HEALTH FEBRUARY 2014
YOUR
BACK IN THE SWIM! PAGE 6 After surviving a life-threatening heart attack, Pete Lombardo is enjoying a full and active life.
Your Health
today
2014
february Around St. Anthony’s
4 An Apple A Day
iPads and high-definition television make appointments a bit easier for Outpatient Infusion Center patients.
COVER STORY
6 Back In The Swim
Efficient teamwork gets Pete Lombardo back in the pool after a heart attack.
FEATURE STORIES
8 Shooting For Par
8
Bob Stallman’s bad day at the golf course turned out to be much more.
10 A ‘New Normal’
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Dwayn Brooks’ strong family ties give him much-need strength after a serious injury.
HEALTHY HABITS
12 Some ‘Guilty
Pleasures’ Are OK Occasional indulgence in sweets and other fun foods isn’t bad, but moderation is the key.
MOVE IT!
14 Exercise Anywhere
The gym isn’t the only place you can find opportunities for exercise.
12
Improvements make St. Anthony’s better than ever
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Web Extras Articles with this icon have more information on our website.
Jack Mitstifer, M.D.
Dear Members of the St. Anthony’s Community, February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack, and one out of every four Americans dies from heart disease. Did you know St. Anthony’s has earned the highest level of accreditation available as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers? In 2013, 218 people came to our Emergency Department suffering from a heart attack. One of the “gold standard” measurements in how a Chest Pain Center treats a heart attack patient is “door to balloon” time – the time a patient arrives into the Emergency Department to the time they go to the Cardiac Cath Lab and have a balloon inflated in an artery in their heart that restores blood flow. In 2013, our average “door to balloon” time was 57.3 minutes. Our fastest time was 28 minutes. National best practice is 90 minutes. But, it’s not just heart attack patients who receive care quickly in our Emergency Department. For the last several months, we have worked to completely transform our Emergency Department experience. We knew our wait times were not where they needed to be. One year ago, it took patients an average of almost two hours to see a doctor in the Emergency Department. Today, after extensive remodeling, staffing and process changes, we’ve lowered the average “door to doc” time to 24 minutes. We’ve dedicated this issue of Your Health Today to all the changes we’ve made to our Emergency Department, which will allow us to offer the best care to every patient, every day. We hope you never have a medical emergency, but if you need help with your health, we hope you allow us to serve you. Stay healthy!
Go to stanthonysmedcenter.com and click on Your Health Today.
2 | YOUR HEALTH TODAY | FEBRUARY 2014
Jack Mitstifer, M.D. Office of the President
in good health
PLAN TODAY for emergencies tomorrow A spring storm in your community was unusually violent, and your neighborhood is paying the price. Your home will be without electrical power for at least the next 24 hours, and a main break has cut off your water supply. For situations such as these, every home should have an emergency disaster kit in a safe place, notes Melissa Stein, D.O., Emergency Response Officer at St. Anthony’s Medical Center. “It doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming,” Dr. Stein says. “Buy a little extra of what you always use, and rotate through them on a regular basis. “Start small, but do get started,” Dr. Stein recommends. “Discuss a plan with your family, and make your own home emergency disaster kit.”
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CHECKLIST
Essentials for a 24-hour emergency:
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Flashlight with good batteries
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Case of bottled water Canned food supplies
To create a more comprehensive emergency kit that will see families through a three- to five-day emergency, check out Dr. Stein’s recommendations at
stanthonysmedcenter.com and click on Your Health Today.
Tea Time? Try it today
I
n the beverage world, tea reigns supreme for its multitude of health benefits. A product of the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to China and India, tea contains unique antioxidants called flavonoids. The most potent of these, known as ECGC, may help defend the body against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease and clogged arteries. GREEN TEA: Its antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries; burn fat; counteract oxidative stress on the brain; reduce risk of neurological disorders and stroke; and improve cholesterol levels. BLACK TEA: May protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke. WHITE TEA: One study showed that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties, compared to more processed teas. Choose a color and brew a bag or two today, in the microwave or on the stove. Enjoy it hot or iced by itself, or pair it with lemon, mint or orange.
Spring cleaning
soothes the soul Cleaning house is a traditional spring activity. And while your home and pocketbook may benefit from a good decluttering, your mental health will profit as well. During our hunter/gatherer days thousands of years ago, our ancestors continually surveyed their surroundings to learn of any approaching threats. Complex scenes and details are stressful, while simpler environments have a less exhausting effect on our psyche. Clearing the clutter gives our minds a psychological boost.
Source: WebMD.com Source: Psychologytoday.com
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around st. anthony’s
AN APPLE A DAY Patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy at St. Anthony’s Cancer Care Center now have the option of retreating into soothing music or meditation podcasts, movies, Internet browsing or online games, thanks to a gift from St. Anthony’s Charitable Foundation. The Outpatient Infusion Center now is equipped with four televisions, three iPads and two iPods for its patients. The equipment was purchased with funds contributed by donors to St. Anthony’s Cancer Care Fund.
YOU CAN HELP
Outpatient Infusion Center patients enjoy iPads, more “The patients receiving chemo are in the chairs receiving an infusion for up to eight hours at a time,” said Michael Foley, Development Officer for St. Anthony’s Charitable Foundation. “Giving them the option of watching TV, surfing the net, streaming a movie or playing Angry Birds allows them the chance to relax and take their minds off the treatment. Hopefully, the devices will make their experience more pleasant.”
To make a donation to the Cancer Care Fund, please contact Mike Foley, Development Officer, St. Anthony’s Charitable Foundation, at 314-525-7367 or at michael.foley@samcstl.org.
DID YOU KNOW?
A
30 percent of Americans suffer from high blood pressure.
re you among the estimated 30 percent of Americans who suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure, but are unaware you have it? Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and kidney disease, said James Perschbacher, M.D., FACC, board-certified hypertension specialist and director of St. Anthony’s Hypertension Clinic, a program of the Heart Specialty Associates of St. Anthony’s Medical Center. “The degree to which we can lower blood pressure will help us avert the development of these diseases,” Dr. Perschbacher said. Dr. Perschbacher is one of only of only 13 physicians in the greater St. Louis area designated as hypertension specialists by the American Society of Hypertension (ASH). Diagnostic tools at St. Anthony’s Hypertension Clinic include a special cuff that can be worn 24 hours a day and records blood pressure continuously, renal Doppler ultrasound for identification of renal artery stenosis, access to trials offering the latest in hypertension treatment, and screening for sleep apnea.
HYPERTENSION KILLS:
Clinic helps patients avert major diseases
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homeless and hope I wasn’t supposed less. I was tired to be jobless, to live and hopi of having to find ng no a safe place hungry. I was eatin one would break into my car at night. I got g out of a trash I didn’t want to can. It got to the exist anymore. poin t where If it wasn’t for Unit Employment Con ed nection, I wou ldn’t be here toda Way funding would’ve checked y. I probably out.”
Your genero us contributio n helps our co-workers, neighbors and patients.
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One in every three people in our comm receives servic unity es from local health and huma – perhaps someone you United Way know? – umbr n service organ safe, and build ella. These services help the elderly, keep izations under the stronger neigh borhoods. children health y and
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WE CA50RE WE SHARE $
generous we are to people who need our help,” said St. Anthony’s CEO Michael Rindler. Proceeds benefit the five funds of St. Anthony’s Charitable Foundation: the Cancer Care Fund, Family Birth Center Fund, Heart Care Fund, Hospice Programs Fund and Hyland Community Fund; the United Way; and the medical center’s Employee Crisis Fund.
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$234,831
WE CARE WE SHARE
A series of testimonial posters like the two shown at left helped enhance awareness of the “We Care, We Share” campaign.
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Staff members, doctors and clinicians pledged
from the heart
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From patients in the Cancer Care Center to those served by the United Way, area citizens will receive an unprecedented level of generosity from St. Anthony’s employees this year. Staff members, doctors and clinicians pledged $234,831 in 2014 to several worthy causes, the largest amount in St. Anthony’s history, through their annual We Care, We Share fundraising campaign. “It’s a sign of how healthy we are as an organization, in how
314-ANTHONY (268-4669)
Y
GiftS
For more information, call
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emergency department
CARE in a
heartbeat
St. Anthony’s Emergency Department puts Pete Lombardo back in the swim Marett and Pete Lombardo
The Emergency Department has a “door to doc” time that in recent months has averaged less than 30 minutes.
I
t was a heart attack, Pete Lombardo knew. He was loading his truck in the driveway of his South County home last September, when he felt a tightness and pressure in his chest, with pain radiating down his arms and in his jaw. “I knew all the classic signs,” recalled Pete, 55, who works in construction sales. He took two aspirin and immediately called an ambulance. Although the Lombardos’ home is close to St. Anthony’s Medical Center, Pete knew that, in the past, St. Anthony’s Emergency Department had been the target of complaints about slow wait time and other issues. For these reasons, he asked paramedics to take him to another hospital. However, due to the severity of his symptoms, he was taken to St. Anthony’s.
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“You are changing [your reputation] one patient at a time,” said Pete’s wife, Marett Lombardo. “I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the treatment and care that my husband received. For future reference, we will go to St. Anthony’s again.” The Emergency Department has recently undergone not just one, but many sweeping transformations, including a “door to doc” time that in recent months has averaged less than 30 minutes. “Door to doc” is the period from when a patient enters the Emergency Department to when he or she is evaluated by a doctor. “We have a wonderful team in the Emergency Department, and we’ve made some significant advances, not just in construction and technology but in our patient care,” said Eric Appelgren, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Services.
Learn more about St. Anthony’s Emergency Department at:
southcountyemergency.com
Less than 40 minutes after the ambulance was called, St. Anthony’s caregivers had taken images of Pete’s heart, and he was taken from the Emergency Department to the Cardiac Cath Lab, where cardiologist Christopher Allen, M.D., inserted a stent. “There was no waiting,” Marett recalled. “Everyone in the Emergency Department treated my husband as if he was their only patient. Dr. Allen is what every patient deserves, a doctor who is as caring as he is knowledgeable.” “Pete had no long-term heart muscle damage, and his prognosis is excellent,” Dr. Allen said. Two days after he entered the hospital, Pete Lombardo returned home. The avid golfer and swimmer continues with cardiac rehab at St. Anthony’s three times a week. “I can’t say enough about the Emergency Department, Dr. Allen and his team, from the doctors and nurses to the housekeepers,” Pete said.
A redesigned lobby and triage area greet patients and family as they enter the Emergency Department.
IT’S A NEW DAY IN THE “NEW”E.D. DEPARTMENT IS BUILT FOR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY • Patients are seeing a doctor five times faster than they did one year ago.
VITAL statistics St. Anthony’s Emergency Department Fourth-busiest in the St. Louis region Sixth-busiest in Missouri Level II Trauma Center Accredited Chest Pain Center Accredited Stroke Center Served 69,947 patients in fiscal year 2013 Serves 26 EMS districts, nine of which are under St. Anthony’s medical control
• Highly trained staff on Time-Critical Diagnosis teams, including triagetrained nurses and medics, care for critical trauma, stroke and heart attack patients. • Physician Scribes shadow physicians as they provide care, enabling docs to spend more time with our patients and their families. • Patient Advocates ensure patients receive the best care, from admission to discharge. • The latest technology, including efax patient care summaries and secured text messaging, is used to speed communication with patients’ primary care physicians.
“A healthy emergency services department is important for our community,” said Zachary Tebb, M.D., Medical Director of the Emergency Department (left) at the Jan. 2 ribbon-cutting for the transformed ED. Pictured with Dr. Tebb are Charles Lewis, R.N., Stephanie Austermann, R.N., and Eric Appelgren, M.D.
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stroke team
St. Anthony’s Stroke Team gets
GOLFER
up to
par
Last July, Bob Stallman thought he was just having a bad day at the golf course where he works near his home in Barnhart. “Some of the guys started telling me I didn’t look right, but I didn’t think much of it,” he said. “I started putting away some of the golf carts, because it looked like rain that day, and I started stumbling around while putting the carts away.” The effects didn’t register fully with Bob until it started to rain and some players came into the pro shop asking for rain checks. “A light bulb finally went off when I realized I could not write my name on a piece of paper,” recalled Bob, 66.
ABOVE: Bob Stallman is refining his swing at the First Tee Driving Range in Fenton.
8 | YOUR HEALTH TODAY | FEBRUARY 2014
“I told a co-worker to relieve me at work and had my wife, Marie, take me to St. Anthony’s Emergency Department, because something was wrong.” Bob had suffered an ischemic stroke, caused by a clot in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain, said Marsha Enchelmaier, M.S.N., R.N., Stroke Program Manager. Ischemic strokes account for 87 percent of all strokes, while hemorrhagic strokes – or brain bleeds – account for 13 percent. Bob Stallman’s symptoms had passed the window of opportunity for IV treatment with tissue plasminogen activator or tPA, a clot-busting drug, Enchelmaier said. However, Bob had suffered a mild stroke and his prognosis is good, she said.
STANDING BY St. Anthony’s 6-member stroke team is on call, 24 hours a day:
St. Anthony’s interventional radiologists specialize in advanced imaging procedures that detect salvageable tissue in the brain. They specialize in endovascular procedures that can be utilized to attempt to save brain tissue and function past the four-and-a-half-hour IV tPA window. Not every stroke center has this capability. “A team approach is required to identify and treat stroke patients quickly,” said Marsha Enchelmaier, Stroke Program Manager. “Time lost is brain lost.”
St. Anthony’s Stroke Program
and ACCREDITED AWARD-WINNING St. Anthony’s is one of only a few hospitals in the St. Louis metro area with a nationally accredited Primary Stroke Center, which means it has the expertise and technological resources to diagnose and treat any type of stroke within one hour of arrival. In 2013, St. Anthony’s Stroke Program earned two awards from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association:
2 Interventional Radiology caregivers 1 Neurologist 1 Stroke nurse 1 Interventional radiologist 1 Neurosurgeon “Ischemic strokes can be treated if a patient gets to the hospital within four and a half hours of symptom onset,” Enchelmaier said. “Patients and families need to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke and call 911 as quickly as possible.” Within minutes after Bob’s arrival, the Emergency Department staff was running everything from CT scans to EKGs, he recalled. “The right side of my body was affected, specifically my right arm and hand and my right leg. The Emergency Department staff was great in keeping both my wife and I informed as to what was going on. Dr. Head (neurologist Richard Head, M.D.) was very helpful in explaining what had happened to me.” Bob was admitted to the hospital and, on July 8, began recovery therapy in Acute Rehab. He returned home on July 25 and now is exercising daily and working parttime at the golf course. “I’m now able to walk two miles,” Bob noted, and smiled. “I cannot say much about my golf game, other than it is a work in progress.”
Bob and his wife, Marie, are again enjoying walks in the park together.
A Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silve r-Plus award for its commitment to quality care Placement on the association’s Target Stro ke Honor Roll, for its “door to needle time,” or the time from when a patient first enters the hospital until a clot-busting drug known as tPA is administered.
IS IT A STROKE?
Be alert for these SYMPTOMS:
S
udden numbness or weakness in face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
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Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Read about St.Anthony’s stroke program at:
stanthonysmedcenter.com/sstroke | 9
trauma
Dwayn Brooks broke his back, but not his spirit.
Finding a
‘NEW
St. Anthony’s is the only Level II Trauma Center in south St. Louis County and Jefferson County.
ABOVE: Dwayn Brooks with his wife, Crystal, and children, Alexis and Layton
Time-Critical Diagnosis St. Anthony’s Medical Center is part of the Time-Critical Diagnosis system established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The system brings together 911, emergency medical services and hospitals to provide the best care for Missouri residents.
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normal’
hile cutting tree limbs at his family’s home in Fenton, Dwayn Brooks was knocked off a ladder by a falling branch. He was unable to move and his life was changed instantly and forever. When paramedics rushed him into the Emergency Department, members of St. Anthony’s Level II trauma team were ready. As a Level II Trauma Center, St. Anthony’s has the staff and resources available to manage the care of severely injured patients at all times. St. Anthony’s is the only Level II Trauma Center in south St. Louis County and Jefferson County. “It was clear from both Dwayn’s clinical presentation and the findings on magnetic residence imaging (MRI) that he had sustained a spine fracture causing permanent paralysis,” said Julie Weber, M.D., trauma surgeon on call in the Emergency Department. Dwayn, then 37, had sustained a complete spinal cord injury. To maximize Dwayn’s chance for recovery, St. Anthony’s neurosurgeon Fangxiang Chen, M.D., performed emergency surgery to decompress Dwayn’s spinal cord and to stabilize his thoracic spine. “I spent nine days in the Neuro ICU unit and was cared for by some of the greatest nurses and doctors on earth,” Dwayn said. “My stay in Acute Rehab was simply amazing:
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During his stay in St. Anthony’s Acute Rehab, with the aid of his therapist, Geri Tyrey, Dwayn Brooks took a field trip to attend his daughter’s preschool graduation. For details, visit stanthonysmedcenter.com and click on Your Health Today.
10 | YOUR HEALTH TODAY | FEBRUARY 2014
I came in scared, and I left confident. I would like to thank everyone who has cared for me and touched my life.” Dwayn’s positive outlook on life inspired everyone, said Kim Boyer, a registered nurse in the Surgical ICU. “In Acute Rehab, he worked to lift the spirits of the other patients,” Boyer said. “His family is amazing, and they remind you that you can’t take things for granted.” Since completing his therapy in Acute Rehab late last spring, Dwayn has coped with many challenges in adapting to his “new norm.” With the help of his son, Layton Mosley, and his best friend, Aaron Belt, he has been able once again to enjoy his two favorite hobbies, hunting and fishing. “I have learned I cannot let this wheelchair hold me back,” Dwayn said. “I am also blessed to be married to a woman like Crystal, who takes such great care of me and my children while working a full-time job. My wife and kids will drop anything to help me, and I cannot make it without them. It is truly amazing how close we have become. “My goals for the future are simple. Number one is to get back upright and walk again. Number two is to inspire others and to be a volunteer at St. Anthony’s to help others with spinal cord injuries. St. Anthony’s has the best caregivers and doctors a person could ask for.”
EAM: IT TAKES A T
LEVEL
A
II TRAUMA
s a Level II Trauma Center, St. Anthony’s has trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons on call 24/7. They must be “immediately available,” or present at the patient’s bedside at the time of the patient’s arrival at the hospital when prior notification is possible, and no more than 20 minutes from the hospital under normal driving and weather conditions. “When EMS calls with a critical/Class 1 trauma patient, such as Dwayn Brooks,
a trauma activation is paged to the trauma surgeon, Respiratory, X-ray, chaplain and Operating Room charge nurse, who respond immediately to the Emergency Department room assigned to the patient,” said Amy Brammer, R.N., Trauma Program Manager for St. Anthony’s Emergency Department. “The ED staff prepares for the patient’s arrival and anticipates the patient’s needs from the report EMS has given. The ED physicians and nurses are specially trained in the care of the injured patient.”
1 1 9
1 1 9 l l a C
NOT SURE?
In fiscal year 2013, St. Anthony’s treated 6,933 trauma patients.
It’s not always easy to know when to call 911. But dismissing an injury or symptoms can have serious consequences. “We’ve had trauma, stroke and heart attack patients who probably would have lived had they called EMS instead of driving themselves to the hospital,” said St. Anthony’s Amy Brammer. “If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate. Call 911 immediately.”
Accidents happen, and St. Anthony’s Emergency Department is ready
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n a cool evening last October, Colleen Carver was driving in the vicinity of I-55 and Butler Hill Road when another driver suddenly pulled out in front of her. Colleen’s car, just two months old, was totaled in the crash. The air bag knocked off her glasses, bruised her face and caused rub burns to her jacket, arm and chest. Colleen’s parents were nearby and came to her aid. They took her to St. Anthony’s Emergency Department, where she received a series of X-rays and a CT scan. “No broken bones, thank God,” recalled Colleen, 33, a project manager for an area motivation company. “I was kind of out of it, and really cold, and everyone was really nice and gave me heated blankets. We waited about 15 minutes. I thought the time went pretty fast.” The October visit was Colleen’s third in five years to the Emergency Department. “I feel like I’ve always gotten good care there,” she said. “I’ve never had a bad experience.”
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Enjoy them!
healthyhabits
Good-for-you guilty pleasures:
F
or several years, we’ve been hearing that dark chocolate and red wine may provide health benefits. As more research is conducted, the news keeps getting better, said Cathy Feldmeier, a registered, licensed dietitian on staff at St. Anthony’s. Both of these foods contain powerful nutrients called flavanols, which help our cardiovascular system by lowering blood pressure, increasing HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and increasing blood flow. In a recent study, cocoa was added to the diets of people with impaired blood flow to the brain, and the subjects showed dramatic improvements in cognition after just a month of cocoa intake.
Other research has found that red wine may have a protective effect against prostate cancer. This likely is related to the phytonutrient called resveratrol that is found in red grapes and red wine. The study found that just one glass of red wine per day could cut in half the risk of prostate cancer. That’s pretty encouraging news, considering that about 80 percent of men over age 80 have prostate cancer. Unfortunately for women, a similar protection was not found for breast cancer. If you’d prefer not to add alcohol to your diet, red grapes are the source of red wine and are good sources of resveratrol.
Moderation is key Moderation is the number one principle that should guide your food choices. Feldmeier recommends: Moderate alcohol intake is considered no more than one glass of wine per day for women and no more than two glasses per day for men. Heavy drinking may increase cancer risk. Research indicates chocolate’s protective effects are contained in one ounce, or one-fifth of a regularsized candy bar. Be sure to use dark chocolate; white chocolate has no cacao (the source of the flavanols in chocolate), and milk chocolate has a higher sugar content but lower cacao content than dark chocolate.
12 | YOUR HEALTH TODAY | FEBRUARY 2014
Neither chocolate nor wine are lowcalorie foods. If you overindulge and gain weight, you’ll negate the positive cardiovascular effects of the flavanols, because extra weight increases cardiovascular risk.
Red Wine RECIPE
Chocolate Sauce
INGREDIENTS ½ cup red wine 1 cup dark chocolate chips ¼ cup light corn syrup
PREPARATION In pot, simmer wine over low/medium heat for about eight minutes. Turn down the heat and add chocolate and corn syrup. Whisk vigorously as things begin to melt, then remove from heat and continue whisking until everything is well-incorporated. Pour one tablespoon over a one-inch slice of angel food cake.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING 168 calories 18 grams carbohydrates 6 grams fat 2 grams protein Source: abeautifulmess.com
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Healthful eating can be delicious! For more great recipe ideas, visit
stanthonysmedcenter.com
and click on Your Health Today. | 13
move it!
Your BODY Keep it young anytime, anywhere
B
etween work, meals, chores, activities, the kids and bed, it’s tough to find time for a daily exercise regimen. But it’s easy to work the exercises into your daily routine, and they’re important tools to fight the long-term effects of aging and to build strength and flexibility, said St. Anthony’s Physical Therapist Maureen Blackburn. Blackburn has 36 years of experience as a therapist and has a diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment. “I spend my whole day trying to teach people how to sneak exercise into their daily living,” Blackburn said. “I understand it’s a challenge to get to the fitness center all the time.” Blackburn recommends the following exercises:
FLAMINGO BALANCE
EGGSHELL SIT/STAND
GUTBUSTER
In the office, while at the copier, put all your weight on one leg and raise the other. Reverse legs and repeat. Everyone has a dominant leg; some people will find it easier to balance on one leg.
Scoot to the end of your chair, feet flat on floor, hip-width apart. Look forward, move your shoulders over knees, and stand up without looking down or using arms. Then reverse the process: sit down while touching the chair so gently, you wouldn’t break an egg. Repeat.
In the car, with the seatbelt across your abdomen, pull your stomach muscles in and away from the seat belt.
What it does: Builds strength and balance. Loss of balance, which leads to falls and broken bones, is one of the leading reasons older people are taken to hospitals.
What it does: builds strength and flexibility. Sitting down hard causes microtrauma to spine. How to work into your schedule: Set up your computer to beep once an hour. Do this exercise three times at each interval.
14 | YOUR HEALTH TODAY | FEBRUARY 2014
What it does: strengthens the transversus abdominus muscle, which supports the lower back. Weak transversus abdominus muscles can be a factor in lower back problems. How to work into your schedule: remind yourself with adhesive, garage-sale-style stickers on the car’s rear-view mirror and other locations.
Do it today Have pain in your back or a joint, or suffering from balance issues? Ask your primary-care physician or chiropractor for an order of a day visit or two of physical therapy, and let the therapists at St. Anthony’s at Lamplighter help you create your own program. The outpatient therapists at St. Anthony’s Sports and Therapy Services average 20.7 years of experience, including: • Two with post-graduate doctoral degrees in physical therapy • Two certified hand therapists • Therapists specializing in mechanical diagnosis and therapy, vestibular rehab, amputee rehab, Bioness, VitalStim, ergonomics. All staff members have extensive experience in outpatient orthopedics and many are experienced in outpatient neuro rehab and sports rehab.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
St. Anthony’s has three outpatient therapy locations: Sports and Therapy Services Lamplighter 12692 Lamplighter Square
St. Anthony’s Orthopedic and Sports Rehab
Did you know?
Of patients who responded to a post-care satisfaction survey, 94 percent rated St. Anthony’s therapists and staff “excellent” in their attention to the patient’s needs and concerns. The other six percent rated the therapists and staff “very good.”
12639 Old Tesson Road, Suite 120, in the Premier Care Orthopedics office building
Sports and Therapy Services Arnold (In the Arnold Urgent Care Center Building) 3619 Richardson Square Dr., Suite 160
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Learn more about St. Anthony’s Sports and Therapy Services at
stanthonysmedcenter.com
Call 525-1300 for an appointment. Questions? Call 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) | 15
MISSION St. Anthony’s, a Catholic medical center, has the duty and the privilege to provide the best care to every patient, every day.
10010 Kennerly Road St. Louis, Mo. 63128
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Michael E. Rindler
stanthonysmedcenter.com
Director of Marketing, Communications and Community Outreach
Mary Sherfy DATED MATERIAL— PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY
y c n e g r e m E n A e v o r p m I u o Y o D How . r e t s a F s e m i T 5 t I e k a M ? t n e m t r a Dep ghou
Billboards throu
ned Emergency
newly redesig t the area tout the
. Anthony’s.
Department at St
/ NEW ED
NEW YEAR
On January 1, after a year of transforming
the way our Emergency Department works, St. Anthony’s Medical Center reopened its emergency doors. With new ways to get you to the right care, faster. Complex trauma, heart and stroke centers you won’t find anywhere else in South County. New, special staff dedicated solely to improving your experience – and your outcome. Here, in your own back yard.
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To learn more about our improvements and see our video, visit
southcountyemergency.com While you are there, sign up to receive a FREE mini first aid kit. (Limit one per household)