NSIDE Coastal Bend MD Oct/Nov 2012 by NSIDE Corpus Christi

COASTAL BEND

NSIDE

MD OCTOBER.NOVEMBER 2012

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT DR. EUELL CRISP

Growing in Greatness

DR. DAVID SALDANA

HELPING WOMEN FEEL BEAUTIFUL PARKER SERENITY WIG SPA

» COME SEE THE DIFFERENCE GULF COAST HUMANE SOCIETY N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

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Celebrating

years of emergency medical service

Our mission is to provide medical

Hillary Reyna Membership Director 361.265.0509

transport for critically ill or injured persons requiring medical or trauma facilities within our South Texas service area. Emergency assistance is provided to all persons regardless of their ability to pay.

This is our mission...

This is our promise...

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Alice 361-664-4888 路 Corpus Christi 361-882-5900 www.rivercityhospice.com

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Dear Doctor: Interim Homecare provides a comprehensive array of healthcare services in your patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home. Helping your patients with new medications, diabetes management, CHF and other related cardiac complications, COPD, wound care, helping regain strength and mobility or other services that will aid in your patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recovery process. We at Interim Healthcare look forward to serving all your needs.

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Interim Homecare 361.887.4850 Corpus Christi

Kingsville

HOME REHAB Serving South Texas, San Antonio and Austin.

Focused on restoring function and regaining independence. Kingsville Home Rehab Services, Inc. was established in 2004 and is a leader in home health rehabilitation. We provide to our patients quaility and evidencebased rehabilitaiton services. Integrity, excellence, trust and compassion are the core values in which Kingsville Home Rehab therapist’ and staff follow day to day, and from one home to the next. Kingsville Home Rehab’s primary goal is to enhance a patient’s quality of life with subtle changes. Whether teaching a fall prevetion program or making small postural changes to relief lower back pain, our goal is to maximize our patient’s potential.

P.O. Box 1205 Kingsville, Texas 78364 Ph: (361) 221-9177 Fax: (361) 221-0178

www.kingsvillehomerehab.com N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

NSIDE Coastal Bend MD October/November 2012

PUBLIC ATIONS publisher / Eliot Garza

eliot@nsidesa.com

co-publisher / coastal bend / adrian Garza

adrian@getnside.com

You too can wear... Nature’s Most Beautiful Hair

co-publisher / san antonio / Janis Maxymof

janis@getnside.com

publisher / austin / angela strickland

angela@getnside.com

staff executive editor

contributing writers

Erin O’Brien

Mandy Ashcraft Dean Campbell Tess Egan Katy Kiser Lisa Maze Craig Myers Deborah Perry Cody M. Rice Brittany Sandbach Marcus Sorenson Sarah Tindall Roxanne Vela

creative director WHAT Follea’s “Nature’s Most Beautiful Trunk Show” WHERE Parker Serenity Wig Spa 2900 W. Anderson Ln. Ste. H Austin, TX 78757 WHEN November 1-2, 2012

Limited Space is Available. RSVP by calling 512.323.9220

Elisa Giordano

graphic designer David Hassmann

executive assistant Elena Flores

photography Annette McPherson Scott Photography

NSIDE Coastal Bend Advisory Board J u d y L a p ointe and d r . c h a r les cam p bell

www.getnside.com For advertising information, please call 361.548.1044 or email adrian@getnside.com. For editorial comments and suggestions, please email adrian@getnside.com.

PUBLIC ATIONS

18402 U.S. Highway 281 N, Ste. 201 San Antonio, Texas 78259 Phone: 210.298.1761

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nsidethisissue october/november 2012 cover story 20

Dr. David Saldaña

As one of the newest doctors to join the Radiology and Imaging group in Corpus Christi, this radiologist enhances the practice with his strong medical background and positive outlook on life.

profile

dr. euell crisp

Having lived his dream and retired in the summer, the dedicated “small-town doc” has served the Alice community for the past 55 years, leaving behind a true legacy.

departments

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Feature Nonprofit Health & Wellness Patient

cover story | Dr. David Saldaña

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Saving eyesight...

Over 1,600 diabetic retina laser treatments

every year.

Charles H. Campbell, M.D.,F.A.C.S. and Walter E. Moscoso, M.D. Diseases and surgery of the vitreous and retina.

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5540 Saratoga Blvd. #200 361-993-8510 1-800-779-3482 with satellite offices in Kingsville, Beeville, Aransas Pass

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NSIDE feature Parker Serenity Wig Spa has a long history of helping women feel beautiful. Roxann Parker Lagow’s parents started their wholesale beauty supply business in 1946. They expanded from a little storage area in their backyard and grew from there. In the 1970s, Lucille Parker, Lagow’s mother, started the wig department. Hairpieces were really big then (remember the barrel curls?). After a few years, the wig salon grew and started carrying synthetic wigs for women with alope-

completely comfortable and positive about their time with us.” She achieves this goal by fostering a spa-like atmosphere and offering private rooms to clients for fitting and styling. The staff at Parker Serenity Wig Spa has many years of experience selling and personalizing all wigs and hairpieces. Lagow and her staff highly value their reputation for offering the highest-quality products and the most attentive and caring service. They are highly educated in

Many cancer patients report that wearing a beautiful wig provides them with a sense of empowerment during a very difficult time in their lives.

Helping Women Feel Beautiful

Roxann Parker Lagow and her staff serve Texas women with cancer and other hair-loss issues at Parker Serenity Wig Spa, a specialty business with a long history of helping women build their self-confidence and look their best. [special to nside]

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cia, cancer and other hair-loss issues. Soon after, the salon started carrying wigs made with fine human hair. Lagow started working in the family business in 1982, selling wholesale beauty supplies and hair goods to salons in North, Central and South Texas. The wig salon had also become a mainstay for retailing fine wigs and hairpieces. In 2007, the beauty supply moved to the Round Rock area and soon closed. Lagow had a particular passion for the wig business because she had lost relatives and many good friends to cancer, and was uniquely aware of how increasing self-confidence can greatly improve a woman’s quality of life. Many cancer patients report that wearing a beautiful wig provides them with a sense of empowerment during a very difficult time in their lives. Lagow’s motivation is “to make each and every person who walks in the door feel

the many types and qualities of wigs. They can help clients decide whether to choose high-quality synthetic or human-hair wigs and the best cut and shape to fit their lifestyle, no matter their budget. “Our staff can alter, cut and style any wig for the perfect fit and look.” Many people buy a wig online or from a wig salon that can neither advise of the perfect fit for different head sizes, nor do the work to make it the most comfortable wig possible. Toppers, which are also big sellers for thinning hair on the top, will be specially cut to blend in with one’s own hair. Serenity offers a big array of brands, including Raquel Welch, Rene of Paris, Eva Gabor and now a fine European human hair line called Follea.

For more information about Parker Serenity Wig Spa, go to www.parkerserenitywigspa. com or call 512-323-9220.

Recovery Isn’t Simply a Goal, It’s Our Mission.

Kindred Healthcare understands that when people are discharged from a traditional hospital, they often need continued care in order to recover completely. That’s where we come in.

Doctors, case managers, social workers and family members don’t stop caring simply because their loved one or patient has changed location. Neither do we.

Kindred offers services including aggressive, medically complex care, intensive care and shortterm rehabilitation.

Come see how we care at www.continuethecare.com.

Dedicated to Hope, Healing and Recovery

CONTINUE THE CARE 6226 Saratoga Blvd · Corpus Christi, Texas 78414 · 361-986-1600 www.khcorpuschristi.com N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

NSIDE nonprofit

Because of the society’s investments in breast cancer research since 1971, more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors will celebrate a birthday this year.

making strides

The American Cancer Society works to create a world with more birthdays and less breast cancer one step at a time with the 2012 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising walk. By: [Tess Egan]

Coastal Bend residents will join together on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at the Water Gardens for the American Cancer Society’s fourth annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K fundraising walk to help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays. This noncompetitive event provides hope to all people facing the disease and will unite the entire Coastal Bend community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about reducing their cancer risk and raise money to fund lifesaving research to further the progress against this disease. The event and the dollars raised from it support the society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, finding

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cures and fighting back against breast cancer. The 2012 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is one of more than 165 held across the country. The American Cancer Society continues to use Making Strides events as opportunities to continue to provide up-todate breast cancer information, advocate for all women to have access to breast cancer screening and treatments (regardless of income) and provide services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families. While the for-profit sector saw declining demand for products and services in the economic downturn, the opposite is true for organizations like the American Cancer Society with increasing demands for patient services in the past year.

“Funds raised by Making Strides Against Breast Cancer are critical in meeting the need of breast cancer patients in our community,” said Lane Moore, regional vice president for the American Cancer Society. “Some of our services supported through this event include a 24-hour cancer information support center (1-800-ACS2345), the society’s website (www. cancer.org), transportation, lodging, breast prostheses, wigs, makeup and survivor-to-patient support programs, all essential to patients and their families during their cancer journey.” Making Strides Against Breast Cancer gives us the chance to celebrate those who have survived breast cancer and help ensure that future generations are not faced with this life-

threatening disease. Making Strides truly demonstrates that hope starts with each and every one of us. Over time, the society has invested more in breast cancer research than any other voluntary public health organization, spending more on breast cancer research and investing more than $388 million in breast cancer research since 1971. As a result, more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors will celebrate a birthday this year. Sponsors of this year’s Making Strides event include Wal-mart, Bealls, Humana, Radiology Associates, Corpus Christi Firefighters CARE, Coastal Bend Chevrolet Dealers, Clear Channel Radio, the Corpus Christi CallerTimes and KRIS Communications. The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We turn what we know about cancer into what we do. Join the American Cancer Society movement to make strides against breast cancer on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Tess Egan is the regional director of communications (South Central Texas) for the American Cancer Society. For more information or to make a donation to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, visit www.makingstridescorpuschristi.org or contact your local American Cancer Society office at 361857-0136.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DIABETES

Visit us on Facebook to celebrate a day in the life of diabetes. Add your own chapter to the story by uploading your photo today. For every photo/image uploaded, CVS/pharmacy will donate $1 to the American Diabetes Association, up to $25,000.

FACEBOOK.COM/AMERICANDIABETESASSOCIATION 1-800-DIABETES

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NSIDE nonprofit

Get Ready for American Diabetes Month This November, the American Diabetes Association looks to further its efforts to stop diabetes and raise awareness of the disease with the launch of “A Day in the Life of Diabetes.” By: [Brittany Sandbach]

November is American Diabetes Month®, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For years, the American Diabetes Association has used this month as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and its serious complications. During American Diabetes Month this November, the American Diabetes Association will launch a socially focused initiative, “A Day in the Life of Diabe-

an task, making what might seem like an otherwise ordinary life rather extraordinary. Using imagery, the power of social engagement and a larger-than-life stage, light will be shown on the issue of diabetes and those who live with it each and every day, highlighting the association and corporations focused on stopping this insidious disease. Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. Recent estimates project that as many as one

Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. tes,” to demonstrate the increasing impact diabetes has on families, communities and American society in general. Starting on Oct. 1, 2012, Corpus Christi residents will be asked to become part of the movement to Stop Diabetes® by sharing a personal image on the association’s main Facebook page representing what “A Day in the Life of Diabetes” means to them. The image can be a picture of themselves or someone they care about, or a picture that otherwise represents how the disease impacts their lives. Successfully managing diabetes can be a hercule-

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in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to stop diabetes. Did you know that diabetes kills more people than breast cancer and AIDS combined? Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, including 86,000 in the Coastal Bend area. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is more than $174 billion annually. Further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational diabetes, prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total

diabetes-related costs in the United States could exceed $218 billion each year. The cost of caring for someone with diabetes occupies $1 out of every $5 in total health care costs. On Saturday, Nov. 10, in celebration of American Diabetes Month, there will be a diabetes health event at Martin Middle School: Feria de Salud. This event is a fun, family-friendly festival that promotes living healthy and eating well. There will be testing, educational sessions, Zumba dancing, immunizations, cooking demonstrations and so much more! If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor, email Brittany Hilliard Sandbach at bhilliard@diabetes.org.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-3422383) or visit www.diabetes.org.

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NSIDE nonprofit

An Uplifting Exhibit and Auction

BRAVO! is back, and South Texans are creating another round of edgy, over-the-top bras in support of FIRST FRIDAY efforts to provide free screening mammograms for women in need. By: [Deborah Perry]

Mary Anne Sinclair is up to her ears – uh, more like chest – in bras these days. You name it, she’s got it: 34C, 36DD, sequins, fringes, rivets and more! For the second time in four years, the businesswoman and couture designer is chairing BRAVO!, the edgy, over-the-top, off-the-wall exhibit and auction featuring clever bras designed with attitude, glitz and glamour – not to mention humor – to combat breast cancer. One hundred percent of the busty efforts will benefit FIRST FRIDAY. The CHRISTUS Spohn health care organization has provided more than

ists and celebrity designers have created laughable lifters and titillating treasures of the chest, all to raise funds for free screening mammograms,” laughs Sinclair, founder of BRAVO! “Wherever these inspirations came from, the BRAVO! project supports the fight against breast cancer in a most unique and creative way.” Several entries included social commentary speaking to today’s current events and pop culture. A local attorney submitted “The Scale of Jus-Tfits,” and a military supporter inspired by West Point submitted “Breast Point, Class of 36DD.” “50 Shades of Green” should cause a stir,

in need through FIRST FRIDAY efforts. “It’s really a labor of love for me, and many local women need their annual exam and just can’t afford it.” Sinclair was a nationally known high-fashion designer for nearly three decades, and she is a breast cancer survivor. She found inspiration for BRAVO! from Internet photos of a similar exhibit by South Carolina quilters. Known for her love of all things sparkly in her own designs, Sinclair took her motto, “too much is never enough,” and guided her designers to go over-the-top with their entries. The first exhibit and auction cre-

The first exhibit and auction created lots of buzz, generating more than $20,000 for free screening mammograms. 15,000 free screening mammograms to Coastal Bend women since its inception in 1994. Over the past several months, Sinclair corralled more than 80 ingenious individuals and organizations to submit bra designs and execute their amazing underwire works of art. Some participants are past creators, while others are new to the bra-building game. “Big and small business, local art-

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while “Lit Tits” is a bra that morphed into an actual working lamp. “In addition to the more traditional soft materials, we have ceramic, wooden, hand-carved, tile and glass infusion bras. It’s just amazing what everyone came up with,” Sinclair says of this year’s entries. When asked why she chose to coordinate BRAVO! again, Sinclair cites the need to continue funding free screening mammograms for women

ated lots of buzz, generating more than $20,000 for free screening mammograms. This year’s BRAVO! festivities will include a short exhibit and auction at the Art Center of Corpus Christi. New this year is a book, which will feature pictures of bras from both the 2009 and 2012 exhibits. Photographer Raymond Grey captured beautiful photographs of each 2009 creation, and Priscilla Boren photo-

graphed the current collection. Editors documented the hilarious stories behind the creations that were too good not to share. “We decided to do the whole thing again and immortalize the bras in a one-ofa-kind hardbound coffee table book,” Sinclair says. “Bottom line: Buy a bra or buy a book, and possibly save a life.”

All monies will benefit FIRST FRIDAY and free baseline mammograms to women in need. For more information, visit www.firstfridaycc.org.

ON SALE NOW! “BRAVO! The Art of the Bra” $

To order, visit www.firstfridaycc.org.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bottom line: buy a bra or buy a book, and possibly save a life.â&#x20AC;? N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

NSIDE nonprofit Another misconception: We are neither funded by nor affiliated with any other shelter or Humane Society. We are funded solely by public generosity (donations) and fundraisers. We carry the Humane Society name; however, we do not receive funding from the Humane Society of the United States, nor the ASPCA. If you donate to them, your money stays with them. There is also a big difference as far as adoptions are concerned. We offer many things aside from just spay or neuter, vaccinations and sometimes a microchip. This is what many “standard shelters” include with adopted pets. GCHS provides not only topquality care, but also many extras to help folks with their newly adopted friend. We offer:

Us and Them

Come see the difference and potentially save a life at the Gulf Coast Humane Society, the largest true no-kill animal shelter in the area. By: [Cody M. Rice]

The Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS), founded in 1945 by Francis Weil, is the largest true no-kill shelter in the area. Housing more than 500 animals at any given time, “overcapacity” is putting it lightly in a building meant for roughly 425 to 450. Through the generosity of Tom and Cora Keeler, our wonderful new facility was built in 1997, and we set up shop to begin serving the animals even better in 1998. This was a magnificent step coming from our small shelter on Navigation Boulevard. With a skeleton crew of about 30, along with dedicated volunteers,

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taking care of all these homeless, unwanted animals is trying on both the heart and the mind. However, with so many lives in need of helping “paws,” we are here for the long haul for the animals. All of the pets are given the highest quality of care and loved as if they were our own pets. In fact, they are, until we can find them loving, responsible homes. We are often faced with the mending of broken spirits. Frequently, we are confused with Animal Control. There are several differences between the “pound” – or “Animal Control” – and GCHS. Animal

Control is open admission and is a city-funded facility, meaning taxes we pay to the city aid in the funding, as the facility is a division of the City of Corpus Christi. The main difference is: Animal Control puts animals down, whereas GCHS does not. We halt intake, refer to other shelters and explore other options when cages are full and there is no room in the inn. Sadly, this is often the case. This is why encouraging adoption rather than “buying” is crucial: Without adoption, we cannot save others that so desperately need us.

 Spay or neuter  Age-appropriate vaccinations  De-worming  Free initial vet visit voucher (to be used within seven days of adoption – if something medical needs attending to at that visit, we assist or take care of it)  Six months of HW prevention (except on sponsored dogs – in that case, it is $50 for the prevention)  Lifetime subscription to an ID tag (like a microchip, just physical ID)  HW treatment if positive (as a true no-kill, we do not put down for treatable diseases)  Assistance from our onsite dog trainer before and after adoption, if needed  Free starter bag of Science Diet pet food  And last, but not least: a well-cared for and socialized pet! Our adoption fees vary from dog to dog, since we offer all of these things. Our fees cover all of the above, as well as provide funds for those that need extensive medical care or will have a longer stay in our shelter. We treat the sick and fix the broken, and give them all a fighting chance. We invite the community to come out and see the GCHS difference. Come out and see that we are not a depressing, “pound” type setup, as most think shelters are. Most of all: Come save a life.

The Gulf Coast Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 361225-0845.

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Saldaña became part of the team on Aug. 1. He is currently working as a general radiologist, but says the goal for the group is to develop and expand its breast imaging services, and since he has a strong background in breast imaging, he will transition into doing that in the future. “While I’m doing more general imaging now, I have experience reading screenings of mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and breast MRIs, and we are focusing on developing these areas,” Saldaña said. “There is not a breast center here in Corpus Christi, but CHRISTUS Spohn hospital is considering building one here. It was one of the reasons I came here to Corpus Christi – because I knew this area was expanding.” This move to Corpus Christi is like a homecoming for him, as he grew up in San Antonio, and he can’t be more pleased to bring his young family to such a pleasant, family-friendly place. “When I look back at my past, I see I’ve had a great life,” he says. “I worked hard and learned a lot and really enjoyed all the places we’ve lived, but you don’t realize how much you miss Texas until you leave and you come back.” Saldaña grew up in San Antonio as the youngest of six. His father, also a radiologist, was a big influence on him growing up. He attended college

Always the optimist, Dr. David Saldaña brings both his sunny outlook on life and outstanding set of skills to the Coastal Bend as one of the latest additions to the Radiology and Imaging group in Corpus Christi. By: [Sarah Tindall] Photography: [Annette McPherson]

r. David Saldaña may be the happiest doctor you’ve ever met. The radiologist at Radiology and Imaging in Corpus Christi has spent the last several years moving from university to university and hospital to hospital while he completed all of the requirements on his way to full board certification, and he can’t say enough of the cities in which he lived and the programs he attended. What he can tell you is that he learned plenty and really enjoyed himself while doing so. One of the newest doctors to join the Radiology and Imaging group here in Corpus Christi,

at Rice University in Houston and played rugby for the school. He then applied to medical school, but didn’t make it, so he spent a year teaching Spanish to eighth-graders – an experience he jokingly says made him swear he’d never have kids and want to get into medical school all the more. The next year, he succeeded into getting into two medical schools, one of which was the University of Texas Health Science Center in his hometown of San Antonio. After completing medical school, he did his internship at Brockton Hospital outside of Boston, which Saldaña refers to as an amazing year, both personally and professionally. “That’s the year when you really do feel like a doctor. You have oversight, but you are making decisions and gaining so much knowledge.” At the beginning of medical school, he married his high-school sweetheart, and by the time they reached Boston, the couple had two daughters, so this was a fun year for the young family. “It was N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

Saldaña approaches each challenge with a great attitude, seeing it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

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the first time we ever lived outside of Texas,” he says, “and we spent every weekend walking the Commons, going to the aquarium and enjoying the city with our girls.” After that came a residency at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where they spent four years. His wife’s parents also lived in Kansas City, so it meant a lot to them to be close to family. Both daughters enjoyed those years of living so close to their grandparents. Texas came calling at the end of those four years, however, and the family then

“I like making patients feel like it’s going to be OK – that whatever news I have for them, we’re going to handle it together.”

left to right: Melba Armadillo, Terry Jolly, Melissa Cortez, dr. Jennifer Turner

moved to Houston for a fellowship at MD Anderson. “The training was top-notch and the staff was fantastic and we were close to family there, too,” Saldaña said. “We lived 16 houses down from my sister and across the street from my favorite cousin. It was another great year.” But as much as they liked being close to family, living in such a big city started to take its toll. “We were in the middle of a sprawling city with a lot going on, and the kids were changing in ways that weren’t always for the better. I have high hopes

for them and want them to grow up into good citizens.” So the opportunity in Corpus Christi came at a great time for the family. With all those years of schooling and moving behind him, Saldaña is really enjoying his work at Radiology and Imaging. He says he likes doing the actual work reviewing the images, but he also likes communicating with the patients themselves. “I’m a people person. I need to have interaction throughout the day, so when I meet with the patients, I really enjoy it. I like to be the one able to relay the information from the diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds to the patients. To calm them down and help them relax brings me a lot of joy. “I even like bridging the gap with the patient – to make them feel like it’s going to be OK and we’re going to handle whatever news we have for them together. Each case is different, and I enjoy using the knowledge, skills and even people skills I’ve acquired to do my work every day.” For most doctors, the road from medical school to finally practicing on your own is a long, difficult one. Saldaña, however, looks back on all of the years fondly, and even enthusiastically, as years he enjoyed. This is a man who approaches a challenge with a great attitude, looking upon it as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of as an arduous obstacle that must be overcome.

Perhaps spending those years also watching his young family grow has given him a unique perspective and allowed him to look past the long hours and sleepless nights to see what he has accomplished, both professionally and personally.

For more information about Dr. David Saldaña and Radiology and Imaging, go to www.radiologyimaging.com or call 361-888-8875. N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

the legacy of a lifetime Dr. Euell Crisp has been there for generations of patients in the Alice community, having dedicated his life to serving others in a profession he loves. By: [sarah tindall] Photography: [scott photography]

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Dr. Euell Crisp has been part of the Alice community for the past 55 years. That means heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helped babies be born, and then done everything from pulling their teeth and setting their broken bones to giving them vaccines and talking them through puberty. And then he has watched them grow up and helped them have babies of their own. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been there for the sad times, too: death, injury and disease. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the fabric of the community, serving them in the joyous times and being there when things have

“It was always my dream as a child to become a doctor, and I fulfilled that dream and lived it every day.” gotten tough, too. He’s been in practice in Alice for his entire career – the “small-town doc” everyone loves and respects because he’s been part of their collective lives for so long. Crisp estimates that he’s delivered between four and five thousand babies in his time. He’s seen his profession change greatly – in good ways, but also in bad. He feels we know more and better ways to treat patients, but because of government and insurance restrictions, doctors have less freedom to treat patients than they’d like. It’s a paradox that concerns him greatly. But he’s enjoyed his life’s work. “My favorite part of my profession is talking to and visiting with people. I’ve always enjoyed getting to know my patients and spending time with all the different

people who come in the door every day,” he says. The most difficult part, he says, “is untreatable or terminal conditions” – having to tell the patients their diagnosis and then watching them suffer from the disease as it takes its course. He has some great stories about patients he’s treated over the years. “Once, when Medicare first began and no one knew what it was going to cover and who was going to pay for what, I had a 78-year-old man come into the clinic on a Sunday. He was shot in a dancehall, and his intestines were hanging out all over the place. “I called Corpus Christi, but because it was Sunday and because of the confusion over Medicare, no one would take him. So I had to sew him up myself and put a drain in him. He came back a few

days later for me to take out the stitches, and he lived for years after that.” Another time, Crisp says he had a patient with a story you usually only see on television. “She came in and said she must have a tumor because her belly was all swollen, but she had a hysterectomy years before, so she couldn’t possibly be pregnant. But of course, she was. No one could believe it.” Overall, as he looks back on his life’s work after his retirement on May 30 of this year, he says he’s lived a great life. “It was always my dream as a child to become a doctor, and I fulfilled that dream and lived it every day.” Having grown up in Corpus Christi, Crisp says he first knew he wanted to be a doctor when he N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

was taken to a doctor in Alice after suffering an injury while visiting a ranch there. It was fate: He says he liked the stores, the small-town atmosphere and the doctor there so much that he returned there to set up his practice. In the meantime, he served in the Army during World War II, where he says he was fortunate. “I was captured as a POW three times, but released every time. I was fortunate and had a lot of breaks.” After serving his country, he went to medical

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school in California, then came back to the Coastal Bend to set up shop. He remembered that day long before when he met the doctor who inspired him to become one himself and went back to practice with him in Alice, Texas. Crisp married, and he and his wife raised seven kids together – five of their own and two whom they adopted. “I have one son who is a doctor now and one grandson,” he says, so the legacy continues from generation to generation in his

own family. Now he looks back and says, “I helped so many people and had such a great life. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Retirement beckons, and he looks forward to traveling. “I’d like to go back to the Grand Canyon again, and to see my kids and grandkids up in Dallas,” he says. And then, who knows? He hopes to write a book about all of the adventures he had while serving the town he loves for so many years.

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Stop Dieting and Start a Living Diet

In order to get the results you want, you need to change your mindset and make a lifelong commitment to a healthier lifestyle. By: [craig myers]

There are no special tricks to eating well. There is no special grapefruit, cabbage, low- or highprotein diet or pill that will get you the results you want. It is the stuff we have all heard before: Drink lots of water, consume your required intake of

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fruits, vegetables and whole grains and minimize fat, alcohol and sugar. Unfortunately, given the current state of our country’s issue with obesity in both adults and children, knowledge alone is not power. There seems to be a gap between knowing what

to do and actually adhering to these simple guidelines. If you don’t change your mindset and how you approach making changes, you will never get the results you want. Instead of going on a diet, you have to improve your diet. You have to stop dieting (verb) and start a living diet (noun). There are many reasons people fail at dieting. Unlike other areas of life where we learn from mistakes and become better, people diet (verb) over and over again, never learning a thing from previous attempts that will improve the odds of success in the future. So now it’s time to learn. It’s time to change your approach and accept the fact that if you want significant change in your health, you have to make lifelong changes to your diet (noun). The following steps will prepare you for the kind of results you’ve always wanted, but never achieved on your own. First, write down answers to the following questions. If you are not truly honest with yourself, this will not work. • What are the reasons you’re not satisfied with your present situation? • What will happen if you don’t make some

changes to your lifestyle? • What specifically do you want to change? • How will your life be better once you make those changes? It’s important to understand why you have failed in the past. Outline any obstacles that have surfaced in the past or that you expect will surface in the future. Once you have outlined the potential obstacles, you can determine your strategies for overcoming them. You will be prepared – no surprises! Write down answers to the following questions: • How many times have you tried to make these changes already? • What stopped you from making these changes before? • What has changed in your life that will make this easier or harder? • What kind of support system do you have, and are those closest to you willing to support your efforts? Understand that other people will be one of your biggest obstacles. You will be tempted, questioned, talked about and even manipulated by others who feel guilty about their own situation and unknowingly WANT to sabotage your efforts. Also understand that you will sabotage yourself for many different reasons. Addressing this beforehand and outlining your strategies for overcoming these obstacles allows you to bypass negative influences.

Other people will be one of your biggest obstacles. Finally, stop making excuses for why you can’t, and start finding ways you can. We don’t accept excuses from employees who are late, children who misbehave or criminals who break the law. Excuses are our way of being dishonest with ourselves and justifying our actions. Watch the Paralympics – then ask yourself what your excuses are. The previous questions help eliminate excuses for why you can’t eat healthy or exercise. If you get your mind right and address all the issues beforehand, you become well prepared for the obstacles in your path. Understand the changes you want to make require a lifelong commitment to a healthier lifestyle, not a crazy diet (verb) that leaves you worse than before. Know that it will be hard to stay the course and you will face difficult decisions along the way. Don’t let yourself get caught up in trends and

fads; stick to what has kept humankind alive throughout our existence: Eat a lot of colorful vegetables, some fruit, a little whole grain, lean protein and pure water. Simple isn’t always easy, but if you prepare for the challenges ahead and are willing to accept those challenges, simple gets a lot easier. Soon you will have stopped dieting (verb) and started living a diet (noun) of health and happiness.

Craig Myers is the director of sports performance at Pro Performance Training Center, Corpus Christi’s premier facility for adult and youth training. For more information on healthy eating or guidance with achieving jaw-dropping results, call 361-806-2085 or visit www.properformancetc.com.

St. Peter’s Home Health, Inc. Certified by Medicare in 2005 and accredited by Community Health Accrediation Program in 2010 Registered Nurse and Referral Intake available 24/7

SERVICES PROVIDED:

SKILLED NURSING / HOME HEALTH AIDE SPEECH THERPY / PHYSICAL THERAPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY / MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICE

OTHER SERVICES:

LAB WORK / COLOSTOMY CARE / CATHETER CARE / WOUND CARE / INJECTIONS / PORTABLE X-RAYS INTRAVENOUS THERAPY / WOUND VAC THERAPY

1801 East Main St., Ste. A Alice, Texas 78332 Office: 361.664.7001 | 1.877.279.7710 | Fax: 361.664.7727 COUNTIES SERVED: Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Bee, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Live Oak, Starr, Webb, Zapata, Cameron, Willacy, Aransas and San Patricio. N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

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A private food blog is a simple way to focus on how your diet makes you feel and how you can make yourself feel better on your own.

A Portrait of Health

Food blogs can help you spark a positive change in both your waistline and your lifestyle in just 30 days. By: [Mandy Ashcraft] If you’re the social networking type, you’re probably familiar with the oh-so-predictable food photographs uploaded around typical mealtimes. Your feelings on that may range from “if you’re not going to bring that to my house and serve it to me, I don’t care” to “that’s a beautiful dish; I am inspired to try to make this for myself,” with a gray area in between that’s usually con-

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tingent on how hungry you are. Even if your opinion of the mass sharing is less than favorable, would you consider transitioning this concept to a more private level if it could actually help you lose weight? Food diaries are a well-understood concept in the field of nutrition – basically a journal listing what you ate and how you felt. Food blogs are a public way to share what you’re eating/cooking online with others. But a fusion of the two ideas could be just what your waistline and lifestyle need to spark a positive change in just 30 days. What may inspire you is a personal, predominately photographic food blog that only you can view so you can really look closely at what you’re consuming. Websites such as WordPress and Tumblr allow you to create easily customizable pages for no charge and upload photos from your smart phone or tablet. All of these sites can be set to completely private or viewable with password only, if you’d like to share with friends or family. If you’re the more social type, leave yours public and open to comments and suggestions; it might even be more motivating for you that way. Look at it as a simple, modern way to document your eating habits even on the go, for your own analysis and modification. Take your first photo and upload it to your blog, along with what it was, where you had it and how you felt after you ate it. Do this for every meal. No one can see, and no one can judge you. It’s a mirror of your lifestyle for you to look back on. Look through several days of photos and see if you find trends or things you’re lacking. Do you see any food groups com-

pletely missing? Is everything on your plate one color, is it from a fastfood restaurant or do you have portion sizes you can admit might be too large? If you have health problems, scroll through a week of your photos and thoughts and see if any of it is contributing to your current health status. The next step is to impress yourself. Change it up. Add more color, variety and new foods. Arrange the items differently on your plate, cut the sandwich a different way or skewer sandwich components on a kabob skewer instead and try to make it look good for your photo. It doesn’t have to look professional! This effort encourages smaller portion sizes, added thought and awareness of food that’s chosen and consumed and a general tendency toward vegetables or fruit on the plate. How did those meals make you feel? At the end of 30 days, you will have given yourself a record of information and change – something to really use as a tool to your advantage. There are food diary websites like ﬁtday.com that give you charts and calorie counters, etc., which might be useful if you want to take it step further. A private food blog is a simple way to leave the mathematical calculations out and really focus on how your diet makes you feel and how you can make yourself feel better on your own. This is your health on a plate. Upload and hit “save.”

For more information or healthy recipe ideas, email mandyashcraft314@ gmail.com or visit www.mandyashcraft.com.

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From Our Family to Yours By providing high-quality compassionate care for patients and families during the last phase of life, hospice care focuses on living, not dying. By: [Lisa Maze]

Hospice is a specialized form of care for patients and families facing a life-limiting illness. Hospice is all about living, not dying. Hospice allows patients and their families to add more life in their days, if not more days to their life. Hospice empowers and encourages patients to do the things they love – visit family, take a walk in the park or enjoy friends – for as long as they can. Hospice care helps patients and families focus on living and recognize that dying is a natural part of life, allowing each of us the right to die pain-free and with dignity. Hospice provides support and care for persons in the last phases of an incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, individuals and their families may be free to attain a degree of satisfaction in preparation for death. Hospice recognizes that human growth and development can be a lifelong process and seeks to preserve and promote the inherent potential for growth within individuals and families during the last phase of life.

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Hospice offers palliative care for all individuals and their families without regard to age, gender, nationality, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, diagnosis, availability of a primary caregiver or ability to pay. Hospice offers high-quality, compassionate care to persons who can no longer benefit from curative treatment. Services are provided by a team of trained professionals, including physicians, nurses, counselors, social workers, therapists, chaplains, aides and volunteers. • Hospice offers palliative care rather than curative treatment, focusing on pain and symptom control that enable the patient to live as fully and comfortably as possible. • Hospice care is provided at homes, nursing homes and assisted living residences – wherever

home is. • Hospice is always on call for hospice patients and their families, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. • Hospice continues to care for the family even after the death of the patient by providing grief and bereavement counseling. • Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs and managed care organizations.

River City Hospice believes that while each patient’s situation is unique, many of the problems, coping strategies and emotions are not. For more information on how River City Hospice can help you or your loved one, please contact Janet Montagne at 361-882-5900 or call 1-877-53-RIVER.

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Skilled Home Health Care Services

Anodyne Therapy, Assessment & Evaluation, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Central Line and PICC Line Management, Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Nurses Aide, Disease Process Teaching and Management, Enteral Nutrition, Foley Catheter Care, Insulin Administration, IV Therapy, Medical Social Services, Medication Management, Occupational Therapy, Parenteral Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Venipuncture/Lab Work, Wound Care Certified Nurses, Wound Care Management, Wound Vac

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119 W. Railroad Ave. Benavides, Texas 78341 Ph: (361) 256-3980 Fax: (361) 256-3981

CORPUS CHRISTI

6262 Weber Rd. Ste. 302 Corpus Christi, Texas 78413 Ph: (361) 853-3971 Fax: (361) 853-4309

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One of the best ways to reduce back pain is movement.

A Pain in the Back

Reduce pain in your back, neck and shoulders and help prevent more serious injuries by staying active and learning proper lifting techniques. By: [Marcus Sorenson]

Back pain is now the No. 1 medical diagnosis in America. Eighty percent of all Americans will have back pain at some point in their lives. Out of that group of people, 90 percent will have multiple episodes of back pain. With more than 300 million people in the United States, that means approximately 240,000,000 Americans will have suffer from at least one episode of back pain, and approximately 220,000,000 Americans will have multiple episodes of back pain throughout their lives. Not only does back pain affect hundreds of millions of people in this county alone, low back pain is also the most costly medical diagnosis to treat. From traditional medical procedures such as injections, medications and surgeries to more conservative options such as physical therapy, mas-

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sage and chiropractic care, Americans spend billions of dollars every year to treat back pain. The good news is that most episodes of back pain completely resolve within two weeks. Yes! The average person does not need to spend millions of dollars and have countless surgeries in order to alleviate back pain. There are many other conservative options to reduce back pain. One of the best ways to reduce back pain is movement. Walking has been shown to reduce pain, decrease stiffness and aid in weight loss. As human beings, we are designed to walk and stand upright. Although technology has made our lives easier in many ways, it has also made us heavier, and people spend much more time sitting today than ever before. There are actually more episodes

of back pain in our technologically advanced world today than 100 years ago, when the majority of people performed manual labor on farms and in factories. Aquatic therapy is also a great way to reduce back pain. The hydrostatic forces in water such as buoyancy allow people to reduce the impact of arthritic joints, while still getting a great workout. Just walking forwards and backwards and sidestepping in

water at chest deep will help reduce back pain and strengthen your core muscles. Even if you don’t know how to swim and your head never goes underwater, aquatic therapy can be extremely beneficial to reducing low back pain. Improper lifting techniques are also common causes of neck, shoulder and back pain and possibly even more serious injuries. Learning the proper way to lift will help you minimize the risk of pain and injury. » Plan ahead before lifting heavy objects. Make sure you have a clear path. This will help you avoid any awkward or sudden movements that can strain your muscles. » Test an object’s weight before lifting by pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy, ask for help. » Lift with your legs, not with your back. Don’t lean over an object to lift it. Face the object you intend to lift and avoid twisting. Instead, stand close to the object, bend your legs and keep your back straight, then lift. » Keep feet shoulder-width apart and maintain your balance by distributing the object’s weight equally on both sides of your body. » If a back injury does occur, seek help from a physical therapist. What starts as a minor back injury can progress to a chronic condition without early intervention.

Marcus Sorenson, P.T., DPT, is the lead therapist and CEO of Kingsville Home Rehab Services, Inc. To learn more about back pain, please visit www. kingsvillehomerehab.com.

Valedictorian Sponsors

Salutatorian Sponsors

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Featuring Keynote Presentation from D. Scott Elliff, CCISD Superintendent of Schools, “Hearts & Minds” Student Showcase, and performances from CCISD students. Proceeds benefit the Corpus Christi Education Foundation, which funds innovative classroom programs and scholarships not otherwise able to be funded through the school district. Sponsorship Levels:

Valedictorian ($10,000) Salutatorian ($5,000) Honor Roll ($2,500) Senior ($1,000) Junior ($500)

Ray High School students expand their outdoor classroom, featuring various gardens, a greenhouse pond and an archeological dig site, through a grant program funded by 2011 State of the District sponsorships.

Individual Tickets: $50 NEW this year: Sponsors at Honor Roll level and above will be recognized at a first - ever Donor Appreciation Reception Tuesday, October 16, 2012, from 6pm to 8pm at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. Sponsorship packages and ticket information is available at www.ccef-ccisd.o rg under “State of the District,” or call the CCEF at (361) 695 - 7412.

Carroll High School students test and apply real-world problem solving techniques to “teach “ goldfish to swim through a maze through a grant program funded by 2011 State of the District sponsorships.

Shaw Special Emphasis School students track and study weather at their campus and around the world through a grant funded by 2011 State of the District sponsorships.

Cunningham Middle School students track animal migrations using GPS navigation through a grant program funded by 2011 State of the District sponsorships.

Windsor Park Elementary students test their critical thinking and problem-solving skills through daily activities as part of the “Think Tank ” program funded by 2011 State of the District sponsorships.

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when caring hurts Often enduring significant mental, emotional, financial and physical demands, those who care for debilitated loved ones can lessen this special kind of stress with effective coping strategies and spiritual care. By: [Dean Campbell]

In America today, an increasing number of people aged 40 to 70 are the primary caregivers for one or more parent, one or more grandchild and/or a debilitated spouse. Almost three million grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. Eighty percent of Alzheimer’s patients are cared for at home by a spouse or an adult child. The mental, emotional, financial and physical demands placed on those who provide this care are extreme. Researchers call this special kind of stress “caregiver burden.” There are ways to measure the severity of the condition, and there are services and techniques designed to specifically address these needs. The risk factors for “excessive” caregiver burden include social isolation, lack of knowledge about the needs of the person receiving care, a caregiver with limited interpersonal skills and/or immature coping patterns, a previously strained relationship between the carer and the one cared for and feelings of guilt. There are also factors that protect the caregiver from feelings of being overburdened. These include help from family members, the ability to use problem-focused coping strategies, the availability of support from the community and knowledge about the condition of the recipient of care. Research has clearly shown that in some instances (for example, caring for a terminally ill spouse or child), the presence of professional help is the single most important factor in decreasing caregiver burden and preventing serious long-term emotional, spiritual, psychological and even physical problems (anemia, diabetes, ulcers, high blood pressure, in-

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somnia and nightmares, palpitations, headaches) for the caregiver. One important study showed a 63 percent higher risk of death for elderly spousal caregivers compared to those who did not care for their husband or wife. Other ways to reduce the strain of caregiving include learning how to measure one’s own stress, socializing more, establishing personal boundaries, having realistic expectations of oneself and mobilizing all available support resources. Examples of available resources include local hospice organizations, adult day care centers, diseasespecific support groups, local health departments and church-based social service organizations. A good professional support service should be creative and optimistic, recognize the unique situation for each family, assist with sound planning focused on problem-solving and make expert information easy to access. In addition to understanding the many burdens that fall on today’s caregivers, physicians, nurses and others have engaged in much research linking the mind-body-spirit connection with disease and prevention. Those who work in settings where spiritual care is a core service (e.g., hospice and other palliative care settings) report many cases where the difference between one patient, whose pain and other symptoms are severe and difficult to control, and another, who easily finds peace and comfort, is in their level of spiritual well-being. Because the need for and the effectiveness of spiritual care is clearly recognized within the health care community, counselors who specialize in this area have become increasingly common. These pro-

fessionals are usually called chaplains, but they may also be referred to as pastoral or spiritual counselors or coordinators. These people come from a variety of backgrounds and preparation. Some have been ordained as ministers by a particular faith and feel called to minister to those who are suffering, and consider their desire to emulate the Good Samaritan to be enough preparation. Others have participated in rigorous training requiring a master’s degree as a prerequisite. At this time, it is up to the health care provider to establish policies that ensure competency in the specific skills needed to be an effective spiritual counselor. Over the last decades, the availability of trained chaplains has significantly increased in most parts of the United States, and most institutions and agencies either require or prefer training, if not certification, in the discipline. The specific techniques used by spiritual care professionals can vary widely and may include life review and other storytelling techniques, prayer and meditation, religious rituals, linking and referring, the use of individual and family therapy components and many other measures. And yes, people who do not believe in a soul have spiritual needs, even if they believe these needs only exist in relation to others.

For more questions regarding caregiving and spiritual care, feel free to contact Legacy Home Health Agency, which specializes in hospice and home health care, at 1-800-874-5112.

When you think of physical therapy... you most likely think of our ability to

treat the standard musculoskeletal injuries or conditions such as strains, sprains, low back pain, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot pain, etc.,

...but did you know Humpal P.T. also has programs for:

• Pregnancy (Pre/Post Natal Care) • Diabetes • Fall Prevention • Neuropathy

• Cardiovascular Therapy • Osteoarthritis • Vertigo (dizziness) • Osteoporosis

• Athletic Rehab (Sport Specific) • Thoracic-Outlet Syndrome • Orthotic Evaluation/Fabrication • Pre-Op/Post-Operative Therapy

We have a program for you if you are unable to perform your activities of daily living due to pain or limited range of motion.

We will put you back in the Game of Life!

4500 sq.ft.Gym - Corpus Christi location

46’x 20’Indoor Pool - Corpus Christi location

All 6 locations offer carefully designed and supervised exercise programs in State of the Art gyms and Large Indoor Heated Pools.

Medicare, Medicaid, Workers Compensation, and most insurances accepted.

If you have a condition that is causing you pain or concern, ask your Doctor for a prescription to Humpal P.T., or stop by any of our locations to request a FREE physical therapy Screening to determine if your condition can benefit from physical therapy.

Humpal Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers

w w w. H u m p a l P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y. c o m w w w. F a c e b o o k . c o m / H u m pa l P T

Corpus Christi, 5026 Deepwood Cir., 361-854-2278 Calallen, 4040 Five Points Rd., 361-241-7399 Alice, 1302 E. 5th St., 361-664-9675 Portland, 114 Lang Rd. 361-643-8243 Aransas Pass, 2150 W. Wheeler Ave., 361-758-5199 Rockport, 1811 Broadway (aka Fulton Beach Rd.), 361-729-8777

6 Locations • 120 Employees • One Philosophy- Provide the Best Ncare! S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D M D

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If left untreated, sleep disorders may produce further medical conditions.

Sleeping Disorders 101 Committed to educating patients, their family members and the community, the Bay Area Sleep Evaluation Center outlines some common disorders, their symptoms and potential effects. By: [Roxanne Vela]

Are you at risk for any of the following? · Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – partial or complete cessations of breathing during sleep (loud snoring, snorting or gasping for breath upon wakening) · Insomnia – difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep · Narcolepsy – difficulty staying awake (a condition of frequent and uncontrollable desire for sleep) · Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) – involuntary movement of the legs or arms during sleep · Restless leg syndrome (RLS) – uncomfortable sensations in the legs · Parasomnia – disorders that include arousals from sleep (sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors, sleep violence, etc.)

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Untreated sleep apnea can lead to the following: · Strokes · Auto and work-related accidents · Morning headaches · Obesity · Anxiety and depression · High blood pressure · Poor concentration and memory · Irritability · Impotence · Loss of energy · Uncontrolled diabetes · Negative effects on family, work and school There are many types of sleeping disorders. If left untreated, they may produce further medical conditions. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, see your primary care

physician, as a sleep evaluation may be necessary. · Pauses in your breathing · Excessive daytime sleepiness · Irritability · Memory or concentration difficulties · Headaches · Sexual dysfunction · Body and/or leg jerks in your sleep · Sleep attacks If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the Bay Area Sleep Evaluation Center at 361-852-9200 or 1-800-605-9522. The following is a self-test. Check any of the following questions that may apply to you.  Do you awaken feeling tired and sleepy?

 Do you sometimes feel very sleepy during the day?  Do you have trouble concentrating or remembering things?  Do you experience low energy levels?  Do you snore?  Has anyone told you that you gasp or stop breathing in your sleep?  Do you suffer from frequent headaches?  Are you experiencing mood or behavioral changes?  Has anyone ever told you that your body or legs jerk at night?  Do you have high blood pressure?  Do you experience aching or crawling sensations in your legs?  Do you sometimes feel weak or go limp? If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may be at risk for a sleep disorder. Please talk to your physician about your concerns.

The Bay Area Sleep Evaluation Center is located at 6000 S. Staples, Ste. 403, Corpus Christi, Texas 78413. For more information, call 361-852-9200 or 1-800-605-9522.

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Dr. Morgan Campbell III while at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus ChristiShoreline

Rapid Response to Critical Need Used in the treatment of stroke patients, NeuroCall brings specialty care into emergency departments in a moment’s notice with the simple click of a mouse. By: [katy kiser] In late July at 3:30 a.m., a 66-yearold male arrives to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline with symptoms of a stroke. Before he even arrives at the ER, a physician located miles away is contacted. That specialist logs on to a computer. As the patient is wheeled into his room, that specialist, a board-certified neurologist, is ready to conduct a consultation. A CHRISTUS Spohn nurse acts as the specialist’s

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hands following a stroke scale protocol. After the consultation and the CT scans are reviewed, the specialist pans a camera to the left, where the patient’s family awaits word. The doctor introduces himself, lets the family know the status of their loved one and explains the severity of the case and the possibility of complication. The decision to administer a drug used for de-clotting, TPA, is made, and the patient survives. A family is relieved. This is an example of how a new service called NeuroCall is helping in the treatment of stroke patients. CHRISTUS Spohn is connected through a high-definition camera setup to Neurocall Inc. and a network of neurologists. When seconds count and instant access to stroke neurologists is critical, NeuroCall, a video conferencing system, brings specialty care directly into an emergency department at a moment’s notice, with the click of a mouse. A neurologist in another part of the country can see and diagnose a patient, and even prescribe medicine. There are fewer than 1,000 vascular neurologists specializing in stroke in the United States. Dr. Morgan Campbell III is one of those specialists. He is the medical director for the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus ChristiShoreline Stroke Team. Campbell has treated patients through the NeuroCall system. He’s also seen it work at CHRISTUS Spohn Shoreline. “We have access to patient records and test results,” Campbell said. “Neurologists can see the patient, see their body language, their eye movement, and when time is critical, teleneurologists’ coverage helps ensure we are doing everything possible for our patients and their family members.” According to a recent study released from the Mayo Clinic, there is no difference in patient outcome for acute stroke care whether the neurologist is physically there at the bedside or through tele-presence. The document goes on to state, “the technology has adapted to suit the needs of an emergency, time-sensitive, acute stroke encounter. Well-designed studies have shown that this consultative modality is valid, accurate and reliable.” The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that provides accreditation to hospitals around the nation, has recognized teleneurology as a best practice. The stroke program at CHRISTUS Spohn has been honored by the American Stroke Association with a Gold Plus

Performance award. CHRISTUS Spohn continues to provide the highest quality in neurological care and now offers an even higher rapid response time to treat neurological emergencies in collaboration with NeuroCall.

Stroke is probably the most feared condition because it is so debilitating. Stoke is the No. 1 cause of disability among adults, and it is the third cause of death – more frequent than breast cancer in women. Aggressive treatment in the event of a stroke is imperative – there is no time to waste. The first three hours following a stroke are the most critical, and immediate treatment determines the long-term effects of stroke. Signs of a stroke should not be ignored: • Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or poor coordination • Sudden severe headache with no known cause • Difficulty talking or understanding speech There are two kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. They are quite different, as are the treatments. Knowing the cause of the stroke requires the ability of the physician to form a fast, accurate diagnosis. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage to the brain. Medicines that thin the blood can help increase the blood supply to the brain before irreversible damage occurs. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel that has burst open. This type of stoke can be made worse by taking blood-thinning drugs. In addition to determining the type of stroke, the physician must locate the leak to stop the bleeding. The patient’s medical history, along with immediate imaging tests, determines the treatment the patient will receive.

For more information, visit www. christusspohn. org.

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