Observer
Health Matters FEBRUARY 2020
SCIENCE OF
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What is love?
February is all about love, but what biological factors are responsible for us falling in — and out — of love?
DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR
T
his week, when you can walk into nearly any store and be surrounded by hearts, stuffed animals and chocolates, it’s easy to groan at the commercialization that is hallmark of Valentine’s Day. Maybe Cupid was onto something, though. Love isn’t just an abstract concept; in reality, it boils down to a science. In fact, scientists have been researching for decades the biological factors behind the feeling that we call love. Chemistry and specific hormones all play starring roles in the process of falling in — and even falling out of — love. Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, led a team of scientists at Rutgers in a study regarding the stages of love. Fisher proposed that all mammals exhibit three primary emotions when it comes to the arena of mating and reproduction: lust, attraction and attachment. Each category is characterized by its own specific hormones, which are responsible for the corresponding emotions and physical reactions we experience when we are falling in love.
FALLING IN LOVE Dr. Parker Mott, a licensed psychologist at Counseling & Psychological Services of Central Florida in Winter Garden, said love is a chemical reaction attributed to various neurochemicals in the body. “We have a number of neurochemicals that move around in our bodies, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin and vasopressin, and this is what contributes to attraction and attachment,” Mott said. “Over time, our neurochemicals basically become desensitized to the chemicals and the pheromones and hormones of our partner. It’s kind of like a process of evolution where we adapt to that.” LUST Lust is considered the first stage of falling in love, Fisher said. Lust is driven by the desire for sexual gratification and evolutionary need to reproduce — a need shared among all living things. When you first meet someone you find attractive, you may find your palms a bit sweaty or have a slightly elevated heart rate. You may even stumble over your words — or become speechless. There’s a reason for that. “When we walk past a person and find them attractive, there’s a lot of … hormones that are triggered within us and that contrib-
“Love is somewhat like an addiction. Dopamine is one of the main neurochemicals in attraction and love, and in attachment.” — Dr. Parker Mott
utes to the neurochemicals being released in our body,” Mott said. “When we first meet somebody and we’re interested in them, we experience lust. This lust, for the most part, is kind of a temporary state. It has to do with that sexual gratification. Our biology is kicking in, and all of that is at the beginning of relationships.”
ATTRACTION Attraction is the next stage of falling in love, and neurochemicals, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, are responsible for it. Attraction is a distinct but closely related part of the process, and it involves the brain pathways that control reward behavior. Dopamine is released when we do something that feels good, and this coupled with norepinephrine make a person feel energetic and euphoric. “Love is somewhat like an addiction,” Mott said. “Dopamine is one of the main neurochemicals in attraction and love, and in attachment. Dopamine is also the chemical most associated with many different forms of addiction. Not to sound kind of cynical, but love is a form of addiction, in some ways.” ATTACHMENT The final stage is known as attachment. This is the most important factor in long-term relationships and is primarily controlled by oxytocin and vasopressin. Oxytocin is nicknamed the “cuddle hormone” because it’s most connected to mediating friendships, parent-infant bonding and other intimacies, wrote Harvard University graduate student Katherine Wu. However, this also is why many newly dating couples and even newlyweds experience what is referred to as a “honeymoon phase.” The real work begins, Mott said, after the wedding is over. “Over time we become more adapted to our partner and we don’t quite have the same chemical reaction anymore,” Mott said. “Instead, it becomes an attachment piece and moves into what we call love. In order to keep things kind of fresh — because, quite frankly, love can be a little boring over time — we have to do new things. “Spending time with our loved one, doing new things and having regular date nights is important,” Mott said. “Having time set aside for the relationship and to put in the energy into making a relationship or marriage work is important.” KEEPING LOVE ALIVE But if we’re honest, love isn’t always heart eyes and Cupid arrows. Falling in love is easy, but staying in love takes concerted effort from both partners. Building a solid foundation at the beginning of a relationship is crucial to making it last. Mott said sometimes differences between two people can be detrimental to a relationship if they aren’t worked out toward the beginning of it. That is why communication is so important.
“Sometimes, we fall into communication patterns that become very cyclical and maladaptive, causing problems in the relationship,” he said. “Oftentimes, I am a bit of a mediator or translator for the couple to where, perhaps, the female expresses her thoughts and feelings to me, and I translate it to the male in ways that he understands it differently. It all comes down to that … especially if there’s love there, you can work through communication issues.” Bryan Truelove, a Winter Garden-based licensed mental health counselor and marriage therapist, said relationship issues generally will not go away or get better on their own if they are not addressed. “While change is possible at any age or stage of (a) relationship, it is more difficult the longer you have been stuck in an unhealthy relational dynamic,” Truelove said. “Couples who proactively address issues when they occur will generally find resolution faster than the couple who wiats for years to tackle an issue.” Truelove added that love is a choice we make one thought or action at a time, and keeping love alive over time requires making efforts to constantly learn more about your partner. “Long-lasting love isn’t magic, chemistry or purely emotion,” Truelove said. “I suggest that people start by dropping the assumption that after a certain number of years together, there is nothing left to learn about your partner. Stay curious, ask questions and show interest in their thoughts and feelings. “When we feel that our partner is genuinely interested in us, we feel loved, special and cared for,” Truelove said. Don’t forget to know and nurture your partner’s love language, either. The five love languages are words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch. You might have a different love language than that of your partner. If you do, know that you’ll need to make an effort to show them love in the ways they need to receive it. “A lot of times, we all learn how to love and show love in different ways,” Mott said. “We formulate these love languages on how love is communicated at the very early ages of our lives. Fast-forward to when we get older, after all of the lust and stuff starts to simmer down a little bit, we settle down into these love language patterns. And it’s hard to know what your love language is sometimes.” Distance between a couple can happen when they put their relationship by the wayside and don’t focus on putting time and effort into it. “Another way to express and receive love in a relationship is to put the relationship ahead of things like work, friends and extended family,” Truelove said. “If you both commit to valuing each other at a high level, it brings a sense of comfort and security that continues to nurture love over the years.”
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CHEMISTRY 101 LUST n Testosterone — The male sex hormone that regulates fertility, muscle mass, fat distribution and red blood cell production. n Estrogen — A group of sex hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics in the human body. ATTRACTION n Dopamine — A neurotransmitter that plays an integral role in the reward system, which controls motivation, desire and cravings. Dopamine influences mood, sleep, learning, movement, alertness, blood flow and urine output. n Norepinephrine — A neurotransmitter that helps increase blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels. n Serotonin — Another neurotransmitter that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, mood and emotions, metabolism and appetite, cognition and concentration, hormonal activity, body temperature and bloodclotting. ATTACHMENT n Oxytocin — A hormone and a neurotransmitter involved in childbirth and breastfeeding. It also is associated with empathy, trust, sexual activity and relationship-building. n Vasopressin — An antidiuretic hormone that helps prevent loss of water from the body by reducing urine output and helping the kidneys reabsorb water. Source: Medical News Today
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Keeping the beat Cardiac Rehabilitation Week highlights efforts to keep hearts healthy after cardiac events and surgeries. TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR
In the midst of her recovery following a mitral valve replacement surgery, Windermere resident Georgine Lamvu acknowledged it was surgeons and cardiologists who saved her heart — but it was the cardiac rehabilitation nurses who saved her life. Lamvu is one of several patients in cardiac rehab at Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital in Ocoee — and it’s made all the difference in her recovery, she said. “Most people don’t realize that, after you’ve had open-heart surgery, that’s just half of the battle,” Lamvu said. “Doing that cardiac rehab is the most important thing actually in your survival.” Health Central is one of many hospitals across the county recognizing that critical field during Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, Feb. 9 through 15. According to the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the purpose of the week is to thank those who work in the field and raise awareness about the role cardiac rehabilitation plays when combating heart disease. Lamvu had her heart surgery in October to deal with her bacterial endocarditis — an infection of the lining of the heart and heart valves. After five weeks of
healing, she began cardiac rehabilitation, visiting the hospital throughout the week to exercise in a workout room. “They monitor your weight, and if you’re a diabetic, they monitor your blood sugar,” Lamvu said. “You have 36 sessions to build a healthy habit through cardiac rehab and to learn how to be healthier, so it’s not just about recovering your heart. It’s really changing your lifestyle.” GET PUMPED UP
Jim James, a registered nurse in the cardiac rehab department at Health Central, works with Lamvu and other patients undergoing rehab on a daily basis. In the rehabilitation program, patients exercise while hooked up to a heart monitor. An electrocardiogram allows James to ensure patients aren’t working too hard but still are challenging themselves enough to strengthen their hearts. “We do their blood pressures throughout the time that they’re exercising and we put them on different machines based on what they need,” James said. “Some patients can’t walk on a treadmill, so we use other equipment because they’re just too unsteady on their feet. … We individualize all the treatment to each individual patient.” From patients who recently
Tim Freed
Georgine Lamvu, right, is thankful for the care and instruction of registered nurses like Jim James at Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation department.
DIAGNOSES THAT LEAD TO CARDIAC REHAB n Heart attack within the last 12 months n Stent put in n Bypass surgery n Congestive heart failure n Valve replacement n Stable angina
suffered a heart attack to patients who have had a valve replaced, everyone has his or her own pace and flow during rehabilitation, James said. A patient who suffered a heart attack or had a stent put in typically will be in the program for three to four months. The rehabilitation process following a valve replacement surgery takes about four to six weeks — after a period where the chest incision heals. A bypass surgery
takes about three to four months of rehabilitation. “If you sprain your ankle, you’re not going to go out the next day and start running again — you’re going to give it time to heal,” James said. “Even when you do (run), you’re going to kind of walk on it gingerly at the beginning, and as it starts to get a little bit better, you walk a little faster, and then finally you maybe trot on it a little bit. Eventually, down the road, you get back to running. It’s the same thing with the heart. If you’ve had a heart attack, it’s stunned — it needs time to recover.” The process of monitoring heart rates, though, is a part of what makes cardiac rehab different from any other kind of rehabilitation, James said. “The difference is you can feel how your legs and arms feel, so you know whether or not you’ve done too much or you can keep going,” James said. “You have no way of knowing about your heart as to whether or not you’re pushing it too hard or not hard enough.” Patients don’t have to wait for a heart-related incident or surgery to take advantage of the workout room. Any patient with a history of high blood pressure or similar issues can visit and exercise with nurses nearby. “We have what’s called ‘phase three cardiac rehab,’” James said. “It’s a non-monitored exercise program. We do their blood pressure and their heart rate before they start, and we do it after they’re done to make sure everything’s all right, but they still come in to exercise, and we still guide them along.”
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Necessary nutrition Chrissy Love lives with phenylketonuria, a disorder that requires a specialized — and expensive — diet. The West Orange resident is lobbying for the Medical Nutrition Equity Act. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
When Chrissy Love was growing up, all her food tasted like cardboard. “I never knew any different; I just dealt with it,” the West Orange resident said. “The food that you need to survive just tasted so horrible. That was my reality, and that was fine.” Love, 39, was diagnosed with phenylketonuria at birth after the mandatory “heel-prick” blood test performed on newborns. People with the disorder cannot metabolize one of the amino acids in protein, so an altered diet is mandatory for healthy survival. She never ate what her friends ate during school lunches or what the family ate at the dinner table. “My mom did her best to make me feel normal,” she said. “I didn’t want anyone’s pity. … I think it became even more challenging when I had to take over myself and when I went to college. I had to watch what I put in my mouth, and I had to prepare it. … It was another element of my life that I wasn’t prepared to handle.” When Love is invited to a party, she eats before or after — unless there’s a veggie tray, but even then, she must avoid the high-protein foods, such as broccoli. At home, if she’s in the mood for pasta, she opens up her $12 box of spaghetti. Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill is Feb. 25 through 28, and Love is going to Washington, D.C., with the National PKU Alliance to lobby in favor of the Medical Nutrition Equity Act. If passed, the act would provide for the coverage of medically necessary food, vitamins and individual amino acids for digestive and inherited metabolic disorders. “It’s basically to get food coverage,” Love said. “It would make Medicaid and Medicare pay for these things. It’s not a luxury. … It’s very, very expensive. … I don’t think anyone in their right mind would pay $12 for a box of pasta.” But that’s what Love has to do if she wants to live on a more diverse diet. There are varying degrees of PKU, and people can be limited to anywhere from 2 to 15 grams of protein a day. Love can have 4 grams. According to USDA dietary guidelines, the average adult
Amy Quesinberry
Chrissy Love is lobbying for insurance companies to cover the food for people like her with phenylketonuria. One box of spaghetti can cost $12.
WHAT IS PKU?
woman should consume 46 grams of protein daily. She logs everything she eats; being meticulous saves her life. Love is the mother of three children, 10-year-old twins and an 8-year-old, and none inherited the disorder. “They’re all healthy and thriving and fine, by the grace of God,” she said. Being pregnant and having proteins limited even further was a challenge but manageable. However, with three children under age 3, Love found herself taking care of her babies more than herself. About three years ago, she started feeling symptoms that mirror multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease — and she was devastated. There are several products on the market that act as the enzyme lacking in people such as Love. She gives herself a daily injection. “I never wanted to take a needle every day, but if I can function, then that’s two seconds of my day that I’m doing that,” Love said. “I wanted to have quality of life rather than quantity of days. … My body went through some symptoms until my body got used to it.”
She drinks a pharmaceutical protein shake several times a day to avoid tremors. Love’s children are without the disorder, but her older brother also has PKU — discovered after a misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy. “(The) heel prick is done on all babies in the hospital, and it tests for over 35 metabolic and genetic disorders that, without this screening process, you might not ever know they had this until later when they suffer symptoms,” Love said. Her diagnosis years ago is what led her to her passion. She is a NICU nurse at Nemours Children’s Hospital and part of a research team for rare diseases. Every three months she travels to Michigan as an advocate, as a patient and as a nurse. In addition to the trip to Washington, Love is going in May to Seattle to promote the importance of the newborn screening and why continued funding is essential. “My goal is to educate and spread awareness of it,” Love said. “If my story for someone can be inspired by it, that’s why I put it out there.”
Phenylketonuria (commonly known as PKU) is an inherited disorder that increases the levels of a substance called phenylalanine in the blood. Phenylalanine is a building block of proteins (an amino acid) that is obtained through the diet. It is found in all proteins and in some artificial sweeteners. An untreated child with PKU can lose 4 IQ points each month and will suffer severe and irreversible intellectual disabilities before reaching toddler age, according to the National PKU Alliance.
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A reason to smile The Rotary Club of Winter Garden helped one woman get her smile back through the West Orange Dental Alliance’s Jump Start program. TROY HERRING
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that we collected dollars — every Tuesday — we then collect and give to the charity. What was different this time around is I challenged the members that I would match — dollar for dollar — whatever we collected as a group.” By the end of the month the club had raised more than $400, and by Roukey matching the donation dollar for dollar, the Rotary raised a total of $864 to go toward one lucky, local person who was looking to get their smile back. The act of kindness by the Rotary means a lot to the West Orange Dental Alliance. Not only did it help give someone a new opportunity in life, but also it helped out an individual who didn’t have the means to afford such care, Williams said. “A private practice charges about $400 to actually extract a tooth, and that doesn’t include you consultation, your X-ray, any anesthetic and that kind of thing,” Williams said. “And what people don’t know is that Medicaid, Medicare and the health centers is they only allow one extraction per year on those plans. ” It was simple for those Rotary Club members who gave money, but it also was a chance to do what they always do — give back to the community and assist those in need, Roukey said. “This is what the Rotary Club of Winter Garden does,” Roukey said. “Our No. 1 motto is ‘service above self,’ and this absolutely fits that. It was an opportunity for all of us to come together to change somebody else’s life.”
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During a routine Tuesday meeting of the Rotary Club of Winter Garden, Tiffany Williams — executive director of the West Orange Dental Alliance — took to the front of the room to speak. She talked about the organization and the programs it offers to those in need of urgent dental care but can’t afford it. But there was one program that piqued the interest of Rotary president elect and board member Eric Roukey — the Jump Start program. The program is one of two offered by the organization, and its impact on those it benefits is significant, Williams said. “We work with patients who apply to our program, and we help restore their smiles,” Williams said. “Most of the smiles are very broken, decayed and missing, and we get those fixed while we work in conjunction with CareerSource Central Florida — they help do their resume, career assessment and get them set on the right career path. We’re kind of just giving those smiles so people have that confidence to follow their career and dreams.” As Roukey listened to stories of how something as simple as a smile was able to change a life, he realized this aligned with Rotary’s philanthropic mission. “I didn’t even know that it existed,” Roukey said. “So for me, living here and being a parent, I didn’t know that this type of dental assistance existed. When I learned about these individuals — mostly adults — and how their confidence was restored in themselves simply because they changed their smile. “I saw the video and thought, ‘Wow, if we could make one person’s life better — give them more confidence — what could that do for them?’” he said. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small amount of money, but it might change this person’s life forever.” With his mind made up, Roukey decided to utilize what the club refers to as “Happy Dollars.” Each board member is able to nominate a local charity for “Happy Dollars,” and money is collected during the Tuesday meetings. Some members give a dollar, while others give more. “I was moved by what they were doing, so I nominated them to receive our ‘Happy Dollars,’” Roukey said. “So for the month
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A major promotion, a new center and an upcoming hiring event — there’s plenty happening within Community Health Centers. President and CEO Debra Andree started in her new role with the company last month. She replaces Margaret Brennan, who retired. Before taking on her new role, Andree spent the last 17 years working at Community Health Centers, starting as a pediatrician before being promoted to chief of pediatrics, associate medical director and, finally, chief medical officer. Andree said she currently is learning her new position and eventually will develop a strategic plan with the board of directors and leadership team. “It’s a great honor, privilege and responsibility that I take seriously and recognize all the leaders and team members from Community Health Centers (who) came before me and that are present today,” Andree said. “(I’m) pleased with the team that supports me in this role.” Andree said her new plan will include a continued focus on expansion, the quality of care being delivered, financial sustainability and employee satisfac-
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patients each year across 15 locations in Orange and Lake counties. “At the end of the day, our focus is always on the patient and providing them with optimal health care for where they are at their point in life,” Andree said. “It’s not me and me alone. It’s (the) team members, it’s a board of directors and it’s a 47-year history of Community Health Centers offering health care with many team members that came before us.” COMING TO CLERMONT
Community Health Centers also is on the verge of opening its 16th location in the first half of 2020. Four Corners Community Health Center, at 508 Cagan View Road in Clermont, will offer pediatrics, family medicine, pediatric dental, adult dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy and lab. “We’re excited and pleased regarding the future opening of Four Corners Community Health Center, as we anticipate it will serve 10,000 patients in an area where there’s a need for health care access and quality health care,” Andree said. “We look for-
ward to our full-service site with all of our services being offered and integrating into the needs of the population in that area. We always like to get to know the community and those that we serve and make certain that we can meet the needs of the specific communities we’re in.” LOOKING FOR A JOB?
The organization also is hosting a hiring event for various positions in the healthcare field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at 13275 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden. Candidates can participate in on-site interviews for positions that include family physician, pediatrician, optometrist, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, medical assistant, lab assistant and dental hygienist. “We continue to be mindful of the needs of our workforce throughout the different generations,” Andree said. “(We) want to tailor our work environment to ensure a happy workforce that can focus on the patient.” For a list of open positions and to apply, visit chcfl.org/jobs.
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Monday-Thursday 8-6:30 Friday 8-5:30 Saturday 9-1
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7635 Ashley Park Court, Suite 501 Orlando, FL 32835 407.297.0080 www.windermerepediatrics.org
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Four Corners Community Health Center is set to open soon.
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HEALTH MATTERS
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OrangeObserver.com
FEBRUARY 2020
Here they grow again ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER
Orlando Health’s Dr. P. Phillips Hospital has unveiled a major upgrade this month. Hospital officials on Feb. 7 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the expansion of the fifth floor at the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital. The expansion adds 48 private rooms to the 237-bed hospital, and the cost of construction is about $15 million. With its location in Southwest Orange County near residential areas and tourism hot spots, the hospital serves patients both from the local community, as well as visitors from across the country and around the world. “It’s increasing our capacity by about 20%, which is really significant,” said Thibaut van Marcke, president of Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and senior vice president of Orlando Health. “As we’ve enjoyed a lot of growth, at the same time, we are oftentimes running at or near full occupancy, so this will allow us to continue to support the growth of not only the Dr. Phillips area and West Orange County but also the tourism population. … This better allows us to meet the needs of
our patients — both who live here as well as those who travel to the area.” The expansion, which began in June 2019, includes repurposing an existing shell space on the fifth floor of the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital. The shell space was constructed in anticipation of an expansion and was used as storage before it was repurposed. The additional space for patients totals 42,000 square feet and will serve as the new home for surgical patients, van Marcke said. “It was pre-planned as shell space back then to allow for easier expansion,” van Marcke said. “The space was left, essentially, as a shell (before) with the idea that as the community was going to continue to grow, we would need the space and it is always easier and more cost effective to build a shell versus going vertical and adding new floors or new towers. Until we decided to build it out, for about 10 years it was empty shell space. We used it as storage, predominantly, so once we made the decision to go ahead and fund the expansion we were able to get going on it pretty quickly. The extra space not only adds more private rooms to the hospital and expands its capacity, but it also includes a family lounge area as well as room hospital officials affectionately call “Joint Camp.” “Many of the rooms face Big Sand Lake and those areas west of us,” van Marcke said. “Some of our views (from the new rooms) will have a view of the Disney
Orlando Health officials cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the new space at the fifth floor of Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.
fireworks and whatnot, but really we’ve added some special features in there to make it as convenient for our patients and their families who are recovering from surgery. “Within the space there’s (a) really neat room … (that) we call Joint Camp,” van Marcke said. “Joint Camp is the place where we do all of our pre- and postoperative education for patients that come in to get their knees and their hips replaced. It’s really a gathering place that’s at the front and center of the unit that allows for that education to occur.” In addition to the Joint Camp room, the space also includes a room used as a physical therapy area for patients. This room is equipped with physical therapy equipment, rubber floors and mirrors so recovering patients can see themselves as they progress through therapy sessions.
Photos by Eric Gutierrez
The new space at the Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital adds 48 new rooms to the facility’s existing 237 beds
“Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital has seen tremendous growth, particularly over the last two years with significant increases in surgeries and hospital admissions,” van Marcke said.
“This expansion is in response to the ongoing growth in southwest Orlando and in the tourism industry. The additional patient rooms will allow us to better meet those needs.”
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An expansion will add 48 private rooms Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.
HEALTH MATTERS
OrangeObserver.com
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FEBRUARY 2020
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Orlando Health expands Virtual Visits system Patients can connect with a doctor using a smartphone, tablet or computer to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan for non-emergency symptoms. STAFF WRITER
A digital tool offered by Orlando Health has made doctors visits a little more convenient. Adult patients seeking out convenient, quality care now have 24-hour access to certified physicians through the expansion of Orlando Health’s Virtual Visit system. Patients suffering from non-emergency symptoms, such as a rash, pink eye, or sore throat and cough, can receive care anytime and anywhere through the Orlando Health Virtual Visit app. “Our Orlando Health Virtual Visit program is an online 24/7, 365 … virtual urgent care,” said Jonathan Baker-McBride, who is the corporate manager of telehealth, telecare and remotepatient monitoring at Orlando Health. “Patients are able to connect to it any time of day. (They’ll) fill in any basic intake information and all the sort of stuff you would do if you went to your doctor’s office (such as) height, weight, medications you’re on (and) health conditions.” By using a smartphone, tablet or computer, patients can connect with a doctor in real time to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan. Those who use the Virtual Visit system will be able to connect with a doctor and receive their diagnosis and treatment
plan in a fraction of the time it would take for a traditional doctors visit. Additionally, required prescriptions can be sent to a patient’s local pharmacy for pick up. “You’re able to (see a doctor) in a relatively short period of time — we usually have less than a 10-minute wait time,” Baker-McBride said. “It’s kind of designed for — what we would say to be — low-acuity conditions, so things that may not necessarily require a test or a physical examination. That extends out to cold and flu symptoms, nausea, stomach aches and things along those lines. … You can choose between a video and a phone call. We recommend doing a video call, because there’s a lot more that can be garnered by taking a look at the patient and their condition as opposed to describing it over the phone.” Previously, Orlando Health’s Virtual Visit system only was accessible to Orlando Health employees and parents of pediatric patients seeking treatment. Now that the system has been released to the general public, everyone has access to Orlando Health’s most convenient service offering. At a flat-rate cost of $49 per visit for those with and without insurance, using the Virtual Visit system can be a more costefficient alternative than a trip to
LEARN MORE
For more information about the Virtual Visit system visit, OrlandoHealth.com/ Virtualvisit.
an urgent care facility or emergency room, Baker-McBride said. “We see it as (an) expansion of how we deliver care out into the community,” Baker-McBride said. “We have a very wide and very comprehensive network of primary care physicians and specialists coupled with urgent care and our emergency rooms, but there’s still a gap in coverage. Providing access to patients is really what health care has needed. It’s more access and more avenues to
get the care they need when they need it.” “Orlando Health is committed to doing all we can to provide the best care to our patients,” said Greg Ohe, who is the senior vice president of ambulatory services at Orlando Health. “This commitment requires us to have as many touch points available as possible, so that patients can access quality health care when needed. The expansion of Orlando Health Virtual Visit represents another expansion of our efforts to create a robust telemedicine infrastructure and it demonstrates our desire to serve our patients well, anytime and anywhere.”
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ERIC GUTIERREZ
HEALTH MATTERS
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OrangeObserver.com
FEBRUARY 2020
Advertorial
THE LITTLE-KNOWN TEST THAT CAN PREVENT A HEART ATTACK When it comes to tests, credit and sports, high scores triumph. But when it comes to your heart, it’s low numbers for the win. In general, the lower your blood pressure, cholesterol and pulse rates, the better your heart health.
“Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, refers to the buildup of this rigid calcium. A CAC scan pinpoints where the calcium is and measures the amount it sees in the arteries,” says Dr. Mark Steiner. He’s an interventional cardiologist with the Orlando Health Heart Institute Cardiology Group, which has offices on the campus of Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital. The resulting CAC score can be a crucial indicator of coronary artery disease before other symptoms occur. “If we can identify plaque and calcium deposits before someone has a heart attack, we can effectively begin aggressive treatment with statins, aspirin and diet,” says Dr. Steiner.
Keeping Score The CAC score is calculated using a specialized CT scan. Scores range from 0 to more than 400. “You want the lowest score possible,” says Dr. Steiner.
“Higher scores translate to more calcium, putting you at a greater risk of a cardiac event. Above 400, there is danger of significant blockage.” A score of zero means no calcium is seen in the heart and the probability of having a heart attack in the next five years is low. Scores of 100 to 300 indicate moderate plaque deposits. Those already at risk for heart disease who score above 100 are more likely to have a heart attack.
Taking the Test
Who’s a Candidate? If you are 40 years old or older and have any of these risk factors, ask your doctor about scheduling a CAC scan.
Family History of Heart Disease High Cholesterol Levels High Blood Pressure
This simple, cost-effective scan allows doctors to identify patients with coronary blockage earlier, especially those with no other visual symptoms.
Diabetes
CAC scores are calculated by a quick, noninvasive test that doesn’t require dye injection, removing all your clothes or even seeing a cardiologist. “Your primary care physician can order this test for you,” says Dr. Steiner. “It takes about 30 seconds to perform, there is minimal radiation and the test provides a lot of good information quickly.”
Inactive Lifestyle
If test results show calcium and plaque buildup, says Dr. Steiner, “we will work with the patient to stabilize the plaque and treat the risk factors.”
Past or Present Smoker Overweight If you already have suffered a heart attack, have coronary stents or are pregnant, you are not considered a candidate for a CAC screening. For more information, visit OrlandoHealth.com/HealthyHeart. 328216-1
The same holds true for the latest need-to-know number — your coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Relatively new, the CAC score is the number you need to know but probably haven’t heard about. The CAC measures the amount of calcium deposited with plaque in the walls of the heart’s arteries. Once there, the calcium can harden, further restricting or even cutting off blood flow to the heart.
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