Medical Examiner by Daniel Pearson

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Ever wondER ER how this works?

Ever wonder how Doctors Hospital billboards with ER wait times work? Are they just a marketing gimmick, or do they accurately reflect actual and current wait times in the Doctors ER waiting room? Well, it’s certainly marketing, but it’s not a gimmick. Here’s how it works, according to Doctors’ Public Relations Manager Barclay Bishop: The wait time for any individual patient in the ER begins when they register and their patient information is entered into the department’s computer system. At the moment the data is complete and someone clicks “enter,” the clock begins ticking. The wait time clock continues to tick until the doctor views the patient’s chart. When that’s done and the doctor clicks “OK” and walks into the patient room to begin treatment, wait time ends. The time measured and shown on the billboards is “door-to-doctor.” Naturally, triage is part of the equation, providing immediate care in life-threatening situations. The billboards always note the time shown is an average, specifically the average wait time for all patients during the previous 4 hours. Information from the wait tracker in the ER is automatically updated every 15 minutes and is transferred via RSS feed to Doctors’ North Florida Division headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida. From there the data is electronically relayed back to the signs on an hourly basis. The whole process, says Bishop, was part of Doctors’ recent major expansion and renovation. Streamlining the emergency department’s treatment process resulted in two things: a minimized ER waiting room and minimized ER wait times. +

MARCH 2, 2012

What’s wrong with this picture? I

f you’re thinking, “For starters, that antique isn’t even 720p,” we have one word for you: wrong! We’re going for something completely different. Our “For starters” would be, “Where is the adult supervision?” This looks like a recipe for disaster on several fronts. First, the remote is on top of the television. By itself that’s not a great offense: it could be a simple but effective strategy to keep this little rug rat from watching television when he should be exercising his body and his imagination through play. But in this case, with mom not in the picture — and let’s cut her some slack: she may have stepped out of this room ten seconds ago — the remote is in a potentially dangerous place, inviting Junior to climb for it. What might happen next? One possible scenario: opening a drawer and then standing on it will change the dresser’s center of gravity. Depending on how much weight is in the other drawers — and in the drawer that has been pulled out — this center of gravity change could rock the dresser enough to cause the TV to fall. Older sets like this one are significantly front-heavy, so it doesn’t take a lot to make them tip forward. Scenario two: the dresser doesn’t move, but when our climber reaches for the remote he holds on to the TV to steady himself and in the process pulls it forward. The remote falls. He falls. The TV falls. Somebody gets hurt. Granted, the days of 800-pound Early American Walnut console televisions are about as common as front teeth in Riverhawks players. But those televisions never tipped over anyway; it took 8 beefy guys and a handtruck to budge them an inch. Today’s lighter TVs are tippy and a half: according to the US Product Safety Commission, there is on average one fatality involving a child 8 or younger every two weeks from situations like the one shown in this picture. The tally is 169 deaths from falling televisions alone in the 8 and below age group between 2000 and 2010, and in

all, 245 deaths when furniture and appliances are added to the statistics. In Chicago, four kids, ages 1, 3, 4, and 6, have been killed by falling TVs between October and early February. The most recent death was a 1-year-old who bumped an older TV weighing more than 100 pounds that was on an aquarium stand. It fell on the boy, fracturing his skull. And it’s not just children who are being affected. Of more than 43,000 injuries nationwide treated in emergency rooms 35 percent were people aged 18 to 59; 7 percent were 60 and above; the remainder (58 percent) were children up through age 17. Preventing these injuries and deaths is not a difficult challenge. TVs can be securely wallmounted or secured on sturdy low tables using anti-tip straps that are for sale everywhere (Google “TV anti tip”). Tall shelving can likewise be easily and quickly anchored to the wall to prevent tipping. Anti-tipping brackets for appliances are also readily available. +

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MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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MARCH 2, 2012 I N

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What’s your story?

got hysterectomy? ere I am lying in the hospital the day after having emergency surgery. Having just had two potato-size cysts removed from around my ovaries, my doctor explained how he opened me up and discovered stage four endometriosis. My doctor said I was a “mess” inside. He then tells me that I’ll need to have a total abdominal hysterectomy. Although it won’t “cure” the endometriosis, it will greatly help these huge chocolate endometriomas from forming. The endometriomas and adhesions were engulfing my entire pelvic region including my bladder and bowels. According to my OB/GYN it was the worst case he’d seen. My first reaction? No more periods. Score! I’m 31 and my husband and I did not want to have children so I thought, go ahead and take it out. I scheduled the surgery for a few weeks later. As my surgery date approached, I got more attached to these parts of mine that I never gave thought to before. I knew that I was

“I wasn’t expecting any of this.” dreading surgery and all the natural fears that are associated with surgical complications, but this was different. I was giving away a part of me. I did some online research and made an appointment to talk to my doctor before my surgery. I wanted to see if I could convince him that I should keep my uterus. I figured I was given this body part for a reason and it had to be more than a baby incubator. As sweet and supportive as my husband was, he’s still a man and does not understand why I’d even consider salvaging my uterus. He figured that it’s broken and useless, so get rid of it and move on. I just felt like there was more to it than that. I cried as I explained to my doctor why I felt the need to keep what belongs to me. Couldn’t there

be a more natural approach as opposed to cutting and gutting me? He was very understanding as he explained that he’d love to do a minor cleaning and then joked that he could “send me down the road to the voodoo doctor.” In all seriousness he said he refers several patients to a natural doctor close by, but reminded me that I was a unique case. He wanted to stress to me the importance of removing everything. He reminded me that a surgical oncologist and urologist were also going to assist with my hysterectomy. It was serious. I knew it had to be done. And so began a very unexpected grieving process. You would think I’d be fine with never having a period again or knowing that I could never get pregnant since I didn’t want children anyway. But a flood of emotions came over me that I did not anticipate. Even today, nine weeks post-op I feel broken. I feel empty and less feminine. See HYSTERECTOMY page 10

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. 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.)

The

FISCA L H EA LTH

Money Doctor

appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner’s 3rd Friday issue of even months, written by Augusta’s own Bill

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner? Why would anyone pay for a subscription to a free newspaper? That’s certainly a legitimate question. The answer: as a major regional medical center, patients come to Augusta hospitals and physicians from all over the Southeast. The MCGHealth Medical Center alone sees patients from every single county in Georgia, not to mention South Carolina, Florida, and beyond. Add to that the regional reach of Eisenhower Army Medical Center and both Veterans Administration hospitals, the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, Walton Rehab and University Hospital, and it’s clear that many people seeking treatment in Augusta are not local residents. Furthermore, some of our most loyal readers are in town only occasionally. Or their treatments and visits to Augusta are only temporary. Even local residents may find it more convenient to walk to their mailbox than visit one of our many newsstands. Subscriber copies are mailed the day prior to the issue date so they will be received by most readers no later than the publication date printed on the paper. Copies are sent by First Class mail in a sealed envelope so they’ll arrive promptly and in crisp condition. Rates are $16 for a 6-month subscription (12 issues), $32 for a full year (24 issues). Complete the form below and drop it in the mail with your payment. Thank you! +

Cleveland, a certified financial planner recently named by Medical Economics magazine as one of the “150 Best Financial Advisors for Doctors” in the U.S.

Read it and reap AUGUSTA

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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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. © 2012 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Hope IS Possible

How do you mend a broken heart?

Helen Blocker-Adams

he weather has been pretty amazing, hasn’t it? I’m wondering if a winter snap will come in late March or early April. I certainly hope not. Augustans like perfect weather during the week of The Masters, right? There’s something about nice weather that brings out the best in many people. I can say the same when there’s someone extra special in one’s

life that just makes them smile, for no apparent reason. I have several women friends who are getting married in the coming months and I give them a big shout out. I love the institution of marriage. Yes, some of us don’t get it right the first time. Or the second time. I’m a living witness. But I refuse to give up. Have you ever had a broken heart? It’s definitely not a good feeling. At the time of the hurt, we feel like the pain will never go away. We put up a barrier that says no man or (woman) will come into my life and take my heart again. But is that really fair for the next person who comes along? I believe every adult has had their heart broken at some time or another. Research tells us that a broken heart (or heartbreak) is a common metaphor used to describe the intense emotional or suffering one feels after losing a loved one, whether through death, divorce,

“Every woman deserves a man who can make her heart forget that it was ever broken.” – Author Unknown breakup, physical separation, or romantic rejection. A study has shown that “a broken heart hurts in the same way as pangs of intense physical pain.” The research demonstrated that the same regions of the brain that become active in response to painful sensory experiences are activated during intense experiences of social rejection, or social loss generally. “These results give new meaning to the idea that social rejection ‘hurts,’” said University of Michigan social psychologist Ethan Kross. “Heartbreak can sometimes lead people to seek medical help for the physical symptoms.” I was curious and wanted to find out what are some of the things one can do to get over a broken heart and here is what I discovered. Author Mike Hardcastle wrote an article entitled Breaking Up and Moving On – 8 things that can heal a broken heart. Keep in mind, his focus is on relationships that are over — and that you want to keep that way. So here we go: 1. Avoid the former love. Yes, avoid. No, this isn’t being immature. Seeing your former

flame can bring out emotions and may cause you to do or say something you will regret. In the first few weeks the best thing you can do for yourself is not go places where you know they will be. 2. Talk out your feelings with close friends. Get everything out so that you won’t hold it inside. 3. Cry if you want to. It’s OK to cry over a loss. Don’t hold back, let the tears roll; just do it in a safe and private place where it is unlikely to get back to your ex. Their purpose is to cleanse you of any pain, not to make your lover come back. 4. Let go of mementos. Put away, throw away or give away anything and everything that reminds you of the relationship. 5. Don’t slip up and get together with your ex. When you are feeling sad or missing a relationship, it can be very easy to fall back in to the arms of your ex. DO NOT DO THIS. This will only set you back and let’s face it; if things ended, the relationship wasn’t perfect to begin with, so why would you want to rekindle things? 6. Focus on all the things about your ex that drove you crazy,

turned you off, or that you found just plain annoying. Think about these things often and replay them in your mind over and over. 7. Think about the mean, cruel or rude things your ex may have done in your relationship. 8. Maintain a strict no contact policy and stick with it. Don’t pass notes through friends. Don’t make any calls. Stay away from instant messaging or texting on your cell. You can probably add many more to this list. But you know what; one of my nieces posted on Facebook last week the quote above. It’s what compelled me to write this column in the first place. I reposted it on my Facebook page and over 50 people, women and men, clicked “Like” – they loved it. I believe it with all my heart. Personally I think this is the absolute BEST remedy for a broken heart. What do you think? + Helen Blocker Adams is President/ CEO of The HBA Group, Intl and Executive Director of the Southeast Enterprise Institute, Inc. Visit her website at www.helenblockeradams. com. If you like politics, visit her blog at www.projectlogicga.com. You can reach her via email at hba@hbagroup-intl.com Helen’s new book, Unlikely Allies: 8 Steps to Bridging Divides that Impact Leadership can be purchased by visiting www.hbagroup-intl.com or www.authorhouse.com

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MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED SIDE EFFECTS OF VIAGRA by Bad Billy Laveau All of you have seen the Viagra TV ad, the one with Howlin’ Wolf moaning in the background. It contains a directive that you should consult your doctor to determine if you are healthy enough to have sex. Nobody is supposed to take that seriously, right? Not all that medical-legal mumbojumbo. I’m willing to bet money that no doctor has ever had an older man come in and say, “Doc, I have a hot young thing just dying to tear my clothes off and perform acts heretofore only attempted by professional trapeze artists. Do you think I’m healthy enough for sex?” He’s going to take the chance of getting a medical recommendation to give up sex for health reasons? Yeah. Right. No way, Jose. He’s thinking: I ain’t gonna live much longer anyway. I have more aches and pains than a scalded house cat has got running gears. So why not get some industrial strength

horizontal refreshments while I can? Why not go out with a smile on my face? Bring it on, sweet thing! Well, Dear Hearts, wipe that grin off your faces and consider the following: Recently there was a radio news report about a man whose wife died a couple years back. Once he emerged from the depression of losing his wife, he started reliving his youth in his mind. A spark rekindled below his belt. He asked his doctor for some Viagra. A couple nights later, he engaged the services of a prostitute because he did not want a relationship with a woman that his children might see as a replacement of their mother. In the height of passion, he aspirated his false teeth. While the young lady had many skills, CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver were not among them. The children buried him three days later. He was 75. The Lady of the Night did not attend. Children never want see a mysterious younger woman crying at

ATTENTION

t s e B Dad’s funeral. And she was younger: a youthful 63. Then in a second case, there was another man whose wife had died. His children engaged a cleaning lady once a week to make the house livable. Pretty soon, the cleaning lady suggested that she could, and would, perform other more thrilling services for the widower. The children need not know about the secondary arrangement. The man got some Viagra from his doctor and was thoroughly entertained by the cleaning lady. He rewarded her appropriately with a suitable bonus. It became a weekly thing. Soon, she suggested that he might like

e n i c i d ME

for her sister to come with her the next time for even more thrilling escapades. The French call it a manage a trio, she said. How lucky can one man get? The next week, both sisters showed up with their imaginations, not to mention their pheromones, running wild. They had drinks. He loaded up with two of those blue magic Viagra 100 mg caplets. (Let’s see. One woman: one caplet. Therefore, two women: two caplets, right? Well, it made sense at the time.) His blood re-pooled, and the good times began. However, the sister act was more than his cerebral

vasculature could withstand. He stroked and is in a nursing home now. The cleaning lady duo is out of work, at least temporarily. What do we learn from these two cases, Dear Hearts? That there really are good reasons to read the handout from the pharmacy about the side effects of medicines. The same drug can make a man stand up. Temporarily. Or lie down. Permanently. Also that you really should be forthcoming with your doctor about exactly what you are doing, even in your most private moments. It could be a matter of your life versus your death. + 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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MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Health 101 by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Assistant Dean for Administration in the GHSU College of Nursing WHAT IS A HERNIA AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT? hernia occurs when part of the intestinal tract is pushing through muscle. This can be when part of the esophagus or top of the stomach is pushing up through the diaphragm (as in a hiatal hernia), or around the naval (an umbilical hernia), or through the muscle on the abdomen (a ventral hernia) or down in the groin (an inguinal hernia). Some hernias are called “sliding” because they move back and forth through the muscle when pressure is put on them, either from inside or outside the body. For example if the person strains picking up something or eats a large meal, the intestines may pop out a bit, but if pressure is put on the outside of the skin it can be pushed back inside or “reduced.” Usually the higher up a hernia is on the intestinal tract the easier it is to reduce because there is more liquid inside the intestines. As the food moves on down the tract more fluid is absorbed and the contents become

thicker, and harder and the protrusion, once outside the muscle wall, becomes harder to reduce or push back in. People used to use an external device called a truss to push against a weak muscle wall to keep their hernia from pushing out. Binders also work for a lot of people. Pain can occur when the intestines become caught in the muscle and can’t be pushed back inside. An irreducible hernia can become a surgical emergency.

A hiatal hernia can usually be kept under control by eating smaller portions at meals and sitting up after eating to help the food settle on down. When the stomach is over-full and gets caught up in the diaphragm the pain and pressure increase, causing heartburn and acid reflux. Sometimes standing up and allowing more room in the belly for that food to move around will help relieve that pain and burning a bit. In men, sometimes the intestines can fall down into the scrotal sac and swell, causing a lot of pain. It can be very difficult to get the intestines to slide back up into the abdomen because gravity helps them drop down. It may help to lay down to help relieve the pressure and reduce the swelling for these hernias. Once a muscle is torn or weakens for the intestines to protrude through and a hernia develops, it doesn’t heal by itself. It can be controlled with external pressure and avoiding straining. It is important to avoid constipation, too. But if the hernia continues to get larger and becomes painful surgery is the only way to fix it. We will move on down the GI tract and discuss diverticular diseases next. + HEALTH 101 – Information to help you make positive changes in your life to improve your health by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, Director of the Good Samaritan House, A Free Community Health Center Open Mondays 15 pm. 213 N Main St., Dearing, GA 706-556-9080.

Opening Doors to a Cure SEEKING STUDY PARTICIPANTS TO COMPARE CURRENT & NEW CANCER TREATMENTS: Breast Lung Prostate/Genitourinary Gastrointestinal

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Editor’s note: Exceptional Living appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner each month, addressing issues that all of us can benefit from involving people with special — let’s call them exceptional — needs.

Exceptional Living

Facing Fears by Naomi D. Williams, MPH, CHES, CIC® I’m an avid fan of The Amazing Race and it is on my bucket list to do something like this show. In a recent episode on one part of the race, the contestants had to jump out of perfectly good airplane at roughly ten thousand feet. One contestant was deathly afraid of heights and repeatedly said she couldn’t do it and nearly talked herself and thus her team out of the competition and ultimately one million dollars! Long story short, this contestant decided to complete the jump. Her reason was to teach her children that despite obstacles and difficult situations you don’t quit. )I’m sure the one million dollars was incentive too.) Several years ago in the Shane’s rib shack parking lot I was having ~ Katherine Paterson a heartfelt conversation with my boyfriend at the time. I vividly remember saying, with tears streaming down my face, “I’m getting older, my eggs are getting old and I’m afraid of having a child with complications.” Okay, before you go thinking I was trying to talk him into having a baby, that was the furthest thing from my mind. We were having a discussion about our fears and this was and had always been one of my three fears. Only three? You may ask. Since my teenage years, I’ve only had three main fears: living with my mother FOREVER, getting fat (pre-pregnancy, as well as, not being able to lose the “baby weight” even years later) and lastly having an atypical child. I enthusiastically purchased my own home, thus enabling me to overcome fear number one (the true fear was being single forever thus in an effort to save money and resources live with my mom). Considering I was only 26 weeks pregnant and had just hit the 15-pound weight gain mark when Noah was born I avoided fear number two, the getting fat fear. However, due to the complications before, during and after Noah’s birth, I’m now raising my greatest fear. My fear of having an exceptional child wasn’t so much the child itself, but knowing how exceptional people (children and adults) are treated. Let’s be honest. Kids can be so cruel, and the adults they learn from are not much better. People stare and ogle. They are rude and tactless with their comments. They push, bully and are more likely to take advantage of those who aren’t able to defend themselves. Having been a victim of bullying all through high school despite being a typical kid, I could only imagine the experiences for a differently-abled child. As a parent I wanted no part of that life. Funny, we can want all day long, but we really don’t have a choice. As Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” Author Susan Jeffers wrote Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway which I consider a must read. In one chapter she says “I believe that if something is troubling you, simply start from where you are and take the action necessary to change it.” So regardless of the hand that you’ve been dealt and the fears that you currently face, you possess the power to press beyond your fears. When outsiders get a sneak peak at my life with Noah and all the challenges that we face, I would bet money they think I’ve been dealt a crappy hand. Although I wasn’t dealt the hand that I wanted, was expecting, or was prepared for, at the end of the day I have a winning hand. I have one of the smartest, most handsome little boys who unequivocally loves his mom and gives his best every day. I’ve been forced to feel and face my fears and I’m creating a wonderful life anyway! +

“To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.”

MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat by Hevil Shah

hat makes a good parent? Countless books, magazines, and TV shows offer their own suggestions. A quick YouTube search shows hundreds of videos that provide examples of good parenting skills versus bad parenting skills. If you look closely enough, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice that a number of these clips are tagged as both good and bad. I guess viewers canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decide which category to place it in. In fact, with it being an election year, even politicians are offering opinions about what defines a good parent. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the media or our own personal influences, I think we all have our own preconceived notions of how we should and should not act as a parent. I bring up this question after spending the past month on the newborn nursery service. It was an amazing feeling to be involved in a newbornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care during their first few days of life, but I came to quickly realize that I could place parents into two different groups almost immediately based on my own social experiment called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Attending Test.â&#x20AC;? In the first six hours of a newbornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, every parent is the same: extremely excited, taking a bunch of pictures, with family members everywhere. Simply put, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a party. But six hours later is when â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Attending Testâ&#x20AC;? comes into play. It is a very simple test based on my own observations of how you act in front of the attending physician. Group A parents were the ones that sat up as soon as the attending walked in. They turned off the television, put down their cellphones, and told the other children in the room to quiet down so the parents could hear every word of what the attending had to say. They asked questions, elicited advice, made sure all the appointments are in place and the prescriptions made sense. After staying in the hospital for two to three days, these parents wanted to be sure they were ready and able to take their child home and take care of their newborn without having nurses and doctors around. Great! Group B parents, on the

Our next issue date: MARCH 16

other hand, were the complete opposite. They continued to watch TV even after the attending asked if they could turn it off or even turn the volume down. They continued to play games or text people on their smartphones. And they wanted to leave the hospital pronto, even if their child wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feeding at a level we felt comfortable with prior to discharge. There was even one mother we could never find during rounds because she would be downstairs smoking, leaving her newborn with a friend or another family member. Obviously it is the Group B parents that worried me. If my attending couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get their attention for just a few minutes, how would they be able to give enough attention to their newborn and make sure their baby is cared for properly? Would they be okay getting up in the middle of the night to feed the child? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give them the benefit of doubt. First, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a father, so I can only imagine what it is like to be in their shoes. Secondly, a majority of Group B were newly minted parents, so they may just have been extremely overwhelmed knowing that their life now

will never be the same. Of course, nowadays access to information is readily available. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even fathom what it was like for my parents when they had me and they had to figure things out. But I still worry. Most of the Group B parents were extremely young. Some mothers were barely teenagers. And unfortunately for some of the newborns, their fathers were not going to be involved in any of their care. Many B couples were unmarried. This is actually occurring nationwide. In addition to the Affordable Care Act, contraception, and prenatal testing, the deepening trend in out-of-wedlock births may be the next big political debate. In a recent edition of Time Magazine, Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, made some starling observations. Almost 70% of births to mothers who dropped out of high school are out of wedlock. For AfricanAmericans, 73% of births are out of wedlock, while it is 53% for the Hispanic population. Alarming as the data seems, there is hope. Group A and Group B parents, please know there is a support system in place to help you to become amazing parents. Hospitals

OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations:

A med studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notebook and clinics throughout the area have workshops and personnel in place to aid you in parenting. The support system available nowadays is better than its been in the years past, and will continue to get better as time goes on. But please remember, you are not alone. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to help! +

Hevil Shah, MPH, is a senior medical student at GHSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical College of Georgia. He may be reached at hevil.shah@gmail.com. Dear SWC Readers, I hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been able to enjoy my articles. But I need your help. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m one of ten finalists in the running to receive funding to go to South America to do medical work with Timmy Global Health and I need your vote. If you could visit http://www.hevilshah.com, it will take you to my video essay on YouTube, where you can sign in and vote by clicking the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like/ Thumbs Upâ&#x20AC;? button. Thanks!

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â&#x20AC;˘ Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance â&#x20AC;˘ Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby â&#x20AC;˘ Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance â&#x20AC;˘ Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, Employee Entrance (near the Joseph M. Still Burn Center entrance) â&#x20AC;˘ Eisenhower Hospital, Main Entrance, Fort Gordon â&#x20AC;˘ George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) â&#x20AC;˘ MCG Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances â&#x20AC;˘ MCGHealth Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance â&#x20AC;˘ MCGHealth Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance â&#x20AC;˘ MCG Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance â&#x20AC;˘ MCGHealth Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby â&#x20AC;˘ Medical College of Georgia, Laney-Walker Boulevard transit stop, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Select Specialty Hospital, Walton Way, Main entrance lobby â&#x20AC;˘ Trinity Hospital, Wrightsboro Road, main lobby by elevators â&#x20AC;˘ Trinity Hospital Home Health, Daniel Village, main lobby â&#x20AC;˘ University Health Federal Credit Union/ University Hospital Human Resources, 1402 Walton Way, Main Lobby â&#x20AC;˘ University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Emergency Room lobby area â&#x20AC;˘ University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Outside Brown & Radiology/Day Surgery â&#x20AC;˘ University Hospital - Columbia County, 465 N. Belair Road, Main Lobby â&#x20AC;˘ University Hospital Prompt Care, 3121 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Around town: â&#x20AC;˘ Barneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. â&#x20AC;˘ Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way â&#x20AC;˘ ASU Student Bookstore â&#x20AC;˘ Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street â&#x20AC;˘ Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans â&#x20AC;˘ Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. â&#x20AC;˘ Hartleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans â&#x20AC;˘ Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta â&#x20AC;˘ Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans â&#x20AC;˘ Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

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MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

P harm acy 41 1 EDITOR’S NOTE: 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.

HOW MANY PRESCRIPTIONS DO I TAKE? With the need for primary care physicians and multiple specialists for various conditions as we get on in years, one can accumulate a vast number of prescription vials in your medicine cabinet. Do you really need to be on all that medication? Are there cheaper alternatives to some of your favorite brand name medicines? Can one pill replace two or three others? Let’s look at your medicine cabinet. Physicians tend to start new medicines more often than they discontinue old medicines. This is done because no doctor wants to discontinue a medicine that is working for you and then have your condition get worse. An additional medicine to treat the new problem is generally in order, and the best course of therapy for the patient. But as anyone who has dealt with a senior citizen knows, this can lead to an overabundance of vials in the medicine cabinet. Today there are new medicines coming out that combine two or sometimes three commonly prescribed drugs for the same or related conditions in one pill. This can reduce the number of pills taken in a given day and improve compliance. Two common examples of this new manufacturing practice are in blood pressure and diabetes medications. New blood pressure medications combine up to two blood pressure medications and a diuretic to help with fluid in one pill. A diuretic can lower blood pressure by itself and works great as an additional ingredient to commonly prescribed blood pressure medicines. While most of these drugs are brand name only and are covered at higher copays on insurance, if at all, the chance to reduce the number of medicines taken in a day is a factor to consider. Compare taking five combination medicines and receiving ten correctly taken ingredients - or - saving a few bucks buying ten prescriptions a month at a reduced cost and only correctly taking seven of them. What if one of the ones you don’t take (or take incorrectly) results in a heart attack? Diabetes is another area where you may have multiple prescriptions for the same disease and, as with blood pressure, the medicines are designed to attack the condition from different angles, allowing multiple medicines to work together to achieve the end result. Remember, multiple low dose prescriptions can be more beneficial and create fewer side effects than a single medicine at a higher dose. While multiple medicines for a single condition is one cause of bulging medicine cabinets, the fact that we see multiple doctors

is another. Be sure and give your entire history to all doctors, and have all specialists send copies of their findings back to your primary care physician so that your complete history is known by one and all. I recently reviewed a family member’s medical history and found three low-dose blood pressure medicines followed by two reflux medicines being used to control reflux instead of just one more potent medicine. Think of the potential side effects with that many drugs. I also found this person to be taking three antihistamines at various times throughout the day, which is extremely hard on the kidneys. The itching and rash the prescription was for was still a problem, so one doctor would prescribe one antihistamine, another doctor would prescribe a second, while her primary care physician prescribed a third medicine with antihistamine properties at bedtime to help with sleep. That’s where I had to draw the line and advise to cut back. In my book functioning kidneys are more important than an itch. The root cause of the itch was unknown, so symptoms were being treated without finding the cause. Ultimately no progress was being made on getting better. So to summarize this article in a paragraph just remember these few helpful hints: Always make sure all physicians have all the information they need to treat you. If doses are being missed, look for ways to lower the pill count you take each day. This may be thru the use of combination medicines or by asking physicians to look for new medicines that can replace multiple medicines you are currently taking without endangering your health. An example of this practice is the new medicine that combines blood pressure and cholesterol medicine in one pill. Also check with your pharmacy about duplications in your drug therapy. If you are on a medicine and still need a second medicine for the same condition should it be an addition to your profile or a replacement of the current medicine? Only your doctor can answer that after taking into account your complete medical history. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

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MARCH 2, 2012

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THE CSRA AREA AGENCY ON AGING JOINS WITH ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS DURING NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH® ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO “GET YOUR PLATE IN SHAPE” Month-long campaign highlights the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits The Area Agency on Aging is proud to join the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) during March in celebrating National Nutrition Month®. This year’s National Nutrition Month theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape” and encourages consumers to remember to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on their plates every day. There is perhaps no better time than National Nutrition Month to pause and take a close look at our plates and ask ourselves “is this nutritious?” The CSRA Area Agency on Aging focuses on nutritious meals every month through their senior nutrition program which is offered at 22 centers over a 14 county region. Sound nutrition information is also offered monthly at each center in the form of planned activities, guest speakers and cooking demonstrations. For those who are not members of our centers, here are a few ways to “Get Your Plate in Shape” from the food and nutrition experts at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: • Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables: Eat a variety of vegetables, especially darkgreen, red and orange varieties.

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Add fresh, dried, frozen or canned fruits to meals and snacks. • Make at least half your grains whole: Choose 100 percent whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta and brown rice. Check the ingredients list on food packages to find wholegrain foods. • Switch to fat-free or lowfat milk: Fat-free and low-fat milk have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but less fat and calories. For those who are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk or a calciumfortified soy beverage. • Vary your protein choices: Eat a variety of foods from the protein food group each week, such as seafood, nuts

and beans, as well as lean meat, poultry and eggs. Keep meat and poultry portions small and lean. And be sure to choose seafood as the protein at least twice a week. • Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars: Compare sodium in foods and choose those with lower numbers, and season your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt. Switch from solid fats to healthy oils like olive and canola oil. Replace sugary drinks with water and choose fruit for dessert. • Enjoy your foods but eat less: Avoid oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl and glass. Cook more often at home where

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HYSTERECTOMY… from page 3 I never thought I’d be sitting in the waiting room at my gynecologist’s office for a post op visit surrounded by pregnant women and start sobbing. I don’t even want a child and seeing babies doesn’t bother me, but pregnant women get me teary-eyed. They almost seemed to snicker at me as they took their seat in the waiting room as if to say, “I’m able to bear a child and look at you...all broken and empty... you’re a shell of a woman.” Of course no one told me that, but I felt like I could see it on their faces. Then it occurred to me while sitting in the waiting room that I’d probably never need to see my gynecologist EVER again. My female parts are all in a landfill somewhere and I don’t have a cervix anymore, so no more pap smears needed. That made me even more sad! That’s what women do! They go get their annual pap smear and talk about birth control and periods and I won’t anymore. I got mad at myself for crying about that. Ridiculous! I hated going to the gynecologist...and so does every other woman! I didn’t cry when I outgrew my pediatrician, so why am I crying about this? I still can’t seem to throw away the tampons under my bathroom sink and the one in the glove box in my car. Stupid when I think of it. I hated my monthly visit. It ruined many days and I should be happy that I’m cycle free, right? And if one more person says that my hormones may be off I’ll rip their head off. That takes me to my next point. I have met more than one person who has also had a hysterectomy that has

told me, “thank goodness I had my children before my hysterectomy.” (Like they could have any afterward?) Granted, I didn’t want children, but my choice has been officially taken away from me and thank you for rubbing it in. I’m sure I’ve said countless hurtful things, so I’ll get over it. And don’t get me started on those who compare a C-section to an abdominal hysterectomy. I have not personally had a C-section, but after countless comments from people comparing the two, I went online to see what people thought. I’ll just sum it up by saying that removing organs is not the same as removing a baby from an organ. Some wonderful things I’ve learned during this process: 1. I’m stronger than I ever thought I was. My doctor told me that he needs therapy after what he saw inside me. He told me I was his hero for living all this time in this condition. I even had a surprise appendicitis and it was found right before they closed me up on the operating table. When my doctor told me that he said “you must be living in the movie The Matrix, because you’ve been dodging bullets left and right.” I always thought I was a wimp, but apparently I’m tougher than I thought. 2. I always knew I had a great husband, but he stepped up and became my personal nurse, housekeeper, therapist, and chef all wrapped into one. He encouraged me to take as much time as I needed to rest and heal and I’m so grateful for him. He even set up did all

discovered www.hystersisters. com. That is one amazing website. From pre-op preparation to support in the weeks and months after, I was able to read posts and communicate with other women who were hurting and grieving just like I was. Is that discharge normal? Should I be in agony and feel like I’m in labor when I’m passing gas? Will I ever be able to wear normal pants? All of these questions you can ask and find answers to with no shame or embarrassment. Everyone in my family has added the phrase “Hyster Sisters” to their vocabulary thanks to this website. the cooking for my “No More Period Party.” He may be the only man on the planet who would gladly make a uterus shaped cake for his wife. 3. I always rolled my eyes when I heard “old women” talk about menopause and hot flashes and mood swings. Boy, do I have a new respect for women going through menopause. After my surgery I experienced several “power surges,” as my grandma calls them, and those are TERRIBLE. I was able to fight for (and keep) a portion of one ovary. My doctor did not like that I kept it because he thought it was a mangled mess, but I wanted her. She has officially postponed my menopause and for that she is my friend. 4. The friends who brought flowers and meals to me after my operations are appreciated, but there are a select few who went above and beyond. My sisters came over often without asking and told me they were

there to take my dogs for a walk. I love that they didn’t ask me, they took the initiative to just do it. I had a friend sit next to my bed in the hospital while I slept so my husband could go home and shower. She never asked what she could do to help, she just did it. Unprovoked, she brought over groceries and even brought over movies and chocolate and just sat with me. There was no pressure for me to stay awake and entertain her. If I fell asleep mid-sentence, she was just there to keep me company. I am so grateful for her.

7. Pajama Jeans should be sent home with every Hyster Sister post op. Yes, the ones from that goofy infomercial. I’m wearing them as I type this.

5. My favorite spot for many weeks was my recliner. Since I couldn’t sit up straight or lie down, I was only comfortable reclining and I don’t own a recliner, so I rented one. Some people giggled when I told them I rented it, but hey, that thing was my savior for many weeks. The local rent-a-center delivered it and picked it up for free. It was relatively inexpensive and worth every penny.

I’ve never really thought too much about my health before this because thankfully I’ve never really had a health issue to think of. What this experience has taught me is to be grateful for the health I do have, and when I hear someone describe their health problem, I can listen now with a much more empathetic ear. +

6. In my pre-op research I

8. I have some friends who are battling terminal illnesses and debilitating conditions. I have much to be grateful for. Although I did experience much pain and my road to recovery was longer than I anticipated, I could recover. Some people I know cannot recover and I was thinking of them and that gave me strength when I started to have self-pity.

— Nikki Martinez Las Vegas, Nevada (We used to live in Augusta and we still get the Medical Examiner.)

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From THE Bookshelf Posted Jan. 22, 2012 at http://glasshospital.com

Are patients over a barrel? [All names and identifying features of characters in this story have been changed.]

Nora, a third year medical student, came to me in moral distress. Ms. DiFazio, one of the hospitalized patients on her Internal Medicine rotation, was frightened to undergo an invasive (and expensive) medical procedure: cardiac catheterization. The first year doctor [intern] with whom Nora was paired, Dr. White, vented to her: “These patients come to us seeking our help and then refuse what we have to offer them,” Dr. White steamed. At the bedside, the intern demanded to know why Ms. DiFazio refused the procedure. When no reason beyond “I don’t want to” was offered, Dr. White told Ms. DiFazio that there was no longer cause for her to stay in the hospital. By declining the procedure, Dr. White informed Ms. DiFazio that she would have to sign out “against medical advice” (AMA). She would have to acknowledge in writing that leaving AMA could result in serious harm or death. In addition, Ms. DiFazio would bear responsibility for any and all hospital charges incurred and not reimbursed by insurance due to her decision. “The threat of a huge hospital bill got Ms. DiFazio to stay and take the test,” Nora related. “It just seems so wrong to bludgeon a patient this way. Can it possibly be true?” I’d been out of medical school myself for eight years at that point; until then I’d never heard that patients who sign out AMA risk bearing the costs of their hospitalization. What about a patient’s freedom of choice, their autonomy? I told Nora I didn’t know, but was determined to find out. Ethically, the notion that patients in the hospital must do our bidding or pay the price seemed dubious. Yet in a world of copays, deductibles, and preexisting conditions, a mere grain of plausibility made this idea seem vaguely credible. I asked around. To my surprise, many fellow attending physicians told me they had been taught the very same thing. My colleagues had trained at teaching institutions around the country, so I began to see this as a widely-held belief. I straw-polled some of our residents, and like Dr. White, found that they almost unanimously believed that AMA discharges incurred financial penalties. Where did they learn this? From their attendings. From the nurses. From the AMA form itself, with language stating that the patient, by signing, acknowledges financial risk. We needed to find the truth. Colleagues helped us sift through nearly ten years of AMA discharges from our teaching hospital. Out of hundreds of cases of AMA discharges over a decade, in only a handful was the bill not paid—and that was invariably due to administrative issues, not because of the AMA discharge. I also called insurance companies. I talked with VPs and media relations people from several of the nation’s largest private insurance carriers. Each of them told me that the idea of a patient leaving AMA and having to foot their bill is nothing more than a medical urban legend. They were glad to tell me so, as this was a rare occasion of insurance companies looking magnanimous. They were happy to set the record straight. So patients, the next time you or your loved one has decided that it’s time to leave the hospital, don’t let us doctors coerce you into staying by threatening you with the bill. Future Noras should feel empowered to set the record straight with their interns and residents. Most of all, the Ms. DiFazios of the world won’t have to submit to procedures they don’t wish to undergo. +

“

It’s a medical urban myth.

”

It’s probably safe to say that most of us are fascinated by surgeons. We often view them as the elite of the medical profession, and they have been (and still are) the subject of countless movies and even more long-running TV series. Adding to the mystery and allure, we don’t often get to know them. Some people go through life having few if any encounters with surgeons. Others have plenty of surgical scars, but every one of them was earned at a time when they were patients. At their best, they were feeling terrible, and at their worst they were somewhere between woozy and unconscious. In other words, their encounter took place when they weren’t exactly at their social best. Hence the appeal of books like this one, wherein a real-life surgeon, one of those largerthan-life characters, pulls back the curtain — and removes the mask — and lets us look over his shoulder while he goes about the very difficult and stressful job of saving lives and putting broken bodies back together. One of the stereotypes about surgeons is their famous egos. It must be admitted, being an

auto mechanic who works only on running engines would not be for the faint of heart, and neither is slicing into living beings in the midst of life and death situations. (And isn’t every surgery, even the most routine, a possible life and death situation?) Having said that, Paul Ruggieri certainly doesn’t pull the sheet over his lapses and failures. The book, after all, is subtitled, “The Good, The Bad, and The Complicated.” He tells stories about almost losing it, like the time he was urgently summoned from midsurgery to the emergency room, there to find a lifeless patient on a stretcher being subjected to rib-cracking CPR. When he saw

the empty stare on the face of the patient, a little blonde, blue-eyed boy, his emotions were shaken to their core. He writes in a non-technical, conversational manner, so this isn’t a book that requires a medical dictionary to navigate. It will imbue readers with a profound respect for the surgical profession. Consider the stunning complexity of the human machine for a moment, and then ponder the limitless ways by which we break and scramble irreplaceable parts, and how many ways there are for working parts to become nonworking parts. It’s a surgeon’s job to discover the problems and execute a repair plan, sometimes in mere seconds, sometimes with a life hanging in the balance. If the worst happens and they lose a patient and we or a loved one are next up on the operating table, we expect them to shake it off and be at their best for us. And we think they’re overpaid? +

Confessions of a Surgeon: The Good, The Bad, and The Complicated...Life Behind the O.R. Doors by Paul A. Ruggieri, M.D., 272 pages, published in January 2012 by Berkley Trade.

the

Clipping File More than a century of sleep deprivation How much sleep should your kids get? If you’re a typical parent your answer might be, “Whatever it is, my kids aren’t getting it.” You’re probably right. Official recommendations from experts vary, but over the past century they’ve been dropping, and so has the amount of sleep kids are actually getting. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 2-year-olds of 1897 were supposed to get 16 hours of sleep a night. A 1933 study recommended 12 hours of sleep a night for 5-year-olds. The guideline for the same age group in 1964 was 11 hours. In 2010 Harvard Medical School said 11.5 hours a night. Meanwhile, studies show that children are getting about 70 minutes less sleep today than they did a century ago. According to the National Sleep Foundation, kids aged 5 to 12 should get 10 to 11 hours

of sleep every night. Teenagers need between 9 and 10 hours. However, studies have revealed that 45 percent of adolescents aged 11 to 17 get less then 8 hours of sleep a night. For children, not getting enough sleep is associated with obesity, aggresive behavior and learning and memory issues, along with a higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety disorders later in life. The rolling ER In old movies, ambulances looked like they could double as family stationwagons when there was no emergency afoot. In 2012, ambulances can have more sophisticated equipment on board than a hospital emergency room did back in the days of black and white movies. That makes a huge difference when it comes to saving lives: survival rates for cardiac arrest patients transported by ambulance vary widely around

the country, says the WSJ, from higher than 16 percent in Seattle to a mere 3 percent in Alabama. Presumably that’s the difference between the quality of urban and rural EMS gear. Nationally, the pre-ER survival rate for cardiac arrest patients is a mere 10 percent, but the rate is getting better, thanks in part to more well-equipped ambulances. Wardrobe malfunctions Recent research has brought garment related health issues out of the closet. Neckties tied too tightly and shirt collars that are too small can cut circulation to the brain and increase introcular pressure; heels higher than 2 inches have been linked to all kinds of problems; bras that don’t fit are said to be worn by 75 percent of all women; new clothes that haven’t been washed before wearing can contain chemicals that cause contact dermatitis; skin-tight jeans and super-tight belts can contribute to digestive problems. +

+ 12

THE EXAMiNERS +

Where have you been?

MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

by Dan Pearson

At a birthday party for my boss. He’s a leap year baby.

No kidding?

but come to think Wow. Did you No, of it, he does act like know that an 8-year-old. before?

Yep. He only has a birthday every four years

PUZZLE

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

Click on “Reader Contests”

QUOTATION PUZZLE B E E H B S D F N L E N E I Y E L I A T I I I I I D N H S Y U S R S E N S H S O K N

S E D M E T

— Oscar Wilde

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above. 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

4 7 7 1 9 3

5 2 9

6 8 4 2

6 3 5

2 2 1

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 and entering unique and minimal choice numbers (such as 4 thru 7 in this puzzle). A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

R 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 I 1 2 3 4 5 6

P 1 2

3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 ’ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 — Henry J. Kaiser

1.DIYIFWWS 2.PHOOOONT 3.TERESURN 4.KNEERAT 5.LKR 6.FRS 7.U 8.P 9.T

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

The Mystery Word for this issue: RUSEUST

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM TO ENTER! 1

20 21 22 23 ACROSS 1. Vessel 24 25 5. Covered with water 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 10. Title of respect for God 14. Earth ____ 33 34 35 15. Norwegian name of 36 37 38 Norway 16. Precious 39 40 41 17. Indicating constant 42 43 44 temperature 19. Dell 45 46 20. Mr. Hogan 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 21. TV award 22. Drug prefix 54 55 56 57 24. Greek goddess of strife 58 59 60 25. Open pastry 26. Latin: “things to be done” 61 62 63 29. Pod by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com 33. Narrow openings 34. Small children 27. Hand cover 63. Promise invoking a higher 35. Level 28. Duck with soft down power 36. Message symbols 29. Nathan’s predecessor 37. Cranial cavity in Atlanta DOWN 38. Intellectual faculty 30. ____ Flu 1. Heart quivers, for short 39. Above 31. Inward feeling 2. Relaxation 40. Optical device 32. Finished 3. Prevention for 5-D 41. Tantalize 34. Rows one above another 4. Common URL ending 42. In education, after 37. Strumpet 5. Lacking in 3-D secondary 41. Spoil, contaminate 44. Unoriginal; repeated often 6. Hack golfer’s burn victims? 43. Partridge follower 7. Eisenhower sponsor 45. Fire _____ 44. Shuts 8. Campus govt. assn. 46. Flutter 46. Force upon 9. Powerless 47. Temporary fracture care 47. HIV and chlamydia 10. Progress 50. Before long 48. 2010 Masters champ 11. Golf’s Golden _______ 51. Breast cancer tool for 49. Ornamental fabric 12. Aromatic, healing ointment self-diagnosis 50. Murdered 13. CSRA word 54. “The pen is mightier” 51. Blocker lead-in 18. Groups of animals follow-up word 52. State of agitation 23. Did possess 55. Enrollment 53. Engrave with acid 24. Amused 58. Gaming cubes 56. Born 25. Unborn young 59. ASU Library 57. Bovine comment 26. Annual horse race in 60. Of the ear England 61. Iditarod vehicle 62. Gingrich, et al Solution p. 14

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

MARCH 2, 2012

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

You’re Invited

2012

... to the Ostomy Support Group meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month at Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Road. Next meeting:

MARCH

2012 MARCH

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS VETERANS CURATION PROGRAM

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A MEET & GREET FOR THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS VETERANS CURATION PROGRAM AUGUSTA LABORATORY WHERE: AUGUSTA VCP LABORATORY 3830 WASHINGTON ROAD SUITE 27 MARTINEZ, GA 30907 WHEN: FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012 AT YOUR LEISURE BETWEEN 10:00 A.M. AND 2:00 P.M.

The VCP provides vocational rehabilitation and innovative training for wounded and disabled veterans using archaeological collections administered by the Corps of Engineers. This event will provide you with a chance to meet the veterans and to learn more about the program.

OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP Monday, March 12 (and every 2nd Monday) 6:00 p.m. Food • Fellowship • Prizes (706) 798-5645 “There is life after getting an ostomy”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE VCP WEBPAGE AT: WWW. VETERANSCURATIONPROGRAM.ORG

MEDICAL EXAMINER AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

DIETITIAN… from page 9 you are in control of what’s in your food. When eating out, choose lower calorie menu options. • Be physically active your way: Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of physical activity every week. Choose activities that you enjoy, and start by doing as much as you can. Initiated in 1973 as a week-long event, “National Nutrition Week” became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing public interest in nutrition. Additionally, to commemorate the dedication of RDs as advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world, the second Wednesday of March has been designated “Registered Dietitian Day.” As part of this public education campaign, the Academy’s National Nutrition Month website includes a variety of helpful tips,

fun games, promotional tools and nutrition education resources, all designed to spread the message of good nutrition around the “Get Your Plate in Shape” theme. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org. + Author Cindy Elia, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. is the Nutrition Specialist for the CSRA Area Agency on Aging, your gateway to aging resources. Got a question? Drop us a line: info@AugustaRx.com.

The Patient’s Perspective by Marcia Ribble Dottie was confined to a wheelchair and quite restricted in her activities, but when my folks in our independent living group started to tell their stories, we discovered that she was very articulate and that her stories were compelling, so you’ll see her in this column repeatedly. She taught me an important lesson: that people, even when they appear to be non-functional or in a coma, are often more aware than we might otherwise believe. This is her story about reluctantly receiving her last rites. “So I’m in there, you see, in my body, but I can’t move and I can’t talk and they say that I’m dying and to bring in a priest for the last sacraments. I’m trying to tell them that I am not dying, but I can’t speak at all, so nobody knows I’m still alive inside. “I had a motorcycle accident and I guess it was pretty bad. I knew what was going on and I could hear everything and I was able to think and able to remember what I was thinking about, but not communicate. “It was a terrible, helpless feeling, to be so out of control of my body and my voice and to have other people making decisions for me. They didn’t know what I wanted and were doing everything wrong, but I couldn’t make them stop. I was getting angrier and angrier at them and I wanted to yell at them, ‘Dammit, I’m not dying. Take your last sacraments and get the hell out of here!’ [She giggles about being so cranky, finding it funny because nobody knew she was angry.] “I thought, if I could just move, I could throw something at them and get their attention, but nothing would move. I couldn’t even blink. Then I was mad at my body for not moving the way I wanted it to. “The worst of it was that nobody touched me, and nobody talked to me, as though I wasn’t even there. Eventually,

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

after a lot of therapy I started moving and then talking, and I had to relearn what I already knew. Then it was frustrating because I couldn’t make my body do what my mind was thinking. I knew many, many words that I couldn’t make my mouth say. When I became paralyzed it was like my body became a prison that restricted me from acting. Nobody seemed to understand how I felt. They wanted to put me in a group home, but my nephew took me home with him to stay. He didn’t coddle me either. He demanded that I get up and get dressed and handle getting myself to the bathroom. He’d come home at lunch and made sure I had eaten breakfast and would see to it that I had some lunch. In time, I regained almost all of my functions. “I was OK for a long time, and then I had a stroke which left me able to speak, but paralyzed. With only one hand and arm that work, I can’t cook. I would love to be able to make Christmas cookies again.” We found a way for her to make Christmas cookies again and we saved a few for our Christmas party, but the folks had as much fun eating them as she did making them. + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State University and recently retired from the University of Cincinnati where she taught composition. She has taught writing at the college level since 1985, and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc. at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR MEDICAL EXAMINER? +

At GHSU:

Among our GHSU stops, newsstands on Harper Street, in the lobby of the Children’s Medical Center, on Laney-Walker Blvd. across from the Student Center, just outside the South and West entrances to the hospital, and at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. +

+ 14

MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

...carefully hidden (in the bookcase) in the page 9 ad for PRESSTECH DIGITAL PRODUCTION CENTER Congratulations to Jody Bugg, 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 anything else we may be able to scrape together on short notice. Win this stuff! The new Mystery Word is on p. 12. Start looking!

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, ETC.

Townhouse, 1-car attached garage located off Pleasant Home Road $725 /mo 706-228-4655

HOUSE FOR SALE 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2-car garage. Off Dyess Pkwy near Ft. Gordon. $99,900. Call 706-3395548 or 706-210-4334

TOWNHOME 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhome. 2 master suites, like new, end unit with extra parking, single garage, covered patio, $125,000. 706-799-0394

TOWNHOME large furnished room (dresser, bed, night stand, linens) for rent with private bathroom in convenient and very nice neighborhood near Doctors Hosp. $445 a month includes utilities and Internet service. Please contact 706589-0238 ask for May.

SERVICES HOME HEALTH CHECK-UP Biological and chemical contamination will make you sick. Help your doctor! We Cure Sick Homes. 706-772-9898 www.commandonow.com

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST

APARTMENT One bedroom, one bath garage apartment, $595/mo. TOWNHOME Two bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome, $645/mo. Quiet West Augusta area. 706.951.3598 or 706.855.5986

...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, Cheddar’s, and movie passes from Health Center Credit Union!

TOWNHOUSE One bedroom townhome in Town Club on Berckman Road. Gated community with security system. Minutes from ASU. Gym & pool on site. Info: call 706-564-1107

SAY IT THE WRITE WAY Online editing, proofing, writing and drafting service. Visit http://sayitthewriteway.webs.com or email proofing-editing@live.com

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.

TOWNHOME Great location, everything new, 2 master suites, sunroom, all appliances. $98,000 (706) 504-4023

SPARKLING CLEAN Looking for offices to clean. No contract req. Husband & wife team have years experience and give FREE on-request estimates. Call 706.831.8552 or 706.831.8553

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED? USE THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT IN, OR GO TO WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM AND PLACE & PAY CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY ONLINE. THANKS!

Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

31612

LYNN’S CLEANING SERVICE over 20 years experience in the CSRA with an eye for detail. Call 706.833.2658 or email lynn_dubose@hotmail.com 1612

12012

21712

HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell • Buy • Rentals • 706.564.5885 WEST AUGUSTA Luxury 3 BR / 2 BA

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

.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00

4.25

4.50

4.75

5.00

5.25

5.50

5.75

6.00

6.25

6.50

6.75

7.00

7.25

7.50

7.75

8.00

8.25

8.50

8.75

9.00

(Copy this form or continue on additional sheet if more space needed.)

Send this form with payment to:

AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER, PO BOX 397, AUGUSTA, GA 30903-0397 Total ad cost by number of words as shown above: $

CAREGIVER/COMPANION Need a ride to the doctor, store, etc. or someone to come in to visit and help you. Great References, reasonable rates. Call (706) 589-1698 or email msmagic4@yahoo.com.

WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE?

A W A

R M A

(OURS IS COFFEE)

E M M Y S

T E

T M

E W T

SEE PAGE 12

QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “He has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends.” — Oscar Wilde

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .50

PERSONAL TRAINER Certified by United States Sports Academy in Science of Bodybuilding and Strength Training for Athletes. Significant improvements for all sports at all ages. Natural techniques for relief of all common sports-related injuries employing positioning and myofascial release. Rapid recovery and strength gains. One free session to 1st 10 applicants. E-mail Hme3065805@aol.com or call 803-257-5421

In case we need to contact you. These numbers will not appear in the ad.

.25

LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential. Call Vince: (704) 490-1005

THE PUZZLE SOLVED

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING FORM Name Address Work number (if applicable) ( ) Home phone ( ) Category of ad (leave blank if unsure):

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.

The Sudoku Solution

COFFEE IS GOOD MEDICINE VISIT DRUGOFCHOICECOFFEE.COM FOR YOUR REFILLS TODAY

WORDS BY NUMBER “When your work speaks for itself don’t interrupt.” — Henry J. Kaiser

Multiply by number of times ad to run: x Total submitted: $

The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 5 days prior to our publication date.

Thanks for reading!

www.AugustaRx.com

school stuff — like shoes. The items in the boxes were donated by the students and their parents. “I want to personally thank all the teachers, students and parents for participating in such an amazing project,” says GHSU Cancer Center’s Marsha Fox. “Thank you for instilling in your children at an early age to think of others and giving freely with an open heart. Our patients have absolutely loved the boxes. The boxes have been the brightest part of the day for so many patients and that is priceless.” +

Voted “BEST BARBER SHOP” by the readers of Augusta Magazine

Daniel Village Barber Shop 2522 Wrightsboro Road

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WITH THIS AD. NO EXPIRATION DATE! WANT EVEN MORE OFF? NAME IT! EXAMPLE: “I’D LIKE 75% OFF, BUT ONLY ABOUT 60% OFF AROUND THE EARS.” OUR SCISSORS ARE STANDING BY!

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R ES

BOXES… from page 16

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

SUTU

MARCH 2, 2012

+ 16

MARCH 2, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Love comes in boxes

Really, it does. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that, just ask Cary Kata and a couple hundred other cancer patients at Georgia Health Sciences Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cancer Center. While undergoing time-consuming chemotherapy treatments, these patients are the beneficiaries of a great little project undertaken in late 2010 by 2nd grade teacher Cassandra Davis at C.T. Walker Elementary School. Mrs. Davis and her students wanted to do something for cancer patients. Marsha Fox, an RN in the infusion area, and a couple of patients made a presentation at the school, helping kids understand what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to have cancer and to work in the field of oncology at a cancer treatment center. From those encounters was born a project to make boxes for patients containing a collection of useful goodies: a typical box might contain a pair of socks, a hat, gloves, hard candy or mints, kleenex, hand sanitizer, pens, a puzzle book, cookies/crackers and a hand made card. Thanks to Mrs. Davis, this year the project took off again to the tune of 250 boxes made by 1st and 6th grade classes at C.T. Walker. Kids started collecting shoe boxes when school started, since the beginning of the school year is when everyone is buying back to Please see BOXES page 15

SOLID

RECOGNIZES

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Â&#x2021; )L[HG UDWH DQG DGMXVWDEOH UDWH ORDQV ZLWK LQWHUHVW RQO\ RSWLRQV Â&#x2021; &RPSHWLWLYH SULFLQJ DQG VSHFLDO UHODWLRQVKLS GLVFRXQWV For more information, contact me today: Steve Griffin VP/Mortgage Loan Consultant 706.855.4092 Office 706.564.2557 Cell 4212 Washington Road Evans, GA 30809

Folks like Cary Kata are enjoying care packages made by C.T. Walker students for patients in the chemotherapy infusion area at GHSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cancer Center. (Medical Examiner photos by H+D Photography)

steve.griffin@suntrust.com suntrustmortgage.com/sgriffin

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