Fall 2017
Anamosa | Cedar Rapids | Dubuque | Marshalltown | Waterloo
COOL THERAPY
Special Blanket is Helping NICU Babies PAGE 6
Heart Defect Discovered
Undiagnosed Condition Revealed with a Simple Test PAGE 2
The Importance of a Family Doctor Seeing the Whole Picture vs. an Episode of Care PAGE 4
Better Diabetes Control
Surrounding Patients With Care to Achieve Health Goals PAGE 8
unitypoint.org
What’s
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
Health Clips
Educate yourself about prediabetes and diabetes
Inside 1
Health news you can use.
2 - 3 Heart Defect Discovered with Simple Test
29.1 million
4 - 5 The Importance of Finding a Family Doctor
1 in 3 people have prediabetes
6 - 7 Cool Therapy Helping Newborns
While the numbers have decreased some over the years thanks to treatments, medical care and education on prevention, the numbers remain high. Diabetes can lead to other health complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputations.
A heart scan leads doctors to diagnose and correct a congenital heart defect.
A Dubuque family found just the right health care provider to be their partner in health.
Learn how a special blanket is helping babies in the NICU.
8 - 9 Better Diabetes Control
Americans have diabetes, that’s 1 in 11 people and are on the path to developing diabetes in a decade or less
Talk with your UnityPoint Health provider to determine your diabetes risk.
A Waterloo woman is surrounded by care to help achieve her health goals.
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Specialty Care Close to Home
Small lifestyle changes can produce big results to reduce your risk for diabetes and improve your health.
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Partnering for Complete Heart Care
LOSE WEIGHT
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Ask the Expert
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For Your Health
Rural residents have access to specialized care and surgeons at their local hospital.
UnityPoint Health hospitals have joined forces to provide lifesaving heart care. Why are yearly mammograms important? Timely health and medical news.
Fall 2017
EXERCISE
A primary risk factor for prediabetes is being overweight. When you have more fatty tissue, the more resistant your cells will become to insulin.
The Department of Health & Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity physical activity for adults and 60 minutes a day for children and teens.
EAT HEALTHY FOODS
REDUCE STRESS
Consume a well-balanced assortment of food, which includes whole grains, vegetables and fruit. Reduce portions.
Stress is hard on your health. Avoid stressors when possible.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
LiveWell magazine is produced by UnityPoint Health®. P.O. Box 3026 | Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026 (319) 369-7395 | unitypoint.org
Connect with us at unitypoint.org
000448a-7 08/17 CS
Health Clips Urgent Care at the Speed of NOW A new kind of urgent care has come to the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area, and UnityPoint Clinic is set to open its fourth urgent care location this fall. After opening on San Marnan Drive in Waterloo last spring and achieving 99 percent patient satisfaction, the newest location will open soon in the new North Crossing development near Allen Hospital in Waterloo. Clinical care attendants make the difference as they stay with each patient throughout his or her visit — from registration to symptom assessment to explaining medication — reducing the time spent transferring care from one professional to another.
Partnering to Provide Behavioral Health Care UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital and Hillcrest Family Services are working together to address behavioral health needs for the Tri-State community. A full-time therapist from Hillcrest Family Services works in the UnityPoint Clinic primary care locations in Peosta, Cascade and Dubuque. UnityPoint Clinic is on the path to become a patient-centered medical home. A patient-centered medical home is a care model that has a team of health professionals to address all of the unique healthcare needs of an individual. All care, including behavioral health, is then coordinated through a primary care provider. This model brings care to the patient versus the patient needing to visit a variety of clinics to receive mental health and medical care. Mental health counseling can cover anything from anxiety, stress, phobias, depression, ADHD and more.
To learn more go to unitypoint.org/dubuque.
When your primary care provider is not available, urgent care offers treatment for non-emergency illness or injury.
To spend less time in the waiting room, check in online at unitypoint.org/ waterloo.
UnityPoint Clinic – Westdale Now Open Providers at the new UnityPoint Clinic – Westdale are seeing patients at their new location on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids. Previously UnityPoint Clinic - Westside, located at 2375 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids saw both urgent care and family medicine patients but last spring the Edgewood Road location became a dedicated urgent care clinic and the family medicine clinic opened in its new building at 4325 Williams Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids and assumed the name UnityPoint Clinic – Westdale.
The new Westdale Clinic, also includes a pediatric clinic, X-ray, laboratory services and Therapy Plus. UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Cares treat minor illnesses and injuries that require a healthcare provider’s attention, but are not Welcoming life-threatening.
New Patients
To find a UnityPoint Clinic doctor, go to unitypoint.org/findadoctor. LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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Heart Defect Discovered
with Simple Test With a milestone birthday approaching, Independence resident Lisa Kirchhoff wanted to greet her fifth decade with a clean bill of health.
“Many years ago I worked in St. Luke’s marketing department and used to write about the Heart Check program and thought it was a great idea and decided I would do it someday,” says Kirchhoff. “Someday finally came and I went and had a Heart Check last spring.” Heart Check is a series of five tests, to assess heart, vascular and stroke health for individuals age 40 to 70. One of those tests includes testing large arteries for plaque build-up, which determines heart attack risk. That was the test Kirchhoff was most interested in. “I knew I always had a heart murmur and heart palpitations but never had issues,” Kirchhoff says. “Instead of receiving an ‘all clear health report’
“ Heart Check can help determine an individual’s heart attack risk but it also scans for other heart issues.” Georges Hajj, MD UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids Cardiology Clinic
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I was shocked to learn I had a congenital heart defect.” “Heart Check can help determine an individual’s heart attack risk but it also scans for other heart issues,” explains Georges Hajj, MD, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids Cardiology Clinic cardiologist. “During Lisa’s ultrasound we noticed the right side of her heart was enlarged. This is typically what happens with an untreated atrial septal defect (ASD), which causes significant shunting of the blood from one side to the other. It can be present in an individual for a long time and may not be diagnosed until later in life. Lisa is fortunate it was discovered early.”
HOLE IN THE HEART ASD is a congenital heart defect where the blood flows between the atria, in the upper chamber of the heart. For most individuals a septum separates the two sides but if there is an abnormal connection or hole between the chambers it can cause shunting and force one side of the heart to become enlarged. “Sometimes it is identified as a heart murmur and missed,” says Dr. Hajj. “Left untreated it can cause right-sided congestive heart failure. The right side will sustain damage after a period of time of living with this condition from the imbalance of blood flow between the two sides. Eventually it will cause symptoms like leg swelling, shortness of breath and can increase pressure in the lung arteries.”
ASD TREATMENT Treatment for ASD is a procedure that closes the hole between the upper chambers of the heart. It is performed through the groin where a cardiologist is able to use a catheter to access the hole through the femoral vein.
Heart Care at UnityPoint Health Hospitals
Cardiologists use X-ray and ultrasound imaging guidance during the procedure to locate the hole and pass a tiny device through it. Once the cardiologist determines the device is positioned over the hole, a patch is released and the hole in the heart is sealed. “We have performed this procedure for many years at St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids,” says Dr. Hajj. “There are a few follow-up appointments where we recheck placement and see if the enlarged side decreases but it is a fairly simple procedure, which has good long-term results for patients and improves their quality of life.”
Determine Your Heart Health UnityPoint Health hospitals offer Heart Check in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, which helps individuals discover their risk for heart disease and HeartAware in Waterloo, which is a free seven-minute test.
To learn more about Heart Check call: Cedar Rapids: (319) 369-8909 Dubuque: (563) 557-2787
Take HeartAware today! Go to unitypoint.org/waterloo/heartaware
BREATHING EASIER “I had virtually no restrictions after the procedure,” says Kirchhoff. “I remember waking up and feeling great. I have always been very active — running, biking and lifting weights. I realize now I must have compensated with deep breaths over the years when I exercised. Since I had the procedure I know what it feels like to breathe easier. I could have gone another 10 to 20 years without symptoms but by then there would have been irreversible damage to my heart and lungs.” Kirchhoff is now looking ahead to celebrating her 50th birthday later this year and thanks to the ASD procedure she now has peace of mind as she looks to the future. “I am a strong believer in preventative care,” says Kirchhoff. “If you can have tests to identify or prevent issues — do it. Don’t wait. I believe Heart Check is the best money I ever spent. It never hurts to check because it might save your life.”
Learn more about UnityPoint Health Heart Services at unitypoint.org/heart or call: Cedar Rapids: (319) 364-7101 Dubuque: (563) 589-2557 Waterloo: (319) 235-5045
Lisa Kirchhoff in downtown Independence.
LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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Finding a Family Doctor
The Importance of
Brothers. “Your PCP sees the whole picture of your health, not just what’s happening in the moment.” For example, her middle son has asthma. Brothers explains, “Dr. Martin knows Dylan and knows what’s normal for him. If something is not right, he picks up on it right away. It gives me peace of mind to know Dr. Martin is keeping a close eye to be proactive about Dylan’s health.” Dr. Martin says family medicine is usually the front line in diagnosing and treating conditions that, if not discovered early, could have a lifelong negative impact on the patient. He adds, “Every day in family medicine brings something new. A patient may come to you with something very different from the original reason for the visit. My familiarity with the whole person helps reveal these things.”
OPEN COMMUNICATION Jamie Brothers appreciates the relationship Dr. Kenneth Martin has with her whole family.
As a nurse with UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care, Jamie Brothers is skilled at treating patients for what’s wrong with them “right now.” But as the mother of three boys, age six years to six months, Brothers also understands the importance of building a long-term relationship with a family doctor. That’s why Brothers chose Kenneth Martin, DO, for her family’s care. Dr. Martin is a family practice provider at UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Pennsylvania Avenue in Dubuque.
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He’s also the primary care provider – or PCP – for Jamie Brothers, her husband Zach, and their sons. “It’s important to establish a relationship with a primary care provider,” says
Also helpful is open, honest communication between the doctor and the patient. “I strive to have an almost family-like relationship with my patients,” explains Dr. Martin. “You can’t treat the whole patient without understanding where they are coming from. Open, two-way communication and an ability to see things from the other person’s perspective are key to a great therapeutic relationship.” Brothers appreciates the relationship Dr. Martin has with her whole family. “He’s so personable! I especially love how he interacts with my kids. He listens to them and makes them
UnityPoint Clinic
feel important. He also knows how to talk on their level.” She adds, “At our last visit, Dr. Martin raced my six-year-old down the hall!”
“ Family medicine is usually the front line in diagnosing and treating conditions that, if not discovered early, could have a lifelong negative impact on the patient.”
CARING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Dr. Martin admits treating children can have its challenges. “They can’t always tell you what’s wrong,” he says, “but I enjoy playing detective. I listen to the parent as well as look at non-verbal cues to determine what’s going on. Parents are so relieved when you can answer their questions and help their child feel better.” Another useful tool in physician/patient communication is MyUnityPoint Patient Portal. This secure portal makes it easy for busy patients to manage their health — and their family’s health — at their convenience. “For me as a busy mom with three kids, MyUnityPoint is a big advantage,” explains Brothers. “I can send questions to Dr. Martin and he is very responsive. I like that I can see my test results and schedule appointments. I have the app loaded on my phone, which makes it really easy.” Dr. Martin calls MyUnityPoint a good extension of his office visits. He adds, “I use the portal as a bridge between visits. In some cases I can follow up with a patient, often without the need for them to take time off from work again and have another co-pay. Communicating in advance can
Kenneth Martin , DO UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine
also help us be more efficient in caring for patients when they come in for an appointment.” Jamie Brothers is glad her family chose Dr. Martin for their health care needs, from baby Daxton’s well-child visits
to management of husband Zach’s asthma. “It really is family-centered care with Dr. Martin,” she says. “He takes his time with us, he listens and he cares. That’s important to me as a mom.”
Find a UnityPoint Clinic provider today. Go to unitypoint.org/findadoctor.
Manage Your Health with MyUnityPoint patient portal, powered by MyChart® is a patient website where you can schedule appointments, send and receive information from your clinic or providers, view information from your medical chart and send a secure message to your healthcare providers. MyUnityPoint can be used for many convenient day-to-day actions with your clinic and providers. From your computer, tablet or smartphone, MyUnityPoint users can: • Review personal medical history such as your vitals and immunizations • Schedule or request appointments with your health care providers
• See test results • Pay your bill and see your statements • Refill prescriptions • Read messages from your care team
Review your health summary
Go to chart.myunitypoint.org to sign up and get started today! LiveWell | Fall 2017 | 5
exercises with Evie nearly every day — all of them collectively, have helped Evie thrive.” To better understand the magnitude of Chris and Sara’s gratitude we’ll start on November 26, 2016 — Evie’s birthday. “I had a perfect pregnancy,” recalls Sara. “A few days before her birth I felt a little off but passed a non-stress test,” explains Sara. “A short time later I started having contractions and went to Finley Hospital in Dubuque as planned for her birth. Everything was progressing normally until sometime during labor, Evie’s heart rate dropped with each contraction. We were told I needed a C-section right away.” Chris, his son Tristan, Evie and Sara enjoy family time at their home in Dubuque.
Cool Therapy Helping Newborns
Looking at Evelyn “Evie” Raeann Staver today you would have no idea of the significant hurdles she faced at birth. Her parents, Sara Dickinson and Chris Staver give credit for how well she is developing to a lot of individuals that supported them during Evie’s first year of life. “We have so many people to thank,” says Sara. “The team at Finley Hospital in Dubuque that knew something was wrong after she was born and sent her to St. Luke’s NICU right away. The
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doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s were all so wonderful and answered my questions over and over again. They were so patient and kind. Evie’s physical therapist at Finley, Lisa Wulf and my parents Rick and Rae, who work on
“I remember when they delivered Evie, she wasn’t crying,” recalls Chris. “She wasn’t responsive. It was pretty scary. She went immediately to the NICU. Thankfully she eventually started responding but the neonatal nurse practitioners at Finley called St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids because they thought she would be a good candidate for cooling therapy. I went home to get some clothes and met her in St. Luke’s NICU.”
OUTREACH NICU PROGRAM “We work closely with the team at Finley Hospital in Dubuque,” explains Andrew Nordine, MD, St. Luke’s NICU medical director. “The NICU nurse practitioners at Finley have worked with our team here at St. Luke’s. They knew Evie would benefit from whole body cooling. This process involves using a cooling blanket to lower the infant’s body temperature to 92.3°
NICU at UnityPoint Health
“ The NICU nurse practitioners at Finley have worked with our team here at St. Luke’s. They knew Evie would benefit from whole body cooling.” Andrew Nordine, MD, St. Luke’s NICU medical director
Fahrenheit for 72 hours and then slowly rewarming to normal temperatures. Cooling the body slows down the basic functioning of the body and may decrease injury to the brain caused by the lack of oxygen (hypoxia) Evie may have experienced at birth and the lack of blood flow.” St. Luke’s is the only American Academy of Pediatrics Level III NICU in the Cedar Rapids area. It is one of only four infant-cooling centers in Iowa. When babies meet the criteria for cooling and receive the treatment, they have lower rates of death and brain injury. This means fewer cognitive and motor
problems compared to those babies not treated with hypothermia. Guidelines call for cooling therapy to begin within six hours of the injury, so it was critical to get Evie to St. Luke’s as soon as possible. “They put her on the cooling bed and she gradually started to improve,” Chris recalls. “It was somewhat short-lived because that’s when the seizures started. She had seven little seizures.” “I wasn’t able to join Evie or Chris until a couple days later,” says Sara. “Chris had been on the phone with me, sending me pictures and videos. It was overwhelming when I saw her the first time. It wasn’t the experience I had always envisioned but I remember thinking how amazing she was. I felt she was in good hands and the team at St. Luke’s was doing everything they could for her.” “Evie had an MRI, which determined she had a stroke,” said Chris. “We were devastated to learn the news but the doctors were very supportive and gave us hope in the face of some difficult news.”
BRIGHT FUTURE “Strokes in infants are more common than people realize,” explains Dr. Nordine. “We don’t always know how they happen but sending Evie to St. Luke’s as quickly as the team at Finley did and using the cooling therapy will help her have the best possible outcome.” Evie spent 10 days in St. Luke’s NICU and was then able go home with her parents in Dubuque. She is a bright, happy and active seven-month old. “She’s working with Lisa, her physical therapist every other week and she’s hitting all of her milestones. We are just so blessed to have received such great care at Finley and St. Luke’s. We enjoy watching her grow and blossom.”
Every baby deserves a happy ending. Schedule your tour of UnityPoint Health birth suites today. Cedar Rapids: (319) 369-8129 Dubuque: (563) 557-2837 Waterloo: (319) 235-3620
Evie on the cooling bed in St. Luke's NICU.
LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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Provider and Patient Relationship Leads to
Better Diabetes Control There was one part education, one piece motivation and a double dose of encouragement. It culminated in a “lightbulb moment” for SamElla McDonald, who made a commitment to understanding and managing her diabetes following three decades of disregard. Sherry Khurana, MD, at UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Evansdale, will now tell you McDonald should be in advertisements for how to manage diabetes and live a healthier life. “What happened is she made a personal investment in her health, really grabbed the bull by the horns and you can tell how much happier she is for it,” Dr. Khurana says. “There was a time when she was almost depressed about coming to see me and just came in expecting a lecture.”
SURROUNDED WITH CARE At 80-years-old, McDonald no longer drives. That adds an extra layer of difficulty in getting to the clinic for check-ups and regular lab tests to make sure everything is on track.
Care Manager Joelene Rogers worked with UnityPoint at Home℠ nurses to see McDonald at her home twice a week to complete the tests. When an ulcer developed on her leg, she was referred to the Allen Hospital Wound Center in Waterloo for treatment and a therapist followed up with her at home. “At this point, I had decided I would do better, but they were right there with me to ensure I had everything I needed,” McDonald says. “They were truly concerned about me and absolutely encouraging.”
BY THE NUMBERS The numbers don’t lie when looking for an illustration of McDonald’s progress. On tests to gauge blood sugar levels, a hemoglobin A1C result over 6.5 indicates diabetes is present. A score under 8.0 indicates the diabetes is well controlled.
“ What happened is she made a personal investment in her health, really grabbed the bull by the horns and you can tell how much happier she is for it.” Sherry Khurana, MD, UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Evansdale
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After that number rose above 10 in previous years, McDonald has lowered it to 7.7 at her most recent check-up. “I’ve seen different doctors over the years and was kind of halfway doing what I was supposed to do,” McDonald says. “Dr. Khurana took care of me a lot. She didn’t fuss but mostly just wanted to understand the problem and encourage me. That’s how I decided to really buckle down and take care of myself.” Dr. Khurana adds the progress is nothing short of amazing. It goes hand-in-hand with her blood pressure that went from an alarming 200 (systolic) / 100 (diastolic) to within the normal range at 140/70.
JOURNEY TO WELLNESS McDonald was first diagnosed with diabetes in 1983, but that didn’t matter much to her sweet tooth. And at one time, she smoked two packs of cigarettes per day. Two of her sisters each lost a leg to diabetic ulcers, thanks in part to a family history of the disease, which is also part of the reason she can now
UnityPoint Clinic
Dr. Sherry Khurana with SamElla at UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine – Evansdale.
talk about her ability to subdue the urges and make healthier choices. “It didn’t happen overnight, and I tell people you have to make your mind up and do something to make a change in your life,” McDonald says.
There was also an aspect of not understanding her medication and how to adjust her doses based on the foods she was eating, which led to more inconsistency in controlling her blood sugar. That’s where Dr. Khurana and the rest of the team at UnityPoint
Health provided the correct tools and information for success. “So many people really played a key role,” says Dr. Khurana. “Everyone involved, whether it’s us as health care providers or her family, we’re super happy with the progress she has made.”
Start your journey to improved health today with a UnityPoint Health provider. Go to unitypoint.org/findadoctor to find a doctor that’s right for you.
LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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Surgical Services at UnityPoint Health Hospitals
Specialty Care
Close to Home Whenever Roxanne Streets needed new shoes she would buy two pairs of the same shoes but in different sizes. “That’s because the Wyoming, Iowa woman had developed a bone spur on the top of her right foot and her usual size wouldn’t fit. A traumatic injury years ago on that foot was the cause of the growth. Over the years it became progressively worse. Shoes were a tough fit and it was very painful — she admits it was easier to go barefoot most of the time. “I toughed it out for a while but it finally got to the point where I couldn’t take the pain anymore and I went to see Dr. Hemmes at Jones Regional Medical Center,” explains Streets. “We tried several things to deal with the issue but eventually surgery was recommended.” “The main cause of bone spurs is joint damage from osteoarthritis,” explains David Hemmes, DPM, Foot & Ankle Specialists of Iowa. “Many individuals can manage with
conservative treatments but in Roxanne’s case the only thing that was going to give her relief was to remove the bone spur.”
SURGERY AVAILABLE Dr. Hemmes is one of several specialists from the Cedar Rapids area that have specialty clinics at Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC). He sees patients at the Anamosa hospital every week and performs surgery there two to three times a month. “The surgical team at Jones Regional is great,” says Dr. Hemmes. “The facility is really nice and they have the same equipment as the operating rooms at St. Luke’s. Roxanne’s condition is fairly common, so her surgery was pretty straight-forward and took less than an hour.”
“ Many individuals can manage with conservative treatments but in Roxanne’s case the only thing that was going to give her relief was to remove the bone spur.” David Hemmes, DPM, Foot & Ankle Specialists of Iowa
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Roxanne Streets planting flowers at her Wyoming, Iowa home.
“I am so glad to have such great care close to my home in Wyoming,” says Streets. “I had wonderful care at Jones Regional. Dr. Hemmes and the nurses were so good to me.”
PAIN FREE “After surgery Roxanne had to wear a boot on her foot and resumed activities as she was able,” Dr. Hemmes says. “Down the road she many need another surgery but this should take care of her issue for some time.” “I still have a little pain but this surgery did wonders,” says Streets. “I am so glad I had it done. I am able to ride bikes again, plant flowers and do other things I hadn’t been able to do because of the pain.”
To learn more about surgical options at a UnityPoint Health hospital near you, visit unitypoint.org.
Heart Care at UnityPoint Health Hospitals
Partnering for Complete Heart Care Toledo resident Lynn Shepard, 69, experienced chest pain for about seven to eight months. It would come and go so he didn’t think much of it — until suddenly it became more intense. “I went to see my doctor and had an EKG, recalls Lynn. “They read the results and called an ambulance right away. I told them my wife can drive me and they insisted on calling an ambulance.”
by Truven Analytics as one of the 50 Top Cardiovascular hospitals in the country four times. Allen and Marshalltown have partnered to provide heart patients lifesaving care at just the right time.
“We arrived at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown,” says Shirley Shepard, Lynn’s wife. “I thought they’d put in a couple of stents and he’d stay for a day or two and we would go home. The hospitalist at Marshalltown told us Lynn would need open-heart surgery and Dr. James Wright a cardiovascular surgeon at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, could do the surgery right away.”
OPEN-HEART SURGERY
BACK ON TRACK
“Allen is a good heart hospital — that’s part of why we chose to go there for Lynn’s surgery,” explains Shirley. “We arrived at Allen around 9 p.m. and Dr. Wright, was there waiting for us. He was so kind and very personable. He explained Lynn would have open-heart surgery the following day.”
“I am still a little sore,” explains Lynn. “I participate in cardiac rehab three days a week at Marshalltown Hospital. I am slowly getting better. The care at Allen and Marshalltown has been great.”
Allen Hospital is part of the UnityPoint Health system and has been named
“When the symptoms become more intense that’s when the need for surgery becomes more urgent.” James Wright, MD Cardiovascular surgeon, Allen Hospital
“Some people have symptoms for a long time and like in Mr. Shepard’s case they get worse all of a sudden,” Dr. Wright explains. “When the symptoms become more intense that’s when the need for surgery becomes more urgent.” Lynn Shepard had triple bypass surgery and stayed at Allen for about six days. “His surgery went well,” says Dr. Wright. “We recommended he participate in cardiac rehabilitation following
Lynn Shepard talks with Nurse Jen Arneson as he participates in cardiac rehabilitation at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown.
surgery, which is helping him recover and building strength and stamina.”
Lynn loves racing and spending time at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. He’s retired but in years past he worked as a security guard at the track. This year he and Shirley are enjoying the races as spectators but he hopes to get back and closer to the action next racing season working security once again.
To learn more about heart care services, visit unitypoint.org/ heart or in Marshalltown go to unitypoint.org/marshalltown.
LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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Ask the Expert Why are yearly mammograms important? Each year, more than one million people are diagnosed with breast cancer. In the United States, breast cancer accounts for more than 230,000 cases each year and is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths. One in eight women will be diagnosed. Those facts are brought to you by Anusha Reddy Madadi, MD, a physician at the UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital Community Cancer Center. “Many risk factors for breast cancer, such as gender, age and genetics, can’t be controlled. That’s why regular mammograms are the most important part of an action plan for early detection,” says Dr. Madadi. The American Cancer Society advises yearly mammograms beginning at age 40, and self-checking can easily be done more often. Early detection is critical to determine how the cancer is treated and has a major impact on survival rate.
YEARLY CHECK-UPS Mammograms can show changes in breast tissue up to two years before a patient or provider can physically feel them. Digital and 3D mammography systems used by UnityPoint Health are the most advanced methods of early detection available. “If something is found, many factors affect prognosis and treatment including size of the tumor, lymph node status and other details we can learn about the cancer cells themselves,” says Dr. Madadi. “This is important because everything is considered in combination rather than any one piece of information alone.”
Yearly mammograms have been proven to enhance early detection and significantly help UnityPoint Health doctors treat the disease.
Anusha Reddy Madadi, MD UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital Community Cancer Center
REDUCE YOUR RISK Age and family history of the disease increase the risk of developing breast cancer. There are also certain lifestyle factors such as obesity and those who have undergone hormone replacement therapy that generate a higher risk. “There are also things women can actively do to reduce their risk,” Dr. Madadi explains. “Women who breastfeed, those who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight have a reduction in risk.” Ultimately, there is no way to completely prevent breast cancer, but we do know how to treat it. Yearly mammograms have been proven to enhance early detection and significantly help UnityPoint Health doctors treat the disease.
To find the mammogram location nearest to you go to unitypoint.org/mammogram. 12 | unitypoint.org
A Medicare Option that Partners Closely with You and Your Doctor
For Your Health
HealthPartners UnityPoint Health is a new health insurance company from UnityPoint Health and HealthPartners. The company offers Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa and Illinois. If you become a HealthPartners UnityPoint Health member you’ll get personalized, coordinated health care and insurance coverage from one team.
WHAT IS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE? Medicare Advantage plans are all-in-one Medicare plans that usually offer combined medical and prescription drug coverage for low monthly premiums. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than original Medicare from the federal government. These benefits can include dental coverage, fitness benefits and out-of-pocket maximums for medical expenses.
Ready to learn more?
To speak with a HealthPartners UnityPoint Health representative, call
(888) 360-0796 (TTY 711) or visit oneplanforme.com/livewell to RSVP for an upcoming informational meeting in your area. Oct. 1 through Feb. 14 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT – Seven days a week
Feb. 15 through Sept. 30 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT – Monday through Friday
Mom Strong Choose UnityPoint Health You want to make the strongest choices for your baby. Makes sense. You’re a strong woman. You’re putting the finishing touches on the nursery, installing gates on the stairs to your basement, researching which bouncy seat will be the safest — all while a little person is kicking around in your belly. You’ve got this thing under control but you want a strong team to back you up in the doctor’s office, delivery room and beyond. We get it. So, let’s talk.
RAISING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
St. Luke’s is once again teaming up with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women with a one in eight lifetime risk. Join the RoughRiders as they donate $2 from every ticket purchased to the Nassif Community Cancer Center Spirit Fund, which provides financial assistance to cancer patients in need.
Schedule a personal tour of one of our UnityPoint Health Birth Care Centers. We invite you to meet our team of doctors, nurses, techs and medical staff. They will take every step to ensure you are comfortable, both physically and emotionally, during your delivery and stay.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 7:05 p.m. | Cedar Rapids Ice Arena 1100 Rockford Rd. | Cedar Rapids
Go to unitypoint.org/ babytour to schedule your visit today.
For tickets, call (319) 261-GOAL or visit ridertownusa.com/tickets. LiveWell | Fall 2017 |
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We apologize for mailing problems such as duplicate copies. If you have questions or concerns about LiveWell magazine, please call (319) 369-7395 or email stlukescr@unitypoint.org. Copyright ® 2017 UnityPoint Health. All Rights Reserved. ® SM trademarks of UnityPoint Health.
Do it for you.
Do it for those who love you. If you’re over age 40 and not getting a yearly mammogram, the time to start is now. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women — a one in eight lifetime risk — annual mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.
Benefits of 3D Mammography • Provides 25 percent improvement in overall cancer detection rates • Finds 40 percent more invasive cancers than conventional mammography • “False positive” rates are reduced by up to 40 percent
St. Luke’s Breast & Bone Health PCI Medical Pavilion 202 Tenth St. SE. Suite 265 | Cedar Rapids (319) 369-7216
Marion Campus 2996 7th Ave. | Marion (319) 286-4344
We offer walk in appointments with a doctor’s order at the Cedar Rapids and Marion locations.
Jones Regional Medical Center 1795 Highway 64 East | Anamosa (319) 481-6369
unitypoint.org
| unitypoint.org