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hb contents
FALL 2015 | VOL. 7, NO. 2
inside...
EDITORIAL
Alicia Wittkopf - Executive Editor Chelbie Birdwell - Design Editor Kim Cartier - Photographer
WHAT’S THE STORY?
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Welcome to the new look of healthbeat! Have you got a story or feedback for the team?
I chose Hunt Regional
REACH US AT contact@huntregional.org
Betty Williams talks to us about bringing robots Riley Rose and Pops to Hunt Regional
STAFF HMHD Board Chair - Ron Wensel HRH Foundation Chair - Julia Wensel HRH CEO - Richard Carter HRH Foundation Director - Alicia Wittkopf
DISTRIBUTION For inquiries or questions regarding distribution please contact: 903.408.1064
ONLINE Follow us at: www.huntregional.org www.facebook.com/huntregional www.twitter.com/hunt_regional
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07 P07 TELEMEDICINE Powering up the future of medicine through the use of e-communication tools
PLUS DON’T MISS ALL THIS
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P08 I CHOSE HUNT REGIONAL
P16 I CHOSE HUNT REGIONAL
Larey Melton makes an emergency visit to Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce
Greenville native Peggie Darby takes an inside look at life as a patient at Hunt Regional Medical Center following emergency surgery
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Spotlight on Health: Sports injury safety
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Emergencies: How to prepare
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Spotlight on Health: Too much of a good thing
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Upcoming Events: What not to miss this fall
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Director’s Notes: Foundation updates from
Alicia Wittkopf
MESSAGE FROMTHE CEO
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mergency rooms are a lot like toll roads...nobody likes to visit them but you sure are glad they are there when you need them! This summer marked a very important moment in the history of Hunt Regional Healthcare. With the help of Hunt County voters, we were able to open the first of two emergency centers: Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce. We are thankful for the opportunity to fulfill the great need for emergency care in the northern part of Hunt County. We are looking forward to the grand opening of Hunt Regional Emergency
Medical Center at Quinlan in early 2016. In its first four months alone, the staff at HREMCCommerce has treated over 3100 patients. We knew that there was an opportunity to provide a service in Commerce, but we have been amazed by the overwhelming response to our new emergency center. We are very proud of the great reviews we have received so far and welcome both your positive feedback and your suggestions for improvement. It is my hope that you and your family welcome
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WELCOME
welcome
the fall season in good health!
Richard Carter Chief Executive Officer
healthbeat: the pulse of health in northeast texas
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ublished by Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation in partnership with Hunt Regional Healthcare, healthbeat is a publication for friends and supporters of the Foundation. The goal of the publication is to increase awareness of healthcare advances, opportunities and challenges in the area. Staff members of the strategic marketing & communications department are responsible for the production of healthbeat. All material in this publication is the property of the publisher and is not intended for purposes of medical diagnosis or prescription. Please discuss your health with your doctor if you are considering a medical treatment, therapy or procedure. Stories may not be reprinted or copied without written permission from the publisher. Some photos may include models and may not represent actual patients or situations. Unless otherwise noted, the physicians featured in healthbeat have been granted staff privileges at one or both Hunt Regional Healthcare hospitals but may not be employees or agents of the hospitals or the hospital district. Reader letters, suggestions and questions are welcome. Please call 903.408.1066 or write Editor, Office of Strategic Marketing & Communications, Hunt Regional Medical Center, P.O. Drawer 1059, Greenville, Texas 75403-1059. If you receive multiple copies of healthbeat, need to change your mailing address, or wish to be removed from our mailing list, please write to the address above and enclose a copy of the mailing label from your publication. This publication is neither printed nor distributed at taxpayer expense.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries. SOURCE: NCADV.GOV
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BETTY WILLIAMS TALKS ABOUT HER DECISION TO HELP BRING TELEMEDICINE HOME TO HUNT REGIONAL
I chose Hunt Regional TO BRING HEALING HOME BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature After a lengthy stay at Baylor hospital while her husband underwent cancer treatment, Greenville native Betty Williams searched for a way to help other families in need of specialized medical care. She decided that if she couldn’t bring patients to the specialists, why not bring the specialists to the patients?
interact and go anywhere. Unlike traditional videoconferencing solutions such as iPads or Skype where multiple people each have their own device, VGo is completely independent and is controlled through the use of a remote. VGo communication also differs itself from other videoconference tools such as FaceTime by completely encrypting information, ensuring total protection of patient privacy. The robot works using a high-resolution, maneuverable camera with a high-powered zoom Leaving home that can view injuries, limbs and even inside a patient’s mouth, while remaining a comfortable When James Williams was diagnosed with cancer distance from the patient. in 2011, his wife Betty knew that their journey Hunt Regional is the first in the region to would be long. Seeking the care introduce the robots, which allow of specialists at Baylor in Dallas, physicians from one facility to the Williamses traveled from their provide consultations to patients at home in Greenville in search of a a different location. “I know firsthand cure. “There are multiple potential the inconvenience of On May 8, 2014, James was benefits for Hunt Regional patients admitted to Baylor for intense being away from home, through the development of our treatment with Betty by his telemedicine program which family and friends with side. For three long months, the will provide easier access to the Williamses sought care almost an a loved one critically greatest minds in healthcare,” said hour away from friends and loved Hunt Regional Healthcare CEO ill.” ones. Richard Carter. On August 1, James and Betty BETTY WILLIAMS In theory the VGo system returned home for hospice care. will allow medical staff to gain “Before he passed, he said consultations from specialists all he wished he had never left over the country. Greenville,” says Betty. A lifelong friend of the hospital and Hunt Funding the future Regional Healthcare Foundation, Betty knew that she couldn’t change her story. Instead, she would change the face of medicine at Hunt Regional in a As expected, advancing technology through very literal way. telemedicine comes at a price; a price Betty Williams says is worth the cost. “I know firsthand the inconvenience of being Always on call away from home, family and friends with a loved one critically ill,” says Williams, acknowledging that Home to state-of-the-art equipment and personal experience is a big reason of why this technology, Hunt Regional Medical Center offers project is important to her. care rivaling that of large metroplex hospitals. Following her husband’s death, Oak Creek Although on-call physicians provide care Country Club in Greenville hosted their annual golf 24-hours-a-day, hospitals can’t always rely on tournament in his name the following year. After doctors to be available around the clock when highly searching for the right project to use the funds, specialized treatment is needed. However one staff Williams learned about Hunt Regional’s interest member they can now always count on is VGo. in developing a telemedicine program and knew VGo, a revolutionary robot from VGo immediately that the project was the right fit. Communications, allows hospitals to provide “When someone you love is sick, you’re grieving telemedicine services from any location with already and then you have to worry about things wireless internet. back home,” said Williams. Just like a human,VGo can see, hear, talk, Realizing how important it was to her husband
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feature for locally provided healthcare options to grow and thrive, Williams decided to fund the cost of two robots. “I feel this will allow patients to stay in Greenville while still having the luxury of receiving second opinions from a specialist,” she said.
A robot named Pops
A third robot purchased by the Commerce Pink Ladies is currently in operation at Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce, while even more robots are on their way thanks to the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation board members. As telemedicine expands and “When someone you love is the healthcare system continues to increase its use of digitallysick, you’re grieving already driven medicine, Hunt Regional and then you have to worry hopes to eventually see more about things back home.” VGo systems funded. And as for patients at Hunt BETTY WILLIAMS Regional, don’t be surprised if the next doctor who visits your room is a robot named Pops.
Hunt Regional’s first robots are already in service at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville and at Hunt Regional Emergency Center at Commerce. Thanks to Betty, two VGo systems can be found at HRMC roaming the floor units and emergency department. Betty has nicknamed the robots Riley Rose and Pops—the names of two people she says she loves dearly.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GIVING? CALL: 903.408.1060 WEB: www.huntregional.org/foundation
Powered by pink A VGo robot purchased by the Commerce auxiliary group is currently in operation at Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce.
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TELEMEDICINE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
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elemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology. Starting over 40 years ago with hospitals extending care to patients in remote areas, the use of telemedicine has spread rapidly and is now becoming an integral part of the daily operations of hospitals, specialty departments, home health agencies, private physician offices as well as consumer’s homes and workplaces. Telemedicine has been growing rapidly because it
is a cost-efficient solution that provides improved access and improved quality. There are multiple uses for telemedicine systems including realtime remote patient consultations, remote monitoring of patients’ vital signs and conditions, health education, and availability of specialized services over long distances. VGo is a great example of expanding telemedicine technology. VGo’s underlying technology is very sophisticated but to the user, it’s very simple with no training required. The remote person brings up the VGo App on their wireless device, clicks on the location they need to visit and instantly they are there. The system is in use by many different types of organizations including healthcare, education and
business. In healthcare, doctors and nurses are using VGo to extend their reach to monitor and consult with patients in the hospital, skilled nursing facility and in the home. Family members are also using VGo to visit loved ones when they can’t be there in person. Studies show that when using VGo, patient satisfaction and the standard of care are increased while readmissions are decreased.
How does it work: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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: What about my personal information? Are communications using the VGo system secure? : VGo is secure. Only users who have been granted access by an administrator can connect to a VGo. Communications between the VGoNet servers in the cloud and VGo and remote users are encrypted.
About 74% of patients are comfortable communicating with their doctors using technology instead of seeing them in person.
SOURCE: EVISIT.COM
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LAREY MELTON SHARES HIS LIFE-SAVING EXPERIENCE AT HUNT REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER AT COMMERCE
I chose Hunt Regional TO BRING ME BACK TO LIFE BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature Larey Melton died this summer. Thankfully, the apostles Mark and Luke were in the room when it happened. And they weren’t letting him go anywhere.
help of emergency room physician Dr. William Jones and respiratory therapist Lynsi Boles. “They got him onto the stretcher and hooked him up to the EKG. As soon as they saw that, they said, ‘we’re going to need the helicopter,’” said Deleen. “I was watching everything. For me, that’s what I needed to do. Another caregiver might not have wanted or needed to see all that was going on. But they also had no time to deal with me or take me out. I will say that it’s a good thing that they didn’t do it because I would have May 29 began as a normal day for the Meltons. Larey opened the door back up,” said Deleen who remembers Melton and his wife Deleen were sitting on the breezeway everyone’s focus being solely on Larey. at their home in Commerce when Larey decided to go As Deleen waited in the hallway, trying to get in touch inside to get a glass of tea. When he didn’t return, Deleen with her family, Larey went into cardiac arrest. Larey’s went inside to find him sitting on the side of the bed. medical team attempted CPR before using the defibrillator. As an RN and a lifelong health care professional, Deleen “On the first shock, there was nothing happening instinctively knew that something was very wrong. there. I was praying. The other part of me was thinking, his “For some reason, I just knew. He said my chest wife is right there. She is right there,” recalls Mark Wright, hurts and I thought, this is it,” said Deleen, adding that RN. Larey successfully underwent a cardiac stent procedure After delivering the second shock, in 2003 and had a prescription for the group received quite the surprise. nitroglycerin for chest pain. Not only did he come back, he came “I went to get the nitro and when back fighting. I turned around he had gone to the “I really don’t remember any of it. “On the first shock, there was bathroom and was vomiting so I knew I remember through the ER absolutely that we were in a full-blown nothing happening there. I was doors. I knewcoming vaguely that there were attack. There was no doubt about it,” some guys working on me,” said Larey. praying. The other part of me she said. “Mark, who is a fair-sized guy, was thinking, his wife is right “I gave him the nitro and grabbed got on top of me and I didn’t really my purse and said we have to go. We there. She is right there.” like that,” said Larey, who says that is have to go,” said Deleen. the last thing he remembers before Larey wasn’t sure he could make it MARK WRIGHT, RN everything went black. to the car, but Deleen knew that time Since his career began in 1983, wasn’t on their side. Mark says he has done more than “There was no time for an this fair share of CPR. But nothing ambulance because we’re out in the compares to this experience. country. We’re seven miles away and I can make seven “It’s unusual for patients to be alert after being miles faster than an ambulance could and get back. There shocked. Most are unable to talk. I have only been able to was just no option, I had to bring him in,” she said. carry on a conversation with two people that I’ve done “She was coming down the roughest road in Hunt CPR on. But nobody has ever come up swinging,” said County at 100 miles an hour. I couldn’t even stay in the Mark. seat,” added Larey. “Dr. Jones was laying on top too, but I take up a whole Larey and Deleen started on their way to Hunt lot more room than him or Luke,” said Mark. Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce, a As the helicopter arrived and Larey began the next leg facility that had opened just two weeks earlier. of his journey, his team knew that what had happened was “We don’t come into town a whole lot. A couple of nothing short of a miracle. months ago we saw the building going up and wondered, “After it’s done, you get together and say, ‘okay, what ‘what’s that going to be?’ We found out it was going to be could we have done better?’” said Mark, recalling the postan emergency room and thought ‘oh that will be good,’” care discussion he had with Luke and Dr. Jones. said Deleen. “Dr. Jones said if he had coded even just in the parking “So we knew it was here, but we didn’t think we lot, the outcome would not have been what it was,” he would need it,” she said. said.
A gut feeling
Help from the apostles, Mark and Luke
John Mark and Matthew
When Larey arrived at HREMC-Commerce, he was immediately wheeled into a room where Mark Wright, RN, and Luke Usher, RN, began their work with the
Following his helicopter ride, Larey was transferred to Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas where he went from the helicopter directly to the cardiac catheterization lab where little progress was made. Unable to be cathed, a / healthbeat / 9
feature plan for open heart surgery was made with cardiothoracic reactions,” he said. surgeon, John Mark Pool, M.D. Two months in, Larey says his recovery is going better Larey successfully underwent double bypass surgery than anyone expected. with Dr. Pool the following day and left the hospital four “I feel like each day, it’s happening in little bitty small days later. increments,” said Larey, who plans to continue working on Larey and Deleen have joked about the biblical nature his recovery at the Mary Rich Lynch Cardiac Rehabilitation of the names of the men who worked on Larey, saying that Center at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville—a God sent his apostles to save him that familiar place to Deleen who says her day. first nursing job was in 1978 at the Greenville hospital when it was only “It’s just very fortunate that we had three stories tall. Much has changed since “We had some really good something here. And that God decided then. Mark and Luke were working and that people that were working Matthew was waiting at Presbyterian in Although he might not remember here that knew what to do the cath lab,” she said. coding or being brought back to life, Larey says he will always remember being As for Deleen, she attributes her and did it regardless of my ready to fight and knows he wasn’t the fast thinking to more than just her reactions.” only one fighting. nursing background. “After we came back up to visit, “My older brother looked at me and LAREY MELTON Dr. Jones said I probably had about 10 said, ‘he’d be dead if he hadn’t been with minutes. Which meant that if this hadn’t you,’” said Deleen. been there, it would have been a problem. “You’ve trained for this and it just Because we didn’t have 10 minutes to get takes over. But God’s the one that did all this,” she said. anywhere,” said Larey. “If these people and this facility hadn’t been here, I guess it would have been all over with,” he said. The road to recovery Both Larey and Deleen say that are grateful for the fact that the emergency center existed, acknowledging the community’s need for such a facility for a long time. “We had some really good people that were working here that knew what to do and did it regardless of my
10 / healthbeat /
WANT TO KNOW MORE? CALL: 903.886.3161 WEB: www.huntregional.org/commerceER
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HEARTATTACKS
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ach year an estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack or myocardial infarction. For nearly a third of them, the attack is fatal. But many of those deaths could have been prevented if only the victim had received help in time. That’s why it’s so essential to know the warning signs of a heart attack. The warning signs that you’re having a heart attack can vary, but here are some common ones: uncomfortable chest pain, pressure or a squeezing sensation in the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes; pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms; chest pain accompanied by dizziness, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath. Symptoms may come and go while some people having a heart attack may experience no observable symptoms. Women are more likely to have so-called silent or unrecognized heart attacks. Women are more likely to
have nausea and pain high in the abdomen. They also may experience a burning in the chest that they dismiss as indigestion or heartburn. In women as well as men, the symptoms may subside and then come back. But it’s still essential to get immediate medical help if you suspect a heart attack. Clot-dissolving drugs and surgery are most effective when used in the early stages of a heart attack. But studies show that many heart attack victims wait several hours, even up to ten hours or more, before seeking help. Ambulance personnel can start emergency treatment as soon as they arrive. However, if you suspect you’re having a heart attack and ambulance service isn’t available, you can have someone drive you (someone suspecting they’re having a heart attack should not drive themselves) to the nearest emergency room. After calling 911, the AHA recommends taking aspirin as soon as possible, unless there’s a reason not
to (for example if you’re allergic to aspirin or have another condition that indicates you shouldn’t take aspirin). According to AHA, research shows that taking aspirin when symptoms start significantly improves the chances of surviving a heart attack. Remember though, that taking aspirin isn’t advised during a stroke, because if the stroke is caused by a rupture instead of a blood clot, aspirin will make things worse. The key is to remember that a heart attack does the most damage in the first two hours. The faster someone gets help, the better their chances of survival.
Find a location
HUNT REGIONAL WELCOMES NEW EMERGENCY CENTERS
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isit www.huntregional.org/locations to find a location near you. There you’ll find maps, phone numbers and addresses to all of Hunt Regional’s locations. We have emergency departments in Greenville and in Commerce with a third emergency room opening in Quinlan in early 2016. Plan ahead and know the location closest to you and your family.
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Each year, approximately 715,000 Americans experience a heart attack, approximately 162,000 of which are fatal. Of those who die, almost half die before they can get to a hospital. SOURCE: AHAJOURNALS.ORG
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real health
Spotlight on health: SPORTS INJURY SAFETY FOR YOUNG ATHLETES
Everyone knows that football is an agressive sport. Make sure your athlete is taking precautions to prevent concussions, especially at a young age.
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tarting tackle football before the age of 12 appears to raise the risk of altered brain development. That’s the conclusion of a study involving former NFL players. Researchers examined 40 former NFL players between the ages of 40-65 who had played more than 12 years of organized football. They all had played at least two years in the NFL. Half of the players participated in tackle football before the age of 12 and half began at age 12 or later. The number of concussions sustained was similar between the two groups. “To examine brain development in these players, we used an advanced technique called diffusor tensor imaging (DTI), a type of magnetic resonance imaging that specifically looks at the movement of water molecules along
white matter tracts, which are the super-highways within the brain for relaying commands and information,” explained study co-author, Inga Koerte, MD. The results showed that the research participants who started playing football before age 12 were more likely to have alterations of the white matter tracts of the corpus callosum, the largest structure of the brain that connects the two cerebral hemispheres. “The results of this study do not confirm a cause and effect relationship, only that there is an association between younger age of first exposure to tackle football and abnormal brain imaging patterns later in life,” said senior author Martha Shenton, PhD.
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feature As a former board member for the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation, Peggie Darby knows her way around the inside of Hunt Regional Medical Center. But it wasn’t until she was faced with a health emergency of her own, that she came to realize the true value of a great patient experience.
If the intestine is trapped very tightly in the hernia, the blood supply to that part of the intestine can be cut off, causing tissue to die in as little as six hours. Peggie’s surgery marked the beginning of a long inpatient stay. Following a repair of the hernia by on call surgeon Dr.Viet Phuong, general surgeon for Hunt Regional Medical Partners Surgical Associates, Peggie spent eight nights in the hospital recovering from the surgery and intestinal blockage. An unexpected stay “My recovery was good. Following my stay on the fourth floor, I did my Nobody plans their day around follow-ups with my Dr. being sent to the Phuong and everything emergency room. has gone very well,” But as Peggie Darby said Peggie. was visiting with Peggie says that her primary care what she remembers physician, Dr. James “I can’t say enough about the most about her stay Nicholson, it became is the friendly, familycare and the friendliness that I apparent that her like atmosphere of the doctor’s visit would received while I was here.” staff. be longer than she “I can’t say enough had planned. PEGGIE DARBY about the care and After the friendliness that I experiencing severe received while I was abdominal pain, here,” she said. Peggie knew that “Everyone was something was cheerful, from the wrong. people who came in with the cleaning Quickly realizing the extent of her staff to the doctors,” said Peggie. condition, Dr. Nicholson sent Peggie to “The nurses really put in long hours, the emergency room at Hunt Regional they really do, and they were always Medical Center right away. cheerful and always gave the best of care Following an examination by the and never complained. I was just most emergency department physicians and a impressed,” she said. CT scan, it was determined that Peggie would need emergency hernia repair surgery. An inside look “When I saw Dr. Nicholson, he sent me straight to the ER and I was taken from the ER to the operating room A Greenville native, Peggie has long been where they did surgery that night,” said an advocate for health care in Hunt Peggie. County and is a longtime supporter of Hunt Regional Healthcare. In fact, she spent six years from 2006-2012 serving as a member of the A hidden emergency Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation board. Hernias, even those that ache, are While part of the board, the not necessarily surgical emergencies, but foundation accomplished many projects all have the potential to become serious.
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GREENVILLE NATIVE PEGGIE DARBY TELLS HER STORY OF EMERGENCY SURGERY AND RECOVERY
I chose Hunt Regional TO STOP MY PAIN BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature including the opening of the Lou & Jack Finney “I just think Greenville is so fortunate to Cancer Center and have this hospital and the Hunt Regional Medical facilities that it offers,” said Center’s West Wing. Peggie. “I was glad to see how the hospital Although she has “We have come a long spent many years way since the hospital was operates. Not that I was glad to be admiring the hospital’s first established and we a patient, but I did see firsthand the work, Peggie says she are extremely blessed to was grateful for the have this hospital here,” operation of the hospital...” chance at an inside look. she said. “I was glad to PEGGIE DARBY see how the hospital operates. Not that I was glad to be a patient, WANT TO KNOW MORE? but I did see firsthand the operation that ONLINE: www.huntregional.org/locations was a positive result,” said Peggie, adding that CALL: 903.408.5000 exceptional care is one of the reasons she wants to share her patient experience.
Hernia A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue protrudes through a weak point or tear in the muscles or tissues that surround it. The protrusion can be either reducible, which means it can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity and seem to disappear, or nonreducible, which means it cannot be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. When a nonreducible protrusion involves a portion of the intestine, it can become tightly trapped, lose its blood supply and die. This dangerous condition is called strangulation and often necessitates immediate surgical repair. Potential causes include anything that creates increased pressure in the abdomen.This includes: coughing, vomiting, straining and constipation, sudden physical exertion, obesity, and pregnancy.
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EMERGENCIES AND HOW TO PREPARE
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early 100 million people go to the emergency room each year. It’s good to know what to expect and what you can do to make sure the visit is successful. You should always be prepared for an emergency. That means having a list of phone numbers ready near the phone. Police, fire, poison control center, local hospital, ambulance service and your family doctor should all be on the list. You should also keep another list that includes all your medications and dosages, allergies, insurance information and family contacts. Knowing when you or someone you know needs emergency attention can be critical. A second question is often this: should you drive yourself, have someone else take you to the emergency room or should you call
an ambulance? Here are some guidelines from ACEP: Is the situation life threatening? Could the condition worsen and even become life threatening during a drive to the emergency room? Do you need special equipment or skills to move the person? Could traffic or distance delay getting to the emergency room? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, ACEP says call the ambulance right away. Remember with an ambulance, treatment can begin on the way to the emergency room if it is serious enough, such as a heart attack, stroke, a deep cut or burn. Once you get to the ER you will of course want to be treated right away. That may not happen, not because you shouldn’t have gone, but because someone else may have a more serious problem. When
you arrive, the first person you may see is a triage nurse. They will do a quick exam to decide what your condition is and how quickly you need to be treated. If you do go to the ER, remember to stay calm. If you have to wait, you may be uncomfortable but there is probably a reason for the delay. The emergency room should not be used as a substitute for routine medical care, but in a true emergency, it can literally be a lifesaver.
How does it work: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q
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: How is a surgeon chosen? What if I have to have emergency surgery? : Should you or a family member need emergency surgery, your surgery will be performed by the on call surgeon.Your surgeon may be a general surgeon or a specialist, depending on the type of surgery needed. For planned surgeries such as gastric reflux surgery, breast surgery, etc. call 903-4085770 to schedule a consultation with one of our Hunt Regional Medical Partners surgeons.
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People expect to wait a while in the ER.While that is sometimes true for minor emergencies, about 27% of ER patients are seen in fewer than 15 minutes. SOURCE: CDC.GOV
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real health
Spotlight on health:
DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER CAN BE DANGEROUS With fall sports in full swing, athletes should pay attention to how thirsty they are, instead of just drinking water and sports drinks. 20 / healthbeat /
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ometimes you can get too much of a good thing—water, that is. The condition is called hyponatremia. It can be dangerous and even deadly. Exerciseassociated hyponatremia, sometimes called “water intoxication,” refers to reductions in the body’s sodium level occurring during or up to 24 hours after physical activity. Exerciseassociated hyponatremia (EAH) may have no or only mild symptoms, especially before the drop in sodium level becomes too severe. Symptoms of mild EAH include lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, puffiness and gaining weight during
an athletic event. Symptoms of severe EAH include vomiting, headache, altered mental status (confusion, agitation, delirium, etc.), seizure and coma. EAH has occurred during endurance competitions such as marathons, triathlons, football and even yoga. Since drinking too much is the main cause of EAH, the most effective prevention is drinking less. The safest individualized hydration strategy before, during and immediately following exercise is to drink fluids only when thirsty.
In memoriam:
HUNT REGIONAL HEALTHCARE REMEMBERS THE FRIENDS WE LOVE AND MISS
James Coe - Friend of the Foundation
Evelyn Hare - Volunteer
Mary Rich-Lynch - Friend of the Foundation
Ford Molen - Volunteer
Teresa Toussau - LVN Acute Rehab / healthbeat / 21
events
season events this
CHECK OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HEALTHCARE THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
OCTOBER 1-31
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is commit-
County and their caregivers. Their first memory walk will be all day at Greenville Sports Park. Contact the organization for more information.
featured event
MORE INFORMATION: rememberformeALZ@gmail.com NOVEMBER 1-30
AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH For more information on how to deal with diabetes, contact our Diabetes Self-Management Center at 903.408.5130. MORE INFORMATION: www.huntregional.org/diabetes.htm ted to increasing awareness of breast cancer issues, including early detection and encouraging women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular breast self-exams, scheduling annual mammograms, adhering to prescribed treatment, and knowing the facts about recurrence.To schedule a mammogram or to host the Tubby Adkisson Mobile Mammography Coach, contact 903.408.5010. MORE INFORMATION: www.nbcam.org OCTOBER 24
REMEMBER FOR ME MEMORY WALK In partnership with the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation, Remember for Me is dedicated to raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s patients in Hunt
OCTOBER 8TH
BRAS FOR THE CAUSE It’s time once again for Bras for the Cause! Throughout the evening, hundreds of bras will be on display in downtown Greenville, with the awards ceremony taking place at Landon Winery. It is free to enter a bra and to attend the big event. Votes for your favorite bra are only $1.
VOTE ONLINE: http://www.b4tcgreenville.org FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 903.408.1064 NOVEMBER 3RD
LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH NOVEMBER 3RD
MEMORY SCREENING In honor of the 11th annual National Memory Screening Day, the Behavioral Health Unit at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville will host a memory and Alzheimer’s screening event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on the second floor of HRMC. For more information, call 903.408.1500.
Smoking causes up to 90% of lung cancer cases. If you need
help quitting smoking, our smoking cessation program may be able to help. Contact us for more information. MORE INFORMATION: Donna Tubb - 903.408.1942 DECEMBER 4
HUNT REGIONAL CRAFT FAIR Stop by the Hunt Regional Medical Center atrium all day for early Christmas shopping! MORE INFORMATION: mlewis@huntregional.org
THE B4TC SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH EVENT SPONSORS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THISYEAR’S PROJECT, A UV STERILIZATION UNIT FOR THE LOU & JACK FINNEY CANCER CENTER. THANKS TO THE COMMITMENT OF THISYEAR’S EARLY BIRD SPONSORS, WE RAISED CLOSE TO $40,000 BEFORE THE NIGHT OF THE B4TC KICK-OFF. PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS SUE ANN HARTING, JULIE DEGELIA, AJA PARKS AND JANEEN CUNNINGHAM. NOT PICTURED IS COMMITTEE MEMBER MICAH PARKS.
Notes
FROM FOUNDATION DIRECTOR ALICIA WITTKOPF Emergency services for our blossoming county are important to me, not only because my husband, Gabe, is a firefighter and EMT, but because together, he and I are the primary contacts for my aging grandparents, Cal and Sue. In the past two years, one of us has followed the ambulance to the emergency room four times. Most recently, my grandmother was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. My grandfather called 911 from the small community of Fairlie and within minutes the ambulance crew arrived. It takes a lot of logistics for a quick arrival outside of “town,” but this happens
on a regular basis throughout Hunt County. When you call 911 from anywhere in Hunt County for a medical emergency, ambulance supervisors assess the location in need and are able to accommodate multiple calls by shifting ambulance routes as necessary. The men and women of AMR are just as vital as the emergency room staff to saving the lives of those we love. Their quick judgement in unknown circumstances has contributed to thousands of happy outcomes here in Hunt County. Thank you to the paramedics and EMT’s that have responded to my grandparents’ home and thank you to all first
responders for all you do to keep our friends and family healthy!
Alicia A. Wittkopf, Director Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation / healthbeat / 23
Hunt Regional Healthcare
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