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HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES
Technology has made great advancements in helping people live longer and better. Some medical services will keep you mobile and living independently. Others will help you see and hear more clearly. You may also need tools to help you get accustomed to these changes, such as oxygen, eyeglasses or hearing aids.
Alcoholism & Addiction..................................23 Alzheimer’s & Dementia.................................23 Cancer.....................................................................23 Cardiac Rehab .....................................................23 Clinics......................................................................23 Dental Care...........................................................23 Depression............................................................23 Diabetes.................................................................23 Disabilities & Rehabilitation ..........................23 Equipment & Supplies.....................................23 Hearing Loss........................................................23 Heart Disease...............................................23-26 Holistic Therapy.................................................26 Hospitals & Surgical Centers........................26 Medical Transportation ..................................26 Mental Health Care & Counseling..............26 Nutrition................................................................26 Opthalmology .....................................................26 Orthopedic Services........................................26 Pain Management..............................................26 Physical Therapy................................................27 Physicians..............................................................27 Skin Care................................................................27 Sleep Apnea .........................................................27 Speech Therapy .................................................27 Therapeutic Massage.......................................27 Vascular Care.......................................................27 Vision.......................................................................27 Weight Control...................................................27
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The docs you deserve
By Karen Telleen-Lawton
Decades ago, my primary care doctor referred me to a urologist for suspected kidney stones.
After straining my urine and collecting a little vial of stones, I phoned in the results to the urologist’s nurse. In my first meeting with the doctor, I placed the vial on his desk. He leaned back in his chair, hands crossed behind his neck, and mused, “We’ll have to figure out what your pain was because young women like you don’t get kidney stones.”
“Then what are those?” I blurted out. He lurched forward in his seat to examine the stones. Thus began our “rocky” relationship.
At my next kidney stone attack, the nurse reported that the doctor was on the golf course and not answering his pager. I ended up in the emergency room, vomiting on the hallway floor. After that, I changed doctors.
As we age, we tend to spend less time jogging and more time with doctors. Our relationships with various medical professionals become increasingly important. What happens when we don’t see eye to eye with a doctor?
Complaints about doctors are more likely to be about communication than medical care.
A recent study revealed that 75 percent of doctors believe they communicate satisfactorily with their patients. Only 21 percent of those patients agreed.
As medical knowledge about how the body works continues to grow, expectations increase for doctors and nurses. At the same time, medical insurers push medical practices to accept larger patient loads. Health care may be at a breaking point, but when you are at a doctor’s appointment, your own health care is what rightly concerns you. DO YOUR PART
Before you give up on your current team, make sure you are contributing to good communication with your doctors. Be firm but respectful of their professional knowledge. Express your concerns honestly and graciously. If these attempts don’t resolve the issue, consider another doctor in the same practice, which would cause you less disruption in terms of medical records.
In my case, I never again met with that urologist, but that was partly because I’ve never had stones again. Each episode occurred within two months of childbirth, so I stuck with just two kids and skipped further stones.
In these difficult days for health care, you may feel like you have no choice but to keep your team together. In this case, address your concerns in the way most comfortable for you: in person, by phone, by mail or email. Don’t suffer in silence because, frankly, that’s not good for your health either. ■
10 SIGNS OF A GOOD DOCTOR What you should expect from a good medical practice
1. You can schedule appointments within a reasonable time frame. 2. The front desk staff is respectful, acknowledging your arrival and making you feel comfortable. 3. Waiting areas and examination rooms are clean and neat. 4. You’re not bombarded with pharmaceutical advertising. If there are ads and freebies lying about, sales representatives may be pushing their products.
Free lunches and other perks may affect what doctors recommend for you. 5. Your privacy is protected. HIPAA laws are spelled out in all medical forms you
sign. They include rules that medical professionals not discuss patients in public places, leave records where others can see them, or share information with others without your consent. 6. Your doctor listens attentively to your concerns. 7. You can be honest with her or him. You should feel free to ask the whys about your treatment or tell them that you plan to seek a second opinion. 8. Your doctor pauses to check your understanding. According to the Patient
Advocate Foundation, almost one-tenth of newly diagnosed patients rarely or never understand their diagnosis. Avoid being in this group by bringing a notepad and/or a friend to appointments.
Tell your doctor if you bring a recording device. 9. Your doctor is moving at a pace you are comfortable with in terms of treatment options. You feel comfortable discussing how long you should stick with a regimen that isn’t resolving the problem. Together, you discuss goals and a timeline for when to change course. 10. Your doctor coordinates with your other doctors. Healing requires healing the whole body.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.....................................................................877-726-4727 The Center for Mental Health, See ad page 27 .................................................970-252-3200
See also: Support Groups & Services
ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA
Alzheimer’s Association 24-Hour Hotline...............800-272-3900 Alzheimer’s Association of Western Colorado......970-256-1274 Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, See ad page 35 .................................................970-640-7416 Cappella of Grand Junction, 628 26 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506 See ad page 13.............................................. 970-610-0040 Crossroads Senior Living, See ad page 2 .......970-874-1421 Day-by-Day Adult Daycare Center..................970-874-4195 Horizons Care Center, Eckert, See ad page 47 ................................................ 970-835-2600 Valley Manor Care Center, See ad page 47 .................................................970-249-9634 Western Slope Memory Care, See ad page 20 ................................................ 970-462-9696
See also: Support Groups & Services
CANCER
American Cancer Society...............................................303-758-2030 American Lung Association .........................................800-586-4872 Bosom Buddies, Breast Cancer Support Group ..970-252-2777 Cancer Information Service ........................................800-422-6237 Delta Health Oncology and Hematology ................970-399-2895 Montrose Regional Health...............................970-249-2211 Women’s Wellness Connection (free breast and cervical screenings).......................866-951-9355
See also: Support Groups & Services
CARDIAC REHAB
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681
CLINICS
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681 River Valley Family Health Center, See ad page 27 107 W 11th St., Delta.................................... 970-874-8981 1010 S Rio Grande Ave., Montrose...............970-497-3333 308 Main St., Olathe......................................970-323-6141 Pharmacy.......................................................970-787-2044 American Dental Association ......................................800-621-8099 Colorado Dental Association........................................303-740-6900 Montrose Dental Partners, See ad page 30 .................................................970-249-3330
DEPRESSION
The Center for Mental Health, See ad page 27 .................................................970-252-3200
DIABETES
American Diabetes Association...................................800-342-2383
See also: Support Groups & Services
DISABILITIES & REHABILITATION
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Delta.........................................................................................970-874-5781 Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Montrose.............................................................................. 970-249-4468 Colorow Care Center, Olathe, See ad page 36 ................................................ 970-323-5504 Department of Human Services, Delta....................970-874-2030 Department of Human Services, Montrose...........970-252-5000 Elk Ridge Health Rehabilitation Center, See ad page 32 ................................................ 970-249-9683 Handicap Car Placards, Delta County....................... 970-874-2150 Handicap Car Placards, Montrose County .............970-249-3362 Home Health of Western Colorado, See ad page 47 .................................................970-240-0139 Horizons Health Care & Retirement Community, See ad page 47 ................................................ 970-835-2600 Orchard Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center, See ad page 32 ................................................ 970-464-7500 Valley Manor Care Center, Montrose........................970-249-9634
EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Mobility Driven ................................................ 970-712-1435 SafeSpace Builders, See ad page 30.............. 970-462-9472
HEARING LOSS
AAA Hearing..................................................................................243-6440
HEART DISEASE
American Heart Association......................................www.heart.org Center for Wellness, Mountain View Therapy at Montrose Regional Health .............................................970-252-2646
SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute - Delta Cardiology, 296 Stafford Ln, Delta, CO 81416, See ad page 28.............................................. 970-298-3077
HOLISTIC THERAPY
Compass Medical Center, See ad page 16......970-252-3360
HOSPITALS & SURGICAL CENTERS
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681 Montrose Regional Health...............................970-249-2211 SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute - Delta Cardiology, 296 Stafford Ln, Delta, CO 81416, See ad page 28.............................................. 970-298-3077 SCL Health | St. Mary’s Medical Center, Grand Junction...................................................................970-298-2273 Veterans Affairs Medical Center..................................970-242-0731
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
Sunshine Rides, See ad page 6........................970-777-7777
MENTAL HEALTH CARE & COUNSELING
Suicide Prevention Help Line....................................... 800-273-8255 The Center for Mental Health, 300 N. Cascade Ave., Montrose 107 W. 11th St., Delta 110 W. Hotchkiss Ave., Hotchkiss 605 E. Miami Road, Montrose See ad page 27...............................................970-252-3200
See also: Support Groups & Services
NUTRITION
Compass Medical Center, See ad page 16..................................................970-252-3360 Nutrition & Diabetic Education, Montrose Regional Health ............................................. 970-240-7170
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Colorado West Ophthalmology Associates Delta.....................................................................................970-874-8821 Montrose.............................................................................970-249-1210
ORTHOPEDIC SERVICES
Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Sports Medicine & Spine................................ 970-878-9752
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Don’t Suffer in Pain
Neuropathy Regenerative Medicine Rehabilitative Therapy 309 S Cascade Ave, Montrose, CO 81401 . . . 970-252-3360
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681 Elk Ridge Health Rehabilitation Center, See ad page 32 ................................................ 970-249-9683 Montrose Regional Health ..............................................970-249-2211 Mountain View Therapy at Montrose Regional Health...................................................................970-240-7369
PHYSICIANS
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681 Montrose Regional Health ..............................................970-249-2211
SKIN CARE
Shawnee Professional Skin Care ................... 970-318-6944
SLEEP APNEA
Respiratory and Sleep Studies, Montrose Memorial Hospital ......................................970-240-7375
SPEECH THERAPY
Delta Health, See ad page 26 ..........................970-874-7681 Mountain View Therapy at Montrose Regional Health...................................................................970-240-7369
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Compass Medical Center, See ad page 16......970-252-3360
VASCULAR CARE
Personalized treatment for every patient Arteries - Vascular - Ultra Sound - Veins 360 W. Park Dr., Ste. 101B, Grand Junction . . .970-852-4847
VISION
Audio Information Network of Colorado................877-443-2001 Center for Independence ............................................... 970-822-7010 Colorado Center for the Blind.......................................303-778-1130 Colorado Talking Book Library ...................................800-685-2136 National Eye Institute Information Center..............301-496-5248
See also: Support Groups & Services
WEIGHT CONTROL
Compass Medical Center, See ad page 16......970-252-3360 TOPS Montrose..................................................................970-901-8697
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!
AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE INTEGRATED SERVICES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
MEDICAL
OLATHE
308 MAIN ST. 970.323.6141
DENTAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS PHARMACY CONV CARE ENIENT CLINIC
MONTROSE
1010 S. RIO GRANDE AVE. 970.497.3333
DELTA
107 WEST 11TH 970.874.8981
DELTA
CONVENIENT CARE CLINIC 155 STAFFORD LN.
RIVERVALLEYFHC.COM
Anxious, stressed, overwhelmed?
We’re here to get you through it.
• Free 24-Hour Support Line: 970.252.6220 Our trained staff can help you talk through challenges you may be facing and get you the support you need. • The Crisis Walk-in Center is open 24/7/365 at 300 N. Cascade in Montrose and offers convenient access to urgent behavioral health care needs. • Same Day Access for New Clients offered in Montrose, Delta and Gunnison. We proudly accept Medicaid and have sliding fee scale options for those who qualify.
