Aug 9, 2013 by Daniel Pearson

AUGUSTA

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HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS

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AUGUST 9, 2013

This just in:

There are 1,440 minutes in every day Can you dedicate 30 of them to physical activity?

f so, you have taken a giant step to better health. Regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems. Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Examples include walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation or bicycling. Stretching and weight training can also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level. The key is to find the right exercise for you. If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may want to walk with a friend, join a class or plan a group bike ride. If you’ve been inactive for awhile, use a sensible approach and start out slowly. Good reasons NOT to exercise • Between work, family, and other demands, I am too busy to exercise. Solutions Make physical activity a priority. Carve out some time each week to be active, and put it on your calendar. Try waking up a half-hour earlier to walk, scheduling lunchtime workouts, or taking an evening fitness class. Build physical activity into your routine chores. Rake the yard, wash the car, or do energetic housework. That way you do what you need to do around the house and move around too. Make family time physically active. Plan a weekend hike through a park, a family softball game, or an evening walk around the block.

• By the end of a long day, I am too tired to work out. Solutions Think about the other health benefits of physical activity. Regular physical activity may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also lower your odds of having heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer. Research shows that people who are overweight, active, and fit live longer than people who are not overweight but are inactive and unfit. Also, physical activity may lift your mood and increase your energy level. Do it just for fun. Play a team sport, work in a garden, or learn a new dance. Make getting fit something fun. Train for a charity event. You can work to help others while you work out. • Getting on a treadmill or stationary bike is boring. Solutions Meet a friend for workouts. If your buddy is on the next bike or treadmill, your workout will be less boring. Watch TV or listen to music or an audio book while you walk or pedal indoors. Check out music or audio books from your local library. Get outside. A change in scenery can relieve your boredom. If you are riding a bike outside, be sure to wear a helmet and learn safe rules of the road. • I do not want to spend a lot of money to join a gym or buy workout gear. Solutions Choose free activities. Take your children to the park to play or take a walk. Find out if your job offers any discounts on memberships. Some companies get lower membership

rates at fitness or community centers. Other companies will even pay for part of an employee’s membership fee. Check out your local recreation or community center. These centers may cost less than other gyms, fitness centers, or health clubs. Choose physical activities that do not require any special gear. Walking requires only a pair of sturdy shoes. To dance, just turn on some music. Choose free activities. Take your children to the park to play or take a walk. • I am afraid I will hurt myself. Solutions Start slowly. If you are starting a new physical activity program, go slow at the start. Even if you are doing an activity that you once did well, start up again slowly to lower your risk of injury or burnout. Choose moderate-intensity physical activities. You are not likely to hurt yourself by walking 30 minutes per day. Doing vigorous physical activities may increase your risk for injury, but moderate-intensity physical activity carries a lower risk. Take a class. A knowledgeable group fitness instructor should be able to teach you how to move with proper form and lower risk for injury. The instructor can watch your actions during class and let you know if you are doing things right. Choose water workouts. Whether you swim laps or try water aerobics, working out in the water is easy on your joints and helps reduce sore muscles and injury. Work with a personal trainer. A certified personal trainer should be able to show you how to warm up, cool down, use fitness equipment like treadmills and dumbbells, and use proper form to help lower your risk for injury. Personal training sessions may be cheap or costly, so find out about fees before making an appointment. + See more solutions at www.AugustaRx.com/news

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Editor’s note: Healthcare is a whole new ballgame with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). How will healthcare providers be affected? What about patients? And how about employers who provide health coverage as an employee benefit? How will Medicare and Medicaid recipients be affected? Look to this column for the answers.

by Pam Tucker

HEALTHCARE REFORM & YOUR BUSINESS

ow that school is back in session, please be extra aware and cautious when driving. Columbia County Board of Education provides transportation for 31 schools with about 14,000 students traveling twice a day on 190 buses with a combined average of 13,325 miles daily. Even if you don’t have school age children, you will have to make some adjustments. Buses travel 13,325 miles every day in Columbia County alone! • First and foremost, Respect The Bus! • Don’t be a distracted driver! Turn off devices and focus on your driving! • Be aware of your route of travel and try to avoid school zones, especially during the opening and closing times. • Leave a few minutes early to allow for the heavier traffic and bus stop delays • Watch for school zones and slow down to the required speed limit • Be prepared and STOP for school crossing guards and buses when indicated • Slow down, particularly in neighborhoods and especially early morning when children are waiting for the bus and mid afternoon when they arrive back home • Take a deep breath and remain calm. Sometimes you are just stuck behind the bus and you are going to be late. • Last, but certainly not least: Do you know the laws about passing a school bus? When is it OK to pass? When is it mandatory to stop? What about medians, divided highways, passing lanes, neighborhood entrances, railroads? +

Take the diagram above as one example, a pop quiz, if you will. Think Wrightsboro Road, Peach Orchard, Belair or Columbia Road, or any of our other many similar roads in the Aiken-Augusta area that have at least two lanes in each direction plus a suicide lane. A bus coming from the opposite direction is stopped four lanes over from your vehicle. You know there’s no way kids will be crossing this road on foot; if there are children on your side of the road, it’s either a different bus route, or this bus will at some point turn around and drop off kids on your side of the road. So are you required to stop for this bus? The answer: by law, absolutely. Keep this rule of thumb in mind. Stop for every bus with its flashing lights activated with but one exception: unless it’s on the other side of a divided highway. + Less

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

by Russell T. Head, CBC, CSA

PPACA LARGE EMPLOYER MANDATE DELAY....THE PROS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

have spent the past 6 months sharing different regulations regarding the current 2013 and upcoming 2014 Health Care Reform compliance in these Augusta Medical Examiner articles. I have shared new HCR terminology from Navigators to Public Exchanges to Private Exchanges to the Individual mandate. Needless to say, I hope it has been educational, but now we will tackle the reality. Russell Head The question everyone wants to know is: What does it mean for me? Well, if you are a large employer (50 or more full-time equivalents) then the Obama administration just gave you an early Christmas present. Essentially the reporting that must be completed by large employers has been delayed until 2015. Thus, there will be no financial penalty to the large employer for being out of HCR compliance in 2014. Please understand the mandate to offer coverage is still there, but you will not be penalized for not doing so next year. For many employers this is a breath of fresh air, as this will allow more time for employers to do proper planning and budgeting for the future. Let’s bullet point the Pros of this delay: PROS • Affordability....if you had not already budgeted for what will be an increase, you just received a year extension. Considering the 9.5% of W-2 income for affordability, you will need to be creative without being out of compliance with new non-discrimination rules. • Minimum Value....more time for plan design modification for

being in compliance with minimum essential benefits standards set by HCR rules and regulations. • Pay or Play....Calculators and Tools are what we use to make sure clients know all their options when making that final decision. For some it’s a financial decision, while for others it’s part of the overall Employee Benefits Package to retain or attract the right employee. • Reporting....As issued by the IRS via the Department of Treasury, we anticipate the transition relief of very complex reporting will hopefully be modified to a more simple process in the near future. • Time....you can never have enough of it when it comes HCR compliance. Considering the amount of dollars and staff time large employers have already spent planning for the upcoming open enrollment season, I would imagine another year to rethink or rework a plan is quite all right. As always, we suggest that employers work with their benefit advisors or consultants alongside their team of accountants and employee law/tax attorneys when designing their benefits package for the future. For further explanation of the PPACA provisions outlined in this article, please refer to the following resources: www.hhs.gov www.irs.gov www.healthcare.gov Russell T. Head is a Partner and Chief Visionary Architect with Group & Benefits Consultants, Inc., Augusta’s largest, privately held employee benefits consulting firm. He can be reached at 706-733-3459 or rthead@gandbc.com. Visit Group & Benefits Consultants at www. groupandbenefits.com. +

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat What’s F

or the past four weeks, I have been doing my OB/GYN rotation, and there are two weeks left. I wish I had still another month or more, because I have absolutely loved my time and experiences so far. Perhaps it is a sign of where my future interests and pursuits should go, but we shall see! Although I acknowledge the importance and need for classroom learning during the first years of schooling, it has felt so good to be out and about in the hospital and clinic these past few weeks. I split my time on some days in the hospital between seeing OB patients in Labor & Delivery and seeing OB/GYNrelated surgeries in the OR. I have also gotten to work in the women’s health center associated with the hospital, which sees both OB and GYN patients in the office for visits and routine checkups. I’ve learned how to test for infections that may trouble women, do PAP smears, perform breast and pelvic exams, and provide routine prenatal care. I have also observed and even assisted

A med student’s notebook than two dozen newborns in the past several weeks, and it is still just as amazing to witness now as it was the very first time. How beautiful and wonderful it is to behold a new life being brought into the world, and how blessed I have been to share in part of these moments! In short, I have really loved my time doing OB/GYN these past four weeks, and am looking forward to the next two. I will then start my rotation in pediatrics, so it will be a fun transition. I hope my classmates are enjoying their rotations as well so far, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds in store for us. Happy August to everyone! +

in a number of C-sections, hysterectomies, tubal ligations, and other surgical procedures in the OR. I have even seen a couple of circumcisions! And though I’ve watched a fair number of YouTube videos on how to tie surgical knots and perform proper suturing technique, nothing beats being able to practice and stitch for real in the OR (under the careful supervision of the attending physician, of course). The doctors and nurses with whom I’ve worked have been so patient and have taught me so much… I am spoiled! One of my favorite parts of my rotation so far is the time I’ve spent in Labor & Delivery at the hospital. I have seen and even helped with the deliveries of more

your story?

He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying. — Friedrich Nietzsche

SEE PAGE SIX

Nearly all of us — even doctors and nurses — are sometimes patients. Perhaps you were recently injured playing your favorite sport, or years ago you somehow got hurt without even leaving your favorite recliner. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, mugged in a dark and lonely parking lot, or you stubbed your toe in the safety of your own bedroom. On the other hand, perhaps you needed medical attention 5,000 miles from home. Whatever your medical experience, we’d like to hear your story for our Medicine in the First Person feature. It can be frightening or funny, ordinary or extraordinary, just a few paragraphs long or quite a lengthy tale, bylined or anonymous. We’ll publish your encounters with the medical profession as often as we receive them. + Send your submissions for Medicine in the First Person to the Augusta Medical Examiner via e-mail: info@AugustaRx.com or to PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397. (The Medical Examiner reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission at its sole discretion.)

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The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers, and to serve as a central source of news within every part of the Augusta medical community. Submit editorial content to graphicadv@knology.net Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor E-mail: Dan@AugustaRx.com Augusta Medical Examiner photography: H + D Photography www.handdphoto.com AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2013 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Hope IS Possible

Childhood obesity is everyone’s problem

Helen Blocker-Adams

epression and obesity have been recognized as a public health concern among youth. It hurts me to even write that. Growing up and living all over the world, I honestly can’t recall ever being or feeling depressed. Lonesome for friends that I had to leave behind, yes – or feeling sad or unhappy because I didn’t get my way, yes. But not in depression. It is this issue that has me concerned enough to hold an event in September in celebration and awareness of National Childhood Obesity Awareness month. And I’m pretty excited about it too. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “One in 3 children in the U.S. is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.” There are some similarities

and connections between depression and obesity in children. Experts in the past have recognized and treated these issues separately, but research has shown for youth they are not a coincidence. The correlation between depression and obesity in children are: sleep; appetite and food intake; sedentary behavior; and negative self image. How is childhood obesity measured? The Centers for Disease and Control and prevention tells us that “body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. It is calculated using a child’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens. A child’s weight status is determined using an age- and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI categories used for adults because children’s body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls.” I could include staggering statistics about this chronic problem that would make your head spin, but as a solutionsoriented individual, I want to share ways that we can tackle this problem. Because after all, these are the same people that will become adults one day and be our future community and business leaders; educators, doctors, lawyers, nurses, entrepreneurs, white and blue collar workers and so forth. I

excellent information on health and nutrition. I hope September’s National Childhood Obesity Awareness month activities and events held all over the U.S. will bring awareness to this growing problem. Here in Augusta, I’m pleased to SEPTEMBER share that we SATURDAY are planning a 5K Walk/Run that will be held on Saturday, September 14th 8 a.m. beginning at the Kroc Center. The event will be a family fun day designed to bring healthy information and education to everyone who attends. The day will include, in addition to the 5K walk/ run, healthy fitness sessions, karate, Zumba, healthy cooking demonstrations, inflatables, fire trucks and firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, vendors and so much more. Visit www. helenblockeradams.com for more information and 5K walk/ run registration form. I hope to see you there. I hope that you will bring your children, grandchildren, neighbors children, nieces and nephews to our premiere annual event on September 14th. Remember to register early to ensure you that you receive a T-shirt with your registration fee. Let’s come together to save our young people. They are worth it! +

think we can all agree that we want our children to become healthy adults. It is important, however, that we adults do a better job in serving as positive role models for those following behind us. Many of you have watched and read about my healthy lifestyle journey and have shared how I read an article in a local newspaper that frankly knocked me off my feet. That article said that Georgia ranks #2 in childhood obesity. Wow! As an advocate for youth and leadership, it just made sense to incorporate health and fitness with our youth leadership program. From the First Lady to local fitness trainers providing opportunities for people to get fit, there is definitely a movement toward developing and living a healthy lifestyle. The subject of weight loss is one that we hear about daily. If you visit most bookstores, the #1 book category is diet and weight loss. Watch most cable television stations and there are new pills

and potions, new exercise videos and weight loss programs all designed to make you spend money with the hopes of losing weight and developing healthy lifestyle. So what is the problem? Why are we still struggling with our weight? There probably is not enough ink to state all the reasons, but if we do our own reflections, we can identify our own personal reasons. It is important to know that parents and caregivers can help prevent childhood obesity by providing healthy meals and snacks, daily physical activity, and nutrition education. Healthy meals and snacks provide nutrition for growing bodies while modeling healthy eating behavior and attitudes. Increased physical activity, and there are so many ways to do that, reduces health risks and helps weight management. Nutrition education helps young children develop an awareness of good nutrition and healthy eating habits for a lifetime. Visit www.choosemyplate.gov for

Helen Blocker-Adams is Executive Director of the Southeast Enterprise Institute; mental health advocate; and youth advocate. You can reach her at hba@hbagroup-intl. com or visit her website at www. helenblockeradams.com

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT PRISON VERSUS DIETING

urly Bill was a troubled soul who had got one toe over the line and ended up before a federal judge who said, “Eighteen months to serve.” But that was not all his problems. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 300 pounds, which gave him a BMI (Body Mass index) of 40.9. (Read that as morbid obesity.) He also was a diabetic who required twicedaily insulin. He gulped down diuretics and ACE inhibitors to manage his hypertension. Not being one to give the expected commiserations when he told me of his woes, I said, “Wow. How lucky can one be? This is the opportunity of a lifetime for you.” “Lucky? Hell. You must be crazy. I’m going prison. How can that be lucky?” “Well, look at the bright side. You have no worries. No rent. No electric bill. No income taxes. No phone bill. No water bill. And you can get your health straightened out.” After some misgivings, Curly Bill took my advice to heart. Once he settled in at a prison camp, he got a job tending to the weight pile in the Recreation Department.

After he meticulously cleaned and straightened the weights, he did repetitions with each weight he moved. Then he walked briskly for an hour in the morning and a half hour every evening. Soft drinks disappeared from his diet. Fruits and vegetables took on a bigger role. Gradually, fat pounds peeled away. Muscles toned. His gait took on a new confidence. His clothes — prison issue — gradually downsized. He wrote me a letter each month listing his weight, medications, and general condition. Each letter showed steady improved. When his 18 months were up, Curly Bill came by my office. He was a welcome sight. Gone was the mass of fat around his belly. His belt buckle no long stared at the ground. Gone was the wide, waddling gait that made him look like he was swimming when he walked. He looked like a different man. He was still 6 feet tall, but now weighed a more acceptable 190, which gave him a BMI of 25.9, still above the desired 25.0, but far better than before. Curly Bill had lost

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Best the equivalent of a teenage girl in weight. And his medications had changed dramatically. The prison doctor had gradually reduced Curly Bill’s insulin from two shots a day to one shot a day, and then to no insulin. He switched him to oral insulin, and gradually took him off them altogether when his blood sugar returned to the normal range. His diuretics and ACE inhibitors were gradually reduced and finally discontinued. Curly Bill was drug free and had added at least 5 years to his life expectancy. All thanks to an 18-month prison sentence that afforded him the opportunity and structure to do things with his health that he was very unlikely to do on his own. Sure, Curly Bill

e n i c i d ME

lost 18 months of freedom, but he gained several years of longevity, not to mention the dramatic improvement in his quality of life associated with newly found good health and decreased medical expenses commonly associated with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. In the past couple decades a new delineation of certain medical conditions have been identified called Metabolic Syndrome. It has five components: Obesity (BMI over 25), hypertension, hyperlipidemia (cholesterol and lipids too high), increased waist measurement (35 inches in women and 40 inches in men), and diabetes. Curly Bill was the poster child for the Metabolic Syndrome. But prison was the cocoon that allowed Curly Bill to morph from a lumbering caterpillar into a more graceful and attractive butterfly (weighing 190 lbs). A case could be made for Curly Bill thanking the judge and prosecutor for providing the means for his miraculous physical conversion. But he could not bring himself to actually do that. He had had enough of court cases.

At night he still does a few light weight repetitions with some barbells. In the early morning, he walks a public track. That is where he met his new girlfriend. They are becoming an item. The benefits are profound. For both of them. Our society is slowly drifting toward a Metabolic Syndrome epidemic. And it is because we have become overindulgent eaters, and physically lazy, too. Metabolic Syndrome does have some genetic components, but we can’t change them. We can change how we eat and how we exercise. We concentrate on what we can change. The only question is: Are you willing to eat right and exercise on your own? Or must you go off to prison for a couple years to straighten out your health? So far Obama Care has not addressed these points. But if we don’t do better as a society, who knows, the next presidential campaign might center around whether the we should each serve 18 months in federal prison to get our health in order. Wouldn’t it be better to do it on our own? + Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor. Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397

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ast week I had to return to the Radiology Department at MCG for a CT scan. The visit brought back a few memories of an earlier CT. In 2007, I was in the hospital for chemotherapy treatment. I had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer four months earlier. Since I was experiencing abdominal pain, my oncologist scheduled a CT scan after my chemo treatment ended, which was about 5:00 p.m. As the hours passed, a sweet nurse’s assistant whose name I do not recall kept checking the schedule, and finally at about 9:00 p.m. I was given a gallon of a liquid concoction to drink. Still more hours passed. Midnight came and went. Finally after 1:00

“By this time it was one o’clock in the morning.” a.m., the sweet nurse’s assistant came in with a wheelchair to take me for my CT scan on the second floor. We slinked out of the cancer floor seeing no one. We rolled down deserted corridors and rode on empty elevators. It felt spooky. Here I was, a bald woman in a hospital gown being wheeled through the bowels of the hospital in the middle of the night trailing an IV pole. Arriving at the ominous, dimly lit CT room, we were greeted by a very tall, thin technician in a white coat. My

first thought was “Oh dear, they are going to harvest my body parts to sell. When my husband arrives in the morning, no one will know what happened to me.” I anxiously looked at my sweet nurse’s assistant and said, “You’re not going to leave me here all alone”? Undeniably, she was not involved in this evil plot. She was too sweet. She assured me that she was going to sit right there until the scan was finished, and she did. I do not remember much about returning to the 5th floor. However, I was happy to finally crawl into my hospital bed and know I would see my husband first thing in the morning. + — submitted by Karen Hayes Augusta, Georgia

WE’RE BEGGING YOU We’re never too proud to beg. What we’re begging for is Medicine in the First Person stories. With your help, we’d like to make this a fature in every issue of the Medical Examainer. After all, everybody has a story of something health or medicine-related, and lots of people have many stories. Send your interesting (or even semi-interesting) stories to the Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903 or e-mail to Dan@AugustaRx.com. Thanks!

“The cause was a mystery for a long time.” “And that’s when I fell.” nearest hospital “He doesn’t remember a thing.” “The was 30 miles away.” “I was a battlefield medic.” “He was just two when he died.”

“OUCH!”

“It was a terrible tragedy.” “She saved “I sure learned my lesson.” “I retired from medicine my life.” “It seemed like a miracle.” seven years ago.” “We had triplets.” “It was my first year “I thought, ‘Well, this is it’.” NOTHING SEEMED of medical school.” “They took me to the hospital by helicopter.” TO HELP, UNTIL. . “It took 48 stitches.”

ambulance crashed.” “Now THAT hurt!” “The “My leg was broken “I’m not supposed to be alive.”

“This was on my third day in Afghanistan.” in three places.” “I lost 23 pounds.” “Turned out it was just indigestion.” “At first I thought it was something I ate.” “The smoke detector woke me up.”

Everybody has a story. Tell us yours. Here’s our “No Rules Rules.” We’ll publish your name and city, or keep you anonymous. Your choice. Length? Up to you. Subject? It can be a monumental medical event or just a stubbed toe. It can make us laugh or make us cry. One thing we’re not interested in, however: please, no tirades against a certain doctor or hospital. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girl Eats Clean Carolina Fresh Cole Slaw Everyone is familiar with the usually high fat mayo Cole Slaw, but consider giving this clean and healthy version a try. This recipe is full of flavor and very FRESH, hence the name, Carolina Fresh Cole Slaw. I gave it this name because it reminds me of South Carolina summer bar-b-cues, a yard full of family and friends, good food and good times, all under the Carolina moon. I grew up in Upstate South Carolina and although Georgia is our home now, I still have a special place in my heart for good ol’ Inman, SC. This slaw has a delicious, light dressing and a bit of an unusual ingredient for Cole Slaw in the south: cilantro. Fresh herbs add a tremendous amount of flavor to recipes, not to mention all of the health benefits of using fresh ingredients instead of dressings or condiments that are laden with preservatives and other artificial ingredients. This Cole Slaw has turned out to be a favorite of ours now that we “eat clean” in the Rhinehart house. rice vinegar and honey. Thinly slice the head of cabbage and the red onion and place in a large salad bowl. Fold in chopped cilantro. Pour dressing over cabbage and toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes, tossing with tongs a couple of times before serving. Can be covered and placed in refrigerator up to 3 hours before serving.

Carolina Fresh Cole Slaw • 1/2 cup of organic all natural orange juice • 1/4 cup of rice vinegar • 1/4 cup of organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil • 1 Tbsp. of Tupelo Honey (I use Savannah Bee Tupelo Honey) • 1 small head of purple cabbage, thinly sliced

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced • 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped • 1 tsp. of Real Salt or sea salt • 1/2 tsp. of cracked black pepper In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil,

Alisa Rhinehart writes the blog www.southerngirleatsclean.com She is a working wife and mother living in Evans, Georgia. Visit her blog for more recipes and information on clean eating. +

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P harmacy 411

OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations: • Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance • Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance • Eisenhower Hospital, Main Lobby, Fort Gordon • George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) • GHSU Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • GHSU Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Children’s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby • GHSU, Laney-Walker Boulevard transit stop, Augusta • Select Specialty Hospital, Walton Way, Main entrance lobby • Trinity Hospital, Wrightsboro Road, main lobby by elevators • Trinity Hospital Home Health, Daniel Village, main lobby • University Health Federal Credit Union/ University Hospital Human Resources, 1402 Walton Way, Main Lobby • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Emergency Room lobby area • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Outside Brown & Radiology/Day Surgery • University Hospital - Columbia County, 465 N. Belair Road, Main Lobby • University Hospital Prompt Care, 3121 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • GRU Summerville Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • Parks Pharmacy, Georgia Avenue, North Augusta • Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta • Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta • Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans • Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

Plus... 500+ doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as many nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Very little if anything about healthcare is inexpensive, and that includes medicine. Tiny pills can command large prices. Over-the-counter medications may be less expensive, but are they also less effective? Find the answers to lots of your drug store questions in this column written by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson exclusively for the Medical Examiner.

DID I REALLY JUST DO THAT? (BUT DON’T FEEL BAD)

book could be filled with all the strange and unusual questions that pharmacists have been asked in the past. This is not intended to say these questions and stupid or anything that should not be asked but rather that no question or predicament should be left as unasked. We have, for the most part, heard it all and will not hesitate to go back over visited ground until the patient understands and is comfortable with the medicine they are taking. In this article we will visit a few examples of what not to do and how not to use your medication. Take it all in the point of not having people recreate these past mistakes. As a pharmacist you sometimes assume everyone knows that or that is obvious so, as a patient, help us to cover all ground needed by asking questions. We don’t know how much to tell you without some feedback. We also don’t want you to fell that we think you are dumb by going over stuff you already know. Feedback is the best part of pharmacy communication. So let’s review a few ways not to use your medication. I once had a patient that once complained of a suppository being too painful on insertion into the rectum. While trying

to find a thinner suppository she observed that the shiny stuff (aluminum wrapper) peeled off quite easily when I unwrapped one. Problem solved and customer happier than when inserting it with aluminum foil still on it. Rule number one with suppositories no matter where they are to be inserted is insert only the suppository and nothing else unless otherwise directed. We have capsules that you swallow and we have capsules that you place in a machine to inhale the contents. If you have one of these inhalation medicines that come in capsule form then separate it from your other oral medications. Had a call this morning that went what it would do if I swallowed my XYZ medicine by mistake. This particular patient had been on this same medicine for many years. Nobody will ever know why he chose to swallow it today. After several texts back and forth we worked it out and he is back on the right track. When on a medicine for birth control it only works if used correctly. A vaginal ring was once used as a bracelet but while maybe

fashionable did not work for its intended purpose. Also these rings are to be inserted once then discarded after a certain amount of time. One patient called the pharmacy and asked if she was boiling it long enough before reusing it. The person who was on the classic birth control pill and decided that since both husband and wife participated then both would take one pill a day just like the directions on the pack said. That does not work either. When on a liquid medication be sure you know the route of administering the liquid. Some are oral suspensions you take by mouth. Others are injections you inject into the muscle or just under the skin (subcutaneously). Still others are topical drops to be placed in a specific area. Let’s go thru a few don’ts in this category. The insulin patient who ran

out of syringes to use for insulin injections and decided to drink his dose instead had a problem with high blood sugar due to taking the medicine the wrong way. The parent did not help their child when they gave the liquid antibiotic for oral use as an in the ear dosage because it was for an ear infection. The person who decided it didn’t matter how he took his breathing medicine and drank his nebules that should have been inhaled by way of a nebulizer machine. This list is far from all inclusive and is just an example of things that have been asked. So don’t feel bad if you mess up. Just get the correct information and try again. We sent a request for example stories to a pharmacy group on Facebook and in less than forty minutes had almost a hundred replies. Don’t worry – the privacy act still applies and no names will ever be given out. This is all shared in the spirit of educating each other on what not to assume is clear. + Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net If you have any questions, comments or article suggestions please email us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Solutions for improper nutrition with aging adults by Kathy Crist For the elderly, staying hydrated and getting the proper nutrition is crucial. Almost a third of elderly persons are chronically dehydrated. One in four older adults suffer from improper nutrition. As we age, there can be a disassociation between how Crist hydrated our bodies are and how we feel. Families who are uncertain of how to deal with this issue often looks for answers, information and assistance. One red flag is sudden weight loss. A physician should be consulted to rule out things such as a bacterial infection in the stomach. Having a loss of appetite as we age is a common occurrence. The aging process brings many changes in our body. Changes in the sense of smell, taste and even hearing can affect the enjoyment of food. Dental problems, depression and medication side effects also play a big part of appetite loss. Caregiving roles for an aging parent can be a real challenge, especially while juggling other responsibilities. Lack of nutrition in older adults might require caregiver assistance for grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals following any specific diet ordered by their doctor. Don’t

is now

overlook the importance of fluid consumption; document what is consumed; chart input and output, record vital signs and can record weight daily. That’s valuable information for doctors to have. Tufts University has created a program called My Plate Nutrition Guidelines for Older Adults. For more information on this program, go to www. nutrition.tufts.edu/research/ myplate-older-adults. Here are some practical things you can do if you are concerned about a loved one with a suppressed low appetite and not getting proper nutrition: Increase nutrient density, not portion size. Create recipes that are delicious and are loaded with special ingredients to add extra nutrients, fiber, and

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protein to the diet. Set a regular eating schedule. Our bodies thrive on regularity. Be aware of medication side effects. Overcome dry mouth from medications by using an oral rinse before meals that can improve taste sensation. Encourage social meals Eating alone can reduce appetite. Schedule meal “dates” with family, friends or caregivers. The goal should always be to improve the quality of life for each patient. + Right at Home is a locally owned in-home care and assistance agency which has served the CSRA for 8 years. For more information call 803-278-0250 or visit us on the web at www.csra.rightathome.net.

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER It is used for the payment or denial of your claims, for the collection of premiums, for sharing of your payment history with other insurer(s) and for preparation of your Medicare Summary Notice. The information may be used to ensure you and others receiving Medicare get quality health care, to provide customer service to resolve complaints or to contact you about research studies.

MEDICARE MATTERS +

by Trisha Whisenhunt

PRIVACY FOR ORIGINAL MEDICARE

y law, Medicare is required to protect the privacy of your personal medical information. Medicare must give you the following notice to inform you how they may use and disclose the data. Medicare needs to use and disclose your information to provide it for the following: You or someone who has the legal

right to act on your behalf, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or to make sure your privacy is protected and as required by law. Medicare has the right to use and disclose your personal medical information to operate the Medicare Program and to pay for your health care as it involves certain situations.

Medicare must have your written permission to use or disclose your personal medical information for any purpose that is not outlined in this notice. You may revoke your written permission at any time, except to the extent that Medicare has already acted based on your consent. Your rights include being able to obtain your personal medical data held by Medicare and to have it amended if you believe there is an error or omitted information and Medicare agrees. If Medicare disagrees, you may have a statement of your disagreement added to your file. You have the right to receive a list of individuals or companies receiving your information and to request Medicare limit how your information is used and shared to pay your claims and run the Medicare Program. You

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may also obtain a separate paper copy of the “Notice of Privacy Practices for Original Medicare.” If necessary, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by calling the Office for Civil Rights at 800-368-1019 or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/ privacy. Medicare is required to follow the terms in this privacy notice and has the right to change the way your personal medical information is used and disclosed. If Medicare makes any changes, you will receive a new notice by mail within 60 days of the change. For additional information or questions, contact Medicare at 800-633-4227 and ask a customer service representative about Medicare’s Privacy Notice. + Trisha Whisenhunt, Certified Medicare Counselor, CSRA Area Agency on Aging Resource: Medicare & You

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Your personal medical information may be used under other limited circumstances such as where allowed by federal law to both state and federal agencies that need Medicare data for their program operations, to inform your health care providers of treatments you have received for continued coordination of your care, for public health activities, for government health care oversight activities, for judicial and administrative proceedings and law enforcement purposes, to avoid a serious and imminent threat to health or safety or to contact

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es, it’s possible. We are, after all, living in the Garden of Eden, at least from the viewpoint of mosquitoes. Remember earlier this summer when public health officials were telling us how to eliminate mosquito habitats? One news report that comes to mind was an interview a couple months ago with a member of the city of Augusta’s mosquito abatement team. He held a bottle cap in front of the camera and said, “Even this much water could provide a place for a female mosquito to lay her eggs. Well, that was then. This is now. And since then, about 900 zillion gallons of rainwater has fallen on the greater Augusta area. Searching for bottle caps that might contain water would be like looking for pennies in streets paved with gold. There are puddles and ponds everywhere. It’s like Six Flags for mosquitoes around here. Should we be concerned? Mosquitoes are not our friends. The Medical Examiner has written about these little pests more than once. They infect about 700 million people with disease every year, killing more than 5 million each year via malaria alone. The Augusta area has not been immune: last year there were deaths in the CSRA from West Nile virus. The good news, though, is that the current local mosquito population explosion is happening among a variety of skeeter known as the Asian tiger mosquito. They’re annoying and they’re numbers are growing by the millions within Georgia, but another variety, the Southern house mosquito, is the main source of West Nile. Entomologists say numbers of Southern house mosquitoes are low in our area so far this year. Even so, nobody wants a mosquito bite. What’s a body to do? It may be water, water everywhere, but that’s no reason to ignore standing water. Stopped up gutters, buckets in the yard full of rainwater, old tires in an empty lot, all should be dry. Mosquito repellents containing DEET are EPA-approved as safe and effective. Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing also seems to help prevent bites. And then there’s this fan to the left. Fans are great mosquito repellents for a number of reasons. For starters, not everyone enjoys slathering their skin with bug repellent chemicals. A fan is obviously chemical-free and low tech all the way. But what good does it do? One of the ways mosquitoes find us is through the carbon dioxide we exhale. Fans disperse CO2 and help make us invisible to mosquitoes. In addition, mosquitoes are very weak fliers. They are literally blown away by the air movement generated by a fan. According to experts, oscillating fans work best, but a simple box fan works too. Any fan is better than nothing. What’s more, using fans to keep mosquitoes away is endorsed by the American Mosquito Control Association. Even better, they’ll help you beat the heat, and that’s always cool. +

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If you judge people, you have no time to love them. — Mother Teresa

AUGUST 9, 2013

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot — Posted July 8, 2013 at mindhacks.com

ARE DIGITAL DEVICES DESTROYING OUR BRAINS? HEADLINES: The Telegraph: Surge in ‘digital dementia’ The Daily Mail: ‘Digital dementia’ on the rise as young people increasingly rely on technology instead of their brain Fox News: Is ‘digital dementia’ plaguing teenagers? The Story South Korea has the highest proportion of people with smartphones, 67%. Nearly 1 in 5 use their phone for more than 7 hours in a day, it is reported. Now a doctor in Seoul reports that teenagers are reporting with symptoms more normally found in those with head injury or psychiatric illness. He claims excessive smartphone use is leading to asymmetrical brain development, emotional stunting and could “in as many as 15 per cent of cases lead to the early onset of dementia.”

“This isn’t” dementia.”

What they actually did Details from the news stories are sketchy. Dr Byun Gi-won, in Seoul, provided the quotes, but it doesn’t seem as if he has published any systematic research. Perhaps the comments are based on personal observation? The Daily Mail quotes an article which reported that 14% of young people felt that their memory was poor. The Mail also contains the choice quote that “[Doctors] say that teenagers have become so reliant on digital technology they are no longer able to remember everyday details such as their phone numbers.” How plausible is this? It is extremely plausible that people should worry about their memories, or that doctors should find teenagers uncooperative, forgetful and inattentive. The key question is whether our memories, or teenagers’ cognitive skills, are worse than they ever have been – and if smart phones are to blame for this. The context for this story is a recurring moral panic about young people, new forms of technology and social organisation. For a long time it was TV, before that it was compulsory schooling (“taking kids out of their natural environment”). When the newspaper became common people complained about the death of conversation. Plato even complained that writing augured the death of memory and understanding). The story also draws on the old left brain-right brain myth, which – despite being demonstrably wrong – will probably never die. Tom’s take Of course, it is possible that smartphones (or the internet, or TV, or newspapers, or writing) could damage our thinking abilities. But all the evidence suggest the opposite, with year by year and generation-by-generation rises found in IQ scores. One of the few revealing pieces of research in this area showed that people really are more forgetful of information they know can be easily retrieved, but actually better able to remember where to find that information again. This isn’t dementia, but a completely normally process of relying on our environment to store information for us. You can see the moral panic driving these stories reflected in the use of that quote about teenagers not being able to remember phone numbers. So what! I can’t remember phone numbers any more – because I don’t need to. The only evidence for dementia in these stories is the lack of critical thought from the journalists reporting them. + Speaking of blogs, the Medical Examiner’s blog is found at www.AugustaRx.com/news

From THE Bookshelf Unfortunately, many of us need this book. The person who always knows just what to say and when to say it — not to mention how to say it — is the exception. For the rest of us, all kinds of situations can present a bit of a communications dilemma. Throw in something like bad news from some medical tests, losing a baby, finding out a friend has cancer, or any one of dozens of other health-related bombs that one of our friends may have dropped on them (including death), and it can be very difficult to know what to say. Sue Halpern to the rescue. Her book, The Etiquette of Illness, was born of personal experiences and those of her friends. And let’s face it: we’ve all been to these places. In one case, she had lunch with a friend who had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment. One of this woman’s close friends, someone she regularly spoke with, hadn’t called or returned any of her calls in months, roughly since the time of her diagnosis. She didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t say anything. All of us can identify with that to some degree. It’s not always

easy to comfort someone who has experienced a death in the family or who has received some sobering and serious bad news from a doctor. Then again, neither do we want to rush in like a bull in a china shop in some imaginary race to be the first to reach out to someone. As the title reminds us, there is etiquette involved. No points are awarded for being the first to extend words of comfort, any more than they are for waiting months and being the last. It can be beneficial to get one’s thoughts together, perhaps do some research on the subject of the person’s diagnosis, and give careful thought to what you’ll say. That’s where this

book comes in handy. Halpern, a psychotherapist, social worker, and human being, offers lots of sound advice on great ways to avoid that nagging guilty feeling we get when we retreat from a friend in their time of need instead of reaching out to help. Granted, we could tweet our friend or send them a text, but that has to rank near the top of bland and impersonal ways to communicate. Nor is there any law against getting help from Hallmark — quite the opposite in fact — but simply buying a card and signing it, or adding a few words (“thinking of you at this difficult time”) is a poor substitute for a few warm words spoken directly to our friend. Better to call or visit and send a card. Ah, but what to say when you call? There is the rub. Fortunately for us all, here’s a book that offers “what to say when you can’t find the words.” And we’ve all been there — and will be again in the future. Unless, that is, we learn The Etiquette of Illness. + The Etiquette of Illness, What to Say When You Can’t Find the Words, by Susan P. Halpern, 208 pages, published in 2004 by Bloomsbury USA

the

What about breakfast? Here at our sprawling Medical Examiner World Headquarters, we know people within the sound of this newspaper who skip breakfast. We know people who, from one evening’s supper until the next afternoon’s lunch, subsist on nothing but Diet Coke. Some people think of such regimens as an effective weight loss strategy. We beg to disagree. For starters, skipping breakfast is a bad idea, and it’s a bad idea for more reasons than we have space for here. We’ll save all that for some other time. After all, we’re in the midst of specifically disagreeing with this practice as a weight loss strategy. Try this headline on for size: “Eating a Big Breakfast Fights Obesity and Disease.” Do not adjust your Medical Examiner. In a nutshell, clinical researchers say those who eat their largest meal at breakfast are far more likely to lose weight and waistline inches than

Clipping File

people whose big meal of the day is supper. Here’s how Hebrew University researchers conducted their study: 93 obese women were randomly divided into two groups, both of which consumed a moderate carbohydrate, moderate fat, 1,400 calorie per day diet for 12 weeks. Group A’s 1,400 calories were divided up like this: 200 calories for breakfast, 500 at lunch and 700 at dinner. Group B was the exact opposite: 700 calories for breakfast, 500 at lunch and 200 for dinner. At the end of the study, Group B, the Big Breakfast group, had lost an average of 17.8 pounds each, and 3 inches off their waistlines. The Big Dinner group, by contrast, lost an average of only 7.3 pounds and 1.4 waistline inches. Despite their loses, Group A members increased their triglyceride levels during the study. The Big Breakfast group also showed lower insulin,

glucose and triglyceride levels throughout the day. That translates to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. This despite the fact that the big breakfast included a dessert item, such as a cookie or even a piece of chocolate cake (yes, chocolate cake is great for breakfast). Part of the explanation for the beneficial big breakfast results, says an article about the study published in Obesity, is that those in Group B were found to have significantly lower levels of the hormone ghrelin, an indication that they were more satiated and had less desire for snacking later in the day than their small breakfast-big dinner counterparts. Yes, eating the right foods at the wrong time can prevent weight loss and be harmful to health. The bottom line: meal timing can make a major difference in managing obesity and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle. +

+ 12

AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

A first: I attended a high tea with my wife yesterday.

by Dan Pearson

Not true. But that’s a common misconception.

I didn’t think guys did high tea.

Well, it’s not exactly a macho experience.

So how was it?

High tea causes Low T?

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD The Mystery Word for this issue: INGSOPORS

PUZZLE

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

21 22 23 24 ACROSS 1. Augusta mill 25 26 5. Augusta’s “The _______” 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 10. 2nd son of Adam and Eve 14. Potpourri 35 36 37 38 15. Hilo greetings 39 40 41 42 43 16. Cab 17. A version of Baal 44 45 46 47 48 18. Occur before something 49 50 51 52 else 53 54 20. Part of a combo with feathers 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 21. Carry out 63 64 65 66 23. Bible coin 25. Speed abbreviation 67 68 69 70 26. Make a mistake 71 72 73 27. Business matters 31. Idleness by Daniel R. Pearson © 2013 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com 35. And not 36. Guides 32. Glass under a microscope 38. Famous Ukraine seaport DOWN 33. _____-wheeler 1. Mr. Bryant 39. Increased 34. Roof overhangs 2. Holly genus 41. Rejoice 37. ____ date 3. West ____ Virus 43. Capital of Ukraine 40. Fossil product 4. Depart 44. Iron feature 42. Sustained pull, as on a leg 5. Wednesday at the National 46. James, pioneer of TV 45. Frenetically busy 6. On sheltered side cooking shows 47. Sofa 7. Former weight for wool 48. Dr. of rap 50. Stroke gently 8. Central African republic 49. State of having a will 52. Pat lightly 9. Intense dislike 51. Young girls 55. Children, informally 10. @ 53. Nurse asst. 56. Notion 11. Nearby Soth Carolina town 54. Stroke abbrev. 57. Lofty 12. Test 55. Greek island 58. Lead-in to rival or enemy 13. Old Italian money 59. Like a mobile, but 59. Identical 18. Center of an iris stationary 60. Scratch 19. Type of bird? 63. McKinley’s First Lady 61. Like Michigan or Ontario 22. Nashville awards prog. 64. Sure 62. New Age singer 24. Floorboard sound 66. Joy Luck Club author 65. Definite article 27. Anguish 67. Reuben seller 68. Type of girl Clara Bow was 28. Specialty 69. Average Joe 70. These are dotted 29. Liberates 70. Distasteful; yucky 30. Sen. Chambliss 71. Shaker contents 31. Religion with a billion 72. Luster followers 73. Mets’ former home Solution p. 14

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QUOTATION PUZZLE P T O D L E O O O R I

R K T C O R V S H H M C N S O A I I E D E E O O S E W E T T O N D N N C — Merry Browne

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

X A M I N E R

6 7

2 8

5 6

U D O K U

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle. All the listed letters following 1 are the 1st letters of each word; the letters following 2 are 2nd letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

3 1

O 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 F 1 1 2 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1.DLOTIIBAA 2.TINSAHIN 3.DTESLF 4.IAYE 5.TB 6.IU 7.DL 8.IE 9.T 10.Y

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing. We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

16 19

Simply unscramble the letters, then begin exploring our ads. When you find the correctly spelled word hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

AUGUST 9, 2013

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

nurse received a call from an anxious patient. “I’m diabetic and my sugar level is crashing,” the caller said. “Are you light-headed? “ the nurse asked. “No,” the caller answered, “I’m a brunette.” A big shot executive had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his staff. None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything to do with him. The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She came into his room and announced, “I have to take your temperature.“ After complaining for several minutes, he finally calmed down and opened his mouth. “Sorry,” the nurse stated, “but for this reading I can’t use an oral thermometer. “ This started another round of complaining, but eventually he rolled over and bared his behind. After the nurse inserted the thermometer she said, “I have to get something. Do not move until I get back!” He grudgingly obeyed, even though the nurse left his room door open and he could hear people giggling in the hallway.

Finally, half an hour later, the man’s doctor comes into the room. “What’s going on here?” asks the doctor. Angrily, the man answers, “What’s the matter, Doc? Haven’t you ever seen someone having their temperature taken?” After a pause the doctor confesses, “Not with a carnation.” A man goes to see his rabbi. “Something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it.” “Tell me what’s wrong,” the rabbi says. “My wife is poisoning me.” “Are you sure?” asks the stunned rabbi. “I have proof. What should I do?” The rabbi says, “Let me talk to her. I’ll see what I can find out and I’ll get back in touch.” Two days later the rabbi calls the man and says, “Well, I spoke to your wife for three hours yesterday and three more hours today. You want my advice?” “Yes, rabbi. What should I do?” “Take the poison.” Jane: My doctor told me to gargle warm salt water an hour before bedtime. Jan: Did it cure your sore throat? Jane: Not yet. I can never seem to go more than about fifteen minutes. A young man was standing in the middle of the street shouting, “Call me a doctor! Call me a doctor!” A passer-by anxiously asked “What’s the matter? Are you hurt? Are you sick?” “No,” said the young man. “ I just graduated from medical school.” +

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner? Because no one should have to make a trip to the doctor or the hospital just to read Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper.

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers. If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house! NAME ADDRESS CITY

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The Patient’s Perspective by Marcia Ribble

he baby birds have grown up and fled the nest, which is empty now. For many patients this is similar to the point reached where they no longer need a doctor’s help for an issue they formerly had to deal with quite frequently. Or it can occur when a doctor they have spent many years with retires. For the vast majority of these patients when it is over, it’s just over. Although the professional relationship may have been friendly and supportive of the patient, endtime is usually all there is to it. The relationship ends at that point. They go on with their lives, and they may or may not have to deal with what every child deals with: separation anxiety. As patients grow older and their ties to doctors increase due to more critical medical concerns, this can become a very real problem for patients and for doctors. Although the separations are usually carried out with relative ease, in a small handful of cases either the patients or the doctors - and sometimes both - do not want the relationship to end, creating an unhealthy situation for one or both of them. Patients can become clingy and desperate. Doctors can see money flying away with the patient’s end of treatment. Patients can become depressed, even to the point of being suicidal. Doctors can feel a loss of control, especially when they have grown fond of and concerned about a patient. I felt a lot of those kinds of separation feelings when I first became a teacher. Up to that point in my life I had grownup with an extraordinary amount of relational stability. For the most part, when people entered my life and became

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

close to me, they remained close for the rest of our lives. So when I was faced with students regularly coming and leaving, that was a new one. When I parted from my students for the first term, I cried about the loss of people I had begun to care about. The second term it was easier in some ways. But the awareness that I would feel a loss when they left my class forced me to make a decision. Would I allow myself to care, knowing it might hurt when they left, or steel my feelings against them, refusing to care so I couldn’t be hurt? Now I watch them come in that first day of class, knowing that I will allow myself to care about my students, and knowing that it will not last. Over the years, I have learned that we can all derive a lovely knowledge, a certain wealth, from knowing one another. I do not have much money from my years of teaching, but I have a treasury of their stories, of their courage, their determination to succeed, their passion for their families and their careers. Who could be richer? + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State and retired from the University of Cincinnati. She taught writing at the college level and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She is now teaching again at Virginia College in Augusta. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc., at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

DOING RESEARCH? The Medical Examiner website has a zillion links to useful and informative sites of all kinds. Visit www.AugustaRx.com/StudyHall.html

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AUGUST 9, 2013

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: MATERNITY

...cleverly hidden (in the necktie) in the page 9 ad for SUNTRUST MORTGAGE Congratulations to STEFANIE BRADY, who scores a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate, two free movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, a free Top Notch Car Wash gift card, and if she’s a coffee drinker, a jar of Drug of Choice gourmet coffee. Win this stuff! The new Mystery Word is on p. 12. Start looking!

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST ...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then be the first to find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries you’ll score our goodie package: gift certificates from Wild Wing Cafe, Top Notch Car Wash, and movie passes from Health Center Credit Union! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (WInners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED?

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC.

perfect getaway from the urban rat race, to raise kids, or retire. 706-798-4359 or 706-831-9015

at Law, 411 Telfair St. Augusta GA 30901 (706) 868-8011. Mention this ad for a no-charge consultation.

ROOMMATE WANTED! 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath house with pool, 2 minutes from colleges. Perfect for medical or grad students. $425+share utils. 706.993.6082

WEST AUGUSTA House for rent. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1500 sqft, 1-car garage, 3024 Sterling Road, located off Stevens Creek at Riverwatch Pkwy. $850/mo. Call 678467-7187.

BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

FOR SALE: 3 BR house + 1 BR apartment (private entrance) + 2 full basements. Apt ideal for aging parent, or home office, or rental (now rented; income to offset mortgage). 310sqft basemt perfect for office or playroom. 2nd basemt (240sqft, large windows) great for workshop or studio. House & apt (2042sqft), hardwd floors, new baths. Lush back yard. Tanglewood area, near Augusta Mall. $93,500 OBO. 617-6292915. FOR RENT: Perfect location 1 mi. from MCG 1827 McDowell St. house for rent. Two bedrooms, 1-1⁄2 baths, living room, dining room, den, kitchen. Recently refurbished, tile and hardwood floors, ceiling fans, w/d hook-up, new fridge, cable, storage house. Renter pays utilities. $750 plus deposit. 706.738.2331 LAND Unique thirteen acres. Bold, beautiful rocky creek running through

FOR SALE: GORGEOUS, immaculate, never occupied townhome located mins from Medical District. 2 bed, 2 bath, master en suite, walk-in closets, office. 1450 sq ft. hardwood floors throughout, fabulous upgrades, custom kitchen and baths. Floor to ceiling windows, fenced yard. Partially furnished! 120k OBO. 803-507-6621. HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell•Buy•Rent Apartments available 706.564.5885

SERVICES WILLS, TRUSTS & POWERS OF ATTORNEY - We can fulfill your legal and estate planning needs through preparation of simple wills, complex trust agreements, advance directives for healthcare, and/or durable powers of attorney. For more information call John R.B. Long, Attorney

FULL-SERVICE MOVER Anthony’s Professional Moving, 28 years serving the CSRA moving hospital equipment, offices, homes, apartments, etc. Estimates are FREE. Call 706.860.3726 or 706.814.8141 NOTICE! ATTENTION! If any current or past employer has failed to pay you min. wage or time and a half overtime pay, you may be entitled to an order from US Federal Court awarding you twice the amount of your unpaid wages plus atty. fees. For info, call Arthur H. Shealy, Attorney at Law, 803-278-5149, 1010 Plantation Rd, North Augusta SC 29841. You may be entitled to a similar award for unpaid wages if your employer required you to perform duties during your lunch hour, before clocking in, or after clocking out. LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential. Call Vince: (704) 490-1005

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AUGUST 9, 2013 FREE T AKE-H OME C OPY!

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

DOCTORS HOSPITAL • EISENHOWER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER • EAST CENTRAL REGIONAL • GEORGIA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY • GRACEWOOD • MCGHEALTH • PRIVATE PRACTICE • SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL • TRINITY HOSPITAL • UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL • VA HOSPITALS • WALTON REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

AUGUST 9, 2013

We’re Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper, an independent advocate for your health and wellness. The Medical Examiner is NOT AFFILIATED (and never has been affiliated) with any of the following publications: ✗ The Augusta Chronicle ✗ Metro Spirit ✗ Buzz on Biz ✗ Verge ✗ Parent ✗ Augusta Family ✗ Urban Weekly ✗ Skirt ✗ Augusta Magazine ✗ Columbia County Magazine

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The Medical Examiner is INDEPENDENT. If you’re interested in advertising in this paper - or would just like information — call 706.860.5455, e-mail Dan@AugustaRx,com, or visit AugustaRx.com

That’s what our Professional Directory is for. Doctors, we can help you reach new patients and make it convenient for current patients to connect with your office. Call us today — 706.860.5455 — to add your listing to the Medical Examiner’s Professional Directory. +

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ALLERGY Tesneem K. Chaudhary, MD Allergy & Asthma Center 3685 Wheeler Road, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

CHIROPRACTIC Poppell Chiropractic Clinic 1106-A Furys Lane Martinez 30907 706-210-2875 Most insurance plans accepted

DENTISTRY Dr. Judson S. Hickey Periodontist 2315-B Central Ave Augusta 30904 706-739-0071

Floss ‘em or lose ‘em!

Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048 Dental Partners of South Augusta W. Palmer Westmoreland, DMD 2503 Peach Orchard Rd Augusta 30906 706-798-8300

Evans Dental Group 4250-2 Washington Rd Evans 30809 706-860-3200 www.evansdentalgroup.com

DERMATOLOGY Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 706-733-3373 www.GaDerm.com

DRUG REHAB Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd. Augusta 30909 706-733-1935

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Group & Benefits Consultants Inc. 3515 Wheeler Rd, Bldg. C Augusta 30909 706-733-3459 www.groupandbenefits.com

YOUR LISTING HERE Augusta Area Healthcare Provider 4321 CSRA Boulevard Augusta 30901 706-555-1234

FAMILY MEDICINE Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

HOSPICE Alliance Hospice 3685 Old Petersburg Rd. Suite 145 Augusta 30907 706-447-2461

LASER SERVICES Ideal Image 339 Fury’s Ferry Rd Martinez 30907 1-800-BE-IDEAL • www.idealimage.com Schedule a FREE Consultation

OPHTHALMOLOGY Roger M. Smith, M.D. 820 St. Sebastian Way, Suite 5-A Augusta 30901 706-724-3339

PHARMACY 437 Georgia Ave. North Augusta 29841 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com

SENIOR LIVING Augusta Gardens Senior Living Community 3725 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY 706-868-6500 www.augustagardenscommunity.com

SLEEP MEDICINE Sleep Institute of Augusta Bashir Chaudhary, MD 3685 Wheeler Rd, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

VEIN CARE Vein Specialists of Augusta G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 706-854-8340 www.VeinsAugusta.com

TO INCLUDE YOUR LISTING IN THE DIRECTORY, CALL 706-860-5455

A simple black & white listing is $95 for six months or $175 for the whole year. Add your logo and the price is just $119 for six months or $219 for the entire year.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

AUGUST 9, 2013