Get Healthy July/August 2015

A PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES

fit kids NWI’s youngest fitness fanatics

ALSO

Social Media Addiction How Parents’ Healthy Habits Impact Kids The Healthiest Foods at Area Restaurants JULY/AUGUST 2015

NWI.COM/GETHEALTHY

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july/august 2015

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A FAMILY AFFAIR

Parents’ healthy choices, or lack thereof, influence their children’s lifestyle habits. Local parents and kids tell their stories of healthy habits passed down.

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NWI KIDS WHO ARE HEALTH FANATICS

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BRINGING FITNESS INTO THE CLASSROOM

Porter Regional Hospital first in region to develop oral care program Porter Regional Hospital is the first hospital in the region to develop a structured oral care program to prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia and keep its patients safer. To reduce HAP at Porter, the infection control team worked with a 750-bed hospital in Sacramento, Calif., that had a similar oral care program in place. Using that as the protocol, Porter’s team designed an evidence-based program, then collaborated with Purdue University Calumet nursing students to roll out the program May 11.

“It’s all about educating our patients on good oral care during their hospital stay such as ensuring they brush their teeth three times a day,” said Ann Batagianis, Porter’s infection control coordinator. “Or if a patient is unable to perform their oral care independently, we provide special kits to accommodate patients who need extra assistance to eliminate germs that can travel to their lungs and cause pneumonia.”

ACTIVE EDGE BRACELET CAN HELP WITH REM SLEEP If you are having trouble remembering things or are feeling rundown and seem to be getting sick more than usual, you might not be getting enough REM sleep. Studies have shown that REM sleep is when the brain processes events from the day and files them into long-term memory. With an estimated one-third of adults suffering from sleep deprivation, a lack of REM sleep is something many people are affected by on a daily basis.

Before you send the kids to grandma’s house for the summer and throw out all your electronic devices just so you can get a restful night of sleep, you can simply put on a bracelet that will help improve the amount of REM sleep you get each night, its creators say. The Active Edge bracelet influences body systems to increase oxygen intake, reduce inflammation and increase REM sleep among other benefits.

Menu LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNERS GO THE HEALTHY ROUTE

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ngela McCrovitz, catering manager at Marquette Park Pavilion in Gary, spends three days out of her six-day work week traveling to local farms and markets, selecting the best produce and protein available.

“I use organic and everything sustainable if I can get it,” she says.

“I walk the markets, handpick my fish at the fish market in Chicago, get handcrafted noodles from an Amish

woman, buy free-range chicken and grass-fed beef. I walk the markets seeing what’s fresh and good.

“I’m starting to grow my own herbs to use on our menu. It’s timeconsuming, but it means that we have a menu with well-sourced ingredients.

We also offer gluten-free, diabetic and heart-healthy items as well as a lot of vegetarian dishes.”

McCrovitz is one of several area chefs who are willing to put time and effort to make sure that their menu offerings meet a high standard for those seeking healthy meals.

At Asparagus in Merrillville, banquet manager Kate Witte says the kitchen doesn’t have cream or oils in any of their recipes. “We use miso and The Madras Coconut Curry Bowl at Third Coast Spice Cafe is made with tofu and seasonal vegetables in a smooth and savory curried coconut sauce over organic brown rice.

Helping

a new

On the

design

Elsie Lammering at Community Hospital

Evelyn Cole at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus

Faye Iorio at St. Mary Medical Center

Jeannetta Watkins at Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Hospital volunteers share reasons and rewards for serving

Linda Gibson uses

Third Coast Spice Cafe chef and owner David Wodrich

vegetable stock instead,” she says.

“We are also gluten-free as we use rice noodles and rice paper to wrap our foods instead of flour-based pasta.”

Healthy options abound at Aladdin Pita in Merrillville, says manager Wesam Mohammed. “Hummus is one of the best in terms of healthy foods because it has lots of protein and fiber,” he says. “So is baba ganoush, which is an eggplant dip. Besides that, our foods are really fresh. We don’t use additives or artificial colors. We also have fresh juices on the menu, such as carrot juice.”

Lisa Wodrich, who with her husband, David, own Third Coast Spice Cafe and Lemon Tree Mediterranean Grille in Chesterton, says they try to have as many organic offerings as possible.

The couple became interested in organic and unprocessed foods when their daughter needed a kidney

transplant.

Her illness meant spending a lot of time at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, a pediatric specialty hospital in Chicago. Wanting to provide the family with wholesome, fresh meals while at the hospital, Wodrich says they discovered a Middle Eastern restaurant nearby.

“That’s all my daughter wanted to eat,” she says, “because the food was real and tasted so good and it was so healthy.”

The Wodrichs later opened Third Coast Spice Cafe because they “wanted a place near where we lived where we could get the foods we liked to eat.”

Though Third Coast is different than the Lemon Tree, which features Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine and is more of a fast-food establishment, the philosophy behind the menu concept is the same—locally sourced

On May 21, 2014, Wheatfield resident Linda Gibson was driving home after lunch with a friend when her life changed forever. On U.S. 231 near DeMotte, her Dodge Magnum was hit head-on. Rescue workers spent the next hour and 50 minutes extricating the 65-year-old from her vehicle.

“I was wide awake. I was pinned in and knew it was bad. I didn’t have pain at the time, being in shock,” Gibson says. “The car started on fire while I was in it and that was frightening. It all was horrible, but I didn’t panic.”

She was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital’s trauma center, where she spent the next 2.5 weeks in critical condition, including time on a ventilator.

Her extensive injuries included a fractured hip, a shattered femur, a fractured tibia and fibula, “degloving” of the skin around her ankle and thigh, a collapsed lung, 14 broken ribs, and numerous cuts and abrasions that required stitches. In addition, her right hand and left foot were crushed and later amputated. Her kidneys shut down, but after six weeks on dialysis, they began working again.

“The only good part was I had no brain or spinal injuries,” she says.

Since the accident, Gibson has undergone 12 surgeries and faces two more. She has undergone continuous occupational and physical therapy.

Once her femur heals completely, she will begin the process of obtaining a prosthesis on her left foot.

Since Gibson’s arm was crushed at the wrist, destroying blood vessels necessary for circulation, a below-the-elbow amputation was performed within days after the surgery.

“As soon as my husband, Edward, found out that my hand was being amputated he began researching bionic hands,” Gibson says.

In late 2014, she turned to the Merrillville office of Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics Group for help in obtaining a myoelectric arm prosthesis.

“It basically uses the EMG (electromyography) signals from existing muscles in her residual limb to control its functions,” says Sagar Shetty, a prosthetist and orthotist at the practice. “By thought process, she is able to send a signal from her brain to the hand that isn’t there and we capture that signal by the means of surface electrodes strategically placed inside the prosthesis that are in contact with her skin.”

“Sagar did a wonderful job,” Gibson says. “He measured my arm and put it in his computer. He

Hands E

her myoelectric arm made the sleeve to fit on a recent day. The my arm himself. He’s an Wheatfield woman amazing person.” received the prosthetic after losing her limb in Shetty says that rather an accident. than the traditional method of using a cast made from what remained of Linda’s arm, he was able to customize the design and fit of the prosthetic arm through her measurements taken with technology offered by a 3-D scanner.

“With the myoelectric arm that Linda has, she can use the hand for different grip and grasp patterns with the help of individual articulated digits that can move,” Shetty says. “An individual is now able to point the index finger to operate a PC keyboard, or manually rotate the thumb to meet the side of the index finger enabling them to hold a plate or turn a key in a lock. None of these functions have been possible before, even with a myoelectric prosthesis.”

“You have to think about it and use your arm to move it,” Gibson says. “You can’t expect to put one on and do everything overnight.”

“Linda was very motivated,” Shetty adds. “She was willing to try whatever to improve her quality of life. She wanted something functional — not just cosmetic ... she has been working very hard on it.”

“Everyone tells me I have a positive attitude. That and thousands of prayers have kept me going.”

—Kim Nowatzke

Johanne Holiday at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus

Richard Anderson at Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Muriel Johnson at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus

Sylvia Morrisroe at St. Catherine Hospital

very day they greet the worried, the troubled, the anxious. They hear heartbreaking stories. They field dozens of questions and tote flowers and push wheelchairs.

They get paid nothing, yet consider themselves well rewarded. They’re the indispensable hospital volunteers in Northwest Indiana.

“Years ago I said, ‘No way am I doing hospital work.’ Now I’m here three days a week,” says Evelyn Cole, a volunteer at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus in Merrillville.

When her husband died after three months at the hospital, “I had a lot of time and I wanted to give back. I had to come back.”

Cole was assigned to pre-admitting for surgical evaluation, where she makes sure the nurses have the necessary paperwork. “There’s some running around,” says Cole, who will be 74 in July. “It’s good exercise.”

For Elsie Lammering at Community Hospital in Munster, an empty nest gave her time to “do something worthwhile for myself and other people,” she says. “You can dust the house only so many times.”

That was 48 years ago. Since then

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the 89-year-old has logged 11,500 volunteer hours, a hospital record.

Lammering started at the gift shop and is now the day chair at the main lobby’s front desk on Thursdays.

Faye Iorio, 72, says something beyond the ordinary led her to volunteer at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart nine years ago. Retired as principal of Boston Middle School in LaPorte and as a teacher at River Forest High School in Hobart, she learned from a friend that communion was offered every day to Catholics at St. Mary. Iorio poked her head into the pastoral care center, where Sister Mary O’Hara told her, “You can start Friday.” O’Hara had just lost her Friday helper. “I kind of sensed it was divine intervention,” Iorio says.

Sylvia Morrisroe is also a retired educator, from the Chicago school district and as guidance counselor at Lake Central High School in St. John.

Sister Mary Ellen at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago told Morrisroe that with her major in psychology, she was needed. “Like any of us, (patients and visitors) have good days and bad days.”

Richard Anderson at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Ill., says he sees it all the time: “Some are jovial,

TRAUMA

TREATMENT Valpo welding student cuts jugular during class, treated at Gary trauma unit

J

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eff Brown was in the back of an ambulance on the way to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus when he texted his mom.

“I’m OK, but I’m going to the trauma center in Gary,” he wrote.

“And I’m like, ‘What the heck?” his mom, Cathy, recalls.

“Trauma? Why trauma? Why isn’t he going to the hospital that’s five miles down the road?”

Brown, a 30-year-old college student, had been in welding class in his hometown of Valparaiso when a piece of pipe he was grinding shot up and sliced his jugular vein. “I put my

hand up to my neck and said, ‘OK, there’s blood there,’” Brown recalls in his easygoing way.

Even though the incident happened in Valparaiso, paramedics transported him to the trauma unit in Gary.

That’s because of a state rule that requires emergency responders to take seriously injured patients to the nearest designated trauma center if it’s within 45 minutes, and Gary Methodist was the only one in Northwest Indiana.

Trauma surgeon Reuben Rutland was already in the unit, while Dr. Anekal Sreeram, an ear, nose and throat specialist, hopped over from his office down the street.

In the trauma bay, the team made

sure Brown was stable before bringing him to the operating room to explore the wound. Rutland discovered Brown’s external jugular was lacerated and, since the patient was young and in good health, decided to just tie off the vein. Sreeram then assessed Brown’s airway to check for any penetrating injuries, and the team sewed Brown back up.

Telling the story on a recent day in the Methodist trauma ward, the doctors explain it like it was just another day at the hospital.

Evenhandedness is a required characteristic of a successful trauma team, Rutland says.

“When you teach trauma, the first thing you tell people is, ‘Listen, if

your trauma bay is like it is on TV, you’re doing it wrong. There shouldn’t be any screaming or yelling,’” he says. “Where I trained, our chairman used to always say, ‘I should be able to talk just like I’m talking now and you should be able to understand me.’ When there’s screaming and yelling and chaos, you’re not thinking efficiently.”

“When you’re emotional, you’re thinking less,” Sreeram adds. He notes that hospitals without specialists on hand might not have known to look thoroughly for other wounds on Brown’s jugular that could lead to an embolism or infection.

“The way you get better at trauma is you do trauma,” Rutland says.

“If you’re a hospital that does trauma every couple months, you’re not going to be as proficient as someone who does trauma 100 percent of the time. That’s why you don’t want too many trauma centers in a given area. Because if everyone does a little trauma, nobody really gets good at it.”

After his roughly hour-and-a-half in the trauma and operating areas, Brown went to the intermediate intensive-care unit, where he spent the next 24 hours so he could be monitored. He took the next week off of school to prevent against infection.

A few months later, all that was left was a few-inch-long scar across the front right of his neck.

“Everyone we dealt with in the emergency room, wherever, we were always reassured,” Cathy says. “They never made you feel like you need to worry. Even before surgery, they said, ‘He’s in good hands.’ It was a good place to be.” —Giles Bruce

ask the expert

on your mind

Dr. Anekal Sreeram, an ear, nose and throat specialist, left, with Jeff Brown and Dr. Reuben Rutland, a trauma surgeon. Brown, a college student from Valparaiso, was cutting pipes during welding class when a piece shot up and hit a vein in his neck. He had to be transported to Methodist Hospitals’ trauma unit in Gary, where surgeons operated on him.

survivor spotlight

Addicted to Social Media?

A

The signs and symptoms of this real, prevalent problem

s fun as social media is for keeping up with friends, getting news updates and posting the occasional witty meme, for some people it can be destructive.

Dr. Johann Farley, an addiction medicine physician in Merrillville, is seeing more and more families who are struggling with relational issues as a result of social media addiction or dependency.

According to Farley, who is quick to state that he does use and appreciate his smartphone and the many tools that come with it, the biggest problem with social media is the time it takes away from meaningful relationships.

What may seem like an everyday, menial activity — checking your smartphone — could have a subtle impact on relationships over time, Farley says. He sets up this scenario: “Say you’re married and you and your spouse are sitting on the couch at the end of the day. Instead of getting affectionate with each other and talking about your day, you’re both doing your own thing on your phones. You go to bed without any interaction. From there on, you gradually start to move apart.”

The lack of face-to-face interaction is harmful, yes, but can we really throw around the word addiction?

Farley says yes, even going so far as to compare it to substance abuse addiction. “Do you need that eye-opener every morning? Do you feel like you need (to check social media) to calm your nerves? Can you put your cellphone away on your day off and spend time with the family? If the answer is no, there’s a problem.”

Jamie Monday, a counselor at Crown Point High School, agrees that one can be overly reliant on social media. “Dependency on anything is unhealthy when we are not able to function in our normal lives without it,” she says. “It is a good sign that you are

dependent on something if you have tried to cut back your usage but have been unsuccessful.”

Monday says she sees this often among adolescents, particularly when their parents take away their mobile devices as a form of punishment.

“If the teen is dependent on social media as their way of communicating with their peers, they will have a meltdown and sometimes even experience depression-like symptoms,” she says.

Both Farley and Monday say there are no clear lines when diagnosing and treating social media addiction. First of all, unlike drugs or alcohol, it’s

socially acceptable — and expected. Farley laments that our culture has declared using social media “how it’s going to be — get on the bandwagon or miss the boat.”

The other difficulty is that it’s become so ingrained in our everyday activities. “We carry our phones and other devices with us everywhere,” Monday says.

“Access to social media is literally at our fingertips all day long. Many times we probably don’t even realize how much we are using social media; it has just become an unconscious habit.”

As far as treatment is concerned, there are tactics people can try if they believe they’re addicted: SET BOUNDARIES. “Only allow yourself to go on social media at certain times of the day,” Monday says.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. “Let them know your struggle and make them aware of your goals,” Monday says. “An accountability partner can help give you encouragement if you are really struggling with limiting your usage. They can also help distract you if you are being tempted to go on social media beyond the limits that you set for yourself.”

DELETE THE APP. Monday suggests removing Facebook, Twitter or other problematic apps from your phone: “This will help prevent you from going on social media all throughout the day and would limit you to checking on statuses and updates from your computer only.”

SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. If none of the above tactics work, consider contacting an addiction medicine doctor who understands the science behind addiction and won’t resort to simply prescribing medication.

“Dependency is a chemical need and behavioral issue,” Farley says. “You need to explore the chemical need to see what motivates a person to become more susceptible to these behaviors.”

—Julia Perla Huisman

16 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

DR. GERALD C AHILL

Positive changes with bariatric surgery Dr. Gerald Cahill, bariatric surgeon and medical director at Franciscan Midwest Bariatric Institute, said patients get a better grasp of what the surgery can do to improve their lives as physicians continue educational efforts.

Q: Why is there more awareness of surgery

as an option? Patients are more educated with time and the prevalence of surgeries. They are accepting of what surgery can do as well as understanding of the risks and benefits. There is a greater awareness of its success in weight reduction and decreased risk of diseases. What we need to do as physicians is to further educate patients on how important the health improvements are from weight reduction.

Q: What procedures and services does the

institute offer? Surgeons perform da Vinci gastric bypass, roux-en-y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, StomaphyX and the adjustable laparoscopic band procedures. There is nutritional support from dietitians, guidance on medications and tools and eating-pattern discussions by behavioral counselors.

The weight-loss services are supervised by physicians. There needs to be a full, comprehensive program in order to help patients be successful.

Q: What do patients need to understand

about surgery? The operation has been defined objectively to be safe. There is more patient education on both the safety and efficacy of the operation. It needs to be said how safe it is today, especially in the hands of surgeons who have the

experience like ours here at the institute. I have performed more than 2,500 weight-loss surgeries and have been in the field since 1998.

Q: Any changes on who would most benefit

from surgery? Patient characteristics are still the same, including being 18 and older, more than 100 pounds overweight and having a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or more. We are seeing a growing number of patients in the older age group. I think that goes to general awareness.

We see patients with more diverse medical problems as well as diverse age groups. Patients range from 18-year-olds with medical problems to 70-year-olds. There is also greater awareness on the operation’s effect on diabetes and what it can do to improve diabetes.

Q: How have you seen surgery make an

impact on patients? It can change lives in a very positive way both physically and psychologically.

The benefits for 18-, 19- or 20-year-olds who have dramatic weight loss can be extremely helpful in terms of self-esteem and improving their lives in terms of social and personal opportunities.

Q: What accreditation does the institute

hold? We have been recognized by a certifying

MONTE GERLACH

SUNGLASSES PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR SENSITIVE EYES Zurich Extreme Glare Sunglasses provide soothing protection for people with sensitive eyes. People who experience photophobia, the intolerance or sensitivity to light, will benefit from this product, its maker says. Photophobia affects people of all ages and sexes. Some are bothered by bright lights while others can’t handle any type of light (sunlight, fluorescent light, incandescent light or candle flames).

ZXG sunglasses offer eye protection to those who are highly sensitive to sun glares or exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, and also protect the delicate skin around the eyes.

senior scope

Wheatfield woman receives myoelectric arm following accident

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN

Franciscan transforms Dyer breast center In the last year, the Breast Center at Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer has undergone a transformation from offering mammography services to becoming a comprehensive breast center. Fellowship-trained, female-breast radiologist Sasmita Misra joined the facility in November 2012. Last November, the program received accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program of the American College of Surgeons. This is the only Franciscan Alliance facility in Northwest Indiana with this accreditation.

The center has a timely multidisciplinary evaluation and management of patients with breast disease. The program includes 3-D and 2-D mammograms for screening and diagnostic evaluation, stereotactic-guided breast biopsy, and ultrasound- and MRI-guided breast imaging and biopsy. The breast health nurse navigator provides individual education to patients and their families, assists with the scheduling and coordination of appointments, and offers psychosocial and emotional support.

the body shop

food & fitness

PHOTOS PROVIDED

HEALTHY PRODUCTS TEKR FITNESS LAUNCHES BROOMHEAD BAR TEKR Fitness, whose owners are from Munster and Lansing, is pleased to begin the official launch of its Broomhead Bar, a low-calorie, all-natural, gluten-free protein bar with 18 grams of whey isolate protein. Driven to promote a healthier lifestyle, TEKR Fitness created a product that would help maximize potential goals while minimizing its ingredients.

Before ever meeting her future business partner, Terry Broomhead had the goal of creating an all-natural protein source that would meet her dietary standards, as well as separate it from the rest of the market. Sparking her trainer’s interest, Kevin Kutansky only had to try her protein bars once to realize she was on to something. The excitement led to the creation of a business partnership and the introduction of the Broomhead Bar in January 2014.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Compiled by Times Staff

Community Healthcare System receives Health Innovation Award Community Healthcare System is a recipient of Microsoft Corp.’s 2015 Health Innovation Awards, which recognize health organizations and their technologysolution partners for using Microsoft devices and services in innovative ways.

Through its New Healthy Me website, participating Community employees complete wellness activities such as exercising, losing weight, having an annual physical or joining a team walking challenge, then accumulate points that translate into rewards, such as gift cards, prize drawings and money in their paycheck to offset insurance premiums.

Employees are encouraged to create comprehensive wellness profiles on the secure web portal. The profile displays a complete health and wellness picture for each employee.

PHOTOS BY TONY V. MARTIN

what’s new Local Health News

body that is made up of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. They combined their accreditation programs into one: the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.

In order to achieve this, centers have to go through a rigorous review process. Centers supply all of their outcomes to the national database, and they are in constant review for quality.

Q: What is on the horizon at the institute?

We are going to start offering another operation here: single-anastomosis duodenal-switch, or stomach-intestinal pylorus-sparing, surgery. This is for the heaviest patients who would benefit the most.

It can provide greater weight-loss results and be an effective procedure to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and in the remission of type 2 diabetes.

—Lesly Bailey

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Franciscan Midwest Bariatric Institute is located on the Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer campus, 24 Joliet St. General office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4pm. For more information, call (219) 852-2518 or visit sites.franciscanalliance.org/stmargaret/weightloss.

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what’s new

food & fitness

the body shop

senior scope

survivor spotlight

on your mind

ask the expert

Employee health, oral care, and sunglasses for sensitive eyes.

Healthy menu options abound at NWI restaurants.

A Wheatfield woman receives a myoelectric arm following an accident.

Hospital volunteers share reasons and rewards for serving

A man is treated at the Gary trauma unit after being cut during welding class.

Are you addicted to social media?

Dr. Gerald Cahill tells about the positive changes happening in bariatric surgery.

4 get healthy executive partners 2 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

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GET HEALTHY EXECUTIVE PARTNERS VOLUME 10, ISSUE 4

Center for Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, L.L.C.

Hospice of the Calumet Area

Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana

Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute

Publisher CHRISTOPHER T. WHITE

Community Hospital

Methodist Hospitals

Doherty Therapeutic and Sports Medicine

North Point Orthopedics

Co-Editors GILES BRUCE, JULIA PERLA HUISMAN

Employer Benefits Systems Franciscan Hammond Clinic Franciscan Healthcare-Munster Franciscan Medical Specialists Franciscan St. Anthony HealthCrown Point Franciscan St. Anthony HealthMichigan City Franciscan St. Margaret HealthDyer and Hammond

Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center

Design Director BEN CUNNINGHAM

Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana

Designer APRIL BURFORD

Pinnacle Hospital

Contributing Editors JANE AMMESON, LESLY BAILEY, ASHLEY BOYER, CHRISTINE BRYANT, JULIE KESSLER, TRISH MALEY, JENNIFER PALLAY, PHILIP POTEMPA, CARRIE RODOVICH

Porter Hospital Spine Care Specialists St. Catherine Hospital St. Mary Medical Center Trimboli Chiropractic

NICHE PUBLICATION SALES Account Executives MIKE CANE, ANDREA WALCZAK General Manager and Vice President, Sales and Marketing DEB ANSELM Advertising Operations Manager ERIC HORON Advertising Manager CRAIG CHISM Publications Director LISA TAVOLETTI

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what’s new Compiled by Times Staff

Local Health News

HEALTHY PRODUCTS

Community Healthcare System receives Health Innovation Award

TEKR FITNESS LAUNCHES BROOMHEAD BAR TEKR Fitness, whose owners are from Munster and Lansing, is pleased to begin the official launch of its Broomhead Bar, a low-calorie, all-natural, gluten-free protein bar with 18 grams of whey isolate protein. Driven to promote a healthier lifestyle, TEKR Fitness created a product that would help maximize potential goals while minimizing its ingredients.

Before ever meeting her future business partner, Terry Broomhead had the goal of creating an all-natural protein source that would meet her dietary standards, as well as separate it from the rest of the market. Sparking her trainer’s interest, Kevin Kutansky only had to try her protein bars once to realize she was on to something. The excitement led to the creation of a business partnership and the introduction of the Broomhead Bar in January 2014.

Community Healthcare System is a recipient of Microsoft Corp.’s 2015 Health Innovation Awards, which recognize health organizations and their technologysolution partners for using Microsoft devices and services in innovative ways.

Through its New Healthy Me website, participating Community employees complete wellness activities such as exercising, losing weight, having an annual physical or joining a team walking challenge, then accumulate points that translate into rewards, such as gift cards, prize drawings and money in their paycheck to offset insurance premiums.

Employees are encouraged to create comprehensive wellness profiles on the secure web portal. The profile displays a complete health and wellness picture for each employee.

Franciscan transforms Dyer breast center In the last year, the Breast Center at Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer has undergone a transformation from offering mammography services to becoming a comprehensive breast center. Fellowship-trained, female-breast radiologist Sasmita Misra joined the facility in November 2012. Last November, the program received accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program of the American College of Surgeons. This is the only Franciscan Alliance facility in Northwest Indiana with this accreditation.

The center has a timely multidisciplinary evaluation and management of patients with breast disease. The program includes 3-D and 2-D mammograms for screening and diagnostic evaluation, stereotactic-guided breast biopsy, and ultrasound- and MRI-guided breast imaging and biopsy. The breast health nurse navigator provides individual education to patients and their families, assists with the scheduling and coordination of appointments, and offers psychosocial and emotional support.

Porter Regional Hospital first in region to develop oral care program Porter Regional Hospital is the first hospital in the region to develop a structured oral care program to prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia and keep its patients safer. To reduce HAP at Porter, the infection control team worked with a 750-bed hospital in Sacramento, Calif., that had a similar oral care program in place. Using that as the protocol, Porter’s team designed an evidence-based program, then collaborated with Purdue University Calumet nursing students to roll out the program May 11.

“It’s all about educating our patients on good oral care during their hospital stay such as ensuring they brush their teeth three times a day,” says Ann Batagianis, Porter’s infection control coordinator. “Or if a patient is unable to perform their oral care independently, we provide special kits to accommodate patients who need extra assistance to eliminate germs that can travel to their lungs and cause pneumonia.”

6 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

SUNGLASSES PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR SENSITIVE EYES Zurich Extreme Glare Sunglasses provide soothing protection for people with sensitive eyes. People who experience photophobia, the intolerance or sensitivity to light, will benefit from this product, its maker says. Photophobia affects people of all ages and sexes. Some are bothered by bright lights while others can’t handle any type of light (sunlight, fluorescent light, incandescent light or candle flames).

ZXG sunglasses offer eye protection to those who are highly sensitive to sun glares or exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, and also protect the delicate skin around the eyes.

ACTIVE EDGE BRACELET CAN HELP WITH REM SLEEP If you are having trouble remembering things or are feeling rundown and seem to be getting sick more than usual, you might not be getting enough REM sleep. Studies have shown that REM sleep is when the brain processes events from the day and files them into long-term memory. With an estimated one-third of adults suffering from sleep deprivation, a lack of REM sleep is something many people are affected by on a daily basis.

Before you send the kids to grandma’s house for the summer and throw out all your electronic devices just so you can get a restful night of sleep, you can simply put on a bracelet that will help improve the amount of REM sleep you get each night, its creators say. The Active Edge bracelet influences body systems to increase oxygen intake, reduce inflammation and increase REM sleep among other benefits.

IMMEDIATE CARE

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Schedule your appointment online and you’ll be seen on arrival. Ingalls online scheduling shows the next available opening at Ingalls emergency facilities so you can be seen as quickly as possible, or at a time that works with your schedule. Either way, you’ll be waiting in the comfort of your own home instead of the ER. Visit Ingalls.org/InQuicker to schedule.

Would you rather speak to a person to make an appointment? Do you need help choosing a primary care doctor or specialist for ongoing care? Ingalls CareConnection will help you find the perfect match and can even schedule your first appointment. An operator is available 24/7 to help you get connected to the right doctor. Just call 708.915.CARE (2273) to get connected to the right doctor, right now.

Flossmoor • Tinley Park • Calumet City • Harvey • Crestwood

july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 7

food & fitness

On the

Menu A

ngela McCrovitz, catering manager at Marquette Park Pavilion in Gary, spends three days out of her six-day work week traveling to local farms and markets, selecting the best produce and protein available.

“I use organic and everything sustainable if I can get it,” she says.

“I walk the markets, handpick my fish at the fish market in Chicago, get handcrafted noodles from an Amish

woman, buy free-range chicken and grass-fed beef. I walk the markets seeing what’s fresh and good.

“I’m starting to grow my own herbs to use on our menu. It’s timeconsuming, but it means that we have a menu with well-sourced ingredients.

We also offer gluten-free, diabetic and heart-healthy items as well as a lot of vegetarian dishes.”

McCrovitz is one of several area chefs who are willing to put time and effort to make sure that their menu offerings meet a high standard for those seeking healthy meals.

At Asparagus in Merrillville, banquet manager Kate Witte says the kitchen doesn’t have cream or oils in any of their recipes. “We use miso and The Madras Coconut Curry Bowl at Third Coast Spice Cafe is made with tofu and seasonal vegetables in a smooth and savory curried coconut sauce over organic brown rice.

8 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

Third Coast Spice Cafe chef and owner David Wodrich

vegetable stock instead,” she says.

“We are also gluten-free as we use rice noodles and rice paper to wrap our foods instead of flour-based pasta.”

Healthy options abound at Aladdin Pita in Merrillville, says manager Wesam Mohammed. “Hummus is one of the best in terms of healthy foods because it has lots of protein and fiber,” he says. “So is baba ganoush, which is an eggplant dip. Besides that, our foods are really fresh. We don’t use additives or artificial colors. We also have fresh juices on the menu, such as carrot juice.”

Lisa Wodrich, who with her husband, David, own Third Coast Spice Cafe and Lemon Tree Mediterranean Grille in Chesterton, says they try to have as many organic offerings as possible.

The couple became interested in organic and unprocessed foods when their daughter needed a kidney

transplant.

Her illness meant spending a lot of time at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, a pediatric specialty hospital in Chicago. Wanting to provide the family with wholesome, fresh meals while at the hospital, Wodrich says they discovered a Middle Eastern restaurant nearby.

“That’s all my daughter wanted to eat,” she says, “because the food was real and tasted so good and it was so healthy.”

The Wodrichs later opened Third Coast Spice Cafe because they “wanted a place near where we lived where we could get the foods we liked to eat.”

Though Third Coast is different than the Lemon Tree, which features Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine and is more of a fast-food establishment, the philosophy behind the menu concept is the same—locally sourced

PHOTOS BY TONY V. MARTIN

LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNERS GO THE HEALTHY ROUTE

Third Coast Spice Cafe

as much as possible, with additivefree, naturally grown or raised ingredients.

Most of their menu items are made in-house. The Wodrichs’ criteria is no genetically modified corn, no corn syrup, no preservatives, no MSG, no artificial colors or flavors—which adds up to a lot of label reading. The ketchup on their tables doesn’t contain corn syrup (a common ingredient in store-bought ketchups), and they buy their pita bread from a family-owned, Middle Eastern bakery.

“People don’t always expect our menu to have healthy options, but we have a lot of them and they’re very popular,” says Matthew Doran of True BBQ & Whiskey Bar in Munster, noting they offer vegan options such as their BBQ seitan appetizer and BBQ pulled seitan sandwich, as well as seasonal grilled vegetables and a myriad of salad options. “Our North Atlantic salmon and smoked tempeh burger are also very popular.”

At the Tiger Lilly Bakery & Cafe, hormone-free and organic flours are all part of what goes on in the kitchen of this Chesterton eatery that specializes in traditional, vegetarian and vegan diets.

“I go to Shipshewana in Northwest Indiana’s Amish area and buy naturally raised beef

from an Amish woman there,” says owner Marilyn Busch. “We make our own breads, and they don’t have preservatives. We don’t intend on anything sitting on the shelf, we want it natural and healthy. We try to make everything without additives. I love the idea of giving our customers the best possible in natural foods, so they can have a great, healthy meal.”

Busch says her son is a vegan and, because no one else in the area was doing it at the time, they started serving seitan, which is a whole-wheat gluten product similar in calorie count to lean beef.

“We make an Asian-flavored seitan in-house,” she says, noting that their Cho Shu, made with their Asian seitan, accented with sriracha and tomato and served in lettuce, is one of their best sellers.

Other popular items include their homemade Italian beef (using naturally raised beef) and a vegan Italian beef sandwich.

“We love working with family farms, small producers and people who come to us with products,” Wodrich says. “We go out of our way to get our ingredients and we pay more, but it’s worth it for what it gives our customers. It’s the way we want to eat and it’s the way we want to feed them.”

—Jane Ammeson

july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 9

the body shop Wheatfield woman receives myoelectric arm following accident

a new

design

10 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

Since Gibson’s arm was crushed at the wrist, destroying blood vessels necessary for circulation, a below-the-elbow amputation was performed within days after the surgery.

“As soon as my husband, Edward, found out that my hand was being amputated he began researching bionic hands,” Gibson says.

In late 2014, she turned to the Merrillville office of Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics Group for help in obtaining a myoelectric arm prosthesis.

“It basically uses the EMG (electromyography) signals from existing muscles in her residual limb to control its functions,” says Sagar Shetty, a prosthetist and orthotist at the practice. “By thought process, she is able to send a signal from her brain to the hand that isn’t there and we capture that signal by the means of surface electrodes strategically placed inside the prosthesis that are in contact with her skin.”

“Sagar did a wonderful job,” Gibson says. “He measured my arm and put it in his computer. He

her myoelectric arm made the sleeve to fit on a recent day. The my arm himself. He’s an Wheatfield woman amazing person.” received the prosthetic after losing her limb in Shetty says that rather an accident. than the traditional method of using a cast made from what remained of Linda’s arm, he was able to customize the design and fit of the prosthetic arm through her measurements taken with technology offered by a 3-D scanner.

“With the myoelectric arm that Linda has, she can use the hand for different grip and grasp patterns with the help of individual articulated digits that can move,” Shetty says. “An individual is now able to point the index finger to operate a PC keyboard, or manually rotate the thumb to meet the side of the index finger enabling them to hold a plate or turn a key in a lock. None of these functions have been possible before, even with a myoelectric prosthesis.”

“You have to think about it and use your arm to move it,” Gibson says. “You can’t expect to put one on and do everything overnight.”

“Linda was very motivated,” Shetty adds. “She was willing to try whatever to improve her quality of life. She wanted something functional — not just cosmetic ... she has been working very hard on it.”

“Everyone tells me I have a positive attitude. That and thousands of prayers have kept me going.”

—Kim Nowatzke

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Linda Gibson uses

On May 21, 2014, Wheatfield resident Linda Gibson was driving home after lunch with a friend when her life changed forever. On U.S. 231 near DeMotte, her Dodge Magnum was hit head-on. Rescue workers spent the next hour and 50 minutes extricating the 65-year-old from her vehicle.

“I was wide awake. I was pinned in and knew it was bad. I didn’t have pain at the time, being in shock,” Gibson says. “The car started on fire while I was in it and that was frightening. It all was horrible, but I didn’t panic.”

She was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital’s trauma center, where she spent the next 2.5 weeks in critical condition, including time on a ventilator.

Her extensive injuries included a fractured hip, a shattered femur, a fractured tibia and fibula, “degloving” of the skin around her ankle and thigh, a collapsed lung, 14 broken ribs, and numerous cuts and abrasions that required stitches. In addition, her right hand and left foot were crushed and later amputated. Her kidneys shut down, but after six weeks on dialysis, they began working again.

“The only good part was I had no brain or spinal injuries,” she says.

Since the accident, Gibson has undergone 12 surgeries and faces two more. She has undergone continuous occupational and physical therapy.

Once her femur heals completely, she will begin the process of obtaining a prosthesis on her left foot.

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senior scope

Helping

Elsie Lammering at Community Hospital

Evelyn Cole at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus

Hands E

Faye Iorio at St. Mary Medical Center

Jeannetta Watkins at Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Johanne Holiday at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus

Muriel Johnson at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus

Richard Anderson at Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Sylvia Morrisroe at St. Catherine Hospital

12 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

very day they greet the worried, the troubled, the anxious. They hear heartbreaking stories. They field dozens of questions and tote flowers and push wheelchairs.

They get paid nothing, yet consider themselves well rewarded. They’re the indispensable hospital volunteers in Northwest Indiana.

“Years ago I said, ‘No way am I doing hospital work.’ Now I’m here three days a week,” says Evelyn Cole, a volunteer at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus in Merrillville.

When her husband died after three months at the hospital, “I had a lot of time and I wanted to give back. I had to come back.”

Cole was assigned to pre-admitting for surgical evaluation, where she makes sure the nurses have the necessary paperwork. “There’s some running around,” says Cole, who will be 74 in July. “It’s good exercise.”

For Elsie Lammering at Community Hospital in Munster, an empty nest gave her time to “do something worthwhile for myself and other people,” she says. “You can dust the house only so many times.”

That was 48 years ago. Since then

the 89-year-old has logged 11,500 volunteer hours, a hospital record.

Lammering started at the gift shop and is now the day chair at the main lobby’s front desk on Thursdays.

Faye Iorio, 72, says something beyond the ordinary led her to volunteer at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart nine years ago. Retired as principal of Boston Middle School in LaPorte and as a teacher at River Forest High School in Hobart, she learned from a friend that communion was offered every day to Catholics at St. Mary. Iorio poked her head into the pastoral care center, where Sister Mary O’Hara told her, “You can start Friday.” O’Hara had just lost her Friday helper. “I kind of sensed it was divine intervention,” Iorio says.

Sylvia Morrisroe is also a retired educator, from the Chicago school district and as guidance counselor at Lake Central High School in St. John.

Sister Mary Ellen at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago told Morrisroe that with her major in psychology, she was needed. “Like any of us, (patients and visitors) have good days and bad days.”

Richard Anderson at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Ill., says he sees it all the time: “Some are jovial,

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Hospital volunteers share reasons and rewards for serving

some are nervous, some have a medical problem.” Why has the 79-year-old been volunteering for 15 years?

“You try to put their mind at ease.

A little thing can go a long way,” he says. “You just can’t help but exude the good feeling at the hospital, trying to help people if they’re a little down. You try to perk them up a little bit.”

That good feeling keeps other volunteers faithfully at their posts.

Jeannetta Watkins, 68, has been at Ingalls for eight years. In the surgical waiting room, she checks patient lists, answers the phone and interacts with family members.

“They’re stressed out,” she says.

“When I can encourage people in some kind of pain or difficult situation, that makes me feel good, to give some comfort.” Watkins is also on the auxiliary board and works in the gift shop.

Two high school friends have reconnected decades later to become an informal team at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary. Joanne Holiday and Muriel Johnson make sure their front-desk area isn’t left unattended, “because patients and visitors need us,” says Johnson, who will be 67 in July. It’s busy, with people to be directed here and there, volunteers to be instructed about patient destinations, and a constant attitude of caring at the forefront.

“We try to brighten their day,” Holiday says. Adds Johnson: “Sometimes people are so burdened down, and a kind word means a whole lot. They’ve told us how much that means to them.”

Aren’t there challenging times, too?

“Yes, when you see people suffering. They’re crying, they’re waiting for the worst news, and you just try to calm them,” Morrisroe says. “But (afterward) I meditate and I talk to my husband, who’s a great counselor.”

“Moving forward with change

that comes quickly is a challenge.

There are so many things that are required, sometime change comes daily,” Cole says.

“Sometimes it might affect me because I’ve been in a similar situation,” Watkins says. “But I think back on how I handled it, and I’ll ask, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ Or I’ll offer a prayer, and that helps me.”

Iorio, who is president of the hospital auxiliary and on the scholarship committee, says: “I pray for them, but I can’t fret about it. If I feel like they need something else I’ll go to a chaplain or nurse and tell them.”

“It’s been an education,” Cole says. “I love knowing a little of the things these nurses have to do, they have so much patience. It’s widened my whole outlook on life and what hospitals do. And I can go home and say, ‘Well, I helped somebody.’”

“When someone comes in very upset and you can help them out, that’s a thrill,” Lammering says.

“I keep thinking I should retire, but everyone says I can’t.” As the hospital historian, the octogenarian is there for board meetings and is also on the scholarship committee.

For Morrisroe, staying in touch with the community, seeing friends and former students come in “is a blessing. I’ll do this as long as God gives me health,” she says. Anderson serves on the hospital ethics committee and the institutional review board for new medications, and is in his third term as the first male president of the hospital auxiliary. He’ll keep doing hospital volunteer work, he says, “until I’m physically no longer able to, because I love it.”

“I enjoy the people I work with. We have a good time,” says Johnson, 67. “I’ll (volunteer) until I can’t do this anymore.”

“I always meet someone who’s an inspiration to me,” Iorio says. “I’m building a new house that will add time to my trip, but as long as I can serve, I will.” — Julie Dean Kessler

orthopaedic specialists

of Northwest Indiana

“Oxinium” -- The Ceramic Metal As technology has advanced, researchers have looked to newer materials that might last longer in hip and knee replacements. The original materials used were metals that mimicked the mixture of strength and flexibility of healthy bone. Currently Titanium alloys are used to interdigitate with the bone of the hip because they match that similarity to bone. The interface that rubs on the joint needs different properties, because the materials that rub together have to be extremely hard but durable.

As successful as hip and knee replacements have become, this procedure was initially restricted to patients with severe arthritis at older ages because of concerns that the implants would wear out over 10 years, leading to a more complex revision surgery. As the baby boomer population aged, work continued to try to lessen the failure rate from particle wear which can happen on either the metal or plastic side of the replacement joint.

New Techniques in Joint Replacement “If the components could last longer, then even younger patients could be considered for hip and knee replacement treatment options.”

The metal side of the joint replacement has traditionally been an alloy of Cobalt and Chrome, which is extremely hard (harder than Titanium or Stainless Steel) making it resistant to wear over time. Gradually, the Cobalt-Chrome can develop microscopic scratches which don’t significantly affect the metal itself but leads to wear on the polyethylene plastic side of the joint over time. In the search for materials that can last longer than our previous options, aluminum ceramic surfaces were developed. This ceramic material is also extremely hard but has almost no wear over time, making it a good consideration for younger patients with severe arthritis considering hip or knee replacement surgery.

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Phone 219-924-3300 Fax (219) 922-5424

july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 13

survivor spotlight

TRAUMA

TREATMENT Valpo welding student cuts jugular during class, treated at Gary trauma unit

J

eff Brown was in the back of an ambulance on the way to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus when he texted his mom.

“I’m OK, but I’m going to the trauma center in Gary,” he wrote.

“And I’m like, ‘What the heck?” his mom, Cathy, recalls.

“Trauma? Why trauma? Why isn’t he going to the hospital that’s five miles down the road?”

Brown, a 30-year-old college student, had been in welding class in his hometown of Valparaiso when a piece of pipe he was grinding shot up and sliced his jugular vein. “I put my

14 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

hand up to my neck and said, ‘OK, there’s blood there,’” Brown recalls in his easygoing way.

Even though the incident happened in Valparaiso, paramedics transported him to the trauma unit in Gary.

That’s because of a state rule that requires emergency responders to take seriously injured patients to the nearest designated trauma center if it’s within 45 minutes, and Gary Methodist was the only one in Northwest Indiana.

Trauma surgeon Reuben Rutland was already in the unit, while Dr. Anekal Sreeram, an ear, nose and throat specialist, hopped over from his office down the street.

In the trauma bay, the team made

sure Brown was stable before bringing him to the operating room to explore the wound. Rutland discovered Brown’s external jugular was lacerated and, since the patient was young and in good health, decided to just tie off the vein. Sreeram then assessed Brown’s airway to check for any penetrating injuries, and the team sewed Brown back up.

Telling the story on a recent day in the Methodist trauma ward, the doctors explain it like it was just another day at the hospital.

Evenhandedness is a required characteristic of a successful trauma team, Rutland says.

“When you teach trauma, the first thing you tell people is, ‘Listen, if

your trauma bay is like it is on TV, you’re doing it wrong. There shouldn’t be any screaming or yelling,’” he says. “Where I trained, our chairman used to always say, ‘I should be able to talk just like I’m talking now and you should be able to understand me.’ When there’s screaming and yelling and chaos, you’re not thinking efficiently.”

“When you’re emotional, you’re thinking less,” Sreeram adds. He notes that hospitals without specialists on hand might not have known to look thoroughly for other wounds on Brown’s jugular that could lead to an embolism or infection.

“The way you get better at trauma is you do trauma,” Rutland says.

“If you’re a hospital that does trauma every couple months, you’re not going to be as proficient as someone who does trauma 100 percent of the time. That’s why you don’t want too many trauma centers in a given area. Because if everyone does a little trauma, nobody really gets good at it.”

After his roughly hour-and-a-half in the trauma and operating areas, Brown went to the intermediate intensive-care unit, where he spent the next 24 hours so he could be monitored. He took the next week off of school to prevent against infection.

A few months later, all that was left was a few-inch-long scar across the front right of his neck.

“Everyone we dealt with in the emergency room, wherever, we were always reassured,” Cathy says. “They never made you feel like you need to worry. Even before surgery, they said, ‘He’s in good hands.’ It was a good place to be.” —Giles Bruce

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN

Dr. Anekal Sreeram, an ear, nose and throat specialist, left, with Jeff Brown and Dr. Reuben Rutland, a trauma surgeon. Brown, a college student from Valparaiso, was cutting pipes during welding class when a piece shot up and hit a vein in his neck. He had to be transported to Methodist Hospitals’ trauma unit in Gary, where surgeons operated on him.

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july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 15

on your mind

Addicted to Social Media?

A

The signs and symptoms of this real, prevalent problem

s fun as social media is for keeping up with friends, getting news updates and posting the occasional witty meme, for some people it can be destructive.

Dr. Johann Farley, an addiction medicine physician in Merrillville, is seeing more and more families who are struggling with relational issues as a result of social media addiction or dependency.

According to Farley, who is quick to state that he does use and appreciate his smartphone and the many tools that come with it, the biggest problem with social media is the time it takes away from meaningful relationships.

What may seem like an everyday, menial activity—checking your smartphone—could have a subtle impact on relationships over time, Farley says. He sets up this scenario: “Say you’re married and you and your spouse are sitting on the couch at the end of the day. Instead of getting affectionate with each other and talking about your day, you’re both doing your own thing on your phones. You go to bed without any interaction. From there on, you gradually start to move apart.”

The lack of face-to-face interaction is harmful, yes, but can we really throw around the word addiction?

Farley says yes, even going so far as to compare it to substance abuse addiction. “Do you need that eye-opener every morning? Do you feel like you need (to check social media) to calm your nerves? Can you put your cellphone away on your day off and spend time with the family? If the answer is no, there’s a problem.”

Jamie Monday, a counselor at Crown Point High School, agrees that one can be overly reliant on social media. “Dependency on anything is unhealthy when we are not able to function in our normal lives without it,” she says. “It is a good sign that you are

16 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

dependent on something if you have tried to cut back your usage but have been unsuccessful.”

Monday says she sees this often among adolescents, particularly when their parents take away their mobile devices as a form of punishment.

“If the teen is dependent on social media as their way of communicating with their peers, they will have a meltdown and sometimes even experience depression-like symptoms,” she says.

Both Farley and Monday say there are no clear lines when diagnosing and treating social media addiction. First of all, unlike drugs or alcohol, it’s

socially acceptable—and expected. Farley laments that our culture has declared using social media “how it’s going to be—get on the bandwagon or miss the boat.”

The other difficulty is that it’s become so ingrained in our everyday activities. “We carry our phones and other devices with us everywhere,” Monday says.

“Access to social media is literally at our fingertips all day long. Many times we probably don’t even realize how much we are using social media; it has just become an unconscious habit.”

As far as treatment is concerned, there are tactics people can try if they believe they’re addicted: SET BOUNDARIES. “Only allow yourself to go on social media at certain times of the day,” Monday says.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. “Let them know your struggle and make them aware of your goals,” Monday says. “An accountability partner can help give you encouragement if you are really struggling with limiting your usage. They can also help distract you if you are being tempted to go on social media beyond the limits that you set for yourself.”

DELETE THE APP. Monday suggests removing Facebook, Twitter or other problematic apps from your phone: “This will help prevent you from going on social media all throughout the day and would limit you to checking on statuses and updates from your computer only.”

SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT. If none of the above tactics work, consider contacting an addiction medicine doctor who understands the science behind addiction and won’t resort to simply prescribing medication.

“Dependency is a chemical need and behavioral issue,” Farley says. “You need to explore the chemical need to see what motivates a person to become more susceptible to these behaviors.”

—Julia Perla Huisman

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Dr. Joseph Tyree

Competent Compassionate Care With decades of combined experience, the team at Bionic has been helping patients and their families take many steps toward achieving their goals and dreams.

2100 45th Ave.

(5 blocks east of our old office) Porte De L'eau Plaza, Highland, IN

219

924-4411

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Appointments

Merrillville • valparaiso • Munster • MiCHiGan CitY • tinleY park

Call 1-855-524-6642 to make an appointment www.bionicpo.com

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Other Locations to Serve You: 3564 Scottsdale St., Portage 6450 US Highway 6, Portage (Inside Portage H.S.) 2490 Central Ave., Lake Station 6091 Broadway, Merrillville 6920 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond 3099 Central Ave., Lake Station (Dental Only)

For Appointments or More Information Call

Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5pm

407 W. Indiana Ave Chesterton

At the corner of 4th and Indiana

Toll free: (888)459-2349

(219)763-8112

www.northshorehealth.org july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 17

Seated from left, Luke, Micah and Jake Hatley with their father, Danny (standing).

A Family Food, activity choices influence what children eat and do

D

anny Hatley is a former bodybuilder who knows the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. So as soon as his three kids were out of diapers, he would take them to the park, hiking or biking. His calorie-counting habits also rubbed off on them, to the point where they’d sometimes tell their mom the dinner she was serving was too fattening.

“We made sure they were active, not just sitting around and watching cartoons,” says Hatley, a NIPSCO contractor who lives in Wanatah and, at 54, can still bench-press 300 pounds. “We taught them that what they put in their mouths was going to be a reflection of themselves.”

Now high school and college students, Hatley’s kids are glad their parents set such a good example. Luke, 20, is training to become a bodybuilder himself. Eighteen-year-old Micah is a basketball and track star. And Jake, 16, is a football player and avid weightlifter. All three are, obviously, in great shape.

Parents have a huge influence on their children’s lifestyle habits, health experts say, from the time they’re infants all the way

18 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

Should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

When should I have them removed?

These are a few questions that are commonly asked in our office.

We would like to have the opportunity to see you for a consultation to determine if you will benefit from wisdom tooth removal. Consultations are always complimentary for wisdom teeth and dental implant patients. Dr. Platt has been serving Northwest Indiana for over 20 years with quality oral surgery care in Wisdom Teeth Removal, Dental Implants, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Extractions, General and IV Sedations.

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322 Indianapolis ndianapolis Blvd., Suite 100 (Behind Steak N’ Shake) Schererville, IN

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We welcome new patients Monday -Thursday: 8am - 5pm Friday: 7am - 2pm We are currently scheduling summer appointments. Please consider scheduling your wisdom tooth consultation early for the most convenient appointment times.

Dr. Jay Platt and his staff work closely with you and your dentist to ensure your treatment exceeds your expectations. Choosing an oral surgeon is an important decision. Our team is composed of experienced professionals who are dedicated to your care. We are looking forward to fulfilling your dental needs.

www.jplattdds.com july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 19

Micah Hatley

Tips for parents • Don’t give your kids juice, which is generally full of sugar.

Instead, have them drink water or milk.

• Don’t use dessert or sweets as a reward for good behavior.

• For snacks, give them fresh fruit and vegetables rather than processed food.

20 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

youngsters with conditions— such as • Feed kids a variety hypertension, of healthy foods from high infancy so they aren’t cholesterol, picky eaters later on. prediabetes— that used • Don’t give up if a to generally youngster doesn’t like only develop Luke Hatley a healthy food item in adulthood. at first. It can take “Who prepares as many as 15 times meals for of introducing a food their kids? It’s before a child accepts it. the parent,” or when she says. “So they’re out at • Children generoverweight a restaurant ally aren’t set in their parents are with friends. dietary ways until after more likely And kids who preschool, so parents to have learn healthy have until then to shape overweight lifestyle habits their kids’ eating habits. kids.” early are likely Sources: Drs. Geraldine She also to carry them Feria and Erin Crill, notes that you over into dietitian Kim Kramer can’t always adulthood and be with your influence their children, so if own sons and you get them daughters. in the habit of eating healthy at Feria adds that parents an early age they’ll make better who smoke are going to lack choices at the school cafeteria credibility when they tell their

children not to. Same with couchpotato moms and dads who encourage their kids to be more physically active.

For the past decade, Kim Kramer, a dietitian at the Ingalls Wellness Center in Flossmoor, Ill., has hosted Ingalls’ annual KidFit Camp, which teaches youngsters about nutrition and the importance of exercise. Parents are required to attend the classes as well. “They’re doing all the shopping. They’re doing a lot of the cooking. They need to be involved in our goals each week,” Kramer says.

DAN SHELTON

through high school. Kids see and mimic the types of food their moms and dads eat and the activities they do.

“It does start in the home.

It starts with the parent,” says Dr. Geraldine Feria, a Wanatah pediatrician and internist who is part of the Porter Physician Group. “The main thing is leading by example. But they should know what good example they need to show.”

Feria treats both children and adults at her LaPorte County practice. That way, she can influence the entire family. If, for instance, she has a patient with type 2 diabetes whose kids are overweight, she hopes her work with the adult—encouraging more exercise and better nutrition—will trickle down to the little ones.

It’s a critical time for getting this type of message across. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 1 in 5 children and adolescents are obese, as are more than a third of adults, straining an already overburdened health-care system. Feria says she sees now

• Use portion control.

If an adult portion is approximately the size of the adult’s fist, a child’s portion should be the size of his or her fist.

NWI kids who are health fanatics EMMA EDENS

AGE: 9

K LOGAN CLAR AGE: 13

: Going into School/grade Colonel at e ad eighth gr e School in Wheeler Middl t in Po n ow Cr t: Running Favorite spor : Spinach Favorite food ting active and ea g physically y. in m be m e yu lik e u ar Why do yo althy foods ? Because he healthy food it’s just fun.

And because I remember a healthy life? Montese liv to u yo Who inspired was in kindergarten in my e Sh . It r Miss Tonya. this perfectly was my teache exercise sori school. It ll students to eat healthy, te would always as much as you can e id ts ou t ge d fit you an definitely bene ill w it e us beca in your life.

She says it’s crucial that all members of a given family partake in healthy activities. That could be as easy as going on a bike ride together or playing a game of soccer in the front yard.

And you can’t talk to your little ones about portion control while you scarf potato chips by the bag.

“If the parents don’t think the kids are watching, they are,” she says. “If parents are sitting there on their phones or in front of their computers, the kids are going to want to do the same thing.”

Ann Edens, a fitness instructor at Community Hospital Fitness Pointe in Munster, is a dedicated runner whose daughter, Emma, now runs alongside her. The 9-year-old has been preparing for a 5K. She does good on the

JAKE E HATLEYTHAN

School/grade: Going into fourth grade at Eads Elementary School in Munster

AGE: 16

Favorite sport: Gymnastics Favorite food: Pizza and chicken Why do you like being physically active and eating healthy food? I enjoy it and it makes me feel better.

I do eat sweets, just not a lot of them.

Who inspired you to live a healthy life?

My mom.

nutrition front as well.

“She knows what a good choice and a bad choice is,” says Edens, 34. “She didn’t even have Cheerios when she was little. She had Kashi.”

Dr. Erin Crill, a Dyer pediatrician with the Franciscan Physician Network, encourages parents to get creative. Give kids stickers rather than candy during potty training. Introduce them to interesting, tasty vegetables like Brussels sprouts, asparagus and lima beans rather than the typical corn, carrots and potatoes. Exercise in front of them; if they choose to join in, all the better.

“Some of my friends who work say they feel selfish taking more time away from their kids

School/g ra into junio de: Going ry Central H ear at South ig Union Mill h School in s Favorite sport: Fo otball Favorite food: Ste ak Why do y ou like be ing physic healthy fo all o football re d? I like being phy y active and eati ng sical. Weig quire me to eat hea hts and lthy.

Who insp ire introduce d you to live a he d me to fo althy life ?M otb said you h ave to fee all and weights. B y dad. He d u to take ca re of yours your body with th t also he e right fo elf. ods

to exercise,” Crill says. “But if they see that you’re doing healthy habits, they develop healthy habits. Plus, I’m a lot nicer after I’ve exercised.” (Crill does Beachbody workouts in her basement after long days of caring for kids in Dyer; her 3-year-old daughter either watches from the couch or gets up and does jumping jacks next to her.)

It’s not just parents who have a big influence on their children’s lifestyle choices. Logan Clark, of Winfield, says his kindergarten teacher, Miss Tonya, would always talk to his class about the lifelong benefits of eating right and working out, and the message stuck with him. Now 13, he is an avid runner, plays basketball and

soccer, and holds the pushup record (70 in one minute) at his Crown Point middle school. He prefers cucumbers to potato chips, and his favorite food is spinach. “What 12-year-old uses his Christmas money to purchase a Fitbit instead of video games?” says his mom, Maria, 45. “In today’s world of video games and texting, I am so grateful that my son actually prefers and enjoys being active.”

Logan says a big reason he leads a healthy life is to influence his peers: “Some of my classmates think, How can you eat such healthy foods? And I say, ‘They’re yummy. You should try them.’ Then they do and say they’re yummy and they end up eating a lot of them.” —Giles Bruce

july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 21

Bringing into the

classroom Take 5 for Life teaches NWI kids the importance of exercise

“I

t’s going to be similar to Simon Says,” declares Zumba instructor Mitzi Montgomery.

“What I do, you’re going to do.”

Several dozen Morton

Lincoln Elementary School students participate in a yoga class led by Community Hospital Fitness Pointe at the school in Hammond.

22 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

Elementary School fifth-graders stand around, looking at one another and giggling, as the adults in the room try to get a boombox working. The kids’ talking gradually goes from a murmur to a rumble.

“Twenty-five jumping jacks, let’s go!” yells out gym teacher Julie Gamaleri.

Eventually they get the sound system working, and “Who Let the Dogs Out?” starts pumping through the speakers.

Montgomery shows the kids how to do Zumba, an exercise routine that mixes dance and aerobics. She pushes her hands out to each side, lifts her legs high in the air, and does a pelvic thrust, which causes some of the students to laugh. “You’re going to be dancing, but you’re going to be exercising,” she says. “The music is old, but we’re here to exercise and have a good time.”

The youngsters, wearing Fitbits on their wrists, participate with differing levels of enthusiasm— from more-into-it than the instructor to hardly moving—but it was difficult to find a kid who wasn’t smiling. So the message seemed to be getting across: that being physically active can be fun, too.

The program was hosted by Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, which, as part of its Take 5 for Life initiative, has since 2004 been going into local schools to teach kids about the importance of exercise and proper nutrition. It has reached thousands of students from East Chicago to Hobart, Gary to Whiting.

“We just wanted to get kids healthier because we saw that physical education and recess was getting cut or reduced in schools,” says Phrosini Samis-Smith, fitness instructor and outreach coordinator at Munster-based Fitness Pointe.

“We thought this was a way for us to reach out and talk about nutrition and obesity.”

Take 5 for Life is meant to expand

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN MIANO

students’ health horizons, introducing them to fun, unique ways to exercise and showing them what a healthy after-school snack actually looks like (hint: it’s not Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and pop). The program tests the students on things like heart rate and blood pressure before and after the 10-week course to show the progress they’ve made.

It also provides the schools with exercise equipment like Fitbits and kettlebells.

“Afterward, I think the students have a better understanding of what they have to do to stay active and healthy in their lifetimes,” Gamaleri says. “I’m always telling them, If they have

their health, they have a million bucks in their back pocket. All that money’s not going out for doctor bills. When you exercise and eat right, it makes you feel good. You can hold down a job.

You can do the fun things you like to do.”

Back in the gym, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” fills the auditorium. “I’m not getting a lot of you, guys,” Montgomery says, trying to pump the kids up.

Eventually, more and more of them join in.

“Nobody should be tired. If you’re not breathing really hard, you’re not exercising,” she says.

“The point is to not know you’re exercising.”—Giles Bruce

DELIVERING QUALITY PATIENT CARE to Northwest Indiana since 1987

Morton Elementary School students participate in a Zumba class led by Community Hospital Fitness Pointe at the school in Hammond.

Offering services on Fridays in St John: 9660 Wicker Ave (Community Hospital Outpatient Centre) and in Dyer: 16000 W 101st Ave

Specializing in all aspects of treatment for cardiac, PAD and vein diseases CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES of Northwest Indiana P.C.

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10010 Donald S Powers Dr 219-934-4200

To learn more and schedule an appointment visit www.canwi.com

ST JOHN 9660 Wicker Ave 219-934-4200

Left to Right: S. Makam, MD, M. Kesani, MD, W. Asfour,, MD, R. Bhagwat, MD, M. Gambetta, MD

july/august 2015 | GET HEALTHY | 23

ask the expert DR. GERALD C AHILL

PHOTO BY MONTE GERLACH

Positive changes in bariatric surgery Dr. Gerald Cahill, bariatric surgeon and medical director at Franciscan Midwest Bariatric Institute, says patients get a better grasp of what the surgery can do to improve their lives as physicians continue educational efforts.

Q: Why is there more awareness of surgery

as an option? Patients are more educated with time and the prevalence of surgeries. They are accepting of what surgery can do as well as understanding of the risks and benefits. There is a greater awareness of its success in weight reduction and decreased risk of diseases. What we need to do as physicians is to further educate patients on how important the health improvements are from weight reduction.

Q: What procedures and services does the

institute offer? Surgeons perform da Vinci gastric bypass, roux-en-y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, StomaphyX and the adjustable laparoscopic band procedures. There is nutritional support from dietitians, guidance on medications and tools and eating-pattern discussions by behavioral counselors.

The weight-loss services are supervised by physicians. There needs to be a full, comprehensive program in order to help patients be successful.

Q: What do patients need to understand

about surgery? The operation has been defined objectively to be safe. There is more patient education on both the safety and efficacy of the operation. It needs to be said how safe it is today, especially in the hands of surgeons who have the 24 | GET HEALTHY | nwi.com/gethealthy

experience like ours here at the institute. I have performed more than 2,500 weight-loss surgeries and have been in the field since 1998.

Q: Any changes on who would most benefit

from surgery? Patient characteristics are still the same, including being 18 and older, more than 100 pounds overweight and having a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or more. We are seeing a growing number of patients in the older age group. I think that goes to general awareness.

We see patients with more diverse medical problems as well as diverse age groups. Patients range from 18-year-olds with medical problems to 70-year-olds. There is also greater awareness on the operation’s effect on diabetes and what it can do to improve diabetes.

Q: How have you seen surgery make an

impact on patients? It can change lives in a very positive way both physically and psychologically.

The benefits for 18-, 19- or 20-year-olds who have dramatic weight loss can be extremely helpful in terms of self-esteem and improving their lives in terms of social and personal opportunities.

Q: What accreditation does the institute

hold? We have been recognized by a certifying

body that is made up of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. They combined their accreditation programs into one: the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.

In order to achieve this, centers have to go through a rigorous review process. Centers supply all of their outcomes to the national database, and they are in constant review for quality.

Q: What is on the horizon at the institute?

We are going to start offering another operation here: single-anastomosis duodenal-switch, or stomach-intestinal pylorus-sparing, surgery. This is for the heaviest patients who would benefit the most.

It can provide greater weight-loss results and be an effective procedure to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and in the remission of type 2 diabetes. —Lesly Bailey

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Franciscan Midwest Bariatric Institute is located on the Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer campus, 24 Joliet St. General office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4pm. For more information, call 219.852.2518 or visit sites.franciscanalliance.org/stmargaret/weightloss.

Franciscan ExpressCare

is a full-service walk-in clinic offering caring, convenient medical treatment to patients of all ages for non life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

CROWN POINT Franciscan Point 12800 Mississippi Parkway • (219) 662-5700 Mon-Fri 9am-7pm • Sat 9am-5pm • Sun 10am-4pm

MICHIGAN CITY Coolspring Health Center 1225 E. Coolspring Avenue • (219) 873-2919 Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm • Fri-Sun 8am-6pm

MUNSTER Franciscan Hammond Clinic Urgent Care 7905 Calumet Avenue • (219) 836-5800 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm • Sat 8am-6pm Sun and Holidays 10am-6pm

PORTAGE

3325 Willowcreek Road • (219) 764-8439 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm

RENSSELAER

919 E. Grace Street • (219) 866-0411 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm

ST. JOHN Franciscan Hammond Clinic Quick Care 11355 W. 97th Lane • (219) 365-5577 Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm • Fri 8am-5pm • Sat 8am-12pm

VALPARAISO 2590 Morthland Drive (US Route 30), Ste 1 (219) 464-7073 • Mon-Fri 8am-8pm • Sat 9am-7pm

FranciscanExpressCare.org

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