SCOPE Magazine June 2012

JUNE 2012 VOL. 28, NO. 3 MASON GENERAL HOSPITAL & FAMILY OF CLINICS

Some types of

Vertigo can be treated… page 3 New Surgery wing

to open late summer… page 13

The Birth Center

Surpassing patient expectations… page 2

quality Birth Center wins Fraser family’s hearts From the moment Ben and Chelsea

Fraser stepped into The Birth Center at Mason General Hospital on the day their son was born, they were very impressed.

“Everyone was so kind to us. The nurses were incredible. They were so helpful and encouraging during my recovery, as we were getting comfortable caring for our new son,” Chelsea Fraser said. She and her husband, Ben welcomed their firstborn son, Elkanah on February 9.

When there’s a

baby on the way...

We deliver.

The Birth Center at MGH provides a calming

atmosphere of family-supported birth and your own, personalized Birth Plan. With your choice of pain control in labor – from epidural to natural birth, and high-tech assistance when needed – The Birth Center gives you the very best in care, with all the comforts of home.

Call The Birth Center at MGH, (360) 426-1611 to learn more, or visit us online at www.MasonGeneral.com.

CMYKbreastfeeding pumps and supplies?

Need Call The Birth Center at (360) 427-9558. Or go to www.MasonGeneral.com.

2 S C O P E

The quality of care exceeded their expectations across the board, from the nursing staff, to the anesthetist, to boardcertified Obstetrician/Gynecologist Lystra Wilson-Celestine, M.D., who performed the cesarean section for the delivery of their son – who was born breech. “I’m certain I was in the presence of absolute brilliance at work. To witness them actually performing the procedure was remarkable, and Dr. Wilson-Celestine was magnificent throughout not only the surgery, but with every consultation up to that point. There was never a moment where I felt we were not in good hands,” Ben Fraser added.

“To say that Dr. Wilson-Celestine was anything but brilliant from start to finish would be an understatement.

As a husband (and now a father) it is my responsibility to see to it that I am providing the greatest opportunity for my family’s success. I know that we will have many good years to come with Dr. Wilson-Celestine, and I am eager for the next time we will get to see her,” he continued.

In fact, he commended the performance of the entire personnel in The Birth Center. “It was truly remarkable to be in the presence of professionals with such depth of knowledge. They were there when we needed them every time,” he said. “I will be eternally grateful for the support from everyone at Mason General, and what they did for my family. We will never forget it.”

The local couple selected Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics for their son’s birth not only for its convenient location, but also because of its outstanding reputation. “We wanted to have Elkanah at Mason General because it was

important for us to be close to home.

Also, the Birth Center at MGH is one of the most incredible labor and delivery departments in the state, and we knew we would be well taken care of,” Chelsea said.

The Hospital staff lived up to this reputation, too. “I know everyone has a different experience but ours was wonderful. The entire staff was there to help, and more importantly, to educate and guide us along the way. Without their individual efforts we would not have had the same great outcome,” Ben said.

Following their son’s birth, the Frasers enjoyed a meal served in their private delivery suite. “The food is excellent.

They brought it to our room very promptly and were very courteous,” Chelsea said. The Frasers also signed up for Mason General’s new breast pump rental program.

“We truly had a wonderful experience.

If we were to have another child we would, without question, go to The Birth Center at Mason General Hospital again, and we recommend anyone else having a child in Mason County to go there as well,” she added.

Clinical Coordinator Mary Harmening, R.N.C., said this isn’t the first time Mason General has received glowing praise from its Birth Center patients. “We get thank-you notes all the time,” she said.

Current hospital renovations include updated amenities and expansions to The Birth Center, with new operating rooms for cesarean deliveries located right next to it.

On the cover: Ben, Chelsea and Elkanah Fraser. Cover portrait by Cooper Studios.

Feeling dizzy?

Try Physical Therapy V

ertigo – a dizzying, spinning sensation – is a very common health problem.

Fortunately, in many cases treatments exist. “Physical therapy can quickly treat Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, also known as BPPV,” said Physical Therapist Cheryl Woods, director of Rehabilitation Services for Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics. She has worked at Mason General for 26 years.

Woods recommends anyone experiencing dizziness to consult his or her physician to rule out any other cause of the dizziness. “If a physician determines the vertigo is due to a problem with the vestibular system – a mechanism in the inner ear involved with balance control – then physical therapy can help, and the physician may prescribe it,” Woods said.

Vestibular rehabilitation is the best treatment for vertigo in this case, and Mason General Hospital’s Physical Therapy department provides it. The vestibular system senses a person’s head position and sends input to the brain to keep the person steady.

Small calcium particles that are out of place in the vestibular canals of the inner ear cause BPPV. Vestibular rehabilitation involves symptom-specific, individualized exercise to decrease dizziness and improve balance function. continued on page 12…

Cheryl Woods, a physical therapist and director of Rehabilitation Services at MGH & FC, demonstrates a balancing exercise.

Shelton Family Medicine and Dr. Shah make a great team Payal Shah, M.D.

From the time Dr. Payal Shah was 5 years old, she knew she was going to be a

physician. “And as I got older, it just gradually became more appealing,” she said.

Part of her influence came from her aunt and her great uncle, who were both physicians. Dr. Shah remembers visiting her aunt’s clinic many times when she was growing up. “My parents very much looked up to my aunt,” she said.

Later, as she had the chance to observe medical professionals in the field, Dr. Shah was certain she wanted to pursue a medical career. “It’s really nice when you can help people feel better,” she said.

Now a board-certified family physician, Dr. Shah has been with Shelton Family Medicine, part of Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics, since July, 2011.

Originally from Chicago, she graduated from Ross University School of Medicine, North Brunswick, New Jersey in 2007. She went on to do her post graduate training at the Montgomery Family Practice Center, Norristown, Pennsylvania, completing her residency at Montgomery Hospital.

What fascinates Dr. Shah about medicine is the diversity of ailments it presents, and the many different patients she sees daily. “Every patient is unique,” she said.

In many cases, she and her staff are able to provide patients continued on page 12…

SCOPE 3

get moving Shelton Springs Disc Golf Course offers family-friendly fun

Mason County Disc Golf Association member, Rich Baker tosses discs into one of the baskets at the Shelton Springs Disc Golf Course.

Are you looking for a fun, new way to

work out this summer? Try disc golf!

The Mason County Disc Golf Association (MCDGA) has a Disc Golf course in Shelton!

18 holes, 50 acres Located at 3674 North Shelton Springs Road – near Shelton High School – the 18-hole disc golf course spans 50 acres.

The facility opened in October of 2010, is free of charge, and open to the public in daylight hours every day except during tournaments. The new park 4 S C O P E

features two color-coded tee pads per hole. The red course is 6,700 feet long and the black course is 8,000 feet long.

“We have a good player base here in Shelton,” said Rich Baker, sergeant of arms and course warden. He enjoys playing disc golf three or four times a week in the summertime. He says he sees about 20 others at the park on weekdays, and many more on weekends, with players ranging in age from children to seniors.

The rules are very similar to conventional

golf, except that distances are measured in feet rather than yards, and the object is to toss a disc into a basket with suspended chains, instead of putting a ball into a hole in the ground, explained MCDGA Vice President Chris Auseth.

“We get a lot of positive feedback from people,” added Baker, who fell in love with the sport about four years ago. “It’s a good family sport, and it’s good for the community.”

The Mason County Disc Golf Association opened its new park with the

cooperation of Shelton Parks and Recreation, and the Public Works department which leases the property to the Association at a very reasonable rate.

Additional courses MCDGA also has two nine-hole disc golf courses in Mason County. One is located at Lake Isabella State Park, and the other is on the Mason County Christian School premises and is open to the public during non-school hours. Users are asked to fill out a form before playing the course, which can be obtained by calling the school at (360) 426-7616.

Go ahead, give in to your curiosity For more information about the Mason County Disc Golf Association, visit their website at www.masoncountydiscgolf.com.

For information about disc golf parks in the area, go to www.dgcoursereview.com.

Get inspired!

Check out the Senior Games – all summer long Who said you’re too old to play? A number of top regional Puget Sound Senior Games

are on this summer! Three area venues will host Olympic-style sporting events for athletic men and women, aged 50 and up. This year is also a qualifying year for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio. Information about the Puget Sound Senior Games can be found online at www.pugetsoundgames.com, or call (360) 413-0148.

Right now, the Northwest Senior Games are under way. Featuring a dozen different sports, including ice hockey and track & field, the events will take place in the greater Seattle area until July 22. For more information, go to www.northwestseniorgames.org, or call (206) 755-3588.

Closer to home, the Washington State Senior Games will run from July 26 through 29 – with a few scheduling exceptions – in Olympia. Along with competitions in cycling, archery, dance, golf, soccer, badminton, and softball, to name a few, the games will also coincide with a traditional Native American cultural event – the Paddle to Squaxin canoe journey and tribal gathering. For more information call (360) 413-0148.

The Bremerton West Sound Senior Games will run from July 6 to 9 throughout the greater Bremerton area. In its ninth year, the games boast 15 different sports, including disc golf. For more information, go to www.ci.bremerton.wa.us, or call (360) 473-5357.

The Olympic Peninsula Senior Games will take place from August 24 through 26 in the greater Port Angeles area, offering a selection of 18 competitive sports. For more information, go to www.olympicpeninsulaseniorgames.com, or call (360) 457-7004.

Get your kids moving this summer!

There’s always something to do at Shelton Parks and Rec

Summer is here, kids! What are you going to do with your

summer vacation? Shelton’s Parks and Recreation department has plans to keep local children busy with a wide variety of activities. Upcoming sports activities include volleyball and cheerleading camps, basketball camps for boys and girls, and tennis lessons. Teens aged 16 and up will be able to participate in Yoga and Tai Chi classes. “While ages vary depending on the activity, most of the youth sports will be geared for children between the ages of 8 and 14,” said Shelton Parks and Recreation Director Mark Ziegler.

South Mason Youth Soccer Club will also provide summer activities for area kids. For more information about the Soccer Club call (360) 432-0560, or go to www.smysc.org/home.php.

Mason County’s Parks and Trails department maintains several park and trail facilities throughout the area. The variety of amenities available at the different parks include: athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic sites, skate ramps, hiking courses, running trails, and waterfront access for fishing and boating. For details, go to: www.co.mason.wa.us/parks/county_parks.php.

Additionally, Shelton Parks and Recreation will offer a selection of art classes for children between the ages of 8 and 16. Kids aged 12 and up may also register for babysitting training courses. For more information on Shelton Parks and Recreation summer activities, go to: www.ci.shelton.wa.us/parkrec.php, or call Mark Ziegler at (360) 432-5194.

SCOPE 5

caring McMullin family learns firsthand –

Organ donors give new life to others Though his

health had been deteriorating in recent years, his passing still came suddenly. On October 25, 2011, David McMullin, age 62, had gone to work as a salesman for Tacoma Electric Supply, just like every other day.

David and Tracy McMullin He and two of his granddaughters played together before he went to bed that evening. A few hours later, Mr. McMullin was taken to Mason General Hospital, where he died of heart failure.

When his family learned of the Hospital’s tissue donation service, they decided to register him as an organ donor through Northwest Tissue Center. “Because all of our kids were there and they were supportive of making the donation, we all agreed to it,” recalled Tracy McMullin, his widow. “It was a family decision.”

“We felt it would be nice to be able to help someone else through our loss. Somehow it gives you a good feeling to think that someone else can benefit in some way,” Mrs. McMullin added.

David McMullin, a veteran of the U.S. Army, who served one tour in Germany and two tours in Viet Nam, had loved reading, working in his yard, and being with his family. He left behind his wife and three grown children – Burk and Blake McMullin, and Autumn Harlow. There are also five grandchildren – Brooklyn, Archaya, Madison, Makai, and Morgan. Mrs. McMullin continues to teach second grade at Mountain View Elementary School in Shelton, where she has taught for 38 years now.

“At first, David’s donation of his bones, corneas, and tendons to help other patients recover from their conditions seemed surreal,” Mrs. McMullin said. Then she received a letter from a woman who had been able to regain her vision thanks to her husband’s cornea donation. “I think it became more real for us after we got the letter. It made the family feel good, and comforted that we were able to help someone regain their eyesight. What greater gift could someone give?”

Mason General Hospital was recently recognized for their service to patients for corneal and other tissue donations by the Northwest Tissue Center – a part of Puget Sound Blood Center, and by SightLife™ – an affiliate of the NW Lions Foundation.

6 S C O P E

Change thoughts to treat anxiety Although medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are usually helpful, the best treatment for most anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – either individual or group therapy. Studies have found that the benefits of CBT last longer than those of drug therapy.

The cognitive portion aims at helping patients change their negative thought patterns – understanding that they are not helpless, even though they may feel so, in an anxiety-provoking situation.

Changing the patient’s behavior sometimes involves over-exposure to the situation that triggers the anxiety.

For example, a person with a phobia of closed spaces might be asked to stay in such a place for increased periods of time, but with help available to ease feelings of anxiety.

[SOURCE: National Institute of Mental Health, “Anxiety disorders, “NIH Publication No. 09 3879, 2009]

Spotting a serious allergic reaction A person with a food allergy can develop a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction within minutes or several hours after eating even a small quantity of the allergenic food.

Observers should watch for the signs: skin symptoms such as redness, itching or hives swollen lips either difficulty breathing or a drop in blood pressure

Emergency treatment is required.

[SOURCE: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “Food allergy: an overview, NIH Publication 11 5518, November, 2010]

Employee focus Jessica Haynes, R.N., emergency department, has worked at MGH since 2005, when she started as a nurse technologist while attending Nursing school at South Puget Sound Community College. Upon graduation in 2006, she remained with MGH, working full-time in the ED. She recently switched to parttime after the birth of her son. “I love my job because of the variety it has to offer,” said Jessica, upon receiving her award.

“It’s so fulfilling to be able to make a difference in someone’s day by helping them to feel better.”

Employees of the Month Congratulations to MGH & FC “Employee of the Month” for May – Melissa Chappell, business office; and for June – Alice Brown, respiratory therapy.

Welcome new staff Rick Smith is MGH & FC’s new Chief Financial Officer. He began working for the Hospital and its eight Clinics the end of March, following Merle Brandt’s retirement. Rick comes to MGH & FC with a combined 25 years of director’s experience in finance and in revenue cycle, and as interim CFO at an area hospital.

He is a CPA and has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting.

Lucinda Boudreau, PA-C, recently began seeing patients at MGH Shelton Family Medicine. She received her Master’s degree as a physician assistant from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010, and is board-certified with the National

Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Congratulations Cheryl Woods, a licensed physical therapist, was recently reappointed as Director of Rehabilitation Services for MGH & FC. She served as director of the Physical Therapy (PT) department from 1986 to 2000, when she stepped down to work part-time. At present, the Rehabilitation Services department has nine employees, including physical therapists, PT assistants, receptionists, technicians, and a speech therapist. Cheryl grew up in Shelton, graduating from Shelton High School in 1980, and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in 1984.

Breast pumps for new moms now available at MGH Expecting a baby soon? MGH & FC would like to make nursing easier on mothers by offering breast pumps and accessories locally. Available either for purchase or rental, breast pumps offer lactating mothers options for flexibility when dealing with busy schedules. The Birth Center at MGH provides Medela Symphony breast pumps and educational support for its nursing personnel, and is now making them available to new mothers through rental. MGH Auxiliary Gift Shop, temporarily located downstairs across from the cafeteria, is selling highquality, hospital-grade electric and manual breast pumps featuring a convenient, backpack-style bag, along with a selection of quality lactation supplies. The Gift Shop is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may call them at (360) 426-1611 extension 3307, or view their price list

for breastfeeding supplies online at the Hospital website. If you have questions about breast pump rental, call (360) 427-9558.

Classes/Support Groups CPR Free Community CPR class in July A FREE Adult, Child, and Infant Basic Life Support CPR class is being offered on Thursday, July 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at MGH & FC’s Learning Center, located next to McDonald’s on Olympic Highway North. Class size is limited, so please preregister by calling The Learning Center at (360) 427-3609. This is not a First Aid class.

Diabetes Living Well with Diatetes class in July A diagnosis of diabetes does not mean that it has to take over your life! Plan to attend MGH & FC’s three-day class entitled “Living Well With Diabetes” in three consecutive evening sessions, Tuesday through Thursday, July 10, 11, and 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Skokomish Room at the Hospital. Due to limited space, advanced registration is required.

Diabetes education is a covered service under most insurance plans. To preregister, call Sue Barwick, R.N., C.D.E., at (360) 426-1611, ext. 3301 (from Allyn (360) 275-8614, ext. 3301).

Business Women’s Award Tickets are now on sale for MGH Foundation’s 15th Annual American Business Women’s Award luncheon set for Friday, September 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 601 W “C” Street, Shelton. This year’s recipient(s) will be announced in July.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person, and are available at the MGH Development Office at Gateway Center, 2505 Olympic Highway North, Suite 460, Shelton; or call (360) 427-3623 (from Allyn (360) 275-8614).

SCOPE 7

giving MGH Foundation proudly presents

18th Annual Quality Care Open Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Alderbrook Yacht Country Club Dr., & Golf Club 300 Union, WA 98592 5-Person Teams Scramble Format Schedule of events 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. — Registration 9:00 a.m.­— Team Photos** 10:00 a.m.­— Shotgun Start 4:30 p.m.­— Awards Dinner begins 5:00 p.m.­— Individual and Team Prizes awarded

Sponsors* Women’s Prize Sponsor Christmas Village

Putting Contest Sponsor Hiawatha Corporation

Men’s Prize Sponsor Squaxin Island Tribe

Advertising Sponsor Falcon Financial, Inc.

Banquet & Catering Services Food Services of America

Tournament Patron Sponsor Washington Casualty Company

Prize Sponsor Dynamic Collectors, Inc. Golf Cart Sponsor OAC Services, Inc.

Tournament Patron Sponsor Inland Northwest Health Services

Co-Presenting Sponsor Verizon Wireless

4th Place NonHandicap Sponsor Jack Charneski

Tent Sponsor Electro Communications

Registration Brunch Sponsor Betty A. Paulsen - VALIC

Golf Course Sponsor IEI Security

Prizes include 2 Hole-in-One Prizes • A New Car – from Gillis Auto Center • $10,000 in Cash

Banner Sponsor Taylor Shellfish Farms, Inc. Awards Dinner Sponsor Mt. St. Helens Evergreens/ The Eveland Family

Over $5,000 in Prizes • Net Prizes • Gross Prizes • Longest Drive • Closest to Pin • Straightest Drive

Hospitality Cart Sponsor Healthcare Management Administrators Entertainment Sponsor Manke Lumber Company

Event Underwriting Coffee Creek Espresso, LLC

Putting Contest Cash Prize

Hole-in-One Sponsors

Proceeds to fund:

Arnold & Smith Insurance Gillis Auto Center

Epidural Pumps for Pharmacy department Olympus Airway Mobilescope for Anesthesia department Sonosite Software for Anesthesia department *All Event sponsors as of May 7, 2012.

8 S C O P E

For more information or to be a Sponsor contact MGHF at (360) 427-3623 or go to www.MasonGeneral.com.

**Photography services donated by Jennifer Rutledge Photography.

Golf Tournament Hole Sponsor(s) Level A* Direct Matters Mary Houlihan Gastroenterology Associates, PLLC Flakus Family

Omnicell Our Community Credit Union Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union

MacEwen for State House

Robert W. Johnson, PLLC

Hole Sponsor(s) Level B* Bill Schultz Insurance

Hood Canal Communications

Brady Trucking Co., Inc.

Joe L. Snyder and Andrea L. Huff, Attorneys at Law

Capital Business Machines CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories DeMiero Enterprises D.R. Gardner, CPA, PS EFI Fidelis Communications Green Diamond Resource Co. Hackney Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Heritage Bank Hoffman Construction

Kitsap Office Furniture McCarty & Associates, Inc. “a marketing firm” Olympic Panel Products Shelton Chiropractic Center Dr. Damon J. Ernst Shelton Health & Rehabilitation Center Simpson Lumber Company South Sound Radiology Sterile Surgical Systems Wittenberg CPA, PS

Open MRI coming in 2013 Our Campus Renewal Construction Project is making room for a new, state-of-theart Open MRI unit. Many new pieces of high-tech medical equipment will be installed during the construction, and the Panorama HighField Open MRI is at the top of the list.

MGH Foundation contributors memorialized MGH Foundation would like to acknowledge former contributors. Listed below are supporters, now deceased, that the Foundation would like to recognize for their past support of our mission and work in the community. Please join us in acknowledging their support of the Foundation during their lifetimes.

Richard Berry Leon O. Gilles Jeannette Haakonson Ray T. Hanson Robert J. Jurin Lucille Murphy

Dean Pavletich Bob Rauscher Ludwig H. Siqueland Vera Slone Laurence D. Starr Della M. Streich

Memorial contributions made to MGH Foundation Mason General Hospital Foundation has received generous donations in memory of the individuals listed below. Donors and memorialized individuals listed in this report reflect contributions made to the Foundation between February 22 and April 27, 2012.

Roger & Linda Hoff In memory of:­ Tom Coleman Shawn Morrow Bernie Shaw

SHS Class of 1965 In memory of:­ Dennis Colvin Bellaine West In memory of:­ Barry Bailey Joyce Snyder

Please be advised that every effort has been made to ensure the integrity of this listing. If we have inadvertently omitted any names, please accept our apologies and most sincere thanks for your generosity and continued support of Mason General Hospital Foundation.

SCOPE 9

giving Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund

2012 Fantasy Forest Volunteer Steering Committee M

ason General Hospital Foundation’s annual event, Fantasy Forest is on schedule for the week before Thanksgiving. MGHF Vice President Kathy Howe is the Chair of this year’s event. Please join us in acknowledging the Committee Chairs listed below and thanking them for the sharing of their time, talent, and treasure. Look for more details about Fantasy Forest in the August issue of Scope.

Karen Hilburn and Betty Temple

The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund was recently presented with a check for $25,000 from the Charitable Trust of Margery Jones, a former Shelton resident and cancer survivor. Miss Jones had left her estate to be donated to charitable non-profits, and this is the second consecutive year the Hilburn Fund has been a major recipient.

Last year the estate donated $20,000 to the Fund in a check presented to Founder Karen Hilburn by Miss Jones’ niece, Betty Temple. The Karen Hilburn Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund helps women who are uninsured or underinsured with the expenses for the treatment and diagnoses of breast and cervical cancers.

MGHF President Adele DuPont Fantasy Forest Chair Kathy Howe Fashion Show Ginger Brooks and Marian Greenberg Senior Tea Beth Johnston Father-Daughter Dance Tanya Striplin Business Lunch Jeff McHargue and Rebecca Jonas Candy Cane Carnival Future Generations Guild Memorial Tree and Ornament Karen Hilburn and Karen Anderson Tree Designer Jennifer Fitchitt and Peggy Cleveland Gift Shop Chair Beth Gregg

Gift Shop Helpers Stephanie White, Sallie Faughender and Mary Anne Munson Emcee Karry Trout Volunteer Village Tanya Striplin Site Decorations Judy Nicholson Ticket Sales Meghan Lucas No-Host Bar Centennial Guild Linens Darryl Cleveland Wine Merlyn Flakus Greenery Hiawatha (Joan Hayes and Linda Lane) Catering John Cruse and Robin Williams Banking Michelle Corral and Stacey Scoles Set-Up and Take-Down Denis Leverich

Committee Chair listing as of May 11, 2012

In October, you will see these banners across the city streets, to remind you that Fantasy Forest tickets are on sale.

10 S C O P E

hola El ejercicio es bueno para las rodillas con artritis Cuando sus rodillas se sienten duras y dolorosas a causa de artritis ósea, la tentación es de descansar en la cama. Pero eso es lo peor que puede hacer.

Estudios han comprobado que el aumento de actividad física es bueno para las rodillas con artritis. Muchos doctores recomiendan ejercicio de bajo impacto como caminar, andar en bicicleta o nadar por al menos 30 minutos al día, cinco días de la semana.

Un terapeuta físico puede ayudarle a fortalecer los cuádriceps y ayudar a tener una forma de andar que alivie su estrés y dolor.

Si vive en una casa de 2 o 3 pisos, las escaleras pueden ser difíciles y dolorosas, pero la mayoría de los doctores creen que usar las escaleras no daña los ligamentos de las rodillas.

[SOURCE: Victoria Ruffing, RN, “Stair climbing and osteoarthritis,” Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, August 18, 2011]

Cambie sus pensamientos para aliviar su ansiedad.

Aunque las medicinas como antidepresivos y anti-ansiedad ayudan, el mejor tratamiento para la mayoría de problemas de ansiedad es terapia cognitiva del comportamiento – individual o en grupo. Estudios han encontrado que los beneficios de la terapia duran mas tiempo que los de la medicinas.

La parte cognitiva se enfoca en ayudar a los pacientes a cambiar patrones de pensamiento negativos – entendiendo que no están sin ayuda, aunque asi lo sientan, en una situación que provoca ansiedad. El cambiar el comportamiento del paciente a veces requiere exponerlo a la situación que causa ansiedad. Por ejemplo, una persona con fobia a lugares cerrados puede ser que tenga que quedarse en un lugar cerrado por cada vez mayor cantidad de tiempo, pero con ayuda disponible para aliviar los sentimientos de ansiedad.

[SOURCE: National Institute of Mental Health, “Anxiety disorders, “NIH Publication No. 09 3879, 2009]

Descubriendo una reacción alérgica importante Una persona con alergia a comida puede desarrollar una reacción anafiláctica grave en tan solo unos minutes o varias horas después de haber comido una pequeña cantidad de la comida a la que es alérgica.

Se deben de observar los siguientes síntomas:

Síntomas en la piel, como enrojecimiento, urticaria o picazón.

Labios inflamados.

Dificultad para respirar o baja presión de la sangre.

Requiere tratamiento de emergencia.

[SOURCE: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “Food allergy: an overview, NIH Publication 11 5518, November, 2010]

Mantener limpia el agua en la que nada.

Nadar en aguas contaminadas de albercas, lagos, ríos y océanos puede causar una enfermedad gastrointestinal, problemas de piel y enfermedades respiratorias.

Para reducir las enfermedades relacionadas con el nado recreativo, los Centros de Control de Enfermedades recomiendan:

No nadar cuando tenga diarrea porque puede transmitir bacteria en el agua.

No tragar el agua de la alberca o poner agua dentro de la boca.

Bañarse con jabón después de haber estado nadando y lavar sus manos con jabón después de usar el baño y cambiar panales.

[SOURCE: Bill Hendrick, “Illnesses from contaminated swimming water increasing,” Medscape Medical News, September 22, 2011]

Escuche música para olvidarse del dolor Mientras busca por formas alternativas para aliviar su dolor de artritis, no se olvide de buscar una forma fácil, saludable, barata y divertida: escuchar música.

Un estudio publicado por la revista de Enfermería Avanzada (Volumen 54, página 553) encontró que personas que escuchan muisca que les gusta o música escogida por los investigadores reportaron tener de 12 a 21 por ciento menos de dolor, 25 por ciento menos depresión y 18 por ciento menos de incapacidad comparado a otro grupo que no escucho música.

[SOURCE: “Music can ease your pain,” Johns Hopkins Health Alert, October 15, 2007, reviewed September, 2011] S C O P E 11

Dr. Shah

Dizzy?

continued from page 3…

with the care they need right at the Clinic. Other times, Dr. Shah will refer them to a specialist for a specific treatment.

“Initially, I thought I was going to be a pediatrician,” she said. “But then, somehow family medicine found me.” Dr. Shah likes family medicine’s broader spectrum of patients – and how it includes the care of children.

“My biggest concern is to help people,” Dr. Shah said. Whether providing the right care means guiding a patient through recovery or managing a chronic condition, she strives to tailor her care to the individual situation, with a healthy dose of compassion in each case.

“Medicine is not just about getting better. Medicine is also about discovering why someone is sick – and finding the best treatment for their condition,” she added.

“It’s not all about writing the right prescription. What I realize, is that there’s a big human part to medicine, and that’s what keeps me coming back to work every day,” she said.

continued from page 3…

“If you are experiencing dizziness or a spinning sensation, hold still and keep your eyes open as you focus your vision on something stationary, to help your brain counteract the wrong message your ears are giving with the right message from your eyes. And move slowly,” advised Woods.

For more information about vertigo treatment or to schedule an appointment, call Mason General Hospital Rehabilitation Services at (360) 427-9545.

When she’s not at work, Dr. Shah and her husband enjoy sightseeing, traveling, hiking, and cooking together. Having recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, they are looking forward to exploring more of the region this summer. ,

Monica Vuong, M.D. Board Certified, Ophthalmology

Patient Praises Dr. Vuong Our whole team... focused on your health

See you at “Allyn Days” July 21 – 22

CMYK

All your doctors.

Mason General Hospital 901 Mountain View Drive PO Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 426-1611 from Allyn (360) 275-8614 www.MasonGeneral.com TTY/TDD: (360) 427-9593 Equal Opportunity Provider.

Translation Services Provided.

Se habla Español.

Approved by the Joint Commission.

Healthcare’s Most Wired Hospital, 2011

12 S C O P E

What if they all knew one another and actually talked to each other? It would make your care more successful. What a concept! Quality. Caring. Community. All right here.

MGH Ankle & Foot (360) 427-0366 MGH Eye Clinic (360) 426-8717 MGH Family Health (360) 426-3862

MGH Mountain View Women’s Health (360) 426-0955 MGH Oakland Bay Pediatrics (360) 426-3102

MGH Shelton Family Medicine (360) 426-2653 MGH Shelton Orthopedics (360) 427-0663 MGH Surgery Clinic (360) 426-4142

onica es, done by M l, Dear Mr. Appe cataract surger y on both ey ic. This letter is had Clin I recently ason General Hospital Eye nt staff there. at M lle ce ex e th d Vuong, M.D., au (RK) pl ap to d an al keratotomy ork, to praise her w e a bit unusual, as I had radi 8 on the other. and wer ul ts on one eye, My eyes and had 16 cu job that I now have wonderf o, ag s ar ye e l an som na th io pt er ce ng ex lo such an er y was Dr. Vuong did ough the surg rtable eyes. Even th rfec tly comfo at th pe bo lt fe in I n , sio RK vi us me io t ev se pr r to the nal demeano normal, due Her professio going to do during my e. ur ed oc pr during the ng she was ained ever ythi t to expect. ease. She expl sits, so I knew exac tly wha hing I vi rgeon, somet ce su offi preceding an exac ting . She be es ey to s le ab em ce se g to my irrepla es Dr. Vuon m to my co d it le n ch iate whe tations, whi deeply apprec during consul e m ith w y. e er took ample tim safe hands during the surg g in feeling of bein gh in her praise. ou I cannot say en ssa Hargrove Je y, el er nc Si

business Campus Renewal Project

By Derek Rae, Construction Manager, Associate, OAC Services, Inc.

Cutting the ribbon at May’s Walking Trail Dedication is Annabelle “A.B.” Gammons, a 1st-grader at Mountain View Elementary School. Two hundred of her fellow students joined her for the opening ceremony of the new walking trail. Holding the ribbon are (far left) Shelton Chamber of Commerce member, Allison Wagner; Chamber Executive Director Heidi McCutcheon; Hospital Commissioners Nancy Trucksess, Don Wilson, and Scott Hilburn; MGH & FC CAO Eric Moll; and Chamber member, Stephen Andrewski.

N

ew generators are operational and power is traveling through switches in the generator building to the main hospital building. The new power service for MGH was turned on in May. This is a big moment for all new equipment installed in the building, since most of it requires a higher voltage than what is available through the existing service. The new 480-volt power supply provides the power needed for equipment such as the air handlers and chillers that heat and cool the new surgical wing.

Finishes in the new surgical wing are about 50 percent complete. More cabinets are being installed every day.

A ceiling grid has been completed and epoxy flooring has been installed in the new operating rooms. The OR’s are complete with a protective ceramic tile wall covering. Currently, mechanical

and electrical tradespeople are installing lights and diffusers, and making final connections above the ceiling to get ready for the new OR lights and monitor arms. Starting this month the contractor will be placing ceiling tile in the grid so trades can begin installing fire alarm trim, lights, and sprinklers.

Doors and hardware are expected to be delivered the second week of June.

The contractor will start replacing the doors that still remain in the area where renovation work has taken place. They will also begin installing all the doors in the new wing. By the end of June, the flooring contractor should be able to begin laying ceramic floor tile in the new south lobby. Before flooring can commence, the majority of the lobby ceiling work needs to be completed, which is projected for mid-June.

All renovation work is complete in The Birth Center patient rooms, including installation of the new finishes in the nursery area. Patient room renovations are ongoing in medical/surgical/ pediatrics and ICU. There has been a slight setback in getting ICU renovations completed by this month; however, the contractor is still ahead of schedule for renovation work. Installation of the new nurses’ station that was previously anticipated to be done by end of May, is now expected to be complete in June.

Overall, work continues to be ahead of schedule.

Starting this month, there will be access to all the new parking stalls in the south lot. The old parking lot known as “the gravel lot” was complete the end of April, and staff have been using that parking area for over a month now.

Landscaping will continue around the parking areas and south expansion through June. The campus is already looking great with the new paving and landscaping, and will look even better

by July. Come take a stroll down the new walking trail that extends around the Hospital campus.

For more detailed updates, see the contractor’s “Construction Progress” board at the Hospital’s north entrance, or visit www.MasonGeneral.com.

Chronic or severe wound?

Don’t suffer any longer.

Stay close to home when your physician refers you to MGH & FC Wound Care Services.

Call (360) 432-3285.

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CMYK

901 Mountain View Drive Shelton, WA 98584

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT NO 78

ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER

K St . View Dr Mtn

N 13th Loop Rd

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Mason General Hospital

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We’d like to thank those who have reached “years of service” milestones in 2012 5 Years

Francesca Murdock, ICU Kendra Ksen, PACU Robert Bellomy, DI Michelle Merrin, DW Konrad Schuster, Maint Krystal Davies, DS Danielle Hutchins, BC Patty Binion, Mats Richard Hickson, Maint Sandra Lisk, Surg Rhonda Hedquist, CR Paul Nixon, Lab Tracyne Young, ER Courtney Drebis, DI Brigitte Dolen, HIM Angie Dazell, ICU Alicia Beach, CR Douglas Welch, DS Chawnna Kidd, MSP Rebecca McPheeters, HIM Margaret Hults, MSP Jessica Gibbs, MSO Amanuensis Rieck, MSP Trevor Madison, Mats Heather Bernal, CNS Jeana Krumland, RT Meghan Lucas, Dev Teresa Smith, HIM Thomas Hornburg, IT Sabrina Lyons, ER Alexa Shenk, ER Erica Bottoms, EVS

Dani Richards, CR Rebecca K. Hendryx, M.D. Rodney S. Matsubara, M.D., DI Yong Ki Shin, M.D., Hosp Monica B. Vuong, M.D., EC

10 Years

Donna Scott, MSP Pam Middleton, EVS Coni Cookston, OBP Laurie Stuart, EVS Kariane Cunningham, MSP Mystique Philpott, BO Mendy Kealy, Surg Staci Lorton, HS Marie Schuster, OBP Maria Franco, LCS Jeri Haymore, Lab Denise McDevitt, DS Jenipher Wallace, DI James A. Wright, D.P.M., AF

20 Years

Susan Rocchi, PACU Linda Schwartz, ER Bob Appel, Admin Joy Adams, RT Jane Pentz, BC Craig Chase, Maint Cathy Onisko, EVS

25 Years

Robin Montoya, EVS Merry Antrim, Mats Kathy Patrick, BO June Bigelow, PACU

Karma Cochran – 30 Years Merry Antrim – 25 Years

30 Years

Karma Cochran, BC Doris H. Wilson, M.D., SFM

Doris H. Wilson, M.D. – 30 Years Robin Montoya – 25 Years

35 Years

Cynthia Ricker, DI

15 Years

William Tucker, Lab Geronda Brown, BO Reynaldo Cabotage, EVS Linda Geary, EVS Donna Perryman, Acct Susan Powell, CI Karry Trout, DI Alvie Munro, DI John P. Short, M.D., ER

Cynthia Ricker – 35 Years CMYK

Kathy Patrick – 25 Years

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Professional Way

N 13th St

1 Mountain View Women’s Health 2 MGH Eye Clinic 3 Shelton Family Medicine 4 MGH Shelton Orthopedics 5 MGH Ankle & Foot 6 MGH Family Health 7 MGH Surgery Clinic 8 Oakland Bay Pediatrics

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Our Mission: We take every possible action to protect and promote the health of the people in Mason County while extending respect and compassion as we serve each individual.

Published by: Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics. Published six times per year. Editor: McCarty & Associates, Inc. “a marketing firm”.

Business Office: Office hours: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. Spanish Translator Available. Located at Gateway Center, 2505 Olympic Hwy N., Suite 460, (360) 427-9547 Mason General Hospital: Visiting hours: 8 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., daily. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) visiting hours: special hours on a patient-by-patient basis, call for Unit hours. Located at: 901 Mountain View Drive, PO Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584-5001, (360) 426CMYK 1611, from Allyn (360) 275-8614. Serving the medical needs of Mason County since 1968. Accredited by The Joint Commission.

TTY/TDD: (360) 427-9593. Translation Services Provided. Se habla español. Equal Opportunity Provider.

Administration: Bob Appel, chief executive officer; Eric Moll, chief administrative officer; Kevin Roscoe, M.D., chief of staff; Nancy Trucksess, commissioner/president; Scott Hilburn and Don Wilson, commissioners.