UnityPoint Health - Health Beat Fall 2014 Anamosa

Fall 2014

Health Beat

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unitypoint.org

Anamosa | Cedar Rapids | Dubuque | Waterloo

KEEPING CARE IN THE FAMILY The benefits of coordinated care PAGE 6

Collaborative NICU care

Keeping babies close to home PAGE 2

Minimally invasive cancer surgery

Robotic surgery at UnityPoint Health hospitals PAGE 4

Code Chill

Saving lives of sudden cardiac arrest patients PAGE 8

What’s

Inside 1

Health clips

Health news you can use.

2 - 3 Collaborative NICU care Teamwork between UnityPoint Health

hospitals is saving babies.

4 - 5 Minimally invasive

cancer surgery

A Cascade man is cancer-free thanks to robotic surgery at Finley Hospital.

6 - 7 Keeping care in the family

A West Des Moines family experiences first-hand the benefits of using UnityPoint Health for all of their care.

8 - 9 Code Chill

Headlines & Happenings UnityPoint Health named “most wired” UnityPoint Health was recognized for the third year in a row as one of the nation’s “Most Wired Health Systems” by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Details at bit.ly/mostwired2014.

Wellmark, Hy-Vee and UnityPoint Health collaborate Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hy-Vee and UnityPoint Health will offer a new health insurance option designed to reward customers for healthy behaviors. Read more at bit.ly/bluerewards.

UnityPoint Clinics earn highest national recognition Four UnityPoint Clinic locations, Mount Vernon, Cedarloo, Medical District and Oelwein received the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Level 3 Recognition. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by NCQA, the organization that evaluates clinics. Learn more about this at bit.ly/ncqamedicalhome.

Learn how targeted temperature management saves sudden cardiac arrest patients.

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Helping parents connect

Join the Real Moms of Eastern Iowa online.

Are you on Facebook?

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My UnityPoint

Our patient portal puts you in control of your health information.

All UnityPoint Health hospitals are active users of social media and provide health information and tips. While you’re online, please write a review of your most recent hospital stay or visit. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Ask the expert

Where should I go for care?

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For your health

Timely health and medical news.

Health Beat Vol. 20 No. 1 l Fall 2014 Health Beat magazine is produced by UnityPoint Health.

green, read us online

If you would like to read Health Beat magazine’s electronic version, email us and we’ll send you the link to the next issue.

Email us at: stlukescr@unitypoint.org. Also let us know what mailing address you’d like removed from our list.

Connect with us at unitypoint.org

P.O. Box 3026 | Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026 (319) 369-7395 | unitypoint.org 000448a-1 8/14 CS

Health Clips Allen named one of the nation’s 100 Great Community Hospitals UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 100 Great Community Hospitals, by Becker’s Hospital Review.

U.S. News and World Report ranks St. Luke’s UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital is among the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals, according to U.S. News and World Report.

St. Luke’s is ranked third in Iowa and is recognized as one of America’s high-performing hospitals in five specialties in the U.S. News & World Report 2014-15 edition.

U.S. News & World Report indicated St. Luke’s performed at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals in five adult specialties.

St. Luke’s also scored high in patient safety.

According to U.S. News & World Report - St. Luke’s is ranked high-performing in five specialty areas: • Gastroenterology and GI surgery • Geriatrics • Orthopedics • Pulmonology • Urology The rankings are published in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2015 guidebook.

According to Becker’s, the prestigious list is based on community hospitals’ accolades, quality and service to their communities. The Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team selected community hospitals based on rankings and awards from iVantage Health Analytics, Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), CareChex and the American Hospital Association.

Becker’s Hospital Review praised Allen’s awards and accomplishments, and pointed to the hospital being named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in 2013 by Truven Health Analytics and its 2013 Everest Award from Truven to recognize its highest current performance and fastest long-term improvement.

The list of winning hospitals was published online at beckershospitalreview.com.

Finley RECEIVEs high marks for patient safety Patient safety is a top priority at UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital.

The hospital was among the 15 highest scoring hospitals for patient safety in a recent Consumer Reports ranking.

The products and services review publication based its rankings on a composite score between one and 100 of five quality measures using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The measures include mortality, admissions, overuse of imaging, health care associated infections and communication.

The analysis also finds mortality rates in top scoring hospitals are significantly lower than those in low scoring hospitals.

“We are very proud of this ranking for Finley Hospital because it truly reflects the high quality care we provide our patients,” said David Brandon, Finley president and CEO. “This report clearly indicates Finley providers are focusing on our vision of providing the best outcome for every patient, every time.”

To learn more about safety and quality at any UnityPoint Health hospital, go to unitypoint.org/ reports.

Health Beat | Fall 2014 | 1

Will Ross and Mariah Gibbons enjoy their daughter, Kaliana.

Collaborative NICU care After two days of excruciating pain, Mariah Gibbons of Waterloo wasn’t fully prepared for the news she received on March 24.

“The nurse told me I was going to have my baby,” recalled Gibbons. “She told me I was dilated two centimeters (10 is fully dilated) and she could see my daughter’s hair.”

The problem? Gibbons was only 29 weeks along in her pregnancy.

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Forty weeks is considered full-term.

She went directly to the Allen Hospital Birthing Center in Waterloo.

“By the time I arrived at Allen I was dilated to five centimeters,” said Gibbons. “The team at Allen started giving me injections, which they hoped would help slow down my labor.

I remember the doctors and nurses told me they were going to transfer me to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.”

“Allen’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) generally cares for babies born over 30 weeks gestation,” said Andrew Nordine, MD, St. Luke’s NICU medical director. “A baby under that age is sent to St. Luke’s. Three years ago we started collaborating with the Allen NICU to bring babies born under 30 weeks gestation to St. Luke’s. We are all UnityPoint Health hospitals who work together to provide the best care to babies and their families and keep them as close to home as possible. Last year we established a similar program at Trinity Hospital in Bettendorf.”

Team approach keeps babies close to home

St. Luke’s is the only Advanced Level II Regional NICU and Neonatology Center in Cedar Rapids. Other hospitals like Allen, transfer newborns to St. Luke’s when they are born under 30 weeks gestation. The St. Luke’s hospital staff has cared for over 10,000 babies and has a comprehensive NICU team of neonatologists, nurse practitioners, nurses and respiratory therapists, all of whom are specially trained to provide critical care for extremely premature babies.

Shared resources “We work together as one team sharing knowledge and training so a baby brought here from Allen in Waterloo or Trinity in Bettendorf will have consistently excellent care no matter where they are located,” said Dr. Nordine.

“The ambulance ride from Waterloo to Cedar Rapids was probably the scariest day of my life,” said Gibbons. “There were so many things going through my mind. I wondered if my baby was going to be OK and if I was even going to make it to St. Luke’s without delivering.”

Two hours after arriving at St. Luke’s her daughter, Kaliana, arrived. Born on March 24 at 10:26 p.m. about two months before her due date. Kaliana weighed only three pounds, four ounces and was 16 inches long.

Kaliana was quickly whisked away to the NICU. About an hour later Gibbons was able to see her daughter for the first time.

“She was so small and skinny and had a ton of hair,” said Gibbons. “She had all kinds of cords and tubes attached to her.

It was scary and overwhelming to see.”

Thankfully, Kaliana had no major complications from her premature delivery. She was able to wean off of oxygen just days after birth. Her main need was to eat and grow.

Coordinated care “After Kaliana was at a point where she was stable enough to transfer back to Allen Hospital we sat down with Mariah to discuss options,” said Dr. Nordine.

“We want to do what is best for the patient and family but ultimately the decision is up to them.”

After three weeks at St. Luke’s, Kaliana was transferred to Allen’s NICU. “The nurses were great at St. Luke’s but I was very happy to be back at Allen,” said Gibbons. “I looked at it as one step closer to Kaliana coming home.”

“I was excited Kaliana was big enough to come back to us at Allen,” said Latisha Scott, Allen NICU nurse practitioner.

“I was able to get to know Mariah and

“We are all UnityPoint Health hospitals who work together to provide the best care to babies and their families and keep them as close to home as possible.”

Andrew Nordine, MD St. Luke’s NICU medical director

Kaliana when I was working in the St. Luke’s NICU. I hope this relationship we have among the UnityPoint Health hospitals provides comfort to our patients.”

“I liked seeing the familiar faces,” said Gibbons. “It was nice to see Latisha because she got to know us when we were at St. Luke’s. The continuity between the hospitals was nice and I’m happy to report we went home after three more weeks and we are doing great.”

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 Health Beat | Fall 2014 | 3

Minimally invasive

cancer surgery “I’ve had hip and back problems for some time and I finally decided to see what could be done to alleviate the pain,” said Kremer. “I had some MRIs and X-rays done at the doctor’s office when they noticed a mass on my kidney.”

Kramer’s orthopedic doctor referred him to Alex Horchak, MD, UnityPoint Clinic Urology in Dubuque.

“It wasn’t a big tumor but it was definitely unexpected news, especially at his young age,” said Dr. Horchak.

“We had a long discussion about treatment options and decided he would have surgery with a biopsy and if it was cancerous we would attempt to remove just the cancer and not the whole kidney.”

It was determined the mass on Kremer’s kidney was cancer.

“You wouldn’t think you could get cancer at my age,” said Kremer.

“So it was a bit of a shock. I had no symptoms. The tumor was about the size of a quarter and when Dr. Horchak mentioned robotic surgery I was glad to move ahead and address the cancer right away.”

Faster recovery Robotic surgery is minimally invasive and has been around since 2000, when it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s also called da Vinci surgery. Small surgical instruments are attached to a robotic arm, which is used to make incisions smaller than a dime. A surgeon, not the robot, performs the surgery while seated at a console near the patient and another surgeon assists at the patient’s bedside. There are many benefits of da Vinci surgery, which include less pain, shorter recovery and a faster return to normal daily activities.

“The surgical robot has made what was once a fairly invasive procedure, less debilitating.”

Alex Horchak, MD UnityPoint Clinic Urology in Dubuque

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Nagging back and hip pain sent Cory Kremer, 39, of Cascade to an orthopedic specialist earlier this year.

“I was somewhat familiar with minimally invasive surgery,” said Kremer. “As a construction company owner I wanted to return to work as soon as possible. I knew the recovery time with robotic surgery was much shorter than traditional surgery so I was happy to know I would be back to work quickly.”

“If Cory was older we may have watched the mass to see what it would do over time,” said Dr. Horchak. “With the da Vinci technology we have and his young age we thought let’s take this tumor out and get him back to life quickly.”

“I had my surgery on a Friday and by Wednesday I was back to work,” said Kremer. “It was like I was sick for a few days with the cold or the flu. In less than a week I felt normal again.”

Kremer stayed one night at Finley Hospital. It’s the hospital his family has always gone to for medical care.

“The surgical robot has made what was once a fairly invasive procedure, less debilitating,” said Dr. Horchak.

“In some aspects I think it’s a better surgery because of the visualization the surgeon has while operating.”

Dr. Horchak is the only urologist in Dubuque who operates using the

Robotic surgery at UnityPoint Health hospitals

The Kremer family; Cory, wife Amy and children Cody and Kirstin enjoy horseback riding near their Cascade home.

da Vinci. Typically robotic surgery is performed with an assist from another surgeon.

“I was robotically trained in North Carolina where I practiced urology for a time,” said Dr. Horchak. “While I was there I met Robert Santa-Cruz, MD, who partners with me at Finley. He is an excellent surgeon and has done hundreds of da Vinci surgeries. It’s a great partnership and it’s an asset for the community we are able to collaborate and fill this need.”

Cancer-free Kremer is now cancer-free. He will have follow-up CT scans and ultrasounds every six months for two years and yearly after that.

“We’ll keep an eye on Cory for some time and stay vigilant,” said Dr. Horchak.

“It’s nice to find these tumors in the early stages. We want to preserve as much kidney function as possible and take care of the issue early so it has very little impact on his quantity or quality of life.”

“Dr. Horchak was the most personal doctor I’ve ever met and was very informative,” said Kremer. “He gave me complete confidence. Overall I had great care and I am happy with how everything went.”

The back pain he had is still a work in progress but he’s happy to continue to live a full life, which includes running his construction company and riding horses with his family.

Learn more about da Vinci robotic surgery at a UnityPoint Health hospital near you.

Cedar Rapids: (319) 369-7860 | Dubuque: (563) 557-5971 | Waterloo: (319) 235-3499 Health Beat | Fall 2014 |

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Ali Graves, Kateliyn Curtis-Swore, Rebecca Graves and Grace Swore enjoy a meal together in Cedar Rapids.

Jack Kline shoots hoops at his cousin Cade’s house in Cascade.

Keeping care

in the family The Klines of West Des Moines are happy to be part of the UnityPoint Health family. They recently realized the benefits of using a UnityPoint Health hospital firsthand.

The Klines were visiting family in Cascade when Jack, 12, was injured.

“I was playing football with my cousin, Cade, when I collided with another football player,” recalled Jack. “I was in pain but at that point it didn’t seem bad enough to see a doctor.”

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Jack went about the rest of his day and watched his favorite football team, the Chicago Bears, play the Green Bay Packers.

“The Bears lost and my cousin, who is a Packers fan, jumped on my back,” said Jack. “She was excited her team

won. And that’s when I heard and felt a pop in my shoulder area.”

Jack went to Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) Emergency Room (ER), which is located in Anamosa.

One medical record “We chose Jones Regional because of its affiliation with UnityPoint Health,” said Jack’s mom, Phyllis. “Jack’s pediatrician is Amy Wallin, MD, UnityPoint Clinic Pediatrics in West Des Moines. It was important for us to go to a place that knew Jack’s medical history.”

“I was working in the ER the night Jack came to Jones Regional Medical

UnityPoint Health coordinated care

“With one quick click on the computer, I have everything I need. It really helped expedite things when I saw Jack for the first time since his ER visit.”

Amy Wallin, MD UnityPoint Clinic Pediatrics in West Des Moines

Center,” said Clete Younger, MD, UnityPoint Health provider. “We X-rayed him and determined he had a broken clavicle (collarbone). It’s a pretty common injury in kids. Thankfully, we were able to fit him with a special brace, which facilitates proper healing.”

He told Dr. Younger his broken collarbone was probably retaliation from all the Packer’s fans because the Bears had fractured Packer’s Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone earlier in the season. It was great how they joked and interacted.”

“From start to finish there was not a person we encountered at Jones Regional that didn’t have a smile on their face who wasn’t willing to help us,” said Phyllis. “The entire medical team was very professional and respectful of Jack and explained everything they were doing. It was a great experience.”

When the Klines returned home to West Des Moines, Phyllis made an appointment with Jack’s UnityPoint Clinic doctor.

“I was told I would need to wear the brace for about six weeks,” said Jack.

“I play basketball so I missed a couple weeks of games and practice. But I am better and don’t plan on it stopping me from playing football again.”

“Dr. Younger was great with Jack in the ER,” said Phyllis. “When we arrived Jack explained how he received his injury from playing football earlier in the day and also from his cousin’s excitement.

Clete Younger, MD UnityPoint Health provider

Expedited follow-up “When a patient uses another UnityPoint Clinic or Hospital their medical record is all right in front of me,” said Dr. Amy Wallin, UnityPoint Clinic Pediatrics at Walnut Creek. “I can see their vitals, X-rays, doctor’s notes – it makes follow-up a lot easier. With one quick click on the computer, I have everything I need. It really helped expedite things when I saw Jack for the first time since his ER visit.”

“I am also a family medicine doctor in Cedar Rapids,” said Dr. Younger.

“I know firsthand how important it

is to have instant access to a patient’s medical records. Patients may not realize this but if they go to another hospital that isn’t part of UnityPoint Health it can slow down their follow-up care because we spend a lot of time tracking down medical records.”

“I can’t say enough how wonderful, pleasant and easy the whole experience was. We are thrilled to be part of the UnityPoint Health family,” said Phyllis.

When you see a doctor with UnityPoint Health, you receive the benefit of an entire team providing care across Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Become a part of the family and find a UnityPoint Health provider at unitypoint.org/findadoctor.

Health Beat | Fall 2014 |

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Code Chill

Eric Robinson of Denver, Iowa doesn’t remember anything about December 10, 2013.

His wife, Amanda, is able to fill in the blanks for him. The memory of that day is permanently etched in her mind.

“I went to work like always,” said Eric.

“I don’t really remember even being there that day. My co-workers tell me I kept complaining of chest pains but I blew it off as heartburn and went about my work.”

That’s probably because at the age of 35, the possibility of cardiac arrest was the furthest thing from his mind.

“I got a call from one of his co-workers that Eric had collapsed, stopped breathing and his heart quit beating,” recalled Amanda. “They told me they had shocked his heart and he was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital in Waverly. I was terrified.”

She was desperate to get to the hospital but first she had to find someone to watch the couple’s four children.

“I was panicked,” said Amanda. “I knew I had to remain calm and be strong for my kids even though I was a wreck inside.”

Upon arrival at Waverly Health Center Amanda was informed Eric was going to be transferred to UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital in Waterloo.

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Eric with his wife, Amanda, with two of their children, Maddie and Kayla, outside their Denver home.

“The staff in Waverly explained Allen Hospital does this protocol called Code Chill, which would increase Eric’s chances for survival,” said Amanda.

“They needed to get him there as soon as possible.”

Targeted Temperature Management saves cardiac arrest patients Protecting the brain “It’s called targeted temperature management, also known as Code Chill,” said Christopher Hill, DO, Allen Hospital Emergency Department (ED) medical director. “Individuals who go into cardiac arrest have a high risk of death and brain damage. So with this in mind we do several things to protect the brain when we get these patients.”

Studies have shown lowering brain temperature, even by a few degrees decreases brain damage. During a Code Chill a team of doctors, nurses, techs and other staff at Allen spring into action. Their goal? Lower the cardiac arrest patient’s temperature to a target range between 91.4 to 96.8 degrees.

Similar programs are in place at other UnityPoint Health hospitals, including: St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids and Finley in Dubuque.

Teamwork “I am often amazed at the teamwork on display during a Code Chill,” said Dr. Hill. “I remember telling a patient’s family that ‘your loved one is surrounded by angels.’ That’s what it reminds me of. The team at Allen all work so well together trying to do what is best for the patient.”

It takes about one to two hours to lower the patient’s temperature to the target where it will remain for 24 hours.

It takes nearly 18 hours to slowly rewarm the patient to return them to a normal temperature. And after the patient is fully rewarmed it can take up to 72 hours to determine if the patient will fully recover.

“The hardest part with this therapy is saying to the family I can give you no information for five days,” said Dr. Hill.

We know what we are doing today is saving lives and is much more effective than what we were doing before we had the ability to manage their temperature.”

“After four days of not knowing whether Eric would make it he started to wake up,” said Amanda. “His nurse asked him if he knew who she was.”

“I guess I told everyone Amanda was my wife and I knew my children but I didn’t know where I was or what had happened,” said Eric. “I initially struggled with some short-term memory loss.

I was at Allen for eight days.”

Chris Hill, DO Allen Hospital Emergency Department medical director

hospital and he did not look well.

He went through a lot and emotionally it took a toll on all of us.”

Since the cardiac arrest Eric has changed his diet, stopped smoking and now has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

“With targeted temperature management at Allen – we give everyone the opportunity for survival,” said Dr. Hill. “We can’t improve their outcome if we don’t try.”

Read Eric’s full story at: unitypoint.org/waterloo/ codechill.

“I was happy with the care we received at Allen,” Amanda said. “They were great about keeping us informed every step of the way. Now I look back at pictures of when he came home from the

Sudden cardiac arrest is a life and death emergency. You need to get to a UnityPoint Health hospital ER immediately. Call 911 right away.

What are the signs & symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest?

An AED & CPR saved Eric’s life.

Learn hands-only CPR by watching a short American Heart Association video at http://bit.ly/AHACPR

• Sudden collapse • No pulse • No breathing • Loss of consciousness Some people may have a fast heartbeat, feel dizzy or light-headed just before they faint.

Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting.

Health Beat | Fall 2014 | 9

Helping

parents connect Join the Real Moms of Eastern Iowa blog online Kimberly Oyen has two little ones who are constantly keeping her on her toes. With an infant and toddler at her Peosta home this working mom has lots of questions on a daily if not hourly basis. She started blogging for the Real Moms of Eastern Iowa parenting blog last year, which is presented by UnityPoint Health.

through this crazy thing called parenthood together.”

“Writing for Real Mom’s is an amazing experience,” said Oyen.

“It makes you realize we are all going through similar situations.

I feel there are so many questions that come with parenthood; every day is a new challenge.”

“I chose to write for Real Moms because I felt I could contribute to strengthening the blended family culture we’re all living in…from every angle,” said Aarhus. “I’ve had moms, dads, and stepparents contact me to let me know they appreciated my input, advice or just being a voice that let them know they were not alone in their daily struggles or in the way they interact with their blended families.

It’s a sensitive subject, and sharing my stories has helped me take a long look at the way I interact and parent the girls. I’m always learning. I am not an expert but this experience has taught me I don’t have to know it all.”

Sounding board Oyen uses the blog as a sounding board to solicit advice from other parents who have experienced a similar situation.

“I really like that I can reach out and have contact with other moms,” Oyen said. “To me, it’s like – let’s get

Kendra Aarhus of Cedar Rapids is a self-described “alternative parent” to Raelyn, 7, and Alex, 5. Their dad, Eric, is Aarhus’ significant other.

She and Eric co-parent the girls along with their mom and stepfather.

Follow the blog at therealmomsofeasterniowa.com.

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Supportive platform “One of my daughter’s therapists mentioned The Real Moms was looking for contributors,” said Judy Avenson. “As a mom to a child who is on the autism spectrum, I might be able to share things other parents could connect with.”

Avenson is a new contributor to the nearly three-year-old blog. It’s a place for parents and expecting parents in eastern Iowa to share their stories, exchange information and provide support to each other.

“As parents we’re always moving on to the next thing - there are household chores to complete, work to handle, errands to run,” said Avenson. “Generally we all just keep pushing on, there’s not time to rehash the day. When I write I’m much more purposeful about committing the details of what has happened during the day.”

My UnityPoint

Puts You in Charge of Your Care The My UnityPoint patient portal makes patient Darrel Dennis’ life a little easier. The Cedar Rapids man is recovering from sudden cardiac arrest and spent nearly two months at St. Luke’s.

My UnityPoint helps him and his wife, Robin check lab results and X-rays when it’s most convenient for them.

“When I was a patient I signed up for the service,” said Dennis. “It has been a good tool for us. We probably use it nearly every day to check something related to my ongoing medical appointments. It allows us to keep track of everything and it’s easy to use.”

My UnityPoint is an online portal and mobile app that allows you to conveniently and safely access medical records 24/7. There are convenient features designed to help you manage your care and communicate with your health care team. My UnityPoint is all about the patient – it’s all about you.

To sign up and use My UnityPoint you will need an email address There are currently two separate places for UnityPoint Health patients to view their health information online. For your hospital patient information, use chart.myunitypoint.org to access hospital records. Use myunitypoint.org to access clinic records.

All UnityPoint Health hospitals and clinics use My UnityPoint.

This patient portal allows you to manage your health your way.

It’s just one of the ways we’re serving you with high quality, coordinated care.

For more information, go to myunitypoint.org.

So how does My UnityPoint work, and what exactly does it do?

Once you’ve set up an account, you’ll be able to: • Send or receive a message

securely to or from your health care team

• Request appointments • View lab and radiology results • Review your medical record • Renew prescriptions • Find trusted health information

resources

Call (877) 224-4430 if you need assistance or have questions about setting up your My UnityPoint account.

Health Beat | Fall 2014 | 11

Ask the Expert Where should I go for care?

With cold and flu season right around the corner you may be wondering – ‘how do I choose the best place to go when I’m sick?’

“It really depends on the seriousness and type of illness,” said John Roof, MD, regional vice president, medical director, UnityPoint Clinic in Cedar Rapids. “Individuals should start with their primary care provider’s office unless they are experiencing a life-threatening medical issue. You already have a relationship with your primary care provider and he or she knows your medical history.”

Another thing to take into consideration is the importance of using one health care network, like UnityPoint Health, for all your medical needs.

“Thanks to electronic health records (EHR), we have access to complete and accurate information in real time,” said Dr. Roof. “This ability to share information among UnityPoint Health providers can improve the doctor’s ability to diagnose diseases and potentially reduce medical errors.

For example, if you normally see a UnityPoint Clinic doctor in Waterloo but are in Des Moines for business and need emergency care it’s best to go to a UnityPoint Health hospital in Des Moines because they will have your complete medical history right at their fingertips. It will expedite care.”

Here are a few things to take into consideration when it comes to deciding where to go for care:

Doctor’s Office Go to your doctor’s office for: • Regular physicals, prescription refills, vaccinations and screenings • Minor injuries such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and burns • Treating or managing illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease • Common illnesses such as colds, flu, ear aches, sore throats, migraines, fever and rashes • Chronic pain

Urgent Care

John Roof, MD UnityPoint Clinic regional vice president, medical director

Emergency Department You should use an Emergency Department – or call 911 – right away for serious or life-threatening problems, such as: • Chest pain • Severe abdominal pain • Coughing or vomiting blood • Deep cuts or bleeding that won’t stop

When your primary care provider is not available, urgent care clinics provide attention for non-life threatening medical problems.

• Severe burns

Go to an urgent care clinic for:

• Broken bones

• Common illnesses such as colds, the flu, ear aches, sore throats, migraines, fever and rashes • Minor injuries such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and burns, minor broken bones or minor eye injuries

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Sudden, severe headache

Neurologic symptoms such as: • Sudden blurred vision • Numbness in the face, arm or leg • Sudden dizziness, weakness or loss of coordination or balance or seizures

To Find a Doctor, go to unitypoint.org or call My UnityPoint Nurse at (800) 424-3258.

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For your Health Watch Finley’s Expansion Live Finley Hospital has announced plans for a major expansion that will consolidate and enhance the hospital’s heart care, surgery and emergency departments.

A ground breaking event for the 70,000 square-foot, three-story expansion took place in May 2014. Construction on the $42 million project is set to be complete in December 2015.

As construction continues, patients and community members are now able to watch the developments of this state-of-the-art building. A 24-hour live stream web camera has been set up to showcase the progress made each day.

The video is available, in current time, on Finley’s website, unitypoint.org/dubuque.

COMMUNITY EVENT & EXPO:

Living Well with Type 1 Diabetes Join us for a community program and expo meant to inspire and educate attendees about Type 1 diabetes. Hear from keynote speaker, Adam Driscoll, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 11 and is an elite amateur cyclist.

Attendees may also attend breakout sessions, which include topics such as: • Benefits of using a diabetes education center • Dealing with the emotional impact of a Type 1 diagnosis • How to deal with sick days and ketones There will also be a variety of booths and vendors on hand that specialize in diabetes care and technology.

Break Free from Pelvic Floor Disorders Nearly a quarter of women report having a pelvic floor disorder (PFD). Allen Hospital is hosting an upcoming educational event as part of an awareness campaign to help women impacted by PFDs. Dr. Bilal Kaaki from Allen OB/GYN will present “Break Free from PFDs,” a program aimed at helping women understand the facts about PFDs and empower them with information on pursuing individualized solutions for improving quality of life.

Thursday, November 13 5:30 p.m.

Allen Hospital, 1825 Logan Ave. Waterloo, Café South Dining Room

To register for this free event, go to unitypoint.org/waterloo and click on Classes and Events or call (319) 235-5094.

Tuesday, October 21 5:30 p.m. – Booths open 6 p.m. – Keynote speaker, Adam Driscoll St. Luke’s Hospital 1026 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids Nassif Heart Center classrooms, 3rd floor

To register for this free event, go to unitypoint.org/crdiabetes or call (319) 369-7440.

Health HealthBeat | Fall Beat | Fall2014 | 2014 | 13

1026 A Avenue NE | P.O. Box 3026 | Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026

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Health Beat

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