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JULY 23, 2015

medic911.com

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VitaMin Vital health information in a minute TODAY’S SPECIAL: Decoding the menu Decoding restaurant menus can be a challenge. Fancy terms like “beurre” or “velouté” may sound exotic, but they’re also code for drenched in butter and full of fat. So how can you call out these culprits and avoid the extra fat and calories? Look for clues on restaurant menus that can help you make smart choices that don’t weigh you down.

High-fat menu clues

Sensible meat selections

Anything that is fried, sautéed, crispy, creamy or breaded is likely higher in fat. Sometimes fancier terms are used to describe these options on menus, but don’t be fooled by the restaurant lingo. Aioli = a type of mayonnaise Au gratin = baked with butter and cheese, topped with breadcrumbs Béarnaise = butter-based sauce with egg yolks and white wine Ghee = a type of clarified butter Hollandaise = butter-based sauce with egg yolks and lemon juice Refried = (usually beans) mashed and fried in melted lard or vegetable oil Smothered = covered in heavy sauce or cheese Tempura = batter- fried

When ordering meat, choose the leanest cuts and limit portion sizes.

Lower-fat menu clues When looking over the menu, scan for keywords that signal healthier choices like baked, braised, broiled, grilled, lean, poached, roasted, steamed or stewed. Sneak in vegetables wherever you can – a garden salad, brothbased soup or side of asparagus are all healthy choices. You can also ask for steamed or grilled vegetables seasoned with herbs instead of a cream sauce.

A serving of meat is 3 to 4 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards). Leanest beef cuts = round steaks and roasts, top loin, top sirloin, chuck shoulder and arm roasts Leanest pork choices = pork loin, tenderloin, center loin and ham Leanest chicken choices = boneless, skinless chicken breasts Leanest turkey choices = turkey breast cutlets Au jus = in its own juice. Meat served “au jus” or with a light dipping sauce may be a healthier alternative to meat served with thick gravy.

Still undecided? Ask to see the nutrition information, or ask your server if they can recommend a healthy option that may not be on the menu. If portion sizes are big, order an appetizer instead of an entrée, share your meal with a friend or box up half to take home.

This is intended to be general health information and not medical advice or services. You should consult your doctor for medical advice or services, including seeking advice prior to undertaking a new diet or exercise program.

“Cigna” and the “Tree of Life” logo are registered service marks, and “Together, all the way.” is a service mark, of Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc., licensed for use by Cigna Corporation and its operating subsidiaries. All products and services are provided by or through such operating subsidiaries and not by Cigna Corporation. Such operating subsidiaries include Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health Management, Inc., Cigna Behavioral Health, Inc., vielife Limited, and HMO or service company subsidiaries of Cigna Health Corporation and Cigna Dental Health, Inc. All models are used for illustrative purposes only. 874699a 08/15 © 2015 Cigna. Some content provided under license.

medic911.com

As previously noted, the latest Performance Pay Tracking Period began on July 1st. We are striving to meet the Patient Satisfaction goal of a ≥ 68% rating (experience as “Excellent”). In order to create a comfortable margin of performance, while continuing to improve the patient experience, we would like to share some feedback from recent patient focus groups. The two areas that patients value the most are: 1. Communication from the treating crew: “Explain treatment options and procedures” “Provide reassurance and compassionate communication with the patient” 2. Setting clear expectations: “Set transport length expectation” “Set a triage level expectation before arriving at the hospital”

SEPTEMBER 2014

medic911.com

I got bronchitis again and went to my doctor’s office. He told me I shouldn’t get bronchitis once a year; let alone twice a year. My mother had developed emphysema and that was all I needed to hear: I quit for the last time. As I was recuperating, I was too sick to eat let alone smoke. So I used that as my opportunity. I literally sat on my hands to keep myself from grabbing my husband’s pack of ciga rettes. . I kept telling myself that I made it through one day without smoking I could make it to two days, then three days . . . Cynthia Jefferson Medic’s, Revenue Cycle Supervisor

medic911.com

I started smoking when I was 16 because a lot of my friends were smoking. That was back in the day when you could send a toddler into the liquor store to buy a 40 oz (beer)! We could always buy a pack of cigarettes somewhere. We would smoke on the way to school and smoke on the way home. We walked to school back then (remember those stories… I used to walk 20 miles to school …..) Well…. I used to walk 2 miles to school every day. No big deal I had my bunch of smoking girlfriends with me. Smoking never appealed to me though. It sometimes gave me a stomach ache, my lungs hurt, and I stank like an ashtray. I married a smoker. So I had no one to encourage me to quit. My mom, dad and one of my sisters smoked. I quit in the 90’s because I used to get bronchitis twice a year and would use that opportunity to quit again and again and again. But living with a smoker made it so easy to start again. As a youngster I was always very active. Dancing was my thang. Ballet, modern dance, gymnastics etc. In the 1980s came aerobics so I was able to get back into exercise but found I was huffing and puffing through every hour of class. I got bronchitis again and went to my doctor’s office. He told me I shouldn’t get bronchitis once a year; let alone twice a year. My mother had developed emphysema and that was all I needed to hear: I quit for the last time. As I was recuperating, I was too sick to eat let alone smoke. So I used that as my opportunity. I literally sat on my hands to keep myself from grabbing my husband’s pack of cigarettes. I kept telling myself that I made it through one day without smoking I could make it to 2 days, then 3 days and so on. As I started to feel better, I started doing jumping jacks or dancing or going up and down stairs to get myself out of breath so I wouldn’t want to start smoking again. I gained a few pounds but found that with exercise I was able to swing back into my normal weight. I chewed gum which I loved because it was like a reward…. All sweet and minty!

I would get cravings. But realized if I just rode it out, a craving was like a wave: it would crest then subside. My exercise routine really helped because I was keeping myself occupied and was improving my body/health at the same time. After I quit for a year or so, smelling smoke would make me sick to my stomach. I’ve been smoke free for 20 years and don’t even think about… ever!! I still have this great feeling that I took back control of my life and am doing everything I can to be the healthiest person I can be. I also saw the difference in my wallet. I remember opening my wallet and being surprised that I still had some money it. Smoking starting to become very expensive, shoot… it still is! $50.00 a carton. Are you kidding me! Quitting smoking was the best move I ever made, besides coming to work for Medic!

SEPTEMBER 2014

medic911.com

AUG COMPLIANCE Sat, Aug 1 Thu, Aug 6 Wed, Aug 12 Thu, Aug 21 Mon, Aug 24

1600 - 2000 0800 - 1200 1300 - 1700 1200 - 1600 0800 - 1200

AUG IN-SERVICE Tue, Aug 18 Wed, Aug 19 Thu, Aug 20 Fri, Aug 21 Mon, Aug 24 Wed, Aug 26 Thu, Aug 27

REQUIRED ATTENDANCE Brent Cail, Ed Clay, Janine Curlee, Jai-An Davidson, Jeffrey Davidson, Jim Emerson, Matthew Hestwood, Kendall Hicks, Cathy Jordan, Eric Koelbl, Matthew Losh, Ron Martin, Beth Pethel, Patrick Pfund, Claudia Tetenbaum, Nayyar Toqeer and Sterlynn White. PLEASE NOTE: If your Annual Performance Review was in July and you did not attend the July class, you must contact Amy Broughton to attend a August class.

INFORMATION UPDATES • Please register for your Corporate Compliance Training session through LMS. • The duration of the Medic Safety & Compliance Training sessions is up to 4 hours. • Attendees will be paid for the total time spent in class. • Each employee, with an Annual Performance Review within that same month, MUST attend one of the available Compliance Training Sessions. • Compliance sessions are held next to the Medic Fitness Center. 6

medic911.com

1000 - 1400 1200 - 1600 1000 - 1400 0800 - 1200 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 1800 - 2200

For more information on Corporate Compliance Class or if you need directions, please contact Amy Broughton at amyb@medic911.com.

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

AUG 2015

THU

FRI

SAT

1 COMPLIANCE 1600 - 2000

6 COMPLIANCE 0800 - 1200

12 COMPLIANCE 1300 - 1700

18 INSERVICE 1000 - 1400

19 INSERVICE 1200 - 1600

20 INSERVICE 1000 - 1400

21 COMPLIANCE 1200 - 1600

INSERVICE 0800 - 1200 23

24 COMPLIANCE 0800 - 1200

26 INSERVICE 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200

27 INSERVICE 1800 - 2200

INSERVICE 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 30

AUG 11 OR 12 5:30pm 1429 BRYANT STREET CHARLOTTE, NC

SEPTEMBER 2014 RSVP by Jul 31st, 5pm by visiting medic911.com, click on About Medic, then 2015 Employee Recognition Event to register you and your family. medic911.com

Back to School season is just around the corner. Tis the season to be stressed. The change from the routines of summer to a new schedule, new teachers and perhaps a new school and soon, homework, are often identified as causes of back-to-school stress for students. CBC News turned to psychiatrist Dr. Shimi Kang, the medical director for Child and Youth Mental Health for Vancouver for advice. Kang also teaches at the University of British Columbia and authored the 2014 book, The Dolphin Way: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy, and Motivated Kids Without Turning Into a Tiger. Kang notes that although we don’t want kids growing up with serious stress, “we also don’t want them growing up in a bubble. A little bit of adversity is definitely not a bad thing,” she adds. GOOD SLEEP CRITICAL Dr. Kang’s key prescription for reducing stress is good sleep. Good sleep is Dr. Kang’s key anti-stress prescription for kids. Kang views good sleep as the foundation of physical and mental health. Without it, children may have problems with behavior, alertness, irritability, sadness and/or anger. And that’s just in the short term. She recommends 12 hours per night of sleep for pre-schoolers and then ten hours for kids into their teen years. And, although she notes it’s easier said than done, she recommends starting kids on their school sleep routine at least a week

before school starts. EAT WELL, DRINK WATER, EXERCISE AND BREATH DEEPLY. Good sleep is a good start, but a good diet, drinking enough water and exercising can also significantly reduce stress. Breakfast is especially important, with studies showing that the students who get one do better in school. “Our receptors in our lungs, when they are expanded fully, send a message to our brain that we’re OK.” Kang teaches deep breathing to her patients but notes

a few, “give up too easily or aren’t getting deep enough.” Those are the priorities for stress reduction. Then parents can add the next level. SET A POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC TONE Kang recommends parents, “Bring a tone of optimism and excitement to the beginning of school, focus on the positive aspects of learning, of expanding your mind, of meeting new people, of friendships,” because that’s usually contagious.

“Humans respond to their environment so if the environment is stressful then we will pick up that stress but if the environment is positive and optimistic, then we will pick that up,” Kang tells CBC News. Even if a child looks forward to going back to school, “that change can still be stressful in the biological sense,” as stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are still released. BUILD IN DAILY DOWNTIME “Without down time, time to integrate what they’ve seen, time to reflect, observe or just take some deep breaths,” kids may get stressed. That brings us to Kang’s three ‘overs,’ things parents shouldn’t do: 1. Don’t over-schedule: “Some schedules are great but too much throw us out of balance, especially in the transition back to school,” from the freedom that usually comes with summer. 2. Don’t over-instruct: Parents “are often tempted to step in too soon and provide instruction,” but kids do “have the ability to solve their own problems.” Kang adds, “Parents are there to help them as opposed to tell them how to manage their life.” 3. Don’t over-protect: “Children are meant to learn through trial and error.” Kang says non-fatal mistakes provide important learning opportunities. For more information or to read the entire article, visit cbc.ca.