2009-10 Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness Senior Living

NORTHERN COLORADO

MEDICAL WELLNESS FIVE DOLLARS

VOLUME IV 2009

BACK TO BACK

SUCCESSES

FRONT RANGE CENTER FOR BRAIN & SPINE SURGERY, P.C.

REPLACEMENT

PARTS

ORTHOPEADIC CENTER OF THE ROCKIES

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A S T Y L E M E D I A A N D D E S I G N , I N C . P U B L I C AT I O N : : E S T. 1 9 8 4

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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Paolo Romero, MD :: Matthew Sorensen, MD Regina Brown, MD Anne Kanard, MD :: Miho Toi Scott MA, MD

at the POUDRE VALLEY HOSPITAL HARMONY CAMPUS 2121 E. Harmony Rd. Suite 150, Fort Collins • www.cancercenteroftherockies.com Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

970.493.6337

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style media and design, inc. | 970.226.6400 |

w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m Publisher Lydia Dody Editor Angeline Grenz

creative director Scott Prosser Senior Designer Lisa Gould

Advertising Sales EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Abby Bloedorn (970) 222-8406 Karen Christensen (970) 679-7593 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932 Office Manager Ina Szwec

Accounting Manager Karla Vigil Contributing Writers Susan D. Cole, Jon Geller, DVM, Connie Hein, Erica Pauly, Corey Radman, Kay Rios, Graciela Sholander, Renee Young Photographer Warren Diggles Contributing photographers Lydia Dody Affiliations Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Loveland Chamber of Commerce Greeley Chamber of Commerce Windsor Chamber of Commerce 2009 Style Magazines January-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness Magazine and Directory February-Building & Remodeling March-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness March-Family & Philanthropy April/May-Northern Colorado Business & Building May/June-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness June/July-Business & Building July/August-Fort Collins Medical & Wellness Magazine and Directories August/September-Business Women & Building October-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer November-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness November/December-Holiday/Winter Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, a one year subscription is $35/year and a two year subscription is $50/year. Free magazines are available in stands at 100 locations throughout Northern Colorado.

For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 226-6400. Fax (970) 226-6427 E-Mail: ronda@StyleMedia.com ©2009 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design Inc.

8

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

CONTENTS

northern colorado medical & wellness

VOLUME IV 2009

12 14 18 22 28 30 34 38 42 45 46 48 50

Publisher’s Letter

Technology Advances in Healthcare

Sleep Apnea – Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.

Replacement Parts in the 21st Century Orthopeadic Center of the Rockies

Back to Back Successes

Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C.

Pap Smears Essential for Cervical Health Summit Pathology

18

Replacement Parts in the 21st Century Orthopeadic Center of the Rockies

22

Back to Back Successes Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C

IBMC Medical Training Changes Lives Institute of Business and Medical Careers

Providing a Continuum of Care Mountain Valley Health Care

Choosing a Chiropractor

Managing Your Stress 11th Annual Free Head & Neck Cancer Screening Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat, P.C.

Holiday Dangers to Your Pet

30

IBMC Medical Training Changes Lives Institute of Business and Medical Careers

45

11th Annual Free Head & Neck Cancer Screening Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat, P.C.

Stem Cell Therapy For Pets Physician Spotlight: Serving Patients Despite Challenges James Sprowell, M.D., Associates in Family Medicine, P.C.

46

Holiday Dangers to Your Pet

on the cover: Mark Neagle, M.D., Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C. helps the Northern Colorado community get a good night’s sleep.

10

50

Physician Spotlight: Serving Patients Despite Challenges James Sprowell, M.D., Associates in Family Medicine, P.C.

The articles in this issue of Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness are presented for your general knowledge and are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please contact your doctor of healthcare provider.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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Publisher’s Letter

Better Outcomes For Patients

A

s November rolls round and we continue celebrating Style Magazine’s 25th anniversary of publishing in Northern Colorado, we are grateful to have been part of the growth of this area. We have enjoyed seeing our area grow to be a sought-after location to live, raise a family, start a business, or retire. And, as this area has grown, it has also evolved into a regional healthcare center.

12

With this significant healthcare expansion, we have responded with medical and wellness publications packed with timely and informative articles featuring the expertise of our region’s finest specialists and healthcare providers. As we visit and interview these exceptional professionals, I continue to be impressed with the quality of care we offer the residents of our region.

This Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness issue spans a wide range of interesting and compelling topics. I had the opportunity to meet and photograph Alan Braga from Wyoming who had not been able to hold his head up to look someone in the face for several years. After a significant surgery involving screwing a nine-inch rod into his spine, Dr. Timothy Wirt and Dr. Douglas Beard gave Alan and his wife a new lease on life. Alan couldn’t have been happier at his post-op appointment! Read “Back to Back Successes” to learn how the synergy of neurosurgery and orthopedics is working together for better outcomes.

Some months ago my friend, Susan Cole, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reading her article about Dr. Sean Grey’s expertise in shoulder replacements. Naturally, I was interested and after reading it and learning that there are roughly 50,000 shoulder replacements annually in the U.S., I knew that the topic would be of interest to many readers and that “Replacement Parts in the 21st Century” would be informative, as some of us might just need them within our lifetime.

Our cover physician, Dr. Mark Neagle, informed me about a relatively new specialty, sleep disorders, which he is very enthused about since it is a manageable condition. Current estimates are that 1 in 20 Americans suffer from sleep apnea and treatment

can prevent more serious conditions from developing and significantly improve a patient’s quality of life. Read “Sleep Apnea: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep” to learn about how treatment results in a restful night’s sleep for patient and their sleep partner.

Alongside these and many other articles, we also interviewed several chiropractors to learn about their practice philosophy. On occasion, chiropractors have gotten a bad rap even though their modality genuinely helps relieve pain and improve alignment. Read “Choosing a Chiropractor” to learn how to select a healthcare professional that will align with your treatment goals.

Providing care for our families also includes care for our pets. Become alert to the hazards of the season in “Holiday Dangers to Your Pet” by Dr. Jon Geller to avoid an unexpected trip to the veterinary emergency hospital. And, learn about how Dr. Robin Downing incorporates leading edge research technology to helping her pet patients in “Stem Cell Therapy For Pets.”

We hope you enjoy these and more articles about our health, well-being, and the healthcare professionals of our region.

Thank you for your on-going support of Style publications. We truly work very hard to bring you high quality, interesting and timely magazines focused on Northern Colorado people, places, and events. We continue to enjoy receiving your letters, emails, and calls commenting on our issues and always welcome suggestions for future topics. We love hearing from you!

Wishing each of you good health, lydia@stylemedia.com

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

~ MEDICAL CLINIC AT CENTERRA, PC

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

Part of the Greeley Medical Clinic Family

13

sleep disorders

Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.

“We cannot diagnose sleep apnea just based on symptoms alone. However, this is a manageable disorder, not a preventable one.”

Mark Neagle, M.D., Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.

SLEEP APNEA:

getting a good night’s sleep by erica pauly

Imagine sleeping through the night, only to wake up every morning as if you’ve just finished playing a two hour game of football. This is the case for 1 in 20 Americans, says Mark Neagle, M.D., of Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.

D

r. Neagle is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep. For five years and counting, he has provided the know-how and heart to help treat Northern Colorado residents suffering from sleep apnea.

14

What is Sleep Apnea?

“Really, it is easier described as sleep disordered breathing,” says Dr. Neagle. Sleep disordered breathing can be caused by a blockage of the airway or a problem of patterned breathing.

Sleep disordered breathing, or sleep ap-

nea, includes snoring, frequent awakenings, or momentarily stopped breathing for periods throughout the night. Many people who suffer from disordered breathing do not notice their actions. It is often the family member or sleep partner who hears the problem throughout the night and who is concerned about their loved

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

one’s sleep patterns. Once the individual does regain breath, they usually recover with a loud snort or choking noise, according to both Dr. Neagle and the U.S. Department of Health and Human services.

Dr. Neagle notes, “We cannot diagnose sleep apnea just based on symptoms alone.

Sometimes people just snore, which doesn’t mean they have a sleep disordered breathing case. Others snore and it is apparent during a sleep study that they have sleep apnea.”

Individuals suffering from sleep apnea will generally be sleepy all day, due to the lack of ‘deep’ sleep throughout the night. Other symptoms include inability to concentrate throughout the day, constant fatigue, memory loss, and even depression. Dr. Neagle notes, “Sometimes people say, ‘No, I don’t have a problem sleeping, I can sleep all day,’ but I have to remind them that they are so tired because they never receive the deep sleep needed for a good night’s rest.”

Who suffers from it?

Current estimates are that 1 in 20 Americans suffer from sleep apnea, although there can be a wide variety in forms of sleep disordered breathing.

Though the poster child for sleep apnea is an obese middle-aged male, Dr. Neagle reminds us that this is not always the case, “Yes, obesity does increase the chance of sleep apnea, but so does living at higher altitudes as well as advancing age.” We live at a higher altitude, and Fort Collins is known for its outstanding retirement communities, so it is not a surprise that Dr. Neagle treats patients from 14 years old to patients in their 90s.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women are less likely to suffer from sleep apnea. However, Dr. Neagle sees both males and females for sleep disordered breathing.

If a split-night test cannot be achieved, the patient is asked to return for a second night, when the treatment would take place.

The most common method of treatment is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. The machine consists of a mask fitted over the nose and/or mouth of the individual.

Air is administered through the mask and into the airway in order to prevent blockage and to maintain an open airway throughout the night.

The CPAP machine is the most commonly used and most researched treatment method. According to Dr. Neagle, 80 to 90 percent of his patients use the CPAP machine. What about the other 10 to 20 percent of patients? “There are other options such as devices made by dentists in the community, surgical procedures, and medication if a patient prefers a different avenue other than the CPAP machine,” says Dr. Neagle.

Recent commercials advertising mouthpieces or nose adhesives will help with snoring, says Dr. Neagle, but the spokespeople of these companies make it very clear that the mouthpieces and adhesives are made only to prevent snoring, not sleep disordered breathing.

Additional Treatment Methods Dr. Neagle suggests that most of his patients work alongside nutritionists and other doctors to get weight down, if necessary.

“We partner with the patient to get them to a healthy place, not just in their sleep patterns, but their overall health.”

There are a few recommendations for lifestyle changes that will help those with mild sleep apnea. These are found at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Website, www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Enter “Sleep Apnea” into the search tool.

How is it treated?

Sleep disordered breathing can be treated several different ways. However, “this is a manageable disorder, not a preventable one.” In order to treat a patient effectively, Dr. Neagle and his staff ask the patient to take part in a sleep study. Seventy-five percent of the sleep study patients need only stay one night at the Sleep Disorders Center located near Poudre Valley Hospital.

For the study, the patient has wires glued to his or her head and a band around their chest and abdomen. While it may look a bit Frankenstein-like, Dr. Neagle says that if the patient must get up to use the restroom, there is only one small piece they must unplug. “It is not like you have to unhook yourself from some scary contraption, you just un-plug from one spot and go on your way.”

“We can usually make this a split-night test on most of our patients,” says Dr. Neagle. A split-night test occurs when the patient shows signs of sleep apnea within a few hours. When this occurs, the staff wakes the patient and begins treating the sleep apnea in hopes to pinpoint and resolve the sleep disorder in the same night.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

Responsibility of Loved Ones If you do not suffer from sleep apnea, but someone you care about does, the best thing to do is to encourage your loved one to receive medical help from a professional. There are not many options as a spectator to help someone with these conditions, but a medical professional is trained and has the resources to improve the quality of your sleep as well as that of your sleep disordered breathing partner.

Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants is located at 2121 East Harmony Road, Suite 300, in Fort Collins. They can be reached at (970) 224-9102 to schedule an appointment to discuss healthy options for sleep disorders.

Results “I love treating those who are initially skeptical of finding a treatment option,” says Dr. Neagle with a smile. He continues, “They are the ones who always come back impressed that something actually works and can help them.”

The positive results come from the positive outlook of Dr. Neagle himself. From the initial meeting between him and his patient, Dr. Neagle informs them of his three goals: First, to help them find a way to sleep better and feel better. Second, to reduce the risk of heart attacks or any other serious health risks. And third, help others living with the patient so that, ultimately, sleep is improved for everyone.

“I’ve been surprised in the past when it’s the spouses, partners, and family sending me flowers saying ‘Thank you! I can sleep again!’” +

Erica Pauly is a freelance-writer living in Loveland with her husband, Brent.

Lifestyle Changes To Improve Sleep If you have mild sleep apnea, some changes in daily activities or habits may be all that you need.

• Avoid alcohol and medicines that make you sleepy. They make it harder for your throat to stay open while you sleep.

• Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Even a little weight loss can improve your symptoms.

• Sleep on your side instead of your back to help keep your throat open. You can sleep with special pillows or shirts that prevent you from sleeping on your back.

• Keep your nasal passages open at night with nose sprays or allergy medicines, if needed. Talk to your doctor about whether these treatments might help you.

• Stop smoking.

15

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orthopedics

OrthopAEdic Center of the Rockies

No longer are we consigned to living the sunset of our lives as victims of crippling arthritis.

The advent of joint replacement has vastly changed the outlook for people with arthritis and provided a plethora of new shoulders, knees and hips.

Replacement Parts in the

21st CENTURY

By Susan D. Cole

It was still dark when I arrived at the Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies surgical facility. I changed into starched dark blue scrubs and covered my hair with a filmy cap. Soon I was joined by seven other identically dressed figures; the team was assembled. For them it was business as usual. For me it was a rare opportunity to glimpse a medical miracle in the making. Today a patient would be released from a decade of constant pain. Today he would regain the full use of his arm. Today, his shoulder joint would be replaced.

A

rthritis isn’t picky; it affects people of all ages, from all walks of life.

Sometimes it’s a result of trauma, like an auto accident, but more often it is just a part of aging.

There are various types like degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) and disease-based rheumatoid arthritis. Often, in the business, arthritis is simply called the “wear and tear” disease. The advent of joint replacement has vastly changed the outlook for people with arthritis and provided a plethora of new shoulders, knees, and hips. Today, I would see the procedure used to insert an artificial shoulder joint.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that

18

allows you to raise, twist, and bend your arm. It enables you to move your arm forward, to the side, and behind your body. Normal shoulders allow these movements smoothly. This is important because the shoulder must rotate through a greater range of motion than any other joint in the body. The rounded part of the upper arm is supposed to be covered with a layer of smooth cartilage. This layer protects the bone as it glides against a dish-like socket that forms the top part of the joint. But sometimes this process is interrupted.

Robert* had spent four decades working in the manual labor field. His left shoulder had borne the brunt of the heavy lifting and pound-

ing of his daily job. Over time, the protective coating of cartilage over the bone started to wear thin and the bones began to rub against each other. The body tries to protect itself against the deterioration of the bones. “Spurs” often form around the edges of the ball socket and bits of cartilage and bone can break loose and become “floaters.” Combined with the friction of bone on bone this translates into pain.

As we would soon discover, Robert’s shoulder joint ball was encircled with spiky bone spurs.

Like most of us, Robert had shied away from surgery. He tried medications to control the pain and, eventually, cortisone shots to reduce the inflammation in the joint. But the pain

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Dr. Sean Grey (left), with assistant Brian Hoffman, examines X-rays during surgery. The patient received replacement parts to give him a new shoulder.

Sean Grey, M.D., Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies

continued and the wearing in the joint began to reduce the function in his arm. If this process goes on too long, Robert would begin to experience numbness and loss of arm function.

In extreme cases, the bones in the joint become so worn that there isn’t enough bone to work with and surgical replacement becomes impossible.

When I entered the surgical suite, covered from head to toe in blue and wearing a mask, I received one final warning from the surgical team: stay at least eighteen inches away from all instruments and blue covered tables.

I pulled my arms close to my sides.

Then I climbed up on the observation ladder overlooking Dr. Sean Grey’s shoulder.

We were both positioned next to Robert’s left side. Robert was sleeping peacefully under anesthetic. He looked like he was lying in a lounge chair with his head and knees slightly elevated. His body was covered with a blanket and sterile drape and even his face was “tented.” His arm and shoulder had turned a burnt orange from Betadyne antibacterial wash and had been coated with a layer of “Saran Wrap.”

The word “yes” had been written on the arm as final insurance that the correct one was being operated on.

After one last look at the CAT Scan and Xrays, Dr. Grey was ready to begin.

A diagonal incision was cut across the joint and the incision deepened with successive cuts. The tiny blood vessels were sealed off as they began to bleed by the physician’s assistant, Brian Hoffman. I was surprised at how little blood there was in the wound itself.

Carefully the surgeon spread apart two of the major muscles, the peck major and the deltoid, to expose the joint itself. By avoiding actually cutting the muscles, the surgeon was able to minimize the recovery process for Robert.

Spreaders (retractors) held the muscles

and the procedure required exertion. It took strength to wrestle the bones between the muscles during the operation. No wonder most orthopedic surgeons are men.

Robert would have several weeks of physical therapy and would have to be careful using his arm for the next year. It is important to ease back into regular activity so that the body can settle properly around the joint. But he was very happy. Yes, there are annoying aspects of having an artificial joint: special screenings and “pattings” at airports, a squiggly scar snaking across the shoulder, and a limit to clothing options (strapless gowns are probably no longer an option, although Robert wouldn’t be concerned about that). But the gains far outweigh the negatives.

As artificial joints become better and better, the surgeries increase in number. Most patients rave about the almost miraculous results and absence of pain. No longer are we consigned to living the sunset of our lives as victims of crippling arthritis. With high-tech, light weight stainless steel prostheses, we are actually worth less, dry weight, than the sum of our parts. But who’s counting? With knee replacements edging towards three-quarters of a million annually, hip replacements closing in on that number, and shoulder replacements at roughly 50,000 in the U.S., chances are that you are acquainted with someone who has a replacement part. +

20

apart while the surgeon worked. Finally, the rounded head of the humerus was exposed.

It was almost shiny, with virtually no cartilage at all, and jagged with bone spurs. Carefully the surgeon removed the diseased head of the humerus with a small scissor saw. Now a new head would be selected. The surgeon reached into a box filled with dome-shaped plastic patterns. They looked like mushrooms in colorful rows of orange, purple, and green.

These would allow the surgeon to determine the exact size of implant Robert needed. At his word, the representative from the implant company (affectionately called the “box boy”) unwrapped the correct apparatus.

It had two major parts: a ball that looked like a golf ball on a tee, and a three-legged dish. The surgeon drilled out several inches of the arm bone, and inserted the “tee.” Robert’s jagged ball joint had been replaced with a shiny new sphere. Now it was time to replace the “dish.” Three holes were drilled in the top shoulder bone. Each hole was then dried with a blow dryer and a type of cement was inserted in each. Quickly the feet of the dish were inserted and held. The surgeon then had a nurse place a ball of cement into his other gloved hand and into mine.

When the cement becomes hard the implant will be set. Bone cement is a special adhesive that looks like pale gray Play-doh. As I squeezed it, it began to get almost unbearably hot and then it hardened. “You have to be patient,” Dr. Grey explained. “The pressure on the dish must continue until the cement reaches just the right temperature and hardness.”

Finally, the procedure was complete and Robert had a new shoulder. Brian, the physician’s assistant, would sew up the incision and complete the remaining details. The surgeon would take a much needed break; there were seven more shoulder replacements today

*patient’s name has been changed to protect his privacy

Susan D. Cole is a college counselor and author of three books and numerous articles. She lives in Fort Collins.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Sarah Barksdale, MD

Christopher Bee, MD

Joseph Chaffin, MD

James Christian, MD

Cory Dunn, MD

Richard Halbert, MD

Wentzell Hamner, MD

Arlene Libby, MD

Thomas Neuhauser, MD

Michael Walts, MD

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, we serve the communities of Loveland, Greeley, and Ft. Collins and provide services to physicians and medical facilities in communities across Colorado and Wyoming.

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We are medical directors & pathologists of the clinical laboratories at Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, McKee Medical Center and North Colorado Medical Center.

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neurosurgery and orthopedics

Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C.

back to back

successes

Chris Stewart, General Manager of the Colorado Eagles, with orthopedist Douglas Beard, M.D.

BY COREY RADMAN

Two surgical specialties, orthopedics and neurosurgery, when combined, pack a powerful punch.

They change lives, in fact.

I

t’s a statement that seems obvious but has little meaning until one really looks at the individual lives that have been impacted.

Without surgery, Alan Braga would have spent the rest of his life looking at his feet. Without medical intervention, Colorado Eagle’s former Head Coach and current General Manager might have had to leave hockey altogether. Without that treatment, the Colorado Eagles might not have won the 2007 Central Hockey League Championship.

In 2007, Eagles’ President and General Manager, Chris Stewart, was a Head Coach who couldn’t stand or sit comfortably for any period of time. Stewart had planned to take a hiatus for a portion of the season while he addressed the degeneration of his lumbar discs.

22

The bone on bone grinding in his lower back had reached a point where bumping down the road on the team bus was excruciating.

He had even been mistakenly assumed dead by an opposing team’s equipment manager one day when, during a pre-game skate, he had stretched out flat on the floor under the stands. He laughs as he remembers the temporary panic his prone position caused. “The only way to reduce pain was to go in under the stands and lay flat on my back to take the pressure off. The guy must have thought I’d had a heart attack or died or something.”

Stewart explains that his back problems hadn’t been caused by a specific hockey injury but probably had been exacerbated by a career that involved a lot of activity and many, many miles on the road. The pain wasn’t responding

long term to any of the multiple therapies he had tried, so Stewart started looking for a surgeon. The name he heard again and again was orthopedist, Douglas Beard, M.D. At the time, Dr. Beard was practicing in Denver.

Dr. Beard explains the lumbar disc arthroplasty he performed with consultation from his neurosurgical colleagues: “Coach Stewart had a two level, lumbar disc replacement. The procedure is done retroperitoneally (from the front side, going through the abdomen). Usually we make a small incision and work carefully around or behind organs. And no, we don’t pull the guts out of the abdominal cavity and plop them aside while we work on the spine,” Dr. Beard jokes. “It’s a common misconception.”

“We find the diseased disc level and spend a lot of time remobilizing the disc – getting it to

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Patient Alan Braga is seen by surgeon Timothy Wirt, M.D. for his post-surgical appointment.

move again the way it’s supposed to - getting off bone spurs, and making sure there is nothing bulging backwards towards the nerves. In older days, we would have removed the diseased disc and placed a block of bone between the two sites, where they would have grown together and forever more been fused. With the arthoplasty procedure, we assemble a plastic ball and metal cup arrangement that allows

the vertebrae above and below to continue moving naturally.”

Dr. Beard uses the ProDisc prosthesis from Synthes, which has two metal endplates and one plastic in-lay. The metal endplates are carefully fitted to the upper and lower vertebrae.

According to Synthes, the plastic inlay snap locks into the lower endplate and provides the ball that rides in the socket of the upper end-

plate that is intended to allow motion. By replacing spinal fusion surgery with arthroplasty (literally meaning surgical repair of the joint), patients’ spines have better mobility and less stress on joints surrounding a fused site.

Coach Stewart says, “The procedure and recovery went very well. I was back on the bench within six to eight weeks - a lot quicker than initially anticipated. I had planned to be

“Doug and I have similar approaches. When we operate together, things really click which makes surgeries much faster and thus reduces risks to patients from exposure to the air and long periods under general anesthesia.”

Before X-ray of Alan Braga’s spine. Weakened neck and back muscles prevented him from straightening his neck.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

Timothy Wirt, M.D., Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C.

After X-ray which shows the 20 screws attached to the metal rod used to straighten Braga’s neck.

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on sabbatical potentially for the whole season… We went on to win the national Championship that year.” Stewart gives credit to the Eagle’s staff, and especially his assistant coach, Ryan Bach for their excellent work. However, he feels that it was Dr. Beard’s care that made winning the cup a possibility at all. “It absolutely helped accommodate that opportunity to win the championship,” he says.

Results like Chris Stewart’s caught the attention of the partners at Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C. (FRCBS) whose then 29-year-old neurosurgery practice was thriving. Already renowned for exceptional head work and top quality spine care, the partners agreed that adding Dr. Beard would bring a new level of technical ability, allowing them to care for patients who had complex deformities.

Senior surgeon, Timothy Wirt, M.D. who has practiced at FRCBS since 1980, says, “It has been a great partnership.” Since Dr. Beard joined in 2008, the practice has benefited from the synergy of surgical excellence in orthopedics and neurosurgery. FRCBS’s four surgeons, Timothy Wirt, M.D., Donn Turner, M.D., Hans Coester, M.D., and Douglas Beard, M.D., are all board certified in their specialties. All but Dr. Beard are also fellows in the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Wirt, known throughout the region for swift, safe, accurate surgeries appreciates

Colorado Eagles General Manager Chris Stewart celebrates the 2007 Central Hockey League Championship win.

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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Beard’s skills in the operating room. “Doug and I have similar approaches. When we operate together, things really click which makes surgeries much faster and thus reduces risks to patients from exposure to the air and long periods under general anesthesia.”

The practice’s approach to surgery seems to get results. Care Science, a national, independent quality management firm reported that surgical patients of FRCBS had half the morbidity rate of the national average (.9 percent versus 1.8), and had 5.8 percent fewer surgicalrelated complications than usual.

FRCBS’s practice draws patients from all across Colorado, western Nebraska, and southern Wyoming. In many cases, people bypass other major medical centers to come to Fort Collins specifically because of the reputation for excellence that has been built by the partners.

Such was the case for Alan Braga. The 75-years-old semi-retired farmer lives in Encampment, Wyoming. When it was clear that his severely humped neck was not going to straighten up through physical therapy, his friends suggested he go see Dr. Wirt.

“The trouble with my neck started 15 years ago. My neck and back muscles were not strong enough to lift my head up any more. My face was perpendicular to my body. I couldn’t look people in the eye and just felt like there was a barrier between me and the world,” Braga explains.

Dr. Wirt performed a C2 to T4 fusion from the bottom of Braga’s cranium to his shoulders by screwing a nine inch titanium rod into the spine. “He’s got a metal rod for a neck,” Dr. Wirt sums up.

“Mr. Braga’s procedure went well,” recalls Dr. Wirt. “We set him up in the operating room to be physiologically and anatomically neutral.

He was curved downward, so under general anesthesia, we repositioned his head to be neutral with his eyes level. Then we opened up the cervical/thoracic spine [inserted the rod] and put screws into every lateral mass. We connected the 20 screws to the rod, roughed up the bone and laid down material that will make it all fuse together.”

“It feels good to finally greet people eye to eye,” Braga says by phone from his home in Encampment. “I think I had the best care – I couldn’t have had better surgeons anywhere.”

At one point, FRCBS might not have attempted to correct Braga’s deformity. However Dr. Beard’s previous experience with cervical fusions added the extra know-how that was needed to ensure a successful outcome.

Because of the integration of neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery now offers more depth in spine care. Because of the collaboration of talented physicians like these, Chris Stewart and Alan Braga are living fuller, less painful lives… and Northern Colorado is home to a CHL national championship team. +

Corey Radman is a writer and mother of two who lives in Fort Collins.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

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Just another lesson from nature!

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TWENTY THREE TREES MEDICAL & WELLNESS SPA PO UDRE VA LLE Y H EA LTH SYS TEM

prevention

Summit Pathology

“Before Pap screens, carcinoma of the cervix was the number one killer of women in the U.S.” Arlene Libby, M.D., Summit Pathology

pap smears essential

for cervical health

By Kay Rios

Thanks to diligent women who get their yearly Pap smears, cervical cancer rates have dropped dramatically over the past four decades.

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efore Pap screens, “carcinoma of the cervix was the number one killer of women in the U.S.,” says Arlene Libby, M.D. and medical director for cytology services and breast pathology at Summit Pathology. “Now that’s not true, but in countries where they don’t have Pap smears, it’s still number one.”

In fact, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition reports that worldwide 473,000 women are diagnosed each year, with 85 percent of the cases occurring in developing countries.

Currently in the U.S., about 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. That number was considerably higher in the 50s but, with the increased use of the Pap test, the death rate declined by 74 percent.

Findings of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reaffirmed that

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fewer and fewer American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year because of the use of the Pap test, and newer screening tools and treatments continue to reduce incidences. But any test is only good if it is used and, the study said, most women who got the disease had either never had a Pap smear or had not taken one for five years.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that, in 2005, almost 13 million women age 18 to 64 had not received the Pap test within the last three years.

Insurance, education, and ethnicity all played a role in that decision, according to AHRQ’s study. Twenty-five percent of uninsured women failed to receive a Pap test within three years.

Asian women were less likely to have consented to the test than other ethnic groups. Lessereducated women registered higher numbers of

those not receiving the test. Twice the number of single women had not received a Pap smear, compared with those who were married.

It’s important to get a Pap test, says Jacqueline Fields, M.D. and founder of Healing Gardens. “Cervical cancer is extremely treatable, but we need to know what is happening in the cervix to be able to treat any abnormalities.”

She adds that, “Within one year of being sexually active or beginning at age 21, women need to have a Pap smear. Once people are married and monogamous, and they have had normal Pap smears, they can have their Pap smear every two years.”

Having a yearly test is usually recommended until age 30. After that, the human Papillomavirus (HPV) test is usually given at the same time. If the HPV test is negative and the Pap smear is normal, the test may be skipped for up

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

to three years, Dr. Libby says.

“That approach isn’t really used on a widespread basis,” she says. “One reason is that doctors are afraid the patients will not come in for the rest of the exam. They still need to come in for a breast checkup and have their ovaries checked and, if not for the Pap smear requirement, the rest of the exam may not happen.”

The Pap smear, says Fields, looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. “We have a higher risk for having abnormal cells at the cervical junction, where one cell type tranforms to another.

In a Pap, you swab that junction zone and then look at the cells under a microscope. Are they normal or not?”

The majority of abnormal results come from HPV, she says. “There are 60 strains of HPV, but only a handful of them are associated with cervical cancer and that’s what we are concerned about. The idea is to find this before cancer evolves.”

The cells taken in the exam are sent to a pathology group such as Summit Pathology. Summit is an independent group of doctors that work out of North Colorado Medical Center, Medical Center of the Rockies, Poudre Valley Hospital, McKee Medical Center, East Morgan County Hospital, and Estes Park Medical Center. At those sites, pathologists review the matter sent to them and provide the analysis.

Dr. Libby says that cells from the Pap smear were previously looked at on a slide. The newer method is to place them in a solution where they are easier to view. There are less false positives and less false negatives with this procedure than in the past. “The change to liquid occurred about 10 years ago and has increased the reliability of the test,” Dr. Libby says.

“The main thing we look for is a preneoplastic condition (dysplasia) that is a condition prior to cancer. That is the beauty of the Pap. Cervical carcinoma has a long phase that we can detect in its early stages. A woman’s cells can be infected by HPV and, depending on the type of HPV and the woman’s immune response to that virus, it can either disappear or progress over a period of years. So we want to catch it at the preneoplastic stage,” she says.

About seven years ago, the HPV test was developed and its use along with the conventional Pap has become more common in the past five years. “There are still clinics that just do the basic tests with a conventional Pap on a slide. That’s primarily in indigent clinics because it’s less expensive.”

But the point remains: Pap smears are essential in reducing incidence rates. “Cervical cancer is very treatable but, again, you have to come in to have your screening,” Fields says.

“I’ve never had anyone die of cervical cancer but that’s because I have very diligent patients.

And I think the game is always prevention. Information is never the enemy.” +

Kay Rios, Ph.D., is a freelance writer in Fort Collins. She writes for a variety of publications and is currently at work on a collection of creative non-fiction and a mystery novel.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

Jacqueline Fields, M.D., founder of Healing Gardens

What Every Woman Should Know about HPV: • HPV is a very common virus, like chicken pox • Certain types of HPV are the primary cause of cervical cancer • Up to 8 out of every 10 women get HPV by age 50 • Regular screenings can protect you from HPV

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medical training

Institute of Business and Medical Careers new facility in greeley

“I can promise you that at the end of the day, the students and their success are the number one focus we have.”

Steve Steele, President, Institute of Business and Medical Careers

IBMC Medical Training

Changes Lives

By Renee Young

With people going to great lengths to protect themselves from illnesses, it seems strange to intentionally place yourself in the midst of a contagious atmosphere. That is exactly what people do everyday, however, at the Institute of Business and Medical Careers (IBMC). “It’s an infectious environment you want to be in,” says Steve Steele, president of Northern Colorado’s homegrown occupational associate’s degree school.

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BMC faculty, staff, and students agree.

“To see the growth in students and to see them succeed…I can’t get enough,” says Charissa Swope, a registered medical assistant and phlebotomist, and an IBMC instructor.

Rich and Colleen Laub purchased the school (originally called Medical Careers Training Center) in 1991, after moving to Fort Collins. Rich Laub grew up in the postsecondary education world; his father co-founded the National Education Corporation in Newport Beach, Califor-

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nia, so helping people achieve success beyond high school came naturally to him.

When the school’s student population began bourgeoning in the mid-‘90s and the Laubs recognized a need in Northern Colorado for better trained business professionals, they changed the school’s name to the Institute of Business and Medical Careers (IBMC) and expanded its offerings from primarily medical assisting to include diplomas and degrees in medical billing and coding, therapeutic massage, pharmacy technician, business administration and ac-

counting, paralegal, and administrative assistant. Since then, they also established branch campuses in Greeley and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

According to Diana Gunderson, Vice President of Education, the school has seen another influx of students in the past two years. Enrollment today stands at more than 750 students compared to half that number in 2007.

The relative brevity of IBMC programs (19 months or less for most programs) attracts many students, often those fresh out of high school who do not want to attend a two- or four-year

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Registered medical assistant, phlebotomist, and IBMC instructor, Charissa Swope (center), shows students how to take a patient’s blood pressure. university, but know they need college-level career training. “Employers are excited to get IBMC graduates because they are prepared enough to be able to hit the ground running, but yet they’re still trainable to suit an individual employer’s needs,” Gunderson explains.

IBMC’s fast-track coursework also attracts people who may want to change careers, such as Carole Thyfault. “I wanted a career for myself that I could take anywhere to support my son and myself…something to be proud of… and the 19-month [medical assisting] program turned me on.”

IBMC’s medical assisting program includes training in taking vital signs, injections, phlebotomy, the preparation of lab specimens, EKGs, suture removal, and more. In addition to class training, students participate in an extern-

At IBMC (Fort Collins campus pictured), students can access healthcare careers including: medical billing and coding, therapeutic massage, pharmacy technician, and medical assisting.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

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ship where they do hands-on training in a physician’s office, a clinic, or other healthcare setting.

Certainly the economy is another reason for the increasing enrollment at IBMC and other postsecondary institutions. In a down economy, “…people get a little scared and take a look at themselves and want to add some more marketable skills,” Steele says. The medical field seems to offer some protection from job losses that other fields, such as technology, don’t offer. “Healthcare is something, regardless of what the economy is like, we all have to have.

So we’ve really tried to focus our program offerings around things that don’t cycle, like healthcare.”

IBMC touts an average 90 percent monthly retention rate, plus anywhere from an 83 to

100 percent job placement rate in medical professions. Part of this success is credited to the school’s hands-on training by instructors who work in the healthcare field and externships, which afford students the opportunity to gain real-world experience and make connections while working in local clinics and medical settings.

Tara Campbell received a degree in massage therapy and was working part time as a therapist, plus working full time managing University of Northern Colorado’s health clinic. More and more she found herself responsible for billing and collections, so she enrolled in IBMC’s medical billing and coding degree program. Campbell took advantage of IBMC’s flexible hours; she worked her jobs all day, plus mothered six

children, then attended classes from six to nine o’clock in the evening four nights a week. Now Campbell manages her own medical billing business where she employs three other people, two of whom also are IBMC graduates.

For Campbell, “balancing workload and time management was huge, but it was definitely worth it.”

It must have been, because now Campbell’s 19-year-old daughter, Kesha Montoya, a newlywed and new mom, is halfway through a medical assisting degree program at IBMC’s Greeley campus. “I probably wouldn’t have been aware of what IBMC has to offer if it hadn’t been for my mom, but I love it. It’s like a small community – everybody knows everybody and is willing to help one another out.”

IBMC’s classes are challenging. Campbell already alluded to how daunting the workload can be without exercising serious time management skills. Thyfault says that, “it was definitely challenging trying to work, go to school, and maintain a 4.0 GPA, plus raise a family, but IBMC will follow you through and support you.”

Jessica Pantano, a recent IBMC graduate with an associate’s degree in medical assisting, says she had tears in her eyes the day she finished her classes. “These guys are like a second family. They take care of their students here and help you through the hard stuff, like financial aid. It’s definitely more of a people environment versus an institution.”

For Pantano, who was hired by the Women’s Clinic of Northern Colorado the day after she finished her externship, but before she actually received her diploma, the expense to attend IBMC at first seemed more than she could handle. “The biggest hurdle for me was the cost. It’s definitely more expensive than [some

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IBMC’s education team: Steve Steele, President; Eric Thompson, Dean of Education; JoAnn Caddoo, Director of Career Services; and Diane Gunderson, Vice President of Education other local colleges], but the fact that I already have a job and I haven’t even officially graduated makes it worth it. Plus, financial aid covered about 99 percent of my expenses.”

Additionally, the cost of IBMC’s medical programs (approximately $17,500 to $27,000) is all-inclusive. “The price includes tuition, books, and medical kits that include items used in class and labs, like a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and lab coat,” says Christina Nilsson, IBMC’s marketing executive. “Students are not nickel and dimed here like at a lot of other colleges where you have tuition, then other expenses, and then more expenses.”

Another challenge for some students is that credits earned at IBMC often do not transfer to other colleges and universities. Gunderson said IBMC credits currently transfer to the University of Phoenix, Colorado Christian University, Colorado Technical University, and Regis University, and the school is working on more transfer agreements. “I would love to see us have an articulation agreement with Front Range Community College or AIMS Community College.”

Despite the challenges, most students agree that IBMC changes lives. To those considering IBMC, Thyfault says, “Just go. Just do it. Don’t hesitate. You won’t have regrets.”

“Caring individuals, changing lives,” reads IBMC’s tagline. “That’s a nice thing to be able to say and a nice thing to put on a t-shirt, but it’s completely another thing to live it,” Steele says.

“I can promise you that at the end of the day, the students and their success are the number one focus we have.” + Renee Young is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

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home care

Mountain Valley Care new facility inHealth greeley

“There are very few agencies out there that do both home care and hospice. To be able to provide care under home care and then make the transition to hospice is unique. We have a lot of different resources to access for each patient.”

James Contos, President, Mountain Valley Health Care

Physical therapist Jenny Scarpulla performs vestibular rehabilitation with a Mountain Valley Health Care patient.

Providing a Continuum

of Care

By Graciela Sholander

Meeting the needs of the community is what Mountain Valley Health Care is about, providing services in home care, hospice, and rehabilitation.

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t’s not unusual for a nurse or therapist from Mountain Valley Health Care to drive up to Wyoming or venture deep into Northern Colorado’s foothills to assist a client. From the chaplain to medical specialists to administrators, every staff member here puts the well-being of the patient first, regardless of how long and windy the car drive to reach the person might be. It’s part of the holistic approach the agency embraces to give patients and their families quality individualized care along with spiritual support.

“Our philosophy is twofold,” says Larry Kilpatrick, chaplain for Mountain Valley Health Care. “The home care side deals with people who are expected to recover. With a hospice diagnosis, the focus is on quality of life and help-

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ing someone live life to the fullest to the end.

What ties these two together is the emphasis on going through it with dignity. We’re here to help patients and their families who are going through a rough time.”

James Contos, who has led the Northern Colorado agency as its president since 2004, emphasizes what sets Mountain Valley Health Care apart: “There are very few agencies out there that do both home care and hospice.

Many of our people are cross trained. To be able to provide care under home care and then make the transition to hospice is unique. For example, a dying person might need physical therapy. We have a lot of different resources to access for each patient.”

Home care addresses the needs of individu-

als who are chronically ill, disabled, or recovering from injury or illness. A staff member or team visits the patient at his or her place of residence, providing everything from therapies and treatments to personal care assistance. Often, therapies are combined for better results.

One example is the merging of music therapy with physical therapy.

Neurologic Music Therapy Mary Koopman, MT-BC, NMT, is a board certified music therapist specializing in neurologic music therapy. She often accompanies a physical therapist on a home care visit to enhance the session, bringing her autoharp, a portable stringed instrument that allows her to play a wide range of music. “I use music

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

35

Mountain Valley Health Care’s team: President James Contos, music therapist Mary Koopman, physical therapist Jenny Scarpulla, and chaplain Larry Kilpatrick..

therapy to facilitate the efficiency of motor movements. The physical therapist works on specific movements, and the music adds to the efficiency by cueing and prompting neurons.

New motor neuron pathways are created along the length of a song.”

Neurologic music therapy works well for patients of all ages, particularly those dealing with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, or brain injury. By introducing external stimulus in the form of music that engages the patient, a physical therapy session becomes more effective. Koopman customizes her research-based therapy to meet the specific needs of individuals affected by nervous system diseases.

She’s seen significant improvement in balance, coordination, and endurance, as well as in the person’s mood, when music therapy is included. Applied in a hospice setting, special memories are created. “Music therapy supports the family in addition to the patient,”

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notes Koopman. “When I’m playing a favorite song or hymn, it can create a powerful bond between everyone present.”

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Another specialty Mountain Valley Health Care offers is vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which deals with the human balance system that depends in large part on the inner ear.

Symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, ringing, nausea, and a number of balance issues can result from vestibular disorders. “The eyes, inner ear, and nervous system work together to regulate balance,” explains physical therapist Jenny Scarpulla, MSPT. “The vestibular system is located in the inner ear.”

Vestibular rehabilitation involves a thorough evaluation and, whenever possible, treatment of the cause of the symptoms, followed by therapy sessions designed to retrain the brain to process signals more effectively.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

“The first step is to determine why the person is dizzy,” says Scarpulla. “The second step involves exercises to retrain the eyes and ears to work together. The last step is doing therapy strength exercises for balance.”

She recalls the case of a woman who traveled extensively by plane and had been experiencing significant dizziness and repeated falls for the past 15 years. Through vestibular rehabilitation therapy, her dizzy symptoms disappeared. “I saw her twice, and in only two treatments she was back to normal,” says Scarpulla.

Balance and strength retraining completed the therapy for this patient.

Mist Therapy Some wounds take longer to heal than others. Mountain Valley Health Care offers a relatively new therapy that can accelerate healing and benefit both chronic and acute skin wounds. Called Mist Therapy, the system uses acoustic pressure to clean the wound, remove bacteria, and stimulate growth of new, healthy cells. It works through ultrasound and can complement any existing wound care regimen.

Kathy Rodriguez, RN, has used the system extensively with home care patients. “I’ve seen dramatic results. The technology is lowfrequency ultrasound, and the device does not come into direct contact with the wound. It penetrates deeply and jumpstarts cell reproduction. We see an increase in healing with this supplemental, add-on therapy.”

Non-contact ultrasound waves deliver a sterile saline mist. The treatment is painless and easy to administer. Cleared by the FDA to promote wound healing, the Mist Therapy System is customizable, with a typical session lasting three to five minutes. It can be used twice a week or in conjunction with a scheduled dressing change.

“Getting out to a clinic may be difficult for skin wound patients,” notes Contos. “So making this therapy available by coming out to the person’s home to treat a chronic wound makes it more convenient.”

Care Continuum These are just some of the many services Mountain Valley Health Care brings directly to the homes of Northern Colorado and Wyoming residents, including nursing homes and respite care. Other services include occupational therapy, social work, bereavement counseling, spiritual care, massage therapy, and pet therapy.

Two facilities, one in Windsor and one in Louisville, serve as coordinating stations that send specialists out where they are needed. With its dedicated staff, diverse skills set, and emphasis on treating the whole person, Mountain Valley Health Care is ready to bring quality healthcare services to your doorstep. + To learn more about Mountain Valley Health Care visit their Website at: www.mountainvalleyhealth.com or call them at 1-800-368-7137.

Graciela Sholander is a Fort Collins-based writer and author of Dream It Do It, www.dreamitdoit.net.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

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Wellness

Chiropractic Care

Choosing a

Chiropractor

By Angeline Grenz

Choosing a chiropractor can be a challenging proposition. Some chiropractors believe strictly in manipulating the spine; others take a holistic view of treating the entire body. A chiropractor can treat an immediately painful problem or can take a long-term approach to changing the body’s structure. In light of the varied types of chiropractors today, how can you be sure the chiropractor you call will have similar treatment goals?

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inding a good chiropractor involves delving first into your own philosophies and needs. Do you want a quick adjustment? Are you looking for someone to invest a great quantity of time into your overall health and wellbeing?

These decisions can influence which chiropractor might be best suited to you.

At the same time, there are some cautionary considerations. Julie Scott, D.C., of Scott Chiropractic and Healthcare Systems also sits on the Colorado State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and consults for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Dr. Scott says the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is taking a strong look at some practices among chiropractors.

Dr. Scott cautions against chiropractors that request patients sign lengthy contracts with upfront payments, often several thousand dollars.

“There exists over-abuse and scare tactics among

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some chiropractors,” she says. Additionally, Dr. Scott says that some claims made by chiropractors have yet to be conclusively tested. “The state laws, rules, and guidelines definitely follow the facts. If chiropractors want to use something new, they need to do all the tests.”

Dr. Scott’s own philosophy is “medically modeled,” and she works closely with medical doctors, surgeons, and others from the healthcare arena. She warns consumers to watch for chiropractors that require their patients to spend “hundreds and hundreds of dollars on supplements.” She adds that these and other marketing techniques “are not pro-patient.”

In general, says Dr. Scott, most chiropractic conditions will start to improve in four to six treatments. From there, frequency should be decreased as the patient improves. Some more complex conditions may require further care and rehab that may take up to 12 weeks.

Regardless, she adds, when choosing a chiropractor, find one who is upfront about their treatment techniques and plans. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, says Scott, is taking a long, hard look at chiropractors that go beyond the parameters of their profession. If you are unfamiliar with chiropractors in your area, she recommends looking at the approved chiropractors on the lists of insurance providers for a good idea of quality practitioners.

“Chiropractic medicine is about fixing biomechanical problems. However, there is no such thing as a perfect spine. Our body is a big machine. Chiropractors are shooting for optimal alignment and joint mobility, then muscle strength and balance.”

Local chiropractors offer a variety of philosophies and treatment profiles. However, there are commonalities they all recommend when it comes to choosing a chiropractor.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

4038 Timberline Rd. Fort Collins 80525 | (970) 267-9600 www.advantagechirowc.com “When caring for patients, my philosophy is to use what is called a ‘treatment plan.’ This allows the patient to track his or her progress using a plan that consists of several adjustments, stretches, and exercises that will help rehabilitate the area of complaint,” says Casey Kincaid, D.C., CCEP, with Advantage Chiropractic of Fort Collins. This model helps the patient understand the process is a joint effort: Dr. Kincaid adjusts the patient and gives them the tools to become healthy, but they must also follow through with the plan.

At a successful completion, patients are then transitioned into a maintenance plan with periodic checks to ensure the patient is pain free.

Advantage Chiropractic also offers low impact adjustments, extremity adjustments (with a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner), family care, sports physicals, treatment of sports injuries, inhouse massage therapy, and spinal muscle rehabilitation exercise/re-education. Advantage Chiropractic has been serving Fort Collins since 2005.

When choosing a chiropractor, Dr. Kincaid recommends paying attention to the practice’s adjusting techniques. “A friendly staff and comfortable procedures are important as well,” he adds. Patients should also experience pain relief within two weeks of the initial visit. “At that point, if the pain has not subsided, the chiropractor should change their treatment technique or refer the patient to his or her primary care physician or a specialist.” However, changing the overall structure of a patient can take three months or longer.

Dr. Kincaid says, “A good chiropractor should do a high quality initial exam.” He continues,

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“From this exam, the chiropractor should be able to tell the patient if a chiropractic adjustment would be beneficial. Adjustments do not help every condition. I would be cautious about going to any medical or chiropractic doctor who does not perform a high quality physical exam before they start treatment,” he encourages.

Dr. Groene’s first recommendation for choosing a chiropractic doctor is to “find someone you trust and who is honest. This profession has gotten a bad rap. It seems we have a higher than normal ‘shyster factor.’” This is because there are chiropractors that “try to make chiropractic look better than medicine. Chiropractic and medicine have fundamentally different goals.

They are truly complementary in that one accomplishes what the other can’t.”

“If you find someone who is honest, who won’t string you along, and who has integrity, then you will probably get excellent care no matter what type of techniques they use,” he adds.

In his practice, Dr. Groene prefers not to share office space with other types of caregivers, such as massage therapists and acupuncturists. “I am not taking away from these types of care,” he says, “but when trying to get people to understand the importance of what I am doing, they can be a distraction.” In general, Dr. Groene says patients in pain should experience improvement in their condition within six visits with a chiropractor. “By then, they should be feeling a whole lot better.” Structural correction, however, “takes longer. It all depends on what your goal is.”

1136 E. Stuart St., Suite 4207 Fort Collins 80525 (970) 377-0055

Dr. Jeff Groene, of Groene Chiropractic in Fort Collins, says his practice recently reexamined their philosophy to better serve their patients. “We come from the standpoint that your health in this world is the most important thing you have. When good health is absent, you can’t work, you can’t enjoy your family, and, at times, you can’t even think.”

Working with this premise, Dr. Groene says the first thing you need is to get your health back. “We care for the human frame from a gross anatomy level as well as on a cellular level with chiropractic care, nutrition and diet.” Dr. Groene takes care of the chiropractic care of his patients; his wife, Mary, addresses diet and nutrition for patients looking for a whole-health approach. The nutrition supplements offered at his practice are food-based products designed to address nutritional deficiencies.

From a structural approach, Dr. Groene says, “I believe the sacrum and pelvis are the foundation for your entire body; these are where I put my focus.”

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heal is hindered.” That is where your chiropractor comes in, returning proper motion and alignment to the body.

At Lighthouse Chiropractic, it is all about families. From pregnancy to seniors, they have techniques designed to meet the needs of all patients by tailoring care to a patient’s age, condition, and overall health. But they have made their specialty treating pregnant mothers and newborns.

“Many patients wonder why a new infant needs care. Consider the birth process itself: it is a very traumatic event causing common misalignments in the hips and pelvis,” says Dr. Osgood. “Studies suggest that excessive crying, colic, poor appetite, or erratic sleep habits may be a sign of early spinal distress. Adjustments for infants and children are extra gentle, using no more force than it takes to test a ripe tomato.”

If a patient is not responding well to care, Dr. Osgood takes the time to do a full nutrition evaluation. He also has a degree from Colorado State University in human nutrition. “We work hard with mothers, children, and infants to ensure the building blocks are in place to live a long, healthy life.”

When selecting a chiropractor, Dr. Osgood quotes a mentor of his: “Every therapy works for someone, but no therapy works for everyone.” He continues, “It is important to match your needs and personality with that of the doctor and staff. Talk with someone you can trust for a referral. As you begin care, if you don’t feel comfortable with a method or technique, ask questions. Make sure you are getting the best for your specific needs.”

Chiropractors must have a license from the State Board to practice in Colorado. They are charged with treating neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions, says Osgood. Essentially, they address problems with nerves, muscles, and bones. “If a patient comes with a problem outside the scope of our practice, we will gladly refer them to the appropriate medical doctor.” Other quality chiropractors should do likewise in their practices.

2601 S. Lemay Ave. Fort Collins 80525 (970) 223-5914 “Moving is life; if you can move well you can live well,” says Dr. Ed Osgood, with Lighthouse Chiropractic in Fort Collins. “Chiropractic works because we are a self-regulating, selfhealing body controlled by the central nervous system. When we impair this system with stress or trauma, the body’s ability to self-regulate and

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

12th Annual Northern Colorado Head and Neck Cancer Screening

Risk factors and possible symptoms of ad neck cancer include: Excessive alcohol or tobacco use 1A lump in your neck A change in voice 1A sore in your mouth Persistent cough/coughing up blood 1Difficulty swallowing Earache or pain when swallowing Please attend if you have any concern, systems or

Christopher M. Ericksen, MD, FACS â&#x20AC;˘ Sarvjit S. Gill MD, FACS David H. Zacheis, MD, FACS â&#x20AC;˘ Matt L. Robertson, MD

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

While walk-ins an appointment

welcome, it is recommended made be calling 593-1177.

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wellness

managing stress

“Stress attacks the body, spirit, soul, and every way in which we function.”

Mark Benn, Psy.D. and Adjunct Professor for Colorado State University

Managing

Your Stress

BY ANGELINE GRENZ

Stress. Just the word is enough to make your shoulder muscles tighten up and heartbeat quicken. Who doesn’t suffer from too much to do and too little time? Or face difficult decisions with no clear resolution in sight? But while stress may be an inevitable part of daily life, the pressure it inflicts on the body can have life-threatening consequences.

S

tress is essentially your body gearing up for action; the fight-or-flight response that is more animal reaction than conscious thought. Stress triggers very definite physical responses: a burst of hormones is released, the heartbeat accelerates, and muscles tense.

The problem with stress is that our bodies tend to hold that reaction; we never experience a release from the tensions stress creates in the body. “We have both emotional and physical stress, but the body’s response to either is the same: a biochemical response; we prepare to fight or run,” according to Justin Strote, M.D.,

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at Heart Center of the Rockies.

“The most basic scientific response is an increase in heart rate and blood pressure,” continues Dr. Strote, “In the long term, a constant state of stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, heart attack, even ‘Broken Heart Syndrome.’” Broken Heart Syndrome is a condition where a surge of stress hormones causes severe weakening of the heart muscle.

These physical reactions to stress are the most severe on the spectrum. Lesser reactions, says Dr. Strote, include back pain, nausea, even hair loss. However, Dr. Strote warns that it is “very difficult to try and correlate stress as the

cause of health problems.” Rather, physicians will work to rule out other problems first. “If we cannot find a cause for the problem elsewhere, then we begin talking to our patients about their stress levels.”

Treating stress is also difficult. “As cardiologists, we counsel our patients on dealing with stress for the long-term.” To do that, Dr. Strote discusses with his patients the importance of heart health and exercise, recommending at least 20 minutes of exercise three times a week. Exercise works well because it helps naturally improve mood and pumps us up with endorphins, those feel-good compounds

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Justin Strote, M.D., Heart Center of the Rockies

occurring naturally in the body.

“I also discuss with my patients what activities they find enjoyable. Any activity that takes them away from the stressor is good,” he says.

However, there are patients that may need additional help dealing with stress. “Clearly, some people may need help in the form of counseling or medication to help them deal with stress.” In those cases, he refers them to the appropriate professional.

Bottom line: “The important thing to take home from this is that, if it is not dealt with, there is an increased chance of heart attack or stroke from stress.”

Relaxation techniques designed to slow heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension, improve concentration, and reduce anger and frustration are essential to dealing with stress. In addition to exercise, meditative activities, yoga, massage, and Tai Chi can provide relief from stress.

What is important is to choose an activity that takes you away from the stressful situation, according to psychologist Dr. Mark Benn, who also serves as an adjunct professor for Colorado State University and works with their Health Network. “Emotion almost always trumps cognition. When stress goes up, our brain function goes down,” says Dr. Benn.

“Stress attacks the body, spirit, soul, and every way in which we function. I think one day, stress will kill us.”

“We are Americans; we work non-stop, don’t take siestas, and don’t take time off like other cultures.” How do we correct this penchant for over-stimulating and over-complicating our lives with stress? “Learn to deal with stress. Take five minutes three or four times a day and de-stress.”

The key is to find the activity or stress reliever that is most effective for you. “For me,” says Dr. Benn, “I live in the mountains. Every-

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

43

Mark Benn, Psy.D. and Adjunct Professor for Colorado State University

day, I take 20 minutes to walk my ridge, sit on a rock, and look out over the water.” Praying, journaling, and meditating are all effective activities. Dr. Benn encourages pairing your stress reliever with good diet and plenty of exercise for a healthier, happier you.

Well intentioned we may be, but in times of extreme stress, what if these outlets are not available? “Try thought-stopping. I call it the ‘Scarlett O’Hara approach’ – tell yourself ‘I will worry about it another day.’” Sometimes, he adds, you just can’t do anything about the stressful situation, so just stop thinking about it.

“Stay in the present, in the moment, as much as you can during your day. Your brain is always taking you places really fast. You need to take charge of your brain.” This technique and others will help to manage and overcome stress. “We have empirically valid data that shows stress management techniques work.

But it takes time to master these techniques.”

Like Dr. Strote, there are instances when managing stress becomes more than a person can handle on their own. “Stress,” advises Dr. Benn, “is like your body is constantly running.

Depression looks a lot like your body is constantly tired.” He draws the line between stress and how it may play a role in depression. “If a person can’t get a hold on their psychological stress, then they should go to a professional and get help.” However, Dr. Benn reiterates that becoming proficient in managing stress takes time and effort and warns individuals against looking for a “quick fix.”

When his students ask him for one piece of advice to take away from his classes, Dr. Benn tells them, “If you do one thing in life: give up stress.” Stress beats you up from the inside out, concludes Dr. Benn. “Eventually the body will tell you, ‘I am done.’” + Angeline Grenz is Editor for Style Magazine.

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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

11th annual free

Head & Neck Cancer Screening November 7, 2009 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat, P.C. 3820 N. Grant Ave., Loveland

(970) 593-1177

call ahead to reserve your time slot

S

ince 1998, Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat has been hosting a free cancer screening every fall to help the community with early detection of often ignored or unseen problems that could lead to cancer of the throat, neck, or head.

“Early detection is really key” in successfully treating these cancers, according to Sarvjit Gill, M.D., with Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat. While family doctors and dentists can spot the most noticeable of these cancers, such as lesions and lumps, there are areas of the head and neck that cannot be seen easily and require special equipment for a thorough evaluation.

Dr. Gill recommends this screening to any in the community who have been suffering with chronic hoarseness or soar throat, difficulty swallowing, have noticed a mass on the head or neck, sores in the mouth, lesions that are not healing, is coughing or spitting blood, or has recurrent nose bleeds. All of these problems can be indicators of the presence of a malignancy, and are often the only symptom a person might have without an exam.

Every year, Alpine and their dozens of physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner volunteers see an average of 200 people from Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, Greeley, Berthoud, and even a few from Wyoming. Of those, a handful, 12 to 15 on average, are referred to their family physician for follow-up, says Dr. Gill.

“Fortunately, most come for the screening and are able to have their fears put to rest,” says Dr. Gill.

However, every year there are three or four who have a malignancy. One year, Dr. Gill says, a local man came in to have what he thought might be a bug bite checked. It turned out to be cancer in the throat that had actually manifested itself with a disruption to the skin on his neck.

“These are people who come in for the free screening that have problems that probably wouldn’t have been detected otherwise,” adds Dr. Gill. “Especially now, with so many that have lost jobs and the economy so hard.”

The screening includes a comprehensive head and neck exam. For individuals that need it, doctors can use special scoping devises, such as a nasopharyngoscope, that has a flexible wand to exam the

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

45

screening

nasal and throat cavities, a device family physicians don’t always have access to in their practices.

Any with concerning conditions are referred on and doctors at the screening do their best to follow up with patients, so that no one goes untreated.

“We will see to it ourselves that care is provided, if that is what it takes.”

Along with the exam, doctors counsel patients to lead a healthier lifestyle; smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have been shown to increase the risk of some of these cancers.

Alpine is recommending that people call ahead and reserve a time slot for the free clinic, though walk-ins will still be welcome. The number to call is (970) 593-1177. +

veterinary care

Holiday Dangers

At emergency hospitals, caseloads always increase around the holidays, as pets manage to find new ways to get into trouble.

Some of these cases can be humorous, but many are life threatening.

Dr. Geller, D.V.M., emergency veterinarian at Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency Hospital and P.E.T.S. of Northern Colorado in Greeley

holiday dangers

to your PET

By Jon Geller, DVM

When Sue Wilson adopted a new kitten as a Christmas present for her daughter, she had no idea that her family was about to embark on a $2,000 ordeal that would turn their holiday into a nightmare.

H

olidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s can generally be fun for families with pets. In a recent survey of pet owners, 50 percent indicated that they buy Christmas gifts for their dogs and cats.

As the Wilsons found out, holidays can also be times of trouble for pets. At emergency hospitals, caseloads always increase around the holidays, as pets manage to find new ways to get into trouble. Some of these cases can be humorous, but many are life threatening, as

46

the Wilsons discovered.

Probably the most common cause of holiday problems that end with pets in the emergency room is feeding leftovers (intentionally or unintentionally) to pets. Dogs have been known to show unexpected athletic ability in crawling up on counters and tables to salvage turkey carcasses. Cats will circle high chairs, while toddlers happily throw large quantities of food scraps overboard.

Enterprising dogs may raid unattended bowls and bags of Halloween candy and ingest enough chocolate to have seizures and cardiac

arrhythmias. Dark chocolate or baker’s chocolate is especially toxic. (Cats are usually more discriminating when it comes to chocolate.)

A Christmas tree can provide hours of delight as well as a smorgasbord of potentially deadly temptations for a pet. One dog that we X-rayed had chomped through an entire string of Christmas lights. Others have swallowed ornaments of various sizes and shapes, often not discovered until they are deposited in the yard a day or two later. Newly opened packages containing slippers, dolls, or clothing can be irresistible to some dogs.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

The Wilsons enjoyed watching their new kitten play with the tinsel on the Christmas tree. They laughed as she pulled at the tinsel with her mouth, and chased it as it wrapped around her tail. However, when the Wilsons woke up Christmas morning, their new kitten was throwing up, lethargic, and in pain.

Twelve hours later, their kitten was prepped for intestinal surgery at the emergency hospital. The tinsel had pulled through the walls of her small intestine as the muscle wall tried to propel it along. Two hours and $2,000 later, two feet of intestines had been removed, and the Wilson’s kitten recovered from its surgery. It was truly a Christmas to remember.

Other holiday dangers threaten pets. House plants like poinsettias, holly berries, and lilies can be toxic to cats, sometimes causing irreversible kidney failure. Thinking of grilling a turkey? Grilling utensils and brushes, as well as skewers and charcoal ash have found their way into dogs’ stomachs. (These make for interesting X-rays.) Punch bowls and unattended mixed drinks can lure some dogs, who may then be found staggering drunkenly around the house (they will later recover).

Enjoy the holidays by being vigilant about potential dangers to your pets. Although emergency hospitals are open 24/7 during the holidays, we hope that you get to spend them at home enjoying your family and pets. +

Dr. Geller is an emergency veterinarian at Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency Hospital and P.E.T.S. of Northern Colorado in Greeley, as well as a freelance writer. His work has appeared in Dog Fancy Magazine, Bottom Line Personal, and Mother Earth News. In addition, he has a current blog at thebark.com and medhelp.org, and answers dog owners’ questions online at Dogchannel.com.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

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veterinary care

stem cell therapy

“There are applications under development and investigation that promise to be huge advancements for pet health, including chronic kidney disease.”

Robin Downing, D.V.M., The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management

stem cell therapy

FOR PETS

By Connie Hein

“I believe this is the biggest breakthrough in veterinary medicine since the introduction of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).” says Dr. Downing, Hospital Director of The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, and director of Windsor Veterinary Clinic.

I

n the interest of celebrating, protecting, and sharing the love of the animals in our lives, much research has gone in to making Adult Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy a reality. The procedure is being used with much success

by Robin Downing, D.V.M., to bring better quality and longevity of life to many family pets.

Since the regenerative therapy is so new, Dr. Downing is one of the few veterinarians in the area that is performing the procedure. She says she is very proud to be able to bring it to the Northern Colorado area to help her veterinary clients.

She says the precise term for adult stem cell therapy is actually adipose-derived regenerative cell therapy. The current application for dogs and cats is in treating osteoarthritis.

“It is a much less invasive procedure than, for

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example, a total hip replacement for a dog with advanced hip joint osteoarthritis, and much less costly as well. The idea that we can regenerate tissue is very nearly mind-blowing.”

She says there are no problems with body rejection in this procedure because the patient is also the cell owner. And there is no ethical controversy involved, as there is with harvesting embryonic cells in which an embryo must be destroyed. And since regenerative cells live in both animals and humans, this is the leading edge of science that could also help humans with organ or tissue disease.

“The undifferentiated cells used in the therapy are cells that do not yet know what they want to be when they grow up.”

She says these stem cells are found in body fat in animals as well as humans, and can be prepared

to develop into nearly any tissue or organ and can be stimulated to develop into cartilage when injected into joints.

“In other words, they become whatever is needed in the body,” says Dr. Downing.

“We have five times more undifferentiated cells in our fat than in our bone marrow (same in dogs). This makes the fat a great source for cells that can be prepared and then injected into the body to develop into needed tissue.”

She says to begin the procedure, 60 to 80 grams of fat is harvested from the patient under general anesthesia, and is then put into special transport tubes and sent to Vet-Stem, the company outside San Diego that developed the process.

“The fat is then processed to extract the undifferentiated cells and prepare them for injection into

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Max Wood works out in the underwater treadmill.

Max’s nerve-muscle degeneration made him weak in his rear legs, necessitating a wheelchair. But severe osteoarthritis in his elbows soon made using the wheelchair very painful. Stem cell therapy in his elbows has changed Max’s life. He is now stronger than ever in his front legs and back to enjoying life.

joints. An intravenous (IV) dose is also prepared, and then any extra cells are ‘banked’ at Vet-Stem for use later if needed,” says Downing. The doses are then sent back to the veterinarian for injection into the affected joints.

The technique was first used with great success by Vet-Stem to treat horses with tendon and ligament injuries, osteochondral defects, and osteoarthritis. They then moved forward to successfully treat degenerative diseases in dogs. Dr. Downing says that Vet-Stem is gathering data about every case that is done in order to compile facts and figures and keep track of what is happening in patients.

“There are additional applications under development and investigation that promise to be huge advancements for pet health, including chronic kidney disease, which is the most common disease process in dogs and cats over the age of eight,” says Dr. Downing.

In the near future, Dr. Downing believes these innovations will be able to benefit humans as well as animals.

“I know that one potential application of this technology for humans is in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. But Parkinson’s, osteoarthritis, and other degenerative diseases are applications that may have strong potential.”

“As it turns out, dogs and humans share many similarities,” she says.

Many members of America’s reported 69 million pet-owning households already knew that.

Recent surveys indicate that more than 50 percent of pet owners treat their dogs and cats like one of their own children. To have procedures that can help our pets have less pain and a longer life is, as Downing says, “very nearly mind-blowing.”

“I look forward to providing regenerative cell therapy to many more dogs and cats with degenerative joint disease to help extend and improve their lives.” + Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and the author of the Toliver in Time series of children’s books.

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2009

See the Difference a Specialist Makes Internal Medicine Ellen Miller, DVM, MS, DACVIM Lauren Prause, DVM, MS, DACVIM Radiology Jennifer Lowry, DVM, MS, DACVR Sandy Van Camp, DVM, DACVR Surgery Chad Devitt, DVM, MS, DACVS Brian Van Vechten, DVM Tara Britt, VMD, DACVS Dentistry Clarence Sitzman, DVM, DAVDC Dermatology Coming Soon

SPECIALTY MEDICINE, PERSONAL CARE Please contact your family veterinarian for a referral to Peak Veterinary Specialists Peak Veterinary Specialists 4630 Royal Vista Circle, #11 Windsor, CO 80528 970-674-1775 fax: 970-674-0900 www.peakvetspecialists.com 49

james sprowell, M.D.

physician profile

“I believe in focusing my knowledge, talents, and energy on improving the lives of those who are closest to me, because that is where I have the most influence.”

James Sprowell, M.D., Executive Director, Associates in Family Medicine, P.C.

serving patients despite challenges

By Connie Hein

James Sprowell’s, M.D., career took a U-turn two-and-a-half years ago. He was diagnosed with an illness that makes him susceptible to common infectious illnesses and eventually made it impossible to continue seeing patients. Despite this disappointment, he stepped into a leadership role as Executive Director of Associates in Family Medicine, P.C. (AFM), allowing him to continue to advocate for the patients he loves.

D

r. James Sprowell has been enjoying his new leadership role at AFM, after spending most of his career as a successful family physician. “This change was precipitated in part by my longstanding interest in medical leadership, but also unfortunately by a rare chronic immune disorder characterized by a deficiency of antibody production, somewhat like an adult version of the ‘bubble baby.’”

“Although I miss my patients very much, the opportunity to provide leadership for an outstanding organization like AFM has made the switch easier.”

Dr. Sprowell says his love of medicine and people comes from his father, a retired physician, whose easy-going, hard-working, and compassionate nature served as a terrific role model. “My father is 83 years old and people still seek his counsel.”

After watching his father gain a very broad base of general medical knowledge through career changes and education, Dr. Sprowell says he wanted to have that same base of knowledge. “I chose

50

family medicine because I enjoyed the challenge of incorporating knowledge from multiple disciplines into the provision of medical care, and welcomed the chance to develop long-term relationships with patients.” He says he believes it is important for patients to have a physician they get to know - someone they trust and can look to for advice during life’s turbulent times.

Dr. Sprowell was raised in Ames, Iowa. After attending college and medical school at the University of Iowa and completing his residency at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, he practiced for five years in Wisconsin and one year as the only physician on Lopez Island, Washington, “My family goes back three generations in Colorado and Wyoming, so I eventually followed my family roots back to Colorado.”

He and wife Clare have been married for 31 years. “Clare is a wonderful wife and mother and has served as a great inspiration to me and helps keep my work life and home life in balance. She also keeps my life interesting and keeps me guessing.”

Clare started her career as a pediatric nurse, she then got her elementary education degree and worked as a teacher, and later got her law degree and pursued that career, but quit when Dr. Sprowell started getting sick. She is now pursuing an entrepreneurial career with her sister. “I often joke that I’ve been married to a nurse, a teacher, and a lawyer, and I’ve been married only once and to the same woman.”

The couple have three children: Andrew, 23, and twins Paul and Madeline,18. “All three graduated from Fort Collins High School and are all seriously addicted to outdoor activities - skiing, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking.” Andrew graduated from CSU in 2008 with a degree in Microbiology. This fall, Paul will attend the University of Northern Colorado majoring in trumpet performance and Madeline the University of Colorado in Boulder majoring in saxophone performance. He says it doesn’t seem that any of his children will follow in his medical footsteps, but “they are young and you never know what they will pursue.”

Besides being a very busy father, husband, and administrator for the seven locations of AFM, Dr. Sprowell has many other interests and says his new position has given him a bit more control over his time to be able to pursue them. “My wife and I recently started road biking, and this summer will ride for the second year in the Courage Classic Bike Tour in Summit County, a three-day fundraising event for Children’s Hospital. AFM sponsored our team last year and a number of AFM physicians and family members are riding again in July.” “I also love to ski, although work and family constraints have kept it from becoming a true passion. I love coaching sports, and have coached youth basketball in years past. Now that our twins will be off to college, I would like to become more involved with coaching.”

He says his real passion, though, is helping people - patients, family, friends, and co-workers.

“I believe in focusing my knowledge, talents, and energy on improving the lives of those who are closest to me, because that is where I have the most influence.” + Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and the author of the Toliver in Time series of children’s books.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

LITY Your locally owned leader in health care is a national role model for excellence.

Poudre Va lley Hea lth System has received the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Qua lity Award- the highest Presidential honor g iven to United States businesses and organizations that demonstrate performance excellence.

Thank you to our treasured patients and families, incred ible volunteers, staff and physicians, and the many regional organizations who support us in achievin g our vision to provide worldclass health care.

Were herefor you.

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