OurHealth Roanoke & New River Valleys Jun/Jul 2016 Edition by OurHealth Media LLC

table of contents | june • july 2016

MEDI•CABU•LARY.....................12 Local experts define health-related terms

JUST ASK!.......................................14

Despite popular opinion, men need to take care of themselves. OurHealth is celebrating Mens Health Month with a Men's Chart for Healthy Aging. This information may be the difference in helping you live your fullest and happiest life.

Healthcare questions answered by local professionals

NEW & NOTEWORTHY.............16 A listing of new physicians, providers, locations and upcoming events in Southwest Virginia

HEALTH POINTS........................ 26 Interesting facts and tidbits about health

THE ANATOMY CHALLENGE................................. 29 Are you up for the challenge? In this issue, test your knowledge when it comes to the SKIN.

GET TO KNOW MOHS SURGERY......................... 30 A treatment for skin cancer developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 1930s has become widely accepted in recent years as having the highest cure rate for most types of skin cancer.

New Kitchen New Nutrition New You!

Part three of the OurHealth series that highlights small changes you can make in your food prep and shopping habits that can add up to a major positive impact on your nutrition and health.

47 Part II of OurHealth’s four-part series looks at how students and their families can evaluate and choose the right undergraduate school to best prepare them for their healthcare specialty, and how to achieve success as an undergrad.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

61 This article, the third in a yearlong OurHealth series about primary care, will focus on sharing your care, for how to work healthy practices into your daily life and motivate others to do the same.

THE CURRENT

ON WHAT'S

URGENT CARE

hello, HEALTH!.............................. 58 Capturing the spirit of those working in healthcare and of people leading healthy lives through photos

FIT BITS!........................................ 73 WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH KETTLEBALLS? Green Ridge Recreation Center shares the many training benefits of using kettlebells.

CLOSER LOOK..............................90 Images reflecting the landscape of healthcare in Southwest Virginia * PLUS * a chance to win a prize pack for FOUR from Chick-fil-a!

A NEW

REHAB FACILITY FOR ROANOKE

Walk into Friendship Health’s new rehabilitation center in Southwest Roanoke County, and you’ll be hard pressed to know that you were entering a healthcare facility.

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june • july 2016

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CONTRIBUTING MEDICAL EXPERTS Sheila Hardee, DDS Ryan Harris, DO Troy Mysliwiec, OD Brian van der Linden, MD CONTRIBUTING PROFESSIONAL Geri Aston EXPERTS & WRITERS Lynn Atkinson Rich Ellis Tricia Foley, MS, RD Jennifer Hellier Steve McClintic Jr. Lynette Mutter Susan Painter Rick Piester Deidre Wilkes

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COMMENTS/FEEDBACK/QUESTIONS We welcome your feedback. Please send all comments and/or questions to the following: U.S. Mail: McClintic Media, Inc., ATTN: Steve McClintic, Jr., President/ Publisher/Editor: 303 S. Colorado Street • Salem, VA 24153. | Email: steve@ourhealthvirginia.com | Phone: 540.387.6482 Ext. 1 Information in all print editions of OurHealth and on all OurHealth websites (websites listed below) and social media updates and emails 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 © 2016 by McClintic Media, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. OurHealth Southwest Virginia is published bi-monthly • Special editions are also published • McClintic Media, Inc. • 303 S. Colorado Street, Salem, VA 24153, P: 540.387.6482 F: 540.387.6483. MAIN: ourhealthvirginia.com | ourhealthswva.com | ourhealthlbss.com | ourhealthrichmond.com | ourhealthcville.com | Advertising rates upon request.

LOCAL EXPERTS D E F I N E H E A LT H R E L AT E D T E R M S

“

”

What is the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

What is a root planning and scaling periodontal procedure?

What is the difference between ADLs and IADLs related to senior care?

An HMO – health maintenance organization – has a defined network of contracted providers. These are doctors, hospitals and other medical providers contracted with an insurance company to provide care to the enrolled members. A primary care physician (PCP) coordinates your care and you may need a referral from your PCP to see a specialist. In most cases, you must use network providers for all scheduled care but you are covered for an emergency or outof-area urgent care need. Out of pocket costs for the policyholder are generally lower in HMOs.

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Because it is generally asymptomatic, most patients are unaware they have any disease. It can only be diagnosed with a thorough periodontal exam. Periodontitis has been associated with many systemic diseases such as heart, kidney, diabetes, and stroke.

There are two types of life functions needed in the daily lives of our older seniors. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).

PPOs (preferred provider organizations) are a defined network of providers, but you have flexibility to use providers who aren’t part of the network. The policyholders out of pocket costs may increase when they use an out of network provider unless it is an emergency. The policyholder saves money by using network providers because the plan pays a larger share of the costs.

Lynn Atkinson

Humana Roanoke | 540.685.3817 www.humana.com

- Sheila Hardee, DDS

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Type I (gingivitis) is routinely treated with daily home care and routine cleanings every six months. Type II (early periodontitis) and some early Type III (moderate periodontitis) are usually treated by conservative approach known as root planing and scaling. RP&S is initial periodontal therapy and is a relatively painless procedure. Patients rarely experience the associated pain as found in periodontal surgery. Using local anesthetic, a hygienist performs a deep scaling to remove accumulated tartar, calculus and rough cementum from the root surfaces which are subsequently smoothed or planed. Patients return in several weeks for a fine scale and polish. The patient is then seen every four months for their cleaning and routine exam.

Sheila Hardee, DDS

Blue Ridge Dental Hardy | 540.328.0098 www.blueridgedentalgroup.com

ADLs are the physical tasks that are essential in getting through the day. They involve personal hygiene and physically caring for and moving the body. Examples are walking, bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating. All are essential to us being able to get up in the morning and get through our day. IADLs are activities that are more oriented to interactions with the environment that go beyond basic self care and are necessary for living independently. These are the activities that support an independent life style. Examples of IADLs include cooking, driving, keeping track of finances, shopping, meal preparation, and cleaning the home. Many people can still remain independent even though they may need help with one or two of these activities. When individuals are no longer able to perform most of their ADLs and IADLs on their own, it can be time for the family to consider other options for caring for their loved one such as a home care companion agency or assisted living community.

Susan Painter

Director of Marketing Hermitage in Roanoke Roanoke | 540.767.6800 www.hermitageinroanoke.com

H E A LT H C A R E QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONALS

“

Men are more likely than women to get colorectal cancer as well as people ages 65 and older. There are also lifestyle factors that can increase a person’s risk, including a diet high in fat, lack of exercise, and smoking. Certain medical conditions can also impact your chances of developing colon cancer, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

”

When should I speak to my doctor about knee replacement surgery?

What are some signs that may indicate I need a low vision evaluation?

When diagnosed with knee arthritis, conservative measures should always be tried in order to control pain and retain as much day-today function as possible. These conservative measures are usually a combination of medications, physical therapy, injections, activity modifications, and/or bracing. When these conservative measures fail, individuals may find themselves in a situation where there are challenges managing day-to-day pain. Quality of life may continue to decline, and a person's ability to take care of themselves may also be limited.

A low vision exam is a comprehensive evaluation to determine what ‘aids’ are best suited for providing a patient with the most functional vision after vision loss from ocular conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or other conditions that effect vision such as a stroke. Therefore, if a person has suffered vision loss that is not simply corrected with glasses only, a low vision exam may be recommended.

If any of those situations occur, it may be time to talk to your physician about if you are a candidate for knee replacement surgery.

Ryan Harris, DO

Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences Carilion Clinic Christiansburg | 540.731.2436 www.carilionclinic.org

- Brian van der Linden, MD

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

The results from the low vision evaluation can be beneficial in finding ways to use the patient’s current vision in a more functional manner with the end goal of gaining independence and achieving activities of daily living that would not be possible with glasses only.

Troy Mysliwiec, OD

Johnson Curran Optometry Centers Roanoke | 540.989.6515 www.johnsoncurran.com

How can I tell if I am at risk for colorectal cancer? Colorectal tumors can grow slowly over the course of several years, and often have no symptoms in the early stages. The most common symptoms for colorectal cancer are a change in bowel habits and blood in the stool or rectal bleeding. Men are more likely than women to get colorectal cancer as well as people ages 65 and older. There are also lifestyle factors that can increase a person’s risk, including a diet high in fat, lack of exercise, and smoking. Certain medical conditions can also impact your chances of developing colon cancer, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It is important to keep in mind that even without these risk factors you can still develop the disease. That is why it is recommended that people have a screening colonoscopy starting at age 50 and even younger if there is a family history of colorectal cancer.

Brian van der Linden, MD Lewis Gale Physicians Salem | 540.772.5970 www.lgphysicians.com

NEW

NOTEWORTHY Trying to Eat Healthier?

NEW PHYSICIANS, P R O V I D E R S , L O C AT I O N S AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Carilion Wellness Facility Coming to Smith Mountain Lake Retirement Village Carilion Clinic announces that it will operate a new Carilion Wellness facility at Smith Mountain Lake Retirement Village, a subsidiary of Runk & Pratt Senior Living Communities. The new facility will cater to the needs of the 50-and-older population specifically, filling a gap in wellness services in the community. “For quite some time Carilion has been researching a concept that would focus on programs specifically designed for the 50-plus market,” says Bud Grey, vice president for wellness at Carilion Clinic. “Runk & Pratt is the perfect collaborator on this project. They’ve always demonstrated their second-to-none care for their residents and residents' families.” The new Carilion Wellness facility will offer the same features that other Carilion Wellness locations offer, but they will be geared toward active older adults. Offerings being considered at the new location include: •

New Kitchen New Nutrition New You!

40 on page

• • • •

Exercise programs to assist people with chronic medical conditions Fit Rx: Carilion’s medically prescribed exercise regimen to help improve patient health Programs for pre-surgery preparation and post-surgery recovery Nutritional counseling Group exercise (e.g. tai chi, yoga)

• • • • • •

Functional training Personal training Aquatic therapy Flu vaccinations Health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Educational opportunities related to health and diet.

Some offerings will be available to the general public, such as Carilion’s educational opportunities, while others will be available to members only. The population of older adults is steadily increasing at the lake, so Runk & Pratt began collaborating with Carilion in the fall of 2015 on this wellness concept. “When we thought about how we could better incorporate wellness into the Smith Mountain Lake Retirement Village, we knew we needed an organization with the right expertise in wellness,” says Vickie Runk, vice president and owner, Runk & Pratt Senior Living Communities. “Carilion Clinic came immediately to mind; wellness is a part of their philosophy.” Ground is expected to be broken on the new 18,000 square-foot facility in the next few months. Carilion Wellness at Smith Mountain Lake Retirement Village will be located at 157 Westlake Road. It is expected to open sometime in early 2017. For more information, visit www.carilionwellness.com.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

NEW

NOTEWORTHY

NEW PHYSICIANS, P R O V I D E R S , L O C AT I O N S AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Warm Hearth Village Apartment Residents Reaping the Rewards of Grant from Department of Housing and Urban Development Warm Hearth Village received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to include a Resident Service Coordinator position to benefit the residents of Trolinger House and New River House Apartments. Cindy Wiley-Lamb, hired as resident service coordinator, works diligently to connect residents with community resources so that they are more empowered to care for themselves, participate fully in the Warm Hearth community and enrich their personal lives through wellness and education programs. Lamb connects residents with local assistance programs and resources including but not limited to, the Montgomery County Department of Social Services, SNAP, the Lions Club and the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society. Through these resources, residents are getting assistance with energy expenses, healthy meal choices, medical supplies, and legal assistance. Lamb has also identified a growing need among this population for personal care items including dental care, personal cleaning, and incontinence items. In response, staff of the Warm Hearth Foundation have expanded their current Micah’s Soup for Seniors program to include Micah’s Personal Care. Staff, including Lamb, are working with local businesses to garner donations of these necessities and these along with help from the Foundation’s Resident Assistance Fund are estimated to serve more than 100 seniors on a regular basis. Warm Hearth Village is a nonprofit senior living community in Blacksburg. For more information, visit www.warmhearth.org. For more information on how you can participate with the Micah’s programs contact Karen Nelson at 540.443.3406 or knelson@warmhearth.org.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Don Bivens, MD

Michael Bowman, MD

Peter DeReus, DO

Kelly Finnegan, PA-C

Dana Garnand, FNP BC Lauren Good, DO, FACOP Carilion Clinic Urology Christiansburg 540.382.3440 www.carilionclinic.org

LewisGale Physicians Pediatrics Salem | 540.772.3580 www.lgphysicians.com

Edward Habeeb, MD

Virginia Hart, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC

David Jones

S. Carmella Parker, PA

Leslie Peterson, NP

Wayne Robbins, DO

Mary Jo Toothman, CNM Carilion Clinic OB/GYN Christiansburg 540.731.4578 www.carilionclinic.org

Philip E. Wakefield, MD

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Roanoke | 540.981.7000 www.carilionclinic.org

Carilion Clinic Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences Roanoke | 540.725.1226 www.carilionclinic.org

Anne Rodgers, PA Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Rocky Mount 549.489.5277 www.carilionclinic.org

LewisGale Physicians ENT/Plastic Facial & Reconstructive Surgery Blacksburg | 540.443.7400 www.lgphysicians.com

LewisGale Physicians Psychiatry Salem | 540.772.3485 www.lgphysicians.com

Arnold Salzberg, MD, FACS Carilion Clinic General Surgery Roanoke | 540.224.5170 www.carilionclinic.org

Amy Webb

Carilion New River Valley Medical Center Christiansburg 540.731.2000 www.carilionclinic.org

Assistant Administrator/ Director of Activities Showalter Center at Warm Hearth Village Blacksburg | 540.443.3420 www.retire.org

Lauren Smith, PA-C LewisGale Physicians Internal Medicine

Christiansburg | 540.381.1882 Blacksburg | 540.443.3980

LewisGale Physicians Gastroenterology Blacksburg | 540.552.3670 www.lgphysicians.com

VelocityCare by Carilion Salem | 540.387.0441

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Charlie Swanson Jr., MD Carilion Clinic Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Roanoke | 540.981.8025 www.carilionclinic.org

Carilion Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Roanoke | 540.985.8078 www.carilionclinic.org

Carilion Clinic Otolaryngology/ENT Roanoke | 540.224.5170 www.carilionclinic.org

Carilion Clinic Dermatology Roanoke | 540.581.0254 www.carilionclinic.org

www.lgphysicians.com

Home Health Consultant Warm Hearth at Home Blacksburg | 540.808.8817 www.retire.org

Jordan A. White, NP Carilion Clinic Family & Community Medicine Daleville | 540.966.0400 www.carilionclinic.org

Afsanah Widner, PA VelocityCare by Carilion Salem | 540.375.8190

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

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NEW

NOTEWORTHY

NEW PHYSICIANS, P R O V I D E R S , L O C AT I O N S AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Carilion to Expand Family Medicine Practice in Tazewell Carilion Clinic will double the size of the family medicine offices at Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital by adding another doctor and expanding the facility to include 12 exam rooms. "Our last Community Health Needs Assessment identified that the county needed more primary care providers," said Trish Frazier, regional practice director for Carilion Clinic. "We’re thrilled that we can begin filling that need.”

Don't Miss

Carilion will introduce a new doctor this summer. Currently, the office has one full-time doctor, Kelly Rebkovich, DO, one part-time doctor, Kevin Combs, DO, and a full-time nurse practitioner Tonia Mitchell, NP. The family medicine office will move to the west side of the hospital, following renovation of the former intensive care area and surrounding space. This move will allow for more spacious exam rooms and an office area for staff. Access to the new office will be on the right side of the hospital building, near the main entrance. Parking will be in that general vicinity. Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital offers round-the-clock emergency care through the Emergency Department, laboratory and imaging services, rehabilitative and physical therapy care and inpatient nursing care, as well as home care. For more information visit www.carilionclinic.org.

Carilion Clinic Begins Participating in Veterans Choice Program Carilion Clinic has begun seeing patients with insurance through the Veterans Choice Program, per the Veterans Access, Choice, Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014. Carilion Clinic began working with the Veterans Choice Program in June 2015 after receiving requests from veterans in the community.

36 on page

The VACAA expanded the number of options veterans have for receiving care to ensure veterans have timely access to high-quality care. The Veterans Choice Program provides primary care, inpatient and outpatient specialty care and mental health care for eligible veterans when the local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility cannot provide the services due to lack of available specialists, long wait times, or an extraordinary distance from the veteran’s home. In order to receive care at a Carilion Clinic facility, veterans must work through the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) system. They will be able to obtain care at Carilion if, after they attempt to make an appointment with a VA medical facility, they cannot be seen within 30 days of their prescribed or desired time frame or if they reside more than 40 miles driving distance from a VA medical facility. To schedule an appointment or find out more about the program, veterans should contact the Veterans Choice Program at 1.866.606.8198 or visit www.va.gov/opa/choiceact. Additionally, each VA medical facility employs a "Choice Champion" who has been trained to answer questions about the Veterans Choice Program.

Scan Here to Watch a Video About the Veterans Choice Program 20

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

NEW

NOTEWORTHY

NEW PHYSICIANS, P R O V I D E R S , L O C AT I O N S AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Tobacco-Free Hokies Campaign Reaches Local Middle Schools You may have seen the T-shirts around Blacksburg. The front mimics a cigarette package, but with one of several humorous twists, such as, “SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Don’t use a porcupine as a pillow. Don’t smoke either.” The back of the shirt shows the HokieBird and identifies the wearer as “Another Tobacco-Free Hokie.”

Health Education and Awareness Team (HEAT) members Alex Leaverton (left) and Emma Pence (right) show graphic examples of the effects of tobacco use during a Tobacco-Free Hokies workshop at Dublin Middle School.

The Tobacco-Free Hokies campaign, now in its 15th year, began as a program to raise awareness of issues surrounding tobacco use and encourage Virginia Tech students to live a tobacco-free lifestyle. A part of Hokie Wellness, the campaign has expanded in recent years to local middle schools in the communities surrounding the university, where Virginia Tech students on the Health Education and Awareness Team (HEAT) take the message to sixth-graders. Virginia Tech HEAT members are trained, knowledgeable, skilled, and fun program facilitators. Middle school students not only learn from them, but also look up to them as tobacco-free role models. Using a variety of interactive techniques, HEAT members educate the sixth-graders on the dangers of tobacco use. Role-playing, demonstrations, games, and visual aids all give the children a chance to learn about and discuss tobacco use. “There are many things in our program that can affect a child,” said Jon Fritsch, assistant director for health education with Hokie Wellness, who oversees the Tobacco-Free Hokies campaign. “Learning about all the toxins and carcinogens in tobacco might have the biggest impact on some children. Others are impressed by talking about their mom or dad who use tobacco. Most of them love getting their Tobacco-Free Hokies T-shirt and making a commitment to being healthy.”

Scan Here to Watch the Tobacco Free Hokies Middle School Video:

Each spring HEAT members teach about 40 educational classes and distribute Tobacco-Free Hokies T-shirts to their middle school students. The Tobacco-Free Hokies campaign has worked in collaboration with the middle schools in Blacksburg, Eastern Montgomery, Christiansburg, Pulaski, Dublin, and Auburn. For more information about the program, visit www.hokiewellness.vt.edu.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Awarded 2016 Stroke Achievement Award.

Find us on social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and You Tube.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) has received the Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award from the American Heart/American Stroke Association. The team performed above core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Stroke Association for 12 months consecutively. They also received the designation of Stroke Honor Roll Elite for directly improving quality of care and outcomes for stroke patients. For more information on Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, visit www.carilionclinic.org. For more information on the American Heart/ American Stroke Association, visit www.heart.org.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Support Group Offered in Roanoke If you suffer from Crohn’s or colitis, you are not alone, CCFA can help! The CCFA Roanoke IBD Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the Roanoke City Main Library, 706 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24016. Free parking is available on Jefferson Street surrounding the library and at Carilion Community Hospital’s garage on Jefferson Street or parking lot on Elm Avenue. For more information, email beckie@spaids.com and maysj18@gmail.com.

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NEW

NOTEWORTHY

NEW PHYSICIANS, P R O V I D E R S , L O C AT I O N S AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Virginia Tech Addiction Scholar Honored with Career Achievement Award The world’s oldest scientific organization studying addiction, the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, selected Warren Bickel, PhD as the 2016 recipient of the Nathan B. Eddy Award. The annual award is the college’s highest honor and acknowledges outstanding research efforts that advance the knowledge of drug dependence. Dr. Bickel is a professor and the director of the Addiction Recovery Research Center at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. Dr. Bickel studies discounting of delayed rewards — why a person might decide a quick fix now is worth more than other long-term rewards, such as health— in an effort to understand how and why people decide to use drugs or alcohol or engage in other risky behaviors. His eventual hope is that his research will lead to new interventions to help people with addiction. “Addiction is a chronic disease, but it’s currently treated as an acute problem. My research team and I are working to Warren Bickel, PhD is a professor and the director of the Addiction Recovery Research Center at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.

better understand addiction and, in turn, better inform the treatment of addiction,” Dr. Bickel says. Dr. Bickel introduced and developed the use of behavioral economics as an approach to the study of drug dependence. He established the conceptual approach known as the Competing Neurobehavioral Decision System. Scientists use the approach to examine how a person makes decisions based on the combined input of impulse and executive systems — and how an imbalance can lead to valuation of unhealthy habits, such as addiction. “Dr. Bickel is an internationally recognized leader in addiction science — it is an honor for him to receive this award and for the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute to have Dr. Bickel and his program here in Roanoke,” says Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. “However, I am not surprised by this recognition as Dr. Bickel’s work continues to dramatically change our understanding of addiction and ways to treat it.” For more information visit the VTC Addiction Recovery Research Center at labs.vtc.vt.edu/arrc.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

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T I P S , T I D B I T S A ND MO R E TO I NF O R M A ND ENT ERTA I N YO U

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK JUNE 13TH- 19TH

Men’s Health Week, celebrated every June, heightens the awareness of preventable health problems and encourages early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

DID YOU KNOW: •

•

Women are more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than men. In 1920, women lived, on average one year longer than men. Now, men, on average, die almost five years earlier than women.

Source: Center for Disease Control.

Mooove Over Milk Carton!

On average,

230 people

go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday. Source: United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Did you know that drinking milk from a glass bottle is better for your health? Local farm-fresh milk delivery offers milk that is free of all hormones and antibiotics, and because it is sold in recycled glass bottles it tastes fresher longer and is

more environmentally friendly. It can also be a trip down memory lane for those who grew up remembering the ‘milk man’ coming to the door each week! Source: Homestead Creamery in Moneta.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

HARD FACT: The enamel on teeth is the body’s HARDEST substance.

NOT COO L Mom

RACE 13.1 DID YOU

KNOW? Although it is largely preventable,

TOOTH DECAY is the

NUMBER ONE chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Source: Centers for Disease Control.

R O A N O K E

Race 13.1 returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains

for the second Friendship Health Race 13.1 Roanoke half marathon, 10k and 5k. The race starts and finishes in beautiful downtown Roanoke along the river at Rivers Edge North, and the course will feature stretches of greenway along the picturesque Roanoke River! The charity partner for this event is Carilion Clinic Hospice.

childhood or adolescence MORE THAN DOUBLE a person’s chances of developing MELANOMA later in life.

For more information, scan the QR or visit www.race131.com.

Source: Skin Cancer Foundation.

Four 4th on the

IN THE POOL:

32-48 ounces every hour

9-12 years old 3-8 ounces every 20 minutes

blistering sunburns in

Date: Saturday, June 18, 2016 Time: 7 a.m. Location: River’s Edge North 302 Wiley Drive, SW Roanoke, VA 24011

PLAYING

Adolescents

One or more

Don’t Forget to Hydrate! Hydration is important before, during and after swimming. Kids aged 9-12 years old should drink 3-8 fluid ounces of water every 20 minutes. For adolescents, the recommendation is 32-48 fluid ounces every hour. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Four on the 4th presented by Fleet Feet Sports Roanoke is a 4-Mile Run and Walk in Roanoke that takes place on July 4th and benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia. The 4-mile race will be a "lollipop" loop, starting and finishing at the Wachovia Plaza in Downtown Roanoke. This is a great way to start the holiday off on the right ‘foot’!

Date:

Monday, July 4, 2016

Time:

8 a.m.

Location:

Wachovia Tower 10 South Jefferson Street Roanoke, VA 24011

For more information, scan the QR or visit www.riversiderunners.com.

www.OurHealthswva.com

Anatomy CHALLENGE

the

How much do you know about Your

Skin? Complete the word

search below. Next, match the correct word with the part of the body in the illustration.

[ Your Skin ]

WORD SEARCH basal cell carcinoma

hypodermis

basement membrane

melanocyte

basl cell

muscle layer

dermis

sweat duct

epidermis

sweat gland

hair shaft

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

_____________ _____________

_____________ _____________ _____________

_____________

For answers, visit OurHealth Southwest Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page at www.OurHealthswva.com

Get to

KNOW

Mohs Surgery words |LYNETTE MUTTER

A treatment for skin cancer developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 1930s has become widely accepted in recent years as having the highest cure rate for most types of skin cancer. It has been refined over the years into the most advanced, precise and effective treatment for skin cancer, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery. Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal cell carcinoma, widely used for squamous cell skin cancers, and is also used for some superficial, stage zero cases of melanoma, according to Mariana Phillips, MD, section chief of Dermatology and Mohs Surgery at Carilion Clinic. Mohs provides the highest chance for a cure and the lowest chance for recurrence, even when other treatments have failed.

WHY IS IT SO EFFECTIVE? During Mohs surgery, frozen layers of the cancerous tumor or lesion are taken, one at a time, and examined on-site under a microscope until 100 percent of the skin cancer has been removed and the tissue surrounding the margins is cancer-free. “As little healthy tissue as possible is removed to clear the tumor, keeping surgical defects as small as possible, which simplifies reconstruction and results in better cosmetic outcomes,” says Dr. Phillips. “Checking the tumor margins during surgery guarantees that all cancerous tissue is removed and virtually eliminates the need for a second procedure, which would lead to more scarring. “Another advantage of Mohs surgery is that it is performed in a physician’s office under local anesthesia,

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ABCDE

Know Your Characteristics BENIGN

MALIGNANT

Asymmetrical Shape

WHO KNOWS MOHS MORE?

Melanoma lesions are often irregular, or not symmetrical, in shape. Benign moles are usually symmetrical. BENIGN

MALIGNANT

Border

Typically, non-cancerous moles have smooth, even borders. Melanoma lesions usually have irregular borders that are difficult to define. BENIGN

MALIGNANT

Color

The presence of more than one color (blue, black, brown, tan, etc.) or the uneven distribution of color can sometimes be a warning sign of melanoma. Benign moles are usually a single shade of brown or tan. BENIGN

MALIGNANT

Diameter

BENIGN

MALIGNANT

Evolution

The evolution of your mole(s) has become the most important factor to consider when it comes to diagnosing a melanoma. Knowing “your normal” could save your life. If a mole has gone through recent changes in color and/or size, bring it to the attention of a dermatologist immediately. Information Source: Melanoma Research Foundation Graphic Source: the Skin Cancer Foundation

Mohs surgeons are board-certified dermatologists who have completed an extra year of training after residency and a procedural dermatology fellowship from one of 30 training centers in the country, according to Dr. Phillips, who is currently the only Mohs surgeon at Carilion Clinic. Another Mohs surgeon will be joining her practice in August. Post-residency Mohs training programs are intensive with a highly selective fellowship application and selection process, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery. Mohs surgeons are required to be both reconstructive specialists and surgical pathologists with the ability to accurately interpret tissue samples. According to Phillips, “With Mohs surgery, about 90 percent of the reconstruction necessary is performed at the same time of the procedure. In rare cases, patients might be referred to reconstructive (or plastic) surgeons if they have large tumors or request full anesthesia, which must be done in a hospital or surgery center. “Depending on the location of the skin cancer, other reconstructive surgeons might be consulted, such as an oculoplastic (eye) surgeon or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor, also known as an ENT),”says Dr. Phillips. “In some cases, a lymph node biopsy and radiation might also be recommended, along with Mohs surgery.”

KNOW YOUR SKIN AND COVER IT UP

Melanoma lesions are often greater than six millimeters in diameter (approximately the size of a pencil eraser).

minimizing surgical ‘down time’ for the patient, as well as recovery time,” Dr. Phillips notes. “It is also less expensive than surgical procedures performed in hospital settings where more sedation is required.”

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

As with most medical conditions, prevention of skin cancer is the key. Sun exposure is the most important factor contributing to skin cancer. This is especially the case for people who have fair skin, red hair, who burn easily or may be genetically predisposed to develop skin cancer. “Avoid the sun between 11 am and 4 pm, seek shade and wear sunscreen, hats and long sleeves,” advises Dr. Phillips. People tend to develop skin cancer when chronic exposure to ultraviolet light (either outdoors or in tanning booths) damages the DNA of skin cells, causing them to grow out of control, rather than die. When caught early, 99 percent of skin cancer can be cured, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery. “It’s important to look for patterns and pay special attention to what we call ‘outliers or ugly ducklings,’ any spot which

differs from others on your body,” explains Dr. Phillips, who also advises being checked for skin cancer right away if you have a “pimple” that doesn’t go away in a month. Other warning signs include lesions that bleed, itch, continue to grow or don’t heal. If suspicious changes to moles, freckles, spots or scars are found, schedule a visit with your primary care physician or dermatologist for a thorough skin screening as soon as possible.

STAY IN CHECK Monthly self-exams and annual skin screenings by your primary care physician or dermatologist can help catch skin cancer in the early stages and greatly improve your chance of being cured. “If you have experienced sun damage or you or a family member have a history of skin cancer, you should be checked by your PCP or a dermatologist every six months to a year, depending on your risk level,” Dr. Phillips suggests.

Mohs surgery is especially appropriate for: •

Large tumors or tumors with ill-defined edges

•

Skin cancer lesions which have grown rapidly

•

Areas where cosmetic appearance and function are important

•

Tumors that are recurring (or at risk of recurrence)

•

Areas located in scar tissue

Source: American College of Mohs Surgery

Be prepared to tell your doctor when the spot was noticed, symptoms you may have and your history of sun exposure. Skin cancer is diagnosed through a biopsy of all or part of a suspected lesion. If your primary care provider does not do them, a referral to a dermatologist will be made.

SKIN CANCER SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS According to the American College of Mohs Surgery, basal cell is the most common type of skin cancer and tends to appear on areas most exposed to the sun – head, face, ears, neck, upper back, hands and arms. During your self-exam, look for: •

Small, pearly, translucent bumps

•

Thickened scar tissue

•

Red, scaly patches

•

Areas that crust over, bleed or do not heal completely

“If you have experienced sun damage or you or a family member have a history of skin cancer, you should be checked by your PCP or a dermatologist every six months to a year, depending on your risk level.”

The second most common skin cancer is squamous cell, with the greatest risk among people with light hair and eyes who have had chronic exposure to the sun. This type of skin cancer can spread into lymph nodes and internal organs, and is most commonly found on the scalp, face, ears, lips, hands and lower legs. It can appear as a red, scaly patch or bump. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer with only one-third arising from existing moles, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery. It may be found anywhere on the body, but is more prevalent on the chest, abdomen or back. It is most commonly found on the lower legs of women and the backs of men. According to Dr. Phillips, “Not all moles will become cancerous, but if a mole meets even one of the ABCDE melanoma criteria (see ABCDE sidebar), have it checked out.

Mariana Phillips, MD is a dermatologist with Carilion Clinic. Dr. Phillips specializes in Mohs surgery and skin cancer and is certified by the American Board of Dermatology.

“While not all skin cancer needs to be treated with Mohs surgery, it can be the ideal procedure in some cases, especially the most aggressive,” Dr. Phillips states. “If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, it is certainly worth discussing the possibility of Mohs surgery with your healthcare provider.”

“Mohs surgery provides the highest chance for a cure and the lowest chance for recurrence, even when other treatments have failed.” — Dr. Mariana Phillips, Carilion Clinic.

EXPERT CONTRIBUTERS: Mariana Phillips, MD, section chief of Dermatology and Mohs Surgery at Carilion Clinic.

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OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Be Healthy Age Healthy June is Men’s Health Month. But it’s not the only month men should do their health justice.

words |STEVE MCCLINTIC JR.

DESPITE POPULAR OPINION,

MEN NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

REPRINTS To order reprints of the original artwork featured on this issue’s cover, contact Deidre Wilkes at 540.387.6482 or via email at deidre@ourhealthvirginia.com. To view additional work by our artist, Joe Palotas, visit www.salemartcenter.com

This may sound like a common sense statement. But it’s not one that often resonates. For many men, taking care of their health, which includes getting regular check-ups, is about half as important to them as it is for women. This isn’t an opinion. It’s a fact: according to the National Institute of Health, men go the doctor 50 percent less than women. Men aren’t immune to the many common and unfortunate health-related issues that anyone can develop. Men can get the cold. Men can get the flu. Men can get diabetes. Men can get cancer. And men can prevent many of these health conditions from occurring if they take better care of themselves. In the following pages of OurHealth Southwest Virginia is the OurHealth Men’s Chart for Healthy Aging. This chart is 100 percent important. Read it. Embrace it. Engage it. This information may be the difference in helping you live your fullest and happiest life.

www.OurHealthswva.com

OPTOMETRY

URGENT CARE

Express Family Care Bonsack | 540.400.6676 | www.ExpressFamilyCare.com

David Alligood, MD

At Express Family Care we know that urgencies occur at all ages of life. And let’s face it, in our busy lives, time is a premium and getting back to daily life is important. Life happens and we sometimes get poison ivy, or suffer a laceration or fracture, or we are weighed down with seasonal allergies. When necessary, Express Family Care can offer X-ray’s, stitches or splinting. Our goal is to get you well and keep you OUT of the ER. We post our low cash prices and we are available anytime, Monday - Saturday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thanks for trusting Express Family Care in Bonsack!

Blacksburg Eye Associates Blacksburg | 540.953.2020 | www.BlacksburgEye.com

John Dovie, OD, FAAO

Yearly examinations from your optometrist are important to start tracking not only eye health, but to help screen for systemic disease. As early as the forties, signs of UV damage can start to show and increase risk for conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. In addition, during the eye examination, the doctor is examining the small retinal blood vessels and optic nerve. Subtle signs of vascular disease such as diabetes and hypertension can be detected in the eye, many times before the condition is even diagnosed. Yearly eye exams can also help uncover cancers including leukemia, melanoma, brain tumors, and metastases from the lung and other areas.

6220 Peters Creek Road Roanoke | 540.366.3999

D. Kyle Fitzgerald, DDS

Also, in my practice I see many older men (and women) who are on medications which cause their mouth to become dry; this can lead to tooth decay. A visit to the dentist can help formulate a plan for prevention of decay. Detecting and fixing cavities when they are still small is very important! The phrase, “don’t wait till it hurts” applies to periodontal disease and decay!

Visiting the dentist for regular checkups can be very beneficial to men as they age. Perhaps the most important reason is to screen for periodontal disease, or gum disease. Age is one of the main influencing factors in the progression of this disease. Early detection and a plan of attack can be very important. Periodontal disease does not “hurt” until the later stages of the disease when treatment is far less successful.

MEN’S HEALTHY AGING

CHART FOR

DENTAL

Luckay Doc Roanoke | 540.777.6807 www.luckaydoc.com

Kenneth Luckay, DO

Men will lose around 3 percent of total testosterone per year between age 30-70. This is sometimes referred to as andropause. Men with low testosterone are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, bone loss, prostate cancer, dementia, and diabetes. Symptoms of low testosterone include weight gain, poor strength and endurance, low libido, mood changes, performance issues, and “brain fog”. This is both a quality of life issue as well as a medical issue that should be addressed. Positive effects of replacement or supplementation include increased muscle mass, increased energy and endurance, improved mood, reduced body fat, prostate and cardiovascular protection, improved cholesterol, and an overall feeling of wellbeing.

DERMATOLOGY

TESTOSTERONE CARE

Any mole that changes size, shape, color or begins to bleed should be checked.

•

Dermatology Associates of Roanoke, PC Roanoke | 540.981.1439 www.dermatologyassociatesofroanoke.com

Susan Dorsey, MD

Following these guidelines can make a big difference in early diagnosis. This is especially important for the more aggressive skin cancers such as melanoma. Remember to get help checking the back and backs of the legs!

Have a doctor check out any sore that does not heal.

•

For most men, skin care is not at the top of their list of priorities. Men usually spend more time outdoors for leisure or work, which puts them at an increased risk for skin cancer. For that reason, moving skin concerns a little higher on the list of priorities is a must. It might save their life. The American Cancer Society has two recommendations for the detection of skin cancer:

it rw

Q B

e m m

a ips

words | JENNIFER HELLIER and TRICIA FOLEY, MS, RD

ip Rec

New Kitchen New Nutrition New You! Our New Kitchen, New Nutrition, New You series focuses on helping you get healthier in the kitchen — one ingredient at a time. In each edition of OurHealth, we suggest small changes in your food preparation and grocery shopping habits that can make a big, positive impact on your overall nutrition and health. Our goal is to present you with ideas you can use and build upon and will help you create a healthier kitchen — and life — by year’s end. In this edition’s segment of our New Kitchen, New Nutrition, New You series, we have a few tasty, alternate recipes for you to try with your favorite grilling foods.

Making BBQ Better and Healthier There is not much in the world better than sitting outside on a golden, summer evening with friends, a cold beverage and a plate piled high with steak hot off the grill, barbecue baked beans and fresh coleslaw. The bold essence of a steak contrasts the cool, sweet crunch of coleslaw, and baked beans top it all off with salty-sweet savory flavor. This combination is a summertime masterpiece and you are the artist. But as every great artist knows, even a masterpiece has room for improvement. Give these recipes a try! You will be amazed how swapping out a few ingredients will make your grilled foods healthier and just as scrumptious! 40

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

The Meat Makes the Man In our recipe for steak on the grill, we substitute a skirt steak for a flank steak. These two cuts of meat can be used interchangeably in many recipes. The difference between them lies in where these steaks come from. The skirt steak comes from the muscle that makes up a cow’s diaphragm while the flank steak comes from the lower abdominal muscles of the cow. Both are similarly textured— tough with lots of fibers running through them. While the skirt steak has a more intense, beefy flavor, the flank steak is the leaner of the two cuts of meat. Any meals made with flank steak tend to be lower in fat content.

The Importance of Being “Herbiest” Using herbs and seasonings in your cooking, as opposed to store-bought sauces, can really spice up your kitchen. Switching ingredients in recipes like the ones we’ve provided is a great way to cut back on the sodium and sugar content in your meals.

Sweeter Than Sugar and Better for You Many people are familiar with using honey in place of sugar in hot tea, but honey can be used as an alternative sweetener in lots of other recipes as well. Honey has a lower GI (glycemic index) value, meaning it doesn’t raise blood sugar as quickly as regular sugar. www.OurHealthswva.com

Tricia Foley’s

STEAK ON THE GRILL

Tricia Foley is OurHealth Magazine’s resident nutritionist.

Meat Cuts Diagrams

Regular Recipe

Healthier Recipe

6 Servings

Beef

Pork

Chicken

6 Servings

1½

pound skirt steak

1½

pound flank steak

cup vegetable oil

tablespoons olive oil

1/3

cup soy sauce

1/3

cup low sodium soy sauce

tablespoons lime juice

1½

tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1½

tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

tablespoon Dijon mustard

cloves garlic, minced

teaspoon black pepper, ground

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix all wet ingredients as well as mustard, garlic and black pepper. Place meat in a shallow glass dish, pour marinade over the steak coating thoroughly. Cover, and refrigerate for six hours. Heat grill to medium-high. Oil the grill grate, then place steaks on the grill, discard the marinade. Grill meat for five minutes on each side or to desired doneness.

Nutrition Facts per serving

with marinade:

•

363 calories

•

308 calories.

•

27 grams fat (4 grams saturated)

•

20 grams fat (2 grams saturated).

•

2 grams carbohydrate

•

2 grams carbohydrate.

•

28 grams protein

•

28 grams protein.

•

225.5 milligrams sodium

•

143 milligrams sodium.

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Tricia Foley’s

COLE SLAW

Tricia Foley is OurHealth Magazine’s resident nutritionist.

Regular Recipe

Healthier Recipe

6 Servings

cups shredded cabbage

1½

cups shredded purple cabbage

cup shredded carrot

1½

cups shredded green cabbage

cup mayonnaise

cup shredded carrot

tablespoons white wine vinegar

cup green pepper, diced

teaspoon celery seed

cup red pepper, diced

tablespoons sugar

cup red onion, diced

salt and pepper to taste

cup apple cider vinegar with the mother

tablespoons local honey

Directions: In a large bowl, combine cabbage and carrots. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, celery seed, sugar, salt and pepper to make dressing. Toss dressing over cabbage mixture and allow chilling. Serve in large bowl.

Nutrition Facts per serving:

Directions: Combine all vegetables and in a separate bowl mix the vinegar and honey. Then drizzle this mixture over the bowl of vegetables and mix well. Allow to chill and serve in large bowl.

•

177.5 calories

Nutrition Facts per serving:

•

14.5 grams carbohydrate

•

56 calories

•

4 grams sugar

•

14 grams carbohydrate

•

0 grams protein

•

5.6 grams of sugar

•

13.3 grams fat (2.1 grams saturated fat)

•

0 grams protein

•

0 grams fat

•

negligible sodium

•

117 mg sodium

The

Meaning of

“With the

Mother ”

Apple cider vinegar "with the mother" is said to have more health benefits than it does without. “Mother” is what gives organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar its cloudy appearance. Mother is made up of enzymes, protein strands, and good bacteria.

www.OurHealthswva.com

Tricia Foley’s

BAKED BEANS

Tricia Foley is OurHealth Magazine’s resident nutritionist.

Regular Recipe

Healthier Recipe

6 Servings 6

tablespoons BBQ sauce

1½

(15.8 ounce) cans low sodium pinto beans

tablespoons ketchup

tablespoons brown sugar

(15 ounce) can “no salt added” tomato sauce

1/2

teaspoon dry mustard

large onion diced

1½

(15.8 ounce) cans pinto beans

1 3/4

cup water

large onion diced

tablespoons apple cider vinegar

teaspoons minced garlic

tablespoon molasses

tablespoons local honey

1/2

teaspoon salt

tablespoon cumin powder

11/4

teaspoons chili powder

1/2

teaspoon onion powder

Directions: Drain and rinse the beans. Lightly grease a four-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients. Cover and cook on high seven hours or until beans are soft. Turn off the crockpot, keeping the lid closed, let sit one hour. Serve immediately, or transfer to a container and refrigerate for up to four days. If reheating, add a little water (up to 1/2 cup for the entire recipe) and stir, then heat.

Nutrition Facts per serving:

6 Servings

•

173 calories

•

37.3 grams carbohydrate

•

7 grams fiber

•

18 grams sugar

•

0 grams fat

•

6 grams protein

•

427 milligrams sodium

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

Nutrition Facts per serving: •

133 calories

•

8.3 grams protein

•

.03 grams fat

•

25 grams carbohydrate

•

7 grams fiber

•

246.8 milligrams sodium

•

5 grams sugar

www.OurHealthswva.com

To begin a strong career in healthcare, visit us online or call:

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

the

2016

OurHealth Southwest Virginia

HOW TO IN HEALTHCARE SERIES:

R PA

T II

words | RICH ELLIS

Part I of OurHealth Southwest Virginia magazine’s four-part series—How to in Healthcare: "A Step-by-Step Guide to Pursuing a Career in Medicine” – examined how students can begin preparing for a healthcare career as early as high school. It that article, we focused on building a foundation for success and making high school curriculum count.

Part II looks at how students and their families can evaluate and choose the right undergraduate school to best prepare them for their healthcare specialty, and how to achieve success as an undergrad.

an issue-by-issue overview

PART TWO

Choosing the right undergraduate school for your healthcare specialty.

June | July

PART THREE

Entering graduate school and residency/fellowship/ clinical training.

August | September

PART FOUR

Insight on how to find the right job in your field of specialty.

October | November

ALL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO

STUDENTS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

The following is an overview of the types of healthcare and healthcare-related certificates, diplomas and degrees available to students after high school, including the general time to complete or graduate as a full time student.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Certificate programs offer professional training in a specific field. Most certificate programs take a year or less to complete, and are offered primarily at community or technical colleges or schools.

DIPLOMA PROGRAMS Diploma programs are similar to certificate programs, but are usually more in depth. Offered at community colleges or technical schools, diploma programs generally include a one to two-year program of course work and on-the-job-training.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE An associate degree is two-year degree most commonly granted by a community college or technical school. They can, however, also be granted by four-year colleges and universities. These two-year programs may provide the necessary training to prepare students for entry-level positions in certain fields. An associate degree translates into the first two years of a bachelor's degree, for those who choose to transfer into a four-program.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE A bachelor's degree is a four-year degree that is granted by a college or university. Most schools that grant bachelor's degrees require a specific course load and a minimum number of credits to graduate. A bachelor's degree is required for admittance into a graduate program, medical or dental school. There are a variety of healthcare positions available to those who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Beginning at the top of page 49 are healthcare professions, both clinical and non-clinical that are available, broken down by their education and degree requirements.

OFFERS DIFFERENT OPTIONS Both clinical and non-clinical healthcare career paths offer a myriad of choices when it comes to deciding what type of healthcare professional a student wants to become. That career decision in turn dictates a specific undergraduate path and its associated educational requirements. WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE? Students pursuing higher education after high school for a healthcare career can choose to earn a certificate, diploma, associate degree or bachelor’s degree. (See sidebar for additional information about healthcare and healthcare-related programs). Each opens the door to employment in any one of a number of healthcare careers. For example, a certificate – primarily offered at community colleges or technical schools and taking 12 months or less to complete – provides professional training in a specific field or occupation, such as a certified nursing assistant, dental assistant or home health aide. WHAT IS A DIPLOMA? A diploma is similar to a certificate program but covers the material more in-depth and requires one to two years to complete, along with hands-on experience gained on the job. Available career choices for diploma holders include medical assistant, nursing assistant, and pharmacy technician, to name just a few. WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE? An associate degree is a two-year degree offered primarily by community colleges and technical schools, but also by some fouryear colleges and universities. This degree is often transferable to a four-year bachelor’s degree program, and may serve as the first two years of the four-year degree. Registered nurses, dental hygienists, medical office managers, and paramedics are some of the healthcare careers requiring an associate degree. Jefferson College of Health Sciences offers a broad range of healthcare-related undergraduate and graduate degrees – from associate degrees to doctoral degrees – that can open up a world of career opportunities for graduates. Judith McKeon is Jefferson College’s director of the Health Sciences Office of Admissions and provided several examples. At the associate degree level for example, McKeon explains that students could pursue a career after graduation as an occupational therapy or physical therapist assistant and be qualified to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, school systems, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, mental health agencies, and community agencies. Similarly, students could choose the surgical technology path through which graduates can become members of a medical practitioner team providing surgical care to patients in a variety of surgical settings. (Continued on page 50...)

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

HEALTHCARE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE

The following is a list of healthcare positions that can be obtained through completion of a certificate program at a community college or technical/trade school:

The following is a list of healthcare positions that can be obtained through completion of a diploma program at a community college, technical/trade school or hospital.

NON-DEGREE CERTIFICATES JOB TITLE

LENGTH OF PROGRAM

NON-DEGREE DIPLOMAS

JOB TITLE.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).................four to twelve weeks

Cardiology Technologist........................................one to two years

Dental Assistant...................................................... one year or less

Health Care Documentation Specialist.....10 months to two years

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)........................... ten weeks

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).............................one to two years

Home Health Aide................................................... one year or less

Medical Assistant.........................................................nine months

Medical Coding Specialist....................................... one year or less

Medical Office Professional...................................one to two years

Medical Administrative Assistant.......... eight months to one year

Nursing Assistant...................................................one to two years

Medical Massage Therapist....................................one to two years

Ophthalmic Medical Technician...................... three to six months

Medical Receptionist............................................... one year or less

Pharmacy Technician.............................................one to two years

Patient Care Technician..............................................eight months Phlebotomist........................................................... one year or less Surgical Technologist..........................................................one year

www.OurHealthswva.com

HEALTHCARE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE AN

ASSOCIATE DEGREE

The following is a list of healthcare positions that require an associate degree through an accredited two-year college or trade school.

JOB TITLE •

Dental Hygienist

•

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

•

Dispensing Optician

•

Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician

•

Histologist

•

Medical Laboratory Technician

•

Medical Office Manager

•

Medical Transcriptionist

•

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

•

Occupational Therapy Assistant

•

Paramedic

•

Physical Therapy Assistant

•

Radiation Therapist

•

Radiologic Technician

•

Registered Nurse (RN)

•

Respiratory Therapist

•

Surgical Technologist

•

Ultrasound Technician

Community colleges are also an attractive option for many students pursuing healthcare-related degrees. Virginia Western Community College (VWCC), for example, offers Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees and certificates that prepare students for healthcare careers, including several that are somewhat unique to the school, explains Elizabeth Wilmer, PhD, vice president of academic and student affairs at VWCC. AAS degrees offered at VWCC that aren’t often found at community colleges include dental hygiene, radiation oncology, and medical laboratory technology, as well as certificates in biotechnology, MRI, and phlebotomy. WHAT IS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE? Bachelor’s degrees are awarded by four-year colleges and universities and required for students pursuing additional education at the graduate level, such as medical school. Dietitians, athletic trainers, and anesthesia technicians are all examples of healthcare professions that require a bachelor’s degree.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Roanoke College is one example of a four-year college that offers several different bachelor’s degrees in arts, science, and business administration. Brenda Poggendorf, PhD, the vice president for enrollment and the dean of admissions and financial aid at Roanoke College, explains that certain academic tracks related to science and health are popular with students pursuing healthcare-related degrees and careers.

Jefferson College campus at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital, Room 616

“While many liberal arts majors may lead to acceptance in health-related fields, the most common majors or programs relating to healthcare are biology, biochemistry, chemistry, athletic training, health and exercise science, health and physical education, neuroscience, health care administration and health care delivery.”

101 Elm Street SE | Roanoke

— Brenda Poggendorf, PhD, Roanoke College.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JEFFERSON COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM Friday, July 29, 2016 from 10 am - 12 pm

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the program, the PA profession and how to apply. In addition, representatives from the PA program will be on hand to speak individually with prospective students and their families.

JULY

To pre-register online (recommended) and for more information about the Jefferson College of Health Sciences PA Program, please visit www.jchs.edu.

(Continued from page 48...)

OurHealth | The Resource for Healthy Living in Southwest Virginia

“Students from these majors often continue their education in professional programs, such as medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary school, physical therapy and athletic training,” Poggendorf says. McKeon states that a wide variety of career opportunities are available to Jefferson College of Health Sciences students who pursue a bachelor’s degree. Students in the college’s Emergency Services program, for example, could prepare for a career as a paramedic, or choose to use their education as preparation for graduate education through medical school or physician assistant programs. A number of other bachelor’s degree programs are also available at Jefferson College of Health Sciences,

HEALTHCARE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE A

BACHELOR'S DEGREE including Biomedical Sciences, Healthcare Management, and Respiratory Therapy.

The following is a list of healthcare positions that require a four year bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university.

For students continuing on with graduate education, Jefferson College of Health Sciences’s master’s programs include Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physician Assistant.

JOB TITLE

HOW TO CHOOSE

THE RIGHT SCHOOL

Choosing a school is a decision based on both feelings and facts. The easy part of that decision is whether the student is pursuing a certificate or diploma, or has plans to attend graduate school. Once the pool of potential schools has been narrowed based on degree type and area of study, other factors come into play. McKeon recommends that students take advantage of the wealth of information that’s available about all institutions via the internet as an excellent first step in learning about those schools, followed by a physical visit to the campus. “Visiting is the best way to know about the school and gather the academic information needed.” — Judith McKeon, Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

“Planning should include other issues, such as travel needs, personal preference on how close to home is best, the availability of student support services – both academic and social – housing, sports, and cultural options,” McKeon adds. Some students may already know that graduate school is part of their education plan even before they enroll in an undergraduate program. For these students, it may be beneficial to determine what the path to graduate school looks like to the undergraduate school they’re considering, and factor this information into their decision-making process.

•

Anesthesia Technician

•

Athletic Trainer

•

Certified Nursing Home Administrator

•

Dental Laboratory Technician

•

Dietitian

•

Exercise Physiologist

•

Health Educator

•

Kinesiotherapist

•

Medical and Health Services Manager

•

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

•

Recreational Therapist

•

Speech-Language Pathologist

HEALTHCARE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE

ADVANCED EDUCATION AND DESIGNATIONS The following is a list of healthcare positions that require a four-year bachelor's degree in order to apply to a master degree program or go to a post graduate school, such as medical or dental school. These positions require advanced level degrees and can take up to ten years, depending on the position, degree, licensure or certification, internship and residency requirements.

JOB TITLE •

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

•

Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

•

Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

•

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

“Many students know they want to attend professional or graduate school after college,” Roanoke College’s Dr. Poggendorf says. “If that is a possibility, it is wise to find out what that path looks like. How many graduates go directly to graduate school after college graduation? How many pursue graduate degrees after working for a year or two? How does the college prepare them for graduate programs?

•

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

•

Doctor of Optometry (OD)

•

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

•

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

•

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

•

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Dr. Poggendorf continues: “Part of the reason Roanoke College students are successful in attending health profession programs after Roanoke College is their involvement in a program called Health Professions Advising Group (HPAG),”

•

Medical Doctor (MD)

•

Mental Health Counselor

•

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

•

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

•

Pharmacist (PharmD)

•

Physician Assistant (PA)

(Continued on page 53...)

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN A SCHOLARSHIP, GRANT AND STUDENT LOAN?

•

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are usually merit based. This means that they are given to prospective recipients based on desired qualities such as athletic ability, academic achievement or involvement in a certain extracurricular activity. Scholarships can also be based on particular traits like ancestral background or group affiliation.

•

GRANTS: Grants tend to be need based and are available to students based on criteria such as family income. The federal and state government are the primary sources of grants. One of the most commonly known federal grants is the Pell Grant. State-funded grants ordinarily go to students pursuing an education in his or her respective state.

•

STUDENT LOANS: A student loan (taken out by the student or parent) can be subsidized or unsubsidized and both need to be repaid. A subsidized loan does not accrue interest until the student ends his or her education, by graduating or withdrawal. The repayment begins about six months later. An unsubsidized loan begins to accrue interest as soon as the loan is disbursed and is to be repaid starting six months after graduation.

•

BOTH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS usually have some sort of requirements in order to continue to receive funding, such as maintaining a certain GPA. It’s important that recipients understand these requirements so that they do not find themselves without expected aid.

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(Continued from page 51...)

she explains. “This program, faculty and staff help undergraduates prepare for admission requirements to graduate schools. They focus on entrance exams and mock interviews, ensuring that students have the right blend of appropriate courses and experiences, and identifying appropriate professional school options.”

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Cost is also an important consideration when it comes to choosing an undergraduate school, with in-state schools offering a potential cost savings to students. Cost information for a particular school is readily available online at each institution’s website. On VWCC’s website, for example, costs are easy to determine by program. A twoyear program that culminates with the student earning a certificate and becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) costs $7,696 for tuition and fees and $3,784 for books and supplies.

Judith McKeon is the director of admissions at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke.

“Tuition is currently $157.09* per credit,” VWCC’s Wilmer explains. “Cost varies by the number of credits in the program and is available on our website under the ‘Gainful Employment Disclosures’ link.” *Amount based on in-state tuition. Rates are subject to change.

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Students should also consider and research the various types of financial aid options available to help defray some of their costs. Using VWCC and their LPN program as an example, their website lists $2,500 in Federal Loans as available to help finance the education. Potential sources of financial aid include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

SUCCESS FACTORS Many factors contribute to a student’s success in undergraduate school, including the course load they take, their school-work life balance if they’re working while enrolled, the grades they achieve, and communication with school faculty. “Successful students are ‘explorers.’ They are naturally curious.” — Brenda Poggendorf, PhD, Roanoke College. Brenda Poggendorf, PhD is the vice president for enrollment and the dean of admissions and financial aid at Roanoke College in Salem.

“Rather than limiting themselves to think about academic areas or professions with which they are familiar upon entering college, they are open to the suggestions of professors who get to know them – their interests and their strengths – and they allow their paths to expand before choosing from among the many opportunities available to them,” explains Dr. Poggendorf. Dr. Poggendorf also says successful students are also strong time managers and know how to get the most out of a day by balancing academic work with campus

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involvement and perhaps leadership roles. They also supplement their classroom experiences with “real-life” applications such as research, internships, study away or abroad, creative works and service to others. VWCC’s Dr. Wilmer outlines four areas she believes are most important when it comes to influencing student success: •

MAKE CONNECTIONS with anyone on campus including faculty, staff, and

•

CREATE A SUPPORT SYSTEM that includes family, friends, faculty, other

•

RESEARCH AND UTILIZE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, such as personal

•

other students. Research shows that having connections is the number one indicator of retention and success. students, and campus resources.

resources, financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans to cover the cost of the education. DEVELOP LEARNING SKILLS, an undertaking that can be enhanced

Elizabeth Wilmer, PhD is vice president of academic and student affairs at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.

through VWCC’s required Student Development class or by using campus learning resources, such as mentoring programs, tutoring, walk-in assistance centers, or working directly with faculty.

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Students who find academic success by completing their designated course of study – whether it’s earning a certificate, diploma, associate degree or bachelor’s degree – and beginning a healthcare career shouldn’t assume that their education is over. Often students will return to school to further their career opportunities by earning an advanced degree. For many, this means entering graduate or medical school.

NEXT IN

OUR SERIES

Part III of OurHealth Southwest Virginia magazine’s four-part series “How to in Healthcare,” examines the steps necessary to prepare for graduate school, onthe-job clinical training through residency and/or fellowship training. Be on the lookout for Part III in the August/September 2016 edition! EXPERT CONTRIBUTERS Judith McKeon, director of admissions at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke. Brenda Poggendorf, PhD, vice president for enrollment and the dean of admissions and financial aid at Roanoke College in Salem. Elizabeth Wilmer, PhD, vice president of academic and student affairs at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.

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Photos courtesy of Frankie Yip and Hannah Bates.

Celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with the YMCA at Virginia Tech! A little rain didn’t stop the fun! True to the mission of advocating youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the YMCA at Virginia Tech hosted its third annual Healthy Kids Day® this spring at Virginia Tech’s Cassell Coliseum and Dietrick Field. Healthy Kids Day®, a free summer kick-off event, features fitness games, inflatables, healthy snacks, crafts, educational activities and more! Healthy Kids Day® provides an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to resources that help local families plan and prepare an engaging and healthy summer for their children. Organized entirely by students at Virginia Tech, this year’s event was attended by over 500 people! It is the hope of the new student committee that Healthy Kids Day® will continue to grow and make an impact on families in the coming years. To learn more about the organization’s commitment to community service and ways to support their efforts, visit the YMCA at Virginia Tech at www.vtymca.org. 58

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the 2016 OurHealth Southwest Virginia Primary Care Series: an issue-by-issue overview

+++ february

| march

KNOW YOUR CARE:

T PAR

understanding your health and how to maintain it

III

+++ april

| may

DO YOUR CARE: taking action with your health

+++ june

SHARE YOUR

care words | GERI ASTON

Your Healthy and You Know It and You’re Proud to Show It!

Primary care physicians are our partners on the road to good health. They urge us to get our vaccinations and preventive health screenings. They’re the ones reminding us to eat healthy and exercise. But sometimes it’s easier to get on and stay on the path to good health when we have company on the journey. Then once we’ve adopted a healthy lifestyle, we can set a good example for others and perhaps inspire them to join us. This article, the third in a yearlong OurHealth series about primary care, will focus on “sharing your care.” With the advice of primary care physicians, we’ll provide ideas for how to work healthy practices into your daily life and possibly motivate others to do the same.

| july

SHARE YOUR CARE: setting good examples for others to learn and live by

+++ august

| september

INSPIRE YOUR CARE: keeping creative with fresh care ideas

+++ october

| november

MEASURE YOUR CARE:

tracking your efforts to ensure you’re on the right path

+++ december

| january

CELEBRATE YOUR CARE:

rejoicing the rewards realized from taking good care of yourself

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Eating right and Exercising for the Body and Mind The importance of preventive health care is not flashy or exciting, but it is amazingly important, says Gregory Beato, DO, an internal medicine physician at Medical Associates of Southwest Virginia in Blacksburg. That’s why he spends much of his time giving patients advice about ways to live healthier.

Grocery and Garden:

For patients who should lose weight, Dr. Beato emphasizes healthy eating habits — small, frequent meals and not overeating, but not starving either. He also suggests that his patients avoid late-night eating and give their bodies at least two or three hours to digest their food before going to sleep.

Tools to share for healthy eating 1. Do not bring home junk food. The person who does the food shopping can do a lot to help the whole family eat healthier. Simply not bringing home junk food and sweetened drinks makes it harder for you and your family to give in to temptation. They might get it elsewhere on their own, but at least you’re not enabling bad choices.

2. Switch to diet soda. Replace regular soda with diet, and if you make sweet tea, start cutting back on the sugar you use.

3. Buy frozen fruits and veggies. Doctors remind us to eat more fruits and vegetables, but adding more fresh produce to your family’s diet can be difficult when you’re on a tight budget. Frozen fruits and vegetables can be good, less-expensive alternatives, and fruits canned in water are healthier than fruits canned in syrup.

4. Plant a vegetable garden. If you have a yard with a sunny patch, planting your own vegetable garden can boost your supply of vegetables and maybe even get your kids excited about eating them. As an added benefit, gardening gets you up, active and outside.

Dr. Beato firmly believes in avoiding highly processed foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars, and focusing instead on vegetables and proteins low in saturated fats. He advocates low-carb eating but not no-carb diets. It’s helpful to combine a cardiovascular fitness routine with a balanced nutritional philosophy, Dr. Beato says. Trying to lose weight by dieting alone is often a losing battle. “Mixing in 30 minutes of dedicated cardiovascular exercise three or four days a week is a must,” he suggests. Your activity should involve continuous movement that will increase your heart rate consistently, but exercise can be broken into smaller periods if need be. “A lot of people make exercising into too big of an ordeal,” Dr. Beato says. “For most people it can be as simple as uninterrupted walking on these hilly streets of the New River Valley. All you need is a pair of sneakers.” Efforts to live healthier should be a family affair. “These challenges have to be taken head on by everyone in the household, even if there is only one member of the family in need,” Dr. Beato advises.

Sharing Health Across the

Age Divide

By being active yourself, you’re demonstrating healthy behavior for those around you. “Young people can find healthy recipes to change eating habits and take morning or evening walks with their family and friends to encourage exercise,” says Tara Wickline, a family nurse practitioner with (Continued on page 64...)

William Thomas II, DO, is a primary care physician at LewisGale Physicians in Christiansburg. Dr. Thomas is board eligible in internal medicine, pediatrics, and sports medicine.

Edwin J. Polverino, DO is regional medical director at the Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine in Salem.

Gregory Beato, DO is an internal medicine physician at Medical Associates of Southwest Virginia in Blacksburg. Dr. Beato is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

“We all should be trying for healthy lifestyles, but a little extra motivation never hurts. Knowing you are at higher risk for diabetes may help you to go on that brisk walk."

(Continued from page 62...)

LewisGale Physicians in Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake. “Also, the younger generation can find events, classes and activities in the community related to healthy lifestyle choices to become a part of with family and friends.” Elderly people benefit from exercise too. The intensity of activity might be lower, though, and sometimes disability gets in the way. The Roanoke Valley has a wonderful network of hospitals, clinics, agencies, networks and clubs that focus on improving health and wellness for people of all ages and situations, says Edwin J. Polverino, DO, regional medical director at the Salem Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine. Options include local hospitals, the Rescue Mission’s G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless, Bradley Free Clinic, Carilion Wellness and other local health clubs, YMCAs, community centers, social services, Blue Ridge Behavioral Health and senior citizen clubs.

Bonnie Culkin, MD, is a family physician at Physician Associates of Virginia, with offices in Roanoke and Salem. Dr. Culkin is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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“I’d suggest that you work with your primary care physician to help navigate these resources,” Dr. Polverino says. Exercise not only helps people of all ages feel better physically, but mentally too. “A healthier body leads to a healthier mind,” says (Continued on page 66...)

Driving safely: You can set a good example by wearing your seatbelt, not texting or talking on the phone while driving and not drinking and driving.

MODELING HEALTHY CHOICES Living a healthy lifestyle involves more than going to the doctor, taking your medicine and exercising. Everyday choices impact our health, and making good choices can inspire friends and loved ones to do the same.

Limiting screen time: Balancing screen time with time outside is not just good for kids, but also for adults. Not smoking: Studies show that children whose parents smoke are more likely to take up the habit. Primary care doctors can help smokers who want to quit. Nicotine replacement products such as lozenges, gum, patches and inhalers make it easier. Your success might encourage others.

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(Continued from page 64...)

J. Steve Strosnider, a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist at Psychological Health Roanoke. Physicians suggest making exercise social — not just for your own health and enjoyment, but to motivate others. Like exercise, socializing eases anxiety and depression, so it helps to combine the two. For example, instead of walking by yourself, walk with your spouse or join or start a walking group. Invite a friend to a yoga class, find a workout buddy or ask a friend to walk a 5K (just over three miles) with you.

Dig into your Health

Preventative Care Well/Sick Visits Minor Injuries Disease Management Including Patient Education Plans Serving VA Premier Members of All Ages

Roots

It is important for patients to know their family history so they are aware of their risks and can work to modify their lifestyles to lower their chances of developing certain illnesses. Many medical conditions have a hereditary component, notes William Thomas II, DO, a primary care physician at LewisGale Physicians in Christiansburg. Diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, which itself is partly hereditary. Some diseases with a genetic component are thought to be triggered by environmental factors. Examples include allergies, asthma and the skin conditions eczema and psoriasis. Some gastrointestinal disorders also have a genetic component. “We all should be trying for healthy lifestyles, but a little extra motivation never hurts,” says Bonnie Culkin, MD, a family physician at Physician Associates of Virginia in Roanoke and Salem. “Knowing you are at higher risk for diabetes may help you to go on that brisk walk. A family history of emphysema may help you put down the cigarettes or keep you from picking them up in the first place.” It's equally important for your physician to know your health history, not only to know what you are at risk for, but also to help alleviate any worries you might have, Dr. Culkin points out. For example, a patient might be concerned that a lump in her throat is thyroid cancer because a sibling had that type of cancer. Also, certain health risks can be linked to other risks, such as the connection between breast and ovarian cancers, Dr. Culkin adds. So a family history of one condition means you and your doctor can be on the lookout for the other condition. The bottom line is knowledge is power. “It empowers us to take advantage of a medical ‘heads up’ that a family history might provide, thus allowing us to be better advocates and promoters of our own health,” Dr. Thomas says.

Talk about Cancer

Screenings

Once you reach age 50, doctors recommend several cancer screenings. If you have a family history of early cancers, your physician might suggest screening before 50. Knowing your (Continued on page 68...)

Here are some of Strosnider’s suggestions on how to be a happier person:

THINK HAPPY TO BE HAPPY All of us will experience tragedy, disappointment, emotional pain and grief at some point in our lives. “It is oftentimes how we deal with pain that determines our ultimate happiness,” says J. Steve Strosnider, a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist at Psychological Health Roanoke. “What we feel is dependent on what we think. If we focus on the negative, that is what we feel and all that we see.” It is important for us to not disqualify the positive aspects of our lives, to focus on what is good and be grateful and humble for what we have, he adds.

•

Exercise.

•

Don’t minimize the positives in your life.

•

Be thankful for the good things in your life.

•

Each week do something special for your family, spouse or partner and yourself.

•

Be open to and try new experiences.

•

Plan events several months in advance so you can look forward to them.

•

Sleep at least six hours per night and eat right.

•

Keep in regular contact with your friends.

•

Let go of anger and resentments — forgive.

•

Don’t beat yourself up. Talk to yourself as if you were talking to a good friend.

•

Smile when you see others.

•

Surround yourself with positive people.

•

Realize that fun is serious business.

•

When you awake in the morning, expect that you will have a good day.

J. Steve Strosnider is a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist at Psychological Health Roanoke in Southwest Roanoke County.

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" Young people can find healthy recipes to change eating habits and take morning or evening walks with their family and friends to encourage exercise."

(Continued from page 66...)

family history and sharing it with other family members enables you and your family to be proactive about getting screened and making lifestyle choices that could affect whether cancer develops. Getting recommended screenings is one way to set a good example for others. “It is extremely important for people to get preventive screenings and encourage family and friends to do the same,” says Edwin J. Polverino, DO, regional medical director at the Salem Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine. “These screenings save lives and are an excellent way to work proactively to pinpoint and address potential health issues. They also help your wallet in the long run by preventing more extensive health care intervention down the road.”

Giving up Smoking Smoking cessation is at least as difficult as losing weight, notes Gregory Beato, DO, an internal medicine physician at Medical Associates of Southwest Virginia in Blacksburg. Tara Wickline, FNP is a family nurse practitioner with LewisGale Physicians in Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake.

“My job is to try to get you to quit smoking before you have a heart attack or stroke,” he says. (Continued on page 70...)

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Cancer Screenings Breast cancer (women) 40-49 Discuss with your doctor or nurse. 50-64 Starting at age 50, get screened every two years. 65 and older Get screened every two years through age 74. Age 75 and older, ask your doctor or nurse if you need to be screened.

SHARE YOUR CARE WHEN IT COMES TO

Cervical cancer (women) 18-39 Get a Pap test every three years if you are 21 or older and have a cervix. If you are 30 or older, you can get a Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV)* test together every five years.

TRADITIONAL

40-49 Get a Pap test and HPV test together every five years if you have a cervix.

SCREENINGS

50-64 Get a Pap test and HPV test together every five years if you have a cervix.

Getting recommended screenings is one way to set a good example for others. “It is extremely important for people to get preventive screenings and encourage family and friends to do the same,” says Edwin J. Polverino, DO, regional medical director at the Salem Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine. “These screenings save lives and are an excellent way to work proactively to pinpoint and address potential health issues. They also help your wallet in the long run by preventing more extensive health care intervention down the road.”

65 and older Ask your doctor or nurse if you need to get a Pap test.

Colorectal cancer (men and women) 40-49 You might be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps or if you have risk factors, such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps. 50-64 Starting at age 50, get screened for colorectal cancer. Talk to your doctor or nurse about which screening test is best for you and how often you need it. 65 and older Get screened for colorectal cancer through age 75.

Lung cancer (men and women) 50-64 Starting at age 55, get an annual screening if you have a 30 pack-year smoking history** and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. 65 and older Get screened through age 80.

Prostate cancer (Men) 50-64 Men should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor starting at age 50, or younger for African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer in a close relative younger than age 65. Prostate examinations are no longer routinely done on men with no symptoms. 65 and older Talk with your doctor about prostate cancer screening. * Human papillomavirus (HPV) – A type of virus that can cause abnormal tissue growth and other changes to cells. Long-term infection with certain types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. ** Smoking history pack-year – A way to measure the amount a person has smoked over a long period of time. It is calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked. For example, one packyear is equal to smoking one pack per day for one year, or two packs per day for half a year. Source: National Institutes of Health, www.nih.gov.

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EXPERT CONTRIBUTERS Gregory Beato, DO, an internal medicine physician at Medical Associates of Southwest Virginia in Blacksburg. Bonnie Culkin, MD, a family physician at Physician Associates of Virginia in Roanoke and Salem.

(Continued from page 68...)

Edwin J. Polverino, DO, Regional Medical Director at the Carilion Clinic Department of Family and Community Medicine in Salem.

The abstract nature of smoking’s future consequences makes it difficult for some people to get motivated. Medications on the market can be helpful, but they do not work unless the patient is motivated to quit, says Dr. Beato.

J. Steve Strosnider, a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist at Psychological Health Roanoke. William Thomas II, DO, a primary care physician at LewisGale Physicians in Christiansburg. Tara Wickline, FNP, a family nurse practitioner with LewisGale Physicians in Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake.

“Sometimes it is a loved one, friend or associate that suffers some sort of negative event that motivates patients,” Dr. Beato says. When a person is ready to quit, it’s helpful to pick a quit day and schedule the patient for a follow-up appointment soon after that date to try to hold the patient accountable to the plan, he says. Quitting smoking should be a family affair, he says, especially when more than one person smokes.

Next in our Series Part IV of OurHealth magazine’s six-part series “The Bridge to Better Health Starts with Primary Care” examines creative ways to stay inspired to focus on your health. This is the halfway point in the series, and the halfway point of your new health plan. Now, is the perfect time to help inspire (or re-inspire) the path to your goals. Be on the lookout for Part IV in the August/September 2016 edition!

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John Russell, BS, ACSM

S T I B FIT

AND H E A LT H ON F IT N E S S

John holds a BS degree in Exercise and Sports Science and is an ACSM certified personal trainer at Green Ridge Recreation Center.

THE GO

WHAT’S THE DEAL W

You may have walked by them in the gym, and wondered ‘what the…?’ They look like cannonballs with handles, and often come in bright colors and different sizes. You ignore them, and continue on to the more familiar looking dumbbells in shapes and sizes you are familiar with. Those crazy-looking things are kettlebells, and they can add a whole new dimension to your workout!

Believe it or not, the kettlebell was developed in Russia in the 1700s, and was used to measure grains and in downtime, show off strength among men, which started the very early development of kettlebell exercises. While there is a competitive component to the kettlebell sport (Girevoy Sport), it has more recently become popular in health and fitness centers—in weight rooms as well as group exercise classes.

ITH KETTLEBELLS? "No other piece of equipment can do what the kettlebell does. Swing, throw and catch your way to tighter legs, glutes, back, arms and abdominals. It is the ultimate momentum-based workout developing cardiovascular conditioning, power, stability, flexibility, balance and agility." John Russell, BS, ACSM Personal Trainer, Green Ridge Recreation Center

WHAT MAKES TRAINING WITH KETTLEBELLS UNIQUE? •

The asymmetrical design of the weight makes it uneven and harder to handle. The core muscles (abdominals and lower back) are engaged during the exercises.

•

The idea is to complete total body, functional movements useful for everyday activities. These movements teach the body to work as one unit, improving balance and coordination, along with strength and endurance.

•

Kettlebell exercises burn more calories in less time, since multiple muscle groups are working at the same time.

Ready to give it a try? Join instructor Joe Moor at Green Ridge Recreation Center for Kettlecamp - classes starting July 2!

Green Ridge Recreation Center 7415 WOOD HAVEN ROAD ROANOKE, VA 24019 | 540.777.6300 WWW.GREENRIDGERECREATIONCENTER.COM

SCAN HERE TO VISIT THE GREEN RIDGE WEBSITE www.OurHealthswva.com

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URGENT CARE words |LYNETTE MUTTER

In recent years, urgent care centers have popped up in communities throughout Southwest Virginia. Have you ever wondered why the surge in urgent care? The answer lies in demand – for access, convenience and affordability. Since 2010, when young adults became eligible to join their parents’ insurance policies, it is estimated that 7 million to 16 million uninsured persons have gained healthcare coverage, according to the health policy analysis titled “Affordable Care Act After Five Years,” published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June of 2015. This change, coupled with the fact that physicians are retiring at a faster pace than new doctors can be hired, will challenge less-populated regions like Southwest Virginia. “In the more rural-based communities of Southwest Virginia, there has been declining access to primary care, due to the aging workforce,” according to Kim Roe, vice president of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic.

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“The impending physician shortage is expected to hit by 2025, and even sooner in rural communities. Urgent care is helping to meet the need for greater access to medical care,” she adds.

Kim Roe is vice president of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke.

Steve Osborn, MD is a physician at American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care (formerly Doctors Express) at Tower’s Shopping Center in Roanoke. Dr. Osborn is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Carilion Clinic has been opening VelocityCare by Carilion urgent care centers in our communities to address this need. There are currently seven VelocityCare by Carilion urgent care centers in our area, with an eighth slated to open in Lexington this summer. “Our strategy for urgent care has been to look at areas in Carilion’s footprint where we have both emergency rooms and primary care physicians and establish an urgent care center nearby to help decompress the demand on existing services,” says Roe. On the surface it would appear that the increase in insured patients and the aging workforce are the main reasons for the increased demand for health services, including urgent care, but there’s more to it than that.

URGENT CARE FACILITIES American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care Roanoke 602 Brandon Avenue | SW #222 | Roanoke Mon – Fri: 8 am – 8 pm Sat – Sun: 8 am – 5 pm

540.904.4431

www.doctorsexpressroanoke.com

Carilion Clinic Community Care 101 Elm Avenue SE | Roanoke Mon – Fri: 8 am – 5:30 pm Sat: 8 am – 1 pm | Sun: CLOSED

540.985.8465

COST CONCERNS Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, many businesses offer higher deductible health plans, which require more out-of-pocket expense for patients before the deductible is met. As a result, healthcare consumers are now more cost-conscious. Emergency room visits are more expensive than urgent care and primary care visits because hospital emergency rooms are staffed and equipped for the most critical and complex cases, such as traumatic injuries from car accidents or life-threatening situations like heart attack or stroke.

www.carilionclinic.org

Express Family Care 3960 Valley Gateway Boulevard | 1A | Roanoke 8 am – 8 pm Monday – Saturday

540.400.6676

www.expressfamilycare.com

“The co-pay for a visit to the emergency room usually starts around $250, compared to a $25 to $50 co-pay for a visit to a primary care or urgent care provider." — Steve Osborn, MD of AFC Urgent Care

LewisGale Physicians – Clearbrook 5303 Indian Grave Road | Roanoke Mon – Fri: 8 am – 5 pm | Sat – Sun: CLOSED

540.725.3060

www.lgphysicians.com

LewisGale Physicians – Valley View 4910 Valley View Boulevard NW | Roanoke Hours vary by specialty

540.265.1607

www.lgphysicians.com

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When faced with higher deductibles, more people are choosing urgent care over the emergency room, at least as a first step for non-emergency situations.

EVALUATING

AN EMERGENCY According to Steve Osborn, MD, a physician at American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care (formerly Doctors Express) at Tower’s Shopping Center, “Many

people with a sudden, or what might be considered a serious illness or injury might go to urgent care first to determine if they actually need to go to the emergency room. We can see them quickly, and most of the time we can provide the necessary care at a lower cost.” “Medicine is a subjective science and it can be difficult to tell when stomach or chest pain is severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room," says Dr. Osborn. "When symptoms are complex, 70 percent to 80 percent of the time, there’s no clear cut answer, even for doctors.” “We offer guidance and send patients to the emergency room if we are concerned or have any doubts about their condition, or if a heart attack or stroke is suspected,” Dr. Osborn continues. “This tends to be the case with only a small percentage of the patients we see.” According to Roe, only 20 to 25 percent of patients who visit the emergency room at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center, are admitted to the hospital. Community based emergency rooms, like those in the New River Valley and Franklin County, admit patients to the hospital 12 to 20 percent of the time. “The triage system in an emergency room ensures that truly critical cases are seen quickly, but people who walk in with minor illnesses will wait longer in an emergency room than in an urgent care center,” explains Roe.

WHERE TO GO FOR WHAT

MEDICAL CONDITIONS: WHEN TO GO TO AN

EMERGENCY ROOM Always dial 9-1-1 or go to the closest emergency center if you experience any of the following symptoms: •

Loss of consciousness

•

Heart attack symptoms

•

Stroke symptoms

•

Difficulty breathing

•

Uncontrollable bleeding

•

Sudden, severe pain

•

Poisoning

•

Head trauma

•

Vomiting or coughing up blood

•

Severe or persistent vomiting

•

Suicidal feelings

EVOLVING ROLE OF

WHEN TO GO TO AN

PRIMARY CARE Roe says that primary care is evolving as “acute, episodic and non-critical medical needs have been shifting out of emergency rooms and into primary and urgent care offices.”

“Urgent care operates ‘in between’ primary care physicians and hospital emergency rooms — when you suddenly become sick or get hurt and your doctor’s office is closed, but you don’t want to wait to be seen by a physician.” — Steve Osborn, MD of AFC Urgent Care (Continued on page 79..)

URGENT CARE CENTER An urgent care center is appropriate for non-life threatening issues such as: •

Minor cuts and lacerations

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Sprains

•

Earaches

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Colds, coughs, sore throat

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Skin rashes

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Insect bites / minor dog bites

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Minor cooking burns

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Minor infections

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MinuteClinics (inside CVS Pharmacy)

MedExpress Urgent Care

Minute Clinic – Radford

MedExpress – Christiansburg

31 West Main Street | Radford Mon – Fri: 9 am – 8 pm Sat: 9 am – 5:30 pm | Sun: 10 am – 5:30 pm (Closed for lunch 2 pm – 3 pm Mon - Fri and 1 pm –1:30 pm Sat and Sun)

100 Spradlin Farm Drive | Christiansburg Sun – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Holidays: 8 am – 4 pm on Christmas Eve Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

866.389.2727

www.medexpress.com

540.381.2745

www.cvs.com

Minute Clinic – Roanoke 2001 Colonial Avenue | Roanoke Mon – Fri: 9 am – 8 pm Sat: 9 am – 5:30 pm | Sun: 10 am – 5:30 pm (Closed for lunch 2 pm – 3 pm Mon – Fri and 1 pm – 1:30 pm Sat and Sun)

866.389.2727 www.cvs.com

Minute Clinic – Salem 1875 Electric Road | Salem Mon – Fri: 9 am – 8 pm Sat: 9 am – 5:30 pm | Sun: 10 am – 5:30 pm (Closed for lunch 2 pm – 3 pm Mon – Fri and 1 pm – 1:30 pm Sat and Sun)

866.389.2727 www.cvs.com

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MedExpress – Hollins 5610 Williamson Road | Roanoke Sun – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Holidays: 8 am – 4 pm on Christmas Eve Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

540.265.8924

www.medexpress.com

MedExpress – Salem 1336 West Main Street | Salem Sun – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Holidays: 8 am – 4 pm on Christmas Eve Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

540.389.0374

www.medexpress.com

(Continued from page 77...)

The availability of urgent care centers in recent years has allowed primary care physicians and providers to focus on prevention and chronic disease management. Patients visiting urgent care centers are encouraged to establish a relationship with a primary care physician. “We frequently see patients who have an established relationship with a primary care physician,” says Dr. Osborn. “However, we discourage patients from using our offices to obtain prescription refills. This should be handled by their primary care provider.”

CONVENIENCE IS KEY Consumer demand for convenience is also driving patients to urgent care. Urgent care centers tend to be closer to residential areas and easy to access. They also offer evening and weekend hours. “Suppose you are sick and don’t want to wait three to four days to be seen by your primary care physician. Urgent care meets this need." — Kim Roe, vice president of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic

IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF

OUR COMMUNITY

Urgent care centers provide several notable benefits to overall community health. First, improved access to healthcare means that medical conditions are treated promptly and there is a mechanism to get people into primary care when follow-up is recommended. Second, because medical records are integrated into networks, all providers throughout the systems can access the patient’s electronic medical record. “For patients needing follow-up care, our primary care physicians will be able to see what transpired during VelocityCare and other Carilion visits,” says Roe. “As a result, physicians and providers have been able to avoid duplication of tests, further decreasing healthcare costs.” Third, urgent care centers provide preventative care that helps protect the community. “Urgent care centers can also offer some preventative measures, such as greater access to flu shots,” according to Roe. “Roanoke was projected to be hit hard during the last flu season. However, compared to previous seasons, very few cases of the flu were reported due www.OurHealthswva.com

to an increased emphasis on promoting the flu vaccine and convenient access through urgent care, retail pharmacies and other healthcare providers. “An increased emphasis on promoting the flu vaccine and convenient access through urgent care resulted in very few cases of the flu, compared to prior seasons.”

Velocity Care Centers

— Kim Roe, vice president of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic

Velocity Care – Blacksburg 215 Gilbert Street | Blacksburg Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm

While there are indications that urgent care will continue to play a significant role in improving the health of our community, healthcare providers still grapple with meeting the growing demand for medical services.

540.961.8040

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Velocity Care – Christiansburg 434 Peppers Ferry Road | Christiansburg Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

In the Roanoke region, VelocityCare by Carilion urgent care centers are projected to have 85,000 visits this year, with no appreciative decline in the network’s primary care or emergency department visits, according to Roe.

540.382.6000

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Velocity Care – Daleville

Healthcare consumers can help ease access issues and lower costs by making healthy choices and knowing when and where to go when sick or injured. With continued advances in technology, future healthcare delivery is expected to incorporate telemedicine and virtual visits for increased capacity and even greater convenience. In the meantime, urgent care will continue to be a key player in affordably and efficiently meeting Southwest Virginia’s healthcare needs.

46 Wesley Road | Daleville Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

540.591.9440

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Velocity Care – Oak Grove 1818 Electric Road | Salem Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

540.772.8900

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

EXPERT CONTRIBUTERS

Velocity Care – Roanoke

Kim Roe, vice president of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke.

4035 Electric Road | Roanoke Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

Steve Osborn, MD, a physician at American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care (formerly Doctors Express) at Tower’s Shopping Center in Roanoke.

540.772.8670

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Velocity Care – Salem

ON THE WEB

1935 West Main Street | Salem Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

More at ourhealthswva.com

540.375.8190

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

Velocity Care – Westlake

read this edition of

13205 Booker T. Washington Highway| Hardy Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

540.719.1815

www.velocitycarebycarilion.com

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on your tablet or smartphone

NEW

REHAB FACILITY FOR ROANOKE

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What is now the Friendship Retirement Community, the parent company, was established in 1966 and has worked to keep itself at the forefront of a nationwide discussion about how to best accommodate the needs of an aging, increasingly active population. The company has grown into a 20-building complex on what had been a pasture on Hershberger Road.

words | RICK PIESTER

Walk into Friendship Health’s new rehabilitation center in Southwest Roanoke County, and you’ll be hard pressed to know that you were entering a healthcare facility. The décor, furniture, the sunlit airy environment and soaring space speaks strongly of a premium hotel. Arched, timbered ceiling beams and comfortable seating arranged around a focal-point fireplace add a note of ski lodge. Friendly staff demeanor conveys a comfortable hospitality. But it is indeed a healthcare facility. Its official name is Friendship Health — Rehab South, designed from the ground up to showcase all that the broad-based healthcare company has learned about taking care of people during a half century of service to the Roanoke Valley. What is now the Friendship Retirement Community, the parent company, was established in 1966 and has worked to keep itself at the forefront of a nationwide discussion about how to best accommodate the needs of an aging, increasingly

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active population. The company has grown into a 20-building complex on what had been a pasture on Hershberger Road. Currently, the company offers skilled and immediate nursing care, sub acute care, inpatient physical, speech and occupational rehabilitation, memory care, physiatry, and palliative care. The inpatient rehabilitation center is the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial major foray away from the Hershberger Road location, a decision made after market analysis showed a strong need for rehabilitation services in Southwest Roanoke County. The new location also allowed the company to shift its state-mandated bed limit to a location within the region that would address the changes in demand for levels of care for an aging population. For it to be able to offer 120 inpatient beds at Rehab South, the company was able to reduce the total number of beds on Hershberger Road by 120 beds, in effect donating beds to itself.

SIZE, SCOPE

AND LOCATION The new center is housed in a 73,000-square-foot, $13 million building at 5647 Starkey Road, near the intersection with Buck Mountain Road. Four 30-bed short-term patient wings make up the largest part of the building, with a large, state-of-the art rehabilitation gym at the center of the complex. Administrative and 84

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patient commons areas make up the rest of the complex, along with food preparation and support space. Plenty of visitor parking is at the front entrance to the new facility, with staff parking at the rear entrance of the building. Before ink ever hit paper at architecture firm FreemanWhite of Charlotte, NC, a team of friendship health representatives spent two years determining exactly what the new facility would be, how it would be designed, and what equipment it would contain. Extensive planning of the facility involved perspective from the community Christi Nicely, Friendship Health executive director for outpatient and rehab services, took a lead role in investigating the design and content of the new facility’s rehabilitation gym. “We talked to everyone, people representing every group that would have an interest in the new rehab center,” she says. “We look at what our customers — patients — were saying about what they wanted. We spent lots of time talking with physicians — orthopaedists, surgeons, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, others — about what kinds of experiences they wanted their patients to have. We talked with people who were currently our patients at the time, and we looked at our competitors in the region to see www.OurHealthswva.com

what kinds of services were already being offered. Our architectural firm has very deep experience in designing buildings for healthcare, and we took advantage of their knowledge of where buildings for the healthcare industry will be in 10, 20 years. We wanted a building that would be at the top of its game in a decade, and not already outdated." - Christi Nicely

PATIENT SATISFACTION A PRIMARY GOAL

Christi Nicely is the executive director for outpatient and rehab services at Friendship Health in Roanoke.

Friendship-South administrator Jessica Walters says that a constant goal in the planning process was to provide a facility that would produce high ratings from patients with regard to their rehabilitation experience.

Jessica Walters is the administrator of Friendship Health Rehab-South in Southwest Roanoke County.

“We wanted to be sure,” she says, “that we would do everything we could to capture high patient satisfaction — that patients would be glad that they came to us for rehabilitation.” - Jessica Walters Walters notes, for example, that privacy in room accommodations was consistently high on the wish lists of (Continued on page 88...)

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SERVICES AND AMENITIES OF FRIENDSHIP HEALTH REHAB SOUTH

•

A heated, aquatic therapy pool in the facility gym, with water temperature kept at a constant 92 degrees. This allows for warmer muscles that will stretch more easily and respond better to therapy sessions.

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In the pool, an underwater treadmill that dramatically reduces the pull of gravity when people exercise.

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Several protected, outdoor courtyards with family seating and fireplaces, along with graded and textured walking surfaces and a walking track.

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Adjacent to the courtyards, two dining rooms (each dining room is shared by two wings.) Meals are prepared “from scratch”, eliminating heavy use of frozen preservative-rich and pre-processed food.

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Height-adjustable dining room chairs for a more comfortable dining experience

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In each wing, four patient rooms are outfitted to accommodate bariatric patients.

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One entire wing is equipped with in-wall oxygen, for people with a continuous need for supplemental oxygen.

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A fully functioning suite for activities of daily living, to help people regain the day-to-day skills they may have lost. In the three room suite (bedroom, bathroom and kitchen), patients will be able to relearn skills for bathing and meal preparation.

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Barn-type sliding doors have replaced the conventional, wide-swinging doors in patient rooms. Anyone who has had to deal with the swing area required by a hinged door wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair will know the value of this innovation.

•

A Starbucks machine for coffee lovers.

The new facility is designed especially for people who need a short-term rehabilitation stay. Most patients will be at the facility from between seven and 14 days, with the longest stay of up to 30 days. Friendship officials, however, hope that they will soon be able to welcome people who qualify for outpatient rehabilitation.

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(Continued from page 86...)

current and prospective patients. As a result, all patient rooms at FriendshipSouth are one-person, private rooms, compared to the semi-private (twoperson) rooms that are more the norm for the industry. With research complete, ground for the new facility was broken in early August 2014, with the 18-month period of construction managed by Turner-Long Construction Company of Roanoke.

GRAND OPENING THIS PAST MAY

With construction complete in April and certification by Medicare granted in May, patients began moving into the new facility in a phased-in fashion of about 30 beds at a time. “That way, “says administrator Walters, “we’ve not needed to move patients in en masse, with all the activity, confusion, and transfer trauma that would produce. We didn’t feel that would be the right thing to do from a patient perspective.” To ensure the highest patient satisfaction, she notes that the gradual move-in also provides more control in testing the new facility and smoothing out operational processes. EXPERT CONTRIBUTERS Christi Nicely is the executive director for outpatient and rehab services at Friendship Health in Roanoke. Jessica Walters is the administrator of Friendship Health Rehab-South in Southwest Roanoke County.

ON THE WEB

More at ourhealthswva.com 88

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closer LOOK

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