Maria Parham Medical Center - Healthbeat - May 1, 2012

A1 HB 1Q12 6-TABA1 HEALTHBEAT 2Q12 6TAB

Maria Parham HealthbeatA publication of Maria Parham Medical Center and The Daily Dispatch May 1, 2012

“ A f a s c i n a t i n g experience,” was the enthusiastic answer given by Judi Seekins when asked about her encounter with tele-medicine at Maria Par-ham. Telemedicine is a rapidly growing tele-communication tool that allows remote, two-way contact between a physician and a patient. Physicians are able to assess a patient’s health via both video and audio, through face-to face contact and diag-nostic monitoring. Tele-medicine is not a new concept, but is quickly ga in ing popular i ty because of its benefits.

Telemedicine began in the form of a ‘tele-hospitalist’ at Maria Parham Medical Center in the middle of Febru-ary. It is currently used in the inpatient hospi-talist realm, but it has much more far-reach-ing applications. Hos-pitalists are physicians that care for patients only while they are in the hospital. Dr. Mar-tin Deal, the medical

director for the Hospi-talist Program at Maria Parham says, “When I first star ted consid-er ing te lemedic ine for our patients here, I was ver y skeptical. But, the more I began hearing about how well it worked in other hospitals and actually seeing the technology in action, the more I began to believe that it could work well here. Now that our program is off the ground, we’re seeing first-hand the benefits of this technol-ogy to our patients.” He continues, “It’s easy to see how telemedi-cine could be used to bring other specialties and services to Maria Parham that have been dif ficult for us to pro-vide to the community before. It’s pretty excit-ing to consider what’s possible.”

InTouch Health pro-vides the telehospital-ist equipment used at Maria Parham. The RP-7 Remote Presence

see technology/page 2

Maria Parham adds exciting new

technology to patient care

The Hospitalist pro-gram of fers medica l doctors who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of hospital -ized patients and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.

Hospitalist FAQs What is a hospital-

ist? — A hospitalist is a medical doctor who specializes in caring for hospital ized patients. They are trained in gen-eral internal medicine and other medical spe-cialties. Because they do not maintain outside clinics, they can focus their attention on your medical care inside the hospital.

What are the ben-efits of having a Hos-pitalist? — Your hospi-talist specializes in the kinds of medical con-ditions that need to be treated in the hospital. Because the hospitalist does not have any out-side clinic, he or she has added knowledge of other depar tments and specialties and are very accessible to hospi-tal nursing staf f. These specialists can help to speed your recover y and shor ten your hos-pital stay by following

up on tests and adjust-ing your treatment plan thr oughout the day. They have systems in place to communicate with your family and your primar y care doc-tor as needed, especially at the time of admission and discharge.

Why might I see several Hospitalists phys i c i ans dur ing my hospital stay? —

Hospitalists are a small group of specialists who cover admitted hospital patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Because no one person could do this on their own, they work as a team. This may result in you see-ing more than one of them during your stay at Maria Parham.

What is the rela-

tionship between the Hospitalists and my pr imar y care doc -tor? — The hospital -ist par tners with your primar y care doctor to administer and oversee your treatment while you are in the hospital, serving as your regular doctor until you are dis-charged. The specialist

see hospitalists/page 2

Pictured is Maria Parham’s new “telehospitalist” service in action. Dana Giarrizzi, MD (in the monitor) has a discussion with the patient while Tina Hope, RN, assists.

Hospitalist program

2 The Daily DispaTch HealthBeat TuesDay, May 1, 2012

fRoM page 1

Robotic System, in its simplest terms, is a high-ly technical mobile com-puter. It enables interac-tive healthcare between the doctor, the nurse and the patient by using state of the art technology and telecommunications. The system is transported to a patient’s bedside, where a nurse logs on. The doc-tor, nurse and patient are then connected over live video and sound. The doc-tor is able to see and hear the patient on his or her end, and likewise for the patient. The computer also features a multi zoom lens that the doctor can focus on a particular part of the patient’s body, enabling them to examine a patient very closely. There is also a stethoscope attached to the equipment, which the nurse can use to monitor vital signs. The physician is able to hear the patient’s heartbeat, for example, on his end and make deter-minations on the patient’s health.

So far, nearly three dozen patients have been a part of the telemedicine experience at Maria Par-ham, and nearly every one

of them has received it favorably. Theresa Barn-hill, the first patient to be admitted to Maria Parham with the telehospitalist, thought it was ‘unusual’ but had a ‘very positive’ encounter and was proud to be able to say that she was the first to have used it here. She gave the expe-rience very high marks when asked to rate it. While the concept is very innovative, it is also a little

daunting. Patients who are used to speaking with a doctor who is physically in the room with them may feel a little apprehensive speaking with someone in another location using the computer. However, there is always a nurse present with the patient during the telemedicine interaction.

Telemedicine is not intended to replace health-care professionals, nor the personal touch they

provide. On the contrary, it is used to enhance and extend their reach, by reducing time and dis-tance barriers for the patient. Telemedicine has many benefits—one of these is increased access to healthcare for patients. Providers or specialists that may not have been available without traveling long distances are instant-ly ‘closer’, reducing travel time and related stresses to the patient. Telemedi-cine has also been proven to lower or help contain healthcare costs—through fewer or shorter hospital stays, better management of chronic diseases, and shared health professional staffing.

Seekins, while finding

her telehospitalist experi-ence ‘fascinating’, also mentioned that she was very satisfied with the amount of time the doc-tor spent with her. She felt she had a very thorough exam with the physician, even though he was actu-ally in South Carolina. “I was very impressed, it was obvious that he had read all my medical history and you could tell that I had his

undivided attention,” she explains.

When asked if she was apprehensive at all about the experience going into it, she laughed and shrugged her shoulders.

“No, I love anything new.” she said.

It sounds like the mix of technology, innovation and good quality medical care was ‘just what the doctor ordered’ for Seekins.

A2 HEALTHBEAT

Exercise does help. In a decades-long study of Har vard graduates, it has been shown that people who exercise r e g u l a r l y h a v e l e s s obesity, osteoporosis, hyper tens ion , and a longer life expectancy.

I t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h e l p t o become obsessed with

a cer tain activity, such as r unning, for a few months or years and then quit, or go skiing a couple t imes each w i n t e r. To b e m o s t useful, exercise does not have to be extremely vigorous, but it must be done on a regular basis. Walking is one of the best exercises for this.

Walking has many a d v a n t a g e s . I t d o e s not require any special equipment other than good shoes, and it does not require any special buildings or fields. It can be done anywhere and can be incorporated into a person’s dai ly activities of getting the mail or going to work.

Virtually anyone can do it.

Even in the winter it can be a good exercise. When it is too cold or icy outside, a person can walk in shopping malls, up and down stair ways or do volunteer work in hospita ls , nursing homes, or in community projects. Walking can

also be a good star ter p r o g r a m f o r m o r e vigorous sports such as running, swimming, or tennis.

I n j u r i e s a r e uncommon with walking and the exercise keeps the bones strong by helping prevent the loss of calcium associated with aging.

Wa l k i n g d o e s n o t bur n qu i te as many ca lor ies per mi le as r unning, but it is still an excellent way to help reduce your weight . The weight loss and cardiac benefits can be fur ther increased by vigorous arm-swinging or carr ying small hand weights.

Looking for a simple, routine form of exercise? Let’s take a walk

The RP-7 Remote Presence Robotic System, in its simplest terms, is a highly technical mobile computer. It enables interactive healthcare between the doctor, the nurse and the patient by using state of the art technology and telecommunications

fRoM page 1

will see you daily and manage your conditions, contacting your primary care doctor as appro-priate and at the time of discharge. When you are discharged you will return to your regular doctor to continue the care plan coordinated between your primary care provider and the hospitalist.

Can the Hospitalist become my pri-mary care provider? — No. Patients retain their primary care provider and return to their regular caregiver after their release from the hospital. The hospitalists’ time is dedicated to inpatients and they do not have outside clin-ics. If you do not have a primary care provider, the hospitalist or other hospital staff can assist you in finding a doctor and the records from your hospital stay can be sent to that provider.

Technology

hoSPITalISTS

The Daily DispaTch HealthBeat TuesDay, May 1, 2012 3A3 HEALTHBEAT

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Car seats save infants’ lives. And the lives of young children too, if they are used correctly. Statistics show that there is a dramatic decrease in deaths from accidents w h e n c h i l d r e n u s e well-designed car seats and proper restraints.

Chi ldren aged 4 -6 have not fared as well as infants because parents are less likely to use proper seat belt restraints at this age. The adult-size seat belts do not protect these young children as effectively as they do adults. Also at this age, children are becoming more independent, but using a proper restraint in the car is not one of the

choices that is negotiable. Infants and young

children suf fer more severe injuries from the trauma of car accidents, even when the accidents appear to be minor. Their heads are proportionately h e a v y c o m p a r e d t o their bodies and can b e b o u n c e d a r o u n d uncontrollably on their small, weak necks. This resul ts in increased in jur ies to both the head and neck. Air bags can also contribute to increased risk to infants and young children if the children are not properly restrained. The risk of airbags comes both from the direct impact of the air bag and also from the

head bouncing back and for th on a weak neck after the impact.

Children should be placed in the back seat of a car if at all possible, and always in a car seat or wearing a seat belt. The back seat is the safest place in case of an accident. It also avoids the risk of injuries from air bags.

Infant car seats should be facing backwards to work properly. This gives

the greatest protection against injuries to the head, neck, and chest. Always buy the correct equ ipment fo r your children and take the time to learn the proper way to use it. It can save their lives.

For more information about car seats and if find out when the next safety check is in our area, go to the Safe Kids website at www.hendersonvanc-esafekids.org.

Car seats save the lives of infants, children

left: Infants and young children suffer more severe inju-ries from the trauma of car accidents, even when the acci-dents appear to be minor. Their heads are proportionately heavy compared to their bodies and can be bounced around uncontrollably on their small, weak necks. This results in increased injuries to both the head and neck.


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W h e n a w o m a n becomes pregnant she usually decides that it is time to improve her diet. This is impor tant because she tr uly is “eating for two,” but it is even better to begin a nutritious diet long b e f o r e t h e b a b y i s conceived.

The hea l th o f the baby depends on the nu t r i t i on he or she receives before bir th and also on the health of the mother. Good n u t r i t i o n w i l l h e l p the mother fend o f f infections and prevent other illnesses during her pregnancy.

Good nutrition during p r e g n a n c y r e q u i r e s eating proper amounts of food from the four food groups — milk and dairy; meats; fruits and vegetables; and grains and cereals.

To g e t t h e m o s t nutrition out of the extra 300 calories per day a pregnant woman needs, s h e m u s t e l i m i n a t e f o o d s w i t h e m p t y calories such as cookies and soft drinks. Alcohol should also be avoided.

Increased amounts of vitamins and protein a r e n e e d e d d u r i n g pr egnancy, but they can be obtained in a

balanced diet. Calcium must also be increased t o a b o u t 1 5 0 0 m g . per day. This can be obtained by drinking f ive glasses of mi lk,

which is also a ver y good source of protein.

O n l y a c o u p l e nutrients need to be supplemented during pregnancy. A woman’s

blood volume increases s i g n i f i c a n t l y d u r i n g pregnancy, so extra iron is useful in preventing anemia . The v i tamin that is most impor tant to supplement is folic a c i d . D o c t o r s n o w know that this vitamin prevents bir th defects o f t h e b r a i n a n d s p i n a l c o r d . A l m o s t all other vitamins and minerals are abundant i n a b a l a n c e d d i e t and do not need to be

supplemented.If you discover that

you are pregnant or if you ar e cons ider ing h a v i n g a b a b y, y o u shou ld t a lk to your physician or visit with a doctor who specializes in obstetrics. For help finding a doctor in this our area , ca l l Maria Parham Medical Center at (252) 436-1800 or visit www.mariaparham.com for a listing of medical providers.

Balancing your nutritional intake before, during pregnancy

left: Good nutrition during pregnancy requires eating proper amounts of food from the four food groups — milk and dairy; meats; fruits and vegetables; and grains and cereals. salads, depending on the individual ingredients, can potentially contain all of these.


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Many people wonder: When and how often should I have a blood sugar tes t done to screen for diabetes? How significant is having a relative with diabetes? What i f a person is overweight?

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses in adults. It can also be present for many years without causing symptoms. These reasons make it an excellent disease to screen for. Poor control of the blood sugar in the years before diabetes is diagnosed can lead to irreversible damage to the kidneys, eyes, hear t and blood vessels.

The inc idence o f diabetes increases with age; the adult form is uncommon before age 40, but becomes quite common in older age groups.

In young people with no symptoms, a test every couple years may be appropriate. In older people, it is wise to check the blood sugar at least once a year, especially if a person is overweight or if there is a family history of diabetes.

I f y o u h a v e a n y symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, blur red vision, fatigue or a dry mouth, the blood sugar should be checked promptly. If it is normal, it should be repeated in a few days or weeks; the blood sugar is constantly changing and may have been drawn at a time it was in the normal range. Likewise, a single abnormal test does not prove that you have

diabetes and it too must be evaluated further.

The best time to check the blood sugar is in the morning after fasting twelve hours.

F o r i n f o r m a t i o n regarding diabetes, visit The American Diabetes Association’s website at www.diabetes.org or talk to your doctor.

M a r i a P a r h a m M e d i c a l C e n t e r i s p l e a s e d t o o f f e r a comprehensive diabetes program approved by The American Diabetes Association. Physician refer ral is required. The program includes both indiv idual and group class education. Components include dietar y infor mat ion, blood sugar monitoring, high and low blood sugars, sick day care, managing complications of diabetes, dealing with stress, goal setting and problem solving. The program includes one individual dietar y visit

and two 4-hour group classes. The cost of the program is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. For more information, call at (252) 436-1129.

When to check for diabetes

A diabetes finger stick

Many people think that depression is having the “blues” because of a death in the family, a failure in one’s life or even just a weakness in a person’s character. Actually, depression is largely determined by chemicals in the brain. When these chemicals that help the brain cells function properly become depleted, a person will develop depression. It is a medical disease and it can happen to any of us.

Just as in diabetes where shots can be given to replace the insulin that is lacking, depression can be treated with medicines that help restore the level of the chemicals that the brain requires, such as norepinephrine

and serotonin.Antidepressant

medicines also have side effects which can be put to good use in a person who has depression. One of the most common symptoms with depression is poor sleep. A person often falls asleep fine, but may awaken a few hours later, only to toss and turn until morning.

Most of the antidepressant medicines will quickly restore a good night’s sleep, and this alone makes most people feel better even before the medicine has had a chance to correct the underlying chemical imbalance.

The newer antidepressants are very effective, but they have a

few side effects including nausea, headache and loss of libido. However, these medicines are very safe. They are the safest choice and carry very little risk of harm from an overdose.

The medicines may be needed for only a few months, or they may be needed on a long-term basis. But they should be used when the need arises. Depression can — and should — be treated.

If you or someone you care for has signs of depression, you should consult with a physician. For help finding a doctor in this our area, call Maria Parham Medical Center at (252) 436-1800 or visit www.mariaparham.com for a listing of medical providers.

Depression: Does it seem like you’re running on empty?


A6 HEALTHBEAT

Cataracts are opacities in the lenses of the eyes that prevent light from passing through. This results in a loss of the brilliancy of colors, a generalized darkening of one’s vision, and eventually loss of vision.

C a t a r a c t s a r e s o common they can almost be considered a normal sign of aging. Virtually anyone who lives long enough will develop them. But just what causes cataracts or brings them on at an earlier age, is not known for sure. Presently, ophthalmologists believe that lifelong exposure to ultraviolet light outdoors is

the most significant factor. The ultraviolet light can also come from man-made sources.

There are numerous other factors which may play a role for cer tain people. Injuries to the eye are a cause in some people and often result in cataracts at an early age.

Cortisones and cancer drugs may contribute to formation of cataracts. Use of these and a few other uncommon medicines may necessitate regular exams by your ophthalmologist.

Cataracts are also more common in people who have diabetes or a family history of cataracts. Infants

can be born with cataracts caused by rubella and other viral infections which had occurred before birth.

Whatever the cause, the result is basically the same. The crystal clear cells of the lens become cloudy and opaque and vision is lost. The visual impairment may var y from minor difficulty with needlework and reading to complete loss of useful vision.

Cataracts are treated by outpatient surger y which takes less than an hour. Only the eye is

anesthetized and unless there are other eye problems, the vision is restored in 98-99 percent of people.

Talk to your family physician about cataracts. You may also consider seeing an ophthalmologist, medica l doctor who specializes in eye-related issues. For a list of family physicians or ophthalmolo-gists in the area, check out Physician Finder on www.mariaparham.com or call (252) 436-1800 to request a Physicians Directory.

What exactly causes cataracts?

left: Virtually anyone who lives long enough will develop cataracts. But just what causes them or brings them on at an earlier age, is not known for sure.


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Bleeding from the gut is a frightening experience and rightly so: it can be ver y dangerous. The bleeding can be brisk enough to cause a person to become light-headed or even pass out. Indeed, a person can lose several units of blood before the bleeding becomes apparent.

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract can have several different causes. The best known is bleeding ulcers. These occur when an ulcer erodes into a blood vessel in the wall of the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is often brisk and may need surger y. Fortunately, today’s ulcer medicines have decreased the incidence of this illness significantly. Other bleeding from high in the GI tract can be from stomach cancers or dilated veins in the esophagus. Most other GI bleeds originate in the colon, either from cancers or blood vessels entering diverticula. There can also be abnormal clusters of

blood vessels in the bowel wall which bleed.

When the bleeding comes from the colon, it will be bright red, while blood from an ulcer in the stomach will be dark or black due to the action of the acid in the stomach. Any bleeding from the GI tract, whether it’s passing blood in the stool or vomiting blood, needs immediate medical care. Your doctor will need to check your blood count, pulse and blood pressure. Intravenous fluids are used to support the blood pressure until the problem has been corrected. Blood transfusions can be used if necessary.

It is important that you treat any suspected GI bleed with the seriousness it deserves. See your doctor immediately if you suspect a problem. If necessary, you can also go to Maria Parham’s Emergency Depar tment where you can be checked out by physicians specially trained in emergency medicine.

Gastrointestinal bleeding should never

be taking lightly

Osteoporosis is called a silent disease because many people don’t know they have it until they break a bone after a fall or other injur y. There are really no symptoms o r p a i n a s s o c i a t e d with the disease itself. O s t e o p o r o s i s i s a condition in which the bones become weak or porous. Until about age 30, people, for the most par t, gain more bone density than they lose. As the body begins to age, the bone loss surpasses the amount gained. Once you lose a certain amount of bone, you ar e cons ider ed having osteoporosis.

Osteopenia is not a disease, just a condition that describes low bone density. Being diagnosed with it requires keeping a close eye on your bone strength, usually through a test called bone scan. Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis if not treated.

B o n e d e n s i t y i s a f f e c t e d b y m a n y f a c t o r s — a g e , g e n e t i c s , s m o k i n g , l o w b o d y w e i g h t , s o m e m e d i c a t i o n s , and even some other medical conditions like hypothyroidism, cancer, m u l t i p l e s c l e r o s i s , o r e n d o m e t r i o s i s . P o s t m e n o p a u s a l

women are especially at r isk. Estrogen is v e r y i m p o r t a n t i n maintaining a woman’s bone dens i ty—af ter menopause, estrogen levels drop and bone loss occurs more quickly.

T h e r e a r e s o m e things that you can do to prevent osteoporosis or slow the rate of bone loss if you already have it.

• Eat a balanced diet, rich in calcium and vitamin D

• E n g a g e i n weight-bearing exercise

• L ive a hea l thy lifestyle with no smoking a n d o n l y m o d e r a t e alcohol intake

• H a v e b o n e dens i ty tes t ing and take medications for increasing bone density, if appropriate.

See your medica l doctor if you have any questions about these c o n d i t i o n s . M a r i a P a r h a m ’ s Wo m e n ’ s D i a g n o s t i c C e n t e r provides mammograms, u l t rasounds , b r eas t b i o p s i e s , b o n e density scanning and information on women’s health. Talk to your doctor about sending y o u t o t h e M a r i a P a r h a m ’ s Wo m e n ’ s Diagnostic Center i f you need a bone density screening.

Osteopenia: a prelude to OsteoporosisBone density is affected by many factors—age, genetics, smoking, low body weight, some medications, and even some other medical conditions like hypothyroidism, cancer, multiple sclerosis or endometriosis.


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It’s usually your wife or a friend that suggests it: “You need a hearing a i d . ” T h e y a r e t h e ones who get tired of repeating things for you. It may be okay to repeat things in a conversation, bu t dur ing a mov ie or meeting, having to ask what was just said is distracting to both persons, and both miss what happens next.

How do you know if you need a hearing aid? The question you perhaps should ask is, “How do I know if I’d benefit from a hearing a id?” In contras t to treating hypertension or diabetes, treating poor

hearing is impor tant m o r e f o r y o u r o w n c o n v e n i e n c e a n d enjoyment of life than for medical reasons. Social s i tua t ions ar e much more fun if you can hear the conversation.

Poor hearing usually c r e e p s u p o n y o u allowing you to become a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e change. Unless you have occasional hearing tests, you may be surprised at how much hearing loss has occur red. These t e s t s a r e e s p e c i a l l y impor tant i f you are exposed to noise at work or with your hobbies.

T h e a p p r o p r i a t e way to evaluate your

hearing is by formal hearing tests. This way, you can find out exactly how much hearing you have lost and also find out how many words you have trouble with because some sounds of speech are softer than others, causing similar words to be confused, such as “whi te” for “wife” or “wise.”

Once you know if you have a hearing loss, your doctor can advise you about the improvement you can expect with a hearing aid, and then you can dec ide i f a hearing aid is right for you.

You physician may

be able to per form a hearing teat or refer you to an audiologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing irregularities. To obtain a list of physicians or audiologists in the area, you can check out the “Find a Physician” s e c t i o n o f M a r i a Parham’s websi te — www.mariaparham.com.

Should you consider a hearing aid?

Right: Poor hearing usually creeps up on you, allowing you to become accus-tomed to the change. Unless you have occasional hearing tests, you may be surprised at how much hearing loss has occurred.

The Daily DispaTch HealthBeat TuesDay, May 1, 2012

A9 HEALTHBEAT

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We like to think of the gut as a one-way street, but all too often it isn’t. One of the most common, but frequently o v e r l o o k e d , c a u s e s of a wide var iety o f symptoms is reflux — the seepage of acid and food from the stomach back into the esophagus.

The esophagus is not designed to handle the stomach’s strong acid and many undesireable s y m p t o m s o c c u r . Somet imes they ar e symptoms that neither you nor your doctor ever suspects are due to reflux.

It is well known that a person may have a sour taste in the mouth in the mor ning from reflux during sleep. So it should be no surprise tha t a chr on ic sor e throat can be due to reflux.

A c h r o n i c c o u g h c a n o c c u r b e c a u s e the i r r i ta t ion in the

esophagus stimulates the vagus ner ve which l e a d s t o c o u g h i n g . This pathway can also lead to asthma, either through the vagal nerve o r b y t i n y d r o p l e t s o f ac id ge t t ing in to the windpipe causing an intense spasm of coughs.

Episodes of asthma that occur suddenly at night are par ticularly likely to be due to reflux. In children, the sudden o n s e t o f c r o u p - l i k e symptoms is frequently d u e t o r e f l u x , b u t mis-diagnosed as croup.

T h e v o c a l c o r d s can also be damaged, resulting in hoarseness a n d c h r o n i c t h r o a t clearing.

All these symptoms w i l l i m p r o v e b y preventing the reflux. Also using medicines that prevent acid from forming in the stomach or simply neutralizing t h e a c i d w i l l m a k e

a m a j o r d i f f e r e n c e . Simple things you can do to reduce the reflux include avoiding eating and dr ink ing be for e g o i n g t o b e d a n d avoiding alcohol and tobacco completely.

I f you ar e hav ing trouble with reflux, you should talk with your physician or perhaps go d i r ec t ly to a GI specialist, a physician w h o s p e c i a l i z e s i n issues such as reflux. F o r h e l p f i n d i n g a doctor in this our area, c a l l M a r i a P a r h a m Medical Center at (252) 436-1800 or visit www.mariaparham.com for a l i s t ing o f medica l providers.

Maria Parham also o f f e r s a h e a r t b u r n treatment center that specializes in conditions like reflux. Go to www.m a r i a p a r h a m . c o m /GERD to lear n more about the Hear tbur n Treatment center.

A multitude of problems associated with reflux


A10 HEALTHBEAT

��(252) 433-0430

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Henderson, NC

General & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Northern Carolina Surgical Associates is a general surgical practice that provides consultative and operative services in the areas of General, Advanced Laparoscopic, Breast and Oncology-�� advanced training in various specialty areas. Each doctor is dedicated to providing you the very highest level of quality healthcare.

Cynthia Robinson, MDRobert F. Noel, Jr., MD

W h e n y o u r h a n d goes to sleep and feels “funny” it may mean that a ner ve to the hand is being compressed as it passes through the wrist. Here, the nerve has to go through a narrow “tunnel” which can easily get too tight for the nerve, thus causing carpal tunnel syndrome. This is more common in women than men and f r equent ly affects both hands.

The earliest symptoms often occur at night. The thumb and f irst two fingers of the hand become painful and numb.

A person often gets relief by rubbing or shaking the hand or hanging it over the side of the bed.

The pain is o f ten brought on by repetitive movements of the wrist or fingers. This repetitive trauma or over use of the wr is t commonly occurs with certain types of factor y work. Also, having the wrist cocked back, as in driving a car or writing on a blackboard, frequently makes it worse.

The pain can radiate up the forearm and even to the shoulder, making the diagnosis more difficult.

In more severe cases, the thumb will become weak, and the muscles can even wither away at the base of the thumb.

T h e d i a g n o s i s i s confirmed by a ner ve conduction test called an EMG. Occasionally, X-rays are taken since old fractures, ar thritis and other diseases can contribute to the problem.

Often, carpal tunnel syndrome will improve with medical treatment including anti-inflamma-tory medicines, cortisone injections, wrist braces, and a change in work or

activities. If these do not help, it can be treated with surger y that opens the area that is compressing the nerve and removes some of the thickened tissue. This is a relatively simple procedure and gives almost immediate relief.

Speak to your doctor to learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome. If you do not have a doctor or are looking for a specialist, go to www.mariaparham.c o m a n d c l i c k o n Physician Finder to locate the doctor who is right for you.

caRPal Tunnel SyndRome

Pain, with just a flick of the wrist

The Daily DispaTch HealthBeat TuesDay, May 1, 2012 11

Maria Parham Regional Home Health (MPRHH), located within Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson, is a licensed and Medicare Certified Home Health Agency. They are accredited by The Joint Commission, which means that their services have met or exceeded set standards of care. The staff of very qualified healthcare professionals real ize that the independence of pat ients who are homebound or not very mobi le is extremely important. Home Health Ser vices enable one to remain at home, with their loved ones and friends, during an illness and recuperation.

Each patient’s home pr ov ides them wi th

comfor t , safety, and familiar surroundings. In addition to this benefit, home care offers a cost savings of 35-50 percent over hospitalization or nursing home confinement and, in most instances, allows patients to be discharged earlier from the hospital setting. In general, clients will recover more quickly at home in familiar surroundings. MPRHH staff realize that this choice to be able to receive care in the home is a ver y important one. Their goal is to knit together a caring relationship between the patient, their family, their other health care providers and the agency.

Maria Parham Regional Home Health was begun in May of 1997 as part of

an ongoing effort to better meet the needs of our community. They will have served over 5000 patients in Vance, Granvi l le , Franklin and War ren counties since they were established.

The agency offers an array of services to the community. Nursing care is available to those in need of acute care such as IV therapy and wound care, as well as dealing with chronic disease processes and terminal illness by providing end of life care. In-Home Aide services are provided to clients in need of personal care, home management tasks, or assistance with daily living activities. Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy services

are offered for individuals who need evaluations or rehabilitative services in their home. Medical Social Services are available to patients and their families to enable them to cope with crisis that often accompany an illness. These services i n c l u d e c o u n s e l i n g , assistance with financial aid and referrals to community resources. Other services i n c l u d e n u t r i t i o n , enterostomal therapy, supplies, and assistance obtaining durable medical equipment.

All services are under the management of the patient’s physician. The home health team works

closely with the physician to develop a plan of care that is specific for the needs of the patient. They communicate regularly with the doctor and their office to keep them updated with the progress or issues that the team is monitoring.

Services may be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, or self pay. The staff follows guidelines required by the payor in order to provide care. A person does not have to be a patient at Maria Parham Medical Center in order to receive care as patients may have been seen at other hospitals, or may not have

ever been hospitalized. Ser vices are provided seven days a week, and a 24 hour on call service is available by a registered nurse.

The Maria Parham Regional Home Health staff has over 165 years of combined home health experience and over 339 years of experience as professionals. If you would like more information about Maria Parham Regional Home Health, call them at (252) 431-3708. The staf f will be happy to discuss their services or provide information about care in the home for someone.

A11 HEALTHBEAT

DANIEL BERNSTEIN, M.D. CYNTHIA A. HAMPTON, M.D.Four County Eye Associates

Office Hours By Appointment

(252) 492-8021800-331-6744

www.fourcountyeyeassociates.medem.com

Henderson Professional Plaza451 Ruin Creek Road, Suite 204

Henderson, NC 27536

No Stitch Cataract Surgery:Laser Surgery: Medical and

Surgical Treatment ofGlaucoma and Diabetic

Eye Diseases:Muscle and Eyelid Surgery.

Comprehensive OphthalmologyRoutine Adult and Pediatric

Exams/Glasses andContact Lenses

Henderson, NC 27536Phone: 252-492-2161

Warrenton, NC 27589Phone: 252-257-6213

Louisburg, NC 27549Phone: 919-340-0283

J.E. Kenny, MDF.C. Aniekwensi, MD

S.E. Reed, PA-CW.M. Davis, PA-C

L.A. Tharrington, MSN, ANP-CElsa Bagnulo, NP

Beckford Medical Centers

maRIa PaRham RegIonal home healTh

An excellent choice for home care services

Maria Parham Medical Center - Healthbeat - May 1, 2012

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