WINTER - DEC. 2015
tips for selecting your Medicare coverage PG. 8 what you can do to make sure you don’t suffer from the holiday blues.
PG. 10 A doctor discusses the main causes of sleep disorders and what you can do about them.
PG. 18 what you can do to help those whose injuries aren’t physical.
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PG.12
PG.14
’Tis the season for germs Hurting for a normal life
Holiday travel means plenty of opportunities to come into contact with the kind of unwanted guests that can make you sick. Here’s what you can do to stay healthy.
A Greeley awoman is dealing with the kind of pain that can cause to stay in bed crying for days. But her disease is so rare there’s no cure, and people often can’t believe it’s as bas as she says it is.
PG 4
PG 8
PG 17
Here’s why some engage in this self-destructive behavior and what you can do about it.
Here’s what you can do to make sure you don’t suffer from the holiday blues.
Despite what you may think, caring for the elderly may not always be a national concern.
Kids who cut
It’s (not always) a wonderful life
PG 10
PG 6
The clock is ticking
Can’t sleep?
It’s not too late to make decisions about your Medicare coverage, but you’ve got to act fast.
You’re not alone. A doctor discusses the main causes of sleep disorders and what you can do about them.
PG. 11 The 12 sites of Social Security
PUBLISHER Bart Smith EDITOR Randy Bangert General manager Bryce Jacobson
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PG. 19 December’s health events
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison D. Bluemel Nikki Work Sales MANAGERs Stephanie Mighell Bruce Dennis
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A top priority?
PG 18
Mental-health first-aid
Here’s what you can do to help those whose injuries aren’t physical. PG. 20 Prime medical directory
PRIME MAGAZINE 501 8th Ave. P.O. Box 1690 Greeley, CO 80632 For all editorial, advertising, subscription and circulation inquiries, call (970) 352-0211. Send editorial-related comments and story ideas to: rbangert@greeleytribune.com
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For advertising inquiries, contact: bjacobson@greeleytribune.com December 2015, Volume 1, Issue 6.
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3
Survey sees
state residents without health insurance decrease, but faces hurdles on insurance education By James Redmond and Allison Dyer Bluemel For Prime
why and what you can do about it
By Lyn U. Nichols UCHealth
I
t’s hard to understand how hurting yourself can make you feel better, but that’s how it is with cutting.
If you’ve noticed cuts on your teen or pre-teen’s arms, are finding bloody tissues in the trash, bloody clothing in his or her room or noticing blood spots in the shower, it may be time to explore if your teen is cutting. “Kids cut because they feel awful with all capital letters, and it gives them some temporary relief,” said Craig McFadden, a licensed behavioral health specialist with University of Colorado Health’s Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center in Fort Collins. According to reputable studies, 12-37 percent of middle school teens cut and 12-20 percent of older teens cut in the U.S. Interestingly, 25 percent try it just once. The good news is nearly half (40 percent) stop within a year, but it can become a coping mechanism that teens bring into their adult lives. As far as self-injury behaviors go, cutting is the most common, followed by scratching. Some kids also 4
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By James Redmond and Allison Dyer Bluemel For Prime
burn themselves, bang their heads or punch themselves. Kids cut their arms, thighs and hips (easy to hide) and sometimes other areas like their necks and backs. More girls cut than boys. Why kids cut “Cutting is a very secretive behavior, and teens cut for many different reasons. Kids who cut have huge, overwhelming feelings, and they don’t have the words to express them. Maybe they are being abused or bullied or feeling anxious or depressed. Maybe they suffer from extreme perfectionism and it gives them a sense of control. Or it could be a mental health issue like bipolar setting in where they can’t sleep, feel agitated and their thoughts are going fast. It also can be a way of punishing themselves. Cutting brings relief and momentary calm,” McFadden added. For those who try it once, it might be that a friend suggested it or they heard about it and felt stressed so they thought they’d give it a try. Then they found out they didn’t like it and it didn’t help. But for those who get the 5- to 30-minute relief it brings, it feels worth it. If you suspect your child is cutting there are things you can do to help. McFadden offers sound advice for
parents who are faced with this stressful parenting challenge. Don’t freak out “First, don’t freak out. Be concerned, not worried. To me, worried is fearful as in ‘Oh my God! Why are you doing that!’ and concerned is alert and thoughtful as in, ‘Tell me more about that.’ That’s what you want your teen to see. Kids do a quick radar sweep to see if you are OK, and if you freak out, they decide it’s better to hide their feelings,” McFadden said. He goes on to say kids tend to personalize everything. If they sense they caused you stress they see it as their fault and they think they did something wrong. Once that happens, they will start denying it’s a problem and simply learn to hide it better. That’s why taking on a curious yet concerned demeanor works best when dealing with cutting or any concerning behavior. Be in it with your kid The message you want to send is, “I’m here for you, and you can count on me.” You might reveal that you don’t like the cutting but you don’t want them to feel ashamed. Send the message that you are open and ready to listen. Do this by asking open-ended questions and letting your teen guide
the conversation. McFadden often starts by asking, “What does it do for you?” and showing understanding. He recommends that parents could say, “What I know about cutting is you are having big feelings that you don’t know what to do with, so what’s going on?” “Get them talking about what they see as the next step. You may be 10 steps ahead of them but you need to start where they are at. Ask them questions about what they think might help or what has helped before, or what other activities make them feel better,” he suggested. As tempting as it is, don’t believe promises that they will quit or help keep it a secret from others. Cutting needs to be taken seriously and addressed before it becomes a go-to coping technique, compulsion or they hurt themselves. Seek help “Nobody wants to admit their kid needs help or that they need help helping their kid, but usually individual therapy and parent-teen therapy are needed,” McFadden said. It may be tempting to minimize cutting or write it off as teens being teens, but it’s best to seek help from
a trained therapist who can get to the crux of the issue and provide your teen with alternative coping skills. “If someone who feels awful has something that makes them feel better, they are not going to give it up easily. Cutting isn’t normal teen stuff, neither is large mood swings, isolating greatly or struggling in
Happy Thanksgiving!
more than one sphere of their lives, like school, home or friends. Even if you think it’s a phase, get them evaluated so you know for sure,” McFadden said. Lyn U. Nichols is a freelance writer. She wrote this on behalf of University of Colorado Health.
Be thankful . . . . “For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything thy goodness sends.”
Signs of Cutting • Unexplained cuts, scratches usually on arms and legs. • Covering up with long sleeves even when it’s warm out. • Skipping gym or the pool to avoid exposure. • Finding razor blades or knives in their room. • Seeing bloody rags, clothing or tissues in their room or trash. • Finding blood splatters in the sink or shower.
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“Generally, if you see evidence of blood around, ask about it and see how it feels when they answer. Is it plausible? If not, consider cutting,” said Craig McFadden with Mountain Crest.
High-risk behaviors for cutting
www.columbinehealth.com
• Isolating and antisocial behavior, angry outbursts. • Dropping grades, losing friends. • Perfectionism – Have to get A's or they are a failure. • Fatigue, poor sleep, appetite swings. • Anxiety, depression. • Abuse, bullying, substance abuse. • Mental health diagnosis such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, psychosis, conduct disorder. • A sense that something is “off.”
When your teen needs help Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center, a division of UCHealth in Fort Collins, offers a full range of behavioral health treatment programs, including programs designed for teens. The center offers two outpatient programs: Intensive Outpatient Program for Teens Runs six weeks; meets three times a week for three hours a day. Participants share their struggles and learn skills to help them work through difficult times. Teens ages 13 to 18 learn effective coping skills, using DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy). Individual Outpatient Therapy for Teens Child and adolescent psychologists, licensed psychotherapists and psychiatrists offer individual psychotherapy, family therapy and psychological testing. For more information, call Mountain Crest at 970.207.4857.
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The Clock is ticking:
Quick tips for selecting your Medicare coverage By Mark Iorio Humana
I
f you have Medicare but haven’t selected a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan for 2016, you still have time before the Dec. 7 deadline. This checklist can help you find the best Medicare plan for you.
Know your medical cost history. Review your records to see how much you spent on health care during the past year. Then, determine if the past year was typical, and try to estimate costs for the year ahead. Know your resources. With your prior medical spending in mind, research the costs, benefits and network of doctors and hospitals associated with each Medicare plan. The government’s Medicare website, www.medicare.gov, can help you make a choice, as can www.Humana-Medicare.com. Know your options. You will want a plan that provides the coverage you need and makes the most of your health care dollars. In general, your options include: • Original Medicare, or Medicare Parts A and B, with basic coverage for hospital and medical expenses but no coverage for deductibles, coinsurance, or prescription drugs. (You typically must pay a premium for Part B coverage.) • Medicare Advantage, which provides all of the same coverage as original Medicare but also generally includes extra benefits and services, including prescription drug coverage (You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium and may or may not pay an additional premium.) These plans frequently include dental and vision coverage, a nurse advice line and even a fitness club membership. • Medicare Supplement plans, often called Medigap plans that pay some of the costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as deductibles and coinsurance. (You must pay an additional premium.) • A Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or Medicare Part D, provides prescription drug coverage and most often helps lower your prescription drug expenses, though you must pay an additional premium. Research the quality of the plans you are considering. The Medicare agency assigns a oneto five-star rating to each Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan, with five stars awarded to the highest quality plans. Mark Iorio is market vice president for Medicare products for Humana’s Central West Region, which includes Colorado and New Mexico. Please contact Mark at miorio@humana.com. 6
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Overcoming the
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t’s time for sparkling lights, family reunions and, for many, a heightened sense of loneliness and financial anxiety. Life seldom reflects holiday movies and few things throw that into stark relief more than the short days and social pressure of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Every happy childhood holiday recalled can make people feel more deeply the anxiety of their current situation — being alone, facing financial problems or grieving the loss of loved ones. “There is a lot of pressure on people to have the perfect holiday, which brings up stress and anxiety,” said Dr. Patricia Al-Adsani, a psychiatrist who practices at Banner Health clinics in Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins and Windsor. “Holidays bring up losses and people we miss and people we can’t have with us.”
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By planning ahead and employing a few psychological techniques, Al-Adsani said people can anticipate the season with excitement instead of stress. Sometimes it’s just a matter of updating the cast of characters in family traditions. Al-Adsani’s father, for example, always made the stuffing and pretended to be Santa Claus when she was growing up. Today, the doctor’s older brother fills that role, preserving but updating the tradition. “It brings up those memories in a positive way,” she said. For single people, the holidays can bring jealousy and sadness, to the point where they avoid invitations to holiday
parties. But Al-Adsani said that strong mental effort can turn that around. Generally, you pick up the mood of those around you, she said. If you force yourself to attend a party, others might cheer you up. You can also volunteer to help the host or hostess in the kitchen and use your creative skills. Along with the social pressure, dealing with the economic demands of Christmas is one of the most difficult challenges. “That is a very painful issue for a lot of people,” Al-Adsani said. “One way to manage the holiday is to make sure you do the most with what you have.” That could mean being one of the first 50 people in line for
Black Friday sales. But it also means resisting depression when you see other shoppers who can afford more than you. If you can’t buy the latest video games, then have your children make decorations for older neighbors or fill the empty spot under the tree with games the family can play on Christmas morning. “It depends on what you want Christmas to be all about,” she said. “It’s laughter and it’s joy and it’s memories you create. It’s tough not to be able to give kids what they want, but you can teach your child a life lesson.” Most importantly, start problem-solving early and decide how to face the emotional
challenges head-on. “Make sure you get your exercise, eat well and make sure you are socializing,” Al-Adsani said. “Don’t get into a dark place. Commit to an absolute plan and don’t leave any wiggleroom — it gives you an out and you can end up wallowing in your house.” As hard as it can be when you are feeling blue, any connection with others can give you a sense of self-worth. “Feeling connected is really important,” she said. “One person who smiles at you will improve your day.” Lesley Wright is a freelance writer. She wrote this on behalf of Banner Health.
Tips to avoid holiday blues: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Plan ahead and stick to a schedule Create traditions that acknowledge the past Recognize painful feelings and plan around them If stress becomes overwhelming, visit your mental health provider
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Why can’t I get enough sleep?
Dr. Lindsey Gerdes Dr. Lindsey Gerdes is a family medicine physician practicing at Kaiser Permanente’s Greeley Medical Offices
By Lindsey Gerdes Kaiser Permanente
L
et’s take a few minutes to talk about one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in our country: Sleep disorders. As innocent and harmless as they may seem, sleep disorders can be very taxing on a person both physically and emotionally. Studies show that the average adult requires 7-8 hours of sleep a night, which includes reaching deep sleep and REM sleep stages.
A good night’s sleep helps the mind and body in many ways, including avoiding excessive daytime fatigue and strengthening your immune system, whereas a lack of good sleep can pack a host of consequences including negatively impacting decision making and memory retention abilities, decreasing reaction time, irritability (and if prolonged — depression), weight gain, and physical stress on the body, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. I have found that there are usually four different types of patients who visit me about sleep disorders: -The ones who tell me they are tired all of the time, but they are sleeping. -The ones who know they snore, and have a partner who can’t sleep as a result. -The ones who tell me that they cannot sleep. -And patients who are overweight or 10
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obese and tell me that they cannot lose the weight despite sincere efforts to do so. First, I let them know that in general there are some behaviors that can help you get a better night’s sleep such as: -Get into a bedtime routine that occurs at the same time every day. Your body will automatically begin to “get sleepy” if you go to bed at the same time every night. -Avoid activities before bed that make falling asleep more difficult like exercise, eating a big meal or excessive fluid intake that will wake you up at night to urinate. -Avoid stimulants like smoking or drinking coffee within five or six hours from when you want to go to bed. Contrary to what you might think, alcohol can disrupt sleep as well. While it may cause you to fall asleep initially, it doesn’t allow for the more restful phases of sleep, not to mention that you may also have to get up in the night to use the bathroom. Create a meditative and relaxing environment in your bedroom that is quiet and dark, and use the time getting ready for bed to calm your mind. This means that it is best to not have a television in the room. Also
pick another room to charge your cell phone at night such as the kitchen or living room If they have already tried these tips, and still aren’t getting restful deep sleep at night, the cause may be more severe. Such is the case with people who suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which the body has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while asleep. This can repeat multiple times each hour throughout the night and prohibits achieving quality sleep. If I suspect this condition, I will recommend an in-home sleep study. A sleep study records what the body does at night while a person is sleeping. The studies involve using a device the patient attaches to the front of his or her chest and also to his or her finger. It locks around the mid-section. The machine tracks and monitors blood oxygen while the patient is sleeping, is generally administered at home, and usually takes one night to complete. We get better results with the home sleep study because it is so much easier and more relaxing for patients to participate in the comfort of their own home rather than in a sleep laboratory. Once the results are recorded, the patient will usually
follow up with a pulmonologist to review them. Once diagnosed, the typical treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). So with this easy in-home testing, you might be asking why sleep disorders are underdiagnosed. I find that it is usually because people don’t want to be told that they have to use the CPAP machines. Patients may have fears of physical discomfort using the CPAP, or often times I hear about concerns that the use of the CPAP will decrease intimacy between a patient and their partner. These are reasonable concerns, especially if the patient has ever used or known someone who used earlier CPAP devices, but what is important to understand is that these are no longer the big loud CPAP machines of 10 years ago. Today’s machines are light and quiet. And I believe that once tried, patients will find that they are more rested and energetic, and experience a better quality of life… as do their partners. So whether you are struggling with sleep, weight or overall feeling tired during the day, talk to your physician about ways they can help you achieve a more happy and healthy life.
A Social Security carol for the season By Monica Ochoa Social Security Administration Familiar carols are a part of the season. This song is so popular that holiday revelers clamored for it again. It’s “The Twelve Sites of Social Security,” inspired by the popular traditional holiday song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” — a holiday favorite since 1780. For the first site of Social Security, we give to you: our home page, www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s the place to go for all things Social Security. Everything you could want — from online services and benefit screening tools to publications and frequently asked questions — you can find easily on this site. For the second site of Social Security, we give to you: answers to all of your Social Security-related questions at our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.socialsecurity.gov/faq. For the third site of Social Security, we give to you: an easy way to learn how to replace your Social Security card at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. For the fourth site of Social Security, we give to you: an online application for retirement benefits that you can complete and submit in as little as 15 minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. For the fifth site of Social Security, we give to you: five estimates of your future Social Security benefits. Or as many estimates as you would like, using different scenarios. Get instant, personalized estimates of your future benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
For the sixth site of Social Security, we give to you: a convenient way to apply for disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. For the seventh site of Social Security, we give to you: an online application for Medicare that you can complete in as little as 10 minutes, at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly. For the eighth site of Social Security, we give to you: extra help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. You can learn more and apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. For the ninth site of Social Security, we give to you: our convenient publication library with online booklets and pamphlets on numerous subjects, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. For the 10th site of Social Security, we give to you: services for people who are currently receiving benefits, such as the ability to replace your Medicare card, get or change a password, request a proof of income letter, or check your Social Security information or benefits. You can do these and other things at www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm. For the 11th site of Social Security, we give to you: a way to get your Social Security forms online, at www.socialsecurity.gov/forms. On the 12th site of Social Security (and we saved the best for last): open your own personal “My Social Security” account, which will enable you to verify your earnings, get future benefit estimates, obtain benefit verification letters, update your Social Security information, and more at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. And a partridge in a pear tree. Find it all (except the partridge and pear tree) at www.socialsecurity.gov. Monica Ochoa is a public relations specialist for the Social Security Administration.
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’Tis the season for holiday cheer…
and germs By Allison D. Bluemel Photos provided by Denver International Airport For Prime
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hile the holidays and winter travel yield gift exchanges and time with friends and family, the increased exposure to large crowds and more people can increase chances of getting sick.
Illness can be prevented by taking the correct measures, such as vaccinations and hygiene, avoid those who are sick, avoiding travel when ill and staying aware of the changing environments involved in traveling. “There’s a lot of people getting together for the holidays and being in large groups, and it’s easier to spread illnesses when there’s more people around,” said Dr. Kevin Vlahovich, a physician in the North Colorado Medical Center Occupational Health Department. Time in airports, train stations and at family reunions contribute to the increased rate of sickness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Airports can be especially busy during the holiday season with travelers flying home to see loved ones. This often involves close contact in crowded surroundings, which may lead to illness or injury that can ruin your trip,” said Capt. Gary Brunette, Branch Chief for Travelers’ Health at the National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, in a release from the CDC. “Talk with your doctor about how to stay healthy and safe before, during, and after your trip.” University of Colorado Health Infection Preventionist Paul Poduska said travelers should try to avoid crowds as much as possible. If crowded areas are a must, frequent hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer is the best way to fight the spread of germs, he said. “It’s pretty important because you don’t want to take a good week off of work and then end up coming back with something,” Poduska said. “Stay out of crowds if you can and stay away from sick people.” In addition to avoiding crowds and engaging in frequent hand washing, the CDC recommends travelers focus on staying warm, decreasing stress, traveling safe with often hazardous travel conditions, avoid smoking, stay up to date on vaccinations, keep an eye on kids, avoid injury and pay attention to safe food preparation. To stay warm, the agency recommends dressing in several layers of loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing and paying special attention to children, the elderly and pets during the colder months. Vlahovich also noted that the increased time indoors due to cold weather can create an environment where germs are more easily spread.
“People are spending more times indoors, and people are in closer contact with each other for longer periods of time,” he said. While both Poduska and Vlahovich said there isn’t a major correlation between stress levels and sickness, the CDC advises people to keep stress in check, as it can prevent people from getting enough sleep. One of the biggest pieces of advice both doctors and the CDC recommend is making sure vaccinations are up to date. In particular, Vlahovich recommended getting the Pertussis vaccine, which should be at done at least once every 10 years. “That’s important if you’re going to be around small children because they may not have gotten vaccination and adults can carry it,” he said. “If anything is going to happen it’ll probably happen to them,” Poduska said. “It’s just on those things that’s a give, more or less.” Staying up to date on vaccines helps protect those adults who haven’t been vaccinated as well. That, combined with avoiding travel while sick and washing hands and surfaces frequently when ill, can help prevent the spread of illness in public areas. “If you are coming down with something, you might want to reconsider you travel,” Poduska said. “If that’s not possible, make sure that you follow your hygiene routine as much as possible.” To prevent the spread of illnesses, cover coughing with tissues or the inside of the arm. Those expressing symptoms such as congestions and headaches can use over-thecounter medication, such as Ibuprofen and Sudafed, Vlahovich said. “Colds go away on their own in a week or two, but you can manage the symptoms in the mean time,” he said. However, both Vlahovich and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against use of cold or cough medicine with children. “They’re not proven to be helpful in small children, and there is a danger of overdose,” he said. In addition to a regular hygiene routine — that includes showering and hand washing— Vlahovich recommended carrying hand sanitizer, which can be purchased in most airports, and carrying a supply of needed medication for any chronic diseases. While it may seem like enough to just plan for the days gone, Poduska recommends carrying an extra two or three days of supplies in case of delay or other unforeseen circumstances. “More or less, just expect the unexpected,” Poduska said.
Staying healthy
Tips for staying healthy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: -Wash your hands often: wash hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. If water and soap is not available, use an alcoholbased product. -Stay warm: stay dry and dress warmly in several layers of loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing. Check on children, the elderly and pets. -Manage stress: keep a check on over-spending and over commitment.
“ There are some people who wouldn’t be here today if that partnership wasn’t there ”
-Travel safely: don’t drink and drive, wear a seat belt every time when driving and get vaccinations if traveling out of the country. -Be smoke free: avoid smoking and breathing other people’s smoke. For those looking to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or talk to a health care provider. -Get checkups and vaccinations: ask what vaccinations to get based on age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history and family health history. -Watch the kids: children are at high risk for injuries and parents should keep an eye on potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items and choking hazards while traveling. -Prevent injuries: Use step stools instead of furniture when hanging decorations and leave fireworks to the professionals. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so use caution with candles and never leave open flames unattended. -Dr. Christopher Doll Morgan County Hospital -Handle andEast prepare food safely: avoid cross contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs away from ready to eat foods. Cook foods to their proper temperatures, refrigerate promptly and don’t leave perishable food out for more than two hours. -Eat healthy and be active: chose more LEFT: Med Evac Pilot Isaiah Dionne, vegetables and fruit and select just one or two prepares for takeoff earlier this Aim to be of your favorites from holiday spreads. month at East active for at least 2.5 Morgan hours aCounty week. Hospital in Brush. In emergencies
-Prepare a travel health include pilots will make thekit: flight from items in the kit that can betohelpful of illness, such as Brush Greeleyinincase roughly 24 tissues and an alcohol based sanitizer. minutes. -Travel only when you feel well: travel only well feeling well and take any prescribed medications that canBELOW: make illness seem shorter, milder and The MedEvac helicopter reduce the chance complications. hovers for a of landing over Jackson Field during a drill last month in
Greeley. road On the
Tips for travel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: -Avoid close contact with sick people -Remember to travel only when you feel well -Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve if a tissue isn’t available -Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth PRIME \\ DEC. 2015
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Denisse Pike sits on her bed in her room holding her cross on Wednesday at her house in West Greeley. Denisse fights Fibromyalgia and when she has "flare ups" she will stay in bed for four or five days sleeping off the fatigue and fits of joint pain.
Hurting for a normal life:
Greeley woman deals with disease that causes chronic pain
By Nikki Work \\ Photos By Kelsey Brunner For Prime
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D
enisse Pike, 51, keeps a tiny, silver cross on her nightstand. It’s simple, decorated only by the phrase “God Loves You.”
When her body is wracked with pain, and she cries in bed for days, she holds the cross in the palm of her hand. The Greeley woman may not be able to find any physical relief from her crippling pain, but at least the small token soothes her soul. Pike has fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterized by widespread, chronic pain. With the pain comes fatigue and sleep issues, along with other symptoms that can vary from person to person, according to John Stephen Thompson, a rheumatologist at UCHealth Rheumatology. That wide variance in pathology also means a wide variation in treatment. Because fibromyalgia is different for every person, one medication or treatment does not fit all, and there is currently no cure for the disease. Thompson said some researchers believe there may be an autoimmune link to fibromyalgia, but others don’t. Doctors haven’t been able to find a clear cause for the disease. His specialty, rheumatology, isn’t even really the best to be dealing with the disease, he said, but he often does because many patients and referring doctors confuse the symptoms with those of musculoskeletal disorders. At first, that’s what Pike thought was going on. It was March last year when she first started experiencing symptoms. The pain began on a trip to Florida to see her two daughters. Her feet and ankles were sore, swollen and started to bruise. In the year and a half since, that pain gradually spread up through her body all the way to her shoulders. She said thankfully, her neck and skull don’t hurt yet. Her smile was sad when she emphasized the word “yet.” About once a month, Pike has a flare-up worse than her daily pain. During these flare-ups, she can’t get out of bed. Sometimes, she sleeps for days. Others, she can’t rest at all. She lays still, gripping her cross as
she prays for a change, wondering if she should go to the emergency room, or if the doctors there will look at her like she is crazy. That’s a constant worry for her, she said. Since so many people don’t understand fibromyalgia, she’s afraid people think she’s exaggerating her condition or her struggle is all in her head. Despite the love of her husband, Doug, and support of her family and doctors, she said she can’t help but feel alone. “I feel like I’m the only person that has it,” she said. “It’s frustrating.” But Pike isn’t the only one. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, about 5 million adults in the United States suffer from fibromyalgia. Nearly all of them are women, though men and children can have it, as well. The hardest thing for her isn’t even the pain, the loneliness or the hopelessness of wondering if it will ever get better. It’s calling her two grandchildren who live nearby, a 6-year-old boy who plays football and a 3-year-old girl in her first year of dance classes, and telling them she can’t make it to their events because she’s having a bad day. It’s that her son and daughterin-law don’t tell their children about plans with grandma anymore because that’s easier than disappointing them when she gets too sick to take them for ice cream. “I just feel like I miss out on life,” she said through tears. Of course, she would love it if researchers could find a cure for fibromyalgia. But if she could just feel better enough to live again, that would be enough. Some days are better than others. On these days, she can also help be a caregiver for the elderly, something she loved to do before she got sick. In fact, before the fibromyalgia, that was her job — helping take care of her elderly mother, her parents’ friends and other people she knows. On the really good days, she can help these people go to the store or to doctor’s appointments. On those days, no matter how long it took her to get dressed, she almost feels normal again.
Fibromyalgia support group
The Northern Colorado Fibromyalgia Center, based out of Fort Collins and run by Dr. Greg Bond of Bond Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, is a support group specifically for those suffering with fibromyalgia. The group meets monthly at Bond Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, 2629 Redwing Road, Suite 110 in Fort Collins. For more information on the support group, contact Bond’s office at (970) 225-0103 or bondrehab@gmail.com. The group also has MeetUp and Facebook pages: www.meetup.com/NoCo-Fibromyalgia-Center www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=306229128643
Tips for feeling better with fibromyalgia
Get enough sleep: The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases recommends getting enough and the right kind of sleep as a good first defense against fibromyalgia pain. Tips for doing this include keeping regular sleep habits, avoiding caffiene or alcohol before bed, avoiding exercise too close to bed, avoiding napping during the day, avoiding doing activities other than sleeping in bed, keeping the bedroom quiet, dark and cool, and avoiding spicy food or many liquids before bed. Another tip is to take some time to relax and unwind before bed. If you’re having sleep problems, discuss them with your doctor, who can make further recommendations. Exercise: Even though pain can make it even harder to keep up physical activity, staying active is important to help treat fibromyalgia, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Even walking or gentle, low impact exercise can be beneficial. Start slowly, and build from there. Make changes at work: Since the severe pain of fibromyalgia can be debilitating, it may require big changes at work. Cutting hours, switching to a less demanding job or adapting current job duties may be good options. Consult with an occupational therapist for workstation design tips. Eat well: Though there have been no specific dietary findings linked to treating fibromyalgia, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases emphasizes that a healthy, balanced diet is important to helping make anyone feel generally better. Plus, it can help increase energy and avoid other health issues. Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Denisse Pike touches up her make up in the bathroom mirror at her home in West Greeley. Denisse began having symptoms of Fibromyalgia in March of last year and the mornings are the most difficult part of the day for her; sometimes it is too difficult to even put make up on. PRIME \\ DEC. 2015
15
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The Newest in Hearing Technology IS NOT a Hearing Aid! People with hearing loss are not alone. They are among 32 million Americans with hearing loss and 360 Million hearing impaired individuals worldwide. On the average these people wait 5 to 7 years after they know there is a problem before they will obtain assistance with hearing aids. Roughly 1/3 of individuals over age 65 have a significant hearing impairment, making hearing loss the
third most common chronic condition among older Americans. Hearing loss isn’t just a burden on hearing. It’s an obstacle directly impacting quality of life for the person as well as their family. Having the ability to experience a world filled with sound, music, and conversations helps us connect to one another and find happiness in our lives. When you hear better, you are able to process information more effectively, communicate better with family and friends, and live an overall healthier life. Seeking treatment means hearing better, understanding one another more clearly – even rediscovering movie night with your loved ones.
Spouses, friends, co-workers and family are also affected by the consequences of a hearing loss. For example, in home entertainment environments, if you find yourself increasing the volume on the TV in order to hear programs or movies, your family and friends with normal hearing will likely find the volume loud and uncomfortable. As a result, watching television with your loved ones may become a constant, frustrating battle. If you are struggling to hear the television and finding that you more frustrated, isolated or depressed as a result, you should consider getting your hearing tested by a hearing healthcare professional. There is also huge group of individuals that have a very mild hearing loss. These people have some difficulty in understanding certain people and in some environments, but mostly have issues listening to the television too loud. They are constantly turning the TV louder than anyone else in the house, but due to costs, benefit, or the minimal hearing loss do not feel the necessity to use hearing aids. The television difficulties arise if there is
a lot of music that covers the dialog or accents that make understanding even more difficult. For those not ready for hearing devices, the Hypersound could be the answer. What Is Hypersound? This technology is not from the hearing aid industry, it is a product of physics within the aerospace industry. It is NOT a hearing aid, but a patent pending speaker system that beams ultrasonic high quality sound directly to the listeners. It beams sound only to the person that needs it while the others in the room simply have the television turned to a level that is comfortable for them. Basically, it is well known that traditional speakers diffuse sound much like how
a bare light bulb diffuses light. As a result, sound from traditional speakers can be heard no matter where the listener is positioned within the room but to some listeners it is often not very high quality. Traditional speakers cause the sound to bounce around the room, hitting multiple surfaces, until it finally makes it to the person’s ear. A combination of harmonics, reflection and competing ambient noise make listening to audio signals from traditional speakers challenging, especially for those with a mild hearing loss. The physical limitation of traditional loudspeakers leads to poor intelligibility of the sound.
processing, and unique emitter design are combined to deliver crystal clear sound creating a highly-immersive listening experience, similar to wearing headphones, but without the fuss and frustration of headphones. This revolutionary new method of sound delivery allows a person to hear better sound where they want it, dialog with accents, and in the presence of music without increasing the television volume that affects others in the room. The Benefits The benefits are especially noticed by those not ready for hearing aids (nor the costs of hearing aids) and include the following: • Improves sound clarity and speech intelligibility without the need to wear hearing aids or headphones. • If there is a mild hearing loss the device can be programmed by our audiologists for a particular patient’s hearing difficulty. It can also be used with hearing aids. • Operated by intuitive control panel or a convenient remote control. • May be used with existing TV speakers, soundbars, or surround sound systems so that everyone can enjoy great sound at normal volumes How Do I know If I Am having Enough Difficulty for Hypersound? If you are not sure as to if you have enough hearing difficulty to benefit from Hypersound consider the following checklist:
• Focusing on reading lips to understanding dialog in movies or the evening news. • Having trouble understanding TV when there is background noise. • Relying on the captioning (subtitles) to understand what you are watching. • Frustrated or depressed when watching TV. • Having difficulty hearing the TV unless you are facing the speaker or soundbar. This is Hypersound Month at Audiology Associates. As the only audiolo-
gy clinic in Greeley and northeastern Colorado that offers this outstanding and relatively inexpensive technology we are conducting free demonstrations of the sound and its benefits. Just another example of science and technology in audiology that makes things better for the hearing impaired. Another first at Audiology Associates! The system is even set up for you and connected to your home TV by a professional Hypersound set up specialist. Call us 352-2881 for your Free Demonstration of the Hypersound technology.
• Turning up the TV or radio to volume levels others find too loud.
Author’s Bio:
Robert M. Traynor, Ed.D., MBA, FAAA
Hypersound speakers emit sound in a highly controlled, narrow beam – much like how a flashlight or a spotlight beams light. Sound stays confined within that narrow beam, Miller, a co-researcher at Michigan, that the noise-induced hearing loss prevention concoction could be available within two years.
Robert M. Traynor is the CEO and practicing audiologist at Audiology Associates, Inc., Greeley, Colorado with particular emphasis in amplification and operative monitoring. Dr. Traynor holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado (BA, 1972, MA 1973, Ed.D., 1975), the University of Phoenix (MBA, 2006) as well as Post-Doctoral Study at In another study funded by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Northwestern University (1984). He taught Audiology at the University researchers Dr. Robert Floyd and retired Army surgeon, Dr. Richard Kopke, M.D., discovered a of ear Northern (1973-1982), University of Arkansas for Medical combination of two compounds stopped damage to the inner caused byColorado acute acoustic trauma – Sciences and were Colorado State University (1982-1993). Dr. Traynor something like an IED exploding. Although they did not indicate what(1976-77) the compounds they felt that,“This is a very exciting finding,” said Dr. Floyd, who holds Merrick Chair the in Aging is a the retired Lt.Foundation Colonel from US Army Reserve, Medical Service Corps Research at OMRF. “The research is still at a pre-clinical stage, we’re hopeful that can begin and but currently serves aswe ansoon Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the University testing in humans. of Florida, the University of Colorado, and the University of Northern Colorado. For 17 years he was an Audiology Consultant to major hearing More recently, Dr. Kathryn Campbell's work Southern Illinois University involves the use of an and as a result travels directly toatthe instrument and equipment manufacturers providing academic and antioxidant D-methionine, a component of fermented protein listenercalled without bouncing around the product orientation for their domestic and international distributors. A room. Hypersound speakers use ultraclinician and practice manager for over 35 years, Dr. Traynor has lectured sound to create sound in the air itself. on most aspects of Audiology in over forty countries. Proprietary electronics, digital signal
THINKING ABOUT HEALTH: Taking care of
America’s elderly may not be a top priority
By Trudy Lieberman
Rural Health News Service
During a recent trip to Copenhagen, I squeezed in a visit with city officials to learn more about the Danish health system, particularly the country’s arrangements for longterm care, a topic that draws endless complaints from American families, including many readers of this column. Coincidentally, the day I returned home, I learned the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which runs both programs, had just released star ratings for the country’s home care agencies that provide services to nearly 5 million Americans. The home health industry did not shine brightly. Only three-quarters of the agencies gave the government enough data for a rating. Nearly 50 percent of those that did provide data earned a mediocre three stars out of five. Twenty-eight percent earned two stars or below while fewer than 3 percent got five stars. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official Kate Goodrich spun the news this way, “A large portion of home health agencies are performing reasonably well.” Is that good enough? Industry representatives complained agencies, which didn’t get high scores, might go out of business because hospitals won’t refer patients to them. That’s the point. Families can now use the ratings to identify bad agencies. I put all this in the context of my visit with Danish officials who told me satisfaction with elder services in Denmark has been consistently high over the years, hovering around 90 percent for both nursing facility and home care including personal and practical help like shopping and doing laundry. Funding comes from both the
national and municipal governments, but municipalities pay most of the bills and can adjust services to fit the needs of their communities. And, yes, Danes do pay high taxes for their health services. But families do not have to spend their assets and income to become poor enough that Medicaid will pay their bills. Nor do they have to fret about losing the family farm as some readers told me they have done. “By being a citizen, you have rights to quite good care not based on how much money you have,” says Anders Jakobsen, a former official in the Danish Ministry of Health. “You pay your share of taxes during your working life and the money is there when you need it.” In Copenhagen, personal care and practical help such as house cleaning and shopping are free to those who need them. So are in-home nursing services; assistive devices and technologies that make it possible for people to stay in their homes; and care in nursing or residential homes. Danes do pay nominal amounts for some things such as help with laundry and food delivered to their homes, which run about $7 for the daily big meal. Jakobsen says there appears to be no waiting lists for municipal food services. Waiting lists for home-delivered meals are common in the U.S. because of funding shortages. While care in a nursing home is free, Danes do contribute an amount considered rent on the assumption they would have to pay to live somewhere. That contribution is low. For most people it’s about 10 percent
of their income. Do differences in payment systems allow for more humane care at the end of life — that holy grail Americans say they want? I can’t say based on my short visit, but I did detect an attitude about elders not always found in the U.S. “A nursing home is not a hospital or a semi-hospital. It’s the old person’s home,” Helle Schnedler, chief of elder care, explained. In the U.S. where the annual tab for nursing-home care can be $100,000 or more, too often we think of nursing facilities as old-age warehouses. And we know from many media investigations care can be substandard. ProPublica, the nonprofit newsroom, reported in July more than 100 nursing home residents have died or been injured over the past few years because staff failed to adequately adjust their doses of Coumadin, a potentially dangerous
drug if not dosed correctly. Despite the well-known dangers, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inspectors have paid little attention. It all comes down to funding priorities and which groups have the most claims on the public purse. Dr. Joanne Lynn, a well-known expert in end-of-life care, told me funding is not always available for substitute caregivers when someone breaks a wrist or needs meals right after a hospital stay. “I can order up a $100,000 prescription for a cancer drug for my most demented patient in a nursing home, but can’t get a nurse therapist to make a person smile.” The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and distributed through the Nebraska Press Association Foundation, the Colorado Press Association, the South Dakota Newspaper Association and the Hoosier (Indiana) State Press Association.
Mental health first-aid can make an important difference the end of the week’s training and in the aftermath of yet another mass shooting, I find the answer to the question “Why not mental health firstaid?”
By John Bayer
Centennial Area Health Education Center
I
decided I wanted to change the world, so I packed up my bags, and left St. Louis for the west… the big unknown. I signed up to volunteer with AmeriCorps to become a mental health first-aid trainer. What was I thinking? And what is mental health first-aid? This is the question I found myself asking as I began my first day of a weeklong youth mental health first-aid instructor training held in downtown Denver in late September. By
Simply put, our communities (educators, nurses, first responders, faith-leaders, and parents) need mental health first-aid training, not as an action plan to prevent every tragedy, but as a way to recognize the signs of mental health. Mental health first aid is an international program proven to be effective. Peer-reviewed studies published in Australia, where the program originated, show that individuals trained in the program: •Grow their knowledge of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental illnesses, and addictions. •Can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction. •Increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress.
•Show increased mental wellness themselves. This eight-hour class does not address every issue that plagues America. Yet, it is not a Band-Aid either. The class is formatted under the first-aid CPR model. It is fun and engaging. It brings students together to discuss hard topics and to presents solutions. Youth mental health first-aid confronts the big elephant in the room that everyone is too afraid to talk about: mental health. It addresses our stigma and misconceptions about mental health illnesses and disorders. It forces us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, “How I can help?” Before you can know how to help, you need to know when to help, and this is mental health literacy — or a basic understanding of what different mental illnesses and addictions are, how they can affect a person’s daily life. In the class you will learn about: •Depression and mood disorders. •Anxiety disorders. •Trauma. •Psychosis. •Substance Use disorders.
Mental health first-aid teaches about recovery and resiliency — the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well. The program encourages appropriate professional help and self-help and other support strategies. Sign-up for a youth mental health first-aid class and become a lifeline and support for the countless youth who need someone to listen and understand. It won’t give you superpowers and a cape. You won’t be able to solve every problem and stop every tragedy. However, you might be able to reach out to a youth and make a difference in his or her life. As an AmeriCorps volunteer, I am happy to serve the northern Colorado communities by providing these classes. Classes are free or low cost. John Bayer is the youth mental health educator for the Centennial Area Health Education Center.
To sign up or to learn about Mental Health First Aid Training classes reach out to Centennial Area Health Education Center at (970) 330-3608 or go to www.cahec.org, and we will be happy to schedule a class for you.
18
PRIME \\ DEC. 2015
HEALTH Events Calendar Family yoga story time, 10:30 a.m., Tuesday and Dec. 15 at Riverside Library, 1100 37th St., Evans. Bright by Three infant group, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday and Dec. 10. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., Loveland. Free class provides parents and caregivers with educational tools, books and games to make the most of the very important developmental years. To register or for more information, call Jennifer Salvador at (970) 495-7500. CT heart score, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at North Colorado Medical Center. The heart score program includes a 10-minute consultation with a wellness specialist. Call (970) 8106070 to schedule an appointment, cost is $199. Childbirth preparation class (three-week course), 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9 and 16. UCHealth’s Greeley Medical Clinic, 1900 16th St. Class includes overview of labor and delivery, hospital routines, coping techniques, medications, medical interventions and cesarean birth. Register for hospital tour and Breastfeeding Basics class separately. Cost: $65. To register or for more information, call (970) 495-7500. All stressed up and nowhere to go, doors open at 5 p.m., Thursday at Zoe’s Café, 711 10th St. Experts will explain how unrelieved stress contributes to physical and mental challenges. Free Medicare enrollment, 6 p.m., Thursday, Hudson Fire Department, 702 Cedar St.
Natural childbirth, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., Loveland. This class will teach expectant mothers and their birth partner techniques and coping strategies for a non-medicated childbirth. Cost: $65. To register or for more information, call (970) 495-7500. CPR class, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th St. Register by calling (970) 674-3500. Registration closes at noon two days before the class. Cost is $48. Cooking class, 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, at North Colorado Medical Center in the Cardiac Rehab Kitchen Winter Squash From butternut, acorn and spaghetti to pumpkin, these hardy winter vegetables provide a burst of color and nutrition. Cost $10. Blood tests, 7-8:45 a.m. and by appointment, Dec. 9 and 23 at North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St. To schedule an appointment, call (970) 810-6633. Payment is due at time of service. Emergency! Now what? 9:30-11 a.m. Dec. 9 at Greeley Senior Center, 1010 6th St., Greeley. This free class will give you a complete look at the anatomy of a 911 call, including when you should call, dispatch, fire department, paramedics and all the way through delivery at a care center. To register or for more information, call (970) 495-8560. Childbirth breastfeeding basics, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec.
I don’t Need Hearing Aids, I Just need the TV Louder than you! If you are not ready for hearing devices but have issues with others while watching television, this is the device for you! If you have difficulty with accents on movies, or hearing the News, especially from female speakers….Then Hypersound was designed for you! Its not a hearing aid, but a spotlight for sound going directly to the person that needs the TV louder than everyone else. With Hypersound, everyone else hears TV as usual at a comfortable level for them while sound is specifically directed to you! Programmed for your hearing loss, if any, and FREE professional installation in your home.
10 and 16 at UCHealth’s Greeley Medical Clinic, 1900 16th St. Learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, establishing and maintaining a good milk supply and solutions to common breastfeeding challenges. Cost is $20. To register or for more information, call (970) 495-7500. Alzheimer’s caregivers support group, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 11 at Johnstown Senior Center, 101 Charlotte St. CPR for health care providers, 5-8:30 p.m., Dec. 14, North Colorado Medical Center. Cost is $55. Call (970) 810-6633 to register. Peripheral Vascular Disease screening, 1-3 p.m., Dec. 15 at Summit View Medical Commons , 2001 70th Ave. Screening program offers the education and prevention to help fight vascular disease and stroke. Call (970) 810-6070 to schedule an appointment, cost is $100. Body check, by appointment, Dec. 15 at Summit View Medical Commons, 2001 70th Ave. This head-to-toe health assessment gives you a comprehensive set of preventive health screenings. Cost is $175. Blood tests, 7-8:45 a.m. and by appointment, Dec. 16 Banner Health Clinic , 222 Johnstown Center Drive. To schedule an appointment, call (970) 810-6633. Payment is due at time of service. Kid’s yoga and cooking class, 9-11 a.m., North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St.
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1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com
independent assisted living w/services
infectious disease Breen, john f., md (NCMC)
1801 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-6071 Fax: (970)350-6702
internal medicine BANNER HEALTH CLINIC
2010 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-5660 www.bannerhealth.com
medical equipment & supplies Banner HOme Medical Equipment (NCMC)
Phone: (970)506-6420 www.bannerhealth.com
Mental health services
Adult Mental Health & Addiction Services 1260 H Street • Greeley, CO 80631 970.347.2120 Child, Youth, & Family Mental Health & Addiction Services 1300 N. 17th Avenue • Greeley, CO 80631 970.347.2120 Counseling Center at West Greeley Children, Adult, & Family Counseling 7251 W. 20th Street, Building C Greeley, CO 80634 970.347.2123 Crisis Support Crisis Intervention, Care, and Detox Services 928 12th Street • Greeley, CO 80631 970.347.2120
Stephanie Carroll, LCSW, CACIII Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Banner Health Clinic - Fossil Creek 303 Colland Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525 Elise Fair, LPC 5890 W. 13th Street #114, Greeley CO 80634 Susan Garvin, LCSW Banner Health Clinic -Loveland Pediatrics Loveland Pediatrics, Loveland CO Banner Health Clinic - Windsor 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Renee Rogers, LMFT Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Banner Health Clinic - Fossil Creek 303 Colland Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525
NEPHROLOGY Greeley medical clinic
1900 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-2438 Professionals: Donal Rademacher, MD
NEUROLOGY
Suicide Education & Support Services Prevention, Education, & Grief Support 2350 3rd Street Road • Greeley, CO 80631 970.347.2120 or 970.313.1089 Additional Weld County Locations
www.NorthRange.org banner BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
FOX RUN SENIOR LIVING
1720 60th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-7773 Fax: (970)330-9708 www.good-sam.com
Dr. Patricia Al-Adsani, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 5890 W. 13th Street #114 Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 392-5454 Shawn Crawford, LPC Banner Health Clinic 222 Johnstown Center Dr., Johnstown, CO 80534
PRIME \\ DEC. 2015
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NEUROLOGY CLINIC (NCMC)
1800 15th Street, Suite 100B Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-5612 Fax: (970) 350-5619 www.bannerhealth.com
NEURo-SURGERY BRAIN & SPINE BANNER HEALTH neurosurgery clinic
1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-5996 www.bannerhealth.com
nursing home rehabilitation Centennial Health Care Center
1637 29th Ave. Place Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-8181 Fax: (970) 356-3278
obstetrics & gynecology BANNER HEALTH GYN CONSULTANTS
1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)353-1335 www.bannerhealth.com Banner Health OB/GYN Clinic
2410 W. 16th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)352-6353 www.bannerhealth.com banner health clinic
5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 www.bannerhealth.com
oncology & HemaTology cancer Institute (NCMC)
1800 15th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-6680 Toll Free (866) 357-9276 Fax: (970)350-6610 www.bannerhealth.com
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PRIME \\ DEC. 2015
orthodontics Orthodontic Associates of Greeley, PC
Professionals: Bradford N. Edgren, DDS, MS 3400 W. 16thSt., Bldg 4-V Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-5900 www.drbradsmiles.com Richter Orthodontics
1813 61st Avenue Suite 100 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 392-1733 www.richterorthodontics.com
orthopedics Mountain Vista Orthopaedics
5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 www.bannerhealth.com
pediatrics Banner Health Clinic
6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 201 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)350-5828 www.bannerhealth.com
pediatric rehabilitation Banner Rehabilitation Center
1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 Fax: (970)378-3858 www.bannerhealth.com
personal response service Banner Life Line (NCMC)
2010 16th Street, Suite C, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: 1-877-493-8109 (970) 378-4743 www.bannerhealth.com
physical therapy Front Range Therapy
1475 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 492-6238 www.columbinehealth.com
Hope therapy center (Formerly North Colorado Therapy Center)
2780 28th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)339-0011 www.GCIinc.org Professionals: Jeanne Rabe, PT; Jennifer Branson, PT Kryste Haas, OT; Molly Wuethrich, PTA Moni Kohlhoff, PT
Northern colorado rehabilitation hospital
4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 NCRH@ernesthealth.com
pulmonary/critical care North Colorado Pulmonary (NCMC)
1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)392-2026 www.bannerhealth.com
Prosthetics & orthotics HANGER PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS
7251 West 20th Street, Building M, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-9449 Fax: (970)330-4217 2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue, Suite 2100 North Medical Office Building, Loveland CO 80538 Phone: (970) 619-6585 Fax (970) 619-6591 www.hanger.com Professinal: Ben Struzenberg, CPO Michelle West, Mastectomy Fitter
rehabilitation ASCENT AT LIFE CARE CENTER
4800 25th Street, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-6400 Website: www.lcca.com Professionals: Annie Bennett Leslie Vail
Banner Rehabilitation Center
1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 www.bannerhealth.com Front Range Therapy
1475 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 492-6238 www.columbinehealth.com Northern colorado rehabilitation hospital
4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 NCRH@ernesthealth.com
Peakview Medical Center
5881 W. 16th St., Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)313-2775 Fax: (970)313-2777
Skilled care/Rehab GRACE POINTE
1919 68th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com
sports medicine Mountain Vista Orthopaedics
5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 www.bannerhealth.com North Colorado Sports medicine
1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)392-2496
speech language pathology Banner Rehabilitation Center
1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 Fax: (970)378-3858 www.bannerhealth.com Northern colorado rehabilitation hospital
4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 NCRH@ernesthealth.com
UNC Speech Language Pathology Clinic
Gunter Hall, Room 0330, Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970)351-2012/TTY Fax: (970)351-1601 www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic. htm Professionals: Lynne Jackowiak, M.S., CCC-SLP Julie Hanks, Ed.D Patty Walton, M.A., CCC-SLP
surgery General & Trauma
Banner Health Surgical Associates (NCMC)
1800 15th St. Suite 210, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-8216 Toll Free: 1-888-842-4141 www.bannerhealth.com
urgent care SUMMITVIEW URGENT CARE (NCMC)
2001 70th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-4155 Fax: (970)378-4151 www.bannerhealth.com
Urology Banner health clinic (NCMC)
5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 106, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-1000 www.bannerhealth.com
veins Vein Clinic (NCMC)
1800 15th Street, Suite 340, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4593 Fax: (970)378-4591 www.bannerhealth.com
NextCare - Urgent Care
2928 W. 10th St. Greeley, CO (970) 351-8282 nextcare.com
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