SPRING 2016 | Volume 2, Issue 2
St. Thomas More Hospital
A Healthier You
water
WELLNESS Water therapy and organized exercise classes bring physical activity back in reach for people of all abilities. Page 4.
VARICOSE VEIN CARE Page 2
QUALITY CARE FOR YOUR PARENT Page 6
6 RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE Page 7
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
inspiring health
Dennis Bruens, Vice President of Operations
VARICOSE VEINS: NOT JUST ABOUT VANITY VARICOSE VEINS DEVELOP when damaged valves allow blood to pool in the vein, increasing pressure and leading to enlargement of the veins.
Ultrasound is used to evaluate varicose veins. “To get the best results with varicose veins hinges on good diagnosis,” Madsen says. “You have to know exactly where the problems lie. It is also critical to rule out potential undiagnosed problems such as deep vein blood clots or other conditions.”
Symptoms of varicose veins can include: Aching pain Swelling Skin irritation or sores
FIND YOUR FIT
Discoloration Inflammation
AS A COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER, Dennis Bruens, St. Thomas More Hospital’s vice president of operations, was accustomed to being active. But once he joined the working world, he became more sedentary and started looking for a low-impact activity to accommodate the wear and tear that basketball had inflicted on his joints.
Treating the Problem Depending on how advanced the problem turns out to be, some varicose veins can be managed with conservative treatment such as compression stockings. When intervention is needed, “the most common treatment is endovenous ablation, an office-based procedure that’s minimally invasive with no incisions,” Madsen says. Endovenous ablation uses heat energy from radio frequency or lasers to seal off the problem veins, redirecting the blood flow to healthy veins. Madsen has advanced training in minimally invasive vascular surgery. In addition to varicose veins, he treats conditions such as carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and dialysis access procedures.
VASCULAR CONSULTATION COMES TO YOU St. Thomas More’s vascular surgery specialty clinic is held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center on the hospital campus in Cañon City. Call 719-544-0269 for more information or to make an appointment.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
Now an avid cyclist, Bruens says, “Riding my bike is a mental break as well as great physical exercise.” He enjoys escaping into the great outdoors and letting the miles take him away from his workday preoccupations. “I honestly love it,” he says. Follow his lead to find your fitness sweet spot: Make it fun. To stay consistently active, you have to be
passionate about something, Bruens says. “Even though long-term health is very important to me, that is not something that gets me off the couch today.”
Look back. What activities did you enjoy when you were
younger? “I grew up in Holland, and biking was our mode of transportation,” Bruens says.
Do your own thing. “It’s not about emulating someone
else; it’s about doing what works for you,” Bruens says. “I didn’t start out riding 200 miles a week.” While his level of commitment isn’t for everyone, you never know where your passion might take you.
YOU’RE INVITED TO BIKE TO WORK DAY Colorado celebrates Bike Month every June, wrapping up with an official Bike JUNE to Work Day. To see the pit stops for St. Thomas More Hospital’s Bike to Work Day, go to stmhospital.org and look under the Health & Wellness tab. And if your business would like to join the action, call Emma Glancy, St. Thomas More Hospital’s manager of wellness programs, at 719-285-2630 to find out how.
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“Once you can see varicose veins, it’s more than just a cosmetic problem,” says vascular surgeon Kenneth R. Madsen, MD, who treats patients at St. Thomas More’s specialty clinic. “They are an indication that something’s not working right.”
inspiring health
LOOKING FOR LUNG CANCER Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, but an annual screening can lower the death rate significantly
THE SCREENING, A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCAN using low doses of radiation (called a low-dose CT scan), helps detect lung cancer at earlier stages, when it is more treatable, explains Dianne Bush, director of diagnostic imaging at St. Thomas More Hospital. Eighty percent of people whose cancer was detected early through this screening lived 10 or more years, according to studies by the National Cancer Institute. In comparison, fewer than 15 percent of patients whose lung cancer is detected at advanced stages live five years after diagnosis.
Dianne Bush, Director of Diagnostic Imaging
The Centura Health Cancer Network, the only accredited cancer network in Colorado, is now offering this screening at all of its facilities, including St. Thomas More Hospital.
Who should be screened? A current or former smoker (one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years), meeting these criteria, is eligible for screening through the Centura Lung Screening Program: To find out Smoked for at least 20 years if you are eligible Must be at least 50 years of age for this screening, Cannot have a history of cancer please call Must have a primary care physician 719-285-2075. Must show no symptoms of cancer
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We are part of the Centura Health Cancer Network, delivering integrated, advanced cancer care across Colorado and western Kansas.
FALL-PROOF YOUR HOME TO HELP PREVENT FALLS AND HIP FRACTURES in the elderly population, St. Thomas More Hospital offers a seven-week class called “Stepping On.” This evidence-based class can reduce the incidence of falls by approximately 34 percent, says Nancy Bartkowiak, RN, a trauma quality specialist who teaches the class.
Nancy Bartkowiak, RN
An eye doctor and a pharmacist visit the class to address the role of vision and medication side effects that contribute to an increased risk of falling. In addition to specific exercises, “a big part of the class is fall-proofing your house and safety in the neighborhood,” Bartkowiak says. Tips include:
Be aware of your surroundings, whether at home or in the community Remove throw rugs or use slip-resistant rugs Install rails near stairs and place yellow striping on the edge of any steps, especially if they are outside Install dusk-to-dawn night-lights around the inside of your home
Call Nancy Bartkowiak at 719-285-2345 for more information about the upcoming falls prevention class.
STMHOSPITAL.ORG SPRING 2016
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outreach for wellness
KEEPING THE COMMUNITY WELL Water exercise classes are one of the many wellness programs St. Thomas More Hospital offers to improve community health
Because spina bifida affects the network of nerves and blood vessels in the lower body, “if I get a blister or something, it can turn Emma Glancy into a major infection,” McCullar explains. His first amputation surgery was in 1976 because of a staph infection in his leg. In 2005, he injured his other foot and ultimately had to have it amputated.
MEETING A NEED The hospital’s water aerobics classes weren’t a good fit for McCullar. But “the hospital has the only pool in town with a chair lift, so it’s the only place I can go that has a way for me to get from my wheelchair into the pool,” he says. McCullar’s dilemma was eye-opening to Emma Glancy,
manager of wellness programs at St. Thomas More Hospital. “I thought, if we have one person who needs this, we probably have more, so how can we make this beneficial for more people?” It’s a challenge many people with chronic health problems can relate to. Staying active can provide stress relief and help prevent conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. But pain and mobility limitations can make exercise difficult. Water exercise classes bring physical activity back in reach for many such people. With McCullar’s situation in mind, the hospital created a program called Open Exercise Water Wellness. “It’s designed for people who have limitations that keep them from participating in our instructor-led classes,” Glancy says. These sessions are led by a physical therapy assistant. “She has the medical education to teach more rehab-based exercises to help people with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or fibromyalgia,” Glancy says. Access to water therapy is a valuable addition to McCullar’s pain management. “I take a lot of pain medication, but the therapy pool brings me pain relief naturally. The weightlessness is very therapeutic for me,” he says.
The therapy pool brings me pain relief naturally. The weightlessness is very therapeutic for me.” – Burl McCullar
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
WARM WATER CAN BE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT for people with arthritis or other chronic pain. Based on the advice of his physician, Burl McCullar of Cañon City sought out access to a therapy pool for pain management. “I was born with spina bifida and I’m a double amputee, so I have a lot of chronic pain,” says McCullar, who teaches psychology at Pueblo Community College’s Fremont campus in Cañon City. Spina bifida is a condition in which the spinal column does not close all the way before birth.
MISSION POSSIBLE:
TEAMING UP FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY Looking for ways to help local people live healthier lives is part of the mission of St. Thomas More Hospital, explains CEO Sheri Trahern. “Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ by caring for those who are ill and by nurturing the health of the people in our communities.”
Through classes, health fairs, and other community partnerships, “we offer tools to empower people to take charge of their own health,” Trahern says. “This hospital is one of the best community partners I’ve ever seen,” says Debbie Bell, a Fremont County commissioner who serves
on the hospital’s board of trustees. “Everything they Sheri Trahern, CEO do comes out of collaboration with an array of people throughout the community who also have community health in mind.”
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
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In addition to water exercise, St. Thomas More Hospital offers a variety of classes and outreach programs. “Yes, we’re a hospital, and we help people when they’re sick or injured,” Glancy says. “But we live here, we work here, and we play here — and we want to improve the health status of our community, too.” For example, when a group from the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce wanted to put exercise stations at the Riverwalk, the hospital provided a matching grant to help make it happen. St. Thomas More Hospital also serves businesses and community organizations that want to host health fairs or need a speaker for an event. “We have a speakers bureau with a whole list of speakers and topics,” says hospital CEO Sheri Trahern. Throughout the year, the hospital holds community outreach events. Maybe you’ve attended one in the past, or you’ll see something in the list below that you won’t want to miss this year! APRIL: KOAA5 Southern Colorado Health Fair. Join us this April 16 for free and low-cost health screenings. In 2015, 830 people attended, with more than 500 taking advantage of the low-cost blood work during the fivehour event. See back cover for details.
JUNE: Free sports physicals for middle and high schoolers. Last year, the St. Thomas More Physician Group and Rehabilitation/Orthopaedic Services teams conducted over 175 free physicals in a single day. Save the date for this year’s event on June 29, which includes free sports readiness assessments. See back cover for details.
SEPTEMBER: Child Health & Safety Day. An initiative of St. Thomas More Trauma Services, this free annual event offers handson health and safety education. In 2015, the hospital’s foundation gave away 260 free helmets. See back cover for details.
OCTOBER: Margaritas and Mammos. Held in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. More than 220 women attended last year’s annual breast health education event, where a delicious dinner and nonalcoholic margaritas were served, and attendees could schedule mammogram appointments.
FEBRUARY: Pamper Your Heart. Offering heart health screenings, information booths, and a free heart-healthy dinner, this event is held each year during National Heart Month in February to raise awareness of heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. More than 150 men and women attended in 2016.
Water you waiting for? St. Thomas More Hospital offers water aerobics classes for people 55 and up. For people with limitations that keep them from participating in the instructor-led classes, Open Exercise Water Wellness meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. in the therapy pool. For more information on water exercise and other wellness programs, call 719-285-2630, email emmaglancy@centura.org, or look under the Health & Wellness tab at stmhospital.org.
STMHOSPITAL.ORG SPRING 2016
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family care
Home Safe Home
When is a skilled nursing home the best place for your loved one? WHEN YOUR PARENT NEEDS MORE CARE than the family can manage, you want to feel confident about the skilled nursing facility you choose. Planning ahead with these three steps can make the transition less stressful.
1 Know when the time is right.
2 Do your homework.
3 See for yourself.
Although it is a difficult decision to move a family member to a nursing home, there are times when it’s the best decision. Consider these factors, says Jim Woodard, BSN, MBA, chief nursing officer at St. Thomas More Hospital:
Detailed reports are available online for any nursing home that accepts Medicare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes objective data on quality measures at medicare.gov/ nursinghomecompare, where you can search by ZIP code or facility name.
To get an impression of daily life in a nursing home you are considering for your parent, drop by for an unannounced walkthrough, Woodard suggests. “You can watch the interaction of the staff with the residents. Listen to the different sounds in the facility and pay attention to how the facility smells.” You can even talk to family members who are visiting residents to get their feedback.
Jim Woodard
Self-care. Nursing home care, rather than assisted living, may be needed for someone who is unable or unmotivated to do activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating, and grooming.
Safety. Memory problems can lead to unsafe behaviors, such as leaving the stove on or wandering outside. Frequent falls are another warning sign that a loved one may not be safe at home anymore. Support. Does your loved one have needs that have become greater than the family can manage at home?
On specific quality measures, “you want to see that the facility is falling between the national and state averages on as many quality measures as possible,” Woodard says. You can do a side-by-side comparison of up to three facilities at a time. While it’s good to plan ahead, be sure to check the latest quality reports before you make a final decision. “Quality can change based on leadership, staff, and ownership changes,” he says.
If your first impressions are good, you can make an appointment to come back and meet with an appropriate staff member for more information.
Quality ratings for Progressive Care Center (PCC) reflect its commitment to creating a safe and caring environment. “We are a 4-star facility across the board in the four quality areas that Medicare measures,” Woodard says. “We’re the highest-rated facility in Cañon City.” Since PCC is located adjacent to St. Thomas More Hospital, getting any necessary X-rays, lab tests, inpatient care, and emergency services is quick and convenient. “A lot of family members find comfort in that,” Woodard says. PCC also has a 12-bed, secure memory care unit. “We do a lot of training around dementia care,” Woodard says. “We’re designated as a ‘Leader in Dementia Care’ by the Alzheimer’s Association, which means 90 percent of our staff receives eight hours of dementia training every year.”
Come for a visit
Stop by anytime (1338 Phay Avenue), or call 719-285-2540 today to schedule a tour of Progressive Care Center.
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QUALITY CARE FROM CENTURA
STROKE SCORECARD We examine six risk factors and weigh in on just how much they affect your odds of having a stroke “CALM DOWN, YOU’LL GIVE YOURSELF A STROKE.” How many times have you heard that phrase? It’s most often uttered to parents by unwitting teenagers. But is there truth behind it? Does stress, in fact, lead to stroke, the fourth leading cause of death in Americans? What about other factors? How much do they really affect your risk of stroke? We take a closer look:
Risk Factor Tobacco use
Personal/ family history
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Obesity
Stress
Birth control/hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
What to Know EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Significant Smokers are twice as likely to suffer a stroke than nonsmokers, according to the National Stroke Association. Smoking causes blood vessels to restrict and blood vessel walls to become thick, both of which make it harder for blood to get through. Add to that the fact that smoking increases the chances blood clots will form, and you have a recipe for blockage. The next tobacco cessation class held at St. Thomas More Hospital begins Aug. 9. Call 719-285-2010 for details. EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Moderate
Once you’ve had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or ministroke), you’re at greater risk (about 17 percent) for having another, according to the National Stroke Association. Your risk also is increased if a close family member has had a stroke.
EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Moderate
Carrying around excess fat puts a strain on the body’s circulatory system. It also increases your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which are also risk factors for stroke. EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Significant
Your teenager may be onto something here. People who are chronically stressed, hostile, or depressed are at greater risk for stroke than those with less on their minds. In fact, these emotions increased stroke risk fourfold in study participants, according to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Low
Taking even a low dose of estrogen has been linked to increased stroke risk in women, particularly those who possess other risk factors, such as smoking.
QUICK CARE
FOR BETTER STROKE OUTCOMES
For people experiencing sudden stroke symptoms, “the quicker they get treatment, the better the outcome,” says Heather Roberts, RN, BSN, manager of the emergency department at St. Thomas More Hospital. Quick intervention can prevent or stop brain cell death. At St. Thomas More Hospital, patients with stroke symptoms are quickly evaluated Heather Roberts, RN with the National Institutes of Health stroke scale. A stroke alert clears the CT table, sending that patient to the head of the line for a brain scan. “We aim to get potential stroke patients to CT within 10 minutes of arriving” at the emergency room, Roberts says. “The CT scan is the key to determining what to do next.” If a stroke is detected, patients may be treated on-site or transferred to another Centura Health hospital for treatment by a stroke specialist, such as a neurointerventionist.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF STROKE: o
o
o
Skipping your annual flu shot
EFFECT ON STROKE RISK: Possibly Significant
Getting an annual flu shot could lower your risk of stroke by up to onethird. Although more research is needed, it appears that getting the flu causes inflammation that can disturb plaque in your blood vessels that can cause a blockage.
o
o
S udden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body S udden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes S udden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination S udden severe headache with no known cause
St. Thomas More Hospital is part of the Centura Health Stroke Network, the region’s leading provider of stroke care. STMHOSPITAL.ORG SPRING 2016
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St. Thomas More Hospital
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INSPIRATION CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
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.
SPORTS PHYSICALS
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 4-25 AND JULY 6-27 6-9 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 1-6 P.M.
Prepare yourself, your partner, and baby for labor and delivery during this four-week program. You’ll 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
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. Location: St. Thomas More Outpatient Rehabilitation Center Cost: FREE Registration: 719-285-2456
SATURDAY, APRIL 16 7 A.M.-NOON
Fremont County’s largest annual health fair is brought to you by St. Thomas More Hospital, in partnership with KOAA5 Southern Colorado Health Fair and 9Health Fair. Enjoy FREE and low-cost health screenings and education. To learn more or prepay for screenings, visit 9healthfair.org. Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 E. Main St. Information: 9healthfair.org or 719-285-2630
INSPIRE
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
SAVE THE DATE! CHILD HEALTH & SAFETY DAY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 9 A.M.-NOON
Interactive, hands-on health and safety education for families. Location: St. Thomas More Hospital Parking Lot Cost: FREE Information: 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.
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.
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