West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital

LETTER FROM THE CEO

As we begin to approach the end of the year, it’s important to reflect on what has been accomplished, but it’s even more important to remain focused on the path forward. There is no doubt our community needs access to quality healthcare to remain vital and strong. The commitment from our physicians, nurses and all of our team members remains solid. Our commitment to growth, quality, innovation and patient care are the driving forces for our strategic plans forward.

Speaking of growth, Carlyss continues to be the fastest-growing area in our service district. Construction is complete on our new WCCH Primary Care Clinic, which is located at 151 Walker Road in Carlyss. I am delighted to share that our providers from Calcasieu Family Physicians, Drs. Jason & Kelly Fuqua and nurse practitioner, Garett Istre, will be relocating their practice to this new clinic in November. Be on the lookout for the opening date!

One of our newest commitments to innovation, and one that our team is extremely proud of, is the addition of our new Cath Lab. This technology helps physicians diagnose and treat heart disease with better accuracy. West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) was the first hospital in the nation to have this version of the new GE Allia™ IGS 530 Cath Lab technology installed and available for patient care. This cutting-edge technology helps our cardiologists diagnose and treat all patients, even the most challenging ones, safely and efficiently, with the best possible image quality.

In October, we welcomed two new critical care/pulmonology providers to our medical staff - Dr. Clifford Courville and Dr. Fidencio Davalos. These two providers are incredible additions to our patient care team, and highlights our commitment to ensure our community has access to quality pulmonary/respiratory care close to home.

WCCH recently hosted the return of the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer Walk. The walk raises funds to provide financial support to individuals in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes who are undergoing breast cancer treatment. It was the first time the walk has been held since 2019, and we were overwhelmed by the community’s support and involvement!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support! Your Need. Our Commitment.

Sincerely,

Janie D. Frugé

HEALING AT HOME

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Comfort. Familiarity. Privacy. When faced with recovering from a health challenge, most people would choose to be home, in their familiar surroundings. In fact, studies show individuals heal faster when recovering in the comfort of home.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Home Health Agency delivers care to homes across the area. Rita Manuel in Westlake is a testament to the exceptional care provided by the team. She was hospitalized with fluid around her heart and part of her recovery plan was to learn how to eat a low sodium/low sugar diet and to test her blood sugar amount on a regular basis.

“My nurse taught me how to test my blood sugar, she gave me ideas on what to eat, she took my vitals at every visit,” explains Manuel. “And, she cheered me up on bad days.”

The WCCH home health team provides not only physical care but offers that emotional component also. “Sometimes, the only visit one of our patients receives that day is their home health nurse. Our patients often look forward to the visits,” explains Anne Welch, RN, WCCH Home Health administrator.

“I enjoyed the company,” Manuel says, “and the help she gave me. Home Health came two times a week, then once a week for two months.”

Home health provides an individualized care plan, putting into action the directives from the physician, and maintaining continuous contact with the physician on the status of the patient. It can also increase a patient’s independence by allowing them to remain at home while receiving the care needed.

“All of our nurses are RN’s which adds to the quality care our patients receive,” explains Welch. “We offer nursing care as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Our team delivers care with compassion and optimism, always working to bring the patient to their highest level of function.”

The Home Health team at WCCH has received many honors throughout their 30-year history, including the most recent one for Outstanding Patient Satisfaction by the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, received two years in a row.

Manuel admits to being hesitant about having home health services, but says, “I am glad I had them. I would recommend them to anyone. They were beneficial to my recovery, and they’re friendly and pleasant.”

WCCH Home Health Agency accepts patients within a 50mile radius of the WCCH campus located in Sulphur. For more information, please call (337) 527-4362

SUCCESSFULLY MANAGING

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, an opportune time to assess your management so far and modify anything that could improve so you can live your best life. Over 37 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately 90 – 95% of them have type 2 diabetes.

“Three of the core focuses of successful diabetes management are: food, medication and exercise,” explains Cynthia Chantlin, RD, LDN, CDCES, diabetes coordinator with West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. “There are other things that can affect diabetes, including stress, smoking, and times of illness, but if the top three subjects can be in alignment with your tailored management program, you’ll feel much better.

FOOD. Carbohydrates often have the biggest impact on blood sugar levels. Learning how to count carbohydrates, and doing it routinely, is a key in diabetes management. “For people taking mealtime insulin, it’s important to know the amount of carbohydrates in food, so you get the proper insulin dose,” Chantlin says.

UNDERSTAND THE RECOMMENDED PORTION SIZE . For foods eaten often, you may want to write down how much equals a serving to eliminate the guess work. “If you’ve managed diabetes for a while, check your serving sizes. Are you still in alignment with what is recommended,” Chantlin says.

Fiber-rich foods can lower blood glucose levels, and are a great addition to anyone’s diet, especially those who are monitoring sugar levels. These foods include:

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MEDICATION. In many cases, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to manage diabetes, medication is also needed to keep blood sugar levels in a safe range. The effectiveness of insulin and other diabetes medications depend on the timing and size of the dose. Double check that you are following current advice on when and how to take your medication.

For more information, please call (337)527-4282.

“Insulin that is improperly stored or past its expiration date may not be effective,” Chantlin explains. “It is sensitive to extremes in temperature.”

Be caution when taking additional medications for conditions such as colds. Some over-the-counter medications can interact with diabetes medication. Check with your physician or pharmacist to be sure all medications that you are taking will work well together.

EXERCISE. During a workout, muscles use sugar, or glucose, for energy. Regular physical exercise helps your body use insulin more efficiently. “Did your physician recommend an exercise plan? Are you following those guidelines? It’s a good idea to look at your activity level compared with what your physician recommends and make sure you’re in line with those recommendations. If not, now is a great time to reboot and incorporate activity into your routine,” Chantlin says.

In general, adults should aim for about 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week.

Check with your doctor about the best time of day for you to exercise so that your workout is coordinated with your meals and medication schedules.

You may need to adjust your insulin levels upon resuming an exercise schedule. “Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels even up to a day later. Be aware of the warning signs of low blood sugar, such as feeling shaky, weak, tired, hungry, lightheaded, irritable, anxious or confused. Talk with your doctor or your diabetes counselor to ensure you utilize insulin properly with exercise,” explains Chantlin.

The more you know about factors that influence your blood sugar levels, the more you’re equipped to handle fluctuations and remain in control of your diabetes management.

Chantlin is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes or you’re a veteran when it comes to managing diabetes, understanding the basic pillars of successfully handling it will result in a much better outcome and quality of life.

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DIABETES

pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes.

A type of diabetes can develop

diabetes affects 2 – 10% of pregnancies each year in the United States.

When the body can’t make enough insulin

gestational diabetes occurs. Pregnancy causes the body to make more hormones and other changes including weight gain. These changes can cause the body’s cells to use insulin less effectively, known as insulin resistance. All pregnant women usually have some form of insulin resistance during late pregnancy. However, some women start their pregnancy with an increased need for insulin and are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

Most obstetricians routinely test for

test between 24 and 28 weeks in the

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The Benefits of STAYING ACTIVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

WEST CALCASIEU

The gift of good health is something only you can give yourself, but this gift keeps on giving! Doing all you can to keep your body in good working order helps increase your flexibility, promotes better sleep, helps to relieve joint pain, and improves your mental well-being.

“Our bodies were designed to move,” explains Suzy Trahan, LDN, RD, director of Dynamic Fitness. “But many of us sit for hours at a time, on the couch watching TV or reading, or sitting while driving to work where we sit at a desk for most of the day. Compare that to our ancestors who moved continuously all day and had fewer chronic health conditions. Today, we need to be mindful of integrating movement into our daily activities.”

Some people might protest that the holidays are not the time to incorporate activity into an already busy schedule, but it’s actually a great time for that very reason: you’re already busy. By adding a few stretches and movements into your days, you’ll find you’re utilizing your body’s movements even more.

Here are a few ideas:

• Add autumnal colors to your landscaping by planting seasonal flowers and incorporate stretches while you work.

• Spend a few minutes raking fall leaves in your yard.

• While preparing delicious holiday foods, add a few leg lifts or lunges.

• As you trim the tree, reach farther to hang a few ornaments higher and give your body a good stretch.

• If you’re out shopping, park farther away from the store to add a few more steps.

• Aim to go on a brisk walk each day.

• Enjoy a few minutes of gentle stretching in the morning and again in the evening before bed.

“Staying active will increase your energy and reduce stress; two things all of us need during the holiday season,” Trahan says.

“It’s a matter of being mindful of moving your body. In our culture, most of us need to consciously choose to do this, since our daily activities may not include a lot of movement.”

If you need more motivation, consider these benefits to your body when you increase your movement throughout the day:

• Your muscles become stronger, which improves balance, stability and coordination.

• Your bones become more durable and denser.

• Your joints become more flexible, allowing you to increase your range of motion and move with more ease.

• Your brain is more active, resulting in less cognitive decline over the years.

• Your heart becomes stronger with activity, decreasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.

• Your lung capacity increases as you breathe more deeply during exercise.

All these benefits are linked to movement. So, try to include more movement in your day throughout the fall and holiday season and enjoy the benefits!

For more information, please visit

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Contact us

For questions about any of the information in this publication, call the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital marketing department at (337) 528-4735.

Healthwise is published by West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician.

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West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital

PRIMARY CARE CLINIC IN CARLYSS Opening in November

The WCCH Primary Care Clinic in Carlyss is scheduled to open in November. Located on LA 27 and Walker Road, the 4,700 square-foot clinic will be equipped with eight patient rooms, laboratory draw capabilities and a minor procedure area.

The clinic will offer primary care services for adults. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are accepted.

“These additions to our medical services are exciting and are further proof that our commitment of providing exceptional healthcare services to our community continues,” says Janie Frugé, CEO with WCCH.

For more information, please call (337) 528-7472.

TAKE A SHOT!

Now is a great time to get your annual flu shot and COVID vaccination or booster. When the weather turns cooler, most of us will be indoors more making it easier for germs to spread. Check with your physician if you have any questions. To schedule your immunizations, please call the Community Health Center of WCCH at (337) 310-0395.