic wellness

GAME PLAN DEVISE A WINNING PLAY TO KEEP YOUR TEEN FREE OF INJURY

Today’s teen athletes have the drive to train hard and the will to play harder. Competitive athletics offer a great deal of benefits — physical health, mental well-being, teamwork skills, and strategic reasoning, so keeping your young athlete injury free is paramount. Here’s what you should know about preventing common orthopedic sports injuries in teens.

The keys to prevention Some injuries, of course, can’t be prevented — there will be falls and tackles and awkward landings. But there are some steps a young athlete can take to minimize his or her risk.

The first is to be mindful of overuse, says Jacob Patterson, MD, orthopedic surgeon at St. Thomas More Hospital. Overuse injuries are especially a problem in younger athletes because they can lead to inflammation around the growth plates.

Serious damage to this vulnerable part of the skeletal structure can affect the bone’s growth.

I

In addition, Patterson offers these tips for specific injuries:

SHOULDER INJURIES

KNEE INJURIES

Seen in: volleyball, tennis, football (particularly quarterbacks), swimming, and baseball (especially pitchers)

Seen in: football, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and gymnastics

The biggest issue with shoulder injuries is a repetitive overhead motion, such as when serving or spiking in volleyball.

“We see quite a few knee injuries in high school athletes,” Patterson says.

As with any overuse injury, the key is limiting the motion. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises not playing a single sport more than five days a week — with at least one day off from any organized sport. Young athletes also should play on just one team per season and take two to three months a year off from their chosen sport, the academy recommends.

Dislocation of the kneecap — where the kneecap slides out of its proper location due to a direct blow or fall — is common in football and soccer. Meniscus (cartilage) tears also are more common in contact sports.

Other frequent shoulder injuries involve instability, where a joint is out of its usual position, or impingement, which occurs when the shoulder muscles rub against the top part of the shoulder blade excessively. A common injury site in the shoulder is the rotator cuff, which is made up of several muscles and tendons that hold the joint together.

Training Tips  Work with a coach or trainer on exercises to strengthen the

rotator cuff. Strong shoulder muscles can help maintain stability in the joint and prevent injury.

 Don’t neglect your core. Professional athletes frequently tout

the benefits of a strong core for throwing.

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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are particularly common among football, soccer, volleyball, and basketball players. Quick changes in direction, sudden stops, landing wrong from a jump, and direct contact are common causes.

Training Tips  Work on strengthening the muscles around the knee —

such as exercises that strengthen the quadriceps (front of the thigh) and hamstrings (back of the thigh).

 Learn proper technique for running, pivoting, and jumping.  Replace running shoes as needed. As shoes get old, their

shock-absorption and stability benefits wane, which can be tough on knees.

PHOTOS: ©SNAPTITUDE – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Dr. Jacob Patterson, Orthopedic Surgeon

The key is adequate rest, which can be hard with so many youth leagues and year-round options for many sports.

But rest doesn’t mean inactivity. Cross-training and playing different sports every season are great ways to keep kids active and well-conditioned.

A test with ImPACT

Student athletes in Pueblo and Fremont counties are encouraged to obtain pre-concussion testing to establish a cognitive baseline. The test, called the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing or ImPACT, is available at all local high schools. Should the athlete experience a concussion during the season, the results of testing after the injury can be compared to the baseline ImPACT test to ensure that neurological and cognitive functioning have returned to normal.

For more information, visit stmhospital.org/concussion.

STUDIES SHOW

that young women are two to eight times more likely than men to injure their ACL (a ligament in the knee). Some experts believe that the natural alignment of women’s knees might be at fault.

Some evidence also points to the impact of hormones.

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FOOT AND ANKLE INJURIES

Seen in: basketball, soccer, track and field, cross-country, football, and cheerleading It’s estimated that half of all ankle sprains occur during an athletic activity — with basketball the leading culprit among sports. Athletes who do a lot of running in competition or training are also vulnerable to a wide variety of overuse injuries with their ankles.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons advises that young athletes never play with heel or foot pain, which tends to go up during fall and winter sports seasons and when kids are growing. That’s because the pain could eventually lead to difficulty walking and the need for more complex therapies.

Training Tips  Brace or tape weak or previously injured ankles. A trainer

can show your athlete how to do it properly.

 Choosing the right footwear is essential to foot and ankle

health. Cleats should be replaced often, and inserts to raise the heel might be helpful as well. A foot and ankle specialist can help you determine the best option.

SURGE NS

on the sidelines As a contact sport, football carries a risk of fractures and dislocations, among other injuries.

“The quicker you can appropriately treat them, the better the outcome — and the less painful it will be for the athlete,” says Rick Kamerzell, a physical therapist and the administrative director of orthopedic services at St. Thomas More Hospital.

That’s why St. Thomas More Orthopaedic Services partners with Florence High School and Cañon City High School to ensure one of the department’s three physicians, a physician’s assistant, or Kamerzell is on the sidelines for varsity home football games.

Rick Kamerzell, Administrative Director of Orthopedic Services

“It’s our goal to bring up the level of competency on the sidelines,” Kamerzell says. “There’s no one better to triage and care for musculoskeletal injuries and give advice than an orthopedic surgeon.”

For the Cañon City High School football team, it’s made a huge difference, says head coach Tom O’Rourke. “It really helps us as a coaching staff because we’re not worried about diagnosing somebody,” he says.

Both coaches also appreciate being able to reach out to Kamerzell and his team in between games, as players sometimes don’t realize they have an issue until a few days after the game.

“We can have a kid come in on Monday, and we can call Kamerzell. They’ll get the kid in and get him ready by Friday,” says Jeremy Nix, Florence High School’s varsity football coach. “I don’t think we can thank those guys enough who contribute to the success of our program and helping our kids play week to week.”

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emotional health

Healing Paw-sibilities How dogs are lifting spirits at St. Thomas More Hospital and the Progressive Care Center THERE’S NOTHING LIKE COMING HOME to a furry face and wagging tail. No matter how hard a day you’ve had, you can’t help but smile when your dog’s head tilts and those big eyes beg, “Pet me!” The same is true for patients in the hospital, including those dealing with serious health issues and injuries. A visit from a pet ambassador at St. Thomas More Hospital is enough to perk patients right up.

“Generally, people seem to be happy to see the dogs,” says Cindy Lau, a pet therapy volunteer. “Not everyone’s a dog person but even if they’re not, they usually smile when we come through the halls.”

St. Thomas More Hospital has two pet therapy volunteers and a total of four pet ambassadors. Lau owns Corey, a 4-year-old Weimaraner. John Henshaw’s pet ambassadors are Sadie-Two, a 6-year-old Great Pyrenees; Hiker, an 8-year-old Bernese mountain dog; and Soxie, a 6-year-old border collie.

PET BENEFITS

Research has long touted the benefits of pet ownership. In fact, having furry friends has been associated with heart health, decreased pain after joint surgery, increased social behaviors in children with autism, decreased loneliness, and increased opportunities for physical activity and socialization.

1 Year Dog owners are more likely to be alive one year after a heart attack than people who don’t own dogs, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

“Simply touching an animal can reduce blood pressure and offer other positive responses,” Henshaw says.

Inside the hospital, interaction with the dogs brings widespread joy. “A lot of the time, the dogs are as much a help/stress reliever for the staff as they are for patients,” Lau says.

The most heartwarming moments come when a pediatric patient is comforted by one of the dogs.

“We went to the ER not too long ago because we’d heard a boy had cut his leg,” Lau says. “As soon as he saw the dog, he gave her a big hug and started telling her about his own dog. It’s amazing how dogs can put people right at ease.”

St. Thomas More Hospital requires all incoming pet ambassadors be certified by a national agency, such as Therapy Dogs International, and also complete an annual veterinarian certification. Dogs and their owners are evaluated as a Corey, a 4-year-old team and must meet certain criteria before being certified.

Weimaraner, brings Certifying agencies ensure dogs have the proper disposition a smile to patients and that the owner has proper control over the animal. as she makes her Certain dogs have just the right personalities for being rounds as a pet pet ambassadors. Henshaw’s Sadie-Two found her calling ambassador with her by being a pet ambassador. While he sometimes enters owner, Cindy Lau. Sadie-Two into obedience competitions, he gets more satisfaction out of volunteering.

“With competition obedience events, you win or you lose,” he says. “With therapy, you win — every time.”

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? St. Thomas More Hospital welcomes volunteers with all different skills to help out at the information resource desk, admissions, patient discharge, radiology, medical records, and the gift shop. We even have a VolunTEEN program. Contact Katrina Hall, director of volunteer services, at 719-285-2104 or katrinahall@centura.org to learn more today.

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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

CERTIFIED TO SERVE

COMING SOON CARE THAT’S CONVENIENT, accessible, consolidated, and right in your community.

That’s what Fremont County residents will be able to get come next summer when a new medical office building opens on the campus of St. Thomas More Hospital. The building, being constructed in partnership with Centura Health and The Boldt Company, will house primary care physician offices as well as specialty offices for a wide variety of medical specialists, such as OB/GYN and orthopedics.

Helping people stay healthy, get care early when a problem arises, and manage ongoing health issues are the goals of a concept being developed statewide by Centura Health called Colorado Health Neighborhoods. This medical office building will be at the hub of the Fremont County Health Neighborhood. Medical services will be focused on providing preventive care, health screenings and regular checkups, chronic disease management, as well as early diagnosis and treatment.

NEW

Colorado Health Neighborhood makes getting health care easier for area families

YOU’RE INVITED Join us as we break ground for the state-ofthe-art medical office building on the St. Thomas More campus.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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Construction of the new medical office building will kick off with a community groundbreaking ceremony this summer. For this project, St. Thomas More Hospital and Boldt will partner with RTA Architects (RTA), who were also involved in the newly redesigned Birth Center and C-Section suite, as well as the Medical/Surgical nursing unit.

“This is an exciting time for everyone at St. Thomas More and for our community,” says Sheri Trahern, chief executive officer of St. Thomas More Hospital. “We believe that health care consumers in the communities we serve will prefer to seek care locally at the various physician clinics.”

CONSOLIDATION AND COLLABORATION

St. Thomas More Physician Group providers are currently in multiple locations on Sell Avenue, Phay Avenue, Yale Place, and Ohio Avenue. With the new multispecialty facility, most of these providers will be under one roof. The consolidation will allow for:

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

RSVP by Thursday, Aug. 11, at 719-285-2179 or online at stmhospital.org/ calendar.

Significantly improved collaboration between different types of physicians on patient care Increased efficiency with practice operations p Improved patient flow p p

Patients will enjoy an intentionally created healing environment inside the building. Trahern hopes that this new environment also will be attractive to prospective physicians and support teams.

“Our research has shown that having a medical office building will enhance our recruitment efforts in both primary and specialty care,” she says.

STMHOSPITAL.ORG SUMMER 2016

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Over 75 years of pioneering health care for you.

PAID

1338 Phay Avenue Cañon City, CO 81212

Denver, CO Permit No. 4773

INSPIRATION MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

WEDNESDAYS, SEP 7-28  6-9 P.M.

Join us for an official groundbreaking! Hear from representatives from St. Thomas More Hospital, The Boldt Company, RTA Architects, and more about how the state-of-the-art, multispecialty medical office building will offer convenient, accessible patient care in Fremont County. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Location: St. Thomas More Medical Office Building site Cost: FREE Registration: RSVP by Thursday, Aug. 11, to 719-285-2179 or stmhospital.org/calendar PHOTO: MARGARITA ©SERHIY SHULLYE – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION

TUESDAY, AUG 16  10:30-11:30 A.M.

ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PARK TUESDAY, AUG 30  6:30-8:30 P.M.

St. Thomas More Hospital is the sponsor of Entertainment in the Park, presented by the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce, featuring the Atomic Fireballs. Join us!

Location: Veterans Park, 1st Street and Highway 50 Cost: FREE

INSPIRE

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

St. Thomas More Hospital

Prepare yourself, your partner, and baby for labor and delivery during this four-week program. 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/childbirtheducation or 719-285-2058

CHILD HEALTH & SAFETY DAY SATURDAY, SEP 10  9 A.M.-NOON

FREE hands-on injury prevention education for kids 2-14 years old; car seat checkpoint and giveaway; interactive stations that feature community partners in youth services, nutrition and dental, ATV and horse safety, and more; also featuring Cañon City Fire and Police, a bounce house, other giveaways, and a prize package!

Location: St. Thomas More Parking Lot Cost: FREE

Save the Date!

5TH ANNUAL MARGARITAS & MAMMOS MONDAY, OCT 17

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

Monthly bariatric weight loss support group; to learn more, call 719-285-2548.

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

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 Health 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, 2016.

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