St. Luke's Advantage Newsletter - Fall 2013

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cedar Rapids, IA Permit No. 91

Living Longer. Living Well.

Advantage

We apologize for mailing problems such as duplicate copies.

If you have questions or concerns, please call us at 319/369-7475 or advantage@unitypoint.org. ©2013 by UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, IA

1026 A Avenue NE PO Box 3026 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026

Connect with St. Luke’s at unitypoint.org

Fall 2013

Healthcare information on your phone or computer

Join a UnityPoint Clinic cardiologist and Hy-Vee Dietitian Kimberly Proctor as they share how to reap heart-healthy benefits from fall’s bountiful harvest.

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Heart Healthy Harvest Wednesday, Oct. 16, Noon – 1 p.m.

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Cooking with a Cardiologist

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Holiday Heart-Healthy Smart Carbs Wednesday, Nov. 20, Noon – 1 p.m.

Did You Sleep Well?

Tuesday, October 29 • 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Join UnityPoint Clinic Cardiologist Matthew McMahon and Hy-Vee Dietitian Judy Fitzgibbons to learn how to keep the healthy party going with creative diabetes, and heart-friendly ideas for those Thanksgiving leftovers.

Millions of Americans struggle with sleep. You know all too well if you have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep, but would you know if you had sleep apnea? Warangkhana Wongba, MD, UnityPoint Clinic pulmonologist will explain various sleep disorders, diagnosis, treatment and why quality rest is so important to good health.

Heart Smart Holiday Entertaining Wednesday, Dec. 11, Noon – 1 p.m.

To register for these free events, call 319/369-7395 or register online at unitypoint.org/cedarrapids.

Join UnityPoint Clinic cardiologist David Rater and Hy-Vee Dietitian/Chef Jen Heringhausen to learn how to prepare heart-friendly appetizers – perfect for entertaining and eating smart for the best cardiac health.

All Cooking with a Cardiologist classes are held at Physician’s Clinic of Iowa Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor Community Room, 202 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids.

To register for this free event, visit cardiology.unitypointclinic.org/register or call 319/739-2085.

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St. Luke’s Hospital, 3rd Floor Nassif Heart Center classrooms

St. Luke’s

LiveWell events

The best advice you’ll receive from your healthcare provider Think of your last trip to the doctor’s office. Did you ask a lot of questions?

Did your healthcare provider ask about changes in your life? Taking the time to talk about your life actually improves your medical care. You get the best advice when you receive information tailored specifically to you.

Annual check-ups

Routine checkups and regular screenings give you time to check in with your doctor and discuss ways to improve your health and prevent problems. You’ll stay on schedule with age-related screenings, such as mammograms, bone density tests, colonoscopies and prostatespecific antigen (PSA) testing and keep immunizations up to date.

“It’s always nice to evaluate someone when they’re healthy,” explained Laura Lipsett, ARNP. “When a patient is healthy we get a lot more information.”

“A well-person exam is a head-to-toe visit. It’s a comprehensive update both in family medical history and any personal changes,” said Sashi Solomon, ARNP. “We’ll ask patients about changes in their bowel and significant changes in weight. We want them to report on their nutrition and exercise.”

“We’ll also evaluate their social history – whether they’re married, not married or going through a divorce and who lives in the house,” said Lipsett.

“We know that stress affects how patients feel and their overall health, so we want to know about any significant life changes and stressors,” Solomon said.

Establishing trust

“It’s important for a person to trust and feel comfortable with their provider,” Lipsett said. Your provider’s personality and philosophy should be compatible with yours so you don’t feel shy about bringing up and discussing difficult topics.

ask if your provider has information in writing when you’re getting instructions and important information. With electronic medical records, providers can provide a summary of your visit, so be sure to ask for one. Also, repeat back what you heard to ensure you understand it.

“We’re here to help patients figure things out. We give options and resources, but they’re ultimately in charge. Their advocate or family member is the one helping with these decisions. Today’s patientcentered care puts patients in charge of their health,” Lipsett said.

For more information, call UnityPoint Clinic – Hiawatha at 319/375-6100.

“No matter what the age, I ask about sexual health,” explained Solomon. “If changes are occurring, we can offer interventions the patient isn’t even aware of. Sometimes after menopause, vaginal dryness becomes a significant problem and patients can have pain with intercourse. If we know about that, we can tell them about treatments.

Males might have problems with impotence and sexual dysfunction.”

Take charge

It’s a good idea to bring another person to your medical exam as backup. Always

“It’s important for a person to trust and feel comfortable with their provider. We’re here to help patients figure things out. We give options and resources, but they’re ultimately in charge.”

Laura Lipsett, ARNP UnityPoint Clinic

9/20/2013 10:37:21 AM

The doctor is in… your pocket It’s an age-old question – should I see the doctor now or wait and see? Instead of worrying about the state of your health, go ahead and make a quick consult with your smartphone. St. Luke’s has partnered with iTriage to give you a downloadable application that provides you with reliable medical information.

The free app can help you evaluate signs and symptoms, learn about possible causes for your illness and research specific information about thousands of diseases and medical procedures.

“We’re excited to bring iTriage to Cedar Rapids to increase the accessibility of accurate medical information for residents throughout the region,” said Joshua Pruitt, MD, St. Luke’s Emergency Department doctor. “At St. Luke’s, we firmly believe in educating patients about the care they receive so they become active participants in their treatment.

By giving patients on-the-go access to health information, they are better prepared to seek care when time is of the essence and locate a provider qualified to treat their needs.”

On iTriage, you can find nearby ERs and urgent care clinics with wait times listed, as well as doctor’s offices and pharmacies. When you find the location you want, use the iTriage turn-by-turn GPS directions to get there.

To download iTriage on your smartphone or hand-held device, visit iTriageHealth.com for the app’s mobile version or log onto itriage.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids.

Ask the Expert:

How do my medications and kidneys affect each other?

Kidneys clear many medications from our bodies. As we age, kidney function often decreases making us more vulnerable to complications from medications. It’s important to inform your doctor about all of your medications, even over-the-counter drugs.

The new norm when you’re in the hospital is to see a hospitalist, a doctor who specializes in caring for hospitalized patients. Internists and family doctors are able to focus on patients at their office practice knowing their patients in the hospital are being seen by a hospitalist team, including hospitalists and nurse practitioners, who provide coverage 24/7.

“Most of a patient’s healthcare takes place in the outpatient setting, not the hospital,” explained John Roof, MD, UnityPoint Clinic regional medical director and a primary care doctor. “To provide the best care, we see hospitalists as our ‘hospital partner’ in the spectrum of a patient’s care experience. The complexity of conditions that drive patients into the hospital is increasing and data shows patients are benefitting from the hospitalists’ expertise.”

Mandeep Gill, MD, medical director, St. Luke’s Hospitalist program

• Over-the-counter pain medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and especially NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen and more), may damage your kidneys if you take them regularly and often. Called analgesics, these medicines lower blood flow to the kidneys. Don’t take them daily or regularly without first consulting your doctor. Excessive amounts of these medications can destroy your kidneys.

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Why your doctor isn’t going to the hospital

“ Being in the hospital all the time, hospitalists can promptly respond to patients’ needs. St. Luke’s Hospitalist team can be considered an extension of each patient’s family doctor.”

cocaine and ecstasy, increase blood pressure and can cause damage to blood vessels in your brain, heart and kidneys. Heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure or even death is possible. Even after the first use.

Kidney disease often doesn’t have noticeable symptoms until it is very severe.

If you’re taking medications known to affect kidneys or if you have risk factors for developing kidney disease, your doctor can request a blood or urine test to check for kidney disease. If the medications you’re taking are causing kidney damage, your doctor can often switch to different medications or lower your dosage to protect your kidneys.

• Antibiotics, when not dosed or taken If you have decreased kidney function correctly, can have severe consequences. a nephrologist can help discover why People with kidney disease need to take and work with you to protect your lower doses than those with healthy remaining function. kidneys. Some antibiotics are absolutely avoided with kidney disease. Only take Learn more about medicines prescribed by your doctor.

Dr. Cogdill online at multispecialty.unitypointclinic.org • Illegal drugs can cause devastating and click on nephrology effects. Street drugs, including heroin, or call 319/363-3565.

Amanda O’Connor, DO UnityPoint Clinic Hospitalist

Hospitalists can be more focused on the immediate, sudden and severe illnesses that require hospitalization. “These doctors are trained with an emphasis on the conditions for which patients require hospitalization. They do it often enough that they are experts at managing conditions that primary care doctors may not have taken care of in a couple of years. It is safer, and there is 24-hour, on-site availability,” said Dr. Roof.

“Being in the hospital all the time, hospitalists can promptly respond to patients’ needs,” agreed Mandeep Gill, MD, medical director, St. Luke’s Hospitalist program. “St. Luke’s Hospitalist team can be considered an extension of each patient’s family doctor. Communications are done by way of phone calls and sending summaries and test results to the family doctor’s office. Our care coordination team ensures the important information has been passed on so a family doctor can take over once a patient leaves the hospital.”

Electronic health records have supported the team approach. “Within 24 hours of discharge, hospitalists provide updates, including a summary of the hospital care, events that were addressed and labs that both took place and need follow-up when they see their primary care provider. We also have instant access to review charts, EKGs, or other tests,” Dr. Roof said.

Jason Cogdill, MD, nephrologist UnityPoint Clinic

Read about St. Luke’s Hospitalist team at unitypoint.org/cedarrapids.

Medicare Part D open enrollment

Open enrollment for next year’s Medicare Part D begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, 2013. You can review the new plans beginning Oct. 1. Medicare Part D helps to cover the costs of your prescription drugs. Medicareapproved private insurance companies offer prescription drug plans, also called PDPs. If you have Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B, you are eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage.

St. Luke’s Hospital’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) office has trained volunteer counselors to help you analyze your drug list with Medicare Part D drug plans. It is important to complete this process to ensure you are enrolled in a drug plan that provides you with the best coverage at the lowest cost.

You’ll want to compare: Drug coverage – Each plan has a list of covered medications called the formulary.

Monthly costs – The average monthly cost for coverage is $30 in 2013. If you pay significantly more than this be sure to compare your plan with new plans.

Deductibles – Many Part D plans waive or reduce deductibles but may cost more each month, so make sure you do the math.

Copayments – Some new plans may reduce the amount of copayments.

Call St. Luke’s SHIIP office for an appointment and with questions or concerns: 319/369-7475.

9/20/2013 10:39:04 AM