The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 • Page 1B
Some medical appointments can’t wait
Preferred Health
By Betsy Denson
DIRECTORY
betsy@theleadernews.com
Like many, the Hindi family in Oak Forest has been putting off its regular doctor visits. “We are in pretty strict lockdown over here,” Andrea Hindi said. “The entire family is overdue for dental checkups. (My daughter) is overdue for her annual checkup. The dog is due for shots soon, but that, too, will get pushed until the last possible minute.” A late June poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation said about half of adults polled (52 percent) say they or another family member in their household skipped or postponed some type of medical or dental care because of the coronavirus pandemic, including 42 percent who personally skipped or postponed care. Dental care was the most likely to be skipped or postponed, followed by regular check-ups or physical exams. Dr. Deepti Mishra, vice president of medical operations with Memorial Hermann Medical Group, said they are encouraging patients to come in for routine check-ups since they have safe wait measures in place. “Pediatric patients need to stay on track with routine vaccinations and we want to ensure that we are doing routine mammograms (and) colonoscopies,” Mishra said. “The problem with waiting on routine screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies is that you may delay diagnosis and find cancer at a more advanced stage. It’s much better to find these conditions early to begin immediate treatment.” Mishra noted that the elderly population especially is avoiding inperson annual wellness visits. “We are trying to do them virtually as they are a more vulnerable population,” she said. To put others at ease, Memorial Hermann is implementing a “Safe Wait” measure that enforces social distancing in its waiting areas, staggering scheduled appointments and, when necessary, asking patients to wait in their vehicles for their appointments. Additional safety enhancements include screening for all employees, physicians and patients upon entering any Memorial Hermann facility, including Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital at 1635 N Loop W. They provide a surgical mask to wear after people clear the screening process. Employees and physicians caring for patients will be provided the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). And infection prevention control best practices, including the thorough cleaning and sterilization efforts in between each patient visit, will continue. All patients scheduled for surgery are tested for COVID-19. While some appointments can be
Chiropractic Care
NORTHWEST CHIROPRACTIC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com Internal Medicine
Dr. Jaclyn Harrison Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Obstetrics / Gynecology
Stock photo Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Houston doctor said wellness screenings such as mammograms should not be put off.
Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
Dr. Deepti Mishra
handled through a telehealth visit, some can’t. Some exceptions to consider are physicals, gynecological exams and some cardiac symptoms (chest pain and palpitations) that are likely better seen in person. “Memorial Hermann implemented telehealth rapidly in mid-March,” Mishra said. “During the stay-athome shelter the majority (80 percent) of our visits were telehealth visits. We continue to see 20-30 percent of our visits (through) telehealth.”
Stock photo It’s important for children to continue receiving their scheduled vaccinations, according to Dr. Deepti Mishra with Memorial Hermann Medical Group.
Plan meals for upcoming school year
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Oak Forest resident Amy Lucas says planning your meals ahead of time comes with an array of benefits. According to Lucas, a chef and dietitian who is an independent contractor with Nutrition in Motion and has been consulting with individuals since 2015, meal prepping and planning saves money and time, makes it easier to eat healthy, decreases stress and allows a person to get more done with less effort. During this time of stress, meal planning for the upcoming school year might be the best plan of action. Meal planning is writing out what you want to cook and meal prepping is preparing the food for when you want to cook and eat it. If someone is new to meal prep and planning, Lucas said starting is easy. “I would start with just writing down some of your favorite dishes, then from there, you’d want to map it out,” Lucas said. “What’s already in your pantry, what do you want to eat and what do you need to get from the store?” When prepping, Lucas recommends finding dishes that use the foods you already have in the fridge, freezer and pantry so that when you go shopping, you can save money and not waste what you already have.
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Dr. B.G. Vachhani will be retiring on 09/15/2020. Dr. Vakil will continue to see patients at this office and you may choose to continue your care with him. If you have another preference, medical records are available at your request. Stock photo Meal prepping has been said to decrease stress while saving time and money, according to Oak Forest resident and chef Amy Lucas. She suggests starting with prepping for 3-5 days ahead of time.
Some people prep for the whole week on Sunday and others break the week in half and prep twice. Sometimes that entails cooking on those prep days, but others cook fresh every night. “Consider chopping all your vegetables and then cooking them fresh each night,” Lucas said. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if someone is new to meal prepping. It’s important to go at your own pace. “Start with 2-3 recipes and then add more as you get better at preparing meals,” Lucas said. Lucas also said a mistake people often make is overprepping by planning their
meals for all seven days of the week. This doesn’t leave room for unplanned interruptions from kids, working late or just not wanting to cook, which results in wasted food. So start with prepping for 3-5 days and adjust as needed. Lucas said breakfast is probably the easiest meal for which to prep but is often overlooked. “Have breakfast ready to go or a quick reheat,” Lucas said. “Protein muffins, boiled eggs peeled and kept in the fridge in water, yogurt, fruit and granola parfaits, egg bakes, overnight oatmeal or oatmeal you simply reheat and add fresh fruit as a topping.”
For kids’ lunches, you can do away with Lunchables and make bento boxes with lean protein, cheese, fruit, veggies and crackers. “Include items they enjoy and sneak in a few healthier options like chocolate hummus with apples,” Lucas said. Lucas said all her clients are different. Some love cooking fresh and others hate cooking in general. It’s all about finding what works for you, your family and your schedule. If you want to skip figuring it out on your own, Lucas can help. Visit her website, chefcraftednutrition.com, for more information on meal plans.
Dr. B.G. Vachhani 1801 North Loop West #42 Houston, TX 77008 713-869-0115
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