Doctor's Day 2022 - Tallapoosa/Wetumpka

MARCH 30

DOCTOR’S DAY Rural patients lucky to have Dr. Luckie, Page 4 Superstar dentist is real-life celebrity, Page 6 Orthopedic surgeon finds home in Alex City, Page 8

We Salute You! A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE ALEXANDER CITY OUTLOOK, THE WETUMPKA HERALD, THE DADEVILLE RECORD AND THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE MARCH 2022

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March 2022

Doctors’ Day 2022

WOMAN OF THE YEAR Doctor helped school system through pandemic and won Alex City 'Woman of the Year'

Kaitlin Fleming / The Outlook

Pediatrician Dr. Chanté Ruffin is presented flowers by her four children after being named the 2022 Woman of the Year by the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Friday.

By SIRI HEDREEN Multimedia Reporter

I

ntroducing his fellow school board members at Alexander City Schools’ convocation in the fall, “You know God loves Alexander City when he sends a pediatrician to the school board in a pandemic,” board president Kevin Speaks said.

On March 4, pediatrician, mother, school board vice president and Lake Martin Area United Way past president Dr. Chanté Ruffin added “Woman of the Year” to her list of qualifiers. Past winner Barbara Yates presented the annual Alexander City Chamber of Commerce award at the chamber’s Lead Forward Women’s Conference earlier this month.

Ruffin, a Birmingham native, was not raised in Tallapoosa County, but chose Tallapoosa County. She joined Russell Medical Center in 2010, where she now runs her own practice, Heritage Pediatrics.

It’s an expertise she’s been able to lend to the Alexander City Board of Education, advising on the constantly fluctuating masking policies and social distancing guidelines as COVID-19 cases waxed and waned.

Ruffin was appointed to the school board just two months into the pandemic, and currently serves as vice president. She has four children in the school system.

By the same token, an understanding of the local school system lends a hand in community pediatrics.

In November, Ruffin spoke to The Outlook about the importance of pro-

Siri Hedreen / The Outlook

Sylacauga preschooler Hadley Rogers, 5, practices her letters and numbers at a check-up with Dr. Chante’ Ruffin, owner of Heritage Pediatrics in Alexander City.

moting as a pediatrician, which is why the waiting room of her practice has books, not a TV, and a Dr. Seuss quote painted on the walls of the examination room.

What separates the patients who do well in school, she said, is “They

read. They’re reading something each day, and it actually started before they entered kindergarten. And they have parents or older siblings or even other relatives that encourage reading.”

Heritage Pediatrics has its own forms of encouragement, with books in the waiting room instead of a TV, and Dr. Seuss quotes and “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader” on the walls of the examination rooms.

“We hope to continue to be community partners with the school system, to make sure we’re promoting reading and doing our part to help get the reading scores up,” Ruffin said. “It’s not something that’s new to us, but we’re just going to make sure that we drive it each time they come into the office.”

It’s Ruffin’s commitment to kids’ learning, both on and off the school board, that Alexander City Schools chose to highlight when offering its congratulations earlier this month.

“She works tirelessly on behalf of the children in our area, whether by day at her pediatric practice, Heritage Pediatrics, or during her volunteer time at one of the many organizations she is actively involved [in],” the school system stated.

Lake Martin Area United Way director Courtney Layfield echoed those sentiments.

“We’re very proud of her and it was definitely a deserved award,” Layfield said. “She does so much for the community and her impact is felt across the board.”

“She works tirelessly on behalf of the children in our area, whether by day at her pediatric practice, Heritage Pediatrics, or during her volunteer time at one of the many organizations she is actively involved [in].”

— Alexander City Schools

March 2022

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Doctors’ Day 2022

COMMENTARY File / The Outlook

Hats off to the doctors keeping us healthy

O

utside of a global pandemic, doctors have an important role – keeping us healthy. Where would we be without someone to take care of us when we feel our worst?

Doctors do more than just take care of our bumped knees and tummy aches, they advise us on how to live a healthy lifestyle that is sustainable for years to come.

Without doctors I would be even more overweight, with high cholesterol and high

blood pressure, blissfully unaware of the ticking time bomb that was my heart, suffering from a chronic pain illness with no idea of how to manage it.

Now, thanks to a great team of doctors, I know how to eat better and what I can do to help manage my pain without medications.

Don’t get me wrong, medications are amazing and I am thankful for them when they are needed. But, I love when I have a doctor who listens to

my needs and understands my desire to fix my body with natural solutions.

Doctors are a special bread of people – all healthcare professionals are. To care for people all day everyday must be a taxing assignment.

Staying up to date with new procedures, methodologies and treatments of complex and simple issues is no small feat either.

I am thankful I now have access to great medical care, but I remember the years I

Happy Doctès’ Day!

We appreciate our Medical Director, Dr. Timothy Corbin Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation 2334 Washington Street | Alexander City, AL 256.329.9061 www.crownehealthcare.com

spent unable to see a doctor. I treated my colds and stomach viruses with over the counter medications, if I was lucky. I iced a broken bone and hoped it healed right. I hope for a day when everyone has access to affordable, unrestricted healthcare and no one has to suffer at home without help.

I can’t even imagine what the pandemic would be like without doctors and healthcare professionals braving the sickness everyday to provide care for our ailing loved ones.

KAITLIN FLEMING Managing Editor Even now as the COVID19 virus seems to be mutating into more manageable variants, we would be on our own in dangerous territory without the knowledge and strength of our doctors locally and abroad.

So, hats off to you, local doctors. Thank you for keeping our bodies and minds healthy so we can continue doing the things we love.

Doctors’ Day 2022

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March 2022

RURAL PATIENTS LUCKY TO HAVE DR. LUCKIE Nothing is lacking in rural healthcare in Elmore County

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Just because there are few farm animals just outside Ivy Creek Family Care of Holtville doesn’t mean the care is lacking.

In fact the small town atmosphere means there is a better relationship between patient, medical office staff and doctor. Dr. Cory Luckie wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I take care of a lot of families,” Luckie said. “I will have a lady come in this week. A week or two later I will have a patient come in and will say so and so is my grand daughter and you start connecting dots. It has been a joy to see whole families and when I see grandmother I can ask about granddaughter who I

“Here you are literally doing everything. You don’t know what you are going to get. That’s on top of the sports medicine.

I help take care of the high school across the street and Prattville a little bit. You literally do everything.”

— Dr. Cory Luckie Doctor at Ivy Creek Family Care of Holtville

haven’t seen in a few months. Just asking that question is helpful for patients a lot of the time because they know that the office cares for them and they are not just another number.”

Luckie followed two providers in Holtville and has built the practice back up in his two and half years of practicing medicine. Now patients are seeking out the rural practice.

“Even though we are in rural healthcare here in Slapout, our staff being so good and taking care of patients on top of what I do, we have a lot of people coming from Montgomery and all over,” Luckie said. “We actually see a lot of patients that aren’t just in Holtville or Slapout.

We have patients coming from a 50 mile radius.”

Luckie said patients come to the Holtville clinic for a variety of things and he likes it.

“It’s interesting because one day I’m going to pull out a fish hook from someone fishing on the lake to putting a rod in someone’s arm for birth control,” Luckie said. “All that on top of taking high blood pressure, diabetes. It’s literally walking from seeing a two year old in one room to a 90 year old in the next. You do everything. It’s interesting and it’s the variety.

It’s something different every time. It keeps it fresh.”

No one in Luckie’s family was involved in the medical field as he grew up. Luckie’s father owned an air conditioning business and his mother worked in a school.

Luckie played baseball in high school and knew his size and pitch speed wouldn’t play well in the major leagues.

He reserved himself to give up the game for a career but Auburn University offered him a scholarship. Luckie leveraged it to becoming a doctor in Slapout.

“When I went to Auburn initially I did engineering,” Luckie said. “I was in chemical engineering and after about two and half years I realized I did not like this.

I decided to look for the most challenging thing after that and somebody said med school. So I said med school.

“I was going to be there five years. I redshirted my sophomore year after tearing my elbow up my first year. I knew I had an extra year so I switched to biomedical sciences.”

After finishing his degree in biomedical sciences in Auburn, Luckie would go onto medical school.

A little luck would bring Luckie to Slapout to practice medicine. Ivy Creek Healthcare CEO Mike Bruce and COO

Submitted / The Outlook

Dr. Cory Luckie said patients come to the Holtville Ivy Creek Care clinic for a variety of things and he likes it.

Amanda Hannon reached out to Luckie to see if he would be interested in coming to Slapout.

“I was from a small town anyway and that was the plan from the beginning was to go back to a small town,” Luckie said.

“I didn’t go searching for anything. It just kind of came to me and that was very, very nice.”

The variety of the practice was a little bit of a surprise to Luckie.

“I didn’t know that to begin with,” Luckie said. “I just knew I wanted to do rural healthcare. Now I know why people do it. In residency and in bigger cities you see the same thing over and over again.

You become an internist treating diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, thyroid.”

Now each new patient brings something different.

“Here you are literally doing everything,” Luckie said. “You don’t know what you are going to get. That’s on top of the sports medicine. I help take care of the high school across the street and Prattville a little bit. You literally do everything.”

Luckie said he has no plans to go anywhere else anytime soon. There are a few renovations planned for the Slapout clinic.

“As far as the structure of the practice and how this works, there shouldn’t be any major changes,” Luckie said. “We have a good setup here. I love a small town and love the people. I love it out here.”

March 2022

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Doctors’ Day 2022

Goldhagen continually working towards better healthcare

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

D

r. Michele Goldhagen came to Alexander City and Russell Medical not knowing much about small town life.

But with a wealth of knowledge of working in a Level 1 trauma center in New York City, Dr. Michele and her family came to Alexander City to help transform initially the emergency department at Russell Medical and most recently help make the patient experience better for everyone as chief medical officer.

In 24 years at Russell Medical, Dr. Michele has seen a lot at the rural hospital. Dr. Michele has seen changes and she has seen the hospital be in front of the state’s big medical institutions in some ways.

“When I came here it was very specialty focused,” Dr. Michele said. “We had a lot of the ancillary services, a lot of the tools and electronics. We were one of the first ones to get PACS which is digital radiology. When we first started we would send the discs to UAB. They were like, ‘We don’t want the disks, we want the films.’

Now it’s like, ‘Do you have the capability?’ I’m like, ‘Buddy we had it long before you had it.’”

The Russell Medical CEO Frank Harris was looking for someone to help transform the emergency department but he didn’t let Dr. Michele know it. Dr. Michele thought she was being recruited as a plus one because of her husband Dr. Paul Goldhagen who was an orthopedic surgeon. The couple was in New York but looking for a place to raise their children.

“My dad was in the military and we moved around a lot,” Dr. Michele said. “I really wanted my kids to have one house, one home. My husband felt the same way.”

The couple would put 30,000 miles on a car traveling, searching for a place to work and raise a family.

They had been recruited by Harris and already made a visit but were doing more research in an unannounced visit. It was visit where the couple learned there are no secrets in small towns.

“It took [Harris] about an hour to realize we were here,” Dr. Michele said. “We totally lost our negotiating edge that way.”

The couple would move to Alexander City and start to work at Russell Medical.

Dr. Michele in the emergency department and Dr. Paul in orthopedics.

“Many people thought we wouldn’t stay because we hadn’t ever lived in a small town,” Dr. Michele said. “But I think you know what you want. I also knew I wanted to move one time.”

But how does an emergency department in rural Alabama compare to that of one in New York?

“This emergency department was very different,” Dr. Michele said. “I assumed after coming from a Level 1 Trauma center, that all emergency departments were the same.”

Harris had recruited Dr. Michele to bring big and new ideas to Russell Medical’s emergency department to help change the image of the hospital.

“They knew the ER was the entry portal to the hospital and the second front door,” Dr. Michele said. “They wanted to build a stronger staff there.”

Dr. Michele’s changes in the emergency department would quickly be noticed.

“When I first came here we were seeing about 9,000 patients a year,” Dr. Michele said. “When I was given some resources we grew it from 9,000 to 15,000 in one year.

The following year to 18,000 and steady increase until COVID.” The emergency department would peak at 24,000 patients per year. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Just like all emergency departments, numbers of patients would dip but not the workload.

Now Russell Medical CEO Jim Peace challenged Dr. Michele with even more changes. Peace brought Dr. Michele from the emergency department to change the idea the hospital and emergency departments are different entities.

“What Jim had the vision to see was that the only way we are going to survive in this tenacious market of medicine which is financially volatile is to have a better partnership between the hospital and physicians,” Dr. Michele said. “It was to solidify that through a chief medical officer (CMO) which is more proactive to try to prevent issues and to have a vision ahead of time to be a voice for all the physicians.”

CMO is different from chief of staff.

“I had a big heavy weight — not a lot of rural hospitals have it,” Dr. Michele said.

“My OCD kicked in and I worked hard to be a shining example for the physicians.

This job is not about what is best for me. It’s about what’s best for everyone.”

The pandemic undid some of the work Dr. Michele did in the emergency department (ED) merging hospital and ED. “I built the ED team,” Dr. Michele said. “Then I went upstairs and built a phenomenal team of practitioners in [hospital management]. COVID destroyed some of the team put together in the ED. I have to go back and fix that.”

Now Dr. Michele wants to see an easier transition for patients from the emergency room and hospital — both those being discharged and those moving to a bed for stay.

“The number one complaint in the emergency department is not the naked lunatic walking down the hall, it’s why do I have to sit in that room so long,” Dr. Michele said. “We don’t do a great job of explaining just because I’m not in the room doesn’t mean I’m not working on your case. We are working on and waiting on labs, doing this and that but when you are in the room you feel that way.”

Dr. Michele is hopeful technology will help, someday.

“I would love to be able to splash their portal but there are HIPPA issues to overcome,” Dr. Michele said. “It will get there. It will get invented.”

For patients being transferred upstairs Dr. Michele believes those transitions can start to happen sooner.

“We have bigger beds, thicker pillows upstairs,” Dr. Michele said. “In many cases we may not have all the lab results back yet but we know the patient will be admitted.

Let’s go ahead and do it — get them out of the chaos of the ED.” Dr. Michele said patients also have to be educated well on what they need to do when they get sent home on discharge. Doing so means fewer readmissions and a better patient experience.

“We serve patient care — you have to serve it well,” Dr. Michele said. “You can put all the lipstick and dressings on it that you want but, we have to serve a good product. In the end, this isn’t if you like your lunch or not. This is if you like your life or not.”

Dr. Michele doesn’t feel after nearly 25 years at Russell Medical she is done. She said the pandemic might have slowed some of plans for a better patient experience, it taught her and staff at Russell Medical lessons and provided bonding experience like no other.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere,” Dr. Michele said. “Everyday was a learning experience for us. I wanted to see the evolution of the patients. The one thing it did for me was to be seen and develop that partnership with the medical staff. COVID was the best thing for my CMO career.”

Dr. Michele said using the pandemic to help a career sounds bad but something good did come from it.

“COVID allowed me to solidify my leadership with the medical staff,” Dr. Michele said. “It allowed us to get to know each other and trust one another. I had a good team and we became great. They were great amongst themselves already.”

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March 2022

Doctors’ Day 2022

Submitted / The Outlook

George Hardy as Texas Cotton (left) and Judd Lormand as his high-strung deputy (right) question a suspect in this frame grab from Hardy’s most recent film project.

Superstar dentist is real-life celebrity

By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter Dr. George Hardy is regarded as a superstar dentist by many of his patients but most might not know that Hardy is also a real-life celebrity due to another one of his favorite passions, filmmaking.

The 67-year-old has called the Lake Martin area home for much of his life, being born and raised in Alexander City and later attending Benjamin Russell High School. Much of Hardy’s family roots in fact extend far and wide throughout Tallapoosa County. For instance, Hardy’s current dentist office on Church Street was converted from his great-grandmother’s house.

“What's unique about my dental office is that the house and the house next door, where I lived temporarily, are going to be 100 years old next year. The houses were relocated from Lake Martin to Alexander City so that is kind of neat to have a lot of memories and meaning to practicing there,”Hardy noted.

However, Hardy’s career path to dentistry initially took an unusual path. In 1981, he attended Auburn University and graduated from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. He then completed a practice residency in Birmingham, Alabama and spent the next several years traveling the world.

Throughout his career, he has practiced dentistry in Cambridge, New Zealand and a general practice residency at UAB in Birmingham.

After finishing school, Hardy then began to experiment with an unlikely job position for his career as in 1990 he starred in the film ‘Troll 2’.

“I really enjoy acting and getting to work with great actors because I love watching films. It's really great to have had that experience because life's too short not to,” Hardy said.

Hardy has dabbled in filmmaking since high school and has gone on to most recently produce and act in several films, with most recent being: Best Worst Movie (2009), Texas Cotten (2018) and Under ConTroll (2019).

His documentary Best Worst Movie (2009) has won several awards, including being nearly nominated for an Academy Award. During the shooting of the film, Hardy traveled to 28 cities and across eight countries.

He has also collaborated with the likes of Gene Jones, most famous for ‘No

Submitted / The Outlook

George Hardy’s dental office, pictured above, is turning 100 years old next year, as is his house which sits beside his dental office. The houses were relocated from Lake Martin to Alexander City.

Country for Old Men’ and Lew Temple from ‘The Walking Dead.’Hardy added that he particularly enjoys the coin tossing scenes from ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Even with a passion for working in Hollywood, Hardy wanted to return to his roots and in 1991 moved back to Alexander City to develop his dentistry practice.

“Somebody asked me ‘Would you want to be buried in the sands of Utah here?’ With no trees I thought and the beauty of Lake Martin and the pine trees were starting to call me back home,” Hardy explained. “It's great to have

experienced living in other parts of the United States and world but you know, there's nothing quite like home, especially here, in the Lake Martin region.”

Hardy said he particularly enjoys the small-town feel of Alexander City and that he can approach his patient care with a more personal touch.

“A little logo we have is that ‘If you come in without a smile, we'll give you one of ours’ and I feel that our patients are like family to us,” Hardy noted “We have real close relationships with patients, and they're just like friends, and so if they need us for anything, we're here for them.”

Hardy plans to reside in Alexander City for years to come and said he is excited for what awaits his hometown as it continues to grow and expand.

“I love living here. I just think there's so much potential for our town with all the things that are happening here in town. We have a lot of positive things here, especially one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. We want to keep this place our little hidden secret,” he added.

Hardy's next film ‘Cyst”, a Twilightinspired comedy, is scheduled to debut later this year.

March 2022

Doctors’ Day 2022

Page 7

Courtesy photo

Home healthcare can be used to treat medical needs across a full continuum of care.

BECOMING A HEALTH WORKER Graduating this spring? Reasons to consider a home healthcare career STAFF REPORT Those graduating in the spring of 2022 and other job seekers should take note -- industry experts say that not only are home healthcare caregivers needed more now than ever before, but this industry offers many rewarding career paths.

“A growing number of families and medical professionals are discovering that home healthcare is a great option -- and not just for seniors. Home healthcare can be used to treat medical needs across a full continuum of care,” says Jennifer Sheets, president and chief executive officer of Interim Healthcare Inc., which is actively recruiting caregivers nationwide.

According to Sheets, here are three of the top reasons home healthcare caregivers are in such high demand today: 1. It’s a safe alternative: The pandemic shifted the spotlight to home healthcare as a means to keep loved ones safe. What’s more, at-home caregivers are supporting hospital burnout by keeping acute care patients at home, allowing hospital staff to focus on the most critical patients.

2. The role of home caregivers has expanded: The scope of care and services that can be delivered at home has greatly

expanded. There are more diverse care needs today, requiring a diverse set of caregivers to fill those needs, including ventilator care, speech therapy, palliative care and more.

3. It can fill a necessary gap: The physical, mental and emotional demands of caring for family members can be overwhelming, and with the healthcare worker shortage, family caregivers need additional help at home.

Why Home Healthcare?

It is an employees’ market when it comes to working in the home healthcare industry and these positions are very desirable for a number of other reasons, especially for new graduates. Here are just a few: • With on-the-job training available, a helping career such as a home care aide is emotionally rewarding, and home healthcare provides that same opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives, albeit in a less hectic, more personal environment. Even for current licensed medical professionals, 74% say they have considered a career shift to home healthcare at one point in their medical career, according to an Interim Healthcare study. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified these considerations for professionals, many of whom in the same survey say home healthcare would be a way to reconnect with why they got into healthcare in the

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first place.

• Clients depend on caregivers to manage their health and achieve the best results. They appreciate the help, support, care and connection that comes with home care. Caregivers get one-on-one time with clients so they’re able to focus on the care of one individual at a time, and in many cases, they become part of the family.

• The healthcare industry is changing rapidly, which means that home caregivers have continual opportunities to learn new professional skills based on their interests that will help them meet the needs of the industry.

• Careers in home healthcare are dynamic, interesting and meaningful. They’re also flexible, giving those in the industry the choice of part-time or full-time work, as well as flexibility in location and availability.

Major providers of home healthcare are actively hiring for those with healthcare experience and those without, including Interim HealthCare which has locally owned and operated franchises nationwide. To learn more about home care careers, visit ihcmadeforthis.com.

“At a time when families are struggling to find at-home care, you can answer that call for help,” says Sheets.

Article courtesy of StatePoint Media.

March 2022

Doctors’ Day 2022

Page 8

DREAMS DO COME TRUE New orthopedic surgeon finds life long home in Alexander City

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Dr. Steven Baker achieved many goals as he began his orthopedics practice at Russell Medical back in August.

“It is a dream come true,” Baker said. “I always wanted to live on the lake and I always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Now I get to live out both of those dreams.

Baker already knew Lake Martin and Baker’s wife’s family is nearby.

“I grew up coming here as a kid,” Baker said. “My great grandfather and his two brothers had a cabin here. Every third weekend was my grandad’s weekend. Every third weekend we came down here. I met my wife and she is from Tallassee. It was my second home in the summer and very close to her hometown.

It’s the best of both worlds.”

Russell Medical also gives Baker a chance to be more than just a doctor who only works on knees, hips, or shoulders.

“I love Alexander City because it gives me the opportunity to be a true general orthopedist,” Baker said. “I get to see a little bit of everything. If you go to a big city you specialize, the knee guy, the shoulder guy. I like to take care of the whole patient. That is fun for me. It truly is general orthopedics.”

Baker has been at Russell Medical for nearly eight months and stays booked with a wide range of patients and issues.

“I have seen a four year old who fell and broke her arm and put her in a cast,” Baker said. I have seen local high school athletes who I’ve fixed ACLs to hip and knee replacements. We do it all here at Russell Medical.”

While Alexander City may seem small, it doesn’t mean Baker is limited in what he can do for his orthopedic patients. Russell Medical has helped Baker in the operating room offer the newest in robotic surgery found in the bigger cities.

“We are trying to bring some of that technology you would see in Atlanta or Birmingham to right here in our hometown,” Baker said. “For a patient it means they get a knee that is more specific and precisely placed for their anatomy. The robot helps us get the position of the components within half a millimeter and half degree of perfection.”

The robot is a tool that helps Baker better serve his patients.

“It means faster recovery, and better outcomes with more success and patient satisfaction,” Baker said.

Baker is trained and skilled at handling equipment in his exam rooms and operating rooms but he is no stranger to the patient side of the orthopedics. He has seen greater quality of life after orthopedic issues and injuries have been treated for family members and himself.

“My dad had a clubfoot and was able to get treated and have a normal life,” Baker said. “He was a manual laborer and did everything.”

Baker has had his own orthopedic injuries and it helps him relate to patients as they come to seek his help.

“I have had both my knees, my shoulder and my hand all operated on, so I have been a patient before,” Baker said. “It’s really funny. I can talk to patients about what their scar will look like and show them.

“I have been on the patient and family side of orthopedics for a long time and now the physician side.”

Baker has seen what can happen when orthopedic issues are left unaddressed due to lack of access to medical care. It pushed Baker to seek out a career in

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Dr. Steven Baker is the newest orthopedic surgeon at Russell Medical.

Submitted / The Outlook

Dr. Steven Baker is the newest orthopedic surgeon at Russell Medical.

the medical world.

“I went to an orphanage on this mission trip as a teenager and saw the kids with orthopedic issues that didn’t get treated and left them neglected,” Baker said.

“I saw the contrast of the treatment my dad got and what these children got. It inspired me to look to medicine and orthopedics in particular to be my calling.”

Baker doesn’t see himself anywhere but Alexander City for a long time.

“If I left my wife would be really mad at me,” Baker said. “I love it here. We just bought a house here. We love the lake. My wife’s family is close by. We want to be here forever.”

March 2022

Doctors’ Day 2022

10 doctor-recommended ways to improve your overall health STAFF REPORT While investing in your health and wellness can sound like an overwhelming goal, doctors say that there are easy, tangible steps you can take to feel your best and better protect your health.

“It is always the right time to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices,” says American Medical Association (AMA) president, Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”

Not sure where to start? Consider these tips from the AMA: 1. Make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older and the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age five and older. Anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines should speak with their physician and review trusted resources, including getvaccineanswers.org.

2. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes by taking a simple online 2-minute self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

3. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

4. Know your blood pressure numbers.

Take the time to visit ManageYourBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension -- under con-

trol. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

5. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead.

6. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.

7. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.

8. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

9. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.

10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.

More health resources and tips can be found my visiting ama-assn.org.

For a happy, healthy future, consider making these 10 doctor-recommended tips for improved wellness.

Article courtesy of StatePoint Media.

Courtesy photo

Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

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Doctors’ Day 2022

March 2022

File / The Outlook

Ryan McMichael is unlike most healthcare professionals – his patients generally walk on four legs when they visit him.

Wetumpka healthcare worker serves four-legged patients

By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter Ryan McMichael is unlike most healthcare professionals – his patients generally walk on four legs when they visit him.

The 23-year-old has called Elmore County home since 2020 after joining Camellia Veterinary Hospital as a veterinary assistant. McMichael had never initially envisioned himself in the medical field, but the Kentucky-native opted for a career change after serving three years in the U.S. Air Force.

“I just found out it wasn’t for me. I really enjoy the idea of lifelong learning,

and the medical field is a way to practice both competency in book knowledge as well as motor skills such as with surgery.

I really like the tangible application of the knowledge,” McMichael said.

McMichael added that he is particularly interested in cytology, which is studying animals’ cells under a microscope.

Following his discharge from the military, McMichael considered medical school, but discovered that he had a strong passion for working with animals more so than people and enrolled in veterinary school at Auburn University at Montgomery “I’ve always loved animals. I figured that if I wanted to be in the medical field, it would be for animals rather than

people,” he said.

Even though McMichael primarily treats animals, he added that there still very much a human element as pet owners place a great deal of trust in his care.

“I say that I gravitated towards this due to the animal side of things but it’s a pretty human aspect as well, because you’re building a relationship with the clients,” he said. “Everyone has pretty much heard of the term ‘furbabies’, because people care about their pets, like their kids, and they’re entrusting you with that care.”

Being in a smaller town like Wetumpka, McMichael added that he can approach his medical care with a more personal touch.

“I really like the small-town feel of Wetumpka, and during my time in the military, my family moved down here so I figured I would stay with them,” he said.

After graduation, McMichael said he plans to work full-time and serve as an exoitc veterinarian in a zoo or wildlife preservation.

That term includes anything that isn’t a cat or a dog. So rabbits, birds, snakes, lizards. You don’t see a lot of clinics in our area that treat them, but I think providing care for those types of animals is just as important as cats or dogs or your typical pets.

McMichael has five pets including: three cats, two birds and a rabbit.

March 2022

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Doctors’ Day 2022

File / The Outlook

Mental healthcare is highly personal and it’s essential that your provider is someone you can open up to, make progress with and not feel judged by.

MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND YOU Finding the right fit for your mental healthcare provider

STAFF REPORT Searching for a mental health provider?

You likely have questions.

Recent research from virtual care provider MDLIVE suggests that confusion around finding a mental healthcare provider is common. One in five surveyed said they were concerned about finding a provider match and 70% experience confusion and uncertainty about where to begin. The research also revealed that not everyone knows the difference between the various mental health professionals -- psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, mental health coaches and others.

“Many people are ready to get depression, anxiety and stress under control by working with a mental health professional, but get bogged down right from the start.

Confusion about selecting a professional that best suits their needs causes a lot of people to give up. That’s something we want to change,” says Dr. Shakira EspadaCampos, who brings more than two decades of direct practice experience to her role as behavioral health medical director at

MDLIVE. To help you in your search, MDLIVE is answering some frequently asked questions: When is it time to see a therapist? Mental healthcare is self-care that most everyone can benefit from. However, if your emotional state is interfering with your daily life, it’s definitely time to take action.

Beyond the common signs of mental illness, such as sadness, drug and alcohol misuse, trouble sleeping and mood swings, Dr. Espada-Campos notes that there are some often overlooked signals that could indicate it’s time to seek treatment. These include withdrawing from loved ones, feeling fatigued, having a lack of motivation and frequently “zoning out.” She also notes that life events such as decoupling, job loss or the loss of a loved one can often trigger the need for professional mental health support.

What’s the difference between therapists and psychiatrists? Psychiatrists and therapists can treat the same things, however, psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication, while therapists are

licensed providers who can evaluate and support people with emotional or behavioral health concerns through talk therapy.

What should one look for in a provider?

Mental healthcare is highly personal and it’s essential that your provider is someone you can open up to, make progress with and not feel judged by.

A good place to start is by working with a provider who has experience treating patients like you.

Understand that you may not find the right therapist on your first try. Dr. EspadaCampos encourages individuals to both trust their feelings in this regard and to take an active role in their sessions by asking questions like, “What can I do to help my treatment?” and “How can we work together to achieve my goals?”

Does insurance cover therapy? In recent years, many health plans and employers have acknowledged the importance of mental healthcare and have expanded the resources available to their members and employees. Check coverage details online or through the plan’s call center. Alternatively, you may wish to seek counseling through

an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

EAP counselors can help with a variety of mental health concerns, however, members are typically restricted to a set number of sessions. If you’re suffering from a recurring mental health issue, check what options are available through your health plan.

Can therapists be seen remotely? Virtual care, an increasingly popular option, can provide private, convenient, quality care quickly, and is often offered by health plans.

For example, MDLIVE’s platform makes it easy to search for a provider that meets your needs and to schedule an appointment with one of their psychiatrists or licensed therapists. MDLIVE is a covered benefit for more than 60 million Americans through health insurers such as Cigna, Aetna, certain Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and many regional and local plans. To learn more or to register, visit www.mdlive.com.

Finding a mental healthcare provider can feel overwhelming. However, identifying what you want out of care and understanding the different treatments available can help demystify the process.

Article courtesy of StatePoint Media.

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Doctors’ Day 2022

March 2022