Notable nursing - SRMC · Notable nursing Southeastern Health is nationally recognized for nursing...
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F A L L 2 0 14
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Notable nursing
Southeastern Health is nationally recognized
for nursing care
Get reliefCHRONIC PAIN CAN
BE A PUZZLE—WE CAN HELP YOU SOLVE IT
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Fall 2014, Issue 3
HEALTHWISE is published quarterly as a community service for the friends of SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH.
300 W. 27th St.Lumberton, NC 28358
910-671-5000
www.southeasternhealth.org
SOUTHEASTERN HEALTHPresident and Chief Executive Offi cerJoann Anderson, MSN, FACHE
Coordinator of Public RelationsAmanda L. Crabtree
2014 Southeastern Health Board of Trustees
Offi cersMichael T. “Bo” Stone, ChairJerry L. Johnson, Vice Chair/Secretary
TrusteesKenny Biggs • Chancellor Kyle Carter • Faye C. Caton • Larry Chavis • Danny Cook • Dennis Hempstead • Randall Jones • Wayland Lennon • Alphonzo McRae Jr. • John C. Rozier Jr., MD • Jan Spell • Joseph R. Thompson • Michael P. Walters • W.C. Washington
Ex offi cioJoann Anderson, MSN, FACHE,
ex offi cio, President and CEODr. Joseph Roberts, ex offi cio, Immediate Past President, Medical StaffDr. Dennis Stuart, ex offi cio, Chair,
Network Operating CouncilCoble D. Wilson Jr., ex offi cio, Chair,
Southeastern Health Foundation
Medical Staff Offi cersBarry E. Williamson, MD, PresidentTerry S. Lowry, MD, President-ElectJoseph E. Roberts, MD, Immediate Past
President Richard Johnson, MD, Chairman,
Department of Medicine David Allen Jr., MD, Chairman,
Department of Surgery
MemberAmerican Hospital Association; NCHA; Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance; Premier, Inc.; The Advisory Board Company
Accredited byThe Joint Commission
Please address all letters to: Southeastern HealthP.O. Box 1408Lumberton, NC 28359
Information in HEALTHWISE comes from a
wide range of medical experts. If you have any
concerns or questions about specifi c content
that may affect your health, please contact
your health care pro vider. Models may be used
in photos and illustrations.
Copyright © 2014
Coffey Communications
HSM30483
Southeastern Health’s Fitness Service department now offers a comprehensive medical referral program for anyone ages 13 and over. A physician referral is required. For more information, call 910-738-5433.
Hip, hip away!People can usually resume driving a car with an automatic
transmission four to eight weeks after having hip replacement
surgery. Putting a plastic bag on the seat makes sliding in and
out easier.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Sized rightWhen shopping for athletic shoes, try
shoes on after a workout or at day’s end,
when feet are largest. Also, wear the type
of socks you’ll use for your activity.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
IT MAY BE tempting to try
something exotic and short-
term for fast weight loss—an
all-kumquat diet, perhaps,
or a one-weekend exercise
marathon.
But it wouldn’t be healthy,
and any weight you lost would
probably be back in a heartbeat.
If you want to lose weight, a
long-term program of healthy
eating and exercise is still the
best method around. It’s not
new, and it may not be the fad
of the moment. For most peo-
ple, however, it works.
What’s on your plate?
A healthy eating plan for weight
loss combines fewer calories
with more nutrition, according
to the National Institutes of
Health (NIH).
You can achieve both with a
diet that:
• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, and low-fat or fat-
free dairy products.
• Includes lean meats, poultry,
fi sh, beans, eggs and nuts.
• Limits saturated fats, trans
fat, cholesterol, salt and added
sugars.
• Controls portion sizes.
You should aim to lose
between 1 and 2 pounds per
week, experts at the NIH rec-
ommend. It’s both a healthy and
realistic goal. For many peo-
ple, that requires eating 500 to
1,000 fewer calories daily.
One trick that works for many
people: Keep a record of every-
thing you eat. It may help you
spot problem areas in your diet.
Time to get active
Exercise is good for you in so
many ways.
Of course, it helps you man-
age your weight by burning
calories. It also:
• Lowers your risk for heart
disease, diabetes and other
chronic conditions.
• Strengthens your lungs and
muscles.
• Improves your sleep.
Most adults should aim for
150 minutes of moderately
intense physical activity spread
out over the week to meet
weight-loss goals, according to
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. However, to
maintain weight loss, you may
need to do more than 300 min-
utes per week. The more you
exercise—and the more vigor-
ous it is—the better you may be
able to reach your goals.
Make sure to talk with your
doctor before beginning a new
exercise program.
Are medications an option?
If you have tried to lose weight
without success, ask your doctor
about weight-loss medication.
Medication isn’t a compre-
hensive solution for weight loss,
but it can be effective when
paired with diet and exercise
plans.
Many weight-loss medications
do have side effects, though. So
ask your doctor to review the
risks and benefi ts of taking any
of these drugs.
Additional source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Manage your weight the healthy way
2 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
TOP-NOTCH CARE At Southeastern Health, great nurses mean great care.
THRIVE WITH ARTHRITISFollow these four steps to quality of life.
TAKE YOUR LIFE BACKTreatment is available for chronic pain.
14Real men get
checkups. Make taking care
of your health a
priority.
PATIENTS ON THE MOVE Staying active in the hospital can help you heal faster.
HOMEWARD BOUND? Discharge planning can help you stay healthy when it’s time to go home.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CHOLESTEROL This basic information could prevent a heart attack or stroke.
MEDICATION SAFETY Steps you can take to reduce your risk of drug interactions.
DON’T FEAR FORGETFULNESS Learn what’s normal—and what’s not—for aging brains.
WHAT’S FOR DINNER?A healthy, hearty recipe the whole family will love.
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Share your success storyDo you have a success story you’d like to share? We’re collecting success stories to share on Facebook and within the pages of Healthwise. If you have an inspirational story about your healing process, send us a direct message via Facebook at www.facebook.com/sehealth or send us an email at [email protected].
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 3
WHAT MAKES a hospital’s patient care
excellent? It’s not just the state-of-the-art
technology. Or the advanced medical proce-
dures. It is, in no small measure, the quality
of its nursing staff.
Southeastern Health (SeHealth) and its
regional hub, Southeastern Regional Medical
Center, have outstanding nurses. And that’s
not speculation. Our nurses have earned
that distinction by helping SeHealth become
a Magnet facility—the highest honor for
nursing excellence.
“Magnet is the gold seal of nursing,” says
Teresa Barnes, vice president of Acute Care
Services for SeHealth. For patients, that
means better outcomes and greater satisfac-
tion with their care.
So how did SeHealth attain this level of
quality care? The story actually began more
than six years ago.
Becoming a Magnet hospital
The American Nurses Credentialing Center
(ANCC) awards the prestigious Magnet
distinction to organizations that meet high
standards of nursing excellence. And that’s
no easy feat. In fact, just 401 health systems
in the nation have made the grade.
SEHEALTH’S NURSES PROVIDE YOU WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE
Best of the
best
“The Magnet journey takes years in it-
self,” says SeHealth’s Chief Nursing Officer
Renae Taylor.
SeHealth earned the Magnet designation
for the first time in 2008. The requirements
were numerous and rigorous. The hospital
had to excel in more than a dozen areas,
such as:
• High-quality care.
• Strong nurse leadership.
• High levels of job satisfaction.
But first there was the application—a
Excellence personifiedMeet Lib Moore, Southeastern Health’s top nurse Every day, nurses at Southeastern Health (SeHealth)
make a difference in patients’ lives. Meet one of those
difference-makers: Elizabeth “Lib” Moore, RN.
In May, during National Nurses Week, Moore was
named SeHealth’s 2014 Baker Nurse of Excellence.
In addition to her daily nursing duties, Moore works closely with nursing students. And
she was instrumental in helping SeHealth become a Magnet facility.
“Lib is an outstanding nurse,” says Teresa Barnes, vice president of Acute Care Services
at SeHealth. “But first of all, she is a patient advocate. She’s going to do whatever’s right
for the patient.”
Moore has worked at SeHealth since 1987. In fact, she started her career here. These
days, she’s shift supervisor of 4-Tower at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
For Moore, it’s about putting patients first: “When I am in patient rooms face to face
with a patient, they are the most important person to me,” she says. “It is their time. They
are my focus; nothing else.”
4 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
document that grew to be 15 inches thick.
And then a site evaluation. “Once your
application is submitted, they decide if you
even warrant a visit,” Taylor says. “Then
they come down and go through everything
with a fine-tooth comb.”
All of this is to say that becoming a
Magnet facility isn’t easy.
“When a hospital is designated as a
Magnet facility, you know they have demon-
strated quality patient care and excellent
nursing practices,” says Donna Kinlaw, di-
rector of Quality and Performance Review.
The best nurses, the best care
Magnet hospitals have to outperform the na-
tional benchmarks in nursing-sensitive in-
dicators. These include falls, pressure ulcers,
restraint use, infections, patient satisfaction
scores and more, Kinlaw notes.
To achieve these scores, SeHealth nurses
aren’t just providing the best possible medi-
cal and nursing care—they’re also providing
that hometown touch, Taylor says.
It’s when nurses go above and beyond to
ensure patients’ and families’ needs are met.
Sometimes it’s just being there to listen, to
hold a hand gently, to help with the heal-
ing. “That’s the compassion that you can’t
teach,” Taylor says. And that’s what SeHealth
nurses provide on a daily basis.
Happy, educated advocates
Magnet organizations support the profes-
sional growth of the nurses by promoting
higher educational degrees, national certifi-
cations and participation in national nursing
organizations. Hospitals with a higher num-
ber of nationally certified nurses have been
proven to have better patient outcomes,
Kinlaw says.
High levels of nurse satisfaction are also
evident at Magnet facilities—Magnet nurses
are happier nurses. And that helps SeHealth
attract and retain the best of the best. What’s
more, because of the high-quality nursing
staff, doctors and other providers are often
attracted to working at Magnet facilities like
SeHealth.
And each day, SeHealth nurses are making
a difference in patients’ lives. Whether they
are working with a hospital inpatient with a
heart problem, someone receiving discharge
instructions or an outpatient learning about
diabetes care, they’re being an advocate for
that patient first. “Regardless of
what setting they’re working in,
they’re always working on behalf of
that patient,” Barnes says.
Award-winning care
Magnet recognition has made
SeHealth a better health system,
Barnes says. SeHealth has seen
reduced mortality rates, lower
hospital-associated infection
rates, better overall patient satisfaction
and patient safety, and more, according to
Barnes.
On top of that, the hospital has received
numerous awards, to which nursing quality
has contributed. Just one example: the
Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award
for Clinical Excellence in 2012 and 2013.
It comes down to this: The very best
nurses and excellent quality of care are
available right here in the community.
“But it’s still a journey for us,” Barnes
says. “Just because we achieved Magnet
doesn’t mean we’ve stopped. We always
push ourselves. It’s a culture of continuous
improvement, excellence and improvements
in clinical outcomes.”
And to retain Magnet status? Every four
years, a facility must apply for Magnet re-
designation and repeat the entire process—
including document submission to show
compliance with the standards and a site
visit to confirm that the standards are being
maintained. In 2013, SeHealth again earned
the prestigious title. As Kinlaw says, each
time the bar gets higher. “You have to keep
showing you are getting better and better,”
she says.
‘It’s our culture’
Excellence. Pride. Passion. These are words
you’ll hear often from those familiar with
SeHealth nurses. Kinlaw, for instance,
recalls how the Magnet program reviewers
visited the site in 2013 and spoke with the
nurses. “I wish you could have seen the
passion they displayed and how proud they
were in what they had accomplished,” she
says. “It was amazing.”
To Kinlaw and others, being a Magnet
facility is more than just an award. Much
more. It’s about excellence—and it’s prac-
ticed here every day. “It’s our culture,”
Kinlaw says.
“Just because we achieved Magnet doesn’t mean we’ve stopped. We always push ourselves. It’s a culture of continuous improvement [and] excellence.” —Teresa Barnes, vice president of Acute Care Services for Southeastern Health
Teresa Barnes, Vice President of Acute Care Services
Donna Kinlaw, Director of Quality and PerformanceManagement
Renae Taylor, Chief Nursing Officer
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 5
PATIENTS at Southeastern
Regional Medical Center
(SRMC) are now asked to be
more physically active during
their hospital stay.
Patients are assessed on the
first day of their hospitalization
on their ability to move during
their stay.
“Most of the time when peo-
ple are hospitalized they expect
to lie in bed and rest during the
majority of their time here,”
says Family Nurse Practitioner
Anita Thurman, who serves
as the organization’s wound
care coordinator. “Research
shows that lying in bed and
not moving actually causes the
muscles to weaken and can be
harmful to the patients’ healing
process.”
Once the patient is assessed,
they are rated based on five
mobility levels: breathe, tilt,
sit, stand and move. Once their
abilities are rated, they begin a
plan which could include one
to four sessions of movement
per day.
“When patients are in the
hospital, they expect to rest
and be assisted with most
functions, from dressing to
bathing,” says Inpatient Rehab
Coordinator Jyutika Zope.
“Through this new program,
patients are encouraged to per-
form more functions for them-
selves, not because we don’t
want to, but because activity
and movement will help them
get back to better health much
quicker.”
Progressive mobility actions
may include tilting the patient’s
bed in a cer-
tain position
for a defined
amount of
time, sitting
on the side of
the bed or in a
chair, or stand-
ing or march-
ing in place.
“As our
slogan states,
‘Better Health–
Starting with
You;’ once
our patients
begin to take
ownership for
their mobility
and their progress, their health
will improve faster than if they
remain inactive in their hospital
bed with increased risk for
complications such as pressure
ulcers and pneumonia,” adds
Thurman.
According to Thurman, the
program, titled “From Bed Rest
to At Your Best,” includes many
benefits for the patient, such
as positive mood changes, less
fatigue and a greater ability
to resume activities of daily
living.
“While staff remain sensitive
to the aches and pains of the
patients, we have to change our
approach and our mindset about
what it means to be a patient
in the hospital,” says Thurman.
“We are a place of healing, and
evidence has shown that the
healing process is jump-started
when the patient participates in
a plan to keep them active while
they are here.”
Southeastern Regional Medical Center is a part of Southeastern Health. To learn more, log on to www.southeasternhealth.org.
Mobility equalsbetter health
Anita Thurman, FNP-C, Wound Care Coordinator
Jyutika Zope, Inpatient Rehabilitation Coordinator
6 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
YOU MAY BE eager to leave
the hospital as soon as your
doctor says you’re good to go.
But before you pass through
the hospital’s doors, there’s one
more thing to do. It can help
ensure you don’t have to return
anytime soon.
Review the discharge plan
that has been made for you. And
get answers to questions you
may have.
Why a discharge plan?
It may seem odd to plan for
when you get out of the hospi-
tal. But research shows that a
good discharge plan plays a key
role in your getting and staying
well. Good planning can help
you:
• Recover better.
• Understand your health
condition.
• Lower the risk of making
mistakes with your medicine.
Answers to your questions
Ask the discharge planner or
your nurse any questions you
have, such as these:
• What medicines will I need to
take? When will I need to take
them? Make sure this includes
all of the medicines you take.
• Is it OK to bathe? Cook?
Drive? What will I need help
with?
• Will I need to eat a special
diet?
• Do I need to see my doctor
or have any tests? Be sure any
appointments are written down.
• What symptoms do I need to
watch for? Whom do I call if
they occur?
Try to have your caregiver
with you when you ask your
questions. This may be a friend
or family member.
Let the discharge planner
know if you have questions
about insurance. Also speak up
if you think you need help at
home. The discharge planner
can ask a social worker to meet
with you to talk about your
needs and local resources. And
one more thing: Write down a
phone number you can call at
any time with any questions.
Sources: Family Caregiver Alliance; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Getting ready to go homeA good recovery requires good
planning, which is why we start
looking ahead to the time you
can leave the hospital as soon as
we can.
You might be headed home or
to another place. Either way, we
want you to keep getting better
after you leave the hospital. That
means giving you the information
you need to help heal.
Before you leave, you and your
family will know:
• What your diagnosis is.
• How you’re doing now.
• The types of medicines you
need to take.
• The kind of care and services
you may need.
• Where you can get help.
• Any doctor’s visits or tests that
have been scheduled.
• What symptoms to watch for.
• Whom to call if you have
questions.
Will someone take care of you
at home? Let us know so we can
include that person in plans for
your discharge.
We want you to leave with your
questions answered. If they aren’t,
let us know. We’re here to help.
Southeastern Regional Medical Center can help you stay healthy. To learn about our discharge planning process, call Care Management at 910-671-5842.
DISCHARGE PLANNING
Here’s to a healthy recovery
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 7
The pain that lingers
CHRONIC PAIN IS TOUGH TO TREAT, BUT IT CAN BE MANAGED
WE’RE HUMANS, and sometimes we
hurt.
Pain is a natural, healthy part of being
alive. Without it, we might not notice a
very serious injury. With it, we instinctively
back away from a fi re after a burn or rest
our aching backs after lifting something too
heavy.
Most of us experience pain only fl eet-
ingly or for a limited period of time. This is
known as acute pain. It can feel intense, but
the pain does go away with treatment.
Many people, though, must cope with an-
other kind of pain—a type that continues,
sometimes for months or even years, and is
not easy to treat.
It’s called chronic pain, and at least
100 million Americans—about 1 in 3—
have it. That’s more than the number of
people with diabetes, heart disease, stroke
and cancer combined.
A portrait of pain
Chronic pain is a stubborn condition:
• It’s hard to diagnose. There are no specifi c
tests to measure how bad the pain is or
exactly where it’s coming from. Even people
with the same injury or condition can expe-
rience enormous differences in pain.
• It’s hard to treat. One hallmark of chronic
pain is that it is resistant to most medical
treatments.
8 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
• It’s hard to handle. Perhaps it’s no sur-
prise that long-term, unrelenting pain can
also take a toll on a person’s mental and
emotional well-being. It’s not unusual for
someone with chronic pain to feel anxious
or depressed. That can make treatment more
complicated.
Why someone hurts
Chronic pain may result from an injury,
such as a back sprain. Or it may be triggered
by one or more conditions or diseases,
such as:
• Arthritis.
• Cancer.
• Endometriosis.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Infections.
• Infl ammatory bowel disease.
• Migraines.
• Nerve damage.
Sometimes, however, the cause of some-
one’s pain can’t be found.
What makes it better?
Chronic pain can be challenging, but it can
be managed. It often takes time and patience
to fi nd the right treatment or combination
of treatments that are most effective at
reducing how bad the pain feels and how
often it happens.
Those treatments may include:
Medication. Prescription or over-
the-counter drugs are common pain
relievers.
One powerful class of prescription
drugs—opioids—can be very effective.
But drugs like oxycodone (OxyContin)
and hydrocodone (Vicodin) can also be
habit-forming, so their use needs to be
closely monitored by a doctor.
Physical therapy. A physical therapist can
devise an individualized program that can
help ease pain. Among other things, the
program may include exercise, massage and
heat treatments.
Complementary and alternative med-
icine (CAM). This describes a range of
treatments, such as acupuncture, spinal
manipulation and dietary supplements.
A lot of people with chronic pain fi nd
some relief with CAM, though the effec-
tiveness of many of these approaches hasn’t
been scientifi cally proved. Also, some
may not be safe for people with certain
pain-related conditions. That’s why it’s
recommended that anyone with chronic
pain talk to his or her doctor before trying a
CAM treatment.
Life goes on
Chronic pain usually can’t be cured. But
with the right treatment plan, it can be
controlled and the person living with it can
function and enjoy life.
You can read more about chronic
pain by visiting the website of the
American Academy of Pain Medicine at
www.painmed.org. Click on Patient Center.
Additional sources: American Academy of Pain Management; American Society of Anesthesiologists; National Institutes of Health
Are you living with chronic pain? Specialists at our Southeastern Spine and Pain affi liate on Farmbrook Drive in Lumberton can help. Call 910-671-9298.
Wh
at
aPAIN
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Arthritis Foundation; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Answers: ACROSS: 1, gain; 3, RICE; 5, exercise; 8, legs; 12, lumbar; 13, chronic; 15, migraine; 16, palliative; 18, aspirin DOWN: 2, nerve; 4, arthritis; 6, xray; 7, acute; 9; sprains; 10; backpack; 11, serotonin; 14, NSAIDs; 17, disk
ACROSS DOWN1 “No pain, no ”
(Discredited advice
for athletes)
3 “Grainy” treat-
ment for acute joint
pain (abbr.)
5 Helps build stron-
ger, less-painful
joints
8 To avoid back
pain, lift with your
12 Low-back area
where most back
pain occurs
13 Ongoing pain
15 Headache type
16 Type of care
given for pain near
life’s end
18 Widely used
pain pill
2 Pain pathway
4 Common cause of
joint pain
6 One tool to
diagnose back pain
7 Sudden,
short-term pain
9 Athletes often
get them
10 Can cause
schoolchild’s back
strain
11 The body’s
natural painkiller
14 Class of pain-
relieving drugs
(abbr.)
17 Back pain may
start here
PAIN1 2
3
7
12
17
18
16
151413
1110
4
5
8 9
6
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 9
The language of cholesterolWHAT IS the difference be-
tween your LDL and your HDL?
If you don’t know, read on.
The following is some basic
information about cholesterol
that’s important to know.
Controlling your cholesterol is
one of the best things you can
do to help prevent a heart attack
or stroke.
Atherosclerosis. This is the
most common form of arte-
riosclerosis, a general term
for thickening or hardening
of the arteries. Plaque—made
up of cholesterol and other
substances—can build up in
the inner lining of an artery,
damaging the artery and im-
peding the f low of blood and
its oxygen to your heart, brain
and other organs. Plaque can
break apart and cause blood
clots, resulting in a heart attack
or stroke.
Cholesterol. This is a fatty
material that travels through
the blood in particles called
lipoproteins—fat wrapped
in protein. The body needs
some cholesterol, and the liver
produces what it needs natu-
rally. But we can get too much
in our blood from the foods
we eat, namely those high in
saturated fat, trans fat or dietary
cholesterol.
Your cholesterol levels are
measured in milligrams per
deciliter of blood, or mg/dL.
High-density lipoprotein
(HDL). This type of cholesterol
is called the good one. It can
act as a cleanser, sweeping ex-
cess cholesterol out of arteries.
A high HDL number of
60 mg/dL and above is consid-
ered protective against heart
disease. A low HDL level—less
than 40 mg/dL in men and less
than 50 mg/dL in women—is a
risk factor for heart disease.
Being obese, smoking and
having a sedentary lifestyle can
all contribute to low HDL, so
lifestyle changes can often help
raise it.
Low-density lipoprotein
(LDL). LDL is known as the bad
cholesterol. It is a driving force
behind atherosclerosis. It’s best
to have an LDL level of less than
100 mg/dL.
Making diet changes, getting
regular exercise and controlling
your weight can help lower LDL
cholesterol.
If those lifestyle changes
aren’t enough, your doctor
may recommend that you
take a cholesterol-lowering
medication.
Total cholesterol. This
accounts for all types of choles-
terol in your blood. A desirable
level is less than 200 mg/dL.
Triglycerides. This is another
type of fat found in your blood.
Aim for less than 150 mg/dL.
Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Taming triglyceridesSpecific recommendations for
improving triglyceride levels
will depend on your readings. If
they’re very high, for instance,
your doctor may prescribe
medication.
In general, though, if you need
to bring triglyceride levels down—
or keep them at a healthy level—
lifestyle choices can help.
The American Heart
Association offers these tips:
• If you’re overweight, try to
reach a healthy weight.
• Reduce saturated fat, trans fat
and cholesterol in your diet.
• Cut down on added sugars,
which are often found in regular
soda, desserts, syrups, candy and
other foods.
• Eat nonfat or low-fat dairy
products, vegetables, and fruits
most often. But be aware—it
may be best to limit how much
high-fructose fruit, such as cher-
ries and grapes, you eat. Fructose
is a type of sugar.
• Know the risks of drinking
alcohol.
• Get at least 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise five
or more days each week.
• Work more omega-3 fatty
acids into your eating plan. Good
sources include oily fish, such as
salmon and albacore tuna.
Controlling your cholesterol is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack or stroke.
10 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
AMERICANS are taking
more medicines than ever—
in the 65-and-older group,
67 percent use at least three med-
ications and 40 percent use five or
more, according to the National
Center for Health Statistics.
These drugs improve and
save lives. But they can have
a dangerous side too. They
can interact with each other,
which can lead to serious, even
life-threatening, problems.
What is an interaction?
Basically, drug interactions fall
into three categories:
1 Drug-drug interactions.
These occur when two or more
drugs interact with each other.
2 Drug-food/beverage interac-
tions. These happen when drugs
interact with something you eat
or drink.
3 Drug-condition interactions.
These occur when medicines
have a bad effect on a medical
condition—affecting blood
sugar in people with diabetes or
blood pressure in people with
hypertension, for example.
Why are these interactions a
concern? Because they can affect
the body in many potentially
dangerous ways.
First, they can make drugs
less effective—drugs either
don’t work well or they don’t
work at all. For example,
antacids can limit the body’s
absorption of heart medicines,
antibiotics and blood thinners.
Second, they can cause unex-
pected side effects. These might
include dizziness, irregular
heartbeats, heartburn, fatigue or
nausea.
Finally, they can increase the
action of drugs in the body. This
can cause an overdose or toxic
effect.
What you can do
Thankfully, there are steps you
can take to reduce your risk of
drug interactions:
• Keep an up-to-date list of all
medications you use, and share it
with your doctor and pharmacist.
Include prescription drugs, herbal
products, vitamins and supple-
ments. Remember to include all
medicines, including those you
take sometimes (like antacids) or
for a short time (like antibiotics).
• Use one pharmacy. Pharmacists
are specially trained to spot
potential interactions, but they
need a complete picture of your
medical conditions and the
drugs you take.
• Read labels and patient guides
each time you use a drug. Pay
special attention to sections that
detail warnings and possible
side effects.
• Ask questions, such as, Can
I take this drug with the other
medicines I use? Should I avoid
certain foods, beverages or other
medicines? What signs of drug
interaction should I watch for?
• If you experience something
that doesn’t seem right, tell
your doctor. Ask if it could be
a side effect or bad reaction to
medicine.
• And finally, work with your
doctor to try to reduce the num-
ber of medicines you take. You
are more likely to have a drug
interaction if you take more
than three a day.
Additional sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Council on Patient Information and Education; U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Keep an up-to-date list of all medications you use, and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Southeastern Pharmacy Health Mall, in Biggs Park Mall, is a convenient way to get your prescriptions filled while saving on everyday items such as vitamins and over-the-counter medications. To transfer your prescription, call 910-735-8858. Pharmacists are on hand to assist with medication interaction information.
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK
Medication interactions
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 11
Living well with osteoarthritis YOU CAN DO IT
IT’S NEVER EASY to hear that you’ll
live the rest of your life with a chronic
medical condition. And that’s certainly
the case when you’re diagnosed with
osteoarthritis.
But here’s something worth remember-
ing: Proper treatment and self-care will
enable you to lead a full and productive
life. You can live with osteoarthritis—and
live well. Here’s a four-step blueprint for
doing so:
1 Team up. A number of medications and
treatments may relieve arthritis pain and
help you function better. Work closely with
your doctor to help find the ones that are
safest and most effective for you.
Your doctor may bring in other medical
professionals who can teach you about your
condition and make your life easier as well.
Among them: physical and occupational
therapists, health educators, social work-
ers, and psychologists. Be sure you bring
any concerns about your condition to their
attention.
2 Educate yourself. The more you know
about osteoarthritis, the better able you’ll be
to cope with the disease and develop strate-
gies for dealing with its challenges.
Your doctor is a good source of informa-
tion. Other places to turn include:
• The Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org.
• The National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS),
www.niams.nih.gov.
3 Take charge. Your doctor will direct
your care, but you’ll have overall respon-
sibility for managing your arthritis—and
it’s particularly beneficial to stay engaged.
According to the NIAMS, people who par-
ticipate in active self-care report less pain
and better overall quality of life than those
who aren’t active participants in their own
care.
Key aspects of self-care include:
• Exercise that focuses on building
strength, aerobic conditioning, range of
motion, and balance and agility.
• Time for rest, relaxation and activities you
enjoy. That might include watching a funny
movie or gardening with arthritis-friendly
garden tools.
• Stress management.
• Joint protection in the form of canes,
braces, splints or other devices that make
everyday activities more comfortable.
• A healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious
diet, adequate sleep and weight loss if you’re
overweight.
4 Stay positive. Life may change with
osteoarthritis, but a good attitude can help
you cope. Try to focus on your strengths
rather than your weaknesses and on what
you can do rather than what you can’t.
Mindset matters!
Support groups may help you deal with
the many aspects of the disease and provide
inspiration. The help and support of those
close to you can be valuable as well.
Our physical and occupational therapists, who are located throughout the region, can teach you ways to better manage osteoarthritis. Call Southeastern Rehabilitation Services at 910-738-4554 and ask for information about a therapist in a location near you.
12 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
Your primary care physician can help determine if your memory problems are a concern. If you need a doctor, go to www.southeasternhealth.org/
primarycare. If you are interested in social opportunities, go to www.southeasternhealth.org/
pplus or call 910-671-5018 to learn more about our membership program for people ages 50 and over.
AGING BRAINS
What is normal? “I’M HAVING a senior moment!”
It’s something we may blurt out when we
mislay the morning paper or forget why we
stopped at the supermarket.
For some, it’s a laugh-it-away moment.
For others, it sets off a quiet internal alarm:
“Am I starting to lose my memory?”
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are
fears, of course. But many momentary men-
tal slips are common and normal.
Subtle vs. serious
Everyday forgetfulness is annoying, but not
a cause for major concern. This includes
occasional mental fogginess about:
• Where you left your keys.
• Where you parked in the mega-store lot.
• The appointment time for a doctor’s visit.
• The name of someone who used to be
your neighbor.
Many of these are examples of episodic
memory, which can decline as years march
on. But they’re manageable.
More problematic—and worthy of medi-
cal attention—are memory problems that in-
terfere with daily life. These might include:
• Forgetting how to do familiar tasks, like
unlocking a door, writing a check or finding
the bank.
• Forgetting the name of someone near and
dear.
• Not being able to learn new things.
• Asking the same questions over and over
again.
• Getting lost in places you know well.
• Not being able to follow directions.
If you’re concerned about your memory,
talk with your doctor. Brain diseases like
dementia aren’t the only conditions that can
affect how you think, learn and remember.
Memory problems can also be caused by
things such as depression, medication side
effects, thyroid problems, too few vitamins
and minerals, stress, and lack of sleep.
Protect what you have
Research is uncovering hints about what
might help keep memory sharp or help
people handle the small deficits that they do
notice. You can’t go wrong by making these
ideas priorities for the rest of your years:
Socialize. This can help improve your
mood and memory.
Move your body. Exercise can help keep
your blood circulating, which nourishes
your brain.
Eat well. Eating more vegetables and
less saturated fat may benefit brain health.
Eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such
as tuna and salmon, also may help.
Challenge your mind. Some experts
believe that intellectual pursuits—such as
reading, learning a new skill, taking a class
or playing games—can stimulate brain cells
and the connections between cells.
Organize your space. Get rid of clut-
ter and giving everything—such as keys,
glasses, purse and cellphone—its own place.
Embrace memory aids. These include
keeping a to-do list and a calendar. Review
both several times a day and you’ll be more
confident about your state of mind.
Sources: American Psychological Association; National Institute on Aging
The annual PrivilegesPlus dance, which includes a meal, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Southeastern Lifestyle Center for Fitness in Lumberton. For ticket information, call 910-671-5018.
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 13
14 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH
Need a doctor? We have primary care physicians and urologists who are taking new patients. Call 910-735-8818 to make an appointment.
Men: Stand up for your healthIF YOU’RE A MAN, you’ve
heard the stereotypes about how
men take care of their health.
And you may have gotten a
chuckle. You can get a guy to
change the car’s oil, but good
luck getting him to see a doctor,
right?
Unfortunately, beyond the
humor lies a little truth—
and it’s nothing to laugh
about.
Take medical checkups.
Men are nearly 25 percent
less likely than women to
have seen a doctor in the
past year, the Agency for
Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ) reports.
At the same time, men are
more likely to be hospi-
talized for serious health
problems, such as diabetes
complications and pneumonia.
It’s about a good, long life
If taking care of your health
hasn’t been a priority, why not
make a new start now? You
deserve good health—and those
who love and depend on you
need you to be well too.
Checking in with a doctor
is a good first step. Chances
are, you’re healthy. But only
a doctor can say for sure.
For example, you could have
high blood pressure or ab-
normal cholesterol levels and
not know it—both of which
can have some serious conse-
quences, like heart disease, if
not treated.
You can also learn which
medical screening tests you may
need. Certain tests—based on
your age, health history and
other factors—can help fi nd
problems early, when they’re
often easier to treat.
According to the AHRQ and
other experts, men may need to
be screened for:
• Colorectal cancer. Start get-
ting tested at age 50—sooner if
the disease runs in your family.
• High blood pressure. Have
your blood pressure checked at
least every two years.
• Diabetes. If your blood
pressure is higher than
135/80 mm Hg or you take
blood pressure medicine, your
doctor may test for diabetes.
• High blood cholesterol. Have
your cholesterol tested regularly
if you’re 35 or older. Start at
age 20 if you have risk factors
for heart disease.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm.
This is a weakened blood vessel
that can burst without warning.
If you’re between ages 65 and
75 and have ever smoked, get
checked.
• Sexually transmitted infec-
tions (STIs). Ask your doctor if
you should be tested for STIs,
such as gonorrhea, syphilis or
HIV.
You may also want to talk to
your doctor about the pros and
cons of prostate cancer screen-
ing and whether you should be
screened for depression.
Additional source: American Heart Association
INGREDIENTSSweet potato oven fries
4 large sweet potatoes (yams)
1½ tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning blend
Salmon burgers
1 can (14.75 ounces) pink or red salmon
2 green onions, chopped
½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
8 crackers, unsalted tops (saltinelike), crushed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Egg whites from 2 eggs, whisked
2 tablespoons plain low-fat yogurt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Cooking spray
4 whole-wheat buns
8 leaves Bibb lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Salmon burgers and sweet potato oven friesMAKES 4 SERVINGS.
DIRECTIONS• Place oven rack in center, and heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Wash and scrub sweet potatoes, and slice into wedges, lengthwise.
• In a large bowl, toss potato wedges with canola oil and seasoning blend.
• Spread potato wedges on cookie sheet. Roast in the oven, turning occasionally, until
tender and golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• While sweet potatoes are roasting, prepare salmon burgers. Drain salmon. Place in a
medium mixing bowl and flake.
• Fold in green onions, red pepper, crushed crackers, lemon juice, egg whites, yogurt
and ground black pepper.
• Shape into 4 patties.
• Coat large nonstick skillet lightly with cooking spray, and heat.
• Cook salmon burgers until golden brown; turn and continue cooking until other
side is golden brown.
• Serve burgers on whole-wheat buns with sliced tomatoes and lettuce and sweet
potato oven fries.
NUTRITION INFORMATIONAmount per serving: 490 calories, 14g total fat (2g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol,
590mg sodium, 69g carbohydrates, 11g dietary fiber, 25g protein.
Source: Produce for Better Health Foundation
SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2014 15
Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDSenatobia, MS
Permit #368
Southeastern Regional Medical Center 300 W. 27th St. Lumberton, NC 28358
Main number 910-671-5000
Phone registration 910-671-5096
Billing and insurance 910-671-5047
Financial assistance 910-671-5038
Information desk 910-735-8110
Human Resources 910-671-5562
Gift shop 910-735-8164
Home health 910-671-5600
Medical equipment 910-738-3560
Check out our website
www.southeasternhealth.org
Core exercise Core muscles help stabilize the spine, pelvis, ribs and
hips. Because of this, they play a key role in balance.
Front plankLie on your stomach, elbows under your shoulders, forearms and palms down.
Tuck in your toes toward your shins. Hold five seconds (or more).
Gently lower back to the floor and rest 30 to 45 seconds. Repeat for two or three sets.
Source: American Council on Exercise
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