NURSE NAVIGATOR
Baptist Health System Adds Advocate for Back Pain Patients
By Amy Morgan
Ifyou’ve ever felt the crushing grip of back pain, you’ll remember it clearly. One moment you were leaning down to pick up something, and the next, you’re crumpled into a ball barely able to stand, much less walk.
Whether the onset of your agony is sudden or a flare from a chronic condition, it’s debilitating. One of the worse things about back pain is that rarely does it subside on its own. Acute discomfort can send people to the emergency room. Once there, caring professionals will rule out immediate dangerous health issues and administer temporary pain relief medication or steroid injections, but unfortunately, treatment for back pain can be a journey involving physical therapy, medication prescribed by a primary care physician, perhaps even a visit to an orthopedist or spine surgeon.
Discharged patients may still be hurting and uncertain of their plan.
Baptist Health System (BHS) has implemented a program to ease that transition and help patients better access the care they need. They’ve added a Spine Navigator – a registered nurse who’ll reach out to back pain patients seen at BHS emergency rooms as a point of contact and patient advocate.
The Spine Navigator is just the most recent of BHS’s patient advocate programs, North Central Baptist Hospital Chief Operating Officer Trent Kingman said. Baptist Health System successfully uses navigators to connect oncology, cardiac and perinatal patients to providers and community resources.
“We see the value navigators bring to our patient population,” Trent added. “Health care can be a scary and unfamiliar experience. Our navigators are registered nurses so they can offer a clinical perspective as well as be the one contact person patients can talk with to find their best care pathways. They don’t have to resort to the internet to figure out their next step.”
Three of the nurse navigator staff at the Baptist Health System, pictured from left to right, Spine Nurse Navigator, Tina Stolhandske, B.S.N., R.N., Breast Oncology Nurse Navigator, Katy Flanagan, R.N., and Thoracic Oncology Nurse Navigator, Kayla Byrd, R.N., O.C.N.
Spine Navigator Tina Stolhandske, B.S.N., R.N., will office among the other navigators at North Central Baptist Hospital (NCBH) on Madison Oak Drive to learn from their example as she develops the new spine position. Tina brings 16 years of experience in orthopedics, spine and pain management.
“I have seen first-hand how pain, acute or chronic, can be debilitating and life altering,” she said. “Pain impacts patients physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. No matter where patients are in their journeys, they always have questions, need support and someone to go to when they don’t understand things. As a navigator, I will help bridge the gap of support.”
Not only has Tina seen how pain affects people in her work, she has experienced back pain herself. Her empathy and understanding, combined with her professional expertise, inspire her passion for her new role.
The Spine Navigation program has a mission to improve the journey to health and wellness for patients who have left the NCBH ER after an admitting diagnosis of back/neck pain. Tina helps the patient differentiate their pathway, because not all back pain is the same. She’ll call and determine their priorities – are they looking for a provider in Stone Oak? Need an appointment immediately? Request a certain gender?
Based on patient desires, Tina will help patients narrow their choice of providers to allow for care in a timely manner. She also will warmly hand them off to a scheduler. No longer will patients wonder where to go or struggle to obtain an appointment.
“I am here to ensure patients get the care they need the way they want it,” Tina said. “While I may not have all the answers, I can help them get in
direct contact with the offices and providers. When patients feel supported and understood, their anxiety decreases, which also impacts their pain.”
There is never a cost for consulting one of NCBH’s nurse navigators. “This is a service provided by Baptist Heath System for the simple reason that research has shown – and our own experience supports – that patients generally experience better results when they work with a nurse navigator,” Tina said. “It alleviates extra worry and facilitates access to care as they are guided through medical, emotional, and logistical/physical issues.”
“As navigation becomes more standard of care across service lines, we continue to look for opportunities to help patients seek and receive the care they need in a timely manner,” Trent said. “We’re excited to be moving into spine and committed to following with others.”
What does a Spine Nurse Navigator Do?
A spine nurse navigator is a registered nurse who helps patients through their orthopedic or spine care journey. They are responsible for the patient's entire care pathway, from before surgery to after discharge.
Spine Nurse Navigator Tina Stolhandske, B.S.N., R.N.
Community Calendar
Presented
by Frost
Activities at the Walker Ranch Senior Center – MondayFriday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hot meals served daily from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for qualifying seniors and their spouses. Exercise, field trips, bingo, loteria, movies, arts and crafts, free health and wellness screenings vary daily. 835 W. Rhapsody 78216; 210-207-5280.
Stone Oak Rotary Club – Tuesdays, noon -1 p.m. Guest speakers weekly. Dona Tota, 923 Loop 1604 W. #115 78232; www.stoneoaksarotary.org.
Lightscape at the Botanical Gardens – through Monday, Jan. 12, 5:30 - 9 p.m. Entry times available every 15 minutes. Behold the Winter Cathedral's 100,000 lights, roast s'mores in the Fire Garden and delight in a shimmering field of Texas bluebonnets. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; ticketing@sabot.org.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, Jan. 8, 4 - 6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Fish City Grill (Alamo Heights), 1907 Nacogdoches Road 78209; www.spn-sa.org.
High School Football Showcases – Saturday, Jan. 11. Noon, 5 p.m. The Navy All-American Bowl will feature the best high school football players and band members in the country at noon. Stay for the All-Star football game at 5 p.m., which highlights more than 100 of the best football players from Bexar and surrounding counties. Players are nominated through their varsity coaches, and several from Johnson and Reagan High Schools will be included. Alamodome, 100 Montana St. 78283; www.nbcsports.com/allamericanbowl.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, Jan. 22, 4 - 6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Milano’s, 19239 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.spn-sa.org.
28th Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que CookOff & Festival – Friday, Jan. 24 - Saturday, Jan. 25. 9 a.m.-11:45 p.m. A championship event with competitive Bar-B-Que teams, live music, family activities. Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund. S.A.L.E. on the Salado Creek, 1723 Creekview Drive 78219; www.sarodeo.com/bbq.
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations – Saturday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Winner of a Tony Award for best choreography, the smash-hit musical follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey. HEB Performance Hall at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle 78205; www.tobincenter.org.
40th Annual Tower Climb and Run – Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 a.m. Unique athletic challenge fundraising event. Run 1-mile then sprint 952 steps to the top of the Tower of the Americas. Participants’ funds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tower of the Americas, 739 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. 78206; www.fightcf.cff.org.
One Singular Sensation – Saturday, Jan. 25, 3 p.m., 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 26, 3 p.m. Annual variety show featuring NEISD cheerleaders, dance and drill teams, and pep squads. The entire cast of 1,200 girls will dance in the finale. Littleton Gymnasium at Blossom Athletic Center, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road, 78216; www.neisd.net.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, Jan. 29, 4 - 6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Stone Terrace Gastropub, 20626 Stone Oak Parkway Ste. 103 78258; www.spn-sa.org.
Les Misérables – Wednesday, Jan. 29 - Sunday, Feb. 2, times vary. Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston 78205; www.majesticempire.com/events.
Culinaria’s Titans of Tailgate – Saturday, Feb. 1, 1- 4 p.m. Titans’ feast at the Rock where chefs engage in a worthy battle of grills in partnership with Chef Jason Dady. The Rock, at La Cantera, 1 Spurs Way 78256; www.culinariasa.org.
Elephant & Piggie’s We are in a Play at the Magik Theatre – Saturday, Feb. 1 - Sunday, March 23, days and times vary. Live theater production based on Mo Willem’s best-selling book features catchy tunes, lively dances and plenty of laughs. The Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St. 78205; www.magiktheatre.org.
San Marcos Half – Sunday, Feb. 2, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., 13.1, 10k, 5K, staggered starts. The second of the Texas Hill Country Challenge Series. Start at the Tanger Outlets, 4015 IH 35 N., San Marcos 78666; www.scallywompus.com.
Anastasia the Musical presented by Reagan Stage Theater – Thursday, Feb. 6 - Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Feb. 8, 1 p.m. Based on the 1997 animated film, the musical adapts the legend of the Grand Duchess who was rumored to have survived the execution of the Russian Imperial family. Gloria Jennings Robinson Auditorium, Ronald Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan 78258; www.reaganstage.org.
By Amy Morgan
MostFantastic Flipper
RHS Student Gymnast Competes Internationally
of us won’t ever achieve the strength and agility it takes to compete in a gymnastics floor routine, much less the high bar, pommel horse, vault, still rings or parallel bars. Gymnast and Ronald Reagan senior student Alejandro Siso excels on these apparatuses, and more! He can leap in the air and flip twice before landing and repeating the double backwards, just one of the many skills he’s performed in international competition. For Alejandro, mastery of the floor and vault came naturally. He started gymnastics at the age of three and by 10 years old he was catching the attention of coaches at regional competitions. His abilities outgrew the expertise of the training available in his hometown of Laredo, so the Siso family moved to San Antonio when Alejandro was starting fifth grade so he could further his technique.
Like many student athletes, Alejandro’s found participating in a club sport takes as much time as a part-time job. He spends at least 20 hours a week at the Alamo Gymnastics Center – including four hours on Saturday mornings. Unlike some sports, male and female gymnasts train and compete separately. Alejandro appreciates the rigorous training regimen his coaches Yuejin Sun and Yu Zhang design to change the conditioning routine monthly to increase both strength and endurance.
He considers his peers at the gym as close as family. They’ve bonded over the sport they all love as they’ve grown up together over the years, he said.
Competition season begins this month and consists of a handful of regional events before nationals. Alejandro will proudly wear the large red A logo representing his gym when he faces the up to 250 other men. Last year, he placed 13th in the nation, which led to invitations to compete in Mexico and Spain. Alejandro finished first place all around in the Spanish regional in May 2024 and went on to face other European clubs. He noted the European gymnastic equipment is different than that in America, including a bouncier floor. “I really liked the vibe and experience,” he said. Alejandro also is fluent in Spanish, a benefit at international meets.
Alejandro’s loyalty also is evident toward his fellow Reagan students. He’s part of the Minds that
Matter club his friend Cynthia Guerrero created to spread kindness throughout the Reagan community. Participants have made and taken cards to residents at Independence Hill and shared Positive Potatoes –tiny plastic potato toys decorated with a smiley face, which were a big hit. “Who wouldn’t want a smiling potato?” Alejandro said.
He credits his AVID college and career readiness teacher, Ms. Gail Newberg, with help navigating the college application process. “Without her, I don’t know where I’d be,” he said. She’s just one of the Reagan teachers he appreciates. “They inspire me,” he said, “because they make me feel like I have potential to be a better person. They have seen me when I was injured and would encourage me to keep going.”
Alejandro has applied to colleges with strong gymnastics programs – Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Greenville. He’s just waiting for a response from Michigan before he makes his final decision. He hopes to study physical therapy because as an athlete who’s struggled with injuries, he can identify with others.
But before then, he’ll have his senior season to fly high, leaving his mark in the sport of men’s gymnastics – both at home and abroad.
Hope 4 Hounds
Non-Profit Helps Unsheltered Care for Their Canine Companions
By Camp Bow Wow Staff
You’ve seen them on the corner — someone with a sign asking for help. And your heartstrings tug a little tighter when you notice their dog sitting patiently beside them.
“People who are unsheltered who have dogs want to care for them,” said Jill Powell who, along with her husband, Ross, started the San Antonio non-profit organization Hope4Hounds to provide veterinary care to dog owners experiencing homelessness served by Communities Under the Bridge (CUB).
“We provide the things they need so they can care for the pups they love. If they had the financial means, I’m sure they’d do it,” she added. “Sometimes they go hungry to feed their dogs.”
Most local homeless shelters do not accept pets overnight. Those experiencing homelessness must choose between a roof over their head and their dog. Usually, their animals are more important to them than a warm bed — even when temperatures dip below freezing.
“These animals are their companions. They quite literally keep some of their owners alive because they give them something to care about other than themselves,” Jill said. “This has become our life’s mission because we love God, people and dogs.”
Each of the approximately 25 dogs Hope4Hounds sees each quarter at CUB receives close to $450 worth of services like parvo testing, worm/flea/tick prevention, immunizations, ear cleaning, nail clipping, and vet exam. Jill can arrange for the pup to be treated at San Antonio Wellness Spay and Neuter, if needed. Pups can be microchipped so they can be reunited with their owner if lost. Pup parents also choose new leashes and collars and pick up bags of dog food. Volunteer make pup parents feel seen and valued while caring for their doggy best friend.
At one point two years ago Hope4Hounds thought they’d held their last clinic because they were running out of funds. Jill overheard one of the owners on the
street saying they didn’t know what they’d do without Hope4Hounds, “They care for my pup and me,” he said. “We take time to talk to people about their lives and how tough it is on the streets while caring for their creature,” she said. “They trust us because they know we are here to help and won’t try to take their dog away from them.”
Jill and Ross saw the need when they were volunteering with their therapy dog at CUB. They wondered how the people lined up for meals were caring for their pets. They built on their relationship with CUB Executive Director Dianne Talbert and held their first vet clinic for five dogs in 2020. Since then, Hope4Hounds has expanded beyond CUB to offer clinics for those in low-income housing through the Agape Foundation and services for unsheltered families living in the L.E.E. High School cluster. Since 2020, Jill estimates they’ve seen at least 500 dogs – and all on a shoestring budget.
“Working to help people with their canine touches my heart like nothing else,” wrote one volunteer, Kathy, on Hope4Hounds’ Facebook page. “And all at no cost to the person who might not know where their meals will come from or where they might be able to safely lay their heads down to rest.”
Hope4Hounds is funded by donations from the community. Find more stories and ways to help at https://www.facebook.com/ hope4houndssa?mibextid=LQQJ4d.
Start Small
One New Habit Can Improve Your Oral Health
By Amy Morgan
As we turn the calendar page to a new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our health. While vowing to lose weight or increase a step count are traditional pledges, what better place to start than prioritizing your oral health, which has far-reaching impact.
Stopping a snacking habit can help you cut calories and also benefits your teeth. Continually grazing creates an environment ripe for plaque biofilm to form — the perfect food source and hiding place for microorganisms present in the mouth. The bacteria create acid that attacks the teeth, seeking to exploit any damage or weak spot to begin a cavity, according to the professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics. It takes 20 minutes after your last bite for the pH level in the mouth to return to normal. Limiting snacks and sugary drinks helps avoid plaque buildup between teeth or along the gumline. Of course, regular brushing and flossing helps, too.
Mandy Dennis, RDH, 7to7 Dental’s Director of Hygiene Operations, encourages everyone to brush their teeth twice daily, floss, use mouthwash and remain vigilant about bi-annual dental checkups to optimize oral health. She also realizes that big changes can be difficult to sustain.
“Just start with one thing,” she advised. “As people go into the new year, they have great big plans, but because they try to do so much, they end up failing. The most important thing is to start somewhere. Don’t try to overhaul everything all at once. It takes 10 days for something to become a habit. Get good at something before you try to add more.”
The one thing Mandy noted would make the most difference is if those who only brush once a day would add a second time. The next most important priority, floss, and if not every day, at least a few times a week.
“People often tell me they don’t have time, or they are too tired. I ask them, ‘Would you not wash your clothes? You know you need to do that.’ We use our teeth all day long.”
She recommended people add a hygiene habit in where they can make it work instead of reinventing a whole new routine. “Use a disposable floss pick in your car when you are stuck in traffic. Once you start, you’ll see a difference and that will motivate you to keep it up.”
Don’t forgo that visit to the dentist for a cleaning and check every six months. It’s an important practice to keep you healthy and stave off future problems. Regular X-rays can reveal spots on the teeth where the enamel is not as strong. A dental professional can apply fluoride and re-mineralize the teeth. This may prevent cavities and the need for a filling. “If we do need to fill, we still can prevent a more invasive and expensive crown or root canal,” Mandy said. Dental professionals also will look for decay or problems, screen for oral cancer (important for anyone who uses tobacco or nicotine products), clean, brighten, straighten or place crowns or veneers. And orthodontia has never been easier or more affordable.
What better time to begin than at the first of the year? Scheduling your dental visit in January keeps it easy to remember. Starting off with clean, shiny teeth will jump-start your motivation and pay dividends throughout the year.
So, get your family members in before returning to work or school (including those young adults home for the break). You can be satisfied you took a positive step toward your family’s overall health and checked off an item on your resolution list!
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