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This week’s edition of Our Health takes a look at St. Joseph Medical Center, one man’s efforts to help dialysis patients and more health inspections.
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Oak Forest man helps dialysis patients 1B ¡ Health Inspections 2B • Summer safety tips 3B
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Saturday, July 11, 2015 • Page 1B
St. Joseph Medical Center in the Heights remains committed to the community
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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
Major Hospitals
St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575
Contributed Photo Despite the closing the Heights Select Specialty Hospital, officials with St. Joseph Medical Center say they are here to stay.
(from general surgery, orthopedic, plastic, podiatric and much more) and other special services, like their noninvasive outpatient cardiology clinic. Currently, the hospital utilizes three floors of the (Select) building. Registration and the Emergency Department are located on the first floor of the hospital. The fifth floor contains all 48 patient rooms and the sixth floor houses the operating suites, post anesthesia care unit, day surgery unit,
pharmacy, lab and the administrative offices. Parking is free and the campus is conveniently located adjacent to several physician offices housed in the Heights Medical Tower. Although most SJMCH emergency room patients experience short wait times, the hospital is proud to offer online ER-check-in, where patients experiencing non-life threatening emergencies can check-in online, 24 hours a day and wait at home until
their allotted ER appointment time. “With this convenient tool, patients can then show up to the SJMCH ER and should be seen within 15 minutes of their appointment time,� Bielik adds. Exceptions will be made if another patient arrives with a life-threatening injury or illness. Appointments can be made on the hospital’s website at sjmcheights.com. See SJMCH, P. 2B
Oak Forest resident reaches out to Water-ful Delights dialysis patients with support group By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
Texas Medical Supply, Inc. 1906 W 18th St. Between Ella Blvd. & 610 N. Loop West Tel: 713-864-7636 www.txmedicalsuply.com
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Today’s Vision 1337B W. 43rd Street Houston, Texas 77018 Tel: 713-686-3221 www.TVOFH.com
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Contributed Photo Hemodialysis machines such the one seen here can be frustrating for first-time patients who desire peace and quiet while undergoing treatment.
1714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd) Houston, TX 77008 Tel: (713) 880-4000 www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net
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See Support, P. 3B
Water – we know we need it for hydration and health, but for some of us the H2O can get a little monotonous. Instead of reaching for a prepackaged flavored water, how about using nature’s bounty to flavor it yourself ? Leader readers chimed in on their favorite ways to imbue their water with a little oomph. Cucumber was a big favorite for many. Davina Jennings does cucumber, lemon, lime and mint. “I usually wash them, cut them up, put it in a big glass with some ice and water and within 15 minutes, I already taste the flavors. For maximum taste, you can leave it in a pitcher overnight,� she said. “The Locals provide their share of creative only problem is the water infusions to quench that summint goes bad very mer thirst. quickly so I’m currently trying to find an alternative.� Bobbi Leder adds ginger to her cucumber concoction too. Laura Olvera said that although she’s all about cucumber slices, lime and mint right now - “last summer I was obsessed with using watermelon too.� Melanie Carranza still likes her water with watermelon, lime and mint. “Add to carbonated water for an extra kick,� she said. Tim Louque said he read a tip on Facebook that makes good use of strawberries: “When you buy strawberries and clean them, put the tops that you cut off in a picture of water and let sit in the refrigerator overnight.� Emily Zihlman said her son Cooper loves when she makes water with strawberry (10 large ones sliced), lemon (about 2 sliced), and muddled mint with honey. “I let it steep overnight in the fridge,� she said. Carrie Griffin is a fan of raspberries and mint, or some cantaloupe pieces. She crushes them lightly and adds water. “I shake it up and drink immediately, adding more water as it runs low,� said Griffin. “So the fruit is never removed until I finish the water and eat it.� She also suggests the Young & More Fruit Infused Water Bottle, available on Amazon, for infusing water on the go. Tara Lehr adds a couple of drops of lemon oil or citrus
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Eston Burciaga knows the ups and downs of being a dialysis patient better than most. As someone suffering from End Stage Renal Disease, Burciaga has been receiving dialysis treatment since 2001 and there was a time when he had lost all hope when it came to maintaining his quality of life. About a year ago, Burciaga started his own support group for those facing similar challenges, and he’s hoping his story will encourage more patients to participate. “One of the bad things about hemodialysis, especially when you start, is that when you’re sitting in a chair for four hours you want to be in your own world,� Burciaga said. “Unfortunately, each of the machines have an alarm which sounds off regularly. That was hard to get used to for the first couple of months.� Burciaga discovered there was also an athome dialysis treatment option, where patients would only have to receive treatment for two-and-a-half hours instead of four. The catch, however, is he would have to receive dialysis for four or five days a week as opposed to the three he was receiving at the
time. After a year of the at-home treatment, Burciaga said depression began to set in. “I started seeing a therapist and talking things through with a psychiatrist,� Burciaga said. “After about a year-and-a-half I just couldn’t take it anymore.� While the shorter dialysis time had seemed like a good deal at the start, after an hour or more of prep time to get the at-home machine up and running and then another hour to tear it down turned the convenience into frustration. “Another one of the negative aspects was that my partner and I had very little contact with other people while doing this,� Burciaga said. “One of the benefits doing it the other way is that you see people – nurses, doctors, other patients – when you might only see others maybe once a month.� Combined with unease about his condition, the isolation and the awkwardness of relying on machinery day in and day out, Burciaga fought against clinical depression for years and moved from at-home treatment to receiving dialysis at a local center before
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If you frequently travel down Ashland or 19th Streets, you should know exactly where St. Joseph Medical Center in the Heights (SJMCH) is located. Since the hospital opened in the Fall of 2012, it has shared the same campus of the now closed Select Specialty Hospital. “With the closing of the Heights Select Specialty Hospital location, many community members have been wondering if our hospital would be closing our doors as well,� said Jeff Bielik, SJMCH’s Administrative Director. “Let me put those thoughts to rest. St. Joseph Medical Center in the Heights is open and will remain fully operational. We are a separate entity from Select and will continue to offer a wide range of hospital services to the community. We’ve provided care for thousands of Heights area residents and plan on serving thousands more in the years ahead,� adds Bielik. SJMCH is a community hospital that is equipped to handle most medical emergencies, surgeries and illnesses. In addition to a skilled and compassionate nursing team, patient care is supported by the onsite lab, as well as the dietary, diagnostic imaging, respiratory and pharmacy departments. The hospital offers a 24-hour physician-staffed Emergency Department, 48 private rooms for inpatient care, diagnostic imaging (Cat scan, ultrasound and x-ray), surgical services
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See Water, P. 2B
Know where to go when an EMERGENCY happens. Emergencies happen every day and when they do, minutes count. Make St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights your first choice for emergency care.
in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street, Houston, TX 77008 sjmcheights.com | 713-969-5400
T.C. JESTER BLVD.
• Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Physician Staffed • Short Wait Times • Diagnostic Imaging • Surgical Services • Wait at home - Online ER Check-in powered by InQuickerTM for non-life threatening emergencies