26 minute read
SafeHavenTM
from SCMS BULLETIN
SafeHaven™ Now Offering Michigan Physicians & Health Care Providers Resources to Manage Stress and Burnout
New program offers physicians and health care providers with the resources they need to meet the demands of their personal and professional lives.
Advertisement
In an effort to better serve and support clinicians struggling with stress, burnout and the effects of COVID-19, MSMS has launched SafeHaven™ , a comprehensive and confidential physician and health care provider wellbeing program offering clinicians with the resources and support they need to address career fatigue and behavioral health concerns. The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) conceived and manages SafeHaven™, which is implemented in partnership with VITAL WorkLife. SafeHaven™ was created by the passage of the Virginia legislation, which is the first of its kind in the nation, signed in March 2020. During the 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session, legislation was passed to include additional provider groups to the SafeHaven™ protections including nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and medical, PA, nursing and pharmacy students. The law allows healthcare providers to seek professional support to address career fatigue, burnout and behavioral health concerns with confidentiality and civil protections. SafeHaven™ provides a host of discreet and confidential set of tools and resources that physicians and health care providers can access to stay well, avoid burnout, and connect to their purpose without the fear of undue repercussions to their medical license. “Most who work in health care do not see themselves as heroes and don’t do well seeking help for themselves,
Third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Zion Lutheran Church 454 7th Street, Freeland, Michigan
(Behind Pat’s Grocery Store on Midland Road in Freeland) Caduceus meetings are available to health care industry professionals, and have adopted many of the principles of 12-Step programs. Caduceus meetings are “closed” meetings for recovering health care professionals including, but not limited to, nurses, doctors, dentists and pharmacists. We engage in group discussions where members may want to speak up, ask questions or share thoughts with fellow members.
instead focusing on the needs of others in their care,” said Terri Babineau, MD, CMO of SafeHaven™. “Being only human, health care workers need the opportunity to seek help for mental health reasons without fear of harm to their career. The SafeHavenTM Program offers necessary mental health resources that are truly confidential and actually support health care workers.”
SafeHaven™ resources are available to providers and their families and include the following: • In-the-moment telephonic support, available 24/7 • Counseling sessions • Peer coaching • Legal and financial consultations and resources, available 24/7 • WorkLife Concierge - a virtual assistant to help with tasks, available 24/7 • VITAL WorkLife App providing mobile access to
SafeHaven™ resources For more information about SafeHaven™, please visit MSMS.org/SafeHaven.
Check out this video for more information
safety network Creating a
for our community
Our goal is to save lives through prevention, intervention, and aftercare.
Our Network trains individuals in evidence-based suicide prevention with the hope of destigmatizing suicide, increasing help-seeking behaviors, and caring for those impacted by suicide.
To request trainings or resources, contact info@srrn.net I www.srrn.net I 989.781.5260
COVID-19 Antibody Combo Therapy Offered at Ascension St. Mary's
Ascension St. Mary's is proud to share an opportunity for individuals to receive an enhanced intervention for mild to moderate COVID-19 that can help prevent the progression to more severe forms. The therapy is a combination monoclonal antibody infusion with Bamlanivimab and Eteresivimab under EUA from the FDA. This combination has better results against the newer strains than Bamlanivimab monotherapy. The therapy is available at Ascension St. Mary's - Towne Centre, Ascension Standish Hospital and Ascension St. Joseph Hospital. Previously, Ascension St. Mary's was using Bamlanivimab but is converting to the combination medication (Bamlanivimab and Eteresivimab). The inclusionary and exclusionary criteria is listed below. Generally, this treatment is intended for mild to moderate COVID-19 positive patients - adults and pediatric patients at least 12 years of age who do not require hospitalization but are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. High risk is defined as patients who meet at least one of the following criteria: • have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 35 • have chronic kidney disease • have diabetes • have immunosuppressive disease • are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment • are 65 years of age and older If you are notified that one of your patients is COVID-19 positive and they meet the criteria for inclusion in the therapy, contact your patient to discuss the option of receiving this treatment. Contact any of the clinics listed for details on referring a patient. • Ascension St. Mary’s - Towne Centre in Saginaw - 989-907-4187 • Ascension Standish Hospital in Standish - 989-846-3439 • Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City - 989-362-9433
Wig Room Helps Patients Self-Image Soar
Ascension St. Mary’s Towne Centre is helping cancer patients boost their self-esteem during cancer treatments thanks to a new wig room created and funded by the oncology team. The group hosted various fundraisers to create the wig room which is filled with items to help a patient feel good about themselves while in treatment. Chemotherapy-induced hair loss has been shown to lower patient self-esteem and deprive patients of their privacy because the public commonly associates hair loss with cancer. “Patients can benefit from the wigs, hats and scarves to help them feel beautiful on the inside and outside,” said Angelina Porras, Practice Supervisor at Ascension Medical Group Medical Oncology & Hematology. Developing the wig room has been a goal of Porras since she began working with cancer patients in 2016. “Besides the cancer diagnosis, losing your hair is one of the scariest things for the ladies and men. I want them to be able to feel beautiful. I want them to come into the wig room and pick out a wig and not worry about the cost. I want them to leave the building and feel special,” said Porras. “Losing hair is a devastating experience for our patients, and our wig room makes it less challenging. It helps boost their self-esteem,” said oncologist, Asma Taj, MD. “Thank you to our staff for helping our male and female patients find a wig or hat that fits their personality. You can see their confidence soar immediately.” According to oncologist Ernie Balcueva, MD, “The financial burden of cancer care can sometimes be so overwhelming that any support we can give to our patients (and their families), to assist them in the transition of their life, becomes an empowerment in their fight against cancer. We care very much about improving their quality of life and the wig room is a very small part of helping them.” Dennis Durek was the first patient to utilize the room. "Thanks to the staff for the supplies. It was fun, being the first one to use the room. It is really cool for people who need wigs and such. It is a wonderful way to help people. Every little bit helps improve our spirits,” said Durek. "I can get through chemo, but the hardest thing was losing my hair and the wig room helped," said patient Amy Delgado. The wig room needs ongoing donations to support supplies. If you are interested in contributing, please click here or contact the Ascension St. Mary’s Foundation office at 989-9078300.
Wound Care Receives "Going the Distance" Quality Award
The Wound Care Center at Ascension St. Mary's Towne Centre earned the 2020 Going the Distance quality award from RestorixHealth®, an organization that specializes in the development and management of comprehensive wound healing and Amputation Prevention Center® facilities. The award acknowledges the center as a nationwide leader in wound healing patient outcomes.
Saginaw’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center
Advanced stroke care close to home
Ascension St. Mary’s is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center which means we provide the highest level of care available anywhere in the greater Saginaw area. Should you or your loved one need it, you’ll have access to advanced training, technology and capabilities all located within Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital. Our stroke specialists work quickly to understand your situation and deliver the care you need, including follow-up care, when you need it.
To talk to a doctor about your risk
for stroke - call 844-960-1435. .
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 911.
Healthcare professionals have been tasked with maintaining quality through patient outcomes despite a daunting global pandemic. The Going the Distance award acknowledges those outpatient wound healing centers who have achieved or exceeded nationwide patient outcome standards within a set period of time during 2020. Results are calculated by comparing the center’s patient outcomes against RestorixHealth® nationwide benchmarks.
The staff at the Wound Care Center brings a wealth of talent to the wound healing workplace and that fuels a positive impact on patients’ outcomes. Amidst a pandemic, their dedication to healing is a sign of resilience and strong work ethic. Congratulations to the Ascension St. Mary's Wound Care Center and staff who are “Going the Distance.”
Save the Date! Ascension St. Mary’s Foundation Announces 2021 Golf Classic Events
It is with great hope and excitement that we share the tentative dates for summer golf classic events across the region. Hosted by the Ascension Mid and Northern Michigan Foundations, individuals will enjoy a day on the course while feeling good about supporting each hospital’s mission to provide the latest health care technology and treatments to everyone, every day. Foursomes will enjoy 18 holes of golf with a cart, a complimentary gift package, course contests, raffles, refreshments and meals. The tentative dates are: • Ascension St. Mary’s Charity Golf Classic
Wednesday, May 26 at Apple Mountain Golf Club • Ascension Standish Hospital Charity Golf Tournament
Friday, June 11 at Pine River Golf Club • Ascension St. Joseph Charity Golf Classic
Thursday, June 24 at Red Hawk Golf Club • Ascension Genesys Charity Golf Classic
Monday, June 28 at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. Watch for additional details or contact the Ascension St. Mary’s Foundation office at 989-907-8875 or via e-mail to Tamera. Weighman@Ascension.org.
Ascension Northern Michigan Foundations Raise More Than $16,000 With Winter Basket Raffle
Physicians, providers, associates and the community at large participated in the recent Lucky Winter Basket Raffle that was hosted by the foundations and volunteer services departments of Ascension St. Mary's, Ascension Standish and Ascension St. Joseph. A total of 39,523 tickets were purchased to raise $16,767 to benefit projects to support the purchase of tablets for patient communication and cell phone docking stations; associate educational scholarships; and activities and outings for skilled nursing program participants. Hats off to staff members and departments for working together to donate the 47 unique-themed baskets.
All statements or comments in The Bulletin are those of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of the Saginaw County Medical Society.
Focusing our practice on the needs of our community, we provide the following services for both individuals and businesses:
n Monthly Accounting n Tax Planning n Financial and Business Consulting Service n Payroll Service n Tax Preparation Service n Retirement Planning
Contact us for a complimentary visit at 989-791-1040.
Three convenient locations to serve you in: Saginaw | Vassar | Frankenmuth
Victor L. Hill Jr., MD, much loved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and physician left the world peacefully on March 4, 2021, from the same building in which he helped bring many lives into this world. Dr. Hill was born July 13, 1928, in Saginaw, Michigan to Victor L. Hill Sr. MD and Marie (Marcotte) Hill. He graduated Saginaw High, and attended Central Michigan University and Michigan State University, briefly working for General Motors. He married Mary Katherine Schnettler in Saginaw in 1949. Shortly after, he made the decision to follow in his father’s footsteps and returned to studies at Michigan State University, and The University of Michigan School of Medicine. However, he was 100% a Wolverine. Following internship and residency, he joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology practice of Drs. Sargent, Bruggers and Heilbronn, which later evolved into Valley OB-GYN Clinic. Dr. Hill served in various roles at Saginaw General Hospital, including Chief of Staff, and, in later years, worked at HealthSource Saginaw in consulting and advisory capacities. Together the Hills raised three children, Victor L. Hill III, Jody Brehm (Marty) and (much) later Jennifer Warren (Brad), whose arrival kept him youthful in his senior years. Dr. Hill was forever busy, spending every moment, when not on call, fly fishing on the AuSable River, and salmon fishing with his pals, and son Vic. He also enjoyed summers at the cottage on Torch Lake, spring breaks and shelling on Sanibel Island, and taking on many unique construction projects (“Jen’s Den,” still stands behind their beloved Baskins Place home), as well as, dabbling in drawing, painting and photography. He was a man of many talents, boundless energy, and had a meticulous nature, as anyone who has seen the inside of his garage, can attest. He was a long-time member of St. Dominic’s Parish and the Saginaw Country Club. He loved his home and yard, and spent hours working on them well into his senior years - planting flowers, shoveling (always down to the concrete), and sharing his pruning skills with his son Vic. In addition to his children, Dr. Hill is survived by his grandchildren Scott (Heidi), Katie (Kevin), Tracy (Mike), Molly (Steve), Paige (Alex), Elle, Ava, Josie, Lila and Tyrion; greatgrandchildren Leila, Steven, Violet and Lenna; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dear friend, Kay Smith, who brought happiness to his sunset years, and to whom his children are forever grateful. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mary Katherine, sister, Donna Heitkamp, and brother, Robert Hill.
continued on page 28
Commercial medications not meeting the needs of your patients?
We produce customized medications specially suited to meet the patient’s needs; thus, allowing limitless prescribing opportunities.
• Liquid solutions • Discontinued medications • Topical medications • Human Identical Hormone Replacement for men and women • Sugar free/dye free medications • Non narcotic pain medications
Key Provider to the SCMS
Healthway Compounding Pharmacy
Also the family would like to thank New Hope Valley Assisted Living for their compassionate care of their father in his final years. Honoring Dr. Hill’s wishes, cremation has taken place with a service celebrating his life planned for a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to your favorite charity. Dennis Moore Tibble, MD, 84, of Bay City, our caring, hardworking, intelligent, and most adventurous husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021, at his residence, under the loving care of his family. Dennis was born in Pontiac, Michigan on September 19, 1936, the son of the late Dennis Joseph and Juliette Emma (Moore) Tibble. Dennis proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman during the Korean War, after which he completed his undergraduate studies at Albion College, where he majored in pre-med. Dennis continued his studies at the University of Michigan, receiving his Medical Doctor degree in June 1964, graduating Cum Laude. After settling in Saginaw, he ultimately founded Great Lakes Eye, where he led a thriving practice until his retirement in 1996. Dennis was a well-respected ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon throughout his career, inspiring many with his generosity and his passion for work. It was at Albion College where Dennis met the love of his life, the former Joanne Gilbert. Dennis and Joanne dated, fell in love, and were married on June 16, 1964. After settling in Saginaw, Dennis and Joanne raised three children - Martin “Marty” Tibble, Cindy Tibble and Jay Tibble - and together as a couple and as a family they traveled the world - helicopter skiing in the Canadian Rockies, sailing in the Virgin Islands and scuba diving in the South Pacific. Dennis was an adventurer and threw himself into many pursuits. He was an expert scuba diver, windsurfer, biker, snowboarder and devout skier. He was always up for new experiences and passed along that spirit of adventure to his children and grandchildren. Dennis leaves his wife and children to carry on his legacy, and well as, Marty’s wife Heather Tibble; grandchildren, Morgan and Lauren Tibble and Fae and Lowa Bossung; brother, RJ (Carla) Tibble; sister, Andrea (Jim) Murdock; in-laws, Kathy Gilbert and Jim Halliday, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Seth Bossung and sister-in-law, Sue Halliday. A Life Celebration was held on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Memorial contributions may be directed to YMCA Great Lakes Bay Region, 1104 Washington Ave., Bay City, MI 48708. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www.skorupskis.com.
Prabhundha "Prapon" Vanasupa, MD,
FACS, of Bay City died in the comfort of his home on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the age of 92. "Prapon" enjoyed the hobbies of model ship and airplane building, playing and building classical guitars, photography, cooking, and reading voraciously, especially history. He was a Board Certified Neurosurgeon, practicing neurosurgery in Bay City and Saginaw for 32 years, happily retiring in 1996. He is survived by his wife Verna (Toni); three children, Ted (Marianne), Linda (Michelle), and Diane; and five grandchildren, Mitchell, Casey, Shilu, Lily and Ryan. At this time, no memorial or funeral services are planned. Memorial contributions can be made to your favorite charity.
Virginia L. Jarvi, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away Monday, March 8, 2021, at McLaren Bay Region at the age of 93. The daughter of the late Alex and Gladys (Morgan) Adams, Virginia was born November 23, 1927, in Port Huron, Michigan. She married Dr. Rudolph M. Jarvi on July 17, 1948. He predeceased her on August 18, 2012. Virginia was a member of Countryside Trinity Church and a past member of Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church. She volunteered at Saginaw General Hospital, was a member of the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club and enjoyed playing Bridge. Most of all, Virginia loved spending time with family and friends. Surviving are four sons and their spouses, David and Karen Jarvi, Grayling; Martin and Maria Jarvi, Cedarburg, Wisconsin; Rich and Lois Jarvi, Oxford, Ohio; Ron and Cheryl Jarvi, Grand Blanc, Michigan; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Virginia was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother. Honoring Mrs. Jarvi’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Countryside Trinity Church or the Navigators.
Memorial donations are graciously accepted by the Saginaw County Medical Society Foundation. Donations are used to provide low interest loans to medical students with strong ties to Saginaw, encouraging students to return to Saginaw to practice after completion of their residency at which time their student loans may be forgiven. The Foundation provides awards and scholarships to high school juniors and seniors interested in a career in medicine, as well as, medical students and residents for research through the CMU College of Medicine. The Foundation also assists the SCMS Alliance in funding nursing scholarships. To make a tax deductible donation, please send your check payable to the SCMS Foundation to 350 St. Andrews Road, Suite 242, Saginaw, MI 48638-5988. A receipt will be provided upon request.
MAY BIRTHDAYS
Joseph G. Adel MD Michael S. Albosta Student Fares Alghanem Student Marina I. Ananich MD Binish Ather MD Kaitlyn Bates Student Eventure D. Bernardino MD Sultan M. Bhimani MD Adam Z. Cote DO Kenneth W. Distler MD Daniel J. Dymek MD Carly Farr MD Douglas B. Forsyth MD Pruthvi Goparaju MD Suhasini Gudipati MD George J. Gugino MD Enam B. Hanna MD Mayar M. Jundi MD Shweta Kambali MD Waqas M. Khan MD Sai Srikar Kilaru Student Ryan J. Kim MD Jacob M. Long Student Michael T. McAvoy MD Igor D. Middlebrook DO Jeffrey S. Milewski DO Thomas M. Minnec MD Rajesh Mithalal MD Brent A. Oldham MD Yvonne V. Pacquing MD Trusha Patel Student Jill M. Paveglio MD Olivia A. Phifer-Combs MD Gregory A. Pinnell MD J. M. Prasad MD Kala K. Ramasamy MD Chalichama A. Rao MD K. K. Ravindran MD
Happy Special Birthday! Thomas M. Raymond MD Stuart J. Rupke MD Payton Salomon Student Insija I. Selene MD Samuel J. Shaheen MD Jonathon G. Skurya Student William T. Starbird Student Lauren Stull Student Faiz Tuma MD Vivek Variar MD Lester E. Webb MD
Happy Special Birthday! Thomas G. Weiss Student Derek Wolfe Student William Yuen MD Harrison J. Zeitler MD Hani H. Zreik MD
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
Khurshid Ahmad MD Sukaina A. Alali MD Christopher J. Allen MD Abishek Bala MD Cynthia L. Blount DO Usha K. Bulusu MD William M. Capina MD George A. Carty MD Rachel A. Cleminson Student Sara Dadashzadeh Student Steven G. Fettinger MD Joshua D. Forsyth MD Laura M. Fritsch Student Michael D. Gallo MD Frances Greathouse Student Rao V.C. Gudipati MD Val Hereza MD
Happy Special Birthday! James R. Hines MD James J. Jesko DO Christina K. Jung Student Tareq Q. Kamal MD Larry S. Kelly MD Asim A. Kichloo MD Tiffany K. Kim MD John A. Kremski MD Eric R. Kuhn Student Jacob M. Lynn Student Lakshmana R. Madala MD Binu Malhotra MD Albert S.M. Manlapit MD Lydia T. Mansour DO Elizabeth M. Marshall MD Rama C. Mulpuri MD Robert Muterspaugh Student Manuel M. Perea MD Juliette M. Perzhinsky MD Isaac T. Prows DO Nasser O. Qadri MD Todd G. Richardson MD Chad D. Ringley MD Kyle J. Rutledge DO Raghu Sarvepalli MD Robert A. Sasso MD Keith E. Scharf MD Benjamin R. Schoener MD Nadia R. Sion Student Rajeev S. Sudhaker MD Joseph E. Talbot MD William G. Underhill MD Thomas J. Veverka MD Antonio J. Williams, Sr. MD Susanna M. Zurecka MD
Free Confidential Counseling for Frontline Healthcare Workers
SCCMHA is offering hospital employees, first responders, healthcare professionals and their immediate family members, throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region, an opportunity to seek and receive mental health counseling assistance free of charge, beyond support provided by an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).
COVID-19 has Increased the Demand for More Care. We are Responding with More Hours.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) is responding to an increased need for services with expanded hours at multiple locations. As people grapple with how to deal with stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic, behavioral health services have never been more important. To increase access to care, SCCMHA is extending case management, clinical and crisis service hours, including mental health and substance use disorders, to better serve consumers and our community. Hours have been extended at all SCCMHA locations, including their main site on Hancock Street and the Towerline and Bay Road locations. These facilities will now be open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional hours will provide greater access to services that include case, clinical and crisis management with services like evaluation, screenings, treatments and referral. Substance use intervention services are also available. SCCMHA is committed to getting our community through this crisis with important supports and services. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sccmha.org or call 989-797-3400 or 800-258-8678. Crisis Services remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, at 989-792-9732 or 800-233-0022.
A New Day for Diabetics
By Louis L. Constan, MD
There’s an old saying in military circles that goes: “The beatings will continue until morale improves.” It seems crazy that this approach would actually work in the military, much less in civilian life. But this may be what diabetic patients feel like given the expectations, demands and treatment approaches used by generations of doctors and nutritionists. “You had better lose weight or I will put you on an even more stringent diet; you’ll be even hungrier than you are now.” Or, even worse, “I’ll make you take shots of Insulin, which will increase your appetite, so it will be even harder to restrain yourself.” It should be no surprise that Diabetes (now at 34 million Americans) and this disease’s little brother, Prediabetes (now at 88 million Americans) have been steadily increasing year over year. The beatings continue, but morale does not improve. And, of course, the sequalae of these conditions - heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, limb amputations - all continuing to haunt Americans. Turning their Golden Years into endless doctor visits, painful treatments, ever more expensive medicines. This situation cries out for a new approach. Fortunately, very fortunately, over the last 10 years there have been some astounding medical scientific developments that point at a less stressful future and more effective approach to these patients: • The discovery that certain bacteria in one’s gut affects how high one’s blood sugar rises immediately after eating. It has long been known that the height of such spikes determines the onset and severity of diabetes. • The ability to quickly analyze those gut bacteria (one’s “microbiome”) with a simple stool sample; to determine if any particular individual has a microbiome conducive to the diabetic state. • The ability to correlate different types of foods with different types of bacteria, so as to pair the correct diet with one’s bacterial type, and prevent those blood sugar spikes; thereby preventing or ameliorating diabetes. There are some complexities of course, related to factors such as body type, age and activity level. There are several hundred different bacterial species and sometimes the percentages are important and sometimes the ratios between species are important. A company called DayTwo has worked out most of these complexities and marketed a clinically useful program, using computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to determine the optimal diet for diabetics and pre-diabetics. One example of their discoveries is that there are actually two very different types of bread, depending on whether Baker’s Yeast or Brewer’s Yeast were used as a leavening agent. If you eat the wrong type of bread for your specific microbiome, you get a sugar spike; if you eat the right kind of bread, no sugar spike. It’s as easy as that. You just need to do the test, find out what type of bread your microbiome bacteria “like” and you can eat that bread with impunity. Really. No measuring out “carb calories,” no guilting from the doctor and nutritionist. The beatings can stop right there. DayTwo’s research was done in Israel and validated by the Mayo Clinic. They enroll diabetics, collect their personal data, lab data, then do a stool genetic analysis to discover what types of bacteria are in each patient’s individual microbiome. After that, they can recommend a specific, personalized diet. Two companies in our area, Covenant Healthcare and Morley Companies, have completed an initial pilot using DayTwo for their diabetic employees, and results for this pilot group are available now and they are very favorable. With no change in medicines, these diabetics have lost weight and decreased their blood glucose, A1C and lipids. All more effectively than by the usual approach described in the first paragraph above. Patients had an average 1.6 drop in A1C, 18 lbs. in weight, 34 percent reduction in medication usage, 45 percent reduction in hunger and 45 percent decrease in stress. They report their sugars were in the normal range 63 percent more often; they feel engaged 80 percent more; they feel 72 percent more energy; they have 55 percent better sleep quality; and a 95 percent Net Promoter Score (NPS) for the program. Overall, 90 percent feel this is a good program and want to continue it. Morale is, indeed, improved. It appears to be a new day for diabetics. Using a personalized approach and this new understanding about how one’s microbiome affects sugar metabolism, it becomes much easier to control blood sugar in diabetics, while improving their overall sense of well-being. A new day for diabetics…and perhaps the beginning of the long-promised era of personalized medicine for everyone!
ADVERTISER INDEX When you have a need for a service, please consider our dedicated advertisers first!
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, P.C . 15 Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital 25 Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network 23 Covenant Diabetes Self-Management Program 21 Covenant Emergency Care Center 31 Covenant Medical Group Cardiology 2 Jan Hauck – Century 21 13 Healthway Compounding Pharmacy 27 Lori Krygier Graphic Designer 14 Norton + Kidd Accounting & Consulting, P.C. 26 Peak Performance PC Services 14 Shields Chiropractic 21
for emergency care no one beats covenant
In an emergency, seconds count. Count on Covenant HealthCare Emergency Center for: • The region’s only specialized pediatric and senior emergency care • The region’s first Accredited Geriatric Emergency
Department • The only Level II Trauma Center in the area verified for both adult and pediatric trauma care • Extraordinary safety, awarded an “A” grade in patient safety from the Leapfrog Group • Board-certified emergency physicians and specially trained nurses, named Team of the Year by Press Ganey Associates in 2019 • 65 private patient rooms
Don’t settle for less. In an emergency, no one beats Covenant.
350 ST. ANDREWS ROAD | SUITE 242 SAGINAW, MI 48638-5988
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Saginaw, MI 48605 PERMIT #189
2019-2021 KEY PROVIDERS
These Area Businesses Support Saginaw County Medical Society Membership Meetings. When you have a need for a service, please consider our Key Providers.
REGISTER NOW FOR SCMS ANNUAL MEETING
REGISTER NOW! The SCMS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING and the SCMS FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING will be held concurrently via Zoom on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at 7 p.m. Please register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCMSAnnualMtg The Zoom link will be emailed to all of those who register.
The following, and more, will be on the Agenda:
• The Slate of Nominees for 2021-22 will be voted on at the meeting and via electronic vote prior to the meeting. (see page 5) • Approval of updated and amended Foundation Bylaws. In 2019, the Foundation Bylaws were reviewed and revised to not only bring them up-to-date as they were written over 50 years ago, but also to increase the size of the Board of Directors. The proposed Bylaws will be voted on at the meeting and via electronic vote prior to the meeting. o View the original 1968 Bylaws by clicking HERE. o View the proposed Bylaws by clicking HERE. o The Bylaws are also available on the SCMS website under
the FOUNDATION tab www.SaginawCountyMS.com
• Update on the CMU College of Medicine. Contingent on pandemic conditions, we tentatively hope to have in-person meetings on Tuesday, September 21 and Tuesday, October 19. Keep an eye on your inbox and The Bulletin for details when available. Questions? Contact Joan Cramer at jmcramer@sbcglobal.net (preferred method) or (989) 284-8884 (please leave message if I’m unable to answer). All statements or comments in The Bulletin are those of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of the Saginaw County Medical Society.
