WINTER 2017 | Volume 3, Issue 1
A Healthier You
St. Thomas More Hospital
Breathing
EASIER Patients who struggle with COPD or heart conditions get help living better at St. Thomas More Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. Page 4
Susie Bell smoked for 57 years before quitting. Now, she's getting her life and her lung strength back, thanks to St. Thomas More Hospital's pulmonary rehab specialists.
FABULOUS FEET Page 3
MEDICAL MONEY MANAGEMENT Page 6
SKILLED NURSING CHECKLIST Page 7
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
inspiring health
Nurturing HEALTHY CHILDREN &FAMILIES St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services welcomes Amanda Nedzinski, DO
Amanda Nedzinski, DO, is the newest addition to the St. Thomas More Pediatric Health Services team. A Denver-area native, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Colorado State University, and her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz. She completed a pediatric residency at Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., where she chaired the Pediatrics Academics Committee. She is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians. “I believe that the best preventive medicine starts in childhood,” Nedzinski says. “Helping families care for children and build healthy lifestyles is some of the best medicine.” Local pediatric For kids with health challenges, she believes it’s important to help coordinate care and help parents advocate for their children. “I love helping families keep their children healthy, as well as support them when their children are sick.” Nedzinski enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three dogs.
ONE-STOP HEALTH CARE New medical building opening on St. Thomas More health campus ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, Fremont County residents will have a one-stop-shopping health care campus. Construction has begun on a two-story medical office building on the St. Thomas More Hospital campus that will house specialty physicians and health care services, including laboratory testing and imaging, under one roof. The 35,000-square-foot building joins the hospital, health and wellness center, outpatient rehabilitation center, and senior living facility on one campus to offer residents birth-to-senior care in one location that cuts the hassle of driving from one office to another. “It will be a medical specialty destination,” says Sheri Trahern, St. Thomas More’s chief executive officer. More space, and especially space in one up-to-date building, will mean not only convenience for patients, but potentially more physicians to serve them, Trahern says. “In our recruitment efforts with physicians, the current spaces are not optimal. Offering one strategic location will be a huge advantage,” she says.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
THE NEW LOCATION WILL HOUSE OFFICES FOR: PEDIATRICS
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
INTERNAL MEDICINE OUTPATIENT LAB
FAMILY MEDICINE
CAPACITY FOR FUTURE PROVIDERS “We’re excited about the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art medical office building for Fremont County,” Trahern says.
ORTHOPEDICS DIGITAL X-RAYS
Plus
A CAFÉ AND COFFEE BAR
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Amanda Nedzinski, DO, enjoys helping families create healthy lifestyles.
care for little ones Call 719-285-2091 to schedule an appointment, or visit stmhospital.org/ physician—group to learn more.
inspiring health
FOOT STEPS
Top tips for keeping diabetic feet healthy DIABETES CAN DAMAGE NERVES and interfere with proper blood flow. When nerves in the feet are affected, you may have difficulty feeling heat, cold, or pain, which can lead to injuries. And you may be more prone to calluses or even ulcers. So if you have diabetes, it’s important to stay on your toes in order to keep your feet fit.
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Here are five of the most critical steps in caring for diabetic feet:
1
Examine your feet. Use a mirror if needed, or get help from a family member. Look for any areas of pressure or calluses forming, which could turn into an open sore.
2
After bathing, dry between your toes. This can keep tissue from breaking down and causing a sore.
3
Maintain tight glucose control and hemoglobin A1C levels.
4
Don’t ignore burning, tingling, or numbness, which can be the start of neuropathy.
5
See your primary care doctor for regular foot checkups. Most insurance plans cover foot screenings and preventive care.
The St. Thomas More Physician Group provides foot checks and referrals to the St. Thomas More Wound & Ostomy Care Center for patients with diabetes. To schedule an appointment, call 719-285-2700.
EXPERTS
BETTER
RESOLUTIONS IF YOU’RE TRYING TO LIVE HEALTHIER by giving up a bad habit, flipping that around to focus on adding something to your life may be a better strategy. “If you suspect that restraint, deprivation, and rule following aren’t your strong suits, you’re in good company with every other human,” says Emma Glancy, manager of wellness programs at St. Thomas More Hospital. “Giving up things goes against our psychobiological instincts and cultural conditioning,” Glancy says. “When it comes to giving up an established behavior — sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, gossip, and so on — the projected benefits are vague abstractions, compared with the instant gratification that got us Emma Glancy, hooked in the first place.” Manager of Wellness Programs
COME TO YOU
Visiting doctors provide care in nine specialties If you have a heart condition, skin condition, or other specialized health care need, you don’t need to leave Fremont County to find expert care. Specialty clinics are held in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at St. Thomas More Hospital on a regular basis. For information or appointments to any of these clinics, please call the number next to the specialty: Cardiology (every Wednesday) 719-776-8500 Coumadin Clinic (every Tuesday through Friday) 719-285-2291 Nephrology (first and second Tuesdays) 719-561-5264 Neurosurgery (last Friday of each month) 719-473-3272 Pacemaker Clinic (second Wednesday of each month) 719-776-5021 Pulmonology (every Monday) 719-564-1542 Radiation Oncology (first Thursday of each month) 719-557-5460 Skin Clinic (available by appointment at the St. Thomas More ENT & Allergy Clinic) 719-285-2380 Vascular Surgery (third Tuesday of each month) 719-557-3145
In trying to avoid or cut back on a habit, we actually focus more on it. “Vowing to give up chocolate just makes us think about chocolate,” Glancy says. Instead, flip your thinking. “Today, I’m going to eat a fruit I haven’t tried in a long time.”
Build a more bountiful life > Write down your goals, and then rewrite any that are “don’ts” into “do’s.” > Break down big goals into little steps. > When you’re being self-critical, ask yourself: “Would I talk to a friend this way?”
Keep your goals personal and memorable by writing them down in a special place. Enter to win a writing journal at stmhospital.org/inspire.
STMHOSPITAL.ORG WINTER 2017
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timely treatment
SAVE
YOUR
Breath
Living life to the fullest with COPD If taking a deep breath is hard work, you may be one of the more than 400,000 Coloradans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. A COPD diagnosis can bring on anxiety and depression, but you can take action to manage your disease and live life to the fullest.
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
Pulmonary rehabilitation will hand you the tools to improve your quality of life by providing emotional and educational support as you learn to minimize symptoms. Staying active in your own care and interacting with others can make all the difference, says Abigail Tate, cardiopulmonary manager at St. Thomas More Hospital. “Our patients love the rehab program,” Tate says. “They receive a lot of education — learning very diverse skills tailored to their disease
Recognizing COPD
With guidance from respiratory therapist Tracey Dobbs-Valdez, Susie Bell is gaining lung strength and getting back into life despite COPD.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
COPD is a combination of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but many people mistake it for asthma, aging, or just being out of shape. It’s important to tell your doctor about symptoms because with the right diagnosis, you can get treatment that will help you feel better — no matter what your age. SYMPTOMS
Chronic productive cough Fatigue Producing a lot of mucus
Shortness of breath during everyday activities Frequent respiratory infections Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds
process, diet, social needs, and any other conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.”
STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART WITH REHAB
“This is not your home gym,” Tate says. Patients work with a respiratory therapist who can help them improve their breathing techniques and lung capacity without overdoing it. “Patients often don’t have the stamina to complete daily tasks. They tell us, ‘I just want to be able to play with my grandchildren, walk my dog, and keep up with household chores, like folding a basket of laundry.’ We help them get there.”
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Susie Bell has twice benefited from the program. The 74-yearAbigail Tate, old, who developed Cardiopulmonary emphysema and COPD Services Manager after smoking for 57 years, says she thought pulmonary rehab was great her first time around. “I thought I would die with a cigarette in my hand,” Bell says. But a trip to the hospital and a visit by her anxious son changed her mind.
Susie Bell credits her son, Eban, with inspiring her to quit smoking.
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5 tips
TO BREATHING EASIER WITH COPD THIS WINTER
1
“It was an excellent program,” Bell says. “I got stronger. I breathed easier. I made friends. I liked getting out. And it was 15 minutes from home.” Recently, Bell felt she could use another round of rehab. “My breath was more labored. I was feeling like I needed exercise. I was getting stiff legs and a sore back.” With a referral from her doctors, she’s back, enjoying the new space and new people. “Emphysema — you can’t cure it — but I can make my life easier,” Bell says. “I’m excited and hopeful about being back in rehab.”
Pace yourself. Avoid strenuous physical activities that can leave you breathless.
some oxygen. Many patients 2 Grab avoid using supplemental oxygen because it’s inconvenient and they worry about social stigma, but it’s the only medicine that lengthens life span with COPD.
“I took one look at my son’s face and said, ‘I don’t want to die.’ I quit smoking.” And she got busy in cardiopulmonary rehab.
COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
3
Know the early warning signs. More difficulty breathing, increased fatigue, and changes in mucus can signal an infection. Tell your doctor about worsening symptoms.
4
Close the door on bad air. Avoid being outside when air quality is poor and be aware of changing elevation.
5
Get engaged. Staying socially active lessens stress.
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
In St. Thomas More’s newly expanded cardiopulmonary rehabilitation area, COPD patients participate in a carefully monitored exercise program with state-of-the-art equipment, designed to help them get their strength — and their life — back. Patients with heart disease or recovering from a heart procedure also are helped through the program.
St. Thomas More Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation provides testing, education, and rehabilitation services — all close to home — after a heart attack, heart failure, cardiac procedure, or if you have chronic lung disease. Regardless of where patients receive their primary treatment, they can complete rehabilitation here. The program helps improve stamina and strength to improve daily functioning and quality of life. It also can help decrease symptoms and manage anxiety and depression. Each customized rehabilitation plan includes exercise training, education on lung and heart diseases, nutrition counseling, stress-reduction strategies, energy-conserving techniques, breathing strategies, and tips to help you stop smoking. To learn more, call 719-285-2617.
LEARN TIPS for protecting
and nurturing your heart at Pamper Your Heart, a FREE event that includes heart health screenings, health information booths, a free heart-healthy dinner, gifts, and more. Bring your valentine — the education is great for everyone! Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 4:30-7 p.m. Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street, Cañon City Register online at stmhospital.org/ pamper-your-heart or call 719-285-2179.
Learn how to LIVE TOBACCO-FREE at our Tobacco Cessation program. The program is FREE to attend, and the next series begins Jan. 24. See back cover for details. STMHOSPITAL.ORG WINTER 2017
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financial fitness
HEALTHY
BODY,
healthy bank account
Get health care without putting your finances in intensive care UNEXPECTED MEDICAL COSTS can harm more than your bottom line. The stress of high out-of-pocket payments can take a toll on your health. But with a bit of effort and a little homework, you and your finances can stay healthy. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate health care spending: KNOW THE PRICE TAG. Don’t be afraid to ask about all treatment and prescription costs.
Do you speak
INSURANCE? Daina Cox,
Manager of Patient Access
KNOW YOUR INSURANCE PLAN. Understand what your health insurance covers, and doesn’t cover, and what your share of costs will be, Cox says. And know what your maximum yearly expenses are.
HSA
USE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. HSAs are accounts you contribute pre-tax dollars to. You can use the money for non-covered expenses, like dental and vision care. Anything you don’t spend in a year rolls over to the next. PAY CASH. Ask about the cash price; it could be lower than your copay. But remember your cash payment won’t be applied to your deductible. REDUCE DRUG COSTS. Check out assistance programs at medicare.gov/ pharmaceutical-assistance-program that can reduce prescription drug costs. Drug manufacturers sometimes offer rebates or other substantial assistance. Or sometimes you can buy directly from the manufacturer for much less. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION. Take advantage of preventive care covered under the Affordable Care Act. A free flu shot, mammogram, or other screening could save you illness and expense down the road.
Through the grant-funded program, Women’s Wellness Connection, St. Thomas More Hospital offers FREE breast and cervical cancer screenings to underserved women. Call 719-285-2473 to learn more.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
To understand how your coverage works, you’ll need to know common health insurance terms like: Deductible — the annual amount you pay before your benefits kick in and the insurer starts to pick up the tab. Copay — the amount you pay for services after meeting your deductible. It typically differs by service. Out-of-pocket maximum — the most you’ll have to pay, including both the deductible and any copays, in a given year. Out-of-network — insurance companies contract with health care providers to get discounted rates for care. When you go to a provider in-network, that discounted rate applies. When you go out-ofnetwork, your costs may be higher. If you don’t have medical coverage, you may qualify for financial assistance from St. Thomas More Hospital. You can ask for help before, during, or after your hospital stay. Apply by calling 1-888-269-7001, or go online to centura.org and click on “Payment Help?”
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GET A QUOTE. “For scheduled services, we have the ability to prepare an estimated price quote and estimated balance due after checking on the patient’s insurance coverage,” says Daina Cox, St. Thomas More Hospital’s manager of patient access.
HOW TO
CHOOSE A SKILLED NURSING CARE CENTER
Five things to guide your decision
YOUR PATH IN LIFE IS ONE-OF-A-KIND, yet we know that almost 70 percent of Americans over 65 will need long-term skilled nursing care at some point, including those requiring care for Alzheimer’s disease. And many will need short-term skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapies as they recover from illnesses or surgeries. But not all skilled nursing centers are created equal. Here are some things to consider when you’re looking for a center for yourself or a loved one:
Reputation: John DeLuca, administrator of St. Thomas More’s Progressive Care Center in Cañon City, advises patients and their families to talk to current residents and their families. “Walk around. Talk to residents. Ask the questions you want answered,” he says.
To tour the Progressive Care Center, Cañon City’s only Medicare 5-star-rated skilled nursing facility, call 719-285-2540.
Atmosphere: Take a self-guided tour to look closely at the facility itself.
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“The cleanliness of a building — whether it’s well-maintained and has a homelike warmth. It speaks to the commitment of staff,” DeLuca says.
Staffing: Ask about staffing levels, including the nursing hours per patient day. It’s calculated by taking the total number of nursing staff providing care divided by the total number of patients in a given day. DeLuca says the norm is 3-3.5 positions per patient day. At Progressive Care Center, a skilled nursing facility, the staffing ratio is higher, 4.2. Again, DeLuca suggests, ask a facility’s nurses and certified nurse aides about the care. “We have a very good, solid, experienced team,” DeLuca says. “The team and the residents are family. We’re very close to the people we care for. And if there’s a call light that goes on, everybody, every staff member, responds. We don’t want those call lights left on.” Ratings: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating System evaluates nursing centers based on inspections, staffing, and other quality measures. The Progressive Care Center is Cañon City’s only skilled nursing facility to earn the top, 5-star rating. Comparisons: To compare facilities, go to the CMS Nursing Home Compare
site at medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare.
95%
After surgery or hospitalization, 95 percent of patients cared for in St. Thomas More’s 116-patient Progressive Care Center skilled nursing facility met their goals, or measurably improved, before returning home.
What’s the difference? SKILLED NURSING
NURSING HOME
Often residents are recovering from illness or surgery; limited length of stay
Length of stay is indefinite
Staff must include registered nurses, therapists, and other medical personnel
Medical personnel are not required
Medicare reimburses for up to 100 days
Medicare does not reimburse for stays
Typically provides medical care, such as physical therapy
Provides assistance with daily activities
STMHOSPITAL.ORG WINTER 2017
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Over 75 years of pioneering health care for you.
St. Thomas More Hospital
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
1338 Phay Avenue Cañon City, CO 81212
Denver, CO Permit No. 4773
INSPIRATION
Join our health experts to learn how you can make small changes that make a big impact on improving your health! For a complete list of classes and details, visit stmhospital.org/calendar.
TOBACCO CESSATION
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
This 13-week program provides education and support to help you live tobacco-free with weekly meetings, tools to maintain success, respiratory testing, and more! Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, Community Room Cost: FREE Registration: stmhospital.org/tobacco-free or 719-285-2010
Prepare yourself, your partner, and your baby during this two-session program, including what to expect in your third trimester, labor techniques, pain management, breastfeeding, and postdelivery care. Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, Community Room Cost: $25 for you and a support person; scholarships available upon request Registration: stmhospital.org/childbirtheducation or 719-285-2058
TUESDAYS, JAN 24-APR 18 5 P.M.
WEDNESDAYS, MAR 7 & 14 5:30-8:30 P.M.
YOGA AND JOURNALING
THURSDAY, FEB 16 5-6:30 P.M.
Pamper YOUR HEART MONDAY, FEB 13 4:30-7 P.M.
Enjoy heart health screenings, information booths, a heart-healthy dinner, a special gift, guest speakers, and more. Wear red in support of National Heart Month, and bring your sweetheart to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street Cost: FREE Registration: stmhospital.org/pamper-your-heart or 719-285-2179
This class offers guided yoga practice and breath work, and an introduction to art journaling. Learn how to use the supplies and explore your inner creativity! This class is suitable for all levels. Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, North Conference Room Cost: $35 per person Registration: Emma Glancy at 719-285-2630 or stmwellness.org
SATURDAY, APR 29 7 A.M.-NOON
Fremont County’s largest annual health fair is brought to you by St. Thomas More Hospital, in partnership with 5Health Fair and 9Health Fair. Enjoy FREE and low-cost health screenings and education. To learn more or prepay for screenings, visit 9healthfair.org. Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street Info: 719-285-2630
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INSPIRE
INSPIRE is published quarterly by St. Thomas More Hospital as part of our Mission to nurture the health of the people in our community. The information herein is meant to complement, not replace, advice provided by a licensed health care provider. To comment or unsubscribe, email us at inspire@centura.org. INSPIRE is produced by Clementine Healthcare Marketing. Executive Editor: Jillian Maes.
St. Thomas More Hospital is part of Centura Health, the region’s leading health care network. Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 303-804-8166. Copyright © Centura Health, 2017.
S T M H O S P I TA L.O R G