FALL 2016
Health LINES Penn Highlands Healthcare
Working together for a healthy community.
Genetic Testing at Penn Highlands Healthcare
ONE AND DONE
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Now Available at Hahne
Get Insured During Open Enrollment OUR INSURANCE NAVIGATOR IS HERE TO HELP
Now Offering Traditional and 3D Mammography
FALL 2016 | PENN HIGHLANDS HEALTHCARE
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Cover Story Genetic Testing at Penn Highlands Healthcare
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Get Insured Now
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Traditional and 3D Mammography
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One And Done Ask The Expert - About Mammography 10 New Faces 12 ShortScripts 14 16
Advice From A Doctor
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HealthLines is a publication of Penn Highlands Healthcare which includes the hospitals of Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands DuBois and Penn Highlands Elk. It is produced quarterly by the system’s Marketing Team and is always available our website at www.phhealthcare.org/magazine. If you wish to subscribe to HealthLines electronically, sign up at phhealthcare.org/getmagazine. Printed copies may be found in the waiting rooms of Penn Highlands Healthcare facilities throughout the eight-county region and at several local businesses. You may pick one up at anytime, if you prefer. Our magazine is also available, for those who request it, via U.S. Mail. Below is a list of names and phone numbers to call for a copy to be mailed to you. Share your name, address and telephone number if you leave a message.
CEO Perspective To say I have a few important women in my life would be an understatement. My wife and three daughters are the best part of my life. My mother and motherin-law are very important to our family. And, I work in an organization where the majority of our staff is women. So because of my connection to important women, I thought I’d highlight an important awareness program that is celebrated each fall at Penn Highlands Healthcare. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Penn Highlands wants to help women learn about what we provide for education, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and support. We invest in significant resources for women’s health with our Spirit of Women health education program, advanced screening technology, physicians who specialize in care for women, support groups for those who have gone through health issues and so much more. I encourage you to pay close attention to the articles that highlight upgrades to our mammography technology and advanced genetic testing services now available in our system, both crucial to early detection of breast cancer. Also, consider joining us for The Women’s Health Center’s Girls’ Night Out event; program information is on the ShortScripts pages. We want you to be informed and be active when it comes to your healthcare. Know what screenings you need, when you need them and where to get them. Also, know that we have your back if the need arises. Sincerely,
For more information, please contact the Marketing Team at HealthLines@ phhealthcare.org or call on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Penn Highlands Healthcare HealthLines Team Mary Jo Yebernetsky, Writer/Editor, 814-375-3495 Mary Jo Herzing, Graphic Design Specialist, 814-375-6539 John Brennan, Marketing/PR Director, 814-375-3494 Amy Duke, Marketing/PR Director, 814-768-2827 Karen Hazlett, Marketing/PR Specialist, 814-788-8532 Brian Musser, Community/Physician Outreach Specialist, 814-375-6508 Lori Rancik, RN, The Women’s Health Center, 814-371-9666
Steve Fontaine, CEO Penn Highlands Healthcare
The information in this magazine does not take the place of health advice given to you by your healthcare provider. Always call 911 for any emergency.
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Navigating all the information on health insurance can be downright frustrating. Too often, it is so confusing that people simply go without insurance, betting on good health. Unfortunately, besides unforeseen accidents and illness, going without health insurance results in a stiff tax penalty. Now is the perfect time to explore what’s available because November through January is the open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. The federal government created the Marketplace to help Americans purchase insurance through its website, www. healthcare.gov. And to help those who may be confused or do not have computers, Penn Highlands Brookville is helping by offering an Insurance Navigator.
Andrea Stewart works under a grant from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, and her job is to walk people through the Marketplace to find the right insurance. She gives fair and impartial information and will not point people in the direction of a specific insurance provider. She also helps those who qualify for medical assistance or Medicare to enroll in those programs, and she will help everyone find the best coverage for the lowest possible premium. “If you don’t have insurance, come in, and I’ll help you,” said Andrea. “We’ll sit at my computer, and I’ll walk you through the steps.”
Get Insured During Open Enrollment
OUR INSURANCE NAVIGATOR IS HERE TO HELP
Get help during Open Enrollment: 814-849-1412 or alstewart@ phhealthcare.org
There is no fee for this service. To schedule an appointment, please call 814-849-1412 or email alstewart@phhealthcare. org. Andrea has flexible hours to fit everyone’s schedule.
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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Now offering Traditional and 3-D Mammography Every year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. The importance of early detection cannot be stressed enough. Size matters, and smaller tumors are less invasive and more treatable. Unfortunately, they are also harder to detect on self breast exams, which is why it is important for women to have regular, yearly mammograms. Penn Highlands Healthcare – along with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons – advises women to have a mammogram every 12 months. This is the best way to catch an abnormality when it is small enough to be treated. All of the hospitals in the Penn Highlands Healthcare system offer modern mammography performed by certified technologists. “We have a very skilled and caring team of mammographers,” said Lisa Housler, director of Imaging Services at Penn Highlands Elk, “and we have stateof-the-art women’s imaging centers designed with our patients’ comfort in mind.” While our current mammography systems are the gold standard in breast cancer detection, Penn Highlands has
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embarked on an upgrade, which, when complete, will offer 3-D mammography, also called tomosynthesis, to women throughout the Penn Highlands service area. The equipment has already been installed at Penn Highlands DuBois. The Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building in Philipsburg will be the site of the next installation. Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Brookville and Penn Highlands Clearfield will have 3-D coming in 2017. The 3-D mammogram uses x-ray imaging, and the procedure feels essentially the same for the patient as the traditional 2-D mammogram. The difference is the image clarity for the radiologists who read the mammograms. Whereas 2-D mammograms give views only from the front and side of the breast, 3-D mammograms provide images of the breast in “slices” from many different angles. “This technology is especially beneficial for women with dense breast tissue,” explained Dr. Kelley Smith, general surgeon at Penn Highlands DuBois, who specializes in breast surgery. “Women at a higher risk for developing breast cancer may also benefit from 3-D mammography.” “There are many positive benefits of 3-D mammography,” Connie Cribbs,
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SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT
TODAY!
Woman’s Imaging manager at PH DuBois, said. “Studies show a 29-percent increase in the detection of all breast cancers and a 15-percent decrease in women recalled for additional exams. This new technology is approved by the FDA and allows our radiologists to more effectively pinpoint the location of an abnormality on an x-ray.” “Penn Highlands Healthcare is committed to the fight against breast cancer. We are fortunate to have this highly-advanced breast cancer diagnostic tool in our system to help the women in our communities receive the comprehensive care that they deserve,” said Laura Adams, Radiology/ Oncology Service Line Director, Penn Highlands Healthcare.
To schedule a 2-D Mammogram: PH Brookville: PH Clearfield: PH DuBois: PH Elk: Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building:
814-849-1880 814-768-2276 814-375-4636 814- 788-8844
814-768-2276
To schedule a 3-D Mammogram: PH DuBois:
814-375-4636
For more information on 3-D mammograms, please call Breast Care Services at 814-375-4061.
Penn Highlands Healthcare has a FREE GIFT for you! Log onto www.phhealthcare/pink and complete our free Women’s Health Assessment.
For more information about mammography services, visit us at
Free lunch bags are available to the first 500 women. Must be 18 years of age or older, and only one per household. Penn Highlands employees are not eligible.
www.phhealthcare.org/ womensimaging
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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ONE AND DONE Stereotactic radio surgery, or SRS, is now available at Hahne. Hahne Regional Cancer Center, through its Radiation Oncology Department at Penn Highlands Healthcare, provides radiation treatment for cancer. In 2014, it installed the TrueBeam linear accelerator – the best on the market. It provides dosages of radiation with pinpoint accuracy and speed. In the summer of 2015, Dr. Grae Schuster, radiation oncologist, and his staff at Hahne began using that same state-of-the-art machine to provide a new radiation therapy called stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT. SBRT is most commonly used to treat early stage lung cancer in patients who cannot tolerate surgery. The cancer is given five treatments over two weeks with better results and fewer side effects compared to a traditional radiation therapy.
normal brain. It does not actually remove the tumor; rather, it damages the tumor cells. As a result, the tumor dies and shrinks. To pinpoint the cancer, SRS and SBRT rely on precise images from a CT or computed tomography, and/or MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, scans. Just like all radiation therapies, a patient lies still on a table. With SBRT and SRS, additional steps are taken to keep the patient from moving, ensuring the accuracy of the treatment. The procedure itself is painless and takes about an hour.
Now, another new use that was not available in this region before is being offered - stereotactic radiosurgery, or SRS for short. SRS delivers radiation with a high degree of precision. (Its knife-like precision gives it the surgery name.) It was developed to treat certain brain conditions, such as brain metastasis (cancer) without the need for open surgery. The goal of SRS is to deliver one high dose of radiation that will destroy the tumor but not harm the surrounding
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Dr. Grae Schuster, radiation oncologist, and his staff at Hahne.
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Hahne Regional Cancer Center Penn Highlands DuBois
814-375-3535
Our First Patient If you met Lois Knepp of Clearfield, you wouldn’t think she had a care in the world. Cracking jokes and having a good attitude, nothing seems to keep her down. Lois is a cancer survivor, and she was the first patient of the Radiation Oncology Department at Hahne Regional Cancer Center to go through SRS, stereotactic radio surgery, on April 5, 2016. Earlier this year, Lois thought she had a sinus infection.
“After several days, my eyes swelled up to the point I had a hard time seeing. It was worse after I was on antibiotics,” she said. A trip to the Emergency Department and The Lung Center of Penn Highlands DuBois, Lois was diagnosed with lung cancer which had already spread to the brain. A plan was made at Hahne Regional Cancer Center with Dr. Hazem ElKassas, medical oncologist, and Dr. Schuster. The cancer in her brain was first on the list to be treated. She felt positive about her SRS treatment. “It was to my benefit to do that,” Lois said. “We could get all of it and not do it twice.”
What was the experience like? “The people themselves are fantastic,” Lois said. “They became like my second family.” The hardest part? “When marking you for radiation, they
have to be very precise, right on,” she said. To do that, a mask is made of the head for marking. “It feels like wet, warm pig skin over your face,” she laughed. Yuck! After her treatment, Lois was allowed to take her mask home. “I put it in the cupboard,” she said. ”It looks like it’s spying on me.” Her fiancé, Roger Thomas, said, “It looks like a monkey in a science lab.” “We might as well enjoy it. I put it on Facebook so everyone could see what I would be for Halloween,” Lois added. Since her SRS appointment, she has had other radiation treatments for her lung cancer and chemotherapy. Her last round of chemotherapy was September 1, 2016, and she is doing really well, she said. She credits Roger for being her angel to get her through this time. He attended every appointment and has cared for her every step of the way. “He is a Godsend.”
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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One risk for breast cancer that we cannot control is our genetic make-up. But how do we know if we carry a specific gene?
Genetic Testing at Penn Highlands Healthcare
There are several characteristics that are red flags for the possibility of a genetic mutation, but the only way to know for sure is to undergo genetic testing. That testing for hereditary breast cancer genes can now be done at Penn Highlands Healthcare! Melissa Hilliard, a physician assistant in the office of Dr. Kelley Smith, a Penn Highlands DuBois general surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, oversees the program to test for breast-cancer related genes. There are numerous genes that have been linked to breast cancer. Most people are aware of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes in part due to the media coverage surrounding actress Angelina Jolie. “She really made people more
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aware of it,” Melissa said. “It brought it into the light and let people think more about it.” The standard panel offered at Penn Highlands includes those two and four more genes that are directly linked to breast cancer and other cancers. Although there are many other genes to test for, these are the six that are standard for surveillance and preventive treatments for breast cancer. Depending on the individual, other genes can be added. What are the six? The genes are: BRCA1 - associated with female and male breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, fallopian tube and endometrial cancers. BRCA2 - associated with female and male breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, fallopian tube and endometrial cancers as well as melanoma, a type of skin cancer. CDH1 - associated with female breast, diffuse gastric stomach and colon cancers.
PTEN - associated with female breast, thyroid, endometrial, colon and renal, or kidney, cancers as well as melanoma. TP53 - associated with female breast, soft tissue sarcoma, bone, brain, adrenal gland and blood cancers. PALB2 - associated with female and male breast and pancreatic cancers.
If you want to know more about genetic testing, call Penn Highlands General Surgery at 814-375-4000
WHY GET TESTING?
The best reason is that there are options for management – such as increased surveillance to detect cancers at an early stage or medications and surgeries to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Some people may not want testing due to anxiety. “They don’t want to know they are positive,” Melissa said. Also, they may be concerned they will be discriminated against by their health insurance plan. However, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) protects you against discrimination by health insurance companies or employers based on genetic information.
And if you enjoy coloring – it could pay off! Show us your artwork and you could win a Fitbit Charge 2 (one of the latest styles of Fitbits)!
Who should get tested? Those who have a personal or family history of: • Multiple related cancers; • Breast cancer at a young age (before age 50); • Breast cancer in both breasts; • Ovarian, primary peritoneal, fallopian tube or male breast cancer; • Breast or ovarian cancer along with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.
Coloring books are no longer just for the kids. In fact, adult coloring books are all the rage right now.
HOW EASY IS IT?
It starts with a series of questions about family cancer history to create a pedigree. Then, the person is given a mouthwash to aid in collecting saliva in a test tube. The tube is sent for testing in a lab, and in about two to three weeks, the results are back. “I really like working with the lab we use,” Melissa said. They provide a direct connection to genetic counselors who will spend an hour on the phone with patients to discuss the results. The patient will then return to the office to see Melissa. “Then, we go over everything. We go through options and discuss what the patient wants,” she said. Having a gene doesn’t mean you will develop a disease. And if you don’t have the genes? “We talk about heredity, but remember that 80-90 percent of breast cancers are not hereditary,” Melissa said. Negative genetic testing does not mean that a person will not develop cancer. It is still important to be vigilant with routine examinations and screening mammograms.
Download the coloring page that matches our front cover and make it your own! Send it to us with your name and phone number to HealthLines, c/o PHH Marketing, 100 Hospital Avenue, DuBois PA 15801 by Friday, December 16, 2016. One coloring page can be entered per person. You must be age 16 or older to win. The winner will be announced on our website, December 21, 2016. Employees of Penn Highlands Healthcare are not eligible.
Download our cover art at www.phhealthcare.org/color
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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ASK THE EXPERT - About Mammography
October is the time of year that we see a lot of pink, and women everywhere are reminded to get a mammogram. Mammograms do save lives. They detect changes from yearto-year before the change can even be noticeable otherwise. Women may have questions. And that is why we have our experts from throughout the Penn Highlands Healthcare region here to help you!
To schedule a mammogram, visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/ womensimaging
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WHAT IS BREAST DENSITY?
WHO SHOULD HAVE A MAMMOGRAM?
Breast density greatly affects the ability of breast imaging to detect abnormalities. Density is determined by the amount of glandular tissue that is present versus the amount of fatty tissue. Generally when there is more fatty tissue, the breast is less dense and easier to image. Breast density can be very different from person-toperson, but usually as women age, the breast become increasingly fatty and mammograms become more useful.
This topic is controversial depending on which group of experts you ask. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Penn Highlands Healthcare advise that women at an average risk should begin screening mammograms at age 40 and have them yearly thereafter.
HOW IMPORTANT IS SELFBREAST EXAM?
The short answer is that there are more views taken when having a diagnostic mammogram as compared to a screening study.
Performing self-breast exams has become a controversial issue. Opponents argue that it is associated with a high rate of false positive findings and note that this leads to unnecessary fear and anxiety. The specific frequency and technique in performing breast awareness is much less rigid than the practice of breast-self exam in the past. We now stress that breast awareness can be easily done by all patients and instruct them to press firmly on the breast tissue every time they wash and report any changes they notice. This process varies very little from routine washing and takes no extra time. It also provides the patient the opportunity to become very familiar with their normal breast tissue and help them to note changes when they arise. Experts also remind patients that lumps that are palpable are already fairly large. A screening mammogram may identify abnormalities long before we can feel them.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAPHY?
WHO RECEIVES MY MAMMOGRAM REPORT? CAN IT ALSO BE SENT TO OTHER DOCTORS? After a mammogram has been completed, the patient report is sent to the ordering physician. The patient may request a copy of the report be sent to additional physicians responsible for her care. A letter is also mailed to the patient informing her of the results and/ or possible follow-up with the ordering physician. Jennifer Grotzinger, RT(R)(M) Penn Highlands Elk
During a screening mammogram, two views are obtained, a craniocaudal where the breast is compressed from above and a mediolateral where the compression comes from the side. A diagnostic study is performed when a patient has a breast complaint or an abnormal finding. Diagnostic studies are always supervised by a radiologist who determines what type of additional views are required based on the patient’s particular needs. Breast ultrasound is often used with a diagnostic study to clarify certain findings and is often helpful in determining the difference between breast cysts that are fluid filled versus solid tumors. Deborah DeMuro, MSN, WHNP-BC, CRNP Penn Highlands Women’s Care
HOW IS A MAMMOGRAM DONE? You will stand in front of a special x-ray machine engineered solely for mammograms. A technologist will place your breast on a plastic plate. Another plate will firmly press your breast from above. The plates will compress your breast, holding it still while the x-ray is being taken. The entire procedure only takes about 20 minutes. Your images will be reviewed by the radiologist, and a letter will be sent to you in the mail in about a week with your results. Autumn Dinger RT (R) (M) Penn Highlands DuBois
Thomas A. Carnevale, MD Penn Highlands Women’s Care
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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AT PENN HIGHLANDS We’re proud to introduce the newest members of our healthcare team from April 2016 to August 2016. They look forward to being there for your healthcare needs.
Ryan Andrulonis, MD Dermatology 105 Beaver Drive Suite 200 DuBois, PA
Shannon Amrhein, PA-C Orthopedics 621 S. Main Street DuBois PA
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Emily Grieve, CNM Life’s Journey 190 W. Park Avenue Suite C DuBois PA
April McClellan, MD Emergency Medicine 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Ruhul Bhagat, MD Hospitalist 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Richard E. Grout MD Neonatology 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois, PA
Rebecca Miller, PA-C Family Medicine 1100 Million Dollar Highway 2nd Floor, Suite 1 St. Marys, PA
Josie Cartwright, PA-C QCare Moshannon Valley 271 Railroad Street Philipsburg PA
Muir Kepler, PA-C QCare Punxsutawney 551 W. Mahoning Street Punxsutawney PA
Funmilola Ogundipe, MD Hospitalist 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Myra DeLuca, CNM Life’s Journey 190 W. Park Avenue Suite C DuBois PA
Sarah Means, PA-C Women’s Care 761 Johnsonburg Road Suite 210 St. Marys, PA
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You can download a copy of our physician directory by visiting us at www.phhealthcare. org/findadoc
Find A Doctor
Kelsey Parfitt, PA-C Internal Medicine/ Infectious Disease 190 W. Park Avenue, Suite 1 DuBois, PA
Joel Sarner, MD Anesthesia 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Are you looking for a healthcare provider? Do you want to know a little more about who your next appointment is with? Penn Highlands Healthcare wants you to know all of your healthcare providers and who is available to help you with your healthcare needs. On our website, www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc, you can find a provider by name, by location, by specialty or by hospital. You can even search by gender.
Nihar Patel, MD Medical Oncology Oncology Hematology Assoc. of Northern PA, PC 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois, PA
Janea Schreckengost, PA-C QCare Moshannon Valley 271 Railroad Street Philipsburg PA
Also, a complete listing of all our providers is available by downloading our Physician Directory. You can download the entire handbook, a specific search or a single page.
Speakers Bureau As the community’s resource for health information, Penn Highlands Healthcare is always pleased to provide speakers free of charge for your community organization or event.
Jayant Reddy, MD Hospitalist 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Shaun Sheehan, DO, EMT-HP System Medical Director Emergency Medicine 100 Hospital Avenue DuBois, PA
To make this easier, we now have an online form to make a speaker request at www.phhealthcare.org/ speakersbureau. We ask that you please make speaker requests at least four weeks in advance of the date requested. Penn Highlands Healthcare will attempt to fulfill all requests, but we cannot guarantee an expert on every subject. We try our best to fill each request. The person who fills out the form will be contacted by a member of the Marketing Team on the status of the request.
Marco Reumann, MD Neurology 145 Hospital Avenue DuBois PA
Lisa Zupsic, CRNP Family Medicine 90 Hospital Road Suite 200 Brookville, PA
Topics are limited to the services that Penn Highlands Healthcare provides. Some of our most popular topics include diet and nutrition, heart health, cancer awareness, and exercise and healthy bones. We have many physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified specialists and technicians who would enjoy educating your group.
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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ShortScripts Penn Highlands DuBois Hospice is coordinating its Tree of Doves, for 2016.
Girls Night Out, a program of The Women’s Health Center of Penn Highlands Healthcare is scheduled for 6:00 PM. Tuesday, October 18, at Luigi’s Villa in DuBois. The theme is “Fun and Fancy” and focuses on how friendships and visiting your health care provider for regular physicals can boost your health. “Will you survive menopause?” is another topic. You can, and your best friend can help. A “Fun and Fancy Fashion Show” will be staged with comments about how providers and friends can support women during this time. Several female healthcare providers will be involved, and we encourage mingling with them afterward to ask questions.
The third annual Shine A Light lung cancer awareness event will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 9, in the atrium at Penn Highlands DuBois West. It will honor those who are living with lung cancer and those who were lost to the disease. Hosted by The Lung Center of PH DuBois, it is free to attend.
Diana Farley, local author, will also be joining us. The event includes a light dinner of tea sandwiches, fruit skewers and desserts with tea/ coffee with dinner music. Cost is $10 per person. RSVP at 814-371-9666.
Send an eCard - Penn Highlands Healthcare invites you to send some cheer to brighten the spirit of a loved one who is in the hospital! A free service, you can send an eCard to patients in any of our hospitals. www.phhealthcare.org/eCard
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Trees located in the lobby at the Medical Arts Building, 145 Hospital Avenue, DuBois. They will be adorned with doves representing a donation to the program. Each dove will bear the name of someone special and the person who made the donation in their honor or memory. The doves are color coded with white for a memorial or red in honor of someone. Donors may ask for an American flag to be placed on a veteran’s or first responder’s dove. Trees will be on display throughout the holidays through mid-January. For more information, call PH DuBois Hospice at 814375-3300.
Penn Highlands Healthcare is a proud member of Spirit of Women, a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women’s lives with innovative health and community programs. We regularly schedule educational programs throughout the year and throughout the region. Want to be a Spirit member? Sign up online at www.phhealthcare. org/spiritofwomen.
Next time you’re online, be sure to visit www.phhealthcare.org
Remember or honor someone special through the Penn Highlands Elk Auxiliary Christmas Trees. For a $5 donation, a calligraphicallyprinted card with your loved one’s name will be placed on either the hospital or Pinecrest Manor lobby tree for the Christmas season. For more information about this program, contact any auxiliary member or call 814-834-1646.
The 30th Annual Pinecrest Bazaar will be held 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday, November 20, 2016! There will be crafts, a bake sale, a basket drawing, food and more. All proceeds benefit the Pinecrest Manor residents, and this event is sponsored by the residents and the Activity Department staff. It’s a great way to do some holiday shopping and support a great cause.
Saving a life can be as easy as checking a box when you renew your driver’s license. Organ donation is vital to many patients in our area. Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals work closely with CORE, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, to remind people of the importance of organ donation.
The 106th Penn Highlands Clearfield Charity Ball is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2016, at the Clearfield-Curwensville Country Club. Tickets are $150 per couple for the dinner dance. Invitations will be mailed at a later date, but an invitation is not necessary to attend. For more information or to purchase tickets, please Alicia Lezzer, 814-236-7494. Join the Penn Highlands DuBois Auxiliary for the annual Charity Ball! Held at the Lakeview Lodge, Treasure Lake, DuBois, the ball starts at 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 3, and lasts until 1:00 AM. Entertainment will be provided by Dirty Martini and The Avenue.
CORE is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations in the United States. It works closely with donor families and designated health care professionals to deliver the gift of hope by coordinating the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation.
Cost is $100 per couple, $50 per person or $25 per college student with ID. Dress your best or wear cocktail attire. Come enjoy the evening!
At Penn Highlands Brookville, a CORE Task Force meets regularly, to organize ways to educate and promote organ donation.
Proceeds from this event and other auxiliary events benefit PH DuBois. This year’s project for the auxiliary continues to be the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine.
Meetings are held at 5:00 PM on the second Wednesdays of each month in the PH Brookville Education Center directly next to the PH Brookville hospital building.
For more information or tickets, call Paula DuBois at 814-375-9622 or any auxiliary member.
Need a doctor? — Visit us at www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc
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Advice From A DOCTOR Gregory Sachs, DO Penn Highlands Family Medicine 814-375-0600
extra exertion, there are many emergency health conditions that could occur.
HUNTING SEASON
If you’re not a person who regularly exercises, for peace of mind for you and your family, here are some tips on how to prepare for the upcoming hunting season: •
I once had a patient that always talked about taking his beagles out a few times a week to keep them in good hunting shape. When I congratulated him on his commitment to keeping his dogs and himself in good condition, he just chuckled and said he didn’t walk with the dogs, he sat on the tailgate and watched. What this patient didn’t think about is that every year, many hunters, even ones in considerably good condition, enter the woods to find out that they are another year older and more out of shape. After the season starts I hear complaints of sprains and strains, overexertion and other minor injuries. The Penn Highlands Emergency Departments and QCares get the more serious issues like dehydration, broken bones and other orthopedic injuries, cardiac events and even hypothermia.
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Like preparing for any sport, hunters need to be in good physical condition to be able to take the extra stress on their heart, muscles and joints. Most hunters pack on an extra 10-20 pounds of clothing and gear and walk deep into the woods through rough and slippery terrain. If you’re unprepared to take on this
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Visit your primary care physician for a CHECK-UP. If you find out you have a serious health problem it’s best to find out early enough to do something about it before the season starts. If you have heart concerns, ask your doctor to go over what you need to know about the early signs of a heart attack. If you need physical therapy for a joint issue, your doctor can diagnose the problem and make a referral for therapy. Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date. If you currently don’t have a primary care physician, go to www. phhealthcare.org and find a doctor in your area. Talk to your doctor about establishing an EXERCISE PROGRAM that’s right for you. Your doctor will help you pick a program based on your age, level of fitness, etc. You should establish both a cardiovascular routine and a strength routine. For hunters who do a lot of walking over rough terrain, pick exercises that help strengthen your legs, ankles and core. This will help your overall balance and help you prevent falls that could end your season. Even walking briskly for 20 minutes a day can improve your cardiovascular conditioning and help you prepare for the hunt. QUIT SMOKING. Penn Highlands has a smoking cessation program that can help you kick that very unhealthy habit.
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You’ll also find that the deer won’t be able to smell you as easily either. Call The Lung Center of Penn Highlands at 814-375-3770 to find a time and location of a smoking cessation program that can help. •
EAT RIGHT and drop the extra body weight. Let’s face it. You don’t want to put yourself in danger. You want to enjoy hunting, be successful in your quest and return home safely to your loved ones. Just concentrating on avoiding snacks that are high in sugar or salt, and avoiding soft drinks and alcohol, can help you lose a few pounds before the season starts. If you’re in need of a more regimented diet, talk to your doctor about what Penn Highlands can offer through our nutritionists.
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PROTECT YOURSELF against ticks. I know it’s hard to avoid the habitat that ticks live in when you’re hunting so limiting your skin exposure while hunting is important. Wear long pants and long sleeves that have tight-fitting material at the ankles and wrists to keep the ticks away from your body. Wear a hat, tuck pants into socks and wear light-colored clothing that will make it easy to see the ticks when they are on your clothing. If you’re not worried about the smell giving you away, purchase a good insect repellent that contains DEET.