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Dummies dying at alarming rate Actually, they’re not all dummies. Some of them are innocent victims who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever the reasons, it’s suddenly 1966 all over again on America’s highways: 2015 saw the steepest rise in highway fatalities since Lyndon Johnson was president, ending a 5-decade trend of decline. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the new figures, which show a 7.2 percent jump in fatalities last year as compared with 2014. The last time there was a single-year jump of that magnitude was in the aforementioned 1966,

It hasn’t been this dangerous to be a dummy since 1966.

which saw an 8.1 percent jump compared with 1965. What’s behind the increase? NHTSA blames the jump on “job growth and low fuel prices” which led to increased driving, including more liesure driving. They say all vehicle miles traveled in 2015 rose 3.5 percent over 2014, “the largest increase in nearly 25 years.” We beg to differ. Granted, NHTSA people are the experts, but in the same way guns don’t kill people, low gas prices don’t kill people; people kill people. Lurking in all the voluminous data typical of any government report are a couple of smoking guns spotted by our Research Department here at Medical Examiner World Headquarters. One chart was entitled “Percentage Change by Human Choice Category, 2014-2015.” Human choice accidents are those in which a conscious choice by the driver led to death, as opposed to, say, brakes failing, for instance. Guess what behavior was the #1 increase in human choice errors? If you guessed “DistractionAffected Fatalities,” give yourself a gold star. That category was almost twice as high as the second-place reason, failure to wear a seat belt. Another table revealed changes in who did the dying in 2015 compared to 2014. The #1 demographic in the highway fatality department: drivers under 16, up 12.4 percent from a year ago. Other teen categories were also high. Look around you in traffic and you’ll notice plenty of 30- and 40-somethings staring at phone screens while hurtling down the highway; teenagers have no monopoly on this perilous and reckless trend. They just happen to combine this bad habit with a serious lack of experience behind the wheel. There is no cure for inexperience other than experience. But surely that experience can be gained — no matter our age — without becoming yet another distracted driving statistic. +

Salubrious Letters This issue begins a new 26-part series looking at topics related to those three little words you see above running across the top of every Medical Examiner front page: health, medicine, wellness. We drew straws and the letter A won the right to start the series. What health-related topic starting with A did we choose? Turn to page 2 to find out. +

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There has been big news in The World of A this month. As you may have heard, on September 2 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of many antibacterial soaps, citing clinical data proving that their limited benefits are far outweighed by their risks. “Antibacterial,” as it turns out, was more a marketing buzzword than a scientifically proven fact. The FDA noted that soaps containing one or more of 19 now-banned active ingredients did more harm than good, particularly when looking at the larger picture: the environment. The chemicals left the hand soap pump or soap bar and traveled out into the wide world, finding their way into

groundwater, into breast milk and the bodies of newborn babies, into the bloodstream and into soil. The CDC says the antibacterial chemicals can be found in the urine of 75 percent of all Americans. One of the main offenses the FDA and public health experts

accuse antibacterial soaps, wipes and cleaners of causing are drug-resistant infections. It seems germs know all about the old proverb, “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” But it goes beyond that: chemical germ killers can interfere with human metabolism and development of the reproductive system and can “scramble” hormones in children. The main offending chemicals are triclosan and triclocarban, ingredients the FDA asked manufacturers to justify as being both safe and effective. The convincing proof never came. The good news: washing with plain old soap and water is more effective than antibacterial soap anyway. +

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The

PROFILES IN MEDICINE

Advice Doctor

presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

The Dean of Deans

t might be difficult to imagine a major medical teaching institution whose entire faculty, staff and student body added together totaled exactly one person, but that very thing happened right here in Augusta in the mid1960s. The institution was MCG’s just-established School of Dentistry. The year was 1965. Yes, nineteen-sixtyfive. That date is noteworthy because the school was fi rst proposed in 1868. The idea was to be discussed in future meetings. Far, far future meetings as it turned out. In fact, Augusta University’s official history doesn’t show the topic surfacing again for nearly another 30 years, not until around the turn of the century. The idea came up in passing again in 1937, only to vanish for another couple of decades. Finally in 1960, the idea of a dental school in Augusta started to gather momentum, and the Board

Jud C. Hickey, DDS of Regents approved its establishment in 1965. No one could ever accuse MCG of impetuously rushing into the idea of starting a dental school. By 1966, Dr. Judson Hickey was appointed as the school’s founding Dean. He was recruited from the University of Kentucky, where he had served as Assistant Dean of their dental school. And the rest is history, right? Well, not really. One man does not

an institution of higher learning make, but in 1966, that’s all the School of Dentistry had. “I met him when he fi rst came,” recalls Augusta dentist Doug Clepper, “when the School of Dentistry was just him. He put the whole thing together. He came to Mercer University to recruit students and spoke to a chemistry class I happened to be in.” Augusta dentists like Clepper, T. Barrett Trotter and Phil Miller answered the call and became part of the school’s very fi rst graduating class in 1973. But getting to the point of handing out those first diplomas wasn’t easy. Without a man of Jud Hickey’s caliber at the helm it might have never happened. “The Georgia Dental Association in Atlanta opposed the establishment of the dental school here,” says Dr. Tom Zwemer who, along with Dr. Louie Boucher, were recruited by Please see PROFILES page 10

Editor’s note: this is the fifth installment in a monthly series presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust and the Medical Examiner profiling exceptional physicians and others of note in Augusta’s long and rich medical history.

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+ Dear Advice Doctor, I met a guy who seemed perfectly nice from a distance and even in casual contact. He was a real charmer — until we officially started dating, and then he turned into a possessive control freak. I broke up with him after he repeatedly assured me he would change, and of course never did. The break-up didn’t go well. He got violent. To make matters worse, I bump into him fairly often. Every time I see him I break out in a cold sweat, wondering if he’s going to explode. If I get a restraining order, is it likely to make him mad and just make things worse? — Should I Restrain from Restraining? Dear Should I Restrain, It may not seem like a significant symptom, but a cold sweat can actually signal some very serious issues that could require immediate medical attention. Among the laundry list of possible causes of cold, clammy skin: shock, heart attack, heat exhaustion, severe allergic reactions, internal bleeding, severe pain, and low blood oxygen levels. The cause in each specific case determines the appropriate response and treatment, but when in doubt do the safe thing and call 911. Among the indications that 911 is the route to take include if the person is experiencing confusion, altered thinking ability, or a lowered level of consciousness, such as someone who can’t be roused. On the other hand, cases of heat exhaustion can sometimes be treated by moving the person to a cool area. If they are conscious and can swallow, have them drink plenty of fluids. If you think the person is in shock, lie the person on his back and elevate the feet and legs about 12 inches. Call 911. In any case where symptoms do not improve or even worsen, take the person to an emergency room or call 911 right away. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in Examiner issues.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

#29 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

OLD NEWS +

POINTS OF INTEREST TO FORMER KIDS by Trisha Whisenhunt, Senior Citizens Council

THE 5 THINGS DYING PEOPLE REGRET MOST

his woman literally gave her life for her career in science and medicine — a career marked by discoveries that are a significant part of the fabric of the Augusta area. Her discoveries are part of what makes Plant Vogtle tick, critical to the workings of SRS, and part of the treatment for every patient whose cancer requires radiation. Yes, this is Marie Curie, one of the most celebrated scientists of all time: she was the fi rst woman to win a Nobel Prize, the fi rst and only woman to win two Nobels, and the only person, man or woman, to win twice in different scientific disciplines. Her fi rst Nobel Prize, awarded in 1903 and shared with her husband Pierre and Henri Becquerel, was in Physics; in 1911 she won a second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry. All told, five members of the Curie family have won the Nobel Prize, widely regarded as the most prestigious honor awarded in medicine, physics, and chemistry (plus literature, economics and peace prizes). Aside from Marie and Pierre, their oldest daughter, Iréne Joliot-Curie, and her husband Frédéric won the Chemistry Prize in 1935; and Henry Labouisse (husband of Eve Curie, Marie and Pierre’s second daughter) was the Director of UNICEF when it won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965. Nobel Prizes were far from the only accolades showered upon Marie Curie during her lifetime, but she maintained her focus on what the awards were about: her research. Albert Einstein said of her, “Marie Curie is, of all celebrated beings, the only one whom fame has not corrupted.” She was known for her modesty and honesty. In 1893, for example, she was awarded a modest scholarship. By 1897 she was earning her own way, so she repaid the entire scholarship. Most of the 1903 Nobel Prize money was given to friends, family, students, and research assistants. Subsequent winnings, although substantial, were given to the scientific institutions with which she was affi liated rather than being kept by her. She refused to patent the element-isolating processes she developed in order to make additional research more easily accessible to others in the scientific community. In 1898, Curie and her husband discovered and isolated a previously unknown radioactive element she named polonium in honor of Poland, her birthplace. Later that year they announced the discovery of a second element which they named radium. They coined the term “radioactivity,” and were the fi rst to discover that when exposed to radium, diseased, tumor-forming cells were destroyed faster than healthy cells. Pierre Curie met a tragic end at only 46 years of age when he was run over by a horse-drawn cart on a Paris street in 1906. He was killed instantly when one of the wheels ran over his head, fracturing his skull. Marie, born in 1867, died on July 4, 1934 at age 66, a victim of years of radiation exposure. To this day, her research papers are too dangerous to handle and are kept in lead-lined boxes. She was the fi rst woman buried on her own merits in the Panthéon, the Paris mausoleum holding the remains of many of France’s most distinguished citizens. +

once asked a nurse I knew why the elderly slept so much. She said, “Often the reason is depression brought on by regret. They don’t want to think about it, so they sleep.” Most of us have a regret or two and as we age, they can come creeping back to haunt us if we allow it. To determine what people most often regret, Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse with a blog called “Inspiration and Chai,” has compiled recordings of some of her dying patients’ biggest regrets in their final moments. Her intent and hope is that it will help people live their lives in better and more fulfi lled way. The following is what she heard most often.

spending more time with their children. 3. The courage to express feelings. Many said they wished they had spoken up for themselves, expressed an opinion or had given advice. 4. Distance between old friends. As we age, we realize the value of real friends. Letting friendships fade away through distance and time was a significant source of sadness and loneliness for many. 5. Loss of happiness. While happiness is a choice we all make (or don’t), being fearful of change can hamper one’s ability to reach for what

is truly wanted. Pretending to others they were content when they really wanted to let go of the life they had and try to find real happiness through a fresh start was a deep regret for many. It occurs to me this list may be governed by the age group it represents. What these elderly patients regreted may not be on the list of the next generation or the generation following them. People and times change and so do values. This topic is certainly not up-beat, but serves as an important introspective on how we may be able to make changes now to improve our lives and allow us to peacefully meet the end of our time here by being happier and more content with our choices. Why wait to do the things that make us happy? Take a chance. Reach out. Spend the money. Go. I have heard it said that it is the things we don’t do that we regret most. +

1. Not being true to self. Pleasing others instead of doing what one really wants in life, i.e., the type of work one chooses, whether to marry and have children or not, and where to live. 2. Working too hard. A great many men listed this one. Most often they voiced regretting missing out on

MYTH OF THE MONTH Caffeine is not for kids! It will stunt their growth. If this was actually true, it might be a good thing. Alas, it’s another myth. You might even say the opposite is true: for kids, caffeine accelerates their growth, but not in a good way. When adults think of caffeine, coffee might come to mind first. For kids, however, it’s a completely different delivery system, and it is not one they associate with caffeine: sodas and energy drinks. Red Bull, Mountain Dew, Mellow Yellow, Pepsi, Mr. Pibb, Coke and dozens of other popular drinks deliver lots of caffeine. Some energy drinks pack as much caffeine into a single serving as four or five cups of coffee. But no one ever has ever claimed caffeine is

fattening. That’s because it isn’t. No, what is making kids grow — sometimes outward at least as much as upward, it seems — is the sugar packed into these popular drinks. Cherry Coke, for example, has nearly nine teaspoons of sugar per serving. One can of Red Bull has more than a third of an entire day’s recommended limit on sugar. Not a healful option for anyone. For the record, kids can process caffeine as well as an adult. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road, Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW res? ABOUT THE CROOK VERSUS THE KOOK.

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t is the era of politics where someone always wants to make you think the way they think. TV is full of misleading ads designed to get our money or get your vote so a certain politician can get your money. Presently, we have Hillary Clinton telling us Donald Trump is a dangerous, reactionary kook. And we have Donald Trump telling us Hillary Clinton is a liar and crooked and the law does not apply to her. (And maybe she is above the law. Martha Stewart lied to the FBI and served 6 months in prison.) The trouble is that there is some truth to each of those statements. Hillary does lie, no doubt about that. All that stuff she said about not sending classified documents was a lie according to the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (but not according to Hillary). The FBI director also said Hillary was “extremely careless.” And Trump is a reactionary, no doubt about that either. He says what he thinks, immediately. He is not bound by political correctness. Hillary’s campaign is based on “Can you trust Trump with the nuclear code?” And “Let’s get stronger together.” What does that mean? Stronger at what? What has she ever

done that has helped “us”? Does she understand who “us” is? She claimed to have left the White House “broke.” Then after 8 years and being Secretary of State, the Clinton Foundation has about $200,000,000 and according to some talking heads on TV, pays her daughter $900,000 a year. Yeah, that really sounds like “us.” I guess I just forgot to pay my daughter $900,000 last year. Donald Trump wants to “Make America Great Again.” Does he know how? His father gave him $1 million to go into the real estate business in New York. He went to work. He turned it into $1 billion. Not bad for a reactionary who flies off the handle. But at least he worked for it. He did not get it from foreign government donations. Hillary is a lawyer and skilled at compromise. Hillary would have a better, more polished presence on the world stage. She is more skilled at giving speeches that may or may not mean anything. But do our enemies fear Hillary? NO! Trump is a businessman who understands that to win, you have to win. Trump is more bombastic and less predictable. Our enemies do not know what he might do. Do our enemies fear him? YES! Do career

t s e B politicians fear him? YES! Who can be bought? Or has already been bought? Hillary is accustomed to getting “donations” for political services rendered... or to be rendered. She has control of $200 million. But if elected, she says she will stop that, so she says. Trump is accustomed to carrying out business transactions that yield a profit. He has $1 billion. That he worked for. He had no political favors to sell. So how do I relate to these two? I can’t. Their numbers are over my head. I have to decide who do I trust to manage our government, which is the biggest business in the world. What do I do come election day? I could chose a lawyer who has never run a business or made a payroll, whose stock in trade is smooth delivery of nice speeches (but not as good as her husband’s) and who has a frozen, plastic

e n i c i d ME

smile that would make a Miss America judge’s heart palpitate. A woman who was a major player in the Obama Administration. Remember that Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize shortly after being elected even though we were in two wars then and have been at war ever since, with no end in sight. I could chose a flamboyant businessman with a strange haircut who does not mind being politically incorrect. A man who would follow FDR’s great example: Speak softly and carry a big stick. A man who would draw a line in the sand for our enemies and if they cross it, there would be hell to pay. But you say Trump might start a war. What do you think we are in now? If it ain’t war, why do we keep getting dead soldiers in flag-draped coffins back from the Middle East

and keep expending huge amounts of money on military operations? So if I borrow the custom of using derogatory terms for the opponent’s campaign, it boils down to this: do you want Hillary the Crook? Or Trump the Kook? Do you want a successful professional career politician? Or a successful professional career businessman? Given those as our only two choices, I lean toward a new face who scares the hell out of business-as-usual thinkers all over the world. Assuming that Hillary is a crook and Trump is a kook, give me the kook. At least things will be different. And I don’t think they can get much worse than they are now. + Bad Billy Laveau is a formerlyretired MD who wields a pointed sense of humor - and now, tongue depressors too. He speaks and entertains at events for audiences not subject to cardiac arrest secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee. BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397.

F REE T AKE-HO ME CO PY!

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat LGBT HEALTH by Jasmine Rivas My title makes the acronym student’s personal beliefs or LGBT sound like a disease. opinions are, the reality is, they The truth is, LGBT people get will work with LGBT patients. diseases, they get sick, they The primary issue ensues when worry about their health and the physician fails to ask the have concerns and doubts– right questions, correctly. The just like people who lead saying, “it’s not what you say, heterosexual or asexual lives. but how you say it” holds true We are all human and we all here. Questions like, “Have seek the opinion and advice of you ever had sex?” and “Do medical professionals when our you practice safe sex?’are not well-being is concerned. likely to be answered honestly So what is the problem? by a concerned patient who The problem is that the already feels judged by society. majority of LGBT people, Questions such as, “How often especially youth, are too do you have sex with men or apprehensive to be honest, or women” and, “what kinds of even worse, aren’t being asked safety measures do you take to the right questions during avoid contracting or spreading a doctor’s visit. Just today, STIs [sexually transmitted during my first ICM lab, we infections]? ” are key. A were taught how to complete physician should never assume a full patient history. We were a patient only has sex with the reminded of the importance opposite gender. of asking the right questions, As more and more LGBT being thorough and complete. people come to accept and Medical students come from embrace their sexuality, all backgrounds, both ethnic doctors will need to be and religious. Despite what the educated on LGBT health. The

WE’RE BEGGING YOU!

ethical and humane approach to treating patients, without judgment, however, is crucial. If a patient does not feel comfortable speaking to his/ her doctor, important questions might not be answered; and even worse, compliance with the prescribed treatment plan could be adversely affected. Student Doctor Jasmine Rivas’ Checklist for Doctors & Medical Students Treating LGBT Patients: • First and foremost, remain non-judgmental during each patient visit. • If a patient confides in you with personal information, do not share it. • Not all LGBT patients have “come out” or are emotionally ready to do so. • Have mental health therapist referrals available. • Ask questions to ensure the patient is not depressed to the point of hurting themselves or others. • Take the time to self-educate

on the topic of “coming out” and know how to guide and advise pediatric patients and their families (as well as adult patients. • Put aside personal or religious beliefs and maintain a professional and compassionate demeanor throughout the visit • Be sensitive but thorough when asking if the patient practices safe sex. • Describe the various “modes of sex.” • Acknowledge that “sex” means different things to different people. • Encourage all patients to practice safe sex by reviewing potential risks that could be avoided • Persuade all sexually active patients to learn their HIV status and get tested; as well as STIs in general • Gain knowledge of the problem of substance abuse and alcoholism in the LGBT community, and know when to refer a patient for counseling/ rehab

• Know of, and explain, the current health risks for lesbian/ bisexual women (higher rates of cervical and ovarian cancer), and gay/bisexual men (higher risk for Hepatitis A, Hepatitus B, HIV and meningitis) and the vaccines available • Include the option for transgender, next to male or female on patient information forms • When a patient checks “transgender” on a first-time visit form, know how to address the patient, treat the patient, and to which specialist to refer the patient, if needed • Provide proper reproductivemedicine specialist referrals for LGBT couples interested in having children. + by Jasmine Rivas, a third year medical student at University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Feel free to contact her with questions or feedback: jrivas@umhssk.net

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re you a New Year’s resolution fan? Or a resolution hater? Both sides in this annual discussion have their valid points. On the negative side, by the time you read this many carefully made resolutions may have already slipped a little. Statistically, by this date (January 9) 25 percent of all resolutions have already gone down in flames; that many usually fail within the first week. By the six-month mark the failure rate is about half. And by this time next year, the wreckage of 88 percent of all those shiny new intentions of last week’s New Year’s Day 2015 will lie strewn across the landscape. On the plus side, that means a fairly decent 12 percent of all resolutions are achieved after a full year. Building on that positive note, making New Year’s resolutions is evidence of one of the finest aspects of human nature — that we continuously evaluate ourselves and constantly strive to improve, to be better husbands or wives, better moms and dads, better employees, better bosses, and just better human beings. The typical resolutions reflect those basic desires: the #1 resolution every year is always some form of better health. Lose weight. Get more exercise. Eat less junk food or fast food. Eat less, period. Quit smoking. Drink less, or quit altogether.

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M A Measurable

Achievable

You really can’t fault anyone for such noble goals. After all, health is the ultimate wealth. It’s the currency that makes every other endeavor in life possible. Speaking of currency, improving finances is, broadly speaking, the second most popular resolution category. Common examples include establishing and/or sticking to a budget; saving more; cutting impulse buys; getting a better job, a raise, or a promotion. The third-most common resolutions might be categorized as self-improvement: read more; temper control/ anger management; reduce or manage stress; watch less TV; get more education: learn a new language, skill, or hobby; improve your marriage and other personal relationships, and so forth. All of these are worthy goals. They are well worth pursuing, even if that means getting past occasional setbacks. Since failure is always an option, it’s good to expect it and be ready to keep making progress. There is nothing magical about January 1. If you haven’t made some kind of self-improvement goal, it’s never too late. If you’ve started and failed already, restarts are always allowed. Whatever you set your sights on, keep the letters shown below in mind, as well as what they stand for. Please see RESOLVED page 2

Relevant

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Prefer paper? We’re all over town. If you prefer our digital version, we’re all over the world. The Medical Examiner is always available on your favorite device at ISSUU.COM/ MEDICALEXAMINER or at the Medical Examiner blog (www.AugustaRx.com/news) on issue dates. Click directly from any Examiner page directly to websites listed in ads and articles. You can easily view back issues, too. +

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. Tell us if you want it “by you” or if it needs to be anonymous. Thanks!

Read the Examiner — and lots more — online at AugustaRx.com/news

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girls Eat Clean Tomato Jam — The Perfect Condiment Here is something deliciously new and different: Tomato Jam! Well, maybe it’s not “new,” since tomato jam has been around for many years. I believe its origin was from the Mediterranean area, but it was also popular here in the mid-1900s due to all the preserving and canning that was done during that era. We Southerners love to can and preserve, don’t we? This fabulous condiment is so versatile, both sweet and savory. We use this as a topping on a grass-fed beef, turkey or veggie burger. It is the perfect alternative instead of ketchup that is loaded down with high fructose corn syrup. Tomato jam is much healthier than ketchup and more flavorful too. This recipe does have a bit of sugar, but it’s not nearly the amount that you will find in most ketchup brands. With football season kicking off, this jam would be perfect to add to your tailgating menu. Tomato Jam is a also a great appetizer when served with goat cheese and crostini or whole grain crackers. It is fabulous on toasted sprouted grain or gluten free bread and served with a veggie frittata for breakfast as well. Enjoy!

Tomato Jam or approximately 35-45 minutes. Once the tomato mixture is a jam consistency, remove from heat and stir in the parsley. Allow to cool and serve or store in the refrigerator in an air tight container up to two weeks. + Alisa Rhinehart is half of the blog southerngirlseatclean. 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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Instructions: In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium to high heat. Place the sliced onions in the saucepan and cook, stirring often for approximately 5-8 minutes until the onions have softened. Add the crushed garlic to the pan with the onions and cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and place all of the other ingredients into the saucepan except for the chopped fresh parsley. Continue to cook, stirring often until most all of the liquid has been reduced,

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Looking for Likes in all the right places.

Pharma cy 4 11 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.

HELPING YOUR PHARMACY TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOU

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he pharmacy in today’s world in a fast-paced land where pharmacists, technicians and customer service personnel all have multiple issues going on at the same time. This being said, it sometimes does not allow us as long to chat with our patients as we would like. Since time is in short supply for any one specific issue, it becomes more important than ever that we work together to take care of your healthcare. I will apologize up front for anything that might seem like complaining and griping about our patients. That is not my intention. Calling in your refills may seem like a simple task, but we see so many times when taking a patient’s refills ends up being a time-consuming process. The patient calls with their bottles in hand and waits to get the pharmacist or technician on the phone to then say that they can’t read the numbers on the bottles and hold on while they go turn on a light, go get their glasses from another room or walk to another room where there is a light. Our question, “Can you tell me what you need?” is sometimes a wasted breath because all the patient will give us is “You know what I need!” or that they don’t know what they are taking except that it is a little white tablet. Unfortunately, this patient is on twelve medicines of which half are white round tablets of approximately the same size. We may get as much as, “It’s the one I take in the evening,” but one time I got that answer about a blood pressure medicine and all that person’s prescriptions were once a day, so which of your three blood pressure medicines do you take in the morning and which do you take in the evening? I certainly don’t know. I’ve asked a patient if a certain refill was needed since it was three months past due for refill and needed to be taken every day, only to receive a wave of the hand and “Whatever” as a reply. Sad to say, in today’s fast-paced pharmacy environment there is little time for patient to call just because they want to tell someone about their family member’s or friend’s latest milestone or achievement that has nothing to do with the pharmacy. We regret that we do not have time to take a more involved role in each of our patient’s lives, but we must try to deal with all of our patient’s healthcare needs first and carry on personal conversations later. So please keep phone calls on a professional level.

So how can we all work together to accomplish all of our healthcare needs? Let’s start with be prepared. After all, it’s not just for boy scouts. Anyone calling in refills or checking to see if a prescription is ready needs to be prepared before calling so that as little time is wasted as possible. This allows us time to address everyone’s concerns, as well as having time to fill the refills you just called in as quickly as possible. Another helpful action is to call ahead so that work can be triaged and emergency prescriptions can be bumped to the front of the line and not be stuck behind a line of waiting prescriptions. People who call when they are turning off the road into the pharmacy parking lot and wonder why their prescriptions are not ready three minutes later are a source of frustration for pharmacy staff. Not calling ahead also prevents children’s prescriptions for antibiotics from being ready as quickly as is possible. So let’s help each other out and be considerate of each other and our mutual needs. Another way to help your pharmacy is to learn your medicines. This includes what each one is used to treat and what the name is for each one. We all know you may be an expert at pronunciation of drug names but that does not mean that some knowledge will not help you, your pharmacy and your doctors keep you healthier. One last reminder: Although frustrating insurance issues occur for us all regularly, try to remain calm at the pharmacy. Every day we have people come in that are already irate before they ever enter the pharmacy. When we ask for needed information the result is eye rolls and grumbling, which accomplishes nothing but putting everyone in a bad mood. It also hinders conveying needed information about the prescriptions to the patient. Let’s all try to be positive and encourage productive dialogue. In the end your healthcare can only be improved by the above actions. + 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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SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Ask a Dietitian

WE ARE OVERHEAD DOOR. (AND WHENEVER NECESSARY, OVERHEAD DOORS.)

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FAQ by Kati Leonard, MS, RD, LD

ear Dietitian, I have noticed that now almost all the grocery stores have a separate section for “organic foods.” Can you please explain what makes a food “organic?”

Certified organic products are those which have been produced, stored, processed, handled and marketed in accordance with precise technical specifications and certified as “organic” by a certification body. It is important to note that an organic label applies to the production process, ensuring that the product has been produced and processed in an ecologically sound manner. Since October 2002, organic regulations under the USDA National Organic Program have been in effect. This means there are a uniform set of organic production, processing, and labeling standards across the United States. Anyone who sells a product as “organic” is required by law to be certified. USDA oversees implementation of the Rule through its National Organic Program but does not certify organic operations itself. It accredits independent certifiers to certify growers and processors on USDA’s behalf. Organic farmers build healthy soils by nourishing the living component of the soil, the microbial inhabitants that release, transform, and transfer nutrients. Soil organic matter contributes to good soil structure and water-holding capacity. Organic farmers feed soil biota and build soil structure and waterholding capacity. Organic farmers build soil organic matter with cover crops, compost, and biologically based soil amendments. These produce healthy plants that are better able to resist disease and insect predation. Organic farmers’ primary strategy in controlling pests and diseases is prevention through good plant nutrition and management. Organic farmers use cover crops and sophisticated crop rotations to manage the field ecology, effectively disrupting habitat for weeds, insects, and disease organisms. Weeds are

controlled through crop rotation, mechanical tillage, and hand-weeding, as well as through cover crops, mulches, flame weeding, and other management methods. Organic farmers rely on a diverse population of soil organisms, beneficial insects, and birds to keep pests in check. When pest populations get out of balance, growers implement a variety of strategies such as the use of insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers. Under the National Organic Program Rule, growers are required to use sanitation and cultural practices fi rst before they can resort to applying a material to control a weed, pest or disease problem. Use of these materials in organic production is regulated, strictly monitored, and documented. As a last resort, certain botanical or other nonsynthetic pesticides may be applied. Organic meat, dairy products, and eggs are produced from animals that are fed organic feed and allowed access to the outdoors. They must be kept in living conditions that accommodate the natural behavior of the animals. Ruminants must have access to pasture. Organic livestock and poultry may not be given antibiotics, hormones, or medications in the absence of illness; however, they may be vaccinated against disease. Parasiticide use is strictly regulated. Livestock diseases and parasites are controlled primarily through preventative measures such as rotational grazing, balanced diet, sanitary housing, and stress reduction. Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system. Please see ORGANIC page 10

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

PROFILES… from page 3 Hickey as Associate Deans. At that time there was an independent dental school in Atlanta that had been accredited since WWII, recalls Zwemer. “They wanted to be affiliated with a university. Georgia State said no. Emory said yes, but on the condition that the dental school would carry its own financial load. They agreed, but when a new Emory president came on board a few years later he discovered the dental school was costing Emory a million dollars a year. He gave them three years to correct the problem. A year and a half later no progress had been made,” so before the threeyear ultimatum expired, the agreement between Emory and the dental school was history. “Along about that time Governor Carl Sanders said Georgia needed a dental school and it needed to be affi liated with a medical school.” That meant MCG. “Find a dean,” Sanders said. The search led to Kentucky, where a man was found that could not have been better suited to the immense task of organizing an entire school completely from scratch. As Dr. Zwemer once said of Hickey, “There is not another

Yankee who could come to Georgia and build a dental school that the Georgia Dental Association did not want and end up having the Georgia Dental Association love him and honor him.” It seems that virtually everyone who knew Jud Hickey loved him and respected him. If that isn’t true, his detractors are a very shy and quiet group. Hickey oversaw the growth of the school from its fledgling days in portable buildings to the day in 1971 when the school moved into its brand new $7 million home at the corner of 15th and Laney Walker Blvd. He would no doubt be amazed at the school’s growth and its current $100 million quarters (above). But bricks and mortar, important though they may be, were never Dr. Hickey’s ultimate goal. On that point he made quite a telling observation near the end of his career. Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, the former Surgeon General of the United States, served as president of the Medical College of Georgia from 1983 to 1987. Upon his resignation, Hickey was appointed as MCG’s acting president. He was quoted by the Augusta Chronicle as saying, “The

Augusta University’s School of Dental Medicine has come a long way since its birth in 1965. most important single ingredient in the success of an academic health center is a genuine concern for the well-being of people. A true empathy for human beings will be the overriding theme of my brief administration.” That noble philosophy could certainly be applied in greater measure today. Unfortunately, the Jud Hickey story has a bittersweet ending. After Francis Tedesco was appointed MCG’s sixth president in 1988, Hickey retired. “We had planned to do a lot of traveling,” recalls his wife, Jean. “We took one trip — it was the fi rst and the last. He just was not as astute as he had been. I noticed a difference in his mind. He went through all kinds of tests at MCG and they diagnosed him as having

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Alzheimer’s.” As Alzheimer’s tends to do, it got progressively worse. Jean was unable to care for him on her own or with help from their children, so eventually Dr. Hickey became a patient at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. (He had been a Landing Craft skipper in the Pacific during WWII.) He died on October 24, 2004. That’s the bitter part. The sweet part is, that’s not the end of the story. Not even close. The legacy of Judson C. Hickey is alive and well in a number of ways. For starters, there’s still a Judson Hickey practicing dentistry in Augusta. Jud and Jean’s son Judson S. Hickey is a periodontist with an office on Central Avenue. For those in the dental profession, particularly in

education and research, it’s quite an honor to win the Judson C. Hickey Scientific Writing Award. For more than two decades it has been awarded annually by The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry to honor “Dr. Hickey’s distinguished career as Editor of The Journal from 1975 to 1991, and his contributions to dental education, research, and administration.” Closer to home, the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care on Central Avenue, the fi rst Alzheimer’s and dementia specific day center in the CSRA, offers respite care and adult day care, just as it has since its opening day in 1996. Dr. Hickey was a client that very fi rst day, and the center is “named in honor of this gentleman whose legacy will be remembered for years to come.” +

ORGANIC… from page 9 Three driving forces for organic agriculture are: • Consumer or market-driven organic agriculture. Products are clearly identified through certification and labeling. Consumers take a conscious decision on how their food is produced, processed, handled and marketed. The consumer therefore has a strong influence over organic production. • Service-driven organic agriculture. In countries such as in the European Union (EU), subsidies for organic agriculture are available to generate environmental goods and services, such as reducing groundwater pollution or creating a more biologically diverse landscape. • Farmer-driven organic agriculture. Some farmers believe that conventional agriculture is unsustainable and have developed alternative modes of production to improve their family health, farm economies and/or self-reliance. In many developing countries, organic agriculture is adopted as a method to improve household food security or to achieve a reduction of input costs. Produce is not necessarily sold on the market or is sold without a price distinction as it is not certified. In developed countries, small farmers are increasingly developing direct channels to deliver non-certified organic produce to consumers. In the US, farmers marketing small quantities of organic products are formally exempt from certification. References: 1. Gold, Mary V. 2007. USDA National Agricultural Library. Organic Production/Organic Food: Information Access Tools. Retrieved on 30August2015 from http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml. 2. Lee, K. S., Choe, Y. C., & Park, S. H. (2015). Measuring the environmental effects of organic farming: A metaanalysis of structural variables in empirical research. Journal Of Environmental Management, 162263-274. doi:10.1016/ j.jenvman.2015.07.021 +

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Bruce Campbell, MD on September 10, 2016

A SURGEON REMEMBERS SEPTEMBER 11 “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese “A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center.” The surgical case was moving along steadily. Another surgeon had removed a skin lesion from the patient’s neck, and the pathologist had not been certain if it was a cancer. I had recommended removing the scar and several of the nearby lymph nodes. The surgery had just started and was going slowly. The scars from the prior surgeon’s work made the initial dissection difficult. “What?” “A plane. I was in the OR lounge and the news switched to New York. A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center.” I stared at the anesthesiologist who had rushed into the room. I checked the surgical field and put pressure on the wound. “What are they saying? What’s going on?” “They don’t know.” He left the room and I started back to work again. The resident and I peeled the skin from the underlying muscles, finding the jugular vein and preserving the nerve to the shoulder. We dissected the fatty tissue containing the lymph nodes out of the depths of the wound. The door opened. “Another plane. This one crashed into the other tower.” He ran out again. The resident and I lifted the nodes, clearing them from the vagus nerve and the carotid artery. By placing his fingers along the carotid artery, the resident could feel the patient’s blood pulsing through the large vessel on its way from the heart to the brain. The door opened. “Bush says it’s terrorists.” I put pressure on the wound. “Please stop. Please don’t come in with any more reports.” The anesthesiologist looked at me. “OK.” He left. We continued removing the lymph nodes, tied off a few small blood vessels and closed the wound. We were quiet. The patient woke up, and we wheeled him to the recovery room. “One of the towers collapsed.” I went to the lounge to watch with the others. The patient did fine. He had gone to sleep in one world and had awakened in one that had completely changed. No other communal “Where were you?” moment is as indelibly etched in my memory as 9/11. Fifteen years have passed. That morning has reappeared for me when I have seen photos of the New York City skyline or while reading about the World Trade Center in Let the Great World Spin. It returned intensely while standing at Ground Zero watching the waterfall disappear into the darkness below. I struggle, unable to understand why 3,000 people were killed that day in New York, at the Pentagon, and in a farm field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I mourn the hundreds of first responders and cleanup workers who have been sickened or have died. I despair at the thousands of civilians and soldiers worldwide who have been killed and the millions of refugees displaced since then. Our species has endured a litany of senseless, self-inflicted tragedy. 25,000 died in the American Revolution. 450,000 died in the American Civil War. 1,177 died at Pearl Harbor, 145,000 died in Dresden, 60,000 died at Hiroshima. The survivors live, tell the stories, and urge us to remember. Then they age and fade. Our sense of innocence returns and our hands return to our daily tasks. 9/11 shook our collective innocence once again and remains an evolving tragedy. As long as we can tell and listen to the stories, we will never forget. +

“The patient went to sleep in one world...”

Bruce Campbell is an otolaryngologist who blogs at Reflections in a Head Mirror.

A compendium of excerpts from reviews of this book:

“[Au] has a quick eye for comedy and a wry wit that must at times have helped her get through the daunting responsibilities that come with the white coat. The emotional complexity of her work gets full weight in these stories . . . An engaging writer who knows how to entertain, she is also a young mom on a learning curve, a wife who has negotiated a complicated partnership with a professional peer, and a caregiver who has learned how much of compassion depends on sustained awareness that every patient has a story in which she is offered a small supporting role.” - The International Examiner “A refreshingly witty memoir . . . she tells her story with real wit and wisdom.” - Points North magazine “She is brilliantly funny, has enormous emotional wisdom beyond her years, and displays honesty and

humility that brings the reader to the center of her journey, rather than preaching from a false ivory tower of medicine . . . should be required reading for all women interested in medicine and/or starting a family.” - Mothers in Medicine “Honest, irreverent . . . hilarious and heart-breaking . . . this memoir is not just about how [Dr. Au] navigated the medical world. It’s about the life she wanted beyond the four walls of the hospital.” - StudentDoc.com

“In this treasure of a medical memoir, Au makes doctors seem fallible and funny. She opens her book with her attempt, as a third-year medical student, to retrieve a stool sample from a 300+-pound 85-year-old. After some epiphanies (“I hate working in the pediatric emergency room”), she switches from pediatrics to anesthesiology. Meanwhile, her boyfriend (now husband), Joe, picks ophthalmology, seemingly a good-hours specialty, but one that actually requires being on call every night for two years. After a colleague says he is sure she’ll fi nd a “mommy job,” she does land a manageable-hour position. Au seems to strike a good balance between being a good mom, wife, and doctor, and stays humble in the process. Get ready for a new appreciation for the training and life of doctors.” — Karen Springen, Booklist This Won’t Hurt a Bit (and other white lies), by Michelle Au, M.D., 336 pages, published in May 2011 by Grand Central Publishing +

This review originally appeared in a previous issue of the Medical Examiner.

Research News Beyond the gym Several studies have made it clear that exercise is not just something that shapes bodies. It shapes lives. One study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology reported on college students who went from not exercising at all to even modest programs (such as a mere two or three gym visits per week). After abandoning the noexercise regimen, the students experienced decreases in stress, smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption, and improvements in healthy eating, better study and spending habits, and even better attention to household chores. Another study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology evaluated stress response. Students enrolled in the study began an exercise program at the beginning of a semester. 20 weeks later when it was time for crucial exams, the students were outfitted with monitors to measure stress and

heart rate variability. Compared with a control group who did not exercise, the active group showed significantly lower stress at what is normally a very stressful time in the academic year. All of which explains the philosophy of a charity whose activity was examined in yet another study. Back on My Feet, a charity launched in 2009, has encouraged more than 5,500 homeless people to begin regularly running. Some 40 percent of them have gained employment after beginning to run with the group and 25 percent have since found permanent housing. Cancer test may be coming A revolutionary blood test which is said to be able to detect cancer as much as 10 years before symptoms would otherwise appear could be available within as little as five years. The inexpensive test, so far tested only on patients with

esophageal cancer, should work on other types as well, say researchers at Swansea University in Britain. Scientists there liken the test to a smoke detector: just as one of them can detect trouble before a fire breaks out just by reacting to smoke, this test finds the body’s “smoke” in the form of precancerous mutations that can eventually lead to cancer. Such early detection can obviously make the earliest and most successful interventions and preventions possible. Study: hospitals are noisy And they’re getting noisier. Electronic beeps, loudspeaker announcements, rumbling heating and cooling systems, conversation, noisy carts being wheeled up and down hallways, and even the cries and moans of patients in pain all contribute to an average daytime decibel level of 72, 60 decibels at night on average. The World Health Organization recommends a 35 dB maximum. +

+ 12

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD

by Dan Pearson

I swear my boss is the dumbest lady I have That makes work an extra chore. ever known.

And it’s about to get worse.

She’s going in for SmartLipo. That sucks out IQ, right?

How so?

Uh, I don’t think that’s what SmartLipo means.

The Mystery Word for this issue: TER BLEATT

THE MYS

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Seaside dune 5. Charles of note 10. Bark 14. The original gardener 15. Achieve 16. Favorite Trump adjective? 17. Strong distaste 19. Small dot of land 20. Lowest nav. officer 21. Word before out or sleep 22. Crayon of powdered pigment 24. Corduroy ridge 25. ____ Lake 26. “It’s Been Awhile” group 29. Hospital cleric 33. Strike repeatedly 34. Level 35. Sicilian volcano 36. Uncouth 37. Pulled up stakes 38. Brain ___ 39. Greek goddess of discord 40. Indigo dye 41. Gawk 42. Recondite; arcane; obscure 44. ________ Medicine 45. Heroic 46. Vessel 47. “I ____ ___!” (Admission of a major blunder) 50. Whirl 51. Cut off 54. Distinctive quality 55. Absolutely necessary 58. Recipe verb 59. Shed feathers 60. From a distance 61. Obey 62. Type of bird? 63. Reuben seller

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

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM 1

Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

O S R T C O C C I O I O R N

M T T E M A P A O E D E E M N N I M E S R P S H N E R C O K N N T K H ;

— Benjamin Franklin

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.

DOWN 1. Challenge 2. Home of 14-A 3. Sleeps briefly 4. Large flightless bird 5. First name on the Masters trophy 6. Tantalize 7. Kent’s girl 8. Collegiate conf. 9. Big name in blood 10. Campaign style 11. Expel 12. Look at amorously 13. Texture 18. Chemical synthesizing organ 23. Viper 24. Sommelier 25. Chair type 26. Activity without restraint 27. They can be guided 28. Visual prefix 29. Top seller for Honda

30. Fragrant essential oil 31. Chemically inactive 32. Titles 34. Medicinal pick-me-up 37. Like Nova Scotia or New Brunswick 41. ______ bifida 43. Pen prefix 44. Short-tempered (in British slang) 46. _____ out; explain 47. Clobber 48. Stringed Renaissance instrument 49. ____ Canal 50. Goad 51. Limb’s partner? 52. Egg-shaped 53. Prefix for meter 56. Extinct bird like 4-D 57. To a small extent; somewhat

7 3

X A M I N E R

6 7

9 8

4 7

9 5

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.

Solution p. 14

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second 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.

T 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 N 1 2 3

’ 1

C 1

’ 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

O 1 2 3 4

— Author unknown

1.TTAAACCGG 2.RROOHNHAA 3.DOOTTEEEE 4.ADDANNTT 5.TOTOPP 6.OO 7.SS

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

RD ISthen Simply unscramble theOletters, exploring ON begin V A C A TIOword our ads. When you find the correctly spelled N hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

wo guys with their lunches walk into a bar at noon one day and sit down to eat. The bartender stops them and says, “Sorry, but you can’t do that. You can’t eat your own food in here.’’ Momentarily confused, the men quickly swapped lunches and resumed eating. A policeman pulls over a motorist one evening and walks up to the driver’s window. “You just ran that red light back there,” the officer says, “you have no license plate, your back tire is completely flat, you’re not wearing your seat belt, and now I see an open can of beer in your hand.” “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then,” says the driver. “What’s that supposed to mean?” asks the cop. The driver looks up at the policeman and says, “Do you mind? I’m on the phone here.”

The three unwritten rules of life: 1. 2. 3.

While hiking in the woods one day a guy spots an amazingly beautiful, brightly-colored centipede. He had never seen anything like it. He captures the centipede in a matchbox, goes home, then decides to head to his favorite bar to show off his prize. He taps on the box and says, “Want to go to Charlie’s with me and have a beer?” There’s no answer from the centipede. He waits a few moments, then says, “How about you and me going to Charlie’s?” Again, no answer. Thinking maybe centipedes don’t hear very well, the man bends down to the box and yells, “Hey in there!!! Would you like to go to Charlie’s and have a drink???” A little voice comes out of the box, “I heard you the fi rst time! I’m putting on my shoes.” A man and his pet goat walk into a bar. They make a night of it, drinking beer, eating peanuts, watching games on the big screens, playing darts. Finally, the bartender says: “Last call!” So the man says, “One more for me,” and gesturing toward the goat, “and one more for my buddy.” The bartender sets them up and they knock back their last two drinks. But then suddenly the goat falls over dead. The man throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave. The bartender yells, “Hey buddy, you can’t just leave that lyin’ there.” To which the man replies: “That’s not a lion. That’s a goat.” The world limbo champion walks into a bar — and immediately loses his title. +

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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Choose ____ six months for $20; or ____ one year for $36. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble wrote a long-time column in this paper entitled The Patient’s Perspective reincarnated in this new format. Feel free to contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com Back to the hospital again, but just to the wound clinic, and just for a couple of hours. I went shopping last week and developed a large blood blister on my big toe. As long as it remained closed, I knew the internal environment was sterile and there was no threat of infection, a diabetic’s worst concern since infections are often closely linked to amputations. The blister remained closed for almost a week, allowing healing to begin within it. Then last night my dog got excited about going outside, began doing her doggie dancing and prancing, and stepped on my toe, cutting the blister open. My granddaughter came over and washed and dressed it as well as any expert caregiver could have. But today the best choice was to go to the wound clinic at Doctor’s Hospital and make sure it was OK. At the hospital no one thought I was overreacting or being a touch hypochondriac. They agreed that coming there was the right thing for me to do. I know that on the surface of things most people don’t go to the hospital for a blister, popped or unpopped. I’ve learned over the past few years that it makes a lot of sense to be proactive in matters of my health, because when I have been reactive, the time to heal multiplies geometrically. That meant instead of spending a couple of hours hanging out in the wound center, I spent over three months hospitalized. It’s unfortunate that many older people think they are as invincible as they were when they were teenagers. Or they remain unsure of the difference between something that needs to be checked out and something that will heal itself over time without a doctor’s intervention. I had to learn the hard way to recognize when I need professional help with wounds. But I am not sure whether that knowledge will translate into awareness of things like heart attack and stroke symptoms at their inception. As I age I am often aware of significant amounts of pain that occur here and there around my body, but whether or not they are pains caused by heart issues, I don’t know. I hope I am not as clueless if it should happen as I was before about my wounds. Doctors warn us about that lack of certainty, telling us that if we are at all concerned we should call 9-1-1, go to the hospital and tell them we might be having a heart attack or a stroke. I wish some scientist would invent an easily used diagnostic tool that could quickly inform us (or maybe even EMTs) of a “need to go” situation requiring a trip to the hospital. I had that same uncertain feeling when I was having my children. Is it Braxton Hicks contractions or is it the real thing? I had five children and I don’t recall ever figuring it out. In all five births, that signal of “real” labor never came and I walked into the hospital each time to be induced after I was quite overdue. I hope in the future I am sensible enough to realize I need to boot scoot to the hospital on time. +

www.AugustaRx.com/news

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED

116

TION A C A V N O issue was: The Mystery WordOin IS last Dour R W Y TER TABLET THE MYS

...very cleverly hidden (in the bricks) in the p. 16 ad for AUBEN REALTY APARTMENTS

However, we had no winner! Want to find your name here next issue? The new Mystery Word is on page 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 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!

This is how many back issues of the Medical Examiner are available at issuu.com/medicalexaminer

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.

You can subscribe to the online edition free!

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

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The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 7 days prior to our publication date.

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC. MEDICAL OFFICE Large brick twophysician office for sale or lease. Newly renovated, convenient, very busy location in charming Aiken, South Carolina, just 15 miles from Augusta. Call Kay at (803) 270-1740 FOR SALE 3 bedroom/2 bath, single garage Townhouse in Martinez. Master/ bath down, 2 upstairs bedrooms share bath, large loft for office, playroom, den; wood-burning fireplace, covered back porch. Freshly painted with new flooring, lighting and ceiling fans. Easy access to Riverwatch Parkway, Washington Rd, I-20, Augusta. 1987 sq.ft. $147,900. 706-836-7001. ROOM FOR RENT 1 room, private bathroom, 2bdrm MH on private lot. Clean quiet neighborhood. Non-smoker. $600 monthly. Must be stable, verifiable references and income. Cable and Internet included. Warrenville, 5 min from Aiken, 20 min to Augusta. (803) 270-2658 POND VIEW! Evans all-brick 2-story with solar panels. Avg. electric bill $170 in Northwood, 3,400 sqft. Call 1-800401-0257, ext. 0043 24/7 for price and details. AUGUSTAGAHOMESEARCH.COM Foreclosures • MLS • Builders • Rentals (706) 564-5885

MISCELLANEOUS SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDENS Opening and closing at Sunset Mem. Gardens in Graniteville. Sale: $760 (Value: $1520+) Call 706-736-0596

ANTIQUE maple dinette set with buffet corner cabinet table with pull-out leaves. Four chairs with two captain’s chairs. Excellent condition. $300. Double bed early 1930s with mattress spring coverlet shams $150. Call (706) 860-2170 WANT TO BE HEALTHY? (Energy, weight loss, mental clarity) Go to gethealthyat.le-vel.com See video and Facebook. Sign free as customer. BEING PAID WHAT YOU ARE WORTH? Then make more money! Watch movie all out interview: ExtraMoneyInterview.net CEMETERY SPACES (2) Sunset Memorial Gardens, Graniteville SC adjacent to lighted military flagstaff, includes granite bench with urn space, installation and inscription. All $4700 ($8600 value). Spaces only: $2700. Call (803) 2953033 FISHING CLUB wants more grey-haired members. Meet 2nd Thurs of month at Harbor Inn Restaurant, 12 noon. “Adventure Before Dementia” Info: (706) 736-8753

SERVICES HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706-267-9947 BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673) F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS (706) 760-7607

THE PUZZLE SOLVED D

W O

W A

R D

M O

A M

M O

L E

SEE PAGE 12

QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” — Benjamin Franklin

The Sudoku Solution 6

WORDS BY NUMBER “ Good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good.”

— Author unknown

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Boardwalk to Bark Place

APPS, SCHMAPPS.

Kennnel & Daycare welcoming dogs 30 lbs and under 5873 Huntington Drive Grovetown, Georgia (706) 840-3141 www.boardwalktobarkplace.com

YOU DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ APP TO READ THE MEDICAL EXAMINER ONLINE.

IF YOU CAN READ THIS +

thank MEDICAL EXAMINER advertisers Please support them. They make this newspaper possible.

JUST VISIT AUGUSTARX.COM/NEWS ON ISSUE DATES OR ISSUU.COM/MEDICALEXAMINER

THE M.E. Blog: AugustaRx.com/news +

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ALLERGY

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

CHIROPRACTIC Evans Chiropractic Health Center Dr. William M. Rice 108 SRP Drive, Suite A 706-860-4001 www.evanschiro.net

COUNSELING Resolution Counseling Professionals 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 Augusta 30909 706-432-6866 www.visitrcp.com

DENTISTRY

DERMATOLOGY

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

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS Karen L. Carter, MD 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com

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

FAMILY MEDICINE

F. E. Gilliard MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607 Industrial Medicine • Prompt appts. Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

OPHTHALMOLOGY Roger M. Smith, M.D. 820 St. Sebastian Way Suite 5-A Augusta 30901 Practice closing 706-724-3339 in December 2016

PHARMACY

YOUR LISTING HERE

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

TRANSPORTATION Caring Man in a Van Wheelchair-Stretcher Transports • Serving Augusta Metro 855-342-1566 www.CaringManinaVan.com

VEIN CARE

Medical Center West Pharmacy 465 North Belair Road Evans 30809 Vein Specialists of Augusta Dr. Judson S. Hickey Your Practice 706-854-2424 Periodontist And up to four additional lines of your www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 2315-B Central Ave choosing and, if desired, your logo. Floss ‘em 706-854-8340 Augusta 30904 or lose ‘em! Keep your contact information in Parks Pharmacy www.VeinsAugusta.com 706-739-0071 this convenient place seen by tens of 437 Georgia Ave. thousands of patients every month. N. Augusta 29841 Jason H. Lee, DMD Literally! Call (706) 860-5455 for all 803-279-7450 116 Davis Road the details www.parkspharmacy.com Augusta 30907 Medical Weight & Wellness 706-860-4048 Specialists of Augusta THE AUGUSTA Maycie Elchoufi, MD MEDICAL EXAMINER Steven L. Wilson, DMD 108 SRP Drive, Suite B Psych Consultants Family Dentistry Evans 30809 • 706-829-9906 AUGUSTA’S 2820 Hillcreek Dr 4059 Columbia Road MOST SALUBRIOUS YourWeightLossDoctor.com Augusta 30909 Martinez 30907 NEWSPAPER (706) 410-1202 706-863-9445 www.psych-consultants.com

WEIGHT LOSS

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M.E.

PSYCHIATRY

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional

LIFE IS A CONTRACT! by Ken Wilson Executive Director, Steppingstones to Recovery A great tool to use if you are in a relationship of some type with a recovering alcoholic or addict is a “living contract.” After, all of life is a contract – pay your car payment and you can keep the car; don’t pay it, and a truck will scoop it up when you least expect it! A job is a contract – come to work, do your job, be on time and don’t leave early and you get paid; otherwise...you know the deal. Marriage is certainly a contract...I don’t think I need to explain! Recovery can involve a contract, too. In fact, accountability is a lynchpin in the recovery process. When jobs are at stake and the employer supports an employee’s recovery, they have a right to insist on sobriety and future compliance with job requirements, and employers often enter into such a contract with an employee. But whoever thought of a family entering into a contract together?!?! Yet we use unspoken contracts all the time: who takes out the trash, who cleans the bathrooms, who keeps up the outside, etc. You can do this for recovery too. It doesn’t have to be

fancy. It can be handwritten. Imagine a sheet of paper entitled “Living Contract.” Underneath are 3 columns: Expectations, Rewards, and Consequences. Under the Expectations column you can certainly start out with “Remain Alcohol/Drug Free.” Beside it in the middle column, Rewards, you can write down the benefits: food, computer, cell phone, marriage stays intact, transportation, be able to see the kids, etc. You’ll be surprised at all the benefits you can give out! In the last column, Consequences, you can list what’ll happen if sobriety is not maintained: Lose marriage mate, job, living at home, etc. You can even make an allowance for relapse if you want to extend your pain to 1st Relapse, 2nd Relapse, and fi nally 3rd Relapse. Each relapse should receive a more dire consequence. I’d suggest a 1-year Recovery Residence on the Consequence list somewhere to help the recovering person stay clean and sober for a year so the active addiction can be “in remission,” as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual calls

THE CSRA PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP 17th annual fundraising walk POP (PEOPLE OF PARKINSON’S) WALK Saturday October 1, 2016 at First Baptist Church 3500 Walton Way Ext. Augusta, GA. Registration: 9:00am Walk: 10:00am. • interactive exercises • entertainment • refreshments • children’s activities • raffle!

There is no charge for the walk but donations are gratefully accepted. Proceeds from the event are used to fund new and ongoing research grants, a respite program for caregivers, educational events and more. For more information, to form a team, or to make a donation, go online to popwalk.dojiggy.com, email us at info@parkinsoncsra. org, or call (706) 364-1662. Donations can also be mailed and made payable to CSRA Parkinson’s Walk, 6100 Northside Drive, North Augusta, SC 29841.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 it. (Don’t ask!) Remember, addiction is a brain disease and the brain takes 1-2 years (at least) to (mostly) return to equilibrium. Time takes time. This is a difficult concept for families in recovery. Remember the movie “Karate Kid?” The kid’s thought, “wax on, wax off” had nothing to do with his sport challenge, but it had everything to do with it! It’s called “muscle memory.” The brain, too, needs to record new neuropathways for recovery that simply take lots and lots of time, and the process cannot be rushed. One day at a time builds up to many days clean and a healed brain restored to full function (nearly!). Other things can be listed in the contract too: financial matters, curfews, room cleanliness if dealing with a youngster. However, be careful about making the contract too complicated. It takes more energy to police than to perform! In other words, decide which hill you’re going to die on (figuratively of course). Lastly, do not ever write down a consequence or reward that you’re not willing to follow through on! Never, never, never. Can the contract be changed? Certainly! Amendments happen all the time. All need to agree and all need to sign the contract initially and if amended. All this is to promote full recovery. And what is recovery? I’m getting ahead of myself again. Next time. +

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