MARCH 2015
Introducing the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center www.medicalandwellness.com | www.stylemagazinecolorado.com 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
WELCOME TO
LEADING EDGE
HEART CARE
COUNTRY.
Leading edge care for your heart is right here in northern Colorado. Our specialists at the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado treat everything from chest pain and heart failure to vascular disease and heart rhythm disorders. They explain each diagnosis in detail and thoroughly review treatment options so you can take comfort in knowing your heart is receiving exceptional care. It’s the right care for your heart. Right here at home. Find out your heart age at www.BannerHealth.com/Heart. Fort Collins • Loveland • Greeley – (970) 392-0900 Find a CardioVascular Institute physician at BannerHealth.com/CVI
THE VOICE OF NORTHERN COLORADO FOR
31 YEARS.
s t y le me d ia a n d d e s i g n , i n c .
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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 w w w. m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o m PUBLISHER Lydia Dody | lydia@stylemedia.com MANAGING EDITOR Angeline Grenz angie@stylemedia.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Scott Prosser SENIOR DESIGNER Lisa Gould DIGITAL DIRECTOR / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Austin Lamb | austin@stylemedia.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Debra Davis (917) 334-6912 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 David Knight (970) 619-9846 Elaine Ryan (970) 541-4915 OFFICE MANAGER/ABOUT TOWN EDITOR Ina Szwec | ina@stylemedia.com ACCOUNTING MANAGER Karla Vigil CIRCULATION MANAGER Trisha Milton COPY EDITOR Michelle Venus PHOTOGRAPHER Marcus Edwards Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Malini Bartels, Kyle Eustice, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, Brad Shannon, Elissa J. Tivona, Michelle Venus AFFILIATIONS Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Loveland Chamber of Commerce 2015 STYLE MAGAZINES January-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness February-Style March-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness April-Style May-Style June-Style July-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness August-Style September-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer Style October-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness November-Holiday Style December-Best Of & Winter Activities Style 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 $25/year and a two year subscription is $45/year. Free magazines are available at nearly 300 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) 2266400, ext. 208. Fax (970) 226-6427. E-Mail: ina@StyleMedia.com ©2015 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine are 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.
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No Doctor’s Note Needed. We’re Open Evenings. Primary Care for You and Your Family. On-site labs and X-rays Call (970) 229-4600 for an appointment.
702-A W. Drake Road • Fort Collins www.BannerHealth.com/HealthCenterFoCo • Connect with Banner Health:
CONTENTS
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness
March 2015
16
HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH
36
20
SHEDDING LIGHT ON IBD
40
INNOVATION AT BANNER FORT COLLINS MEDICAL CENTER
A BANNER YEAR FOR SPECIALTY CLINICS IN NORTHERN COLORADO
Publisher’s Letter
In The News
Here’s to Your Health
Shedding Light on IBD
Are We Too Dependent on Medications?
The Bean of Life
The Skinny on Aging and Weight Gain
Lumps 101: Pet Cysts Not to Be Ignored
Pet Slim Down
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center
46
HEALING FROM THE HEART OUT
65
PET SLIM DOWN
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12 14 16 20 24 52 58 62 65
ON THE COVER: Taking the helm at Banner’s new Fort Collins Medical Center: Dr. David Kukafka, Chief of Medical Staff; John D’Angelo, Chief Operating Officer; Rick Sutton, Chief Executive Officer; and Pam Samples, Chief Nursing Officer. Fort Collins Medical Center is set to open its doors to the community on April 6. Cover photo by Marcus Edwards Photography.
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Introduction Letter – Rick Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Banner Health Northern Colorado Banner’s New Fort Collins Medical Center Innovation at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center A Banner Year for Specialty Clinics in Northern Colorado Healing From the Heart Out
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 or healthcare provider.
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
A New Era in Healthcare We have all witnessed how Northern Colorado has grown to be an impressive center of medical services in recent years. However, with the April 6 opening of Banner Fort Collins Medical Center (BFCMC), Northern Colorado will enter a new era in healthcare. BFCMC sits on a 28-acre campus at the southeast corner of Harmony Road and Lady Moon Drive. This beautiful acute care campus features an emergency department, a 22-bed inpatient unit, labor and delivery rooms, medical imaging, surgical suites, lab services and specialty clinic areas.
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This Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness issue will introduce you to this state-of-the-art medical facility, the healthcare professionals and the impressive and innovative technology available for patient care. We are particularly impressed with the fact that BFCMC is the only hospital in Northern Colorado equipped with TeleAcute Care, a remote monitoring system placed at every patient bed. Read “Innovation at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center” to learn about how the 24/7 remote monitoring by medical staff saves lives, improves the patient and family experience and reduces length of stay in the hospital. As Banner Medical Group expands its presence in Northern Colorado it is also increasing the number of healthcare professionals serving the area. Currently 17 different disciplines care for patients in 24 clinics with approximately 300 professionals. Meet Dr. Bradford Keeler, Regional Medical Director of Specialty Clinics, and get acquainted with several specialty physicians practicing at BFCMC in “A Banner Year for Specialty Clinics in Northern Colorado.” Their ability to approach patient care in a team setting gives Banner Health the edge in providing excellent care while containing costs. While most specialists will office at the Banner Health Center, they will move among the three hospitals: North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, McKee Medical Center in Loveland and the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center. In addition to the impressive technology, BFCMC didn’t overlook the aesthetics in their design plan. Studies have shown that patients respond well and find peace when art is present in their surroundings, particularly nature scenes. Read “Healing From the Heart Out” to learn more about the 88 artworks that
will enhance the walls of this beautiful new facility. There is another huge benefit to the opening of BFCMC. Because of its partnership with Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser insured patients and their families will no longer have to travel to Loveland or Greeley for inpatient care. This is a huge win for Kaiser patients. A topic that touches many of us is the frustration of weight gain as we age. I’ve been fighting my extra 10 pounds and often hear others with this common complaint. I’m trying hard to eat healthy and exercise but eating out is my downfall. Be sure to read “The Skinny on Aging and Weight Gain” for valuable tips on how to keep that weight gain in check. Weight issues aren’t limited to people! Our four legged friends are often overweight and at risk for developing serious medical conditions and shortening their lifespan. However, putting your cat or dog on a diet isn’t that simple. Be sure to visit with your veterinarian before starting a dietary change with your pet. Read “Pet Slim Down” for excellent tips on keeping your cat or dog at a healthy weight. Thank you to the leadership team and physicians of Banner Health for giving us a sneak peek at the new facility and insight into what will be available at BFCMC. We hope everyone enjoys seeing this new option in inpatient healthcare at their Open House on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Congratulations to Banner Health! We hope you enjoy reading this issue and find the articles interesting and informative. Wishing you good health! lydia@stylemedia.com
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TA K E A
Look AT A
W H O L E N E W WAY OF LO O KI NG AT
HEALTH CARE. BANNER FORT COLLINS MEDICAL CENTER
OPEN HOUSE: MARCH 28 • 9AM - 1PM
Health care will never look the same in Fort Collins. Come see for yourself at the open house for Banner Fort Collins and Banner Health Center. We’re giving you access to a full spectrum of specialists and working closely with independent physicians to give you the well-coordinated care you need. And with remote patient monitoring, doctors have a second set of eyes to ensure that every inpatient receives the right care at the right time. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen from health care and everything you should expect. BannerHealth.com/FortCollins • (970) 229-4000 •
/BannerHealthColorado • Harmony Rd. & Lady Moon Dr.
OPENING APRIL 6
What’s trending in the world of Medical & Wellness
Nurse, Amy Culler, engages with members by focusing on whole-body health and wellness practices.
Miramont Lifestyle Fitness Earns Medical Certification
CSU Plans Medical Center Near Campus
Miramont Lifestyle Fitness announced in February that their Central location, at 2211 South College Ave. in Fort Collins, has become a Certified Medical Fitness Facility by the Medical Fitness Association, an organization dedicated to medically integrated wellness and fitness facilities. Miramont Lifestyle Fitness is the only facility to be certified in the state of Colorado. “This certification is a testament to our team of highly skilled fitness professionals and their dedication to health and wellness,” said Wellness Director for Miramont Lifestyle Fitness, Debby Gavato. “We are very proud of this recognition and achievement.” For more information, visit: www.miramontlifestyle.com.
Colorado State University announced in February plans to build a $59 million on-campus medical center that will provide medical services to both students and the community. The campus will also support the university’s research capabilities related to healthcare and medicine. The campus will house the CSU Health Network as well as public health care services provided by University of Colorado Health and Associates in Family Medicine. The center will be located on the northwest corner of College Avenue and Prospect Road. The campus is slated to open in fall 2016. Read more at: www.health. colostate.edu.
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
3D Print May Restore Damaged Nerves University of Sheffield scientists have succeeded in using a 3D printed guide to help damaged nerves from traumatic incidents repair themselves. The technique uses Computer Aided Design (CAD) to design a nerve guidance conduit (NGC) that can help guide damaged nerve ends toward each other in order to repair them naturally. NGC was previously limited to only certain types of nerve damage, but the University’s scientists have found that through 3D printing the devices can be adapted for any type of nerve damage. Learn more at: www. sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/3d-printed-guidedamaged-nerves-1.443073.
Unboil Your Breakfast Chemists in Australia and UC Irvine have managed to unboil an egg. Specifically, the discovery is a breakthrough in the process of liquefying proteins such as a scrambled egg white. This ability goes far beyond the kitchen; the breakthrough may give scientists a way to recycle proteins quickly and can reduce costs for not only food production but cancer treatments and the global biotechnology industry. Read more at: www.universityofcalifornia. edu/news/chemists-find-way-unboil-eggs.
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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MEDICAL
Nutrition
H ER E ’ S T O YO U R
H EALTH
M
arch is National Nutrition Month and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages us to focus on healthy eating and physical activity at home, school and at work. Every year, the USDA offers a different theme for National Nutrition Month. The focus in 2015 is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.” Some of the goals of the health-focused month are encouraging everyone to create physical activity plans and consume fewer calories. Daily exercise, informed food choices and maintaining a healthy weight are ways to reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote overall health. In 2011, with the help of first lady Michelle Obama, the USDA strayed away from the familiar
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BY MALINI BARTELS
MyPyramid concept most of us grew up with in favor of a more simplified MyPlate. The round icon serves as a reminder to help everyone make healthier food choices. For decades, National Nutrition Month has been incorporated in schools across the country. This year, try to take a local approach and focus on what you can do in our own community. Purchasing produce and other ingredients at local farmers’ markets allows you to know exactly where your food is coming from. In addition to watching what you eat, focusing on nutrition and avoiding convenience foods, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics urges everyone to simply choose a healthier lifestyle. Bike-to-school days and Schools on the Move Challenges are just a few of the physically inspired ideas that people can participate in for the month
of March and beyond. Kristin Mastre is the blogger for Feasting Fort Collins and mother of two boys in the Poudre School District. She frequents local restaurants and writes about her experiences on her blog, www.feastingfortcollins.com. When asked what local restaurants can do to embrace healthiness, she had some suggestions. “The biggest thing restaurants can do is to provide nutritional labeling on their menus. Not everyone wants to eat healthy all of the time, but it's nearly impossible to eat smart without the proper information,” she says. “Providing the information to the consumer doesn’t mean the restaurant has to do anything to change its menu, but it allows the customer make their own educated decision. Knowledge is power, and so is choice when it comes to healthy eating.”
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Do You Know “The Scoop?” Get The Scoop on the Northern Colorado Real Estate Market
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Mastre says there is a nutritional labeling company right here in Fort Collins. Restaurants just need to make the effort to make labeling happen. When it comes to food in the schools, Mastre has had three years of experience with her children in our local schools. “They have been making some progress toward healthy changes and promoting more nutritional education for kids over the years,” she indicates. “Lunches are getting better, there are great bike-to-school events and they encourage families to get involved through programs like the Schools On The Move Challenge. Kids learn by hands-on experience, and one way to get kids involved in nutritional understanding at school is to have them help develop menus. It would be fun for classes to develop their lunch menu for a month, or to write out a family menu for the week for homework.” Nationally board certified Holistic Nutritionist, Kathy Westover, operates To Your Health! Nutrition Counseling in Fort Collins. She brings attention to National Nutrition Month in her client newsletter. The master nutrition therapist works with people providing lifestyle recommendations and diet analysis to help people achieve their optimal health through nutrition counseling. “People have a hard time changing,” mentions Westover. “We need to stay away from the convenience factor. Everyone is pressed for time, we should remember to eat real food and take our time. Also, don’t forget to add vegetables to your breakfast,” she stresses. “It will be hard to get all the recommended daily servings of vegetables if you don’t have some with every meal.” In general, she suggests focusing on increased physical activity, eating real food instead of foodlike substances and slowing down to savor taste.
Malini Bartels is a freelance writer, chef, mother, radio host and actress living the good life in Fort Collins.
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
The 10 facts about our market that may shock you What all the apartment construction means for investors What will happen to your real estate portfolio in 2015 A list of Northern Colorado’s “Hot Neighborhoods” Why today’s move up buyer has the chance of a lifetime
To get your hands on this valuable tool, call 970-460-3033 or email fortcollins@windermere.com with the subject line “The Scoop”
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For more information on these two homes, please contact Paul Hunter 970-673-7285 www.windermerecolorado.com | 970-460-3033 17
10 Tips to Building a Healthy Meal For every day of the year. Source: www.choosemyplate.gov
1. Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Veggies Not only do they promote good health, but fruits and vegetables can help you feel full without being stuffed. They provide a great source of fiber and can be fun if you try to “eat a rainbow.” Mother Nature made healthy foods in vibrant colors! 2. Choose a Lean Protein If you are a carnivore, opt for seafood on your plate a few times a week. Lean cuts of beef, white meat chicken and certain cuts of pork are great options for animal protein. Beans and tofu are wonderful if prepared with spices and seasonings. Try marinating tofu to infuse it with flavor before cooking. 3. Include Whole Grains Whenever Possible In order for something to be labeled “100% Whole Grain” it must contain the entire grain or kernel. This includes the bran, germ and endosperm. Avoid “white flour” food as much as you can and lower your daily gluten intake with alternative grains such as quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat. Whole grain products make you feel more full and provide a healthy serving of fiber. 4. Incorporate Some Dairy (or dairy-free calcium) Low fat milk is a great option as a refreshing drink with any meal. Dairy is an easy source of calcium and can be a healthy addition to soups as a thickener when low fat yogurt is substituted for cream. Don’t do dairy? Try calcium fortified soymilk or almond milk as a replacement for cow’s milk. 5. Avoid Extra Fat One of the biggest culprits of excess fat in our meals is from drowning our food in heavy gravies, sauces and dressings. What might have been a very healthy option becomes rich and full of empty calories. Try a light sprinkle of cheese, a squeeze of lemon or an emulsion of olive oil and vinegar as alternative toppers.
6. Take Your Time Eating Slow down and enjoy your food! Savor all the tastes and textures of your meal. Slowing down allows your body to digest more efficiently and gives your stomach time to tell your brain that you are full. This is the best way to prevent overeating and exhibits proper manners at the table. 7. Use a Smaller Plate If you have a problem with portion control, this is important. Using a smaller plate allows you to clear your plate without overeating. Take a minute and see if you want (or need) a second helping. 8. Take Control of Your Food Eating at home means you know exactly what is in your food, giving you the option of less sodium, healthy substitutes and the ability to omit “empty calories” such as sugar, butter and cream. A simple alternative is to bake instead of frying. 9. Try New Foods National Nutrition Month is a wonderful time for kids to explore new foods! Try something different each day in the month of March. Have children do their own recipe searches online or have them pick out a cookbook at the library. They may find a new favorite! 10. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth There is a smart way to do this. Fruit is naturally sweet and can be spiced up with cinnamon or cooled-down with a dollop of low fat yogurt. A small piece of good quality dark chocolate can go a long way and is full of healthy flavonoids as well as a natural antioxidant. –M.B.
Resources: Kathy Westover, MNT To Your Health! Nutrition Counseling www.toyourhealthllc.com
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National Nutrition Month www.nationalnutritionmonth.org
Introduction to the Five Food Groups and MyPlate www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
MEDICAL
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lois Fink and Elise Bascom strategize ways to shed light on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and provide support to others in the community who have battled with this life-altering condition.
S HEDDING L I GH T O N I BD
O
ur society is reluctant to hear or talk about our bowels going bad, making those with disease reluctant to discuss their issues and even seek help. It’s time to bring Inflammatory Bowl Disease out of the bathroom and into the living room. Inflammatory Bowl Disease (IBD) is the umbrella term used for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Because of the part of the body that is affected, it carries a burden of silence, shame and embarrassment for the individuals who have the disease. Often confused with IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome), IBD is a far more serious condition and is a disease that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal
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BY MALINI BARTELS
(GI) tract, excruciating abdominal pain and diarrhea that often contains blood. Surgery is often the only option for relief. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.3 million people currently suffer from IBD in the United States. IBD is not caused by stress, but nervousness can exacerbate the disease. Mark Rosenblatt, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Banner Health Clinic in Greeley, mentions that there are drastic differences with IBS and IBD. “Inflammatory Bowl Disease is an autoimmune disease,” says Dr. Rosenblatt. “There is a genetic component as well as environmental factors. Both of them can have the same complaints, but patients can die from IBD.” Dr. Rosenblatt notes that IBD might have extra manifestations throughout the body. The eyes,
skin, joints and liver can suffer deterioration from Inflammatory Bowl Disease. “Quality of life is tremendously affected,” he says. “We can see lesions on the bowels of patients with IBD. This interferes with movement of food through the bowels and is very painful.” Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of IBD.
Crohn’s Disease
This disease, discovered in the 1930s and named after its founder, affects all layers of the bowel wall and can occur anywhere along the digestive path, starting with the mouth and ending with the anus. There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease and the root cause is yet to be determined. Although genetics, a weakened immune system and environmental factors all come into play, it is
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undetermined why people suffering with IBD have an excess of “bad” gut bacteria and lack in the “good” bacteria. Lois Fink is currently an energetic, mild-mannered and handsomely dressed retired woman who had a 19-year struggle with Crohn’s disease and underwent life-changing ostomy surgery at age 36. She was misdiagnosed for nearly two years, experienced delayed onset of puberty, collapsed in high school, was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and weighed only 62 pounds during that time. When you look at her now, you would never know that she has an opening on the side of her abdomen with a pouching system for bodily waste. Crohn’s disease affects the entire body, not just the intestines. It can never be cured, but can be managed with surgery, medicine and a mindful diet. For years, Lois Fink struggled with abdominal pain so intense that she would sometimes see stars. “I was very clothing conscientious and would only wear dark clothing,” she recalls. “I had absolutely no control over my body.” When Fink underwent ostomy surgery, an ileostomy to be exact, surgeons removed six inches of her small intestine and a foot and a half of her colon. They connected her small intestine to a stoma on the side of her body, small enough to be unrecognizable underneath clothing. Life for Fink after her ileostomy has been a miraculous 180-degree turnaround. Not everyone with Crohn’s disease ends up going through ostomy surgery, but it is estimated that about 25 percent of patients will have some type of operation. Fink had the type of Crohn’s that likes to concentrate in the colon. Since her ostomy surgery, the disease has not reoccurred. “I have a life free from pain, free from feeling as if I was chained to a toilet or worrying about having an accident in public.” Fresh fruit was something that she could never have before the surgery because it would ravage her bowels. “I can remember biting into a peach and tasting its sweetness and feeling the juice run down my chin,” said Fink with a smile. “It’s the tiny little things in life that we take advantage of and I couldn’t even do them back then!”
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a type of IBD that affects the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum (anus). The J-pouch surgery is a common surgery for this type of disease. Elise Bascom is a 27-year-old second year doctoral student in counseling psychology at Colorado State University. There was a time when life was not so straightforward for her. “I didn’t leave the house for a year,” said Bascom. “I had to use the bathroom 30 to 40 times a day!” After multiple misdiagnoses, Bascom found out she had ulcerative colitis at age 17. After undergoing steroid treatment to no avail, it was time to discuss surgery. There is no known cure for ulcerative colitis. Surgery is the only option for any chance at normalcy. Since ulcerative colitis only attacks the colon, removing that part of the body essentially cures the person of the disease, but is not without challenges. Post surgery, Bascom has gotten her life back. She still watches what she eats, but she
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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surgeon creates a “pouch” from some of the small intestine, which, in effect, later functions to hold stool, much like the person’s colon. The “pouch” is allowed to heal for at least two or three months, depending on the person’s overall state of health. During the second phase of the surgery, the pouch is formed to resemble the letter “J” and the end of the pouch is brought down and sutured to the healthy rectum to enable the person to pass fecal matter as before. In the case of colorectal cancer, ostomy surgery can preserve your lifestyle. You can retain the active pursuits you had prior to having ostomy surgery.
IBD & Ostomy Awareness
Mark Rosenblatt, Gastroenterologist, Banner Health Clinic, Greeley
is able to exercise, use the bathroom normally and is back in school.
Surgery Options for IBD
Although Dr. Rosenblatt does not perform ostomy surgeries, he conducts the diagnostic tests required to determine if a patient’s intestines are deteriorating with lesions, riddled with inflammation and operating in a weakened state. Ostomy surgery is necessary for many cases of IBD. It is a diversion surgery. The normal route that stool makes through the body is diverted and a new pathway is formed via a stoma, formed out of either the large or small intestine. Stoma is a Greek word meaning mouth or new opening. There are various types of ostomy surgery depending on the nature of the illness. There can be an ileostomy, colostomy and J-pouch surgery. The ileum is the end of the small intestine. An ileostomy is created when the entire colon (large intestine) and rectum (anus) are removed due to disease. A surgeon creates an opening in the abdominal wall and a small portion of the ileum is brought to the surface of the body, creating a stoma. Hence the term “ileostomy.” To collect stool as it exits from the stoma, a disposable ostomy pouching system is worn over the skin and encircling the stoma. Sometimes referred to as an appliance or bag, the pouch is emptied several times a day into the toilet. On average, a new pouching system is put on every 3 to 5 days. A colostomy is created when a portion of the large intestine and rectum are removed due to disease. The procedure is the same as creating an ileostomy, except a part of the large intestine is brought through the abdominal wall to the surface of the body, hence the term colostomy. J-Pouch surgery is usually done in either a two or three step process. First, the diseased colon is removed and a temporary ileostomy is formed. The
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Today, Lois Fink is an inspirational speaker. She shares her story to help shed light on what was initially thought of as an impossible situation. “Crohn’s disease turned out to be positively life-changing, taking me down paths of life that I would never have traveled.” There is plenty of humor in her talks, with clever puns and analogies to help illustrate what people with Crohn’s are going through and to help everyone feel at ease to talk about what might be considered an embarrassing topic. In Lois Fink’s situation, ostomy surgery gave her back what Crohn’s disease took away: a full, active and healthy life. Now, she is on a mission to banish the cloak of shame, embarrassment and silence that surrounds this disease and surgery. With Fink’s help, the IBD & Ostomy Awareness Ribbon was created to raise awareness, educate and provide support and empowerment. This gutsy, dark chocolate brown ribbon with a red jewel in the center hopes to accomplish for IBD and ostomy surgery what the pink ribbon did for those who are battling beast cancer. The tagline reads, “It’s not just a ribbon, it’s a movement!” It isn’t easy being diagnosed with a chronic disease with no known cure and for which there is currently no real understanding of its cause. Bascom and Fink underscore the fact that IBD patients have such mixed emotions about their condition. It is empowering to know they are not alone and support groups can help. There are groups in Fort Collins, such as the one Bascom organizes at Colorado State University. The group typically meets the last Wednesday of each month in Gifford Hall to help support patients and families. Social media sites are also a great way to stay connected with people who are going through exactly what you might be. Inflammatory Bowl Disease is unpredictable. It’s important to be an active partner with your medical management. “Certain parts of our body are acceptable to discuss and are even elevated,” says Fink. “Our digestive system is sadly not in that category.” As a result, people with IBD carry with them an incredible amount of shame and embarrassment, which leads to silence and, ultimately, lack of public awareness of the subject. “We have gutsy stories to share with you,” she says. “We ask that you give us the same freedom to talk and share our stories that individuals with other illnesses are so freely given.” Malini Bartels is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins.
Find Help and Support For information about Crohn’s disease and/or ulcerative colitis, contact the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA): www.ccfa.org. For information about ostomy surgery, contact the United Ostomy Associations of America: www. ostomy.org. For information about how to obtain your IBD & Ostomy Awareness Ribbon, visit www.igotguts. org/ibdribbon. You Are Not Alone: This Fort Collins IBD and ostomy support group is open to anyone experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) related issues, including family members. Meetings are usually the last Wednesday of the month on CSU Campus, Gifford Hall, Room 115, from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Elise Bascom, group facilitator, ebascom@rams.colostate.edu To receive Lois Finks’ monthly blog delivered to your inbox, text “Guts” to 42828, email ibdribbon@gmail. com or visit www.couragetakesguts. com. You can also “Like” Courage Takes Guts on Facebook. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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MEDICAL
Prescription Medication
A RE WE TO O D E PE N DE N T
ON MEDIC AT I ONS?
A
re we over-medicated? There are signs that may be true. A 2010 survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that prescriptions grew 39 percent, from 2.9 billion to 3.9 billion from 1999 to 2009. More than four billion prescriptions were written in 2011, and spending in 2013 on prescriptions topped $392 billion. That’s $1,000 per person in the U.S.
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A 2014 Centers for Disease Control survey showed that 48 percent of us have used at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days, and 31 percent of us have used two or more in the last month—increases of 5 and 25 percent, respectively, compared to the 19992009 timeframe. The Mayo Clinic’s numbers indicate 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug, and more than half take two or more. In 2012, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association found that 81 percent of adults use drugs as a first response
BY BRAD SHANNON
to minor conditions. Why might that be? In part, it may be because of our society’s tendency to want the quick and easy solution to a problem. And in part, to some extent, because pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money on marketing. In fact, nine of the 10 largest spend more on marketing than they do on research and development. The largest spends in excess of 2:1 on marketing over research and development (R&D); and for many, profit margins exceed their R&D budgets, as well. You’ve seen
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Hidden Braces Dr. Brandon Owen, DDS, MS
In addition to conventional orthodontics for children and adults, we are one of the most experienced clinics in the country with lingual “hidden” braces. This is the most esthetic way for us to enhance your smile (often for the same price as outside braces).
Dr. Adam Timock, DDS
We are pleased to announce our new partner Dr. Adam Timock, DDS Dr. Timock's research on 3D imaging has been published internationally and received special recognition by the American Association of Orthodontics. Both Dr. Owen and Dr. Timock are certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, an honor achieved by only 20% of practicing orthodontists.
In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Owen works with GAC DentSply on DEVELOPING the next generation of braces and lingual (behind the teeth or “hidden”) braces making orthodontic treatment significantly faster with even better results. Dr. Owen LECTURES around the world to orthodontists about lingual and digital orthodontics. He does RESEARCH at the U. of Alberta with one of the most advanced orthodontic labs in the world.
2009-2014
Dr. Owen’s Professional Accolades: • Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics • Member of the College of Diplomates of the ABO • 5280 “Best Orthodontists” list every year 2009-Present
Come by and see us at our second location in Windsor! Dr. Adam Timock, DDS
Dr. Brandon Owen, DDS, MS
Two Locations: 3221 Eastbrook Dr. Suite A-103
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 484-4102 www.owenorthodontics.com
1180 Main Street Suite 6
Windsor, CO 80550
Dr. Jan Hester, Family Medicine
the commercials and the magazine ads, but there’s more to it than that. While they spend $4 billion per year marketing to consumers, they spend $24 billion marketing to doctors. So, are we too dependent on medication? The answer, like so many questions that demand a “yes” or “no,” is “it depends.” Some of us are, some of us aren’t, and your view on health and medicine and your relationship with your healthcare provider can lead to decisions that can take you from one of these groups to the other. Local independent family physician Dr. Jan Hester of Fort Collins notes that in Northern Colorado, the lifestyle here is relatively healthy, and she sees that in her patients. “Part of my approach is to see what I can do before I prescribe medication; but I also see the value of using science for the benefits it brings.” Dr. Hester prescribes a number of medications to patients that they take on an ongoing basis to improve their quality and quantity of life. She cites an example of an elderly patient who had a cardiac problem and also suffered a bowel obstruction. “At the hospital, he was put on a statin, a blood thinner, and a couple of other medications, and he needed them. His risk was lower with them.” All of us, she notes, could do better with more attention to our diet and by exercising more, “but are we open to changing our diet, doing more exercise and considering supplements, or are we more likely to want to just take a pill?” Similarly, Dr. Kathryn Plummer, a naturopath and owner of Loveland’s Sage Holistic Health, falls in the middle ground when it comes to medication. Polypharmacy, or taking more than one medication, concerns her. “For me, when you get past two, that’s a time for caution. When it comes to individual biochemistry and how medications interact, you can’t reliably
26
predict the consequences.” “Medications are not evil, and I’m never going to tell a patient to just stop taking something. That would be reckless,” Dr. Plummer stresses. “It may be better for someone’s overall, long-term health, though, to nurture their health and look to taper off some medications when that is appropriate.” But overall health is the bottom line. “The end-all of my approach is to improve patient health. In some cases, that may mean looking to get them off everything they are taking; but I have an inhaler myself that I use when I need it. The choice between breathing or not is an easy one, and I treat many patients who use medications appropriately and for good reasons.” Her concern is when it comes to what she calls ‘sound-bite medicine.’ “You have pain, you take ibuprofen. You have heartburn, you take Pepcid, and so on. It’s easy, you don’t have to think about it, you don’t have to change your diet, go out and exercise, test to see what the underlying problem is; but whether you go all natural, all pharmaceutical, or some blend of the two, there are consequences.” Take too much ibuprofen, and you can suffer kidney damage or gastric inflammation, she notes. Too much Tylenol is toxic to the liver. Aspirin can cause tinnitus and painless ulcers that can lead to a bleed out. “We need to understand the consequences and take personal responsibility for our health. If a patient prefers medication, and is not willing to make a lifestyle change, am I a good practitioner by forcing them into a lifestyle they are not comfortable with or interested in? If someone chooses gastric bypass to lose weight when they wouldn’t change otherwise, who am I to say that’s not okay?” Dr. Hester notes that there’s data that shows those on statins have a lower incidence of cardiac events; but has patients who ask for antibiotics when they have a virus-caused cold, or seek medication for chronic pain. “I work to educate them, and analyze if they really need medication. If you have acute pain, that’s something that’s appropriate to treat with a prescription. But if you have chronic pain, I’m going to refer you to pain specialist. If I’ve just diagnosed you with Type 2 diabetes, we likely need to manage that with medication. If you are willing to work to change your lifestyle we may be able to get you off that medication, great, but that may take some time.” The good news is, you have options and opportunities to educate yourself on how to manage your health. While there are good reasons to take a medication or medications; there are also good reasons to manage what you are taking and for how long. Consult your doctor on the best options for your current state of health. Brad Shannon is a freelance writer and marketing and public relations consultant based in Loveland.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
27
E M E R G E N CY
Care IN
FORT COLLINS . d e t a v e El HAS JUST BEEN
BANNER FORT COLLINS MEDICAL CENTER OPENING APRIL 6
Emergency care is all about getting the right care at the right time—the first time. At Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, our highly coordinated care in a state-of-the-art facility helps ensure that you’ll get just the care you need right when you need it. And with Banner Health Center located right on the campus, your follow-up care will be right where you need it, too—from urology to cardiology to surgery and more. And if you need to be admitted overnight, you can rest easy knowing that our remote patient monitoring provides our doctors with a second set of eyes to ensure that any changes in your condition are identified and acted on immediately. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen from health care and everything you should expect. BannerHealth.com/FortCollins • (970) 229-4000 •
/BannerHealthColorado • Harmony Rd. & Lady Moon Dr.
W E LCO ME T O THE N E W
BANNER FORT C OL L I NS MEDIC A L C ENT E R
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
29
Dear Northern Colorado Reader,
Rick Sutton
Chief Executive Officer Banner Health Northern Colorado
A milestone event will occur on April 6 that will make its mark on the history of healthcare in Northern Colorado—the opening of the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center on Harmony Road. As we saw more and more people in Fort Collins accessing Banner Health for their care, we realized that a Banner Health hospital in Fort Collins would benefit community members seeking to receive their care from Banner Health, closer to home. During the past 16 months, thousands of hours of planning and work have resulted in the availability of this additional healthcare choice for the residents of the Fort Collins area and Northern Colorado. Combined with McKee Medical Center (Loveland) and North Colorado Medical Center (Greeley), the three facilities will provide the settings for our healthcare providers to give you compassionate, quality care with the latest technology and processes. This Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness issue more fully introduces you to the facility, and the people who will be providing a broader base of Banner Health medical services in the Northern Colorado Front Range area. I hope you will use this magazine to become more familiar with the innovation, patient care and technology available from Banner Health. Banner Fort Collins Medical Center has been designed as an acute care medical campus with in-patient beds, medical imaging, surgery suites, birthing suites, an on-site laboratory, intensive care, Emergency department and specialty clinic areas. Innovative processes are emphasized, such as our telehealth equipment, that allows remote monitoring of patients by appropriate specialists in addition to the on-site care provided by our health professionals. This facility and the professionals who provide care here are dedicated to our mission of “making a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care.” I am also extremely pleased to tell you that North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC) was recently recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals™, 2015 and a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™, 2015 by Healthgrades®, a well-known independent rating agency that rates healthcare providers based on an analysis of publically-reported results data. NCMC has achieved the Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence designation for seven consecutive years. McKee is one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals™, 2014. Both McKee and NCMC also received five-star ratings and quality awards in a variety of clinical service lines. Patient satisfaction and patient safety also were recognized at high levels. We are proud that we have two existing, high-performing hospitals in the NoCo area with teams of highly qualified physicians, employees and volunteers providing care to community residents, many of whom may be your family, friends and neighbors. Between these two facilities, the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, our network of Banner Medical Group physicians and our relationships with independent physician practices throughout our local communities, Banner Health provides a full scope of healthcare services in Northern Colorado. This is a new era in healthcare for Northern Colorado—an era of integrated, closelyaligned providers working together to provide outstanding care in the most cost-effective ways. We appreciate the close relationships we have with insurance companies and the many payers in our area to provide the best care, from diagnosis to discharge. I have no doubt that Banner Fort Collins Medical Center will expand as the patient volumes dictate. I am thankful for the warm and positive reception from members of the Fort Collins community and look forward to serving the increasing number of people who choose us for their care. On behalf of the over 4,700 Banner Health employees, physicians and volunteers in the Banner Health Northern Colorado area, I want you to know that we are committed to take care of you with outcomes that are among the best in the country. We have selected the physicians and staff for this new facility who will provide patient care at the same high level our other two communities have come to expect. I am confident that you will not be disappointed with this hospital, our service, our outcomes or our team. You are invited to tour the new facility and meet our staff during a public Open House scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. I hope you are able to join us. We are privileged to provide quality healthcare for thousands of Northern Colorado residents on a day-to-day basis at our Banner Health hospitals and physician clinics. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. May God bless you, the United States military and the United States of America. Sincerely,
Rick Sutton, Chief Executive Officer Banner Health Northern Colorado 30
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
WE TAKE PATIENT CARE
to the HIGHEST LEVEL.
McKee Medical Center North Colorado Medical Center North Colorado Medical Center 1801 16th St,. Greeley • (970) 352-4121 www.BannerHealth.com/NCMC
McKee Medical Center 2000 Boise Ave, Loveland • (970) 669-4640 www.BannerHealth.com/McKee
Taking the helm at Banner’s new Fort Collins Medical Center: Dr. David Kukafka, Chief of Medical Staff; John D’Angelo, Chief Operating Officer; Rick Sutton, Chief Executive Officer; and Pam Samples, Chief Nursing Officer.
B A N NER’S NE W FO RT C O LLI N S
MEDICAL CE NT ER
W
hen the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center (BFCMC) opens along Harmony Road in Fort Collins to accept its first patient at 7 a.m. April 6, it will mark the end of a long process, and the beginning of a new era. Banner Health announced the project in fall 2012. Construction crews broke ground in October 2013, and topped out the structure in March of last year. Staff recruitment began
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some nine months ago. The process to plan and build a state-of-the-art medical facility has been a major undertaking, one that greatly expands the healthcare options available in Northern Colorado’s largest city. That strategy, notes BFCMC Chief Operating Officer John D’Angelo, grew out of Banner examining what the future of healthcare delivery looks like. “With the Affordable Care Act and a new focus on accountable care, we looked at where we were at the beginning of this journey, and where we were going in the future.
BY BRAD SHANNON
“As part of our long-term strategy,” he continues, “we’re always asking, ‘What is Banner, and where are we headed?’ We want to be the provider of choice in the region, and we knew if we were to become that, we needed to be in the area’s biggest city.” To fulfill its vision and meet the needs of its growing Fort Collins patient base, Banner acquired a 28-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Harmony Road and Lady Moon Drive in Fort Collins and built the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center. The hospital is a full-service, acute-care facility offering 24-hour emergency
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
care, orthopedics, general surgery, women’s health, labor and delivery, gastroenterology, urology, pulmonology, intensive care, spine surgery and other medical and surgical services. Attached to the facility is a Banner Health Center, where specialists from a variety of medical disciplines will hold patient clinics. “Banner Fort Collins Medical Center will have an open medical staff that gives physicians a choice of where to practice,” said Dr. Bradford Keeler, a general surgeon and regional director of specialty clinics for Banner Medical Group.” We welcome any interested practice
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
to apply for credentials at our facility. We’ve already had 250 providers put in applications.” For the past several months, D’Angelo, Associate Chief Nursing Officer Pat Samples, and Rick Sutton, CEO for Banner Health in Northern Colorado, have been meeting with small groups of community leaders in Fort Collins to introduce them to Banner. “When we started this process, we visited with local community leaders to tell our story and hear their thoughts,” recalls D’Angelo “Overwhelmingly, while they were still somewhat cautious, they knew us as a quality organization and were open to seeing us work to deliver quality care and exceed their expectations. Above all, they were all happy to have a choice when it came to local healthcare.” Now, the final push is on to be ready for opening day in April. Samples has been working to staff the facility for several months. “We identified the staff mix we would need in late summer and early fall, and began recruiting in October for internal transfers from other Banner facilities,” she explained. “We began to on-board those team members, and then backfill the open positions their transfers created. Then we looked for new people to bring on board.” Banner received 700 applications for 214 positions and held interviews to identify those that best fit the culture. “We have a few spots left,” Samples noted in mid-January. Her next steps were to complete the orientation process and begin readiness testing in February and March—creating workflows, working through simulations, testing entry points for patient flow and practicing for the expected and the unexpected, including fire drills. Dr. David Kukafka, a pulmonologist and BFCMC’s chief of medical staff, explains, “This is a unique institution with an integrated care team of rotating primary care physicians and specialists. It’s small, innovative and will provide high-quality care on a personal level. It will do this, in part, by leveraging technology in a way that has not been seen in this community before.” The facility’s first floor will house 11 emergency department rooms and two major treatment/trauma rooms; medical imaging, including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, X-ray, ultrasound; four labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum (LDRP) rooms and a C-section operating room; a full-service kitchen and dining area; a lab providing inpatient and outpatient services 24/7; and the attached outpatient Banner Health Center with 16 exam rooms. In the Banner Health Center, patients will be able to schedule appointments with physicians specializing in internal medicine/pediatrics, neurosurgery, pulmonology, OB/GYN, general surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology and urology. Orthopedics will be available at the Banner Health Center, 702-A W. Drake Road. Primary care will continue to be offered at the three existing Banner Medical Group clinics in Fort Collins on Drake Road, Harmony Road and Colland Drive in south Fort Collins. BFCMC’s second floor will be home to 18 inpatient rooms including Medical, Surgical,
Public Open House March 28
Curious? Before it opens, you can attend the public open house of the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center on March 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take a tour of the facility, learn more about the programs and services offered, and meet with hospital medical staff and leaders.
Volunteers Needed
Like any large medical facility, Banner Fort Collins Medical Center will turn to volunteers to carry out some important tasks at the new facility. What does a volunteer do at the hospital? A wide variety of things. FCMC is looking for volunteers in their teens to those older than 90 who will work on site and off site, raising funds, organizing programs for youth and the elderly, providing guest relations services and performing many other important tasks. Are you interested in volunteering at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center? The hospital is seeking volunteers with a passion for making a difference in their community. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and willing to make a six-month commitment to a consistent schedule. For more information, please visit www.BannerHealth.com/FortCollinsvolunteers or call (970) 229-4130. 33
Pediatrics and Intensive Care; two operating rooms; 16 pre-operation and post-anesthesia care rooms; and three procedure rooms. Long-term plans for the 28 acres in southeast Fort Collins include a build-out to a 144bed capacity by 2040. “The facility looks bigger than a 22-bed center,” Dr. Keeler explained. “It was built with the infrastructure to support 80 beds, and phased expansion over the next 25 years will take us to that 144-bed number.” By comparison, McKee Medical Center in Loveland has 115 beds, and North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley has 378. Banner’s new Fort Collins campus will offer a variety of quality programs, including classes, events and support groups that are similar to what other Banner hospitals provide as a public service. “We’ve got a strong following of community members who are engaged and excited by these offerings,” notes D’Angelo. Many are focused on community education and outreach, including the Spirit of Women membership program which combines health education with innovative entertainment events and themes. The Seasons Club offers a variety of activities to adults 50 and better. Screenings for heart, blood and lung health are available, along with immunizations. Community Wellness classes, for everything from safe babysitting to yoga, cooking and CPR will also be provided to the community. The new BFCMC staff and management are especially proud of the advanced technology
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“This facility was designed from the ground up to help us in our mission to be better, smarter, more affordable. Healthcare finances are on an unsustainable trend, and we’re working to make high-level healthcare fiscally sound” – John D’Angelo, Chief Operating Officer, Fort Collins Medical Center
that is key to their approach to patient care, including TeleAcute Care, an expansion of TeleICU, which gives expert staff the ability to monitor every patient admitted to the hospital 24 hours a day. “This brings an additional layer of services on top of our full local core services that helps us achieve results in the top 1 to 2 percent nationally when it comes to reducing length of stay for patients and incidents of sepsis, along with mortality,” says Dr. Keeler. “This facility was designed from the ground up to help us in our mission to be better, smarter, more affordable,” D’Angelo notes. “Healthcare finances are on an unsustainable trend, and we’re working to make high-level healthcare fiscally sound.” The use of local artwork on the walls of the new center is also a point of pride, where 88 works from 32 local artists were selected to reflect local and regional themes. While Banner does not pursue LEED certification, BFCMC is built to LEED standards. “We’re honored to be part of the fabric of Fort Collins,” concludes D’Angelo. “This is a unique opportunity, and we’re excited to be able to care for patients at the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center.
Brad Shannon is a freelance writer and marketing and public relations consultant based in Loveland, CO.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
OUTDOOR LIGHTING CAN LIVEN UP YOUR LANDSCAPE
All along the Front Range, we have had a sneak peak of Spring. It’s been a refreshing break to the seasonal darkness. Unfortunately, there are still many more winter days ahead. Outdoor lighting can liven up your winter landscape. Lighting can enhance your property’s curb appeal while adding an important safety element to your home. LED technology is a low-voltage lighting solution that will not only brighten up your winter days, it is energy efficient. Here in Colorado, abundant sunshine is the norm in daytime hours. So you may want to consider solar lighting features for your property. Here are some other benefits to adding outdoor lighting elements:
• Most people enjoy their landscapes after work and lighting enables that. • Adding a light to your address number makes it easier for visitors to locate your home. • Installing lighting along sidewalk or driveways improves accessibility and safety. • Lighting placed in strategic areas around your home improves security. Local law enforcement services state that a well-lit home can deter criminal activity. • Lighting adds curb appeal which increases your property value. • Lighting adds interest to planting beds. Most lighting features can be added to your landscape, no matter what time of year it is. Let the professionals at Alpine Gardens help you discover how outdoor lighting can beautify your home and landscape. CALL US AT 970-226-2296 TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION.
970.226.2296 alpinelandscaping.com
Style 2013Colorado Medical & Wellness 2014 Northern
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Located in Arizona, Julie Reisetter (right), Chief Nursing Officer for TeleHealth Services at Banner Health, manages advanced patient monitoring systems such as those available at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center.
INNOVATION AT BANNER
F ORT COLLINS M E DI C A L C E N TER
A
new medical center is set to open in Fort Collins this spring, and it will be one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the country. In fact, it will be the only hospital in Northern Colorado equipped with TeleAcute Care, an advanced patient monitoring system that is improving patient outcomes in the two Arizona hospitals where it is already utilized. “TeleAcute Care is an additional layer of patient care and coverage above what we
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BY HEIDI KERR-SCHLAEFER
provide on the ground,” explains David S. Kukafka, M.D., chief of medical staff. “Like any other hospital and any other intensive care unit, the patient gets onsite individual care by nurses and physicians, and what telemedicine offers is an additional layer of oversight.” In 2006, Banner Health, a leader in telemedicine, began installing TeleHealth services in their Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and today, the standard is that every licensed Banner ICU bed is supported by a TeleICU team. This technology has now expanded beyond the ICU and every bed at the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center will have TeleAcute
Care service. In 2010, Banner Health, along with Philips Healthcare, began exploring how they could expand TeleHealth services outside the ICU. “We saw reductions in mortality and length of stay in the ICU and we wanted to know if we could achieve those same type of results in the medical/surgical area,” says Julie Reisetter, chief nursing officer for TeleHealth Services at Banner Health. Banner Gateway Medical Center and Banner Ironwood Medical Center, located in Arizona, became TeleAcute Care hospitals, meaning that every bed had two-way audio video and
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
remote nurse monitors. Banner’s TeleHealth team then studied the results and worked closely with Philips Healthcare before deciding to expand the TeleAcute Care hospital concept to the new facility being built in Fort Collins. “This sophisticated software identifies adverse trends and allows the TeleAcute Care remote team to intervene with the bedside team to improve outcomes and avoid adverse events,” says Reisetter. So what does TeleAcute Care look like? Each bed in a TeleAcute Care hospital is equipped with a computer monitor installed near the foot of the bed; think FaceTime or Skype. Banner uses HIPPA compliant software, but it’s a similar experience for the patients. When a patient is admitted to the hospital, they are introduced to their onsite team of doctors and nurses, and also introduced to their remote team via the two-way audio video monitor. A live nurse or doctor is on the other end of the video and available at all times. The nurse or doctor will be dressed in blue scrubs, just like the patient’s bedside doctor or nurse. The remote medical staff is monitoring 40 to 50 patients at a time, thanks to cuttingedge software that is tracking every patient’s heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, lab results, etc. All this information is analyzed by highly intelligent software that runs complex algorithms based on trending information. If the patient’s heart rate starts to go up or down indicating a possible problem, an alert is sent to the remote nurse who can then activate the camera, look in the room, talk to the patient (when possible) and do an assessment. The nurses who work for Banner’s TeleHealth services have an average of 22 years of ICU experience. These remote nurses and doctors are based out of Mesa, Arizona, Denver, Colorado, Santa Monica, California and Tel Aviv, Israel. Reisetter often fields questions about whether this new technology means that remote nurses and doctors are replacing onsite medical staff at Banner hospitals. “Absolutely not,” she says. “This is an enormous, multi-million dollar investment that Banner started making in 2006 and continues to make. It is in addition to all of the care a patient gets at the bedside. A nurse and a physician cannot be in more than one place at a time so TeleAcute Care allows us to leverage technology and leverage cognitive expertise.” How does TeleAcute Care improve outcomes? While this technology has been a costly investment for Banner Health, it also helps save lives and decrease hospital length of stay. TeleICU has been online since 2006, and data has irrefutably proven that it helps improve patient outcomes. A scoring tool called Apache uses data to determine what the length of stay should be for an adult in the ICU. Based on predicted ICU stays, in 2013, Banner saved almost 34,000 ICU days versus what was predicted. “So you can take this information and apply a financial component to it and that equals close to $90 million cost avoidance just in 2013,” says Reisetter.
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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Dr. David Kukafka, Chief of Medical Staff at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, says TeleAcute Care offers an additional layer of patient care and oversight.
On the TeleAcute Care side, Reisetter says findings have shown that the percentage of patients who end up being transferred from the general ward to the ICU within 24 hours of arrival has been cut in half. “We believe this is because of this sophisticated software that helps to identify adverse trends and intervenes before something bad happens—we believe this is the reason we had a reduction of patients being transferred to the ICU,” she says. TeleAcute Care also improves quality of care and a patient’s experience. From a quality of care standpoint, there are multiple areas where this service improves care, from streamlining the admitting process to providing immediate access to physicians who can help onsite staff make important decisions concerning their patients, even in the middle of the night. “The remote nurses and doctors are specifically helpful at night when there aren’t as many people around the hospital, because they are able to function as an onsite provider when a doctor is elsewhere in the hospital,” says Dr. Kukafka. TeleAcute Care services allows Dr. Kukafka to implement a strategy and a plan for a patient, and, rather than have a nurse call to update him on the plan intermittently, he can
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assign it to one of the remote physicians and he or she can monitor that patient with Dr. Kukafka’s strategy in mind, throughout the day and night. And because TeleAcute Care software monitors trends, it gives doctors like Dr. Kukafka more information than they would have otherwise. Instead of one or two blood pressure readings a day, the doctor has information on how the patient’s blood pressure has been trending throughout a 24-hour period. “Looking at trends allows us to make better decision than just looking at one number,” he says. In addition, TeleAcute Care can improve a patient’s overall experience while they are at the hospital. One of the biggest upshots of these services it that they provide reassurance for patients and family members. Reisetter recalls an elderly woman who refused to leave her husband’s side when he was admitted to one of the Arizona hospitals equipped with TeleAcute Care services. The staff was genuinely worried about her lack of sleep and food intake. They decided to remind her about the TeleAcute Care service and to reintroduce her to the remote nurse who was watching over her husband 24/7. This proved to be the reassurance the wife
needed and she finally went home for some much needed nourishment and sleep. The knowledge that both an onsite team and virtual team will be there for one’s sick family member improves both the family’s experience and the overall experience of the patient. Interestingly, Banner’s TeleHealth services program is being studied by a number of organizations across the country interested in improving their outcomes through the use of remote patient monitoring technology. Currently, there are several service lines offered through Banner TeleHealth including TeleICU, TeleAcute Care, TeleBehavioralHealth and TeleStroke. The Banner Fort Collins Medical Center is being built on a 28-acre campus located at Harmony Road and Lady Moon Drive. The 145,000-square-foot, two-story medical center will be a full service, acute care hospital and will be the third Banner Health facility on the Front Range. It is scheduled to open April 6, 2015.
Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and freelance writer from Northern Colorado. She is also the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about Colorado events and festivals.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
y
ydo I Where
turn when it comes to my health?
My family’s health? is that
I’VE NEVER even heard of that Is it
medication
safe?
What’s the latest
technology?
y
Who doI TALK TO
y
I’ve been experiencing ongoing stomach problems like pain and nausea. What might be the cause?
DISEASE.
treatable?
about this? What are my OPTIONS
The gallbladder is a common cause of abdominal pain, and many people may need surgery to correct the problem.
now?
Ask the
Expert
The two most common indications for gallbladder removal are symptomatic gallstones or a dysfunctional gallbladder that does not empty bile normally. Symptoms of gallbladder problems include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abnormal bowel movements, chest pain and even back or shoulder pain. The most common symptom is recurring pain in the upper abdomen after eating – especially fatty or greasy foods. Gallbladder removal can almost always be performed with minimally invasive techniques. Most patients return home the same day as surgery.
If your doctor has recommended gallbladder surgery, contact a Banner Health Surgeon today.
Fort Collins
Loveland
1900 N. Boise Ave., Suite 420 Appointments: (970) 669-3212 BannerHealth.com/BMG-LovelandSurgery
1800 15th St., Suite 200 Appointments: (970) 352-8216 BannerHealth.com/BMG-GreeleySurgery
Lawrence Schoelkopf, M.D., General Surgeon
Thomas Blomquist, M.D., General Surgeon Jerome Collins, M.D., General Surgeon Bradford Keeler, M.D., General Surgeon Karin Schmidová, M.D., General Surgeon
Molly Decker, D.O., General Surgeon Michael Harkabus, M.D., General Surgeon Khoi Le, M.D., General Surgeon Jason Ogren, M.D., General Surgeon Samuel Saltz, D.O., General Surgeon Robert Vickerman, M.D., General Surgeon
608 E. Harmony Rd., Suite 101 New Location - Open April 6 4700 Lady Moon Dr. Appointments: (970) 229-4675 BannerHealth.com/ClinicFoCoHarmonySurgery
Greeley
Specializing in General Surgery • Accepting Kaiser Permanente Members
Kerry Slater, Executive Director of Front Range Specialty Clinics, and Dr. Bradford Keeler, Regional Medical Director of Specialty Clinics, will steer development of the Banner Health Center located at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center.
A BANNER YEAR FOR
SPECIALTY CLINICS IN NORTHERN COLORADO BY ELISSA J. TIVONA
Banner Vision Statement: “We will be a national leader recognized for clinical excellence and innovation, preferred for a highly coordinated patient experience, and distinguished by the quality of our people.”
A
fter taking his surgical training at the University of North Carolina and completing his residency, Dr. Bradford Keeler packed up and came straight to Loveland, Colorado. That was 20 years ago, and he has made his home in Northern Colorado since.
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“I’ve been very happy here and I’ve been fortunate enough to be in the same practice, with the same group and taking care of patients in the same location for 20 years,” says Dr. Keeler. But one notable change in his specialty group’s practice occurred in 2012— they decided to affiliate with the Banner Medical Group (BMG).
Today, Dr. Keeler explains how they have benefited from that decision: Banner Medical Group provides a leadership track for motivated physicians, giving them an active voice in providing direction and focus to the medical group. To prepare doctors for this role, Banner offers practical training to promising candidates
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Meet the Docs through the Advanced Physician Leadership Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. A graduate of the Institute, Dr. Keeler has taken on the administrative role of Regional Medical Director of Specialty Clinics for the Banner Medical Group, along with continuing his clinical responsibilities as a practicing surgeon. “I still think of myself as a clinician; I’m technically 60 percent clinician and 40 percent administrative,” says Dr. Keeler. His partner in implementing specialty clinic growth in Fort Collins is Kerry Slater, who came to Banner Health on the business side as executive director of Front Range Specialty Clinics in October 2014. Slater says, “I’m Brad’s administrative dyad partner. The structure here is to pair an administrative businessperson with a physician leader. We both deal with the same areas but we partner…sometimes Brad takes the lead on things, especially if they’re more clinical. And I take the lead on the aspects related to clinic operations such as financial performance, contracts, growth and program development. Those areas that need a business perspective. We really lean on each other’s strengths.” To date, BMG in Northern Colorado has grown to include more than 17 different disciplines in 24 clinics with about 300 providers and advanced practice professionals. This year, Dr. Keeler and Slater share responsibility for guiding further expansion of the BMG specialty clinics into Fort Collins. With the infrastructure in place at Banner’s new, 28-acre Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, “We’re ready to expand at the pace that’s needed,” says Slater. “It will be driven by the growth of our patient demand. So as Fort Collins continues to grow and we continue to monitor the needs of the community, we’re ready and able to quickly expand to meet those needs.” What gives Banner this agility is the coordinated team approach of its specialists. While the majority of specialists will maintain offices in the Banner Health Center adjacent to the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center (or at existing Banner Health Clinics or Centers in Fort Collins), clinicians will move regularly among the three Northern Colorado Banner hospitals : McKee Medical Center in Loveland, North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and Banner Fort Collins Medical Center in Fort Collins depending on the need. This regional coordination of care allows Banner to provide excellent, comprehensive coverage across the entire system and still contain costs. Specialists now practicing in or coming to Fort Collins provide a full spectrum of services: primary care, pediatrics, family and internal medicine, OB/GYN, cardiology, general surgery, pulmonology, endocrinology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology, neurosurgery and medical oncology. Along with these, the hospital will include full service anesthesia and medical imaging and a fully staffed Emergency department. Within a few months the plan is to add neurology in Fort Collins as well.
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
Banner Health Center at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center will join the BMG clinics in Fort Collins on Drake Road, Harmony Road and Colland Drive. Meet a few of the specialists that will be practicing at the new health center.
Eric Gardner, M.D. Medical School: University of Illinois Internship/Residency: University of Wisconsin Fellowship/Post Graduate Training: Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Awards/Recognitions: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Affiliations: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; Arthroscopy Association of North America; American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine Meet the Physician: Dr. Gardner puts compassion at the heart of his practice as an orthopedic surgeon at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center. “The thing that excites me most about working here is the invaluable job satisfaction that comes from making a difference in patients’ lives by means of compassionate human touch.” Care Philosophy: “I give my patients the same effort, care and compassion that I would give to family and friends as I assist them on their journey to regaining function and independence.” Specialization: “I specialize in arthroscopic surgery; comprehensive sports medicine; cartilage restoration; joint repair, reconstruction and replacement; upper and lower extremity trauma and fracture care; and general orthopedics.” Learn more: “I am married with four beautiful children and consider my family my greatest success.” A native of Denver, Dr. Gardner enjoys sharing his love of cycling, hiking, skiing, attending concerts and woodworking. Gardner adds, “I make killer apple and key lime pies (Thanks, Grandma Ethel). And I’m always searching for the perfect hamburger.“
Ryan McWilliams, M.D. Medical School: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Residency: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Board certifications: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Fellowships: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Affiliations: American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Meet the physician: Dr. McWilliams joins Banner Medical Group as a gastroenterologist. He will see patients at the Banner Health Center and cover the gastrointestinal service on call for the hospital. Care philosophy: “I believe patient care is a product of combining the efforts of a team of providers and the patient for a common goal of wellness. We work together to help you understand your disease and provide the necessary care to help you get back to feeling well again.” Specialization: “I specialize in general gastroenterology, treating diseases of the intestinal tract including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and diseases involving the liver and pancreas. I have a particular interest in diseases of the esophagus including eosiniphilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other swallowing disorders. I emphasize preventative care, including colon cancer screening.” Learn more: “I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children in the middle of what Colorado has to offer. I enjoy being outside, golfing and hiking, and am also a big sports enthusiast. I love to watch Colorado sports teams at all levels.”
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“The intent is to provide full service to everyone who walks in the door in Fort Collins,” says Dr. Keeler. Slater interjects that for now, “On occasion, a patient may require transfer to another hospital. For instance, cases requiring cardiothoracic surgery and intra-cranial neurosurgery will move to our sister hospital at North Colorado Medical Center. But what distinguishes us is that we offer everything within the Northern Colorado region.” As another example, Dr. Keeler notes that Banner Medical Group has the only gynecologic oncologist north of Denver, giving patients access to this specialty without having to travel far from home. He also discusses the use of common electronic medical records providing rapid communication of information among providers regardless of location or specialty. “It is a challenge in healthcare to be nimble enough to put the care where it should be. But with our group and the integration that we have, we’re able to overcome some of the obstacles,” says Dr. Keeler. He sums up the Banner philosophy: “It’s getting everyone on the same page, and using the same processes with the goal of providing not only the same high quality care but hopefully higher quality care than in the past. That’s the value component of Banner’s philosophy. The [other] components are controlling costs and, of course, enhancing customer service.” The level of service to oncology patients demonstrates the advantage of the integrated group care model. Often, new oncology patients are involved with surgical care, oncologic care, radiation care, coordination of social services and more. Dr. Keeler says, “We can see involvement of all those providers sometimes within 48 hours and certainly less than a week.” He continues, “[Specialists at Banner] can make things happen very quickly. We’re all on a first name basis; we’re all able to contact each other quickly whether it’s through the computer or directly by phone. We have an open door policy and our physicians utilize that. We can set the bar high and hold each other accountable.” On a final note, both Banner specialty clinic leaders comment on how enthusiastic providers are to be part of a new hospital in their hometown. “Many of the providers live in Fort Collins or Windsor already; they live, work and play in these communities and are very much vested in the success and the care that they provide.” Dr. Keeler concludes, “In reality it’s about providing choice. And I think the citizens of Fort Collins are finally going to have the choice within their community. And I think if they give us a chance, people will be happy with what they experience within our organization.” Elissa Tivona is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins.
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Lawrence Schoelkopf, M.D.
David Kukafka, M.D.
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Internship and Residency: Fitzsimons Army Medical Center
Internship/Residency: Temple University Hospital, Philadelphial
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery
Fellowship/Post Graduate Training: Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep at Temple University Hospital
Awards/Recognitions: Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons, Affiliations: Colorado Medical Society; Morgan County Medical Society Meet the physician: Dr. Schoelkopf is medical director of Perioperative Services (care of patients before, during and after surgery) at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center and sees patients at the adjacent Banner Health Center. He is a graduate of Banner’s Advanced Leadership Training Program for physicians. Care philosophy: “I want every patient to be treated the same way I would treat a member of my own family. Facing surgery can be a scary time. If you can put people at ease you can get down to what the real issues are.” Dr. Schoelkopf makes a point to ensure patients understand procedures they’re facing, including risks, benefits, recovery times and follow-up plans. “Patients need to have trust in their surgeon, so I don’t want them to leave my office without having all their questions answered.” Specialization: Dr. Schoelkopf specializes in general surgery, including minimally invasive procedures, breast and colon cancer surgery, hernia repairs and gall bladder diseases. He performs laser ablation of varicose veins, colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Learn More: He began his practice at Evans Army Community Hospital and has worked as a general surgeon in Colorado since 1998. He has three grown sons in Colorado, one studying environmental engineering at CSU, another pursuing computer science. “I enjoy being outdoors hiking, biking and golfing with friends and family; we’ve recently taken up archery.“
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine—Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine; American Board of Sleep Medicine Affiliations: Banner Medical Group; Banner Fort Collins Medical Center; North Colorado Medical Center; Fellow American Academy of Sleep Medicine; Fellow American College of Chest Physicians Meet the physician: Dr. Kukafka is chief of the medical staff for Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, and a practicing clinician in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. He is committed to providing continuity of care in inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Kukafka made Northern Colorado his permanent home in 1997. “I’m most excited about bringing the nationally recognized innovate care that Banner Health provides as a choice for residents of Fort Collins. “ Care philosophy: Dr. Kukafka demonstrates his care philosophy to patients by delivering “individualized, compassionate care utilizing evidence-based practices.” He adds, “I’m looking forward to providing Fort Collins patients with easy access to a personal practice of pulmonary and sleep medicine.” Specialization: Sleep medicine, pulmonary disease and critical care. Learn More: “I keep very busy with a blended family of five. My hobbies include anything baseball related, golf and some guitar.” Kukafka is also a wine enthusiast, avid hiker and loves the Colorado outdoors, especially in the summer.
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MAJOR SURGERY never looked so
MINOR. When it comes to minimally invasive surgery, a smaller scar is just the start. For our patients it typically also means shorter hospital stays, and a faster recovery time. If you’ve been told you need surgery, there may be a minimally-invasive option available right here in the convenience of your hometown. Locations in Fort Collins (Opening April 6) • Greeley • Loveland Learn more and find a Banner Health Minimally Invasive Surgeon: www.BannerHealth.com/SmallScar
David Blatt, M.D. Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Internship/Residency: University of Florida Health, Shands Hospital Board Certification: American Board of Neurosurgical Surgeons Awards/Recognitions: Alpha Omega Alpha Affiliations: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves; AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; North American Spine Society Meet the Physician: Dr. Blatt is the clinical lead for Neurosurgery Brain and Spine for Banner in Northern Colorado. His work includes expanding and growing the programs in these areas, including pain management. “Our goal is to provide excellent care in Northern Colorado so patients do not have to travel out of the region. With increasing numbers of patients from Fort Collins, we look forward to treating them close to home.” Care philosophy: “I strive to do what is best for my patients.” Specialization: Dr. Blatt treats neurosurgical problems of brain and spine, using minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. He treats degenerative neck and back problems, herniated discs, spinal fusion, cervical disc replacement, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, sciatica, spinal instability, brain tumors, spinal tumors, meningiomas, hydrocephalus, head injury, spine trauma and carpal tunnel syndrome. “I have a special interest and expertise in trigeminal neuralgia, image guided surgery and minimally invasive surgery.” Learn More: Dr. Blatt has been married for 30 years. “We have four boys. My oldest is an Air Force pilot. I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, biking, tennis and outdoor photography.”
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Antonio Barbera, M.D. Medical School: Universita’ degli Studi di Messina. Italy Internship: University of Colorado School of Medicine Residency: Milan and University of Colorado School of Medicine Post Doctoral Fellowship: Research fellowship in Fetal Cardiovascular Physiology, Oregon; Health Sciences School of Medicine; Research fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Affiliations: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine; International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology Awards/Recognitions: Recognized for Academic, Teaching and Research Excellence, throughout his career in both Italy and Colorado, Dr. Barbera is most widely known for inventing transperineal ultrasound. Meet the physician: Dr. Barbera was born and raised in Italy where he finished his medical school and specialty in OB-GYN. He completed two post-doctoral fellowships and a second specialty in the U.S. Dr. Barbera will be one of two dedicated OB-GYN physicians at Banner Fort Collins Health Center. “Our goal is to bring a fresh and innovative approach to healthcare to all the women of Northern Colorado.” Care philosophy: “I am dedicated to merging the most progressive and up-to-date medical knowledge in women’s healthcare with the art of listening to the needs of each individual and her unique expectations.” Specialization: Gynecology and obstetrics. His experience highlights high-risk pregnancies, prenatal diagnosis, specialized ultrasound, operative vaginal deliveries; preventive medicine, contraception; minimally invasive surgeries, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy; major abdominal and vaginal gynecologic surgeries. Dr. Barbera is a leading authority in the utilization of transperineal ultrasound, a technique to assess the descent of the fetal head in the birth canal. Learn More: “I am the father of Marina and William. Both kids are competitive players: Marina in soccer and William in baseball, and I’m their biggest fan.” He enjoys road and mountain biking and sailing on Carter Lake in the summer. Dr. Barbera spent many years touring Europe as percussionist with the professional early music ensemble under Jordi Savall.
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YOU’RE EXPECTING. BANNER FORT COLLINS MEDICAL CENTER OPENING APRIL 6
If you’re expecting, it’s time to start expecting a whole new level of care for you and your baby. Banner Fort Collins Medical Center offers large, upscale private, spacious suites with room service. And with remote patient monitoring and highly coordinated care, we are able to deliver an unforgettable experience in a setting that gives you everything you want. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen from health care and everything you should expect. BannerHealth.com/FortCollins • (970) 229-4000 •
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Banner Fort Collins Medical Center, slated to open April 6, has made art a part of healing by incorporating a variety of art throughout the building.
HE ALING FR O M
THE HEART OUT
T
he healing nature of art has long been noted. As far back as 1860, Florence Nightingale recognized patients’ need for beauty and that its effect was not just on the mind, but also the body. Today, hospitals look at art as an investment in their patients and staff. It’s more than pretty pictures hanging in corridors and patient rooms—much more. There’s big science behind the effect of art in hospitals, and a lot of thought goes into the selection of each piece. When Banner Health opens the new Banner Fort Collins Medical Center in April,
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88 artworks created by 32 Colorado-based artists will be on display. The collection features original paintings, photography and three dimensional art. The collection will include a variety of Fort Collins themes including an Old Town theme, a Fort Collins history theme and a Masks exhibit from the Fort Collins Museum of Art. Banner worked with consultant Kathy Hathorn, CEO and creative director at American Art Resources based in Houston. Hathorn’s expertise is patient-focused healthcare art programs with the intention of creating better, more improved healthcare experiences for patients, visitors and staff. She worked with a local committee to develop and purchase
BY MICHELLE VENUS
the collection that will grace the new medical center. “We’ve found that patients respond most favorably to soothing images such as nature scenes,” Hathorn says. “It’s been reported that patients’ heart rates and blood pressure are positively impacted when they are exposed to art. They often need less pain medication and spend fewer days in the hospital.” Many studies have been conducted regarding how art influences healing and patient well-being. Researchers have found that certain types of artwork—the landscape scenes, for instance—are especially appealing and generate positive responses in patients across genders, ages and even cultural backgrounds.
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Hathorn explains, “It goes back to our ancient brains, that part that is hardwired to find solace and peace in nature.” The theory is that “ancient savannah landscapes, with clear views and topographic changes to see approaching danger, water and plants for food, and canopied trees for shade, now seems to produce a restorative state and emotional well-being in modern humans when it is depicted in art.” Ceramic artist Michael Wisner’s work is part of the collection. Based in Woody Creek, he has been creating pottery—vessels with his trademark patterns and textures influenced by heavily woven fabrics and basket and inspired by the ancient Anasazi and
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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Castle Rock, Colo., artist Ken Elliot will have a series of his landscapes featured at the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center.
Mimbres cultures—for more than 20 years. Wisner’s work is included in the Smithsonian’s collection. “My hope is that my artwork, any artwork, touches a place of peace within the individual,” says Wisner, “especially when someone is going through a very stressful time. Even if it is the most difficult experience of their life, seeing anything, in that moment, that
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helps them reflect on better, happier times and brings them peace is more than I could hope for.” Another artist whose work will be featured in the new hospital is Ken Elliot. The Castle Rock painter is renowned for his landscapes. “They are all places that spring from my imagination,” says Elliot. “Not one of them is a real place.” The artist, who specializes in oils,
pastels, monotypes and collages has work in many medical facilities across the country, from hospitals to individual physician and dental offices. “It’s an honor having my work placed in settings that foster wellness,” states Elliot. His vistas, with trees, fields and restful water scenes, are exactly what Hathorn described as crossing cultural boundaries and instilling
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Gary Hixon
Gary Hixon Designs
See Gary Hixon Designs at
The Studio – 970.227.5192 gehixon@comcast.net Rabbask Designs – 243 E. 4th St., Loveland Trimble Court Artisans – 118 Trimble Court, Fort Collins Photo by Jafe Parsons
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Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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An abstract painting by Dave Clack, of Illustrated Light Gallery of Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins.
peacefulness in the viewer. Elliot’s sense of color gives each image balance and harmony, evoking those very same emotions for those who view his artworks. Photographer and owner of Illustrated Light Gallery of Fine Art Photography in Old Town Fort Collins, Dave Clack, creates similar vistas in his imagery. Growing up in Colorado, Clack was fascinated by the natural beauty that surrounded him. As a 9-year-old he received a Brownie camera as a gift and that’s when he started capturing the nature scenes that mesmerized him. “So many people purposely come to this state to make pictures of what is right here in my backyard,” Clack says. He’s traveled far beyond his backyard: hiking trails and driving over mountain passes to capture the magnificent landscapes that will be hung at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center. Paul Matthews, Banner’s Public Relations Director, is pleased with the hospital’s collection. “The committee worked hard to create a healing environment,” he explains. “Some
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
of their aims were to select art that reduces anxiety, has a calming influence on patients, visitors and the staff and is reflective of the community—both Fort Collins and Colorado.” It can be especially important to help ease the staff’s stress level, Matthews explains. “Because it’s ongoing for them. Most patients and their families have a finite experience in the hospital, but healthcare workers are constantly exposed to stressors. Art that creates a calming environment actually helps them do their jobs better.” The most important goal of the collection is to enhance healing, which goes hand-in-hand with Banner’s mission “to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care.” And excellent art.
Michelle Venus is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins
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WELLNESS
Coffee
TH E BEA N OF LIFE
A
ccording to the National Coffee Association’s 2013 online survey, 83 percent of adults drink coffee in the United States, making it the world’s largest consumer of the beverage. If you’re one of those people, you know the pure elation you feel when it’s time for that first cup. The aroma alone is alluring but, combined with the nearly instant boost you get from its caffeine content, coffee is one of the best legal drugs in the world. While there are many positive side effects
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from a cup of joe, there are a few negatives, as well. We will start with the upside: coffee can increase energy levels, help burn fat and improve physical performance at the gym. Founder and co-owner of The Bean Cycle, Lesley Brandt, opened the Old Town Fort Collins cafe in 2004 with siblings Chas Brandt and Penn Flashner. They roast their beans on-site and consistently churn out a solid product. The large, almost Willy Wonka-esque roaster sits in the back and Lesley Brandt spends about two hours a day roasting beans to sell and serve to their patrons. She’s extremely knowledgeable about coffee and believes education, as well
BY KYLE EUSTICE
as an inviting environment, can help deliver an enticing coffee experience. “It drives me crazy to see people drinking Red Bulls and other energy drinks when I feel like a cup of coffee would be so much better for them,” Brandt says. “Of course, I’ve read studies where having a cup of coffee before you work out can rev up your metabolism and help burn more calories, too. I think educating people on coffee is important.” But the caffeine content can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how much coffee you drink. On one hand, it can give you a nice buzz, wake you up in the morning and lend
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Local “micro-roaster” and owner of Colorado Coffee Company, Mike Thorsrud
you the energy to make it through the day. On the other hand, if you drink too much, it can cause unwanted nervousness and/or anxiety. While one of Lesley’s biggest sellers is The Bean Cycles’ homemade cold brew coffee, it also has the most caffeine. “Water is in the grounds longer so it’s pulling out more of the caffeine, but there’s not any acidity,” she explains. “It definitely packs a punch, though—so you have to be careful.” Coffee can cause an upset stomach if it is too acidic, which is another element to be aware of when selecting your drink. Normally, the lighter the roast, the higher the acidity. Therefore, cold
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
brews are the safest bet to avoid tummy upset. Dark roasts (such as Sumatra) are also low in acidity. There’s also a common myth that lighter roasts have much more caffeine than darker roasts. Brandt isn’t so convinced. “For the most part, you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference in caffeine content,” she explains. “Some regions, like Guatemala, tend to grow beans with a little more caffeine, but as a consumer, side-by-side, you wouldn’t really realize it. The darker roasts are roasted longer so more of the caffeine is roasted out so they have a little bit less, but you should barely notice it.” Self-proclaimed “micro-roaster” and founder
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Fresh Roast Want the finest in locally roasted, fresh coffee beans? Here is a list of who is roasting in Northern Colorado. • The Bean Cycle, Fort Collins, www.thebeancycle.com. Coffee roasted on site. Coffee house with daily roasted coffee available by the pound. • Brewsworthy Coffee, Loveland, www.brewsorthy.net. Small batch coffee roaster with LoCo Artisan Coffee House in Loveland. Offers private label coffees and an online store. • Café Richesse, Fort Collins, www.caferichesse.com. Available in retail locations by the pound and at cafés throughout Fort Collins, Loveland and beyond. • The Coffee Tree, Loveland, www.wheregoodthingsgrow.com. Coffee is roasted on site at the café. • Colorado Coffee Company, Loveland, www. coloradocoffeecompany.com. Custom coffee roasters with a retail location/coffee house in downtown Loveland. • Conundrum Coffee, Fort Collins, www. conundrumcoffee.com. Available in retail locations by the pound and at cafés throughout Fort Collins, Loveland and Denver. • Jackie’s Java, Fort Collins, www.jackiesjava. com. Roasted to order. Available in retail locations by the pound throughout Northern Colorado. Thorsrud’s coffee roaster. He and his wife have been roasting coffee for over 20 years.
• Woodchip Coffee, Fort Collins, look them up on Facebook. Local artisan, small batch fire roasted coffee available by the pound.
Additionally, in an article published by Prevention Magazine, Dan Benardot, PhD, RD, an associate professor of nutrition and kinesiology at Georgia State University, and Tammy Lakatos, RD, coauthor of Fire Up Your Metabolism, stated caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant so a daily dose of coffee can boost your metabolism 5 to 8 percent, while a cup of brewed tea can raise your metabolism by 12 percent. Furthermore, according to www. authoritynutrition.com, author Kris Gunnars reports drinking coffee may also help prevent Parkinson’s disease, improve physical performance at the gym, break down fat cells, combat depression, lower risks of some cancers (such as skin, liver and colorectal), help lower the risk of stroke and help you live longer. Whether you love coffee, hate coffee or are indifferent, there are negatives and positives just like with anything else in life. Thorsrud and Brandt would at least like you to experience, in their expert opinions, a perfect cup of coffee.
“I have a recipe for a great cup of coffee,” says Thorsrud. “Get a French press, be sure it’s clean, and put five tablespoons of fresh coffee in the bottom of the French press. Then add 16 ounces of water, heated to 195 to 200 degrees. Let it sit for three to four minutes. Then pour coffee into a pre-heated mug and enjoy.” “Always use quality ingredients such as filtered water and, of course, Bean Cycle coffee,” Brandt adds with a smile. “Follow a recipe and practice, practice, practice.”
of the Colorado Coffee Company in Loveland, Mike Thorsrud takes coffee very seriously. He has roasted his own beans for decades and is a huge coffee enthusiast. However, he does recognize there are negative side effects. “Coffee is one of the few legalized drugs left in the United States,” Thorsrud explains. “People always want more. Too much coffee can cause shakiness and headaches. It’s a drug and if you don’t get your fix, you can feel sick. You can definitely experience withdrawal.” Again, on the plus side, coffee may also lower the risk for Type II diabetes, which has been making headlines for years. In a new study conducted by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, three compounds found in coffee seem to block the toxic accumulation of a protein linked with an increased risk of Type II diabetes. Granted, you would have to drink four or more cups a day to reduce the chances by 50 percent, but nonetheless, it’s a welcome side effect by many.
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Kyle Eustice relocated to Fort Collins from her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. After spending four years living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she was anxious to return to the mountain region. She is a regular contributor to Thrasher Skateboarding Magazine, Wax Poetics, Bandwagon Magazine, Ghettoblaster, and many others.
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Get more accurate readings with 3D Mammography technology. The clearest picture provides our experts the opportunity for the most accurate diagnosis. Our team uses some of the most advanced diagnostic technology in the country, right here at home. In Northern Colorado this is how we take care of our own. For more information or to schedule your appointment, call (970) 350-6070 or visit BannerHealth.com/NCMC3DMammo. Located at Summit View Medical Commons 2001 70th Ave. • Greeley
WELLNESS
Aging
THE SKINNY ON A GI N G
AND W EIGH T GA I N
I
t’s not in your head. It’s in your stomach or your butt or your hips. Or maybe all three.
Weight gain as we age is nearly inevitable. One reason behind middle-aged spread is loss in lean muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia. Those who are physically inactive can lose as much as 3 to 5 percent of their muscle mass per decade after age 30. Even if you are active, you will still experience some muscle loss. Decreased muscle mass lowers the body’s metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight. Additionally, most people become less active as they age, contributing to muscle loss which is then replaced by fat. In fact, the amount of body fat goes up steadily after age 30 and may rise by as much as 30 percent in the following decades.
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Changing hormones—in both men and women—play a role as well. It’s well known that shifting hormone levels at menopause can cause unwanted weight gain, but men struggle with weight-related hormonal imbalances too. Several studies indicate that obesity is linked to low testosterone levels. Add all of these factors to dietary habits that don’t change and it’s no wonder people find themselves getting jiggly as their birthdays creep into higher digits. Nicole Eckman, RDN, CLT, is a registered dietician nutritionist based in Fort Collins. She has been working with patients for over a decade to help them find optimal health and wellness through customized nutritional programs. She approaches each patient holistically, considering
BY MICHELLE VENUS
all aspects of the client’s lifestyle. Hormonal function plays a large part in patients’ treatments. “Hormonal balance is so important to how the body functions and also to weight gain. Hormones are the body’s chemical messenger system and they actually dictate how we feel,” Eckman states. “When we’re not feeling well— always hungry and having cravings or having low energy and always feeling tired, not sleeping well—these are all signals that something isn’t balanced with the body.”
Now what?
A lot can be done through diet and lifestyle to balance out-of-whack hormones and get them a little more regulated. Think of your body’s hormones (and there are many of them) as a
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Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
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symphonic orchestra. When one section is out of tune, the entire orchestra sounds off. The same with your hormones: listen to the hormonal orchestra to see if some of the notes aren’t striking your ear with dulcet tones. If so, it’s time for a tune up. Less metaphorically speaking, if you notice changes in your energy levels, weight or hunger, pay attention. And then do something about it. You don’t have to feel bad. Eckman recommends learning the difference between hunger and cravings. “Hunger is much more primal,” she explains. “Your body is telling you you need to eat and it’s not pointing you toward a certain food.” Cravings, on the other hand, are much more emotional, says Eckman, and are associated with very specific foods, often either salty or sweet. Sugary foods, for example, provide a burst of energy when the blood sugar is low. Popping a candy bar may help for a short time, but it’s not a long-term answer for sustaining energy levels or taking and keeping off unwanted pounds. There are simple ways to counter weight gain and keep cravings at bay:
Try resistance training: Exercise helps to flip the lean muscle mass-body fat balance. Eckman recommends resistance training, also called strength training, such as weight lifting, yoga or Pilates. These exercises not only help build and increase muscle mass, they help maintain healthy and strong bones, which is especially important for women. Engaging in a twice-weekly resistance training regimen will help shed those extra pounds, especially stubborn belly fat.
Fill up on low calorie, high-volume foods: Vegetables and whole fruits are nutrient-dense, meaning they offer up a lot of nutrition for a relatively small calorie cost. Vegetables and whole fruits not only provide a lot of nutrients, they also contain plenty of water and fiber. This helps to fill you up—not out.
What about cardio?
Eat protein at each meal or snack: Protein not only helps your body to build and repair muscle mass, it also helps control hunger. The trick is to opt for the leanest sources, so that you get your protein without a lot of added fat that can often tag along. Choose seafood, poultry breast, egg whites, low fat or nonfat dairy products and lean cuts of red meat. For those following vegetarian and vegan diets, plant proteins such as tofu, beans and lentils provide the much needed nutrient. And don’t forget protein powders, which can be made into smoothies.
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A 2006 article in the International Journal of Obesity cites a study that showed resistance training was far more beneficial than aerobic exercise at controlling age-related weight gain. The study followed 12,568 regular runners over a nine year period and found that the majority of runners gained weight and increased waist circumference as they aged. Only male and female runners who increased their weekly mileage from less than 10 miles per week (16km) to nearly 40 miles per week (64 km) decreased body weight and waist circumference significantly. Keep in mind that cardio exercises are important for heart health and should be included in every exercise program. Check with your doctor before embarking on a new regimen to make sure you’re not going to engage in activities that may actually be harmful. If dietary and exercise modifications don’t offer any relief from cravings or low energy, talk to your doc about that, too. It may mean that you need medical treatment, such as hormonal therapy, as well. Paying attention to how you feel, upping your activity level and maintaining a healthy nutritional program will help to keep off those extra pounds that often arrive as you age. Aging and weight gain don’t have to go hand in hand. And that’s good news. Michelle Venus is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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VETERINARY
Cysts
LUMPS 101 :
PE T CYST S NOT TO B E I GN O R E D
M
ost of us consider our pets a part of the family, and if a pet is noticeably sick or in pain, we want to help them feel better as quickly as possible. But what if the problem is something that seems less dire? Long nails that need to be cut or hair that needs to be groomed is one thing, but what if the problem is something that doesn’t seem to cause pain but is perhaps more ominous? What if you discover a lump on your dog or cat?
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BY KYLE EUSTICE
A lump can signify serious health issues and should not be dismissed. Most often, lumps are caused by a benign cyst, although a lump could signify a multitude of more serious issues, including infection, abscess, trauma or even cancer. A cyst is a hollow space within the tissues that
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Any cyst, lump or bump that appears on your family pet should be examined by your veterinarian. Pictured: a benign sebaceous adenoma (top) and a metastatic lymphnode from a tonsil tumor (bottom).
contains either liquid or solidified material. The contents could be natural bodily secretions or an abnormal breakdown product. Katie Curran, DMV, Lucy Scholars Resident in Medical Oncology at Colorado State University, is trained to take these matters very seriously. Whether it’s a canine or feline patient, she treats them all with extreme care and recognizes the importance of early detection. “It is important when a lump is noted to take your pet to a veterinary clinic for thorough evaluation,” Dr. Curran explains. “Feeling the lump, or palpation, and measuring it are good first steps. However, there is no way to identify what a lump is by looking at it or feeling it. Performing a fine needle aspirate for cytology is likely to be one of the first diagnostic tests your veterinarian may recommend. This is a relatively simple procedure of sticking a small needle into the lump to obtain some cells for analysis under a microscope. This can help to identify if a mass appears benign, inflammatory or something more concerning like a cancerous process. Sometimes these samples do not obtain enough cells for evaluation and a biopsy may be recommended.” There are several different types of cysts: true, follicular, sebaceous, dermoid and false. True cysts have a secretory lining and often form in the glands as
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a result of blocked ducts. Follicular, or epidermoid cysts, are dilated hair follicles that become filled with fluid or a dark cheese-like substance called keratin. Sebaceous cysts are also associated with hair follicles and fill with sebum (an oily or waxy matter) around the sebaceous glands. They are extremely prone to secondary infection. It’s important not to squeeze them because if they implode, it can lead to cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection), which may require treatment with antibiotics. Dermoid cysts are complex congenital cysts. False cysts are filled with fluid as well, but do not contain a secretory lining like the true cysts. They may be formed by a hemorrhage or trauma that leads to tissue death. No matter what type of cysts your pet has, it can be scary. Fortunately, most are not life threatening. According to Dr. Curran, the most common type of cysts are benign tumors of glandular origin that can be filled with fluid such as a sebaceous adenoma (cutaneous condition characterized by a slow growing tumor) or apocrine gland adenoma (sweat gland cysts). They are much more common in dogs than in cats. There are also several tumors that can arise from hair follicles and most of these are also benign. They included infundibular keratinizing acanthomas, trichoepitheliomas and pilomatricomas. Additionally, cysts can develop in the ear canal in both cats and dogs. Called ceruminous gland cysts, they form in the glands that produce earwax.
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Susan Lana, DVM, Chief of Clinical Oncology Service at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Animal Cancer Center, has been a CSU faculty member since 1999. She stresses taking your pet to your veterinarian as soon as the lump is detected. “Lumps can be inflammatory, benign or malignant,” Dr. Lana says. “Lumps can mean a variety of things, ranging from inflammation or abscesses; benign growths such as cysts, lipomas, warts or adenomas; or malignant growths—some of which can spread to other parts of the body and some that are just localized.” One type of lump that appears in dogs quite often are lipomas, also known as fatty tumors. They are benign tumors of adipose (fat) tissue and relatively common in older dogs. They are usually found in the subcutaneous (under the skin) tissues. “Lipomas rarely cause a problem, but may if the location compresses other important tissues, causes pain or impedes ambulation (walking),” Dr. Curran explains. “Some can be located within muscle, which is called an intramuscular lipoma. Diagnosis of these tumors typically includes fine needle aspiration of the mass to evaluate if lipocytes (fat cells) are seen on a slide. There are some lipomas that are more sinister in nature and can infiltrate the tissue around them. These are called infiltrative lipomas and are uncommon. They can be locally aggressive and need to be treated aggressively.”
Treatment of cysts is contingent on their root of origin. Typically, surgical removal is necessary. If available, laser treatment is useful for apocrine gland adenoma while topical treatment of multiple small follicular cysts can be used. Other treatments may need to address the primary cause. Once the underlying cause is removed, some cysts decrease in size or completely vanish. It is important to discuss all options with a veterinarian. “If it is a malignant tumor, the treatment recommendations will depend on the type of tumor,” says Dr. Lana. “Some benign growths can be managed with active surveillance, which means monitoring the growth for any changes and, if they occur, seeing your veterinarian about it. We typically do not recommend that a mass or cyst be ignored. We would recommend that you see your veterinarian so that they can evaluate it and together you can decide on the best course of action.”
Kyle Eustice relocated to Fort Collins from her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. After spending four years living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she was anxious to return to the mountain region. She is a regular contributor to Thrasher Skateboarding Magazine, Wax Poetics, Boulder Weekly Bandwagon Magazine, Ghettoblaster, and many others.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
VETERINARY
We i g h t L o s s
P ET SLIM DO W N
F
at cat? Tubby terrier? Pudgy Pomeranian? Just like us humans, packing on the winter pounds does your family pet no good.
“One thing I always tell clients when I am counseling them about weight loss in their animal is a quote by Hippocrates that I love: ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.’ So many diseases and conditions can be prevented by good nutrition, and I would always rather prevent a disease than have to treat it later. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” says Katrina Morgan, DVM. Dr. Morgan is Medical Director at VCA Fort Collins Animal Hospital. For cats, as little as two pounds can put them at risk for developing serious medical conditions, according to the VCA Animal Hospitals’ website (www.vcahospitals.com). Among those medical conditions are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, joint injuries, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer. Additionally, obese and overweight cats simply
Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2015
live shorter lives, are less energetic and less playful, the website continues. In general, the average domestic cat should weigh approximately 8 to 10 pounds. But putting a cat on a diet is just not as simple as taking away a portion of their food and moving on. Obese cats should never be put on a diet without veterinary supervision. Regular nutrition is vital for cats and not eating for as little as two consecutive days can cause a life-threatening liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome). If you are wondering how to change Kitty’s diet to promote weight loss, a veterinarian will take many factors into consideration and find the best diet for your feline’s body size and build. Keep in mind, not all cat foods are created equal. Some helpful ideas to change your cat’s eating habits include: consider can feeding your cat several times a day, rather than leaving the food out all the time. Canned food may be more palatable to your cat than dry and encourage them to eat at specified times. When introducing a new diet to your cat, allow 1 to 2 weeks for
BY ANGELINE GRENZ
the transition, mixing ¼ of the new diet with ¾ of the old food for two to four days. Then increase that to ½ and ½ after another two to four days then ¾ to ¼ for the final three to five days before completely switching over. And don’t forget exercise. “While nutrition is a key component of any weight loss plan, exercise is also critically important,” says Dr. Morgan. “I think we forget how important exercise is for our cats! But the exercise component is what makes weight loss challenging for cat owners compared to dog owners. It is easy enough to take a dog out for a walk, but as we all know, cats are not always amenable to being told what to do.” Though it is unlikely your cat is going to agree to the morning jog, they do need some activity. A few ideas include: •
“Some cats will actually go for a walk on a harness,” says Dr. Morgan. “I have a veterinarian friend who takes her chubby kitty out for a stroll every night!”
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•
•
•
“As far as exercise, I recommend playing with your cat each day. Cats can be taught to play fetch, chase a laser pointer, play with feather toys, etc.” Try for 10 minutes two times a day. Remember variety is the spice of life, especially for the feline who can be more than a little reluctant when bored. “I also recommend putting their food in different areas of the house so they feel like they are ‘hunting’ for their food. Indoor cats really need environmental enrichment and this can help to mimic their natural tendencies to hunt for food, and in the process, keep them moving and active.” Buy a “feeding ball” that requires Kitty to roll them around in order to get the food reward.
For dogs, five pounds can make the difference between healthy and at-risk. Dogs are at risk for many of the same conditions as cats: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, joint injuries, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer. They are also likely to not live as long and be less interactive with their families when obese. With canines it is still advisable to consult your veterinarian before starting them on a diet, especially to rule out a disease that is related to weight gain. “Your vet can determine if there are any underlying diseases that need to be addressed
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that could be contributing to your dog’s weight problem,” says Dr. Morgan. “For example, dogs that have an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) are often overweight and may need a thyroid supplement.” Safe weight loss for most dogs is between 3 to 5 percent of their body weight per month. As with cats, allow a week to transition your pet from one food to another and follow similar transition guidelines: ¼ of the new food to ¾ of the old food for one to two days, then ½ and ½ for two days and finally ¾ to ¼ new-old for the final two or three days before you completely switch. “Many dog owners don’t measure the amount of food they feed their dogs, so your vet will likely have you feed a specific portion each day,” adds Dr. Morgan. For dogs, weight loss through exercise is much easier and more straightforward. If you do not already have a walking routine, start one. It will likely be you, not your dog, that has to be coaxed out of the house. If you do already walk, increase the intensity (speed it up) and the length of your daily walk. Aim for a brisk, daily 30-minute walk. It will have the added benefit of increasing your own health. If you have an older pet, joint pain may be a concern, says Dr. Morgan. Have your vet recommend an ideal exercise regimen, which may include low impact exercises such as swimming. Also consider playing chase, fetch or another active game with your dog at least 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. VCA Animal Hospitals also recommends:
•
Pet your dog and play with it when it begs for food. Many dogs can substitute affection for food, and you may be able to put them off with a little extra attention (Now, this sounds an awful lot like us humans, too).
•
Take your dog for a walk when it begs. The old distraction routine.
•
Feed small meals frequently. Divide the total volume or calories into four or six smaller meals. No extra food, however.
•
Give Fido vegetables such as baby carrots, broccoli, green beans, celery or asparagus for a healthy, low calorie treat.
•
Offer fresh water instead of food. Fresh water may satisfy the hunger craving. (Seems the difference between humans and canines diminishes even further.)
Whatever your pet’s weight, consider proper nutrition and exercise as the foundation of your lifelong friendship with them. And, remember: “Animals age much faster than people (e.g. a 5-year-old dog is roughly equivalent to a 35-year-old person), so don’t forget to have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian on a yearly basis.” Angeline Grenz is managing editor of Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness Magazine.
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