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WINTER 2015 | VOL. 7, NO. 1
inside...
EDITORIAL
Alicia Wittkopf - Executive Editor Chelbie Birdwell - Design Editor Kim Cartier - Photographer
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I chose Hunt Regional Brian Cullen talks to us about his total knee replacement surgery
WHAT’S THE STORY? Welcome to the new look of healthbeat! Have you got a story or feedback for the team? REACH US AT contact@huntregional.org
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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10 P10 I CHOSE HUNT REGIONAL Bariatric surgery is in the spotlight as Paula Talley shares her weight loss surgery success story.
PLUS DON’T MISS ALL THIS
13 P13 NEW FACES
16 P16 I CHOSE HUNT REGIONAL
Hunt Regional Medical Partners Surgical Associates welcomes two new faces to Hunt Regional
Community member Simeon Pierce reveals why he chose Hunt Regional Medical Center to help him get his health under control.
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Spotlight on Prevention: Consumer Reports highlight
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Spotlight on Health: Mental health for seniors
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A Diamond Anniversary: 2015 gala
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Upcoming Events: What not to miss this summer
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Director’s Notes: Foundation updates from
Alicia Wittkopf
MESSAGE FROMTHE CEO
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ate winter and early spring can be a very strange and unpredicatable time in healthcare. Outbreaks of seasonal illnesses and winter weather events can leave hospitals with busy emergency departments and overflowing waiting rooms. Thankfully, our hospital is full of caring and dedicated staff who are willing to brave the elements in order to keep you and your family well. Being part of a team that is committed to providing outstanding care during every season of life is one of the many reasons I am proud to call Hunt Regional home. In the coming months,
Hunt Regional will celebrate the grand opening of Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce, with a new facility in Quinlan following shortly behind. We are grateful for the opportunity to fulfill a need for expanded emergency care in Hunt County and look forward to building relationships with the families in these areas. While it is always our hope that you and your loved ones will remain in good health, you can count on friendly and familiar faces to care for your family should the need arise.
Richard Carter Chief Executive Officer
healthbeat: the pulse of health in northeast texas
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WELCOME
welcome
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 903.408.1064 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.
March 24 is World Tuberculous Day About one third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. Only a small proportion of those infected will become sick with TB.
SOURCE:ORGANDONOR.GOV
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BRIAN CULLEN TALKS ABOUT HOW HIS TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT INCREASED HIS MOBILITY
I chose Hunt Regional TO INCREASE MY RANGE OF MOTION BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature Brian Cullen has lived through many eras of hospital change. A replanted New Yorker, he and his wife Barbara have lived in Hunt County for the last 30 years witnessing the growth of the hospital and the local medical community. So when he found himself in need of knee surgery, he chose Hunt Regional to help him get back to his active lifestyle.
Because he knew people who had been through the surgery and had seen what worked for them, Brian made a unique pre-surgical decision. He opted to exercise key muscles for a month before the surgery, getting his body ready for the operation and ready for post-surgery rehabilitation. About two weeks before surgery, Cullen began the process of preparing for surgery, meeting with anesthesiologist Dr. Romeo Baltazar, who is known for his skill in the area of pain management. “He took me through the process and what they were going to do as far as pain control,” said Cullen, A radius problem recalling the comfort he felt during the whole presurgical process. A rancher needs to be able to roam about on “I visited the hospital to check in and received his land. But week by week, Brian Cullen’s radius x-rays, scans and more to make sure I was ready. It all of activity was getting smaller and happened on time, which is rare in smaller. As his mobility decreased, the medical field. I had a battery of his desire to reclaim his liveliness tests and was still home in less than increased. two hours,” he said. Brian was accustomed to walking Brian underwent surgery to two to three miles every day with his receive his new knee on January 5, “Thanks to Dr. Baltazar, wife. But as his pain became greater, 2015. I didn’t have the pain I his range dwindled until eventually, he couldn’t do it anymore. thought I would have.” Realizing that it was time to move An unexpected BRIAN CULLEN forward with surgery, he went to see reaction his primary care physician, Dr. Timothy Ellington, to discuss his next move. “I had been in to see Dr. Ellington Friends had warned him that he before; he and I had been talking for would be in severe pain when he quite a while that it was getting to be came out of surgery. But surprisingly, time for surgical intervention,” he said. that wasn’t the case. With no cartilage left in one knee and a second “My biggest and most pleasant surprise was the knee rapidly deteriorating, Brian began preparing for a pain management,” he said, adding that when he woke total knee replacement. up after surgery, he was not only alert, but in almost no pain. “Thanks to Dr. Baltazar, I didn’t have the pain I Choosing a surgeon thought I would have,” he said. After a short surgical recovery, Brian was moved Having experienced healthcare in both large cities to the seventh floor rehabilitation unit for the rest of and small towns, Brian knew he had options. He visited his stay. But only one day after entering rehab, Cullen multiple facilities including Hunt Regional and a wellhad a sudden and startling reaction he had never known clinic in Dallas, which specializes in orthopedic experienced before to the pain medication. medicine. With both facilities giving the same opinion, “While in rehab, I had an unexpected allergic it was time for him to make a choice. That choice was reaction to the pain medication. The doctors quickly Dr. David Liao and the team at Hunt Regional Medical found a substitute. Even though it occurred over the Center in Greenville. weekend, there was no slowdown or interruption “I ended up selecting Dr. Liao for a couple of in my care,” he said, crediting the fast change to the reasons,” said Cullen. attentiveness of the nurses and the swift response of Dr. William Winn, medical director for Hunt Regional’s “Most important was that I knew people upon inpatient rehab. whom he had worked,” he said, adding that those positive patient outcomes were a large factor in his “I found the nurses to be timely and attentive as decision. well as cautious. Whether it was giving me medication
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feature or checking my vitals, they were abundantly cautious “I guess the rehab staff knew more about what I and double-checked everything, which is a good needed than I did,” he said. discipline to have,” he said. When he first arrived on the seventh floor after Moving forward surgery, Brian wasn’t able to stand. Yet by the next morning, the therapists had him walking with the Only weeks out from his surgery, assistance of the walker. By the Brian has reached almost a full end of that day, he could move “I think this treatment recovery without the use of pain comfortably with the walker. medication. with dignity may be “Initially, I balked at some “Now I walk all over the ranch. of the exercises because they the department’s most I’m getting back into working and I’m seemed more focused on hand-eye important accomplishment only a month out of surgery,” he said. coordination or other symptoms of Cullen has continued his because it encourages folks stroke. I wanted the focus to be on recovery as a patient in outpatient the legs and balance,” he said. to speak up and to push rehab three times a week where he The staff listened, but they also themselves.” has experienced rapid progress. pushed back, explaining the value of “I am more mobile a month after BRIAN CULLEN seemingly simple exercises. surgery than I was a month before “Perhaps what impressed me surgery,” he said. most was the dignity with which the therapy staff Although he feels the decision of where to receive treated each individual. Some needed extra care, extra surgery and care is a very personal one, Cullen says time and extra understanding,” he said. he will tell anyone who asks about his stay at Hunt “I think this treatment with dignity may be the Regional. department’s most important accomplishment “Whether it’s the attentiveness of the hospital because it encourages folks to speak up and to push staff, the insight of the rehabilitation unit, the skill of themselves,” said Cullen, recalling that each visit from the surgeons or great pain management, from start to the nurses and staff was not only important medically, finish it was a positive experience,” he said. but provided mental support of equal importance. After only a week in rehab, Cullen walked out of WANT TO KNOW MORE? the hospital by himself—without a walker and without a cane. CALL: 903.408.5770 Looking back at his swift recovery, Brian says he WEB: www.huntregional.org/surgery has now reached a realization.
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YOUR KNEES ANDTREATMENT OPTIONS
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tand, jump, run and pivot—simple tasks, which require the help of the largest joint in our body: the knee. The knee, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), is one of the most easily injured joints in the human body. AAOS says that almost 11 million people visit doctors every year because of knee problems. More than half of those, about 6 million, are visits to ortho surgeons who do more work on knees than any other part of the body. Whether you are currently suffering from a knee injury or knee pain, recovering from injury or trying to avoid it, there are many procedures and therapies that can help. The key, according to AAOS, is getting treatment as soon as possible. However sometimes, rehabilitation and physical therapy just aren’t enough. If the knee is severely damaged, and other measures don’t bring relief, a doctor may suggest a knee replacement. AAOS says that by resurfacing the knee’s damaged and worn surfaces, knee replacement surgery can help reduce pain.
Each year, over a quarter million knee replacements are performed in the United States. In a total knee replacement (TKR) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the surgeon first removes the damaged cartilage and bone. After that, the new joint surfaces are put in place. In general, AAOS says a total knee replacement is a two-hour procedure, done under either general or spinal anesthesia. There are many different designs and brands of knee prostheses available, so you and your doctor should discuss your specific needs carefully. It’s also important to remember that even an artificial joint can wear out over time, so sometimes a second surgery may be required down the road. There is also a procedure called unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), which may be appropriate for some people who are over age 60 and not very active. In a UKA, diseased bone is removed and replaced with an implant. AAOS says UKA can help alleviate pain and may delay the need for TKA. If damage is to only a portion of the knee, the
patient may be a candidate for what is called a partial knee resurfacing (PKR) or partial knee replacement. PKR implants are smaller and less bone is impacted by the procedure. Some patients may also be candidates for minimally invasive knee replacement. This type of surgery involves smaller incisions and faster recovery. However, it may not be appropriate for all patients, so you need to discuss this with your doctor. For more information about orthopedic surgery, visit www. huntregional.org.
How does it work: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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: What is a knee made of? How can you replace a bone? : The knee is actually a joint, like your hip. Like any joint, the knee is composed of bones and cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Over time, the cartilage between the bones can wear down.
Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of knee replacement and the principal diagnosis of 96% of total knee replacement recipients. SOURCE: HEALTHLINE.COM
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real health
Spotlight on prevention: HUNT REGIONAL TOPS INFECTION PREVENTION LIST National publication Consumer Reports has listed Hunt Regional Medical Center as one of the nation’s top infectionpreventing hospitals 8 / healthbeat /
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unt Regional Medical Center in Greenville has been listed in a review by Consumer Reports as one of only 37 hospitals in the country to receive their highest rating in preventing surgical-site infections, central-line infections, and infections stemming from urinary catheters. Only three hospitals in Texas earned the distinction. “This ranking is confirmation of what we already knew. Our staff combines hard work and frequent training to make sure that our patients have a low risk of infection and other complications,” said
Debby Clack, chief nursing officer for Hunt Regional. Hospitals work hard to make sure that patients leave healthy and on their way to recovery. However, an estimated 650,000 patients per year in the U.S. develop an infection while in the hospital. The infections often develop during or after surgery, or can be traced to urinary catheters. To prevent infection, healthcare workers must practice vigorous hand washing, which is needed to physically break down a hard shell that forms around the bacterium, before they put on their sterile gloves and touch catheters.
WE’RE READY TO
LAUNCH! Hunt Regional Healthcare’s new blog will go live on April 9! Visit the address below after that date for posts from our physicians, messages from the CEO, videos, recipes & more!
ON CALL THE HUNT REGIONAL HEALTHCARE BLOG
www.oncallblog.com / healthbeat / 9
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PAULA TALLEY SHARES HOW BARIATRIC SURGERY GAVE HER A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
I chose Hunt Regional TO FIND MY AFTER BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature Years of running a successful catering business had taken a toll on Paula Talley.The demands of a fast-paced, on-your-feet lifestyle were exciting, but had all but ruined her feet from years of standing and neglect. For many people who make the decision to undergo bariatric surgery, the procedure can kick-start a life-changing transformation. For Paula, it gave her the freedom to walk again.
a program in our area and took action, adding bariatric surgery to their growing list of surgeries in December 2012. “We are seeing more and more patients taking control of their health through a combination of surgery and lifestyle changes. By focusing on safety and aftercare, we have eliminated much of the risk of what can be a life-changing procedure,” said Dr.Viet Phuong, bariatric surgeon with Hunt Regional Medical Partners Surgical Associates. Once a last resort for the morbidly obese, bariatric surgery was traditionally reserved for patients after diet, exercise and other programs had failed. Now, studies have shown that even moderately obese patients may reap the benefits of weight loss surgery. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 are considered candidates for weight loss surgery if they Paula Talley’s journey to bariatric surgery isn’t like also have one or more diseases associated with obesity. other stories you may have heard. Two foot surgeries Patients with a BMI of 40 or more are combined with years of discomfort candidates for the surgery, regardless of had left her unable to exercise and had diseases present. drastically reduced her ability to walk without constant pain. “I had tried every diet In addition to the side effect of weight loss, bariatric surgery has “I was under a doctor’s care for known to man. Some also proven itself as a way to reverse my feet for almost three years before many of the diseases related to were successful, most of my foot surgery, including a weight loss obesity including Type 2 diabetes, program to take the pressure off my feet. them weren’t. Everything high cholesterol, sleep apnea and I would try and it wouldn’t work because cardiovascular disease. Increased it was so painful,” said Paula. was temporary or so self-esteem, independence and longer Like many Americans struggling with slow that I would get lifespans also round out the list of being overweight, Paula’s situation felt like benefits attributed to losing weight. discouraged.” a problem with no solution. “I had tried every diet known to man. PAULA TALLEY Some were successful, most of them weren’t. Everything was temporary or so slow that I would get discouraged,” said Paula. Paula had convinced her husband that she could benefit from the surgery, but her journey Although her husband initially felt the surgery would had only just begun. Although she knew multiple people be too risky, Paula was finally able to convince him of the who had surgery in benefits after watching several friends experience good the Dallas area, Paula results following bariatric surgery. Tired of chronic pain decided that Dallas and concerned about a family history of diabetes, Paula was too far to travel decided to take the leap. for healthcare. It was then that she saw an ad for bariatric surgery at Hunt Regional and decided to attend an Serving as an umbrella term for gastric bypass, gastric informational seminar sleeve and other types of weight loss surgery, bariatric hosted by the hospital. surgery refers to an entire family of procedures, which Recalling how alter the stomach and digestive system. By limiting the she immediately felt size of the stomach and the absorption level of calories, comfortable, Paula surgeons are able to control the amount of food that can remembers being be consumed, leading to weight loss. impressed by the The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric professionalism of the Surgery estimates that roughly 220,000 people surgery center’s staff. BEFORE underwent weight loss surgery in 2008 in the U.S. alone. “I didn’t feel Those numbers, coupled with rising obesity levels, have uncomfortable like they were judging me,” said Paula. persuaded hospitals around the country to expand their “They didn’t make me feel self-conscious or services in order to better accommodate patients in need. embarrassed having to be there,” she said. Hunt Regional Medical Center saw the need for such
Taking the leap
Before to after
Bringing bariatric surgery
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feature After an initial consultation, which included a nutritional evaluation, blood work, general health check-up and a psychiatric evaluation, Paula was cleared for gastric sleeve surgery.
Paula, as she recalls the pain she once felt not only in her feet, but also in her knees. “I thought I was going to be crippled and not be able to walk,” said Paula, adding that although she does still experience some foot pain, it is “practically nonexistent” compared to what she was experiencing before her From walking to running surgery. Once Paula was released to begin exercising, she started walking. It wasn’t long, before she started running Although modern medicine has through the use of the C25K program. allowed the procedures to become more commonplace, bariatric surgery “You’re talking about a girl who is not a quick fix and isn’t right for couldn’t walk and now I can run. It’s not “You’re talking about a everyone. Pre-operative consultations that I love to run. I love the fact that I and medical tests are used to determine can run,” said Paula, who has started girl who couldn’t walk which, if any, type of surgery is right for exercising at least three times a week and and now I can run.” potential candidates. Like many medical sometimes up to six days a week. procedures, the long-term success of PAULA TALLEY “It’s like telling God thank you every bariatric surgery depends on the patient’s day that I can move. I can get on the floor ability to commit to permanent lifestyle and play with my grandchildren. These changes. were all things I couldn’t do before my “It’s a lot of work. I think a lot of people think it isn’t surgery,” she says. any work and that you cheated,” says Paula, calling surgery Paula calls the weight loss simply an added bonus, the tool she needed to get where she is today. revealing that although she didn’t start with any weight “It is a lifestyle change. To be honest with you, I eat loss goals, she has lost a total of 77 pounds and is now 15 more food now than I’ve ever eaten in my life. I eat all the pounds away from her high school weight. time, but I eat foods that are better for me. My portions “I’m just so grateful,” says Paula. are different. I read what I’m putting in my body and I pay “Every morning when I put on my tennis shoes and I attention to that,” says Paula, adding that the entire process run down the street, I’m just so grateful.” has been very educational. “I still eat something naughty occasionally, but then I just work harder after that,” she says. For many people who undergo bariatric surgery, the effects can be dramatic. For Paula, the change was life WANT TO KNOW MORE? altering. CALL: 903.408.5770 “Within the first 2 weeks, I noticed a great difference WEB: www.huntregional.org/surgery in the amount of pain. It has been a lifesaver for me,” said
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GASTRIC SLEEVE
BARIATRICS AND HOW ITWORKS
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astric bypass surgery is widely considered to be the gold standard in bariatrics and has been performed successfully for over 40 years. The gastric bypass combines restrictive and malabsorptive qualities to offer the greatest weight loss and disease resolution potential of any major bariatric procedure. The gastric bypass procedure is performed in a minimally invasive manner, meaning that 4 or 5 small 1/2 to 1 inch incisions are created in the abdomen. Trocars, which act as passageways are fitted into the incisions to guide the medical devices into the abdomen. The surgeon is able to see the abdominal cavity with the help of a highdefinition camera known as a laparoscope, which projects the image of the abdomen in stunning clarity onto screens mounted above the operating table. In the first part of the procedure, restriction is achieved by cutting away approximately 80% of the stomach. What’s left is about the size of a golf ball and can receive only a very limited amount of food. The portion of the stomach that is cut away remains in the abdomen, however it will no longer
accept food. The new, smaller stomach reduces the amount of food that a patient can eat at any given sitting, restricting the number of calories that can be consumed. The second part of the procedure is the bypassing of the duodenum, also known as the small intestine. In bypassing part of the small intestine, fewer calories are absorbed by the sensitive intestinal walls. This process is known as malabsorption. The gastric sleeve, or sleeve gastrectomy, is the newest of the major bariatric procedures. It is highly regarded by surgeons and very popular with patients because of its simplicity and excellent results. The sleeve is the third most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the United States, but it is the fastest growing of the major bariatric procedures. The gastric sleeve is performed in a minimally invasive manner, using small ½ to 1 inch incisions in the abdomen. Trocars, which act as passageways, are inserted into the incisions and allow specially made medical devices to access the abdominal cavity. With the assistance of a high-definition camera, also known as laparoscope, the
surgeon is able to view the entire surgical field in exceptional detail. TV monitors are mounted above the operating table giving the surgeon an exceptional view of the surgical field. During the procedure, the surgeon will remove approximately 70 to 80% of the existing stomach, vertically and along the curvature of the stomach. Doing so leaves a smaller stomach pouch, about the size and shape of a banana – this smaller stomach restricts the amount of food that a patient can eat at any given time. Unlike the gastric bypass, the portion of the stomach that is cut away is removed from the abdomen. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www. huntregional.org.
Meet our surgeons HUNT REGIONAL WELCOMES TWO NEW FACES
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unt Regional Medical Partners Surgical Associates is proud to announce the addition of two new surgeons to their practice. Dr.Viet Phuong and Dr. Flora Varghese are now accepting patients on the second floor of Hunt Regional Medical Center. Call 903-4085770 to schedule your consultation today.
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More than onethird of U.S. adults (34.9%) are obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death. SOURCE: CDC.GOV
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THANK YOU TO OUR HEADLINING SPONSORS:
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real health
Spotlight on health: MENTAL WELLNESS FOR TEENS IN RURAL AREAS
Everyone agrees that suicide is a complex problem. A new study shows that the risk for teens may be even bigger in rural areas.
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uicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It strikes the young and the old disproportionately and unfortunately, it is a growing problem. Teens, who live in rural areas, commit suicide at double the rate of their counterparts who live in urban areas. A new study found that the gap may be getting bigger too. The study, which appears in JAMA Pediatrics, looked at suicides over a 14-year period. The study found that 66,595 young people between 10 and 24 years of age died at their own hand during those years. The rate showed almost double the amount of suicides in rural areas compared to cities.
The rate for young men in rural areas was 19.93 per 100,000 versus 10.31 in urban areas. For young women, the rates were 4.40 per 100,000 in rural areas and 2.39 in cities. “These kinds of surveillance studies can really help us identify areas to target our prevention efforts, and it’s clear we need to target rural areas for primary prevention of suicide,” said Cynthia Fontanella, lead author of the study. Suicide is a growing crisis but it is also a potentially preventable problem. If you suspect that your teen or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact a doctor right away to find professional help.
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feature Not everyone who receives health advice from their physician chooses to follow that warning. But for Simeon Pierce, he simply saw no other way. Facing kidney failure and possible dialysis, Pierce knew that it was time to make a change.
Under pressure
“I had four packs in my jacket pocket when I left,” he said. It was his relationship with Hider that he claims helped him through the roughest part. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I’d have stopped smoking,” said Pierce. But he did.
Kicking the habit
By the time Simeon Pierce was admitted to the hospital for chest pain and extremely high Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your blood pressure in 2013, it was almost too late. health. But that knowledge doesn’t make trying to His elevated blood pressure had taken its toll on quit any easier. Nicotine, the drug found naturally his kidneys, bringing him to stage III kidney failure. in tobacco, has been labeled by experts as just Having visited the emergency addictive as heroin or cocaine. room five times in the previous Using every bit of resolve he year, Pierce had been given a had, Simeon Pierce made the prescription for blood pressure decision to give up smoking for medicine but had stopped filling good. the prescription. Costing him “Every time I got the craving, “She would take the time to $87 per bottle, it isn’t hard to I would pick up one of those understand why he ceased taking break it down for me into four packs, I would think about the medication. Luckily for Mr. key points so that I could my high blood pressure and put Pierce, Christy Hider, RN, was it back down,” said Pierce, who understand it.” assigned to his care team; a says he tried everything from fortunate encounter that would SIMEON PIERCE walking, sucking on peppermints set him on a new path. and prayer to help with the “We had a good nursecravings. Ultimately, it was his patient relationship from the family that made it stick. start,” says Pierce. “What helped me most was “The doctors would use looking after my two grandkids. big terminology and she would take the time to I was weak but they helped me through it and break it down for me into key points so that I gave me strength,” said Pierce, who celebrated could understand it,” he said. his one-year anniversary of being smoke-free on As Hunt Regional’s Care Transitions program November 9, 2014. coordinator and discharge educator, one of The American Cancer Society reports that Hider’s roles is to assist patients in finding longless than 7% of people are able to quit smoking term success with their health regimen. on any given attempt without medicines or other “Through a program called Care Transitions, help. Simeon Pierce is part of that 7%. we were able to help Mr. Pierce by changing his blood pressure medicine to a more affordable prescription. We were able to help him find Changing the labels a new primary care physician with Greenville Community Clinic by providing him with a no If you’ve ever seen someone walking up charge visit,” said Hider, who also provided Pierce to the second floor of Hunt Regional Medical with his own blood pressure cuff so that he could Center with their groceries and grocery labels, track his levels. chances are it was Simeon Pierce. A heavy smoker, Pierce was told that it was Although kicking his smoking habit of 30 years a lifetime of bad habits that were contributing was great, for Pierce it wasn’t good enough. Using to the state of his kidneys. He was told in no Hunt Regional’s nutrition services department as uncertain terms that he had to quit. But he wasn’t a resource, Pierce set out to change his diet. totally on board. “At first, I brought my bags of groceries and “I went along with it while I was in the nutrition labels to the hospital,” said Pierce. hospital, but I planned to smoke right when I left,” “The dietitian and nutrition department said Pierce. 16 / healthbeat /
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GREENVILLE CITIZEN SIMEON PIERCE TELLS AN AMAZING STORY OF WILLPOWER AND SUCCESS
I chose Hunt Regional TO CHANGE MY NUMBER BY CHELBIE BIRDWELL
feature taught me how to read the labels,” he said. “Each and every one of us is one life event away from needing help. Mr. Pierce took our help Now an avid turkey eater, Pierce says he has and made the best of it. I am very fortunate to cut down on his old favorites including pork have been part of his journey,” she said. and bacon. Thanks to lifestyle changes and his support system at the hospital (which he says Although Pierce says sometimes he is includes not only Hider but the doctors and tempted to go back to his old ways, he knows other staff on his care team). that it is his life that is at stake. Pierce says he has lost “I just thank God that he about thirty pounds in delivered me from smoking cause “You can quit anything the last year and—more it’s a hard thing to stop,” said you want to, you’ve just importantly—has reversed Pierce. much of the damage done to got to have the willpower.” “You can quit anything you his kidneys. want to,” he said. “Mr. Pierce did all the “You’ve just got to have the SIMEON PIERCE hard work himself, we were willpower.” just here to listen and help him make informed decisions on his health WANT TO KNOW MORE? care,” says Hider, noting that Mr. Pierce not only willingly watched informational health videos, but ONLINE: www.huntregional.org also followed up with his primary care physician CALL: 903.408.5000 and a specialist.
Putting pressure on the kidneys High blood pressure creates all sorts of problems for the body. It is linked to increased rates of heart attacks, stroke and other problems. It is also the second leading cause of kidney failure in the United States, second only to diabetes. The kidneys clean wastes from our blood stream. Inside the kidney, tiny blood vessels mingle with other vessels that move the waste out of the body via the urinary system. If those tiny blood vessels are damaged, the process breaks down. About 50 million Americans have high blood pressure. People with a greater risk are the elderly, people with a family history of high blood pressure, people who are overweight and African Americans. In fact, high blood pressure is the leading cause of kidney failure among African Americans. African Americans, ages 25-44, are 20 times more likely to develop kidney failure from high blood pressure than Caucasians in the same age group. Regular check-ups to diagnose high blood pressure are easy and important.
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HEART DISEASE THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE KILLER
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eart disease is the nation’s number one killer of people over the age of 45. Knowing the main risk factors for heart disease can help you take preventative action now. Several factors increase the risk of developing heart disease. The more risk factors you have, the greater chance you have of developing problems. As you get older, your risk increases. Other risk factors include family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and obesity. High blood pressure or hypertension is an important risk factor in the development of heart disease. Over time, high blood pressure damages the blood vessels of the body. The effects are multiplied if there is also a build-up of fatty deposits and plaque. All this forces the heart to work harder to pump the blood.
Millions of Americans have high blood pressure but don’t know it because the disease often has no symptoms. But because high blood pressure can cause so many complications, it’s essential to bring it under control through diet, exercise and, if necessary, medication. In general, you are considered to have prehypertension if your top (systolic) number is usually between 120 and 139, or your bottom (diastolic) number is usually between 80 and 89, according to the National heart Lung and Blood Institute. A reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above indicates high blood pressure. However, if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, you have high blood pressure if your top number is usually 130 or higher, or your bottom number is usually 80 or higher.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say studies indicate that cigarette smokers have more than double the risk of having a heart attack that non-smokers do. If you do smoke, remember that the heavier you smoke and the longer you’ve been at it, the higher your risk can be. Once you quit smoking, studies show your risk can eventually go back down to the level of someone who never smoked.
How does it work: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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: How do I know the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol? : Not all cholesterol is bad. High-density lipoprotein is the so-called “good” cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the undesirable cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the one that causes build-up in the blood vessels. To control your LDL levels, try to limit the amount of fat in your diet to no more than thirty percent of your total daily calories or even lower and cut back on saturated fats.
69%
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About 69% of people who have a first heart attack have blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg. SOURCE: HEART.ORG
/ healthbeat / 19
real health
Spotlight on health: CHECKING IN ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR SENIORS
If untreated, depression can interfere with the ability to cope with the health problems and reduce the energy needed for treatment. 20 / healthbeat /
S
ymptoms of depression can begin at any age and for no apparent reason. For many seniors, however, the symptoms of depression often go unrecognized. Some may attribute their feelings to old age. Others may not realize that new medications can cause emotional changes. As a result, it’s important for seniors and those who care for them to be aware of the symptoms of depression. These include persistent sadness, feelings of despair or hopelessness, inability to enjoy everyday activities, changes in sleep patterns such as chronic insomnia or oversleeping and thoughts of death or suicide. Sometimes depression is triggered by a specific event such as the loss of a loved one. Seniors may find this
happening all too often, upon the death of a spouse or close friends. In such circumstances, it’s obviously normal to experience grief or depression. However, if the depression persists for an extended period of time or if it seems to worsen as time goes on, professional help may be in order. Seniors may also develop depression over their increasing number of health problems. Depression can also result from certain types of medications used to treat a senior’s physical problems. Certain drugs used to treat arthritis and high blood pressure fall into this category. Because the causes can vary so greatly from person to person, someone who suspects depression in themselves or a loved one should seek medical advice.
DINNER & DIAMONDS
JAN & DAVIDWILLIAMS HONOREDAS FRIENDS OFTHE FOUNDATION
T
he Tenth Annual Laughter is the Best Medicine Comedy Gala, hosted by the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation, was held Saturday, February 28. A crowd of roughly 300 people packed the ballroom in the Sam Rayburn Student Center at Texas A&M Commerce-University to hear headlining humorist Rabbi Bob Alper and show their support for healthcare in Hunt County. In addition to the highly applauded comedic entertainment, the evening’s paramount moment was the annual presentation of the Harold Curtis Friend of the Foundation Award to Jan and David Williams, owners of Taylor Bros. Jewelers in Greenville. The award was presented by Leah Curtis, daughter of the late Harold Curtis, who spent more than 50 years serving as the hospital’s legal counsel and who devoted countless hours to helping create the foundation. Shortly after his death in 2006, an award was created to honor those who have followed his path by dedicating their time, talent and financial resources to meet the needs of others through the foundation. “Jan and David Williams are true friends of the foundation,” said Alicia Wittkopf, executive director of the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation. “Every year they are willing to
support our efforts in whatever capacity necessary,” said Wittkopf. In addition to their all-around annual support, Jan and David Williams have made it a tradition of selecting a piece of jewelry from their Greenville store to be raffled at the gala. This year, they donated a pair of 2.25-carat diamond earrings set in white gold, which were won by Cheryl McKenna. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Jerry J. Ransom was the recipient of the Diamond Award, a new award given by the foundation in honor of philanthropic leadership. Ransom’s partnership with the foundation has spanned seven years and has helped shaped the foundation into the organization it is today. “With the Diamond Award, we wanted to create a way to recognize individuals who have not only contributed many years of service to the foundation and the community through personal giving, but who have also inspired others to do the same,” said Wittkopf. “Jerry J. Ransom is the embodiment of that description. His generosity encourages others to give of their time and energy and for that we are grateful,” she said.
Organizations and individuals with ten years of gala sponsorship were also recognized during the evening. Those sponsors include: Alliance Bank; Complete Rx,; The Cullen Family Foundation; Curtis, Alexander, McCampbell & Morris, P.C.; Dr. and Mrs. James Sandin; First Southwest; Mrs. Norma W. Mitchell; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Wensel; Mr. and Mrs. W.D. “Dee” Hilton, Jr.; Vanguard Resources.
In memoriam:
HUNT REGIONAL HEALTHCARE REMEMBERS THE FRIENDS WE LOVE AND MISS
June Day - Former Employee
Amanda Riek - Registrar
Larry Hunter - Former Employee
Bobbie Stephenson - Volunteer / healthbeat / 21
events
season events this
CHECK OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HEALTHCARE THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
MARCH
NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It’s as common in women as it is in men. This year, over 136,830 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 50,310 will die of the disease. With certain types of screening, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps before they become cancerous.
MARCH
NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH March is National Kidney Disease Month. One in 10 Americans are affected the disease.You should talk to your doctor about the possibility of kidney disease if you are over 60; have a high blood pressure; have diabetes; or are African American, Native American, Hispanic or Asian.
You can lower your risk by following a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise, getting regular checkups with your physician, and not smoking.
featured event
MORE INFORMATION: www.kidney.org
Hands that heal when we are sick, hearts that care when we are well. Happy Doctor’s Day
APRIL 7
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS DAY On this day, people from across the country take action to end sexual violence. Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment harm our community, and statistics show one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Child sexual abuse prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before the age 18. On campus, one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted during their time in college.
Hunt Regional Healthcare
MONDAY, MARCH 30
DOCTOR’S DAY Each year on March 30, National Doctor’s Day honors physicians who have devoted their professional lives to caring for others. Hunt Regional’s annual Doctor’s Day celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication that our physicians demonstrate in our hospital and in our community each day. FIND A PHYSICIAN: www.huntregional.org/ourdoctors
the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities.
MAY
MENTAL HEALTH MONTH Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. At Hunt Regional Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Unit, we offer comprehensive services for individuals and families.
MORE INFORMATION: www.nsvrc.org APRIL 18-25
NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate
| March 30
MORE INFORMATION: www.huntregional.org MORE INFORMATION: www.cdc.gov
MAY 6
NATIONAL BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY
HUNT REGIONAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION CHAIR JULIA WENSEL PRESENTS PHILANTHROPIST AND ENTREPRENEUR JERRY J. RANSOM WITH THE DIAMOND AWARD. THE DIAMOND AWARD IS A NEW AWARD GIVEN BY THE FOUNDATION IN HONOR OF PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP.
Notes
FROM FOUNDATION DIRECTOR ALICIA WITTKOPF 2015 is an exciting year for the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation. Although it was formed in 1991 by Harold Curtis, it took several years for the foundation to take shape and a few more years before the inaugural Laughter is the Best Medicine Comedy Gala in 2005. Ten years later, I am proud to represent the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation and all it does for the community. Yes, the Hunt Regional Healthcare
Foundation is an organization. However, it is the coordination of individuals that are the real heart of our group. Every donor, every ambassador and every volunteer for the foundation has not just touched lives, but saved lives. On behalf of Hunt Regional Healthcare and the Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation, THANK YOU for being part of our journey. I look forward to the next ten years!
Alicia A. Wittkopf, Director Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation / healthbeat / 23
Hunt Regional Healthcare
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