OurHealth Lynchburg & Southside Aug/Sep 2012 Edition by OurHealth Media LLC

Lynchburg and Southside edition â&#x20AC;˘ August/September 2012

Back to School Health: Topics and tips to help Lynchburg and Southside students get an A+ in healthy living

Also Inside:

+ 2012 Healthcare Education Guide in Central and Southwest Virginia + Prostate Cancer Awareness + Urgent care or ER?

+ Former Virginia Tech football star lets his faith lead his success

When your child needs specialized medical attention, you want the best. The best specialists. The highest quality care. A comforting and playful environment. At the Centra Pediatric Center at Lynchburg General Hospital a pediatric cardiologist, pediatric hospitalists and a nursing team with decades of experience blend their expertise to help your child get well. Your child’s medical team is available around the clock and equipped with the latest in diagnostic and treatment technology. Our Pediatric Center is an ideal setting—designed with families like you in mind—with colorful, spacious, private rooms and plenty of child-friendly entertainment. You are always there for your child, and so are we.

McClintic Media, Inc. PUBLISHER

Stephen C. McClintic, Jr.

PRESIDENT AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Angela Holmes ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jenny Hungate

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Heidi McClintic

ACCOUNTING MANAGER EDITORIAL

WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS David Armstrong, OD Rod Belcher Elena Black, DDS, PHD Jennifer Claiborne, DDS

Sheila Ellis-Glasper Tricia Foley, RD, MS Rachel Gagan, MD Darrell Laurant

Laura Neff-Henderson Rick Piester Christie Powers, PA-C Matthew Thompkins, MD

ART

EDITING Idea Garden, Inc. GRAPHIC DESIGN Idea Garden, Inc. WEB Ryan Dohrn SALES

Cindy Trujillo 434.907.5255 cindy@mcclinticmedia.com

@ourhealthmag COMMENTS/FEEDBACK/QUESTIONS Our Health Magazine, Inc. welcomes your feedback. Please send your comments and/or questions to: “Letters,” Our Health magazine, Inc. 305 Colorado Street • Salem, VA 24153, 540.387.6482 or you may send via email to steve@ourhealthvirginia.com. Information in this magazine is for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to replace medical or health advice of an individual’s physician or healthcare provider as it relates to individual situations. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF YOUR DOCTOR. All matters concerning physical and mental health should be supervised by a health practitioner knowledgeable in treating that particular condition. The publisher does not directly or indirectly dispense medical advice and does not assume any responsibility for those who choose to treat themselves. The publisher has taken reasonable precaution in preparing this publication, however, the publisher does not assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. Copyright © 2012 by Our Health magazine, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Our Health is published bimonthly by Our Health magazine, Inc. 305 Colorado Street, Salem, VA 24153, P: 540.387.6482 F: 540.387.6483. www.ourhealthvirginia.com. Advertising rates upon request.

contents August • September 2012

cover feature 21

Back to School

The A, B, C’s for a Healthy, Happy Return to School

ongoing departments

Medi • cabu • lary + Just Ask!

local healthcare questions answered and medical terms explained 12

The Latest new physicians, providers, locations and upcoming events

Urgent Care in the Community ERs and urgent care: when you should go where?

Back to School physical therapists can now earn doctorate degrees in Lynchburg

Women’s Health best defense against ovarian cancer is knowledge and a voice

Nutrition Health good nutrition for back to school

Specialty Center Focus new hepatitis-c treatment clinic brings specialized treatment to local patients

Men’s Health

local resident thomas bates battles and beats prostate cancer 66

Senior Living they call them “strokes.” i’m not sure why.

Faith & Wellness former Virginia Tech football standout credits Christ for his good health and fortune on and off the field

A Guide To Healthcare Education In Central And Southwest Virginia

Health Quiz in the lungs

Special Section:

www.ourhealthvirginia.com

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medi•cabu•lary + just ask!

medi•cabu•lary the language of healthcare explained

What does robotic surgery mean and can all surgeries be performed with a robot? The goal of all surgeries is to perform the safest, most effective operation with the quickest, least painful recovery for the patient. The da Vinci robot allows us to perform complicated procedures with very small incisions. Patients are able to get back to normal activities very quickly. The magnified 3D picture and small robotic “hands” helps surgeons perform delicate operations much more safely than ever before. The surgeons control every movement the robot makes in an extremely precise manner. The robot is not helpful for all surgeries, but the use of the robot is expanding.

just ask!

Matthew J. Tompkins, MD OB/GYN Lynchburg Gynecology Lynchburg 434.385.7818

What is Macular Degeneration and is there a cure? Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among older adults. It gradually destroys sharp, central vision making it difficult to read, recognize faces, watch TV and drive. There is no cure for ARMD. Use of appropriate nutritional supplements has been shown to slow or stop the progressive vision loss. Many people with ARMD are helped by special microscopic or telescopic glasses. Risk factors include increased age, family history, smoking cigarettes, being white and female.

David L. Armstrong, OD Optometrist Central and SW Virginia 540.982.2020

Do I need braces? Braces are considered elective; however, the early correction of teeth misalignment, crowding, and improper bites (malocclusions) 10

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What is Invisalign?

What is pollen count?

Invisalign is another tool, other than braces, that an orthodontist can use to straighten teeth. Invisalign system combines advanced 3D computer graphics technology with over 100 years of orthodontic science. Unlike braces, Invisalign uses a series of clear, very esthetic, plastic aligners that are precisely calibrated and custom-manufactured to fit each patient’s mouth. Invisalign aligners are changed every two weeks and they are designed to move the patient’s teeth in small steps towards the desired final position prescribed by the orthodontist. The removable Invisalign aligners facilitate better oral hygiene and can be used for both adults and teenagers.

Pollen count gives us an estimated average of how much pollen is present in the air. If the pollen level is elevated, then an allergic person would expect to have more symptoms than when the count is low. The pollen is collected by various methods, then calculated and rated as high, medium and low. Occasionally the reports give further details on which kinds of tree and weed pollens are present, such as oak tree pollen or ragweed pollen. Some reports will also give a mold spore count.

Christie Powers, PA-C Blue Ridge ENT & Plastic Surgery, Inc. Lynchburg 434.947.3993

Elena Black, DDS, PhD Appalachian Orthodontics Lynchburg 434.515.0370

is important. According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions can result in a variety of problems including: • Crowded teeth are more difficult to properly brush and floss, which may contribute to tooth decay and/or gum disease. • Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping. • Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear. • Openbites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments. Valuable insight can be gained by scheduling an initial consultation. Your orthodontist can then explain your needs, options, and expected results to help guide your decision. Ultimately, orthodontics does more than create a beautiful smile – it creates a healthier you.

Jennifer Claiborne, DDS Central Virginia Orthodontics Lynchburg 434.385.GRIN (4746)

What is the difference between an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and a heart murmur in children? A Stethoscope can hear an irregular heartbeat and a murmurs (sounds of blood flowing in the heart instead of silence between heartbeats. An electrocardiograph (EKG) can pick up arrhythmias more accurately, but not murmurs. A murmur may be normal if due to fever, exercise, or medications. A murmur can also be the sound of a bad heart valve. An arrhythmia indicates irregular electrical signalling that can be dangerous if it interrupts blood flow to the heart and vital organs.

Rachel Gagen, MD, IBCLC F. Read Hopkins Pediatric Associates Lynchburg 434.237.8886

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the latest

new physicians, providers, locations and upcoming events

Centra Community Health Initiative Fund Announces Grant 2012 Recipients The following organizations are recipients of the Centra Community Health Initiative Fund grants totaling $348,978 to support health-related projects and programs in the community. Funds for the grants are administered by the Centra Foundation and come directly from Centra.

Grant Recipients Are: »» Balance: Healthy Mind and Body – Amazement Square, $27,000 to support completion of Centra Health gallery, interactive traveling exhibit and Scorpy Health books. »» The Berryman Garden – The Legacy Museum of African American History, $4,620 to support the development of the Berryman Garden and health activities for youth. »» Bringing Health to Life – Cabaniss Day Support, Inc., $2,000 to support the purchase of sensory CDs for autistic clients. »» Central Virginia HIV Testing & Counseling Project – Coalition for HIV Awareness & Prevention (CHAP), $10,000 to support the purchase of HIV rapid tests and to provide counseling and followup services for HIV positive individuals. »» Live Healthy Lynchburg: A Let’s Move City Initiative – Live Healthy Lynchburg, $111,000 to support the Lynchburg City Mayor’s Live Healthy/ Work Healthy Initiative, livehealthylynchburg.com. These grants include: »» $33,000 to support the installation of a web portal for the Live Healthy/Work Healthy Initiative – Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

»» $34,000 to support the purchase of the health fitness program “Playworks” for all city elementary schools. »» $44,000 to support the establishment of the Lynchburg Grows “Mobile Market” that will address food deserts in our community. »» “Fix-it to Stay” Program of Rebuild 2012, “Falls Prevention and Safety” Program of Rebuild 2012 – Rebuild Together, $10,000 to support equipment installation that enables individuals to remain safely in their homes. »» Girls on the Run of Central Virginia Saturation Initiative – Girls on the Run of Central VA, Inc., $21,261 to support scholarships and to develop seven new school programs that encourage healthy lifestyles. »» Healthy Cooking for a Healthy Lifestyle – Lynchburg Daily Bread, $6,717 to support the purchase of healthy cooking stations so that healthy cooking classes can be offered to guests. »» Healthy Families Central Virginia: Enabling Babies & Families to Eat, Play & Work Healthy – Presbyterian Homes & Family Services & the Family Alliance, $10,000 to support lactation counseling and training for underserved mothers and to purchase baby weigh scales. »» Healthy for Life – New Vista School, $995 to support the purchase of a “Wii” indoor fitness program and practice boards. »» Medication Access Program (MAP) – Heart of Virginia Free Clinic, $30,000 to support the purchase of stock medicine for a free clinic in Farmville.

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the latest

»» Project Summer Hope Program – Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg, $8,665 to support the health education component of the summer camp program. »» Refurbishment & Replacement of Equipment for Greg Arthur Dental Suite at the Free Clinic of Central VA – Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Inc., $24,220 to support the purchase of new dental equipment. »» RX Partnership – RX Drug Access Partnership, $10,000 to provide free prescription medications to patients of the Lynchburg and Bedford free clinics. »» 3-point Play – Jubilee Family Development Center, $10,000 to provide partial or full student scholarships for a summer camp program that includes healthy lifestyle education.

NEW PLACES

Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg Dr. Elena Black 3700 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.515.0370 www.lynchburgorthodontics.com contact@lynchburgorthodontics.com Open Monday-Saturday with extended evening hours

»» “Y” on Wheels – YMCA of Central Virginia, $40,000 to support a mobile YMCA that will bring “Y” health and exercise programming to underserved communities. »» EMS Auxiliary Course – ACLS & PALS Training – Central Virginia Community College, $22,500 to support tuition and textbooks for advanced and pediatric life support training. For more information about the Community Initiative Fund and how to submit requests for grant funds, please visit centrafoundation.com.

NEW PEOPLE

Central Virginia Family Physicians welcomes four new healthcare providers. These providers will be seeing patients at their three offices of CVFP Immediate Care. Two Lynchburg offices – Lakeside Drive and Airport Plaza, and one office in Madison Heights at Amelon Square, serve patients seven days a week for walk-in medical care. www.cvfp.net • 434.382.1125

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MedExpress Urgent Care 21054A Timberlake Road Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.239.0627 www.medexpress.com Open everyday from 9am-9pm

Neal M. Cabaniss, PA-C Central Virginia Family Physicians www.cvfp.net 434.382.1125

Maretta B. Yoder, FNP-C Central Virginia Family Physicians www.cvfp.net 434.382.1125

Elizabeth A. Stacey, FNP-BC Central Virginia Family Physicians www.cvfp.net 434.382.1125

Paul Foster, PA-C Central Virginia Family Physicians www.cvfp.net 434.382.1125

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urgent care in the community

ERs and Urgent Care:

When You Should Go Where? Words [ Rod Belcher ]

When you cut your finger deeply with a knife or your child falls off the swing and is crying that her arm hurts, it’s often difficult to think clearly about where to go for care. The traditional answer is almost automatic. You go to the emergency room (or ER). However, another option exists and has become more and more prevalent as healthcare costs have risen - urgent care facilities. Often referred to as a “doc in a box,” these facilities are springing up across Virginia in malls and other easily accessible areas. “I think the reason for the growth of urgent care facilities in the region is the limited availability of primary care appointments,” says Dr. Matthew Tatom, a specialist in family medicine who manages the Physicians Treatment Center in Lynchburg, VA. The Lynchburg center is an all-inclusive primary care and walk-in urgent care facility that includes equipment for in-house laboratory studies and digital X-rays, as well as pulmonary function and audiological testing. The center operates seven days a week and offers extended hours to meet the needs of patients. As Dr. Tatom points out, some of the demand for urgent care comes from the fact that many people do not have a primary care physician or finding access to that physician is severely limited due to patient demand.

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urgent care in the community

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“Part of the growth of urgent care comes from people wanting care now,” agrees Dr. David Alligood, the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Bedford Memorial Hospital. Dr. Alligood has 18 years of emergency room experience and says that

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urgent care in the community

the demand for healthcare often outstrips the supply of primary care providers. “There is a frustration with your family doctor,” Dr. Alligood continues. “When you have strep throat and you call for an appointment mid-week and are told, ‘we can’t see you until Friday,’ this can be extremely frustrating.” An urgent care center’s primary mission is to provide immediate medical care during times when a patient’s primary physician is not available. ER’s serve patients based on the severity of their problem and charge for access to their wideranging and high-tech facilities. The priority in an ER is those who have a critical condition. The wait can be long and tedious if you have a non-life-threatening problem. The wait at urgent care centers, on the other hand, may be much shorter. One difference in the availability and access to urgent care and ER facilities, Dr. Alligood points out, is the hours of operation. While urgent care centers have extended hours in comparison to the typical primary care physician’s office, the ER is open 24-7. “Urgent care hours are much more accessible,” Dr. Alligood says, “but they do still close. If you have a problem at three in the morning, you come to us. We are required to be open 24 hours a day.” An emergency room connected with a federally-funded hospital must provide 24-hour emergency care. An urgent care center may be privately funded, which means it has the right to assign its own hours of operation. Another difference in the two is the ability to pay. ER’s are required, by law, to provide

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urgent care in the community

treatment to anyone, regardless of ability to pay or possession of health insurance. Urgent care centers, on the other hand, have no such legal mandate and may refuse care if someone cannot pay or does not have medical insurance. “Physicians Treatment Center never charges extra for urgent care,” Dr. Tatom explains, “and accepts all basic payment options and most major insurance plans, including TRICARE, CIGNA, UnitedHealthcare,

Aetna, Piedmont Healthcare, Medicare and Anthem Insurance Companies.” The cost issue is becoming more and more of a concern for the average patient, as the economy is forcing individuals to watch every penny. In general, Dr. Tatom says that urgent care is a value if you can’t get access to your primary care physician. “Urgent care is more cost effective than presenting to the ER for the patient and the insurer,” Dr. Tatom continues, “but urgent care centers typically charge almost double the cost that you would incur at your primary provider.” Physicians Treatment Center, however, has worked to keep their costs competitive with the typical family doctor’s office. Dr. Tatom notes, “We work to provide walkin urgent care services at primary care prices, which make us unique in this market.” Dr. Alligood agrees that cost issues are a major difference between ER treatment and urgent care options for treatment. “If people are responsible for their own bill, they may think twice about coming to us,” he says. “If the person is not responsible for their own bill, they may come to the ER.” Visiting an emergency room for a relatively minor situation may cost you significantly more than visiting your primary care physician or an urgent care facility. The hospital that sponsors the emergency room attempts to recoup some of its losses from treating uninsured patients by billing insured patients at higher rates. Emergency room physicians can charge significant fees for their services as well. Urgent care centers, on the other hand, can exercise the right to refuse uninsured patients or those with a proven inability to pay. This keeps the urgent

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urgent care in the community

care center’s overhead expenses lower than those of a typical ER, so an insured patient is not charged higher fees for common medical items. Physicians who provide services at urgent care centers may also agree to put a ceiling on their fees as employees of a private medical company. These factors all impact the patient’s bill. Typically, an urgent care bill is one half to one third of what the same treatment would cost at an ER.

acute stroke, compound fractures or medically unstable patients.”

While cost and time are factors in deciding where to go, when your child is sick or you are bleeding, the primary decision is who can do a better job of treating your specific health problem. Both Dr. Tatom and Dr. Alligood agree on the thresholds of treatment between ER and urgent care facilities.

Dr. Tatom says that when a patient at an urgent care

Health issues that urgent care can treat include sprains, strains, minor broken bones, mild asthma attacks, minor infections, small cuts, sore throats, rashes, minor burns, urinary tract infections and pelvic infections.

“ER’s treat ‘life and limb’ issues,” Dr. Alligood says. “Those include chest pains, uncontrolled bleeding, and altered mental states, as well as acute dizziness or numbness, sudden or severe pain, severe traumas, or falls.” Other health concerns that should most likely be addressed at an ER include coughing or vomiting blood, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, changes in vision, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea, large open wounds, sudden weakness, major burns, spinal injuries, severe head injuries, loss of consciousness, and abdominal pain. “Urgent care centers can handle most immediate medical problems,” Dr. Tatom says, “such as infections, minor trauma from injuries, simple laceration repairs and run of the mill medical problems that you would normally go to your primary physician for, but, in general, they are not designed to care for life or limb threatening situations like major trauma, heart attacks,

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We’re proud to announce the opening of our second location in Lynchburg. With no appointments necessary and convenient hours, we’re here for you and your family delivering the best urgent care, fast. So you can quickly get on with the rest of your day.

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urgent care in the community

facility is in need of treatment more suited to an ER, then 911 is activated and the patient is stabilized as best as possible while awaiting transport to the emergency room. “In my opinion, urgent care can handle almost all situations not specified above as ER cases,” Dr. Tatom finishes.

Area Urgent Care Facilities Lynchburg »» Airport Immediate Care 14005 Wards Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.239.0785 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday & Sunday http://www.cvfp.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/site. locations/action/dtl/loc/8255.cfm »» Amelon Immediate Care 200 Amelon Square, Madison Heights, VA 24572 434.929.1095 Monday - Friday 10AM to 6PM Saturday & Sunday 10AM to 6PM http://www.cvfp.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/site. locations/action/dtl/loc/5644.cfm »» Blue Ridge Immediate Care 2137 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.845.4175 Monday - Friday 8AM - 9PM Saturday & Sunday 8AM - 6PM http://www.cvfp.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/site. locations/action/dtl/loc/5643.cfm »» MedExpress Urgent Care 21054A Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.239.0627 Seven days a week, 9AM - 9PM http://www.medexpress.com »» Physician’s Treatment Center 2632 Candlers Mountain Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.239.3949 Seven days a week, 8AM to 9PM http://www.ptclynchburg.com/hours.html

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Alta Vista »» Alta Vista Medical Center 1280 Main Street Altavista, Virginia 24517 434.309.1165 Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00, closed daily from 12-1 http://cmg.centrahealth.com/primary-carephysicians/altavista-medical-center

Appomattox »» Appomattox Medical Center 181 Old Courthouse Rd., Appomattox, VA 24522 434.352.3003 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Sunday http://www.appomattoxmedicalcenter.com/

Bedford »» Bedford Memorial Hospital, Emergency Department 1613 Oakwood St. Bedford, VA 24523 540-586-2441 http://www.bmhva.com/ »» Bedford Family Urgent Care 1368 American Way, Bedford, VA 24523 540.587.8612 http://www.bedfordfamilycare.com

Danville »» Urgent Care Center 125 Executive Dr. Ste E Danville, VA 24541 434.799.2299 »» Danville Regional Medical Center 142 S Main Street 434.799.2100 http://www.danvilleregional.com/ »» Piedmont PrimeCare 130 Enterprise Dr, Danville, VA 24540 434.791.2273 http://www.piedmontprimecare.com/

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back to school

The A, B, C’s for a Healthy, Happy Return to School Words [ Rod Belcher ]

As summer draws to a close, parents and children will begin the numerous rituals of getting ready for a new school year. For some children, it may be their first year at school, for others it may be the transition from elementary to middle or high school. Regardless, it is a new chapter in the lives of both child and parent. The number of tasks that need doing before the school bell rings can be overwhelming for parents and children, who may already be feeling some preschool jitters. But with a little preparation, getting ready for a new school year can be low stress and actually help build new family memories. “I think the most important aspect of getting ready for school is to plan ahead,” says Anne Bond-Gentry, the Coordinator of Student Services for Lynchburg City Schools. “Get the required things like the school physical or the immunizations done early in the summer and do not wait until the last minute. Students can feel more relaxed and excited about school if they are not being rushed around to meet those requirements.” “The most important thing about parenting in general is modeling. Remember that kids do what you do more than they listen to what you say,” says Rachel Gagen, MD IBCLC. Gagen is a pediatrician at F. Read Hopkins Pediatrics in Lynchburg and serves as Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics as well as the website administrator for the Live Healthy Lynchburg website.

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back to school

“So if you want them to love school, you need to love school,” she explains. “Don’t tell them the stories of your worst nightmares of school; remind yourself and them of your favorite parts.”

Keep Them Reading To help your child get a jump on the school year and give them an academic hand up and some extra confidence, urge them to read during the summer. Encourage them to take part in summer reading programs, make weekly trips to the library, and extend bed time exclusively for the purposes of reading. Gagen says that your own reading habits can have an impact on your child’s reading. “If you want them to read,” she says, “you need to read.” Read to younger children and help keep a book, instead of a video game controller, in the hand of older kids. A good guideline to use is two hours of screen time a day, of any, and all kinds - television, video games, or computer, and at least one hour of vigorous exercise.

New Gear for a New Year Another rite of passage from summer to fall and a return to school is buying new school supplies and clothes. One health aspect of school supplies that is often overlooked is the purchase of a backpack. Backpacks should be rugged, comfortable and when filled, weigh no more than twenty percent of a child’s weight. Overloading of a pack with heavy school books and supplies can, and does, lead to back-related injuries and poor posture. In regards to clothing for the new school year, remember that the first few months of school are still often very hot weather. Dress for comfort and staying cool.

Preschool “Preschool is no longer optional,” Gagen says. “Today’s kindergarten curriculum starts with what many of us did in first grade. This makes it all the more important that kindergartners

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arrive with experience in a group setting and away from their parents. If a child is busy acquiring these skills in kindergarten, they will not be able to keep up with the academics.”

An Early Visit Especially for younger children, a visit to their new school can calm a lot of pre-school jitters and often get them very excited for the coming year and the new adventure school offers.

back to school

to school for the first time, they need to communicate with the school nurse, or healthcare staff at the school, about any health related issues,” she says. “If their child has a chronic illness they need to send information to the school and work with school staff and their physician to put a healthcare plan in place. If they need to send medication to school, all of the information needs to be shared for the safety of the child.”

“For transitions to new schools, or for sending a student to school for the first time, if parents are able to take the student for a visit during the summer it can be a great help,” Bond-Gentry says. “Go on a tour of the new school so it is no longer an unknown,” Gagen suggests. “Meet new kids at the new school. Talk to other parents so that you can be involved. Keep in good communication with the teacher. Ask your child about the best part of their day and work to build their confidence that the new school is the best place for them to be.” “Almost all schools have staff working all summer. It is great for teachers and staff to be able to meet a student and parent when there is more relaxed time to spend. Possibly taking a tour of a building or meeting key staff members can help a child feel safe and excited about coming to a new location.” Bond-Gentry adds that such a visit is also a good time to meet the school’s health staff and communicate important health issues about your child. “For parents sending their child

Specialty Pediatric Home Health Equipment • Home Oxygen • Respiratory Supplies • Rehab Equipment • Ambulatory Aides • Phototherapy • Medela Breast Pumps • And much more!

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back to school

Gagen say that the early visit is also a good time to establish a channel of communication between your child’s teachers and yourself. “Keep in good communication with the teacher,” she says says. “It is essential for parents to stay in good communication with the teacher all year long. If you want them to respect their teachers, you need to do the same.”

Vaccinations Different ages entering the school system have different requirement for vaccinations. “Students entering VA schools for the first time, whether preschool or kindergarten, need to have a full physical and an update of immunizations,” Bond-Gentry says. Kindergartners should have completed the pneumococcal vaccine series which protects against pneumonia, the varicella vaccine which protects against chicken pox, and the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Children that have already had chicken pox do not need the varicella vaccine and should have physician documentation of the illness. “Vaccinations are especially important with the current increase in both measles and whooping cough cases,” Gagen says. “Students that are moving up from the fifth grade to the sixth grade are required by the Code of Virginia to have a Tdap booster shot prior to going to 6th grade,” Bond-Gentry 24

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explains. The Tdap is short for tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine. Meningococcal vaccine, for meningitis, and a second dose of varicella vaccine are also necessary for rising middle school students. The Tdap has replaced the regular tetanus shot (Td) in the shot schedule. The change was made because of a resurgence of whooping cough which is caused by the pertussis bacteria. “Some schools will not register a student who has not had the Tdap booster shot,” BondGentry says. “So parents need to plan ahead and get the immunization for their child.”

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back to school

Liberty Christian Academy SPACE IS LIMITED! Early Learning Center (ELC) thru 12th grade

For more information or to enroll: CALL 434-832-2000 or VISIT www.lcabulldogs.com

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back to school

Exams and Screenings Physical exams, like hearing and eye screenings, are excellent opportunities to address potential problems that could impact a child’s ability to learn and perform at school, If deficits exist in hearing or vision, it can impact learning. Our goal with screening is to make early referrals to get the children the help they need.

“It is a good idea for school-aged children to get a yearly physical with their primary care doctor,” Gagen says. “This allows for vaccinations, hearing and vision screening. We are in an epidemic of childhood obesity where one out of three children are overweight. A doctor visit is a great time for parents to see if the child is obese- many parents aren’t even aware that the child’s weight is not normal and to discuss healthy eating habits and exercise recommendations.” Physicals for grade-schoolers are a perfect opportunity to remind children of safety and health issues for the upcoming year which are specific to their age group. For example, girls in the 11 to 12 year old age bracket could have their parents consider the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine for their daughters. A review of any possible allergies, especially food allergies, for young children is also helpful and can head off possible problems with the school environment. If there are concerns about a possible allergy, testing may be needed. A visit to your child’s dentist prior to school starting for a regular cleaning and fluoride treatment will mean they will be showing off their brightest smiles their first day. “Students returning to school who wish to play a sport need to have a physical,” Bond-Gentry adds. “Most school divisions in Virginia require the use of the Virginia High School League physical form, or VHSL form, for the sports physicals.” Gagen says that during sports physicals, it is also good for the parents to make sure the physician reviews risks of heart risk for athletes, performs a heart exam is watchful for chest

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pain with exercise and reviews the child- athlete’s family history of heart disease. Preparation, planning, and some summertime structure can go a long way towards making the start of school much more relaxing and rewarding for your children and for you. “If you want them to be prepared, don’t wait until the last minute yourself,” Gagen says. Make a checklist or have a school preparation notebook to help keep everything on track. Talk to your family doctor or your local health department to find out what your child is required to have in the way of exams and vaccinations. Local health departments often provide these services to families struggling with finances at a reduced fee or for free. “Don’t forget that sleep is as important as nutrition to children,” Gagen says. “Follow a routine starting at least a week before school starts that allows for a regular Dinnertime, no TV after dinner. TV tends to excite kids more than relax them.” Gagen adds that when planning bedtime to allow at least ten hours of sleep before the scheduled wake up time for the school year. If the child is nervous she suggests talking it out. “Talk with your child about your favorite memories of school, review which friends 28

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will be there with them, and pack a special note in their lunchbox to help them smile,” she says. “Lastly, give them positive reinforcement. Kids respond to praise; so even of your child is struggling with some parts of school, identify something that they do well. Build their confidence.”

a guide to

in southwest and central virginia

HEALTHCARE EDUCATION [ BY THE PUBLISHERS OF OUR HEALTH MAGAZINE ]

our health

2012 healthcare education guide

Guide Contents List of Programs HCG2

An overview of the various colleges and universities in Southwest and Central Virginia that offer degrees, diplomas and certificates in the healthcare field.

Special Feature Focus

A special advertising section highlighting participating colleges and universities with more in-depth information about the health-related education programs offered.

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Bluefield College

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Centra College of Nursing

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Jefferson College of Health Sciences

HCG10 Lynchburg College

List of Programs BLUEFIELD COLLEGE www.dslcc.edu 1000 Dabney Drive • Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422 540.863.2800 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Behavioral Science, Exercise and Sports Science, Psychology, Sport Medicine, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical and Pre-Pharmacy. Bachelor Degree in Nursing through INSPIRE online degree program. Tuition: Undergraduate $29,120 includes room and board. INSPIRE tuition is $4,020 per semester or $335 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

CENTRA HEALTH LYNCHBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING AND PRACTICAL NURSING www.centrahealth.com/news/centra-jobs/schoolnursing-general-info 1901 Tate Springs Road • Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.947.3070

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Health-related programs offered: Diploma in nursing and Certificate in Practical nursing. Tuition: Total three-year Virginia resident: $23,976

HCG15 Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)

CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

HCG12 National College

www.cv.cc.va.us 3506 Wards Road • Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.832.7600 Health-related programs offered: Career Studies Certificates in Emergency Medical Technician Basic and Intermediate, Medical Coding, Medical Transcription, Optician Theory, Pharmacy Technology. Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Services Paramedic, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy Tuition: Virginia Resident: $117 per semester hour (plus a $7.50 technology fee and a $5.00 activity fee per credit hour). Out of state residents: $293.60 per semester hour (plus a $7.50 technology fee, a $15.50 capital fee and a $5.50 activity fee per credit hour). Special E-Rate: Only $222 per semester hour for web-based courses with fees included.

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DABNEY S. LANCASTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.dslcc.edu 1000 Dabney Drive • Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422 540.863.2800 Health-related programs offered: Available Fall 2013 - Certificate program in Advanced Health Care and Practical Nursing. Associates Degree in Nursing and LPN to RN bridge. Tuition: Virginia Resident: $127 per credit hour. Out of state residents: $319.10 per credit hour.

EDWARD VIA VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (VCOM) www.vcom.vt.edu 2265 Kraft Drive • Blacksburg, VA 24060 540.231.4000 Health-related programs offered: Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine. Tuition: $39,000 per year plus fees of $530.00.

HOLLINS UNIVERSITY www.hollins.edu P.O. Box 9707 • Roanoke, VA 24020 800.456.9595 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Pre Med and Pre Vet. Pre Nursing in partnership with Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine in partnership with VCOM. Tuition: $43,295 per year (room, board and other fees included).

JEFFERSON COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES www.jchs.edu 101 Elm Avenue • Roanoke, VA 24013 Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Respiratory Therapy. Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Sciences, Healthcare Management, Health Psychology, Health and Exercise Science, Nursing, Emergency Services and Respiratory Therapy. Master Degree in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physician Assistant. Tuition: Undergraduate Programs- Full time- $21,330, plus fees, Undergraduate Programs- Part time- $620 per credit hour, plus fees, Graduate Program - $665 per credit hour, plus fees. On campus residence available $2,700 per semester and $1,475 for summer session.

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY www.liberty.edu 1971 University Boulevard • Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.582.2000

Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Kinesiology and Nursing. Masters Degree in Public Health. On-line Bachelors Degree in Nursing. On-line Masters Degree in Healthcare Management, Nursing and Public Health. Tuition: Resident undergraduate - $27,018 per year. Graduate - $455 per credit hour. Online undergraduate tuition - $365 per credit hour part-time rate, $325 – full-time. On-line graduate tuition - $505 per credit hour part-time rate, and $465 full-time (additional fees not included).

LYNCHBURG COLLEGE www.lynchburg.edu 1501 Lakeside Drive • Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.544.8100 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science, Exercise Physiology, Health Promotion, Nursing, Pre Health, and Psychology. Master Degree in Nursing, RN to MSN Pathway. Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Tuition: Undergraduate $31,060 per year. Graduate tuition $430 per credit hour. Doctorate tuition $13,300 fall/spring semester and $4,800 summer term (room, board and other fees not included).

NATIONAL COLLEGE - DANVILLE CAMPUS www.national-college.edu Danville Campus 336 Old Riverside Drive • Danville, VA 24541 434.793.6822 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

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NATIONAL COLLEGE - HARRISONBURG CAMPUS 1515 Country Club Road • Harrisonburg, VA 22802 540.432.0943 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

NATIONAL COLLEGE - LYNCHBURG CAMPUS 104 Candlewood Court • Lynchburg, VA 24505 434.239.3500 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

NATIONAL COLLEGE - MARTINSVILLE CAMPUS 905 N. Memorial Boulevard • Martinsville, VA 24112 276.632.5621 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

NATIONAL COLLEGE - ROANOKE CAMPUS 1813 East Main Street • Salem, VA 24153 540.986.1800 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting and Paramedic. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).

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NEW RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.nr.edu 5251 College Drive • Dublin, VA 24084 540.674.3600 or 1.866.462.6722 Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Nursing. Certificate programs in Practical Nursing. Tuition: Virginia resident: $127.05 per credit hour. Out- of-state resident: $319.15 per credit hour (includes additional fees).

RANDOPH COLLEGE www.randolphcollege.edu 2500 Rivermount Avenue • Lynchburg, VA 24503 434.947.8000 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Health Service, Psychology, Pre Med and Pre Vet. Tuition: $42,330 per year (room, board and other fees included). Part-time rate $1,295 per credit hour.

RADFORD UNIVERSITY www.radford.edu 801 East Main Street • Radford , VA 24142 540.831.5000 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Exercise Sport and Health Education, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Pre Pharmacy and Psychology. Masters Degree in Communications Science and Disorders, Counseling and Human Development, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Psychology. Doctorate Degree in Counseling Psychology. Tuition: Virginia resident undergraduate: $16,608 per year (room, board and other fees included). Tuition only $8,590 per year or part-time $359 per credit hour. Out-of-state resident: $28,178 per year (room, board and other fees included). Part-time $841 per credit hour. Graduate and Doctorate program tuitions vary per program and residence. RU School of Nursing (on-line): Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. In-state tuition $435 per credit hour; Out of state $877 per credit hour. Doctor of Physical Therapy – in conjunction with Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital in Roanoke, VA.

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ROANOKE COLLEGE www.roanoke.edu 221 College Lane • Salem, VA 24153 540.375.2500 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biochemistry, Health and Science, Psychology, and Pre Health Programs. Tuition: $46,113 per year (room, board and other fees included).

SKYLINE COLLEGE www.skyline.edu 5234 Airport Road • Roanoke, VA 24012 540.563.8000 Health-related programs offered: Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. Diploma in Practical Nursing. Tuition: Tuition and fees vary per program.

VIRGINIA TECH www.vt.edu 201 Burruss Hall • Blacksburg, VA 24061 540.231.6267 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biological Sciences, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Psychology, Pre Health Professions, and Pre Vet Medicine. Masters Degree in Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical and Vet Science, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Psychology and Public Health. Doctorate of Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical and Vet Science, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, and Psychology. Tuition: Undergraduate in-state: $17,919, out-of-state$32,911 (includes room and board). Graduate school tuition: In-state $593.25 per credit hour and out of state $1,162.50 per credit hour. Tuition varies for Extended Campus, Virtual Campus, Graduate and Veterinary Medicine.

VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.virginiawestern.edu 3094 Colonial Avenue • Roanoke, VA 24015 540.857.VWCC (8922) Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Radiography, and Veterinary Technology. Certificate Programs in Electronic Medical Records Management, Practical Nursing, Radiation Oncology, and Surgical Technology. Tuition: Virginia Resident- $135.09 per credit hour, Non-Virginia Resident- $327.19 per credit hour, NonVirginia Resident E-Rate- $222 per credit hour.

WYTHEVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.wcc.vccs.edu 1000 E Main Street • Wytheville, VA 24382 276.223.4700 Health-related programs offered: Certificate programs in Medical Office Clerk and Practical Nursing. Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services- Paramedic, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Care (offered in partnership with Southwest Virginia Community College. Tuition: Virginia resident: $127 per credit hour. Out-of-state resident: $319.10 per credit hour.

VIRGINIA TECH CARILION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE www.vtc.vt.edu 2 Riverside Circle • Roanoke, VA 24016 540.526.2500 Health-related programs offered: Doctorate of Medicine. Tuition: $43,550 per year.

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BLUEFIELD COLLEGE

Bluefield College, Virginia’s premier Christ-Centered liberal arts institution, prepares Registered Nurse Students to receive Baccalaureate in Nursing, using online delivery format. culminating capstone and three of the courses have a corresponding clinical/lab component.

Bluefield College is a Christ-centered liberal arts college in covenant with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The vision of Bluefield College is to be a nationally recognized Christcentered liberal arts college, preparing innovative learners and transformational leaders to impact the world. The College was founded in 1922 as a two-year college in Bluefield, Virginia and today has grown to a four-year liberal arts college. Bluefield College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30o33-4097; Telephone number 404679-4501) to award the baccalaureate degree. Bluefield College is ranked amount the Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges. Bluefield College has offered a degree completion curriculum to serve the community by way of an accelerated, intensive delivery system since the early 1990s. Currently, it offers adult accelerated programs, known as inSPIRE. The inSPIRE program has five options: Management and Leadership, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Public Safety and in January 2012 the online Registered Nurse to Baccalaureate in Nursing (RN-BSN) curriculum was implemented. The Bluefield College School of Nursing (BC SON) innovative online program will be a new model for the RN with a specialized focus in rural health care and will create a career pathway that is community-based, culturally focused, evidence-based, and global in nature. The degree will require 126 credit hours with 37 nursing credit hours over six, eight-week sessions (three academic semesters) with ongoing open enrollment every session. The 37 credit hours are inclusive of a three hour

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The curriculum builds upon the foundation of competencies attained by the registered nurse in the associate degree program; and, broadens the expansion of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and application to impact the quality of healthcare for the client. Courses will be offered using an E-racer platform management system with some asynchronous video streaming, allowing the adult online learners to use visual and auditory senses to learn complex concepts and to improve and augment online learning. Courses in the curriculum are based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice recommended substantive areas and the nursing standards of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an autonomous nursing accreditation agency that contributes to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE works to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. Dr. Carolyn Lewis, Dean of the BC SON states, “As the landscape of health care reform changes and population shifts affect the delivery of health care priorities, it is imperative that transformation must also happen in nursing and nursing education. The Institute of Medicine Report released in October 2010, a recommendation to increase the proportion of all nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. Higher educational institutions must provide an infrastructure to allow this to happen without compromising academic excellence. We believe our BC SON program meets this challenge. “ Bluefield College online degree programs are designed for adult learners who want to advance their education and career while maintain professional, familial and social commitments. The online programs are convenient, nationally recognized and affordable. The tuition rate is $335.00 per hour and eBooks are included in the rate. These online programs further allow the student to complete their degree without scarifying professional work commitments. For more information about the RN-BSN program call 800.872.0176 or visit www.bluefield.edu/nursing.

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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide

A two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is offered at the Centra College of Nursing. The ADN makes it easier for graduates to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. It takes five semesters to complete, and nurses are prepared with the technical proficiencies and competencies to safely practice in multiple settings, she said. Credits obtained from the degree may be transferable to colleges and universities to be applied toward a higher degree. “The program provides a cost-effective, efficient means to become a registered nurse,” said Patti McCue, Sc.D., R.N., MSN, NEA-BC, Centra senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. An associate degree program is one of the three recognized educational paths to becoming a registered nurse. The other two are the diploma program and the baccalaureate program in nursing, the latter of which is traditionally offered at colleges and universities. In addition, all nursing school graduates must pass a national competency exam to become a registered nurse regardless of academic preparation. “Centra recognizes the need to have nurses with a quality education take care of patients in central Virginia,” McCue said. “We understand the importance of the role of the nurse. We want to make sure that the nursing needs of our region are met, and we are committed to meeting these needs.” Centra is relocating the nursing program from Centra Lynchburg General Hospital to a newly renovated 37,000 square foot site located in The Plaza shopping center in mid-town Lynchburg. The new campus features student classrooms, a skills lab, faculty offices and a Center for Medical Simulation and Virtual Learning. The off-campus location meets current academic standards and provides space for expansion for possible additional health programs in the future. One of the most exciting parts of the new campus is its Center for Medical Simulation and Virtual Learning, said McCue. The center is the result of a grant awarded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission to Centra and Lynchburg College. Central Virginia Community College also is participating in the initiative that will provide students with interdisciplinary collaborative experiences that emphasize critical thinking and patient safety. The use of medical simulation is expanding rapidly and expected to become

a standard in nursing and allied health education. Up to 20 percent of clinical hours can be achieved through the use of medical simulation. “Simulation is the latest and most effective type of education in which students can intervene, make decisions and take actions in a highly controlled environment,” said McCue. “The process allows the creation of clinical situations that could not be created in a hospital setting. It also is an excellent way to teach and promote patient safety,” she said. “Students can practice in a controlled environment before working with actual patients.” Perhaps one of the most advantageous aspects of the ADN is the opportunity for students to do their clinical training at Centra’s Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist hospitals, both of which have obtained Magnet® status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association. The Magnet Recognition Program grants Magnet recognition to organizations where nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. Magnet status is also said to indicate nursing involvement in data collection and decision-making in patient care delivery. The idea is that nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice. Magnet hospitals have open communication between nurses and other members of the healthcare team and an appropriate personnel mix to attain the best patient outcomes and staff work environment. “When students train at Magnet-recognized hospitals, they witness other nurses who are highly satisfied with their jobs and who are empowered to make a lot of decisions,” says McCue. “Our nurses are charged with taking action to provide the best care to patients, and they are respected by physicians for their judgment and clinical decision making. This level of respect for nurses also extends to other clinical disciplines, such as pharmacists, respiratory therapists and registered dietitians, to name a few. Nurses are certainly recognized for their leadership role in managing the care of their patients.”

CENTRA COLLEGE OF NURSING

Centra College of Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing combines exceptional classroom instruction with leading clinical training

All the surrounding colleges, universities and medical training programs have their medical students perform training at Centra Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist hospitals in part because of their being Magnet organizations. The Magnet recognition, along with Centra’s state-of-theart equipment and staffing efficiencies make it an ideal place for learning and expanding on skills. “A magnet hospital is the perfect place for a nursing student to train, no doubt about it,” continues McCue. “When students complete their clinicals at Centra, they know they want to work in a Magnet-recognized hospital. It’s that much of a difference.” To learn more about the Centra College of Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing, please call 434.200.3070 or visit www.centrahealth.com, keyword ADN, where you can also download the catalog and application packet.

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JEFFERSON COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Jefferson College of Health Sciences: Celebrating 30 years of Healthcare Education Thirty years ago, babies weren’t the only ones being born at Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley. That same year, a small college also greeted the world as part of the hospital, welcoming an inaugural class of around a dozen students to what was then the Carlton Terrace Building on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke. Initially given the name “Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences,” the school was built on the foundations of several “founding schools” that can trace their roots back to 1914. These schools include the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing, the Lewis Gale School of Nursing and the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley School of Nursing. The major step forward for the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences in 1982 was earning permission to grant associate degrees in Nursing and Respiratory Therapy from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

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Over the next three decades, the school would evolve into a leading light in healthcare education in the Roanoke Valley, the southwest Virginia region and beyond. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the College experienced steady growth, adding to its academic degree options, based on the needs of the local healthcare community. Among the programs that were added during this period were Emergency Health Sciences, Licensed Practical Nursing, Health Services Management and Physical Therapist Assistant. Some of these programs are still being offered at the College today. Additionally, to ensure the school continued its positive growth, Dr. Harry Nickens was hired as the first College President in 1989. Nickens would serve as President for over a decade and would oversee a period of significant change. In the early 1990s, the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley merged with Roanoke Memorial Hospital, which prompted another name change

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to the “College of Health Sciences.” By extension, the College was also now part of Roanoke Memorial, which greatly expanded the opportunities for student recruitment and clinical rotations in which students could be involved.

partnering with fellow higher education institutions like the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) in providing opportunities for healthcare students to interact and learn together before entering real-world clinical environments. In 2012, Bishop was named the Chair of Interprofessionalism at VTCSOM.

In addition, the College earned the right to offer bachelor’s degree in 1995, opening up opportunities in healthcare education to an entirely new population of students interested in four-year degrees. In 2003, the College experienced further change when it welcomed second President Dr. Carol Seavor and changed its name once again to Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS). Seavor led the institution through some of its most dramatic changes, including nearly doubling the student population from roughly 500 to 1,000 in just five years, and expanding academic programs to a total of 13 in less than a decade. In addition, the College was granted approval to begin offering graduate level degrees in 2005, beginning with a Master of Science in Nursing and adding Master’s degrees in Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant just three years later. In 2010, Dr. Seavor announced her retirement and Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop transitioned from his position as a Vice-President with Carilion Clinic into the Presidency at JCHS. Since that time, the College continues to reach milestone after milestone. In late 2010, JCHS received reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) through 2020. And the academic programs have continued to expand, with new Bachelor of Science degrees now offered in Respiratory Therapy, Health Sciences and an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. In 2011, JCHS also welcomed the Medical Laboratory Science Program from Carilion Clinic as part of our Biomedical Sciences curriculum. Dr. Bishop has led JCHS in embarking on a collaborative program of Interprofessional Education,

To broaden the community’s knowledge of JCHS, an affiliate of Carilion Clinic, President Bishop has also welcomed over 120 leaders to campus from dozens of organizations across the region with a vested interest in healthcare education, including representatives from other colleges and universities, municipal and state governments, local media, private healthcare companies and the professional healthcare community like our colleagues at Carilion Clinic. With 30 years under our belt as a degree-granting institution and an ever-increasing list of new achievements the College has accomplished, it’s only natural to wonder what JCHS may look like three decades into the future in 2042. “Today, we’re continuing on the path charted by my predecessors and mapped out even further in my first years as President,” Bishop said, smiling. “I think the College is well positioned right now due to the hard work and keen, insightful vision that went into creating it in 1982 and in the years since. I think we’re at a place now with about 1,100 students in 11 undergraduate and three graduate degree programs that we can continue to move the College in a positive direction in regard to the needs of a steadily growing healthcare industry. It is still projected that between now and 2018, an additional 4 million jobs will be coming online in healthcare. So, we want to be ready to respond to that growing need.” If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, contact the JCHS Office of Admissions today to get started at 1-888-985-8483, via e-mail at admissions@jchs. edu or online at www.jchs.edu. You can be part of a growing and in-demand profession that gives you the opportunity to care for our families, friends and neighbors every day!

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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL

LYNCHBURG COLLEGE

Lynchburg College is addressing future health care needs by designing programs to meet demands in Central Virginia and beyond. Lynchburg College is addressing future health care needs by designing programs to meet demands in Central Virginia and beyond. The R. N. to M.S.N. pathway that began this fall is the newest endeavor, and a Physician Assistant Program is on the drawing board with plans to begin classes in the summer of 2015. Also, work has begun on a $1.5 million grant for a collaborative education initiative between nursing and the DPT program, which launched in 2010. The R.N. to M.S.N. pathway allows registered nurses to pursue the master of science in nursing without having first completed a bachelor’s degree. “There is already a lot of interest in the program,” said Dr. Jean St. Clair, M.S.N. program director. “Also a lot of folks are now working on the pre-requisites at community colleges so they can enroll as soon as possible,” she added. This summer, Dr. St. Clair and Dr. Linda Andrews, dean of the School of Health Sciences, hit the road to visit Virginia hospitals to promote the program and recruit students.

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LC is the first college in Central Virginia to offer this program and joins 173 other colleges and universities nationwide in an effort to provide advanced nursing education as mandated by accrediting agencies. One such agency is the Magnet system, an accrediting body for hospitals, which is requiring that 100 percent of nurse managers have a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by January 1, 2013. The agency is also requiring that all nurses who are in supervisory positions receive the M.S.N. by 2020. The Institute of Medicine has made recommendations that 80 percent of all nurses will hold a B.S.N. degree and that the number of doctoral prepared nurses will double in the United States by the year 2020. The majority of nurses nationally and in Virginia do not have bachelor’s degrees. In Virginia, 62 percent of all licensed R.N.s hold either a diploma in nursing or an associate’s degree. The increase of M.S.N.-prepared nurses will be a major factor in resolving the nursing shortage and

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providing optimal health care. Ongoing research shows that the higher the education level of the nurses, the better the patient care.

emergency, and operating room, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and mental health.

“We are committed to delivering an affordable, desirable nursing program that will help nurses to advance their careers and meet the needs of their employers,” said Dr. Jean St. Clair, M.S.N. program director. “At no time in our nation’s history has the need been greater for higher educated nurses.”

The PA program will be housed in the newly renovated Health Sciences building adjacent to the campus where the DPT program resides.

M.S.N. courses are taught in a hybrid format that combines online and classroom experiences to provide flexibility to working professionals. For hospitals that form a cohort of at least ten students, LC nursing professors will teach the classroom component on site. “The Lynchburg College R.N. to M.S.N. program will decrease the time commitment for the employee and the employer, provide a more cost-effective alternative than two separate degrees, and allow the R.N. to be more competitive for advancement,” Dr. St. Clair said. The Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a master’s level program designed to prepare students to be generalists. “Medicine is full of specialists,” explained Dr. Ed Polloway, dean of graduate studies, “but the physician assistant gets education in multiple areas so he/she can work in any area.” The job outlook for students who complete the program is positive with a projected 30 percent growth in PA positions over the next eight years. The inaugural class and perhaps the second class will be composed of mainly local and regional students due to the convenience factor for students who are considering pursing the PA program but do not have an easy means of attending school. Later, however, the College will be involved with the centralized application system and draw regionally and nationally. The first class will number approximately forty students. The twenty-seven-month curriculum will encompass classroom instruction and clinicals. Students will work with a variety of patients at clinical sites in various disciplines including outpatient, inpatient,

The new Central Virginia Center for Simulation and Virtual Learning, a cooperative venture between LC and Centra, will be available to students in all of LC’s health sciences programs. The center will provide a risk-free environment where students can have clinical experiences without any fear of injuring a real patient. The simulation process involves using computer controlled, high fidelity, state-of-the-art human patient simulators or mannequins who simulate actual human responses to numerous illnesses. Three new simulators will join earlier versions of SimMan and VitaSim Anne, which have been in use for several years. Located on the lower level of the Plaza, the simulation center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. LC also has an impressive list of established programs including nursing, athletic training, exercise physiology, health promotion, and the Walker Human Performance Laboratory, which provides affordable physiological performance and fitness testing for Lynchburg College students and faculty as well as members of the Lynchburg community. This year 470 athletes have been screened for heart risk at the lab. Lynchburg College has applied for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Lynchburg College anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2015, pending provisional accreditation in March 2015. Provisional accreditation is an accreditation status for a new PA program that has not yet enrolled students, but at the time of its comprehensive accreditation review, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the accreditation Standards.

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NATIONAL COLLEGE

National College fulfills healthcare needs in our local communities through its in-depth and hands-on medical degree and certificate programs Local Employer Finds Valuable Skills in National Externs and Graduates Mikelle Hall had spent many years as a housewife and mother before returning to school. Interested in the medical field, she looked into colleges in the area that were offering short-term medical degrees and came across the Danville, Virginia Campus. The campus instantly appealed to her because of the small class sizes, the focus on individual attention, and the hands-on nature of the courses.

Beyond having the clinical skills, Mr. Willis explained that the externs that he has worked with also have the needed computer skills that go hand-in-hand with the clinical skills. “It’s really important to have a balance between the two,” says Mr. Willis as he explained how more medical offices are switching to electronic record keeping and having computer skills has become essential in the medical field. “This is a great program,” Mr. Willis said of the National College medical assisting program, “[and] we would certainly entertain the idea of having more externs.”

Emergency Medical Technology students get a first-hand feel in providing life-saving services

Mikelle earned a diploma from the medical billing and coding program in only eight months and then earned an associate’s degree from the medical assisting program. For her externships, she worked with other National students at Internal Medicine Associates, Inc. where she was offered a job as a permanent member of the team. Internal Medicine Associates has a history of partnering with National College in the campus’s extern program and has hired several graduates from among the externs who have worked at their office. “It’s really been helpful for us,” said William Willis, office manager of Internal Medicine Associates and Mikelle’s supervisor, of his office’s partnership with National. He said he has found that National College externs are well prepared to go into the clinical setting. William shares that the National College students and graduates that he has worked with were quick learners, go-getters, enthusiastic, and energetic. “That’s what we really look for [in employees],” he states.

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While classroom instruction is an essential part of the education process for students, applying what they learned to real-life scenarios is just as important. Students enrolled in various healthcare degree and certificate programs at National College get the opportunity to participate in staged emergency situations and put their skills to work. One such example occurred recently when National College instructors created a mock automobile accident for its students in the emergency medical technology – paramedic program. During the training exercise, students arrived at the scene of the accident where they found two cars had collided, leaving injured occupants trapped in the vehicles. Fortunately, while the smashed cars and

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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide

rescue devices were very real, the “victims” were only imaginary. Students used the College’s real life-saving equipment to practice their skills learned in the classroom by pulling the “victims” from the car and performing life-saving techniques. The students, many of whom currently serve in various volunteer fire and rescue organizations, approached the day’s activities enthusiastically but professionally, with a keen interest in acquiring the knowledge and skills needed by first responders. For many of us, these students are the heroes in training who will one day be called upon to use those skills in saving lives – perhaps even our own.

National’s RMA Prep Course Ensures Success in Local Job Market Graduates of National College’s medical assisting associate degree program have a high pass rate of the Registered Medical Assistant exam (RMA), a test certifying the requisite skills and knowledge that enable one to perform successfully in the medical assisting field. In Lynchburg, 100% of the students in the medical assisting program passed this exam in 8 consecutive terms in 2010 and 2011. According to Susan Coleman, the campus’ director of healthcare education, this success is largely attributed to a review course that focuses specifically on preparing for the RMA exam. This high success rate over so many terms has enabled students to become qualified job candidates in the medical assisting career field of the Lynchburg medical community, particularly through Centra Health’s hospitals and facilities, which include Lynchburg General Hospital and Virginia Baptist Hospital. In addition to the RMA exam review course, the program includes two computer classes and three medical lab classes that utilize up-to-date equipment for hands-on training. Students are also required to complete a medical assisting externship where they put the knowledge they gained in the classroom to use. The campus intends to maintain the high success rate of its students in future terms and will continue to update the program in response to the increasing demands of modern healthcare.

Graduate Finds Her True Passion in Surgical Technology

surgical technology associate’s degree program at the Danville, Virginia campus, loves the job she acquired following graduation. She had always been fascinated by the operating room, so when the time came to choose a college to attend, she decided to research surgical technology programs in her area. Although there were several colleges to choose from near her North Carolina home, Kristina says she chose National College because they offered an associate’s degree program, whereas other schools offered only certificate programs. “If I was going to go and put the effort into it, I wanted a degree out of it,” she says. She credits Director of Surgical Technology Kim Joyce, whom Kristina met when she first visited the campus, with helping solidify her choice to attend National. “She was really excited about the program,” Kristina explains. “That drew me in, because if someone’s not excited about teaching their program, I’m not going to be excited about learning it.” Kristina began taking classes in March 2010 and graduated in June 2012, where she was honored with the E.M. Coulter Award for academic excellence. She completed an externship with the prestigious Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and was offered a fulltime position there upon her graduation. Even though it has taken a while to get to her dream career, Kristina says it has been worth it because she found her true calling. “I made a difference in [my patient’s] life for that moment that they were in my room. I love that feeling,” She says.

Kristina Watlington, a former student from the

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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL

TREE OF LIFE

Tree of Life Ministries partners with Tabernacle of Praise to bring medical mission training to our communities Reverand Jennifer Williams, Coordinator Ministry Health

Mike Dodson, Senior Pastor, Tree of LIfe

Nancy Dodson Bennett Pastor Administrator

Tree of Life Ministries partners with Tabernacle of Praise to bring medical mission training to our communities Tabernacle of Praise, a ministry center for the Missions Training Camp for Medical Missions and Evangelism, has a storied history of helping prepare individuals for mission work both domestically and internationally. Located in Florida, Tabernacle of Praise is the satellite teaching campus for Convenant Bible College and Seminary and home of Victory Television Network and WIAM Radio (www.wiamradio.info). Through its satellite teaching options, Tabernacle of Praise partners with other ministries to extend their classroom options. Through a partnership with Tabernacle of Praise, Tree of Life Ministries in Lynchburg will soon offer faith-based certified nursing assistant (CNA) program training designed to prepare those interested in combining their skills to deliver faith-based care through mission work. Plans are also underway to offer licensed practical nursing (LPN) and registered nurse (RN) faith-based programs. These programs will be offered at Tree of Life in Lynchburg, located at 371 Oakdale Circle, Lynchburg, VA 24502. Another exciting development is the announcement of a two-year degree program in Medical Missions and Evangelism with Theology, which will begin at the Tree of Life Extension Campus on October 23, 2012. This program will follow with advanced degrees, including a PhD.

Angela Graham Director Of Nursing

Dr. Fay Andrist, Co-Chair Ministry Health

The Medical Ministry was founded in 1986 by current Tabernacle of Praise Senior Pastor Nancy Dodson Bennett. Nancy’s experience in medical missions and evangelism was instrumental in bringing the programs to Tabernacle of Praise and thus to other satellite locations. Through the Victory Television Network (VTN) (www. victorytelevisionnetwork.com), people can currently access on-demand ministry programming, missions and health videos and classic, faith-based television programs and movies for both adults and children. There are also plans in place to make VTN available through the Roku device, allowing for transmission directly to a television. Be sure to check the websites for Tree of Life (www.tolm.net) and Tabernacle of Praise (www.praiseatthetop.com) for additional information. Registration for Medical Missions and Evangelism programs will be held September 11 to September 20, 2012 from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Tree of Life campus. The cost of tuition is $150.00 per month. Classes are held every from Tuesday 7 pm -10 PM. For more information, please contact Pastor Nancy at 386.983.7179 or via email at nancy@tolm.net.

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About Tree of Life Ministries The mission of Tree of Life Ministries is to reach everyone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tree of Life Ministries is lead by Pastor Mike Dodson, Sr. Pastor Mike was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia and attended Lynchburg Public Schools, followed by several years of owning and operating a number of successful businesses in the area. After entering full-time ministry, Pastor Mike and his wife Debie began Tree of Life as well as successfully birthing or reviving six churches in Central Virginia. He has served on the Christian Education Board for the Appalachian Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church as well as serving as an Appalachian Conference Board Member, and he currently serves as the Appalachian Conference’s Assistant Superintendent. Pastor Mike also serves on the Bishop’s Council and the Planning and Budgetary Committee for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church with world headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While he is honored to serve in each of these areas, his ministry passion is and always has been pastoring this local church. Pastor Mike and Pastor Nancy are siblings who are proud to dedicate their lives to spreading the word of God for the greater good. We will accomplish this mission by being creative, innovative, and demonstrative in our method of delivering the Gospel message and helping everyone mature in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We will always look at people through the eyes of God.... Not by what a person is....but what they can become; Not by where a person is....but where they can be; Not by what they have....but by what they can have.

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ADVERTORIAL â&#x20AC;˘ 2012 healthcare education guide

During the 2011-2012 academic year, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) celebrated its 10th Anniversary since the college was founded. In the last ten years, VCOM has opened a campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a branch campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which opened to students in the fall of 2011. Over 900 physicians to date have completed their medical education at VCOM. With a projected physician shortage in the United States, VCOM is leading the effort to increase access to primary care in rural communities. The focus of the college is to recruit and graduate students from, and educate students in, rural and medically underserved areas of Virginia, the Carolinas, and the Appalachian region while developing a sound primary care system with particular emphasis on prevention, enhanced health maintenance, and effective chronic disease management.

Meeting Its Primary Care Mission VCOM has met its goal of recruiting and training students from the Appalachian region, and was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top primary care producers, with 59% of students entering primary care residency programs. Of the first two classes that completed residency, 54% of graduates who began their studies in primary care have entered into primary care practice. More than 50% of the first class that graduated in 2007 is practicing in the targeted Appalachian region, and many graduates are specializing in fields that have noted regional shortages. VCOM also ranks among medical schools with the highest number of graduates serving our country as military physicians.

Overview

EDWARD VIA VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (VCOM)

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Celebrates 10th Anniversary

VCOM is a fully accredited four-year medical school, offering the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic

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Medicine (D.O.). The college provides state-of-the-art medical education and research, and has developed award-winning programs in primary care and global medical outreach. The college’s sport medicine department has cared for athletes at Virginia Tech, Radford University, the 2010 Olympic Ski Team, and the PGA Greenbrier Classic. As the only osteopathic medical school in Virginia, VCOM has become a leading institution in training primary care physicians. The VCOM - Virginia Campus is located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, and includes a state-of-the-art anatomy lab, two theater-style classrooms, and 16 rooms for small-group learning. VCOM partners with 26 Virginia hospitals for students’ clinical training, and has its own clinical practice affiliate, Academic Primary Care Associates at Montgomery Regional Hospital. Over 400 physicians participate as clinical faculty, funded by VCOM, to educate students in clinical settings.

Advanced Technology for Students and the Community The Simulated Medicine and Technology Center is one of the most remarkable aspects of VCOM, committed to embracing new technology and providing all levels of students the opportunity to utilize state-of-theart equipment. The Center features high tech, highfidelity simulator mannequins designed to simulate real medical conditions, such as heart attacks, through pre-programmed scenarios coordinated by physicians on-site. The simulators include three adults, one baby, and one birthing and neonatal resuscitation simulator, all of which can speak or make sounds, breathe, and receive injections. The Center also features standardized patient rooms designed for routine patient examinations and training. The Center is the only one of its type and size in the southeast, and hosts HeartCode™ Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification for health HCG16 www.ourhealthvirginia.com

care professionals. Custom training and scenarios are available to community health care providers such as hospitals, physician offices and athletic programs.

Global Medical Outreach VCOM prepares physicians for the future of medicine by training globally minded, community focused physicians to provide healthcare for the underserved. Students provide care for the uninsured and underserved in Appalachia at health fairs, free clinics, and disaster emergency response, and travel to VCOM partner sites to learn and provide assistance in medically underserved areas of the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras.

Research Programs for the Future of Medicine VCOM has built a strong research program by collaborating with faculty and researchers at Virginia Tech and other institutions, and has received more than $14 million in extramural research funding since 2002. Research at VCOM takes place in three general categories: clinical, educational, and biomedical science. »» Clinical research focuses largely on behavioral medicine, disease prevention, health education, and the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of humans. »» Educational research improves student learning by developing best practices for excellence in academics. »» Biomedical (or basic science) research, involves investigating health-related issues to answer questions about the basic mechanisms of cell interactions, cell biology, genetic engineering, pathophysiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and biochemistry. These research findings come together in translational or “bench-to-bedside” research, in which the results and insights gained through biomedical research develop into tangible solutions for human health and/

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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide

Osteopathic medical students must complete the same curriculum requirements for the M.D. degree, plus 200 additional hours of study dedicated to the musculoskeletal system and preventative medicine.

Fast Facts about VCOMVirginia Campus »VCOM » is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

or disorders. This type of research often involves teambased studies, where both physicians and biomedical faculty work closely to address key challenges.

Educating Physicians for Tomorrow’s Healthcare Needs VCOM has created a learning environment where the classroom meets hands-on practical education, helping students to master the values of extraordinary physicians and learn to collaborate with medical teams of allied healthcare workers.

»VCOM » is the second largest medical school in Virginia. With the addition of a second campus in South Carolina, it has a total enrollment of over 700 students and is the largest medical school in the south. »» Tuition is $39,000 annually for both in-state and out-of-state students. »» In the past five years, VCOM has made a positive community impact for economic growth by providing over $191 million to the local economy. To learn more about VCOM, call 540.231.4000 or visit www.vcom.edu.

About Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are licensed in all 50 states to practice the full scope of medicine and surgery. D.O.s complete a minimum four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and three to six years of residency training. Osteopathic physicians can practice in any specialty of medicine in which they are residency trained and, like medical doctors (M.D.s), must pass examinations to obtain state licenses. Approximately 65% of osteopathic physicians practice in primary care specialties (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine and OB-GYN) filling critical needs in rural and medically underserved communities.

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back to school

Physical Therapists Can Now Earn Doctorate Degrees in Lynchburg Words [ Rick Piester ]

Allyson Taylor was hooked at age 11, the first time she encountered a physical therapist. She had injured an ankle snowboarding, and her doctor sent her for physical therapy to restore her ankle to full strength and flexibility and to deal with the pain of her injury. “I was so impressed that someone could work with people, help them heal like that, and get them back to normal,” she remembers now. “I wanted to do that too.” Fast forward to May 2014, when, if all goes well, Allyson will get her wish. She will take an exam for state licensure as a practicing physical therapist. But there’s a bonus: she will have earned the right to be called “doctor”— an honorific term for many years reserved in medical fields for physicians, dentists, and veterinarians, but in recent years also signaling a higher degree of learning by nurses and pharmacists, as well as physical therapists. Allyson is roughly halfway through an intensive three-year program at Lynchburg College to earn a doctorate in physical therapy. She will be part of a wave of newly minted doctors of physical therapy entering one of the fastest growing of all occupations in any field. Physical therapy

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employment is projected to increase 39 percent by 2020, a rate of growth fueled in large part by aging baby boomers who stay active later in life but whose bodies still fall prey to the rigors of work, sports, and just plain age. And by 2015, anyone becoming a physical therapist must have earned a doctorate degree.

The Lynchburg College Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is one of several hundred that have been established in the United States since the new requirement was adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association. Designed by the college with the assistance of Centra Health and area physical therapy practices, the program now has about 150 students in various stages of studies, which continue year-round. Program director Rusty Smith, Ed.D., notes that the program is a blend of foundational science — such as the study of human anatomy, physiology and biomechanics — with courses that will gives students an understanding of the underpinnings of healthcare in America (studies of ethics, healthcare policy, legislation, and healthcare reform), along with 40 weeks of supervised clinical experience in health facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, and orthopaedics practices, for example) throughout the country. Programs offering a doctorate in physical therapy can be tough to get into. To be eligible for the program, students must have earned a bachelors degree and must have completed prerequisite courses in preparation. College majors most closely related to prerequisite requirements are usually programs in biology, health science, and biomedical science. The need for an advanced degree to practice physical therapy, Smith says, comes from “the growing complexity of healthcare. The responsibilities are growing to the point where therapists are making decisions as to what type of care is needed as compared to merely carrying out the orders of a physician.”

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The shift is not without controversy. Some medical doctors resist calling physical therapists, nurses, and others “doctor,” a word that has defined their profession for centuries. Some also think that loss of exclusive use of the title could be followed by loss of control over the profession and that patients will be confused by the changing roles of healthcare professionals. Physicians are the traditional “gatekeepers” for healthcare, and some are concerned that they will lose that role if patients are able to seek physical therapists directly. To student Whitney Talley, however, the debate over the use of “doctor” takes a seat far behind “the ability to better treat our patients and to have a closer, productive relationship

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Our Patients Say it Best. Carrington Crawford, D.D.S. | Charles Glenn, D.D.S. (434) 384-7611 | 2904 Old Forest Road www.lynchburgdentist.com

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her younger sister, Katelyn Bowers, was inspired to begin the same program at Lynchburg College this past June. All three students plan to work in hands-on relationships with patients once they finish the program. Whitney Talley says she hopes to find employment as a physical therapist in her Lynchburg hometown, although she and her business graduate husband have talked about possibly opening their own practice one day. Whitney’s sister Katelyn says that right now she would like to explore working with older patients, possibly in a skilled nursing facility. with the people I treat.” She finishes the program in May 2013, with the first graduating class of the Lynchburg College DPT program. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m called ‘doctor,’” she jokes, “although I may make my friends and family call me that for a few days after graduation.” Whitney Talley says she has “loved every minute” of the Lynchburg College program, so much so that

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Allyson Taylor, reached by phone in Mesa, AZ, where she was completing her clinical training in a skilled nursing facility, says she is interested in possibly working in an orthopaedic setting, although she is also interested in what she calls “wounded warrior rehabilitation.” She was born and raised in Jacksonville, NC, location of the mammoth Camp Lejeune U.S. Marine base, a major point of debarkation and return for Marines fighting in just about any war involving America.

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women’s health

Best Defense Against Ovarian Cancer is Knowledge and a Voice Words [ Rod Belcher ]

It is a silent killer, hard to detect and often in advanced stages by the time it is detected. In a single year, over 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,000 women will lose their lives from the disease in the United States alone. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all the gynecologic cancers and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. With no distinct symptoms in its early stages, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed after the disease is advanced. Ovarian cancer affects one in 57 women in the United States and two thirds of those diagnosed are age 55 or older. However, the disease can affect adolescent, young adult, and mature women. In 2011, the American Cancer Society estimated that about 42 women per day die of the cancer or one woman every 30 minutes. The impact of the disease on American women led President Barack Obama to proclaim September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in 2011. “So many lives have been touched by ovarian cancer,” the President stated, “from the women who fight this disease, to the families who join their loved ones in fighting their battle. In memory of all the brave women who have lost their lives to ovarian cancer and in support of generations of women to come, let us recommit to reaching a safer, healthier future for all our citizens.” Part of the fear the diagnosis carries is a loss of hope. The 10-year relative survival rate for all of the disease stages combined is only about 38 percent. “Unfortunately, there is still no screening test for ovarian cancer that is considered effective,” says Anita Schmidt, MD, a practicing gynecologist at Women’s Health Services of Central Virginia. “In women who have symptoms or in women with a genetic predisposition there are tests that are recommended but they are still not ideal.” Schmidt explains that over 50 percent of early ovarian cancers do not produce any chemical markers that have been identified yet. These markers are chemical “footprints” that can aid physicians in detecting cancers and other diseases. Unfortunately, there is no reliable screening test for the detection of early stage ovarian cancer. “Research is on-going,” she says. “It’s a work in progress. I am still a firm believer in yearly gynecological exams, whether or not a pap smear is performed.”

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Pelvic examination only occasionally detects ovarian cancer, generally when the disease is advanced. A Pap smear examination cannot detect ovarian cancer.

If you could look into the future and save your own life, would you? Centra’s HeartAware does just that. It is a FREE ten-minute online test that will tell you if you are at risk of a heart attack. Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women. When it comes to your heart, knowledge is not just power, its life. For David, it is that black and white.

While there is no reliable screening test for the detection of early stage ovarian cancer, there are options that, when combined, may offer a chance at early detection of the illness. The combination of a thorough pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound, and a blood test for the chemical marker CA-125, produced by ovarian tumors may be offered to women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer and to women who have persistent symptoms. Recent studies indicate that women with ovarian cancer are more likely to experience four persistent, nonspecific symptoms as compared with women in the general population: bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, pelvic or abdominal pain, or urinary urgency or frequency. “Ovarian cancer has always been difficult to identify early because of its supposed lack of symptoms,” Schmidt explains. “In recent studies it appears there may be some signs and symptoms that frequently get overlooked. Most of them are gastrointestinal (GI) related, such as new onset of bloating more than 12 days out of the month, filling up faster than normal when you eat, or a new pain that persists more than 12 days of the month.” Schmidt says that while these symptoms may simply be GI issues, it might not hurt to get an ultrasound if you are experiencing them. Other symptoms reported by women with ovarian cancer include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities. However, these other symptoms are not unique to ovarian cancer because

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they are also seen in equal frequency in women in the general population who do not have the disease. “The current treatment and staging for ovarian cancer is still surgery,” Schmidt explains. “If all of the obvious disease can be eliminated, the greater chances of survival. Beyond that there are chemotherapies to try and knock out the microscopic disease or the implants that could not be surgically removed. These chemotherapies are frequently changing and new ones are being developed.”

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Drugs like Bevacizumab (Avastin), Pazopanib (Votrient®), and Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) enzymes are being developed and used in therapies targeted to destroy, or inhibit, cancerous cells while not damaging normal healthy cells. In one study, the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, shrunk tumors in some ovarian cancer patients. Clinical trials of this type of drug are in progress to see who will benefit most from them.

The chemotherapy drugs Trabectedin (Yondelis®) and Belotecan have shown effectiveness in some studies. Other studies are looking at ways to overcome the so-called “platinum resistance” that the cancer seems to develop to the drugs Cisplatin and Carboplatin. Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is another avenue of chemo that is being explored as a new treatment. IP involves Cisplatin and the drug Paclitaxel, which are injected directly into the abdominal cavity of the ovarian cancer patient. The treatment was featured in a large study published in the January 2006 New England Journal of Medicine. The study showed that IP therapy, combined with standard intravenous chemotherapy, could add 16 months or more to many women’s lives. Another promising avenue for treatment involves the development of tumor vaccines that program the immune system to better recognize and even attack cancer cells. These antibodies are man-made versions of the antibodies our bodies make to fight infection. They can be designed to hone in on certain sites on the cancer cell. Farletuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that in early studies has shown promise in treating ovarian cancer.

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Schmidt says that new detection methods for the cancer are being researched and developed as well. “There is a newer test that is available now called the OVA-1,” she says, “which can be checked if there is an obvious cyst or mass on the ovary and is supposed to give an idea if the cyst is high risk or low risk for being cancerous. I think the verdict is still out regarding how useful this will turn out to be.” Ovarian cancer is subtle in its development. Its strength lies in silence. As new methods of detection and treatment continue to advance the war against this terrible disease, women must stay vigilant, listen to their bodies, and not hesitate to investigate possible symptoms and talk to their doctors. Ask questions, break the silence. “The ideal would be to find ovarian cancer in its early stages,” Schmidt says. “At stage one the cancer has a 90 to 95 percent cure rate.”

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nutrition health

Good Nutrition for Back to School Words [ Tricia Foley, RD, MS ]

Going back to school can be a stressful time. Lots of homework, school projects, and studying can add a lot of stress, especially after a nice laid back summer. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be nice to have a mental edge? The good news is you can! A study published in the American Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics showed that those who ate breakfast did better on memory tests than participants who skipped. This is because breakfast stabilizes blood sugar, which helps with concentration (1). There are other benefits to breakfast as well. A study done at Harvard Medical School found that those who ate breakfast were a third less likely to be obese compared to those who skipped. In addition, breakfast eaters in this study were half as likely to have blood sugar problems that can increase risk of diabetes (2). Breakfast will also give you the energy you need to start your day right instead of using popular sugar and caffeine laden energy drinks later in the day when breakfast has been skipped and energy is low. These energy drinks may promise a boost in mood but can actually do more harm than good, especially if consumed in large amounts.

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For example, some of these drinks contain more caffeine than over-the-counter medications. Too much caffeine can lead to headaches and other side effects. Remember, these drinks are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means that potentially harmful ingredients may be included.

Studies have found that kids who drink these often end up having difficulty sleeping which results in more fatigue. In addition, when these drinks are consumed in high enough amounts over an extended period of time, caffeine can cause changes in blood flow and reduce insulin sensitivity, which makes it difficult

It has been a privilege caring for the residents of central and southside Virginia over the past 25 years. As our Centra family grows, as services expand and as technology advances, one thing is certain—Centra will be here to help you and your family for generations to come. We are committed to our mission of Excellent Care…Every Time. Celebrating 25 Years of Caring for Our Community

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for the body to regulate sugars from food increasing the risk of developing diabetes and other health problems (3). If you eat breakfast and still find that you need more energy mid day consider a nutrient dense snack instead of junk food or energy drinks. Try natural peanut butter on an apple or a hand full of nuts with grapes. Air popped popcorn is also a great choices paired with some parmesan cheese. Pairing a protein or fat with fruit or starch is a good idea since it helps to stabilize blood sugar and keeps you satisfied longer. Remember, good nutrition doesn’t have to be difficult! A few simple principles can really change an unhealthy meal into a healthy one. First, color your plate! Make half your plate non-starchy vegetables; include foods like green beans, broccoli, salad greens, asparagus, peppers and cauliflower. Use protein at every meal, including breakfast! Eggs are a wonderful side to a small bowl of oatmeal and will hold you over longer than just eating the oatmeal alone. For lunch and dinner choose a lean protein that fits in a quarter of your plate or the palm of your hand. This ensures that you are eating the proper portion. Finally, fill the last quarter of your plate with a fruit or starch. It’s a good idea to choose naturally occurring starches like beans, lentils, potatoes (with the skin), and peas instead of more processed starches like white breads and pastas. With these simple rules you will be sure to get the most bang for your nutrition buck!

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nutrition health

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Rotisserie Chicken:

»» rotisserie chicken (from grocery store) »» 4 large red potatoes »» 1 bag frozen green beans

Directions:

»» Chop red potatoes into small chucks. In a pan with 1 tbsp oil, sauté potatoes over medium high heat until tender. Remove skin from purchased rotisserie chicken and divide into four servings combining a small amount of white meat with brown meat. Meanwhile, heat green beans in a pot covered with water over medium heat until bright green, drain water. Put potatoes, chicken, and green beans on plates and season as desired.

Healthy Pizza:

Simple dinner recipes: Turkey Burgers: »» »» »» »» »» »»

4 premade lean turkey burger patties 4 whole grain sandwich thins 1 tomato (sliced) 1 pepper (sliced) ¼ onion (sliced) 1 package of hummus

Directions:

»» Coat pan with cooking spray. Place the burgers in the pan and cook over medium heat until brown throughout. Top with a few peppers, tomato and onion (condiments of choice). Using the left over peppers and any other veggie of choice, make a hummus plate for the kids to dip the raw veggies in.

Fajitas:

»» 16 ounces lean ground turkey »» McCormick Recipe Inspirations spices- Garlic Lime Fajitas »» Pre sliced raw pepper and onion mix (from grocery store) »» 4 high fiber wraps of choice »» 1 can salsa

Directions:

»» Coat pan with cooking spray. Place the ground turkey in the pan over medium heat and stir as needed until nearly brown throughout. Add about ½ cup of water with the peppers and onions as well as the McCormick spices to the meat and allow to simmer for 2 minutes. Continue to stir on medium-low heat until water evaporates. Divide into 4 servings and place each serving on one wrap, top with salsa.

»» »» »» »» »» »»

4 whole wheat, high fiber wraps cooking spray ½ C 2% mozzarella cheese 1 can low sugar tomato sauce left over rotisserie chicken left over bell peppers

Directions:

»» Set oven to broil. Spray the wraps with cooking spray and place in the oven until crisp on both sides. Remove and place all toppings on the wraps. Place the pizza wraps back in the oven and allow the cheese to melt. Enjoy.

References:

»» Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formally The American Dietetic Association), Volume 105, Issue 5 , Pages 743-760, May 2005 »» Timlin, M., Pereira, M. Breakfast Frequency and Quality in the Etiology of Adult Obesity and Chronic Diseases Nutrition Reviews Volume 65, Issue 6, pages 268–281, June 2007 »» Lipshultz, S. Pediatric Researchers Publish Findings on Energy Drinks http://www.med.miami.edu/news/um-pediatricresearchers-publish-findings-on-energy-drinks

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specialty center focus

New Hepatitis C Treatment Clinic Brings Specialized Treatment to Local Patients Words [ Laura Neff-Henderson, APR ]

A newly formed infectious disease clinic in Lynchburg, VA is bringing expert medical care to those in the area with hepatitis C. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States have a chronic hepatitis C viral infection. Most of them don’t even know they’re infected because they don’t look or feel sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is often referred to as a silent epidemic due to this lack of symptoms in so many. The disease is not detected in routine blood work, and prior to 1992, there was no widely used test to detect the virus in blood. After last spring’s FDA approval of two drugs used for hepatitis C treatment, local physicians Robert O. Brennan, MD, Johanna Brown, MD and J. Scott Wade, MD, along with Nancy H. Downey, MSN, NP, came together to open the Hepatitis C Treatment Center as a part of their infectious disease practice. The center opened in January and has already seen more than 80 new patients. Drs. Brennan, Brown and Wade are all board certified infectious disease specialists who have worked with AIDS and HIV patients for more than 25 years. “When these new medications became available in May 2011, it became possible for us to cure this disease for a lot of people,” explains Dr. Brennan, “and it became that much more important to make sure people know they have the disease so they can seek treatment.” The new medications, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Telaprevir and Merck & Co.’s Boceprevir, are considerably more effective in curing hepatitis C than any medication that was previously available. “The availability of drugs that can cure this disease for nearly 75 percent

www.ourhealthvirginia.com 59

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specialty center focus

of our patients makes screening vital for anyone at risk of having ever contracted the virus,” notes Dr. Brennan. Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong, and sometimes fatal, illness. The disease is usually spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected

with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. People who get piercings are at an increased risk of contracting hepatitis C, especially if the work is done in an unsterile environment. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. The virus is not typically transmitted through sexual contact. When initially contracted, the virus usually results in minimal symptoms that resolve spontaneously without medical treatment. If it does not go away within six months, it is considered chronic and can eventually lead to cirrhosis, a permanent scarring of the liver, or liver cancer. For most people, approximately 75 – 85 percent, acute infection leads to chronic infection, according to the CDC.

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Cirrhosis, the final phase of chronic liver disease, is the twelfth leading cause of death by disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, while liver cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. The majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year. Chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading indication for liver transplants in the United States. According to Dr. Brennan, for many patients, it isn’t until they develop symptoms of these chronic conditions that they are tested and diagnosed with the viral infection. Many infected people never experience symptoms of hepatitis C. For others, it can take 20 years or more before any symptoms show up. Typical symptoms include fatigue, an upset stomach, fever, yellowing or jaundice of the eyes or skin, loss of appetite, easy bruising, and swelling of the stomach or ankles.

Dr. Brennan notes that many of his patients discover they have the disease by accident – either they had blood work done for a life insurance application and received the results or blood or blood products they’ve donated are screened. In the past, only about five percent of people with the disease were being treated, says Dr. Brennan. Of those being treated, less than 50 percent were cured. He attributes the low treatment rate to two things – the length of treatment and the side effects. The treatment included daily oral medication and weekly injections administered over 12 months and the medications brought on grueling side effects including flu-like symptoms, low grade fevers, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and depression.

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specialty center focus

at the Hepatitis C Treatment Center are referred there by primary care physicians or gastroenterologists. During their first visit at the center, doctors evaluate how their disease has progressed and determine if they are good candidates for the 24 to 48-week treatment program. “Not all patients need to be treated for hepatitis C, but they all need to be evaluated and followed

Though still full of unpleasant side effects, the new drugs offer a shortened treatment plan that can be 90 percent effective in curing patients. Doctors are also able to determine whether the treatment is working for each patient within a matter of weeks. “Patients for whom the treatment isn’t working don’t have to suffer through months of medication,” says Dr. Brennan. “And, for patients for whom the treatment is working, we’re able to tell them it is working which makes it a little easier for them to deal with the significant side effects.” Researchers are working nationally on the development of several other new drugs they believe will be even more effective in curing hepatitis C. Dr. Brennan hopes the new medications will do for hepatitis C what several medications released in 1996 did for AIDS when the mortality rate of that disease began plummeting. Many of the patients being seen

www.ourhealthvirginia.com 61

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specialty center focus

over time,” says Dr. Brennan. About 20 percent of the 80 new patients they’ve seen since January are currently being treated. The majority of their patients are baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, according to Dr. Brennan. Baby boomers account for more than 75 percent of the cases of hepatitis C and are five times more likely than other adults to become infected. The CDC estimates that screening all boomers

would reveal an additional 800,000 infected people and save 120,000 lives. Nationally, the CDC has reported new cases of hepatitis C in patients in their late teens and early 20s, which is consistent with a national trend that officials attribute to a rise in intravenous drug use. Dr. Brennan advises that individuals who meet the following criteria be screened for the hepatitis C virus immediately: »» Anyone born between 1945 and 1965 when recreational drug use was considered culturally acceptable. »» Anyone who has ever used recreational drugs, including intravenous drugs and cocaine. »» Anyone with a piercing or a tattoo, especially if it was done in a nonprofessional setting where equipment may not have been sterile or the dyes may have been contaminated. »» Anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1992 when the hepatitis C screening test became available. »» Anyone on chronic hemodialysis. »» Anyone with HIV infection. »» Anyone with unexplained abnormality of liver blood tests. The Hepatitis C Treatment Center is a division of Infectious Diseases Associates of Central Virginia, who have offices in the Lynchburg and Danville areas.

If you go: Hepatitis C Treatment Center 2215 Landover Place Lynchburg, VA, 24501 434-544-2353 www.hepcclinic.com http://www.facebook.com/ Hepcclinic

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men’s health

Local resident Thomas Bates battles and beats prostate cancer Words [ Sheila Ellis-Glasper ]

Thomas Bates wears a special bright blue bracelet every day, and he loves when people ask about it. “Every time someone asks, it’s a chance for me to spread the word,” Bates says. Bates was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in June 2011 at 56 years old. Since his mid-forties, he’s made regular prostate exams a priority. His family doctor monitored his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and as Bates got older his PSA levels increased. PSA is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test is commonly administered for men over 40 and measures the level of PSA in the blood, according to the National Cancer Institute. The doctor takes a blood sample and the amount of PSA produced by the body can be used to detect disease. It’s normal for men to have a low level of PSA in their blood. Bates’ level slowly increased each year, and last year, it had risen to a level that concerned his doctor. He was quickly tested for prostate cancer, and the test came back positive. This cancer was not foreign to Bates - his father passed away from it. Unfortunately, by the time his father was diagnosed, the cancer was too advanced and beyond the point of being curable.

www.ourhealthvirginia.com 63

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men’s health

Fortunately, Bates’ cancer was caught early on. Within a month of the PSA test, he had been diagnosed and had decided on a treatment plan. He chose a surgery that removes the part of the prostate affected by cancer called the “da Vinci Robotic Prosectomy.” The procedure is a minimally invasive, roboticassisted surgical procedure that removes the

cancerous prostate gland and nearby affected structures. According to davincisurgery.com, studies show this method has a higher success rate in helping men return to normal activities such as sexual function and urinating. The day after surgery Bates was “up and moving around” and felt fully recovered in about two weeks, although his doctor recommended he limit his activities for six weeks. Since he had the surgery in September, his PSA levels have been checked every three months and so far have remained at normal levels, allowing him to change to every six months.

Not a ‘death sentence’ One in every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, he explains. For most men, prostate cancer is a very slow cancer, but in rare cases it can very aggressive. Prostate cancer is not a death sentence. “It’s more like a long-term condition, comparable to heart disease and diabetes,” says Corey Passman, MD, a urologist at Seven Hills Urology Center in Lynchburg. Dr. Passman feels PSA tests are very important in diagnosing prostate cancer early enough for it to be treated. A high PSA test is the most common presentation of prostate cancer, not painful urination or any other physical symptom. He recommends all male patients 50 and above have yearly PSA tests and rectal exams. “Usually by the time they have symptoms it’s too late to cure,” he says. “Early detection is very important.” When diagnosing a patient with prostate cancer, Dr. Passman tries to stay positive, but it’s difficult because once someone hears the word “cancer, their mind stops and their ability to process the conversation is minimal,” he explains. Over the years more treatment plans have been developed to give patients additional options. 64

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Dr. Passman says they try to match the treatment plan with the patient’s lifestyle and age.

Helping Patients Navigate Prostate cancer treatment options can be so complicated that some patients need someone to help them process information. Jerilyn Becker, known as the Prostate Nurse Navigator, helps patients at Seven Hills Urology navigate through the trenches of information and treatment options. She answers patient and family questions, lets them cry or vent, and helps them through the steps of treatment after diagnosis. She is a familiar face for patients to help tie everything together and helps keep the doctors on the treatment team all on the same page. “When someone gets diagnosed with cancer they feel like their world is spinning out of control,” she explains. “They are able to feel more in control when they get to decide on a plan and feel good about it.”

“Two women can sit down and talk about breast cancer,” he says. “But it’s harder for a man to sit down and talk to a man about this.” He talks to all of his male friends and family openly about prostate cancer and urges them to get tested. He even helped his brother through the process when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year. “If you have prostate cancer but are unaware of it because you’re not being tested regularly, it can be too late,” he says. “That’s why awareness for all men is so important. They have to get checked out on a regular basis.” He openly shares his own story of full recovery from the cancer and credits regular testing for the early detection that saved his life. “I think my story makes people feel better about getting themselves checked out,” he says. “If one more person gets tested and catches this early, that’s one more person we can save.”

She has access to patient medical charts in all the involved departments including urology, chemotherapy, and radiology, and she is by the patient’s side for all realms of the cancer journey. PHYSICAL THERAPY: “My job is to get rid of After surgery. After their hurdles,” she says. “They already have a tough enough journey so I try to take care of any issues including transportation, financial, or insurance issues.”

Living testimony Bates has become an advocate for early testing after it helped save his life. He acknowledges it’s often hard for men to discuss the topic.

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senior living

Darrell Laurant, the Lynchburg News & Advance columnist, writer, and author, suffered a stroke on June 8. This is his story, written especially for Our Health.

Words [ Darrell Laurant ]

They call them “strokes.”

I’m not sure why. In its most common usage, the word “stroke” conjures images that are smooth and gentle – the stroke of a canoe paddle; a child stroking her doll’s face. A caress. But what hit me on a recent afternoon wasn’t anything like a caress. It was more like being punched squarely in the face by a heavyweight boxer. We’ve known about strokes, aka “cerebrocardiovascular accidents,” since the time of the ancient Greeks. They called the condition “apoplexy,” which meant “struck down with violence.” Strokes are currently the leading cause of disability in the United States and Europe, number two worldwide. A stroke usually follows one of two basic scenarios. Either a blood clot enters the brain and stops it, like a piece of metal thrust into the cogs of a machine, or blood leaks away from the brain and starves it. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and cigarette smoking. I had none of them. What I do have is a weak heartbeat in one ventricle that sometimes leaves the heart vulnerable to fluid buildup. In extreme cases, the resisting pressure of this fluid can cause blood to pool in the heart -- and when blood isn’t moving, it is subject to clotting. This is what the doctors later told me.

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senior living

Like so much else that happens within the human body, however, these behind-the-scenes dramas are usually played out without the knowledge of the body’s owner. Certainly, I wasn’t thinking about the state of my internal organs as I stood drying my hair in my bathroom on my day off, getting ready to join my wife Gail (briefly out on an errand) for lunch. It happened just past the stroke of two, no pun intended. Looking back, it seemed that I received a message from my brain a millisecond before the stroke hit, something akin to “Uh, oh!” Then my vision went black. I must have set down the hair dryer, and then I could no longer feel my body. Any of it. From that point, my recollections must be considered suspect. Strokes, after all, attack the brain, which is the seat of human memory. I do recall briefly wondering if I might be dead -- not an unreasonable concern, given the unnatural darkness that surrounded me and my sense of complete disconnection from my body. But then what I saw -- or, rather, didn’t see -- in front of my eyes changed from a black void to a peculiar pattern. I could now move my head slightly, only to be confronted by the same pattern wherever I looked. Even weirder, there was a hole in the middle of that pattern, as if I was only viewing the peripheral part. Confounding the ancient Greek definition of stroke, I was never struck down. My left hand was effectively paralyzed, but my right clung to the bathroom counter top. I remained on my feet, like the aforementioned boxer taking a standing eight count. Then, somehow, I made it to my bed perhaps five feet away (this was the bathroom attached to the master bedroom). I have no idea how this was accomplished. Gail, a firm believer in the supernatural, suggests the intervention of angels. I can’t dispute it. So I lay on my back, wondering how I could possibly continue my journalism and writing career as a blind man, when everything simply switched back on. The best comparison I can make is to a TV set that blinks off during a brief power outage, then reappears in stages. My left side went back online, then my left eye, followed by the reverse procedure on the right side. Our two small malte-poo dogs were on the bed with me, looking at me curiously. The whole event took less than five minutes. Gail came home then, and I told her what had happened. Then I rolled off the bed and stood up. Except for some slight fatigue, all systems seemed to be working. I could talk clearly, think clearly, and see clearly. The whole experience of being “stroked” seemed like a bad dream. Later, in the Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital rehab unit, I realized how lucky I had been. My fellow patients were undergoing therapy for a wide range of afflictions (including a man who suffered significant brain damage when a large tree fell on his head), but many had been placed there by strokes. Lawrence had just finished working in his garden and didn’t realize until he got up to walk into the house that his left leg was paralyzed. Mary had to re-learn such basic human

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abilities as talking, writing and walking, as if her brain were a computer hard drive that had been wiped clean. The blood clots that afflicted James had to be dug out of his spinal cord, leaving him with terrible bouts of pain. By contrast, my stroke was of the drive-by variety. The clots -- two of them, apparently -struck in an area that wasn’t connected to major brain function, then quicky moved

on. After my rehab, I was put on the blood thinner warfarin and released.

Indeed, my only lingering effect from this experience is a new (and somewhat disturbing) sense of the frailty of the human body. Perhaps that’s a good thing.

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health quiz

Health Quiz

In the Lungs Are both lungs in the human body the same size?

What is COPD?

How much water per day do we lose through breathing?

Do all patients with lung or heart disease require supplemental oxygen?

MM Yes, both lungs are the same size. MM No, the left lung is larger than thright. MM No, the right lung is larger than the left.

MM MM MM MM

½ tablespoon ½ cup ½ liter ½ gallon

True or Flase: The lungs are the only organ in the body that can float. MM True MM False

What is the first nonsurgical treatment choice for sufferers of sleep apnea? MM Using oxygen therapy MM Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPCP) MM Nebulizer therapy

The average person inhales about how many pounds of dust in a lifetime? MM MM MM MM

4 pounds 14 pounds 44 pounds 104 pounds

Is it possible to lower blood pressure through controlled breathing? MM Yes MM No

MM Chronic Obtuse Pupil Disease MM Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease MM Chronic Oxygen Producing Disease

MM Yes MM No

How many times a minute does a person breathe when resting? MM MM MM MM

5-7 times a minute 8-11 times a minute 12-15 times a minute 16-19 times a minute

What are the warning signs of lung disease? »» The warning signs of lung disease are as follows: chronic cough, shortness of breath, chronic mucus production, wheezing, coughing up blood, and chronic chest pain. »» If you experience any of these warning signs or symptoms, tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible. »» For ANSWERS to this Health Quiz, visit us online at www.ourhealthvirginia.com

This Health Quiz is sponsored by: »» Lincare »» Roberts Home Medical, Inc. »» Generations Medical Supply Store

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faith & wellness

Former Virginia Tech football standout credits Christ for his good health and fortune on and off the field Words [ Sheila Ellis-Glasper ]

For Orion Martin, Christianity is not just part of his life, it’s what leads him in life. He credits his faith in Christ for helping him make smart decisions while growing up, when he was a star football player at Virginia Tech and in his life today. And when life gets hard, Martin says he takes his problems to Jesus instead of stressing about things that were out of his control. “It’s a healthy way to live,” says Martin. “Give your life to Christ, and you will live better.”

A Strong Foundation Going to church was not an option for Martin growing up. It was an expectation. His parents were Sunday school teachers. Orion and his younger brother would often already know the Sunday school lesson before getting to church. The family’s day-to-day activities revolved around church, and the family faithfully attended Bible study, worship service, vacation Bible school and other church activities. The Martinsville native said although he had a good idea of “what was going on in the Bible,” it wasn’t until his teenage years that he understood the true significance of his faith. He was baptized at 13 years old. After that, he began to become more intimate with God, praying more and studying scripture.

Jumping out on Faith Martin comes from an athletic family. His father played football at William and Mary and his uncle played for Virginia Tech. He was determined to follow in their footsteps and play Division I football himself. He worked hard in high school, but to his surprise, his senior year came and went without one offer from a major college. Disappointed, Martin decided to accept a partial scholarship from Hargrave Military Academy, a military boarding school in Chatham that prepares young men for life after high school. He wanted to give himself time to see if he would get more scholarship offers. The next semester, Norfolk State University offered him a scholarship, but he only attended there for one semester. “My heart was at Virginia Tech,” he says. During the summer of 2004, Martin left Norfolk and transferred to Virginia Tech with high hopes to walk on to the football team. He made it.

www.ourhealthvirginia.com 71

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faith & wellness

“I could have easily stayed at Norfolk State, but I would have gone through the rest of my life regretting not taking that chance,” he explains. “I thought if I go and don’t make it, I can live with that.” He was a redshirt his freshman year, and the following year he earned a scholarship. “It took a lot of faith,” he says. “When you make a move like that, and jump out on faith, that’s when you really test it.”

to me all ye who are heavy burdened.’ When I take my problems to Jesus he will give us rest.” Going away to college forced Martin to take responsibility for his own relationship with Christ.

“You know, I was with my parents for a whole 17 years,” he says. “Then they weren’t there “I could have given in, but I anymore; they weren’t decided to take a stand,” he says. there to make me go to church.” “I wanted to take a stand for Christ.

He did it for me, and I was going to do it for Him.”

Martin went on to become a starting player for Virginia Tech, winning many awards and playing in the Orange Bowl in 2008.

Faith and Wellness

Martin notes.

Learning to balance schoolwork and football wasn’t easy,

Then Virginia Tech hired a team chaplain, Johnny Shelton, to lead bible studies and worship services and serve as a spiritual adviser to the players.

Martin attributes his low-stress lifestyle to his faith in God.

Martin says Shelton played a major role in his spiritual life.

“In the scripture, Matthew 11:28-29, it says: ‘Come

“Once you get off to school, you do your own thing,”

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Martin says. “He [Shelton] got my focus back and my walk back.” Martin quickly became a spiritual leader on the team who players looked up to “for not only talking the talk, but walking the walk,” Shelton says on a recent phone interview.

Finding Faith on the Field Faith in God taught Martin to play football unselfishly. “A lot of guys are out there for the fame, hoping one day to make it to the NFL and make a whole lot of money,” Shelton says. Martin admits he once thought that way. Being active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Virginia Tech helped Martin understand how to use his faith in a different way. “I learned to put God first. I learned not to leave God in the locker room, but to bring him on the field and let Him have the glory.” Shelton explains that football is a performance driven sport, so it is difficult for players to understand it’s not all about them. “Adopting this mindset takes a lot of pressure off players,” says Shelton. “The stronger your faith is, the less amount of stress you will have.” Shelton also points out a Christian lifestyle helps players make healthier decisions. “For instance, they are not staying up late and partying all night while still trying to participate in sports and then go to class,” he says. “As your faith grows, you are not interested in the same things unbelievers are. This yields healthy results.”

Taking a Stand for Christ Martin admits it was hard to stay away from alcohol and parties when he was young in his faith. But after a while, his friends understood his Christian background. And instead of pressuring him, they respected him. Shelton remembers the night Martin talked to the team about giving their life to Christ. Once a week, the team met to talk and share their faith experiences. Martin was usually pretty quiet during these meetings, but on this one day, something made him speak up. “He stood up and challenged the players to stop straddling the fence and live for God,” Shelton says. “Orion doesn’t talk a whole lot, but when he does, people listen. It was like he was preaching.” Shelton says he and Martin often talked about the power of faith in life, on the field and in health. “I can see God using him powerfully,” Shelton continues. “I can see him as a head football college coach one day. He will be able to not only teach the sport, but also help develop young people into fine men.”

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faith & wellness

Change of plans After a successful college football career, Orion had his eyes set on the NFL. The Miami Dolphins selected him to be on the team, but after a few months, he was released. He was later picked up by the Detroit Lions, where he played in four pre-season games. But unfortunately, he was released from the Lions, as well. There he was, back in his parents’ house in Martinsville.

“No one was calling me,” he says. “I didn’t know what to do.” Martin was feeling down, but he was determined to keep his faith. He knew an opportunity to make a difference was out there. “I kept praying,” says Martin. “I asked the Lord to help guide me.” It wasn’t long before Martin was given his opportunity. It came when Virginia Tech head coach, Frank Beamer, called and asked him if he would be interested in joining the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. “For whatever reason, God had other plans for me,” Martin says. “I don’t question it. I am grateful.” Martin was a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech for the last two years. He worked as a camp counselor at Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County this summer before accepting the assistant football coach position at Franklin County High School. Martin has a football card with his testimony on the back that he passes out to young people he meets. In short, it encourages kids to realize they are not perfect; they will make mistakes and there will be trials in life.

at Wyndhurst “If you keep your faith in the Lord, He will be with you all the way. Whatever your put your mind to, you can do it with Him by your side,” concludes Martin. 74