Healthy Living Fall 2023
Inside:
Silver Cross Hospital Named one of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® 2 Advanced Midwest Interventional Radiology Experts at Silver Cross 4 Friendship included. Friends enrich life at Cedarhurst 5 Silver Cross NICU Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Another Milestone: Triplets 6 HarborChase of Plainfield Offers Diverse Health and Wellness Programs 8 Eterna MedSpa Spider Veins: Understanding Causes, Treatments
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Morris Hospital Says Know What to do in Case of a Bump to the Head 11
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Silver Cross Hospital Named one of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Fortune and PINC AI™ for the 11th Time Silver Cross Hospital once again has been identified as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® according to an independent quality analysis provided by PINC AI™ and reported by Fortune. This is the 11th time Silver Cross has earned a place on the prestigious list. To create the list, an objective, quantitative analysis of publicly available data was conducted to identify the top hospitals in the United States. The primary purpose of the PINC AI™ 100 Top Hospitals® program is to inspire hospital and health system leaders to pursue higher performance and deliver added value to patients and communities. The program leverages transparent, nonbiased data to help inform strategies for sustained performance. Organizations do not apply to participate in the study, and award winners do not pay to market their honor.
The hospital also operates a dozen off-site physician offices through Silver Cross Medical Group and Premier Suburban Medical Group.
Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) score of 77 percent versus 70 percent for non-winning hospitals.
Silver Cross also partners with leading academic providers including the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, UChicago Medicine for neurosciences and stroke care, and Rush University Medical Center for thoracic surgery.
“As hospitals continue to share the nation’s focus on changing healthcare for the better, hospitals and health systems are recognizing the importance of identifying areas within their walls for quality improvement,” said Leigh Anderson, Premier’s Chief Operating Officer and the leader of PINC AI™. “The transparent and nonbiased measures this study provides, helps leaders make informed decisions for change, and proves that Silver Cross Hospital excels across a range of core performance indicators, which can directly lead to significantly higher quality patient outcomes, with fewer readmissions and complications.”
100 Top Hospitals® Program Performance This year, based on comparisons between the study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals that were not winners, the analysis found that the winners of the 100 Top Hospitals® program delivered better outcomes while operating more efficiently and at a lower cost.
In April, Silver Cross was awarded its 17th Straight A for Safety from the Leapfrog Group; in July, the hospital earned a 5-Star Rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And last month, Silver Cross earned a Blue Distinction Center + Maternity by Blue Cross Blue Shield for providing exceptional mother/baby care.
Compared to non-winning hospitals, this year’s winners had:
Since its opening in 1895, Silver Cross has grown to a 650,000-square-foot, 348-bed facility on a 130-acre campus that also includes an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Endoscopy Center, Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital and Silver Cross Urgent Care.
• Nearly 20 percent lower inpatient expenses per discharge.
• 31 percent fewer deaths than non-winning hospitals. • 9 percent fewer patients with complications. • 39 percent fewer healthcare associated infections (HAIs).
• 0.5-day shorter average length of stay. • Better reported patient experience scores, with a top-box Hospital Consumer
For more information, visit silvercross.org About the Study The PINC AI™ 100 Top Hospitals® program focuses on short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of patients. Premier conducted the PINC AI™ 100 Top Hospitals® program study in August 2023. Researchers evaluated 2,644 shortterm, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals and health systems. All research was based on the following public data sets: Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data, and data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare website.
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Schedule your mammogram from here, there, or anywhere.
With Silver Cross SCHedule NOW, you can easily schedule appointments online from anywhere!
Schedule appointments for:
Screening mammograms Diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray) Dexa scans
Doctor/Provider Heart Scans Ultrasounds Lab tests Urgent care
Scan the QR code or visit silvercross.org/schedule
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Professional Medical PROFILE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL SERVICES
Advanced Midwest Interventional Radiology Experts at Silver Cross With an office and clinic located in Pavilion A of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Advanced Midwest Interventional Radiology offers worldclass clinical evaluation, imaging, and minimally invasive therapies for a wide variety of conditions including venous disease, arterial disease, cancer, and more. Their comprehensive and focused approach ensures that patients achieve the best possible outcome. CONDITIONS TREATED The highly trained experts at Advanced Midwest Interventional Radiology treat a wide array of conditions, including: • Varicose veins • Venous disease • Arterial disease • Cancer • Uterine fibroids • Pelvic congestion • Prostate enlargement • Varicoceles • Spine fractures • Portal hypertension • Aesthetic conditions to improve the appearance of spider veins • And more ABOUT INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY The clinic-based Interventional Radiology Program at Silver Cross uses minimally invasive techniques to treat a wide spectrum of diseases and
Feraz Rahman, M.D.
Ashish Vyas, M.D.
conditions, including cancer, artery disease, high blood pressure, uterine fibroids, osteoporosis and more. Through a tiny incision in the skin, highly trained interventional radiologists can deliver precise, targeted treatments to complex and sometimes life-threatening diseases and conditions. And because they’re less invasive, these procedures involve less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. Interventional radiology treatments are a well-accepted choice for many conditions and are especially appropriate for patients who are in frail health or who have already undergone numerous surgeries. WHO ARE INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS?
William Bremer, M.D.
treatments available, and diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. These experts work closely with other doctors and play an important role on the treatment team. They provide both inpatient and outpatient services. Interventional radiologists use X-rays, MRI and other imaging techniques to advance a catheter in the body, usually in an artery, to treat at the source of a condition non-surgically. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists are considered the pioneers of minimally invasive modern medicine.
Interventional radiologists are board-certified doctors who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer expertise and indepth knowledge of the least invasive
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Friends enrich life.
Friendship included.
It almost goes without saying that friendship is included. After all, a Cedarhurst community is so dedicated to fulfilling residents’ lives, creating opportunities for growth and enrichment, and providing a comfortable launch pad for fun and adventure — friendship seems inevitable.
Cedarhurst is a recognized senior housing leader, serving thousands of seniors and their families in multiple states. Our mission – every person should feel loved, valued, supported and able to live life to the fullest – is at the heart of everything we do.
Take dining, for example. Crafted by Cedarhurstsm, our culinary program, features delicious, freshly prepared choices that include heart healthy, brain boosting, gluten-free, diabetic-friendly and low-sodium menu items. Residents dine well, which leads to contentment, which leads to socialization. Head to dinner and you’ll bump into friendly neighbors. Or arrange to meet your friendly neighbors for dinner — either way, the food’s great and you’ll have a great time!
Not surprisingly, friendship is an integral part of our design. We know older adults look for friendship as the antidote to aging’s isolation and loneliness — and who wouldn’t rather feel loved, valued and supported? When we create communities, train team members, and develop programs and activities, we hold tightly to our mission-based strategy: Let’s be friends.
And then there’s the array of programs and activities. Guest speakers, card clubs, book clubs, art workshops, fitness groups, movies — choices vary from community to community, depending on residents’ interests and preferences, but the effect is the same: Give residents reasons to gather for entertainment and education, and they’ll grow their circles of friends.
Call Cedarhurst of Frankfort for more information at 224.335.4005 or visit CedarhurstFrankfort.com
Human touch and connection are needed for wellbeing. With a community lifestyle that offers possibilities for friendship galore, we give loneliness no room to flourish.
Friendship INCLUDED.
Friends enrich life. And Assisted Living and Memory Care at a Cedarhurst Senior Living community help make you or your loved one rich with friends.
AND NOW, THE FRIENDSHIP BEGINS. 224.335.4005 or CedarhurstFrankfort.com Cedarhurst of Frankfort 21507 S. Wolf Road • Frankfort, IL 60423
DEPENDABLY KIND • HOW YOU LIKE YOUR FRIENDS THE CEDARHURST PROMISETM We promise. If you’re not satisfied and decide to move out within your first 60 days, we’ll completely refund your rent.*
*Cedarhurst Promise™ program is only available at advertised community. Not applicable for respite or other short-term stays. Refund is available only if move out is a result of dissatisfaction with Cedarhurst community as documented throughout stay. Complete rent refund includes base rent only. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Please see Resident Agreement for additional details. Void where prohibited.
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Silver Cross NICU Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Another Milestone: Triplets
A
s they approached the latter stages of her pregnancy, Samantha and Jarrod were aware of a couple things. One, they would be having more than one baby. And because of that, it was going to be necessary to deliver no later than 34 weeks instead of around 40, meaning the newborns would have to get some TLC (tender loving care) in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The LeSages were concerned about that, because they thought the closest NICU was either in Chicago or in Champaign, both more than an hour each way from their home in Manteno. “But I heard from a friend that Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox had a NICU,” Samantha said. “That put my mind at ease, because I knew I would be there every day after they were born.”
Jarrod and Samantha LeSage of Manteno are grateful their triplets, Miles, Lane and Eli, were able to receive the care they needed close to home at the Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Silver Cross Hospital.
And multiples they were – Miles, Lane and Eli – were born June 5, about five weeks short of the one-year anniversary of Silver Cross’ Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on July 22. They were the Silver Cross NICU’s first set of triplets.
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The Silver Cross NICU – Will County’s first and only Level 3 NICU – features: • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital neonatologists • Neonatal advanced nurse practitioners • Neonatal registered nurses • Neonatal respiratory therapists • A team of specially trained speech, occupational and physical therapists, and • lactation consultants
“They were wonderful, the way they supported us,” Samantha said of the staff. “I would get there between 8 and 10 each morning, and they would fill me in on what milestones each had hit since I last saw them. And I would get to feed them.” The three newest LeSages also got to celebrate the Fourth of July in style, courtesy of St. Mary Immaculate Church of Plainfield and Holy Family Church in Shorewood, whose parishioners delivered crocheted holiday hats to Women and Infant Services. As it turned out, each of the three was released a week apart, giving the new parents a chance to adapt to one, two and finally three new babies.
“Miles is the oldest, but he was born at 2 ½ pounds, while the other two were each 3 ½ pounds. Now Lane and Eli Since the NICU’s opening, more than 70 babies and more than 75 mothers were able to stay closer to home to receive are 8 pounds, but Miles took a little longer to figure out eating.” specialized care, instead of having to be transferred to a Chicago hospital. The family was complete when Miles got to go home Aug. Jarrod was relieved about that, too.
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“We’re not big city people,” he said. “And we weren’t looking forward to driving into the city every day.”
“If we have more children, we will definitely go back to Silver Cross,” Jarrod said. “But for now, we just have to figure out how to tell these three apart.”
Once she was released, Samantha said she got to go home each day and rest a while, knowing her babies were well taken care of by the NICU staff at Silver Cross.
To learn more about the Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, visit www.silvercross.org/nicu.
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E XPLORE LUXURY S ENIOR LIV ING IN PL A INFIELD
RETIRE IN
STYL E Whether it’s fine dining in our signature eateries, exceptional events, or personalized care you’re seeking, our luxury senior living community allows you to thrive at every level. This is HarborChase. Come celebrate with us. SCAN TO EXPERIENCE HARBORCHASE
Plainfield | (815) 676-4445
HarborChase of Plainfield Offers Diverse Health and Wellness Programs
W
ith a wealth of luxurious amenities, diverse culinary options in three on-site restaurants, and engaging activities, HarborChase of Plainfield sets the standard for senior living. Located just an hour’s drive from Chicago, the luxury senior living community bridges the gap between assisted living and memory care with exceptional hospitality and sophistication – and a genuine emphasis on personal health and wellness. The mission of HarborChase and its associates is to celebrate senior living every day – creating a community in which they themselves envision living. With exercise and movement playing an essential role in the aging process and an individual’s overall health, the award-winning Life Enrichment Program provides HarborFit classes ranging from meditation and yoga to sports and cardio. The Life Enrichment program was created to provide a variety of daily events, including
cognitive, spiritual, movement, and socialization. Ensuring residents have fun, feel great, and look forward to each day is paramount to the program. In addition to vast amenities and resort-style living, residents enjoy a complete combination of convenience and care with associates available around the clock, seven days a week. Residents receive the appropriate level of care and support needed for their personal lifestyle to nurture and maintain their independence. HarborChase of Plainfield invites guests to experience HarborChase hospitality with a personalized Taste & Tour. For more information and to schedule your personalized tour, please call 815-267-3510.
HarborChase of Plainfield 12446 S. Van Dyke Road Plainfield, IL 60585 HarborChase.com
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Winter is the time
Eterna MedSpa
Spider Veins: Understanding Causes, Treatments
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Are you noticing small, threadlike red, blue or purple lines close to the surface of your skin? These are often referred to as spider veins. While they can occur anywhere on the body, including the face, spider veins usually appear on the legs. A milder type of varicose veins, which are much larger in size and bulge from the skin, spider veins can sometimes be an indication of a deeper issue that could become serious.
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“Varicose and spider veins are damaged veins,” said Kathe Malinowski, lead esthetician and Marketing Manager for Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center. “We develop them when tiny, one-way valves inside the veins weaken. In healthy veins, these valves push blood in one direction back to our heart. In unhealthy veins, the blood flow goes backward and accumulates in the veins.”
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Risk factors for spider veins include family history, hormonal changes, age, prolonged standing, and being overweight.
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How can you get rid of them? Most spider veins can be treated by sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive technique in which a very fine needle injects a solution directly into the veins, causing the vein lining to seal and preventing blood flow. The veins are then absorbed by the body and disappear. “Minor stinging or itching at the injection site may occur during the treatment,” said Malinowski. Additionally, pesky spider veins can be removed by a new treatment offered at Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center called Vasculaze by Inmode. Vasculaze can help alleviate facial and leg spider vein issues with a laser that is targeted to treat the blood vessel causing the blemish. Wondering which treatment is right for you? Schedule a free consultation with Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center today. Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center : 217 Vertin Boulevard, Shorewood, 60404 : 815.254.8888 : https://www.eternalaser.com/
217 Vertin Blvd. Shorewood, IL 60404 815-254-8888 SM-CL2113781
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benefits to eating raw, local honey
Whether one places a dollop in tea or drizzles some in a yogurt smoothie, honey is the sweet finish that can make various foods and beverages taste that much better. In fact, honey is perhaps Mother Nature’s most natural sweetener. While honey in any form can provide its share of healthy offerings, raw honey — which is unprocessed and taken straight from a honeycomb — may be even healthier than the alternatives. According to a 2019 report in Medical News Today, some people believe that processing honey, which often involves pasteurization, removes many of its natural beneficial elements. But honey taken straight from the beehive contains bee pollen, bee propolis and scores of antioxidants. Individuals interested in trying raw, local honey should consider buying it from a trusted local producer. For those who need more convincing, the following are five beneficial properties of raw honey. 1. Antioxidants: Raw honey contains plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Healthline says some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables, which can protect the body from free radicals that damage cells. 2. Antimicrobial/antifungal properties: Raw honey has antimicrobial properties that could kill certain bacteria, says the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. That is perhaps why honey long has been used as a natural salve for wounds. Honey can soothe a sore throat, and it also can attack bacteria in the throat responsible for certain illnesses. Healthline says raw honey also has been studied for its use against certain Candida-related infections. 3. Allergy relief: Raw, local honey is made from local flowers and
flowering plants. By ingesting raw, local honey regularly, a person is taking in small, manageable doses of allergens from their area, which can help build up an immunity to these allergens over time. 4. Digestive relief: Raw honey has been studied for use in treatment for H. pylori bacteria, a common cause of stomach ulcers. Raw honey also may help people overcome diarrhea. Honey contains prebiotics, which nourish good bacteria that live in the gut. 5. Brain health: A 2017 study published in the journal Pharmacognosy Research found ingredients of honey have antiinflammatory properties that may help fight inflammation in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. Raw, local honey can help protect the environment because the public has a vested interest in maintaining natural spaces and healthy bee populations. Raw, local honey is available from various vendors, notably small operations at farmers markets who take quality control seriously.
Did you know? Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is diagnosed when the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when an individual has AFib, the beating in the upper chambers of their heart is irregular, which compromises blood flow from the upper to lower chambers. The CDC notes that researchers estimate roughly 12 million people in the United States will have AFib in 2030. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada reports that one-fourth of all strokes after age 40 are caused by AFib and that people with the condition have a three to five times greater risk for ischemic stroke than those who do not have AFib. A 2019 report from the American Heart Association indicated high blood pressure accounts for roughly 20 percent of all cases of AFib. The CDC notes advancing age, obesity, diabetes, smoking, chronic kidney disease, and European ancestry are some additional risk factors for AFib. 10 | Healthy Living | Saturday, November 11, 2023
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Morris Hospital Says Know What to do in Case of a Bump to the Head There’s a reason high school and college athletic departments and professional sports organizations are paying close attention to concussions. A type of traumatic brain injury, concussions are potentially serious. Whether a concussion results from a contact sport, a fall or accident, anyone, at any age, can get a concussion.
include headache, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, dizziness, not feeling right, double or blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, concentration or memory problems, or confusion.
A key member of Morris Hospital’s Concussion Management team, Nurse Practitioner Stefanie Henline, with Morris Hospital Neurology Specialists, provides answers to some important questions that can make a difference for someone who experiences a concussion.
Stefanie: There are potential complications with concussion, such as headache, vertigo, or post-concussion syndrome. This type of brain injury can also lead to bleeding in or around the brain. Sometimes in rare instances a person experiences brain swelling as a result of a concussion. Because concussions can range in severity from minor injuries that can heal with rest to serious conditions that have long term effects on daily life, we tell people not to wait to seek help if there’s a chance they could have a concussion.
Q: What is a concussion? Stefanie: A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, also called TBI. Concussions are caused by a bump, blow, or a sudden jolt to the head or hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, which then creates a chemical change within the brain and sometimes stretching and damage to brain cells. Sometimes with concussions, a person can lose consciousness. Q: Can concussions be prevented? Stefanie: For certain sports activities, the best way to prevent a concussion is by wearing the proper gear, such as a helmet for football or bike riding. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that can be done to prevent concussions that occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident or fall, although I do talk to patients about being especially careful when walking on the ice. Falls on ice is one of our biggest concussion factors during the winter months. Q: What are some of the warning signs of concussion? Stefanie: Concussion signs and symptoms can show up as soon as the injury occurs, or they can occur hours or days after the injury. Most often, symptoms of concussion
Q: Why is it important to seek help if someone thinks they might have a concussion?
Q: How can Morris Hospital’s concussion management program help? A: We have a great team that is focused on helping patients return to work, school or play following a concussion. Depending on the symptoms and the assessment, one of our specially trained concussion management providers might refer a patient to physical therapy, where we have specially trained physical therapists who can help patients with their recovery from a concussion. Any time someone has any kind of head injury, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We always advise patients to go to one of our immediate care locations or emergency room if they think they might have a concussion. From there, patients can be referred to our concussion management program.
Stefanie Henline, Nurse Practitioner Morris Hospital Neurology Specialists
Could it be a concussion? If you have any of these symptoms for more than a few minutes after experiencing a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, be sure to get evaluated by a healthcare provider right away: • Headache • Dizziness • Nausea or vomiting • Sensitivity to light • Confusion • Concentration or memory problem • Vision problems • Feeling sluggish, hazy or groggy
To learn more about Morris Hospital’s Concussion Management Program, visit morrishospital.org/concussion, or call the Morris Hospital Neurology Specialists’ office at 815-467-0555 (Channahon) or 815-942-4506 (Morris). Saturday, November 11, 2023 | Healthy Living | 11
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Does pain keep you from enjoying activities you love?
WE CAN HELP
Our orthopedic specialists provide expert care and treatment of sports injuries and problems associated with the neck, back, shoulder, elbow, hand, knee, hip, foot, and ankle, always consdering conservative treatment methods first. And if surgery is needed, we offer the latest innovations and techniques, including Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery. Orthopedic Surgeons: Dr. Ahmed Eldib, Dr. Raymond Meyer, Dr. Paul Perona, Dr. Keith Rezin, Dr. Stephen Treacy, Dr. Robert Williams Orthopedic Spine Surgeon: Dr. Mir Ali Foot & Ankle Surgeon: Dr. Kyle Pearson
It’s time to improve your quality of life. Call today for an appointment: Diamond-Coal City 815-942-4875 Morris 815-942-4875 Ottawa 815-433-0850 Joliet (Houbolt Rd) 815-741-4000
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