March 2014 Thrive by The Greeley Publishing Company

March 2014

THRiVE » NORTHERN COLORADO WELLNESS

SPRING SKIING More on Pag e6

STEER CLEAR OF SPRAINS ON THE SLOPES » INSIDE: DAY OF DANCE FUN WAY TO GET FIT • PARENTS’ ROLE BIG FOR TEEN DRIVERS • EVENTS

HEALTH

THRIVENC

February 26, 2014

ydo I Where turn when it comes

My family’s health? is that

to my health?

I’VE NEVER even heard of that Is it

DISEASE.

medication

safe?

treatable?

What’s the latest

technology?

Who doI TALK TO

I have terrible heart burn. Do I need to see my doctor about this?

about this? What are my OPTIONS

now?

Heart burn is often due to acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). This is a very common problem. Fortunately, there are many excellent treatment options available, ranging from medications, to minimally invasive surgery. Acid reflux occurs when acid from your stomach enters your esophagus rather than your intestinal tract, causing irritation to the lining of the esophagus which is perceived as heart burn. Heart burn is the most common symptom of acid reflux. Other symptoms include coughing, a sour taste in your throat, hoarseness of your voice, and frequent clearing of your throat. In some cases, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and asthma may be due to acid reflux.

Ask the

Expert

Lifestyle changes, dietary modification, and medications can adequately treat most cases of acid reflux. Surgical treatment of acid reflux can be used as an alternative to medications, or when medications do not adequately control acid reflux. Minimally invasive surgical techniques for control of acid reflux recreate the body’s natural barrier to acid reflux, and has over a 90% patient satisfaction rate.

If you have acid reflux, ask your provider about seeing a Banner Health surgeon today.

Molly Decker, D.O.

Michael Harkabus, M.D. Jason Ogren, M.D.

Samuel Saltz, D.O.

Robert Vickerman, M.D.

Specializing in General Surgery 1800 15th St., Suite 200, Greeley Appointments: (970) 352-8216 www.BannerHealth.com/BMG-GreeleySurgery Accepting Kaiser Permanente Members

February 26, 2014

HEALTH

THRIVENC

Parents play big role in guiding teen drivers

The Flu Can Be Tough! And old remedies don’t always work.

Come Experience the difference! 34

10th St.

NextCareCO.com Clinic Hours:

Mon-Fri: 8am - 8pm Sat-Sun: 8am - 4pm

Chili’s

. 38th Ave. Ct

1-866-467-5230

ve. 39th A

Loaf & Jug Gas

Polomar Dr.

As your teen eagerly moves into the driver’s » To go seat, as a parent or guardian you are much The free spring semester parent and more than just a nervous passenger. Your role teen driver classes will be held at the is to guide your teen into a lifetime of safe following times: driving. » 6-7:15 p.m. March 12 at the CentenniAs a team, you can navigate Colorado’s laws al Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave. and safety guidelines. This can be an exciting » 6-7:15 p.m. April 9 at the Evans Recreation Center, 1100 37th St. time and also a “hand-wringing” time for parFor more information on the parent ents/guardians. The best way to put yourself and teen driver classes, contact www. at ease is to become armed with knowledge drivesmartweldcounty.com or (970) about the process of getting a license, have a 304-6470. solid understanding of the specific restrictions for teen drivers and open the lines of commuIn addressing these concerns for parents nication between you and your teen driver. and their new drivers, DRIVE SMART The process of obtaining a driver’s license Weld County provides a free 90-minute in Colorado changed drastically after a terclass for parents and teens taught by a local rible crash in Greeley that killed four teens. traffic officer, insurance agent and a driver’s The 16-year-old driver had just obtained education teacher. The class is to educate his license and had little driving experience parents and guardians about the Colorado when his friends hopped in his car, and he driver’s licensing laws, including passenger ran a stop sign. In 1999, Colorado adoptand curfew restrictions, tips to keep ed the graduated driver’s license the teen safe in the driver’s seat, prompted by the fatal crash of the tips about insurance coverage for four youths. new drivers, and information about The driver’s license laws help DRIVE SMART Weld County’s Drivcountless young people gain importer’s Education Scholarship Program. ant driving skills gradually while In addition, the class will include tools limiting dangers by restricting the Lyn number of passengers, banning cell TAUSAN for parents/guardians to develop their own skills and behaviors as a model phone use, and setting a curfew. The DRIVE SMART for their youthful drivers. The goal of laws have saved countless Colorado the class is to assist parents/guardians teens. Since the adoption of the laws, to mentor their new drivers into safe and the Colorado Department of Transportation skilled drivers. Each family goes home with reports “traffic-related fatalities for teen a “Teaching Your Teen to Drive” manual in drivers have decreased by 50 percent.” Teens overwhelmingly report their parents English or Spanish. The manual includes an explanation of the Colorado laws for drivers are the biggest influence on how they drive, younger than 18, Colorado’s graduated drivwhich brings a great deal of responsibility on er’s license laws, tips about auto insurance parents. Teaching your teen how to drive is coverage for new drivers and information an honor and a role that is part of parenting. about the DRIVE SMART Weld County’s Some of the responsibilities include: Driver’s Education Scholarship Program. » Providing supervision in meeting the Empowering your new driver to make requirements of the license and Colorado responsible choices behind the wheel is a driving laws priceless gift and a gift that could “keep on » Monitoring your teen driver giving” for generations to come. » Modeling good driving behavior to your child Lyn Tausan is a retired school administrator » Choosing the right car for your young and resides in Greeley with her husband. She driver is the marketing/public relations specialist for » Understanding liability issues in adding DRIVE SMART Weld County. a new teen to the car insurance policy

t. hS

1 W.

1011 39th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634

$10

.00 Flu

Shot!

Call to confirm vaccine availability. Offer subject to change. Valid only at our Greeley clinic location. Not eligible to enrollees/members of governmental health plans (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid). Code: ADJ PT Coupon

HEALTH

THRIVENC

February 26, 2014

HEALTH EVENTS IN MARCH « Celebrate Dr.Seuss’Birthday

and Good Health, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 1 at Greeley Family FunPlex, 1501 65th Ave. in Greeley. A spirited, healthy family event that will have you saying “I can do that!” The CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado and NCMC Spirit of Women invite you to bring your entire family to this free community event. Featuring dancing and lessons, hand-on exhibits, healthy food demos, health screenings and “Ask-theDoc” with Banner physicians. Meet players from college sports teams, enjoy “Minute to Win It” games, kid’s activities, giveaways and more. For more information call (970) 392-2222 or visit www. BannerHealth.com/NCMCspirit.

« NCMC Adult Fitness, this pro-

gram is available to people in the community who are interested in starting an exercise program in a health care setting. Cost per month for individuals is $45 or for a couple who must be living in

the same household is $80. Call (970) 350-6204 for information.

« Cardiac Education Classes,

3:45-5:30 p.m. March 3 and 8:4510:30 a.m. March 5 at NCMC Cardiac Rehab classroom. Please call (970) 350-6204 to confirm class times and dates.

« CT Heart Score, 1-2 p.m.

Monday-Friday at NCMC. Provides a non-invasive test that accurately measures the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. The procedure begins with a fast, painless computed tomography CT exam. CT, more commonly known as CAT scanning, uses X-rays and multiple detectors to create interior images of the heart. The heart score program includes a 10-minute consultation with a wellness specialist, focusing on cardiac risk factor education, identification of non-modifiable and modifiable risks and lifestyle behavior change options. Cost is $199.

Non-profit and for-profit hospices are different. A non-profit hospice uses all resources to care for patients and provide support to caregivers and is not concerned with creating shareholder value.

Pathways Hospice is a local non-profit hospice offering educational and support programs benefiting the entire community at little to no cost.

www.pathways-care.org

305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970.663.3500 1455 Main Street, Suite 140, Windsor, CO 80550 970.674.9988

Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insurance. Call (970) 350-6070 to schedule an appointment.

« Yoga Basics, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Mondays, March 3-April 7. Yoga Basics is an introduction to the foundational poses in a beginning yoga practice. This class will focus on careful physical alignment for the creation of a safe practice. This class is best suited for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Yoga Flow, noon-12:45 p.m.

Wednesdays, March 5-April 9. Yoga Flow teaches the student to build skills into flowing sequences with a focus on combining breath with movement. This class is challenging and dynamic, for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Chair Yoga, 10-10:45 a.m. Mon-

days, March 3-April 7. Primarily from sitting in a chair, we focus on gentle movements coordinated with breathing exercises to facilitate greater range of motion, flexibility, and relaxation. Some standing poses may be included. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Gentle Yoga, 5:45-6:45 p.m.

Mondays and Wednesdays, March 3-April 9. In Gentle Yoga, the postures are presented in an easy to follow, accessible manner with plenty of time for modifications and focus on breath work. An excellent class for seniors, those with chronic illness or injuries, those newer to yoga or students wanting a gentle practice. Cost is $90 for six weeks.

« CPR for Health Care Providers

(Recertification), 3-5:30 p.m. March 3 at NCMC Union Colony Room. This class is designed for licensed and non-licensed health care providers who need to recer-

tify through the American Heart Association. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $50. To register, please call (970) 3506633. Please notify us one week in advance if you are unable to attend the class. Your registration will be refunded less a $10 service charge. If you are absent, you will be charged the full amount.

« CPR for Health Care Providers

Skills Check, call Wellness Services to schedule a skills check and bring a copy of the Course Completion Certificate with you. This class is designed for licensed and non-licensed health care providers who need to recertify through the American Heart Association. The certification is valid for two years. Renew your CPR certification by completing an online CPR module, which includes watching a video, reviewing content and an exam. Fee is $50 for CPR for Healthcare Providers and includes skills check with a certified American Heart Association instructor. Separate fee for online course, payable online. The class is located in the Wellness Conference Room, unless otherwise noted. To register, please call (970) 350-6633.

« Body Check...What you need

to know: Head to Toe, by appointment March 4 and 18 at Summit View Medical Commons. This head-to-toe health assessment gives you the tools to put your health first by receiving a comprehensive set of preventive health screenings. Invest in your health today! This screening includes: Health Fair Panel (fasting blood work-please fast 10-12 hours), sleep questionnaire, lung function test, body composition, weight and Body Mass Index, hip and waist measurements, health education with a wellness

specialist, EKG with results read by a board-certified cardiologist, bone density screening, Peripheral Arterial Disease screening including: education about peripheral vascular disease, stroke, stroke prevention and osteoporosis prevention, ankle brachial index, ultrasound of the carotid vessels, ultrasound of the aorta (screenings are read by a board-certified radiologist). Upon request: Colorectal Take-Home Kit, $10, Prostate Specific Blood Antigen screening, $23. Cost for screening is $175. Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insurance. Call (970) 350-6070 to schedule an appointment. All results are sent to your personal physician and to you.

« PAD Screening (Peripheral

Vascular Disease), 1-3 p.m. March 4 and 18 at Summit View Medical Commons, 2001 70th Ave. NCMC’s Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening program offers the education and prevention proven to be the best tools for fighting vascular disease and stroke. Patients receive: ankle brachial index: evaluation of leg circulation, carotid artery disease screening: ultrasound of the carotid vessels, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: ultrasound of the aorta, CardioChek fingerstick: lipid panel, health education with a wellness specialist; health information packet. Cost is $100, payment is due at time of service. NCMC is unable to bill insurance. To schedule an appointment call (970) 350-6070.

« STAR-support touch and

reach breast cancer survivors (Breast Cancer Support Group), 5:30-7 p.m. March 6

Turn to Events on P.5

February 26, 2014

HEALTH

THRIVENC

Events from P.4

at NCMC Cancer Institute Conference Room. For more information call Betty Parson at (970) 339-7137.

« Cooking Classes, 6-7:30 p.m. March 12 at NCMC Cardiac

Rehab Kitchen. Come and learn a variety of quick and healthy breakfast cooking options. Taught by Mary Branom, registered dietitian. These new ideas are a great way to modify your cooking habits and learn about heart healthy cooking. Recipes and samples are included. Cost is $10 per class. Please call (970) 350-6633 to register.

« Blood Tests, 7-8:45 a.m. March 12 and 26 at NCMC En-

trance 6 and March 19 at Johnstown Family Physicians, 222 Johnstown Court Drive. Wellness Services offers low-cost blood screenings open to community members. Some immunizations are also available upon request and availability. Cost varies and payment is due at time of service. NCMC Wellness Services will not bill insurance. To schedule an appointment, call (970) 350-6633. Please fast 12 hours prior to blood draw.

« Heartsaver CPR with AED — Windsor, 6-8 p.m. March

13 at Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th St. Taught by the American Heart Association certified health care professionals, this class covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, Heimlich maneuver, and the use of a barrier device. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $48. To register call (970) 674-3500. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

« Walk with a Doc, March 15 at South Entrance of the

Greeley Mall. Upcoming walks are posted at www.walkingwithadoc.org.

« Heartsaver CPR with AED, 7-9 p.m. March 20 at the

Family FunPlex. The class is taught by American Heart Association-certified health care professionals and covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, the Heimlich maneuver, the use of a barrier device, and AED hands-on training. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $48. You can pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

« Heartsaver First Aid, 4-6:30 p.m. March 20 at the Family

FunPlex. Taught by the American Heart Association-certified health care professionals, this First Aid class provides participants with an understanding of first aid basics, medical emergencies, injury emergencies and environmental emergencies. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver First Aid course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $45. You can

pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

« Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:30-7 p.m. March 20 at NCMC Cancer Institute Conference Room. For more information call Julianne Fritz at (970) 350-6567.

« What Women Notice, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 26 at NCMC

Auditorium. Free for Spirit of Women members and $20 for nonmembers. You may notice that your husband doesn’t have the energy to do some of the things he used to do with ease — don’t ignore what you notice. While you might think these symptoms are a natural part of aging, the fact is, they could be an indication of a medical condition sometimes known as Low Testosterone. Join Curtis Crylen, from Banner Health Clinic – Urology, to see the health of your man from a different perspective. Then enjoy fashions from Dress Barn and take a fresh look at the fashions for spring. For more information or to register call (970) 392-2222 or e-mail spirit.of.women@bannerhealth.com.

« Safe Sitter-Windsor, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 31 at the

Windsor Recreation Center. Safe Sitter is a one-day, six-hour curriculum designed for 11- to 13-year-olds. Participants learn care of the choking infant and child, baby sitting as a business, success on the job, child care essentials, safety for the sitter, preventing injuries, injury and behavior management and preventing problem behavior. For more information and to register call (970) 674-3500. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

« Living Well with Diabetes Program, by appointment

or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland, Windsor and Johnstown. Education offered for patients with diabetes, and their caregivers or families, to provide knowledge, skills and tools to successfully manage their diabetes. Topics include nutrition, activity, monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping, reducing risks, weight loss, insulin or considering insulin pump therapy. Cost varies, insurance billing available. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

« Diabetes and pregnancy education, by appointment

or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland, Johnstown and Windsor. Group and individual sessions for women with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes to teach skills needed to care for themselves during pregnancy. Topics include: healthy eating, being active, blood glucose monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping and reducing risks. The goal is to help you and your baby stay healthy. No referral needed for group sessions, referral from provider is required for individual appointments. Individual appointments billable to insurance. Cost is $10 per class. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

« Pulmonary Rehabilitation, contact (970) 350-6924 for information and opportunities in lung disease management, education and exercise.

DAY OF DANCE OFFERS A FUN WAY TO IMPROVE HEALTH By Jason Webb Banner Health

Health care providers hope that people will continue to think about taking care of their health, even as February winds to a close and many of the American Heart Month events have been completed. Greeley residents can take part in what some call the biggest dance party for health. Spirit of Women of Northern Colorado and the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado host the Day of Dance for Health from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Family FunPlex, 1501 65th Ave. in Greeley. Billed as an event that is fun for the whole family, Day of Dance is a health fair that promotes healthy living for families by showing that something as fun as dancing can have a positive impact on heart health. It is free to attend. “Spirit of Women encourages individuals to take action toward becoming healthier,” said Kris Howard, manager of Spirit of Women at NCMC. “Day of Dance helps everyone discover how to take positive steps in the right direction.” Dancing, for example, can burn as many as 200-400 calories per hour, on par with swimming, walking or riding a bike. If done on a regular basis, some of the benefits of dancing include increased energy, coordination and muscle strength. It can also help weight loss, reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol. A study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine also shows that dancing helped improve the memory and cognitive function of older adults. Another study from the New England Journal of Medicine showed that people who did ballroom dancing twice a week were less likely to develop dementia. At Day of Dance, the whole family can benefit from the fun. “It is an event designed for all ages,” Howard said. “You can watch perfor-

» Day of Dance Nationally, the Day of Dance is in its 10th year. Greeley’s event is in its eighth year. To learn more about the event, call (970) 392-2222 or go to www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCspirit.

mances, participate or take a short dance lesson.” This certainly is not your average health fair. Event organizers decided to use a Dr. Seuss theme because Theodor Geisel, Dr. Seuss’ given name, was born on March 2, 1904. “Since Dr. Seuss’ birthday coincides with our event, we designed Day of Dance around the Seussical theme ‘I Can Do That,’ ” Howard said. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask doctors questions, visit interactive exhibits and participate in health screenings, but the highlight of the day is dance demonstrations and lessons. “We also have ‘Minute-To-Win-It’ type games, kids’ yoga, face painting and Who-ville hairdos,” Howard said. At last year’s event, athletes from the University of Northern Colorado got in on the fun and danced with the attendees and competed against each other in a dance competition. UNC athletes will once again be on hand to interact with participants on the dance floor and in the Kids’ FunZone. Some of the dance styles represented in the demonstrations will include tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern dance, among others. There also will be Zumba and karate demonstrations. Groups that will be performing include Colorado Dance Collective, Dance Factory, Northern Colorado Dance Fusion, the University of Northern Colorado Sugar Bears and several others. “Everyone can take that first step and will leave the event saying, ‘I can do that,’ ” Howard said.

HEALTH

THRIVENC

February 26, 2014

SPRING SKIING

STEER CLEAR OF SPRAINS ON THE SLOPES

By CASEY KELLY | ckelly@greeleytribune.com

s winter gives way to spring, the ski season in Colorado remains in full swing, however, doctors recommend taking extra precautions on the slopes to avoid common ski and snowboarding injuries they treat patients for this time each year. Duane Pedersen, physical therapist with Rocky Mountain Physical Therapy, which has offices in Windsor and Johnstown, said he sees an increase in ski and snowboard injuries in the spring months. He said warmer temperatures often lead to slushier conditions at the base of the mountain, which can surprise skiers and snowboarders, who are used to the firm snow higher on the mountain.

“With spring skiing, you start to see more injuries,” Pedersen said. “The wet snow below can slow them down and cause them to fall. The other thing is making sure if you haven’t been up skiing recently is to take rest breaks, get water or stop for lunch. Injuries tend to happen at the end of the day, when people are more fatigued.” He said the most common injuries he sees from people coming from the slopes are simple strains and sprains. For skiers, he said, injuries tend to occur in knees, hips and lower back, while snowboarders are more prone to wrist and shoulder strains. “With snowboarding, you tend to see more wrist strains than anything else, particular with newer snowboards who fall down more,” Pedersen said. He also recommended that skiers cutting through the trees undo the pole strap

» Tips to avoid injuries » Stretch in the morning before getting on the mountain or after a couple of runs. » Wear the correct equipment, including a wrist brace for snowboarders to avoid strains and breaks; correctly sized skis, snowboards and boots; and skis that are properly set to release if a fall occurs. » Stay on runs suited to your ability. » Don’t ski alone. » Stay hydrated.

from around their wrist, so if they catch the pole on a limb it won’t wrench the arm back and hurt their shoulder or wrist. “If you have a suspected injury, you should get it checked out right away,” Pedersen said. “The quicker it gets looked at, the quicker the recovery.” With minor aches and sprains, University of Colorado Health orthopedic surgeon Mark Grossnickle recommends icing and elevating the area, and taking anti-inflammatory medications. “Those are appropriate

initial treatments people can start immediately, and within a day or two they usually settle down,” Grossnickle said. “Obviously if your knee gets swollen up like watermelon, you want to get in to see someone as soon as you can.” More serious injuries like ligament tears will often be treated at the base of the mountain and then the person will be sent home to follow up with their doctor or a specialist, Pedersen said. Depending on the severity of the injury, he said doctors may recommend physical therapy or surgery.

FOR THE TRIBUNE

Serious ski injuries can include strains and tears to knee ligaments like the medial collateral ligament or anterior cruciate ligament, which is usually caused by a twisting injury to the knee, Grossnickle said. Both medical professionals said a large part of avoiding ski and snowboard inju-

ries is proper conditioning and equipment. “The best preventive medicine is doing proper conditioning ahead of time so your body is ready to handle it,” Grossnickle said. “If you don’t do any activity for six months and then try to go out and ski for eight hours, your body won’t be

ready for it.” He said local health clubs often offer pre-ski season exercise programs to get skiers and snowboarders into shape in time for the start of the ski season. “That kind of getting in shape ahead of time is a big step to prevent injury on the slope,” he said.

February 26, 2014

HEALTH

THRIVENC

WHAT TO EXPECT...

When you get a colonoscopy By Odil Macias omacias@greeleytribune.com

Since March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, we connected with Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, a gastrologist for Banner Health in North Colorado Medical Center to learn about the importance of a colonoscopy and what patients should expect when Rosenblatt scheduled for this type of procedure. UESTION — What is the Qgastrointestinal colonos-

copy procedure?

NSWER — It is a

procedure that has been around since the 1960s. The procedure uses a scope — a black hose — with a light source on the tip and has working channels. The colon scope is inserted into the patient’s rectum and advanced all the way around to the beginning of the colon. The procedure is commonly used to screen for the prevention of colon cancer, and during the procedure doctors search for grape-like-clusters of

abnormal cells called polyps. Pre-cancerous polyps are called adenomas, and they can evolve into colon cancer in a sequence of approximately 10 years. The principle of the colonoscopy procedure is that by removing polyps, the majority of colon cancer is prevented. The detection rate of polyps is 25 percent in men and 15 percent in women. — How important are Qthese tests?

— Data shows that these

procedures are extremely important in terms of colon cancer prevention. In 2013, about 142,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were detected. More than 50,000 victims of colon cancer died last year. Colonoscopy procedures help reduce colon cancer and it has been very effective in the past 15 years in reducing the risks of this type of cancer.

Qdure?

— Who does the proce-

— Procedures should be done by a board-certified gastroenterologist, someone with a lot of training and at least three years of medicine experience and at least three

» Resources

copy?

» American Gastroenterological Association — www. gastro.org » American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy — www.asge.org/ » American College of Gastroenterology — http:// gi.org » Dr. Rosenblatt can be found at Banner Health, Banner Gastroenterology with offices in Windsor and Greeley. For more, go to www.bannerhealth.com/.

» What to expect

Qprepare for a colonos-

It’s not uncommon to feel a little stressed out when you head to the doctor’s office for a new procedure. Of course, a lot of what makes us worry is that we don’t really know what to expect. This series is designed to give you a basic idea of what to expect when you go in for a common medical procedure. If you’d like to know more about a procedure and would like to see it featured here, contact Tribune reporter Odil Macias at omacias@greeleytribune.com.

years of gastroenterology. If patients are nervous for the procedure, they should ask doctors what their complication rates are like. — How can someone Qreduce the risk of colon

cancer?

— Weight reduction for those who are overweight, alcohol moderation, tobacco cessation, and a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Also the intake

of modest doses of aspirin and ibuprofen. And getting colonoscopies.

Qtients have their first — When should pa-

colonoscopy?

— At the age of 50 for

average risk individuals. Younger ages if there is an increased risk.

Are there symptoms Qa—person may feel that indicate a needed colonos-

— The majority of victims of colon cancer do not have symptoms and when colonoscopy is performed the polyp findings are incidental. Some red flags are rectal bleeding and anemia. — How should patients

copy?

— Patients are referred to or reminded it is time for a colonoscopy. Instructions and specific diets are given to patients at that time. They will be on a liquid diet a day before the procedure.

Qduring procedure? — What happens

— First, patients are met and checked in through the registration process. From time of check-in to the time patients leave, procedure takes about two hours. They are given a gown and an IV is placed. They then enter the colonoscopy room, and doctors administer sedation. The colonoscopy procedure takes an average less than 30 min-

Get the word out. It’s easy. Tell the community about your public events by posting them on our online calendar at www.greeleytribune.com. From the homepage, click Submit an Event on the calendar and enter your information. Yes, it’s that easy.

utes. After doctors are done, they let patients recover from sedation, and they are checked to make sure there are no implications before going home to rest. — What to patients do Qafter procedure?

— Patients rest the day of the procedure. Because they are sedated, they need a ride home. The next day they can go back to work and eat a regular diet. A common after-effect can be some retained air that can produce gas cramps.

— Are colonoscopies Qpainful?

— Patients are sedated so they don’t feel anything.

—What if results show Qsomething in the

system?

— Detected polyps are removed during procedure, but if colon cancer is found, patients are spoken to and doctors make recommendations to see an oncologist and surgeon for further screening and treatment.

HEALTH

THRIVENC

February 26, 2014

HIGH COSTS PINCH SENIORS’ BUDGETS By Trudy Lieberman Rural Health News Service

f you ask Washington politicians or policy wonks to describe Americans older than 65, many would likely use the term “greedy geezers.” You know the stereotype of seniors living on gobs of money from their CDs, stock dividends and Social Security benefits and cruising the Caribbean. That sentiment is so widespread that a year ago Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said on the CBS Evening News, “You’re probably going to have to do something to lower people’s expectations — the entitlements and what people think they’re going to get. Because they’re not going to get it.” telling viewers they had to learn to live on less because the U.S. could no longer afford to pay gener-

Fa N ci ew lit y

Blankfein, who earned $26 million in 2012, was talking about Social Security and in effect was

ous Social Security benefits especially decent costof-living increases. He didn’t give details on camera, nor did the CBS correspondent pursue them. Recently, two new reports offered a window into the budgets of America’s seniors and put Blankfein’s remarks in the context of reality. The vast majority of people 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities live on modest, fixed incomes and health care costs are eating up their finances. Complicating matters further, some help may be available to them, but most people don’t know

ASSISTED LIVING Private Apartments w/Kitchenette & Private Bathrooms

•Exercise Room•Registered Dietitian•Weekly Outings• •Movie & TV Room•Personal Laundry•Whirlpool Tub• •Activities•Medical Appointment Transportation• •Beauty and Barber Shop•Multiple Commons Areas• •Daily Housekeeping•Flexible Meal Times•Much More•

Columbine Commons

Assisted Living WINDSOR 4 4 9 -55 4 0

www.columbinehealth.com

» For help Seniors with low incomes can get help from several government programs that subsidize some costs beneficiaries have to pay. The Medicare Rights Center says these programs are underused largely because people didn’t know about them. You apply in your state. To learn about these programs call 1-800-Medicare or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program using this link https://shipnpr. shiptalk.org/shipprofile.aspx. Counselors can explain these programs and determine if you’re eligible.

it’s there. The median household income for seniors is $34,000 and it’s just under $30,000 for people living on Social Security disability benefits. Looking at the stats another way, half of all people with Medicare live on annual incomes of $23,500 or less; one-quarter have incomes below $14,400. Both reports found that even with Medicare, high health care costs are eating up a substantial portion of those incomes as Medicare beneficiaries know all too well. The advocacy group Social Security Works analyzed Medicare data and calculated that outof-pocket health care expenses have outpaced Social Security cost-of-living adjustments by more than one-third since 1992. And seniors’ spending on Medicare premiums, deductibles, copays, premiums for Medigap policies and services not covered have gone up 34 percent from 1992 to 2010. The Medicare Rights Center, a New York City advocacy group that runs a helpline available to Medicare beneficiaries from all over the country, had some numbers of its own, which

bolster these findings. Twenty-one percent of the more than 14,000 helpline callers in 2012 had trouble affording their care and coverage. They weren’t just people with traditionally low incomes, says Joe Baker who heads the Medicare Rights Center. “They are middle class folks who are just stretched out.” I asked Baker what specifically was making it hard for seniors to afford health care. He said it’s mainly the drug benefit itself with its ever-increasing copayments and coinsurance that seniors have to pay at the pharmacy. Sometimes pharmacies simply deny coverage because a drug is not on the health plan’s formulary so it’s not covered. One helpline caller said he had to leave his mother’s medicines at the counter because he couldn’t afford the $400 he was asked to pay for them. Studies show that when patients must pay more out of pocket for their medicines, many stop taking them or don’t use them as directed, which, of course, impacts their health. Baker also said that health services like den-

tal care, which Medicare doesn’t cover, as well as more expensive premiums for Medigap policies and higher coinsurance amounts on Medicare Advantage plans are taking a bigger chunk out of family budgets. All this adds up to a pretty bleak picture that’s not likely to improve unless health costs decline, or at least stop rising so fast, or unless Congress takes steps to lower Medicare’s drug costs. It could, for example, allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with the drug companies as the government does on behalf of the Veterans Affairs health system. The law that gave seniors the drug benefit known as Part D, however, forbids Medicare from doing that. Or Congress could require drug companies to pay rebates when the price of brand-name drugs rises faster than inflation, a provision that’s already a part of the Medicaid program where rebates have lowered the price of 100 common brand drugs by 45 percent, according a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Opposition from the drug industry keeps that from happening.

February 26, 2014

HEALTH

THRIVENC

TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY ACUPUNCTURE

PHYLLIS HAMAR, L.A.C.

Master of Science, Traditional Chinese Medicine NCCAOM Board Certified 710 11th Ave., Ste. 106 Greeley, CO 80631 970-539-0324

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC 5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Richard Budensiek, DO; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Angela Mill, MD Website: www.bannerhealth.com

ALLERGY AND ASTHMA

COLORADO ALERGY & ASTHMA CENTERS, P.C. 7251 W. 20th Street, Bldg N, Ste 1 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-3907

1136 E. Stuart St, Bldg 3, Ste 3200 Ft. Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 221-1681 4700 E. Bromley Ln., Ste 207 Brighton, CO 80601 Phone: (303) 654-1234 www.coloradoallergy.com Professionals: Dr. Daniel Laszlo Dr. John James

NORTHERN COLORADO ALLERGY & ASTHMA

Greeley Phone: (970) 330-5391 Loveland Phone: (970) 663-0144 Ft. Collins Phone: (970) 221-2370 www.NCAAC.com Professionals: Dr. Vel Kailasam, MD Krishna C. Murthy, MD Loran Clement, MD Michael Martucci, MD

ALZHEIMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S/SKILLED CARE

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN

708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352-6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

ASSISTED LIVING

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN 708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 352-6082 Fax: (970) 356-7970 www.good-sam.com

COLUMBINE COMMONS

BALANCE

LIFE CARE CENTER OF GREELEY- ASCENT 4800 25th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-6400 Professionals: Cozette Seaver, PT; Leslie Vail, PT

CARDIAC VASCULAR SURGERY

1475 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 449-5540 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com

(970) 350-6953 Missy Jensen, FNP-C

DENTISTRY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

ASCENT FAMILY DENTAL Scott Williams, DMD 3535 W. 12th Street, Suite B Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-6095 www.dentalgreeley.com

THE BRIDGE ASSISTED LIVING 4750 25th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)339-0022

JULIE KAVANAUGH, D.D.S. 3400 W. 16th Street, Suite 8-E Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-0400 www.drjuliekav.com

AUDIOLOGY

ALPINE ALL ABOUT HEARING

AUDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES

2528 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-2881 Professionals: Robert M. Traynor, Ed. D. F-AAA; Karen Swope, M. A. CCC-A

MIRACLE-EAR

2404 17th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-6620 749 S. Lemay Avenue, Suite A1 Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970)221-5225

UNC AUDIOLOGY CLINIC

Gunter Hall, Room 0330 Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970)351-2012/TTY Fax: (970)351-1601 Web Site: www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic.htm Professionals: Diane Erdbruegger, Au.D., CCC-A; Erinn Jimmerson, M.A., CCC-A Jennifer Weber, Au.D., CCC-A

1800 15th Street, #310 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 392-0900 Professionals: James H. Beckmann, MD; Harold L. Chapel, MD; John Drury, MD; Lin-Wang Dong, MD; Cynthia L. Gryboski, MD; Cecilia Hirsch, MD; Paul G. Hurst, MD; Brian Lyle, MD; Randall C. Marsh, MD; Arnold Pfahnl, MD; James E. Quillen, MD; Gary A. Rath, MD; Shane Rowan, MD; Ahmad Shihabi, MD; Stephen Zumbrun, MD

HEART FAILURE CLINIC (NCMC)

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

1124 E. Elizabeth Street, #E-101 Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: (970)221-3372 Fax: (970)493-9237 3820 N. Grant Avenue Loveland, CO 80538 Phone: (970)461-0225 Fax: (970)593-0670 Web Site: www.allabouthearing.com Professionals: Renita Boesiger, M. A., CCC-A Rachel White, M. A., CCC-A Cheryl Hadlock, M. S., CCC-A

CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE (NCMC)

CARDIAC, THORACIC & VASCULAR SURGERY (NCMC) 1800 15th Street, Suite 340 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4593 Fax: (970)378-4391 Professionals: Lyons, Maurice I. Jr. DO Richards, Kenneth M. MD Tullis, Gene E. MD

CARDIOLOGY

RALPH R. REYNOLDS, D.M.D., M.D. Oral Surgery 7251 W. 20th St. Building H, Suite 2 Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 663-6878 www.reynoldsoralfacial.com

ENDOCRINOLOGY

ENDOCRINOLOGY CLINIC (NCMC) 1801 15th Street, Ste 200 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4676 Fax: (970)-378-4315 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Nirmala Kumar, MD Kimberly Rieniets, MD Corinn Sadler, MD

FAMILY PRACTICE MEDICINE

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: 970-686-5646 Fax: 970-686-5118 Providers: Jonathan Kary, M.D. Trina Kessinger, M.D. Anthony Doft, M.D.

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC

100 S. Cherry Ave., Suite 1 Eaton, CO 80615 Phone: (970)454-3838 Professionals: Marianne Lyons, DO Lance Barker, DO, Internal Medicine

2014 BANNER HEALTH CLINIC

222 Johnstown Center Drive Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970)587-4974 Professionals: Cara Brown, MD J.Matthew Brown, MD Joseph Gregory, MD Courtney Isley, MD Stephen Kalt, MD, Internal Medicine Thomas Kenigsberg, MD

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-CENTRAL 2520 W. 16th St. Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 356-2520 Professionals: Joanna H. Branum, M.D.; Ann T. Colgan, M.D.; Jennifer D. Dawson, D.O.; Douglas A. Magnuson, M.D.; Lori A. Ripley, M.D.; Andrew P. Stoddard, M.D.; D. Craig Wilson, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-COTTONWOOD 2420 W. 16th Street Greeley ,CO 80634 Phone: (970) 353-7668 Professionals: Christopher T. Kennedy, M.D.; Daniel P. Pflieger, M.D.; Mark D. Young, M.D.; Stacey L. Garber, M.D. Amy E. Mattox, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-WEST 6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 101 Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 378-8000 Professionals: Daniel R. Clang, D.O.; Tamara S. Clang, D.O.; R. Scott Haskins, M.D.; Mathew L. Martinez, M.D.; Chima C. Nwizu, M.D.; Michelle K. Paczosa, D.O.; Kyle B. Waugh, M.D.; Charles I. Zucker, M.D.

KENNETH M. OLDS

6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 208 Greeley ,CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-9061

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC 5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Tong Jing, MD; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; David Puls, D.O. www.bannerhealth.com

HEALTH

THRIVENC

TRiBUNE MEDiCALDiRECTORY DiRECTORY TRiBUNE MEDiCAL FUNERAL SERVICES

ALLNUTT & RESTHAVEN FUNERAL SERVICES 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 352-3366 650 W. Drake Road, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 482-3208 8426 S. College Avenue, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 667-0202 2100 N. Lincoln, Loveland, CO Phone: (970) 667-1121 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO Phone: (970) 586-3101

GASTROENTEROLOGY

HOME HEALTH CARE

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVING W/SERVICES

CARING HEARTS HOME HEALTHCARE

NCMC - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 207 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-1409

Dr Patricia Al-Adsani, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Banner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine 2010 16th Street, Suite C, Greeley, CO 80631 Banner Health Clinic- Windsor 1300 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550

BLOOM AT HOME

1455 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 460-9200 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com/bloom

Shawn Crawford, LPC Banner Health Clinic 222 Johnstown Center Dr., Johnstown, CO 80534 Banner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine 2010 16th Street, Suite C Greeley, CO 80631

COLUMBINE POUDRE HOME CARE 1455 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 460-9200 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

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

REHABILITATION AND VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION 2105 Clubhouse Drive Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 330-5655 Fax: (970) 330-7146 Web Site: www.rvna.info Professionals: Crystal Day, CEO

HOSPICE

HOSPICE OF NORTHERN COLORADO Administration Office 2726 W. 11th Street Road Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)352-8487 Fax: (970)475-0037

PATHWAYS HOSPICE

DOWGIN, THOMAS A., MD. CENTERS FOR GASTROENTEROLOGY 7251 W. 20th St., Bldg J, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)207-9773 3702 Timberline, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970)207-9773 2555 E. 13th Street, Suite 220, Loveland, CO Phone: (970)669-5432 Website: www.digestive-health.net

NORTH COLORADO GASTROENTEROLOGY (NCMC) 2010 16th Street, Ste. A Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4475 Fax: (970)378-4429 Professionals: Tong Jing, MD Mark Rosenblatt, MD Ahmed M. Sherif, MD Yazan Abu Qwaider, MD

HEALTH AND FITNESS

WORK OUT WEST

Health & Recreation Campus 5701 W. 20th Street, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: 970-330-9691 www.workoutwest.com

305 Carpenter Road Ft. Collins, CO 80550 Phone: (970)663-3500 Fax: (970)292-1085 Web Site: www.pathways-care.org Email: info@pathways-care.org

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVING

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Website: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN 708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352-6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

FOX RUN SENIOR LIVING 1720 60th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-7773 Fax: (970)330-9708 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

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 Professionals: Danielle Doro, MD Giovanna Garcia, MD

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

BANNER HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (NCMC) Phone: (970)506-6420

COLUMBINE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 1455 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 (970) 460-9205 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

Elise Pugh, LPC Banner Health Clinic Westlake 5623 W 19th St, Greeley CO 80631 Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Susan Goodrich, 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 303 Colland Drive, Fossil Creek Fort Collins, CO 80525

NEPHROLOGY

GREELEY MEDICAL CLINIC

1900 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-2438 Professionals: Donal Rademacher, MD

NEUROLOGY

February 26, 2014

2010 2014 CENTENNIAL NEUROLOGY Dr. David Ewing 7251 W. 20th Street, Unit C Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-3876

NEUROLOGY CLINIC (NCMC) 1800 15th Street, Suite 100B Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-5612 Fax: (970) 350-5619 Professionals: Barbara Hager, MD Todd Hayes, DO William Shaffer, MD Christy Young, MD

NEURO-SURGERY BRAIN & SPINE

BANNER HEALTH NEUROSURGERY CLINIC 1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-5996 Professionals: David Blatt, MD Beth Gibbons, MD

NURSING HOME REHABILITATION

CENTENNIAL HEALTH CARE CENTER 1637 29th Ave. Place Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-8181 Fax: (970) 356-3278

COLUMBINE COMMONS HEALTH & REHAB FACILITY 1475 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 449-5541 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

BANNER HEALTH GYN CONSULTANTS 1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)353-1335 Professionals: Susan Carter, MD

BANNER HEALTH OB/GYN CLINIC 2410 W. 16th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)352-6353 Professionals: Neil Allen, MD Laurie Berdahl, MD

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC 5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; David Pols, D.O. www.bannerhealth.com

February 26, 2014

HEALTH

THRIVENC

TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

CANCER INSTITUTE (NCMC) 1800 15th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-6680 Toll Free (866) 357-9276 Fax: (970)350-6610 Professionals: Jeffrey Albert, MD Elizabeth Ceilley, MD Brian Fuller, MD Benjamin George, MD Samuel Shelanski, MD Kerry Williams-Wuch, MD Alice Wood, MD Ariel Soriano, MD

OPTOMETRY

FOX HILL VISION CLINIC

2001 46th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 330-7070 Professionals: Dr. Nancy Smith, OD Dr. Tarry Harvey, OD Website: www.foxhillvision.com

ORTHODONTICS

GREELEY ORTHODONTIC CENTER 2021 Clubhouse Dr., Suite 110 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 330-2500 Fax: (970) 330-2548 E-Mail: gocpc@doctork.com Website: www.DoctorK.com Professionals: Dr. Gary J. Kloberdanz

ORTHODONTIC ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY, PC

Professionals: Bradford N. Edgren, DDS, MS 3400 W. 16thSt., Bldg 4-V Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-5900 Website: www.drbradsmiles.com

ORTHOPEDICS

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS

5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 Web Site: www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Randy M. Bussey, MD Riley Hale, MD Daniel Heaston, MD Thomas Pazik, MD Kelly R. Sanderford, MD Steven Sides, MD Linda Young, MD

PEDIATRICS

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC 6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 201 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)350-5828 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Amanda Harding, MD James Sando, MD

PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION

BANNER REHABILITATION CENTER 1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 Fax: (970)378-3858

PERSONAL RESPONSE SERVICE

BANNER LIFE LINE (NCMC)

2010 16th Street, Suite C, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: 1-877-493-8109 (970) 378-4743

PHYSICAL THERAPY

FRONT RANGE THERAPY

1475 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 492-6238 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

HOPE THERAPY CENTER (Formerly North Colorado Therapy Center) 2780 28th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)339-0011 Website: www.GCIinc.org Professionals: Chris Denham, PT; Kryste Haas, OT; Kathie Hertzke, PTA; Moni Kohlhoff, PT; Alex Luksik, PTA; Jeanne Rabe, PT; Howard Belon, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

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 Phone: (970)350-6160

COLUMBINE COMMONS HEALTH & REHAB FACILITY 1475 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 449-5541 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

FRONT RANGE THERAPY

1475 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 492-6238 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

PEAKVIEW MEDICAL CENTER 5881 W. 16th St., Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)313-2775 Fax: (970)313-2777

SKILLED CARE/REHAB

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

SPORTS MEDICINE

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS 5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 Web Site: www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Randy M. Bussey, MD Riley Hale, MD Daniel Heaston, MD Thomas Pazik, MD Kelly R. Sanderford, MD Steven Sides, MD Linda Young, MD

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

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

4401 Union Street, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

UNC SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CLINIC

Gunter Hall, Room 0330, Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970)351-2012/TTY Fax: (970)351-1601 Web Site: 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

PULMONARY/CRITICAL CARE

2014 SURGERY WESTERN STATES BURN CENTER (NCMC) 1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-6607 Fax: (970)350-6306 Professionals: Gail Cockrell, MD Cleon W. Goodwin, MD BURN

SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY PC (NCMC) 1800 15th St. Suite 210, Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-8216 Toll Free: 1-888-842-4141 Professionals: Molly Decker, DO; Michael Harkabus, MD; Jason Ogren, MD; Samuel Saltz, DO; Robert Vickerman, MD

URGENT CARE

SUMMITVIEW URGENT CARE 2001 70th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-4155 Fax: (970)378-4151 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Susan Beck, MD Thomas Harms, MD Susan Kelly, MD Amy E. Shenkenberg, MD Linda Young, MD

UROLOGY

MOUNTAIN VISTA UROLOGY

5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 106, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-1000 Professionals: Curtis Crylen, MD David Ritsema, MD James Wolach, MD www.bannerhealth.com

VEINS

VEIN CLINIC (NCMC)

1800 15th Street, Suite 340, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4593 Fax: (970)378-4591 Professionals: Maurice I. Lyons Jr., DO Kenneth M. Richards, MD Gene E. Tullis, MD

NORTH COLORADO PULMONARY (NCMC)

1801 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)392-2026 Professionals: Kelli Janata, DO Robert Janata, DO David Fitzgerlad, DO Michael Shedd, MD Danielle Dial, NP

PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

CERTIFIED PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS, LLC (GREELEY LOCATION)

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN

1620 25th Avenue, Suite A, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: 970-356-2123 Fax: 970-352-4943

708 22nd Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352- 6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Website: www.good-sam.com

HANGER PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

COLUMBINE COMMONS HEALTH & REHAB FACILITY

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 Website: www.hanger.com Professinal: Ben Struzenberg, CPO Michelle West, Mastectomy Fitter

1475 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: (970) 449-5541 Web Site: www.columbinehealth.com

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

BARIATRIC SURGERY (NCMC)

1800 15th Street, Suite 200, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4433 866-569-5926 Fax: (970)378-4440 Professionals: Michael W. Johnell, MD

HEALTH

THRIVENC

February 26, 2014

Homeopathic Medicine and Tinnitus Treatment– Part II Welcome to our second installment investigating homeopathic medicine and tinnitus. The “research” behind homeopathic medicine has some interesting beginnings as is presented in this week’s discussion.

How Do We Know If Homeopathic Treatments Are Effective?

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann and other homeopaths compiled records into lengthy reference books called materia medica, used to match a particular p a t i e n t ’s symptoms with a corresponding drug, a novel idea in the 18th c e n t u r y. The current (ninth) edition of Homeopathic Pharmacopia describes how more than a thousand substances are prepared for homeopathic use. The basis for inclusion in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia, however, was not the modern scientific investigation we know today, but homeopathic “provings” conducted during the 1800s and early 1900s. In a proving, herbs, minerals, and other substances are administered to healthy people (including the provers themselves) and detailed records are kept on the o u tc o m e . T h e s e provings do not identify the symptoms or diseases for which homeop a t h i c products should be used, that is decided by the practitioner (or manufacturer of the particular remedy). The fact that substances listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia are legally recognized as “drugs” does not mean that either the law or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes them as effective.

What is a Disease…..A Different View?

Dr. Hahnemann declared that diseases represented a disturbance in the body’s ability to heal itself and that only a small stimulus was s required to begin the healing process. He also claimed that chronic

diseases were manifestations of a suppressed itch (psora), a kind of miasma or evil spirit. At first, he used small doses of accepted medications. But later he used enormous dilutions and theorized that the smaller the dose, the more powerful the effect—a notion commonly referred to as the “law of infinitesimals.” That, of course, is just the opposite of the dose-response relationship that pharmacologists have demonstrated and is in use today.

Unimpressive “Research”

Since many homeopathic remedies contain no detectable amount of any active ingredient, it is impossible to test whether these remedies actually contain what their label says. Unlike most potent drugs, they have not been proven effective against disease by double-blind clinical testing. In fact, according to Barrett (2009), the vast majority of homeopathic products have never even been tested; proponents simply rely on the “provings” to tell them what should work. In 1990, an article in Review of Epidemiology analyzed 40 randomized trials that had compared homeopathic treatment with standard treatment, a placebo, or no treatment. The authors concluded that all but three of the trials had major flaws in their design and that only one of those three had reported a positive result. The authors concluded that there is no evidence that homeopathic treatment has any more value than a placebo. In 1994, the journal Pediatrics published an article claiming that homeopathic treatment had been demonstrated to be effective against mild cases of diarrhea among Nicaraguan children. The claim was based on findings that, on certain days, the “treated” group had fewer loose stools than the placebo group. However, the article concluded that the study used an unreliable and unproved diagnostic and therapeutic scheme, there was no safeguard against product adulteration, treatment selection was arbitrary, the data were oddly grouped and contained errors and inconsistencies, the results had questionable clinical significance, and there was no public health significance because the only remedy needed for mild childhood diarrhea is ad-

equate fluid intake to prevent or correct dehydration. In 1995, Prescrire International, a French journal that evaluates pharmaceutical products, published a literature review that concluded: As homeopathic treatments are generally used in conditions with variable outcome or showing spontaneous recovery (hence their placebo-responsiveness), these treatments are widely considered to have an effect in some patients. However, despite the large number of comparative trials carried out to date there is no evidence that homeopathy is any more effective than placebo therapy given in identical conditions.

What Does the FDA Think? In the US agency that oversees drugs and medical treatments is the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has learned of a few reports of illness associated with the use of homeopathic remedies. However, the FDA reviewed these reports and decided that the remedies were not likely to be the cause, because of the high dilutions. Here is some general information that (Insert Photo 5 about here) has been reported about risks and side effects in homeopathy: • Homeopathic medicines in high dilutions, taken under the supervision of trained professionals, are considered safe and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions.

with all medicinal products, a person taking a homeopathic remedy is best advised to: • Contact his health care provider if his symptoms continue unimproved for more than 5 days • Keep the remedy out of the reach of children. • Consult a health care provider before using the product if the user is a woman who is pregnant or nursing a baby. With that said, the FDA has long had issues with the quality and research into these remedies. In 2012, homeopathic products from A Nelson & Co., a British company that manufactures many products including, Nelson’s line of pain relievers, digestion aids, emotional aids, energy, acne products and Bach Rescue Remedies sold in the US were inspected by the FDA and the conclusions are alarming. The FDA Warning letter said, “During the inspection, the investigator observed glass fragments present during the manufacture… Your firm failed to implement adequate measures to prevent glass contamination and had no documentation to demonstrate that appropriate line clearance and cleaning is conducted following occurrences of glass breakage, which has been a recurring problem. So, not only are there some questionable results, but also

these “remedies” may be hazardous to your health. Novella of Science Based Medicine indicates that in the last few decades purveyors of these dubious medical treatments and products have been trying to go mainstream, and they have had some unfortunate success. They asked for serious scientific investigation into their claims and they got it. They asked to be treated like real medicine (but not really, they only want the trappings of legitimacy, not the substance), and when they actually are treated with the standards similar to science-based medicine, they cry foul. The response of the fake-medicine lobby is not to alter their claims to fit the evidence, or to carry out better studies, or to clean up their act when problems are brought to their attention – but to attack their critics. Homeopathy’s biggest marketing advantage is that most people don’t know what it really is. Novella offers that they are placebos on which the equivalent of a magical ritual has been cast. Active ingredients, which themselves are as fanciful as fairy dust, are diluted into non-existence. With this as a background for evaluation, in Part III we will review the homeopathic tinnitus remedies.

Author’s Bio:

Robert M. Traynor, Ed.D., MBA, FAAA

• aSome patients reportthat feeling Miller, co-researcher at Michigan, the noise-induced hearing loss prevention concoction could be worsewithin for two a brief available years. period of time after starting homeopathic remedies. Homeopaths interpret this as the body temporarily stimulating symptoms while it makes an effort to restore health.

• Liquid homeopathic remedies can contain alcohol and are perIn another study funded by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Robert M. Traynor is the CEO and practicing audiologist at Audiology mitted to have higher levels of researchers Dr. Robert Floyd and retired Army surgeon, Dr. Richard Kopke, M.D.,Greeley, discovered a Colorado with particular emphasis in Associates, Inc., alcohol than conventional drugs combination of two compounds stopped damage to the inner ear caused by acute trauma – amplification and acoustic operative monitoring. Dr. Traynor holds degrees for adults. This may be of consomething like an IED exploding. Although they did not indicate what University the compounds they felt Colorado (BA, 1972, MA 1973, Ed.D., from the ofwere Northern cern to some consumers. Howthat,“This is a very exciting finding,” said Dr. Floyd, who holds the the Merrick Foundation in Aging 1975), University ofChair Phoenix (MBA, 2006) as well as Post-Doctoral ever, no adverse effects from the Research at OMRF. “The research is still at a pre-clinical stage, hopeful that weUniversity soon can begin Studybutatwe’re Northwestern (1984). He taught Audiology at the alcohol levels have been reporttesting in humans. University of Northern Colorado (1973-1982), University of Arkansas ed either to the FDA or in the scifor Medical Sciences (1976-77) and Colorado State University (1982entific literature. More recently, Dr. Kathryn Campbell's work at Southern Illinois University involves the use of an 1993). Dr. Traynor is a retired Lt. Colonel from the US Army Reserve, Corps and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the University of Florida, the University of Colorado, and the University of Northern Colorado. For 17 years he was an Audiology Consultant to major hearing instrument and equipment manufacturers providing academic and product orientation for their domestic and international distributors. A clinician and practice manager for over 35 years, Dr. Traynor has lectured on most aspects of Audiology in over forty countries.

antioxidant called D-methionine, a component of fermented protein Service Medical

• Homeopathic remedies are not known to interfere with conventional drugs; however, if you are considering using homeopathic remedies, you should discuss this with your health care provider. If you have more than one provider, discuss it with each one. As

that is found in yogurt and cheese. The antioxidant, in concentrated doses, has been found to improve some forms of hearing loss and even prevent hearing loss before the