Breads/Rolls
• Read food labels and limit bread/rolls that have more than 200 mg/serving
• Choose whole grain bread for the added benefits of B vitamins and fiber
• Limit bread mixes, biscuits, breadsticks, etc that have extra salt
Pizza • Limit sausage, pepperoni, and olives as toppings
• Choose a thin crust, and ask for pizza to be prepared with less cheese and sauce
Sandwiches
• Limit salty toppings like pickles, olives, and salad dressing
• Avoid ham, pepperoni, salami, and other “cured meats”
Cold cuts and cured meats
• Look for “low sodium” deli meats at the meat counter
• If you choose to eat deli meat, pair it with lower sodium sides
Soup
Burritos and Tacos
Savory snacks
Chicken
• Use low-sodium broths and vegetables
• Avoid restaurant soups
• Limit salsa, and chorizo, and skip the tortilla and make it a salad instead
• Read food labels to keep snacks in the correct portion size
• Avoid breaded chicken and check food labels to see if the chicken has been treated with a salt solution
Cheese
• Choose natural cheeses like cheddar, provolone, Swiss, and Mozzarella
• Avoid processed cheeses like American, Velveeta, and cottage cheese
Eggs and Omelets
• Liquid eggs can be used, but shelled eggs will have less salt
• Avoid omelets with bacon, sausage, and processed cheeses
Your child’s annual physical – also called a back-to-school physical or yearly checkup – is an important part of your child’s path to overall health. Children can change a lot in one year, and it’s important to track their growth and development with an in-person visit. Sports physicals don’t take the place of annual physicals, as they mostly focus on injury prevention. But they are an important part of getting your child ready to compete. Both of these types of appointments fill up fast as the new school year approaches, so act now to schedule your child’s visit by visiting unitypoint.org.
As part of our commitment to providing innovative and high-quality cancer care to patients within the Tri-State Area, Finley Hospital is offering Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET imaging. This type of scan is designed to improve how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated for those at high-risk.
“PSMA PET is becoming the standard of care for early detection in the setting of recurrent prostate cancer,” said Dr. Paul Lindholm, Radiation Oncologist at the Finley Hospital’s Wendt Regional Cancer Center. “It allows for localization of very small and fewer cancer growths, which can often be treated aggressively for significant improvement in treatment outcomes.”
There are numerous benefits of utilizing the PSMA PET imaging technology within prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Those benefits include:
• Utilizing an FDA-approved imaging technique for prostate cancer
• Identifying cancer that could be overlooked by current imaging methods
• More effective and precise for localizing metastatic prostate cancer
• Improve patient’s quality of life
PSMA PET scans require a physician’s referral. Those interested in the exam are encouraged to discuss all imaging options with your provider. Your care team will determine if you meet the qualifications of a PSMA PET scan, depending upon your cancer history and health factors.
To learn more about the Wendt Regional Cancer Center, unitypoint.org/locations/wendt-regional-cancer-center.
UnityPoint Health® – Dubuque is making it easier and more convenient for you to be seen at Urgent Care – West by announcing the launch of an online Reserve Your Spot tool for urgent care appointments.
When you're sick, you want the comfort of appointments on your schedule. With the convenience of reserving your spot online for Urgent Care – West, you can find the relief at a time that's best for you. This tool allows patients to have an estimate of when they’ll be seen, which will reduce wait times in the clinic. After submitting a secure online form, you will receive confirmation of your reservation and a text message about your upcoming visit.
Once you've arrived at the clinic, you will need to check-in and provide insurance information, if applicable. By reserving your spot online, patients will have an expedited check-in process, as their general information will be submitted with their appointment reservation.
Features of the reserve your spot tool include:
• ONLINE SIGN-IN: Patients can choose an appointment time and track their place in line.
• PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS: Patients receive texts, emails, or phone calls to stay notified before, during, and after their visit.
• ENHANCED AND INFORMED WAITING EXPERIENCE: Walk-in and self-scheduled patients can easily view wait times and queue order.
• ACCESSIBLE ON ALL DEVICES: Patients can reserve their spot at UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care – West on a computer, phone, or tablet by visiting unitypoint.org/urgentcare.
A headline-grabbing incident from the sports world earlier this year has driven home the importance of emergency cardiac response, something employees at Finley Hospital know all too well.
On January 2, professional football player Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills went into cardiac arrest following a seemingly routine play in a nationally televised game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Bills medical personnel have been credited with saving Hamlin’s life after they provided on-site emergency care before he was transported to a hospital.
Members of Finley’s emergency department say that while the Hamlin case put a spotlight on critical cardiac care, they see situations like his every day.
“The Hamlin case put a national focus on what our staff does everyday,” says Jeff Baker, BSN, RN, who directs Finley Hospital’s emergency and cardiopulmonary departments. “Emergency doctors, nurses, and our partner first responders have to be ready at a moment’s notice for these situations.”
According to Londie Brauer, a Resource Educator at Finley who also instructs first aid training classes, two vital components of on-site cardiac response are chest compressions (commonly referred to as “hands-only CPR”) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). According to the American Heart Association, patients who receive emergency CPR are nearly
three times more likely to survive a cardiac arrest that happens outside of a hospital. Additionally, about three-quarters of patients treated with an AED will survive their cardiac arrest. While the Hamlin case put the importance of these life-saving techniques on a national stage, incidents requiring emergency heart care can happen anywhere…including in a hospital.
Back in December, Finley Hospital Radiologic Technologist Jim Patch was walking a cardiac patient to the elevator after an exam, when she showed signs of distress. Patch asked if the woman was OK, and when she said “No,” he helped her to the floor and began providing emergency care.
“She lost pulse…she lost respiration…” Patch recalls. “Then I yelled for someone to call a code and began CPR on her.”
Patch continued chest compressions until additional help arrived in the form of a “emergency response team” including Kara Klemme, RN.
“Things were very chaotic, but rightfully so for the situation,” Klemme says.
Klemme and the other members of the Emergency Response Team then applied the AED to the patient.
“We put the (AED) pads on. It was telling us to continue compressions, because at that time she didn’t have a rhythm that needed shocking. I continued compressions all the
way from an elevator near the cafeteria all the way to the emergency room.”
Klemme could not be prouder of the response from her colleagues.
"We have a great crew here in the emergency department. Everyone showed up. We all wanted to save her life and did a great job. It was very lucky it happened here because she had the best crew on board. It was very lucky that way.”
While emergency care is not one of Patch’s everyday duties, he was thankful to have had the training and experience that allowed him to step up when the need arose.
officers, a retired fire chief, a chief sheriff’s deputy. They were all right there so it worked out really well.”
Clogged arteries had caused Hirsch to go into cardiac arrest. Responders performed chest compressions on him, then shocked him with an AED before transferring him to Finley Hospital’s emergency room, which is where Hirsch regained consciousness.
Following his initial treatment at Finley, Hirsch was sent to another UnityPoint Health facility in the Quad Cities, where he spent three weeks in intensive care. After overcoming some complications, he returned to Dubuque, where he continued to recover utilizing Finley’s Cardiac Rehabilitation unit. Today, he says he has no lingering effects, but knows he was lucky to have received such immediate treatment.
“I’m just really fortunate that they were all handy right there” Hirsch says. “Now I watch what I eat, take the meds that I’m prescribed, and keep up with my exercise. That’s all been helping out really well.”
“You just know that you have to act,” he says. “I’ve done CPR before, but we have annual CPR classes that we go to, so we’re prepared to do it. Anybody can do it anywhere. The number of people who survive a heart attack is pretty low statistically, so increasing that education level for people outside of the medical profession is important.”
Klemme agrees.
“Even just being knowledgeable about an AED and starting compressions immediately can save someone’s life,” she says. “I’ve seen it so many times that a bystander starts CPR, and the outcome is significant. Starting chest compressions…calling for help…having the knowledge to grab an AED or calling for someone to get an AED…ultimately, you’re doing everything you can to save that person’s life.”
Dubuque resident Terry Hirsch was also fortunate to have trained professionals around when he needed heart care, though his situation happened outside the hospital’s walls. Hirsch had gone to Dalzell Field to see his niece graduate from Hempstead High School in May of last year when he suffered a cardiac episode. While Hirsch has no memory of the incident, he was informed later that he benefited from a significant on-site response.
“Everybody that needed to be there was right there,” he says. “There was a doctor and a nurse there. There were two police
Based on what happened to him, Hirsch now recommends that anyone – whether in the medical field or not – receives CPR and AED training.
“Oh by all means, do it. It would be worth it!”
To schedule a training session, contact Educator Londie Brauer, RN, at Finley Hospital by calling (563) 589-2611.
I'm just really fortunate that they were all handy right there.
Bright and early every Monday and Wednesday, Cathy Schlickman can be found gazing out the window of UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital’s third-floor gym as she pumps away on the recumbent bike or hurries along on the treadmill.
The Dubuque resident is a regular gym-goer now, after graduating from the Cardiac Rehabilitation program in June.
“I realized what’s important,” Schlickman said, after her health scare early this year. “You only get one shot at your health, and I understand what the repercussions are if I don’t work at this.”
At the tail-end of a two-week vacation in Costa Rica with her husband Don in April, Schlickman wasn’t feeling well. A clinic prescribed antibiotics and fluids for dehydration.
On the way home, she thought maybe she was having a panic attack from her fear of flying. She also had back pain and a general feeling of discomfort.
“When we got to Chicago, I told my husband we need to get to the hotel because I don’t feel very well,” Schlickman said. “When we got there, I said 'I’m going to bed', which was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I should have gone to the hospital.” Her symptoms were concerning, so when she arrived back in Dubuque, she called her primary care provider, Angela Kelley, DO, of Grand River Medical Center. Blood tests confirmed something wasn’t right, so Schlickman’s next stop was the Emergency Department at Finley Hospital.
More tests were run, and an appointment was scheduled with Finley cardiologist Tauseef Khan, MD for the next day.
“He said, ‘I think we’re going to go in and check things out. You didn’t do real well on your stress test so we need to check it,’” Cathy said. “I didn’t think anything of it, it’s like ok fine do what you need to do. I came out of that procedure and hereI had to have stents put in – I had almost 100 percent blockages.”
Dr. Khan told her she could have had a heart attack while she was on vacation.
“It’s so important to not ignore the warning signs that something is not right,” Khan said. “Listen to your body and if you have any symptoms of heart trouble, be sure to go to the hospital.”
Symptoms can include pressure, fullness, or squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw; chest discomfort with lightheadedness; fainting; sweating; upper abdominal pressure or discomfort; lower chest discomfort; back pain; unusual fatigue; unusual shortness of breath; dizziness; and nausea.
Following the procedure, Cathy was scheduled for 36 sessions of cardiac rehab, which provides an opportunity to form positive habits, increase aerobic fitness, and learn about risk factors like diabetes, smoking, and diet.
During the program, Cathy had another procedure to clear any leftover blockages, but never skipped a beat in the gym.
“She was always pushing herself,” said Sydney Breitenbach, a cardiac rehab specialist at Finley Hospital. “It was awesome to see that internal motivation that she had. Her commitment to her health has been really inspiring.”
Cathy is enjoying her routine so much that she’s in the process of buying her own exercise machine for her home.
“It’s a good motivator for me,” Cathy said. “I push myself to try to get 10,000 steps every day, so this is a quick way for me to get half of them in really fast. I leave here sweaty, but I feel good and feel proud that I pushed myself.”
With a nearly 90 percent patient satisfaction rate, Finley Hospital is the best place to go for heart care. Learn more at unitypoint.org.
That’s how long newborn baby Gwendolyn Yeo went without a heartbeat when she was delivered by emergency C-section at Finley Hospital’s Family Birthing Suites on January 12. But thanks to the efforts of her caregivers at Finley Hospital, she was stabilized and is not expected to experience any long-term effects.
That’s why Gwendolyn’s parents, William and Traci, wanted to return to the Family Birthing Suites in early February to show Gwendolyn’s progress and thank the caregivers who saved her life.
“We just really wanted to say ‘Thank you,’” Traci remarked. “Because without Finley…without the nurses and the doctors and everyone who was in that room, I don’t think she’d be here today.”
Traci began experiencing abdominal pain one day during the late stages of her pregnancy. Despite initially wanting to ignore it, she came to Finley to get checked out. It was determined that she had suffered a placental abruption and Gwendolyn was not receiving oxygen and other vital nutrients. Making matters worse, the baby’s heart rate was falling.
“Baby’s heart rate did not look reassuring to us to the point that we couldn’t wait on it,” recalls Family Birthing Suites Manager Jenni Scott. “It was to the point that we needed to get the baby out.”
The number of doctors and nurses rushing to the delivery room was a sign to Traci that something was seriously wrong.
“She wasn’t breathing, because I was waiting to hear her cry. Then people started coming in the room and they called ‘Code Pink’ and then there was just a nonstop swarm of doctors and nurses. That’s when I knew it was bad.”
Gwendolyn received chest compressions for eighteen minutes until she was stable enough to be transferred to another facility, where she spent several days in the newborn intensive care unit. Meanwhile, Traci remained at Finley and had to lean on personnel here for information and support.
“It was torture,” she says. “My husband was trying to explain what was happening, but I didn’t really understand and it’s different when you’re hearing it second hand. Thank God for the nurses, because I don’t think I would have gotten through myself. Every time I needed anything, they were right on it.”
Following her release from intensive care, Gwendolyn’s brain scans showed no indications that she will experience any lasting effects of her treacherous birth. That’s when the Yeos decided to make a return visit to Finley to provide an update on Gwendolyn’s progress.
Their reunion saw more than a dozen team members take a moment from their day to check in on little Gwendolyn. Scott says it was important for those caregivers to see the impacts of their efforts.
“They absolutely needed this,” Scott said. “We don’t forget about our patients. I’m sure that every single one of these nurses has been thinking about this family since the day it happened. They’ll never forget this. It will stick in their minds forever.”
To learn more about Finley Hospital’s Family Birthing Suites, visit unitypoint.org/dbqbaby.
We just really want to say 'Thank you.' Because without Finley...without the nurses and the doctors and everyone who was in the room, I don't think she'd be here today.
While avoiding skin cancers like melanoma should be a major focus during the summer months, there are additional sun-related health concerns to be on the lookout for as you’re spending more time in the sun! The Wendt Regional Cancer Center at UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital offers this advice as summer approaches:
• VISION DAMAGE: Long-term, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun can damage the retina. Damage from exposure to sunlight can also cause the development of cloudy bumps along the edge of the cornea, which can then grow over the cornea and prevent clear vision. UV light is also a factor in the development of cataracts.
• HEAT EXHAUSTION: Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. People working in a hot environment are at risk of heat exhaustion. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, and irritability.
• HEAT STROKE: If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and can be life-threatening. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention when symptoms progress to include confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, seizures, and profuse sweating.
• HEAT RASH: A heat rash is a skin rash that develops when sweat ducts trap perspiration under the skin. Heat rash often takes place during hot, humid weather and often appears as red clusters of pimples or small blisters. Heat rash develops in skin folds, elbow creases, the groin or on the neck and upper chest. Heat rash can be treated by staying in a cool environment to prevent sweating and by keeping the affected area of skin dry.
• WRINKLES: Wrinkles in the skin are typically associated with aging, but sun exposure is a significant factor in their development and how early they appear. UV light from the sun damages collagen and elastic tissue in the skin, making it fragile and less likely to spring back into shape, causing sagging.
For more suggestions for avoiding skin cancer, visit the Wendt Regional Cancer Center online at unitypoint.org/locations/wendt-regional-cancer-center.
Preventing Skin Cancer with the Wendt Regional Cancer Center
Apply sunscreen even while it’s cloudy
Reapply sunblock liberally every 2 hours
Select a broadspectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more
Avoid direct sunlight between 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Toss sunblock after one year of use
When it comes to skin damage, remember the ABCDE rule:
Wear hats, sunglasses & UV protective clothing for added protection
Use sunscreen with both dark & light skin
Lather sunblock on babies 6 months and older
Take breaks in the shade & rehydrate with water
A is for asymmetry – one half of the mole does not match the other half
B is for border irregularity – the edges are ragged, notched or blurred
C is for color – the pigmentation is not the same
D is for diameter – greater than six millimeters about the size of a pencil eraser
E is for evolution – meaning a change in the mole’s appearance over time
Chronic back pain can be debilitating for many individuals. Managing pain in daily life is a constant struggle, but there are several ways to seek treatment for chronic back pain and get back to living a full life.
What is chronic pain? Pain is diagnosed as chronic when the sensation lasts for more than three months. During that three-month period and after, the pain can come and go sometimes being very acute and other times being almost nonexistent.
Opioid medications belong to a broad group of painrelieving drugs that interact with cells in the brain, releasing signals that muffle the perception of pain. While opioids are by far one of the most effective methods for treating chronic pain, they are extremely addictive and lead to long term health problems if not taken as the doctor has ordered or at high doses. Thankfully, there are many non-opioid pain treatment options.
Chronic back pain can be assessed and diagnosed by your doctor. Bone scans, MRIs, blood tests, and X-rays are all methods to help your doctor identify your chronic back pain. Once the pain is diagnosed as chronic pain, you and your doctor can start considering ways to begin treatment.
There are many ways you can go about treating chronic back pain without opioids. Some include:
• PHYSICAL THERAPY. One of the main benefits of short- and long-term physical therapy is pain reduction. Physical therapy exercises increase blood flow to inflamed and injured body parts, increase mobility, and help to encourage the growth of muscle tissue. Arthritic joints, lower back problems, and other injuries are all treatable through physical therapy. The healing benefits of these exercises can dramatically reduce pain levels caused by injuries.
• MASSAGE THERAPY. This is often recommended for people who suffer from chronic back pain.
NON-OPIOID
THERAPIES. Finley Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic specializes in this and has had great results with helping patients with chronic pain. This requires a provider’s referral.
Stanley Mathew, MD, Medical Director, Acute Rehab Unit at Finley Hospital• DIETARY CHANGES. Decreasing the number of foods in your diet that cause inflammation, such as red meat and processed foods. Foods with antioxidants, including nuts, olive oil, dark chocolate, beans, fruits, and vegetables, help protect against chronic inflammation.
• ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of meeting with a chiropractor or other forms of alternative treatment for your chronic back pain.
• ACUPUNCTURE. Numerous clinical studies have proven that acupuncture disrupts pain signals traveling along neural pathways. Due to this ability, acupuncture is an extremely effective means to treat chronic pain. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat chronic lower back pain, spinal injuries, joint injuries, migraine headaches, and other common health issues.
• SURGERY. One of the most effective ways to cure a health issue causing chronic pain is surgery. If a surgical option is available, then it is oftentimes an effective route to permanently resolving an injury that is causing moderate to severe pain. Not all chronic pain issues can be addressed with surgery, but, joint problems, spinal injuries, and others are all great candidates for surgical treatments.
Consider tracking your pain symptoms daily. Keep a journal to track what kind of activities you did that may have caused your chronic back pain to flare up and track activities you did to alleviate your pain. Keeping a journal can help both you and your doctor understand what methods work for you and how often you should be doing them to treat your chronic back pain.
To schedule a pain management consultation with Dr. Mathew, call (563) 582-1881.
We apologize for mailing problems such as duplicate copies. If you have questions or concerns about LiveWell magazine, please call (563) 582-1881 or email DBQ_Marketing@unitypoint.org.
Finley’s heart program has earned your trust with patient satisfaction ratings at the 90th percentile.
We know hearts. Our team of specialists has the expertise for any matter of the heart.
We’ve been healing hearts for years and built a talented and tenured team, offering the hometown care you deserve.
If you have shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 immediately or go to the Finley Hospital Emergency Department.
