Smart Living featuring Wes Chatham

Early Spring 2019 $3.00 Value

The actor’s path has taken him from a Savannah talent search to the outer reaches of space

Ending Pelvic Pain Treatment for endometriosis depends on the individual

L i v e smar t .

In Every Issue

Inside Cover

A Word from the President & CEO Paul P. Hinchey President/CEO

The realm of the imagination is

often populated with wizards and space aliens, and while that is quite fun, there is much more to what our minds can conceive when we dream about the future.

Georgia-born actor Wes Chatham feels lucky to star in a project, The Expanse, that encompasses all corners of the imagination and possibility. His character flies around in a spaceship to Mars and beyond, but the TV show also examines the boundless invention that our society is capable of, and the challenges in human relationships that it can bring. Off set, Chatham focuses on another aspect of the future—his health.

Learn how his military background helps him do that the smart way in this issue.

The future of colorectal cancer treatment continues to brighten right here and now, with multi-disciplinary teams of physicians working together to provide advanced radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery for patients. In this issue, learn why certain treatments are used for different types of colorectal cancer, and how important a colonoscopy is to find these cancers as soon as possible.

Please enjoy this edition of Smart Living, and also feel free to share any comments you have with us at SmartLiving@sjchs.org.

Cover photo courtesy of The Expanse/Syfy/Miller Mobley

Back Cover

Ask A Magnet Nurse

Pullout Calendar

4 6 Photo Courtesy of Jeff Hitchcock

Features

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Spring Back into Your Resolution

Did your exercise program fizzle out before February? Talk with your physician and start again now

Wes Chatham’s Expanded Universe

The actor’s path has taken him from a Savannah talent search to the outer reaches of space

Smart Living Goes Green!

This year, Smart Living is going all digital. Receive future issues straight to your email and read it anywhere—on your desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

Sign up for your free digital subscription here: www.sjchs.org/signup.

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Live Life Smart Shrink & Destroy

Radiation therapy can be an effective part of colorectal cancer treatment, depending on the site and type of tumor

Ending Pelvic Pain

Treatment for endometriosis, common among women in their 30’s and 40’s, depends on the individual

Inner Confidence = Outer Ability

Whatever your age or your issue, physical therapy helps you get your whole self back

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5353 Reynolds Street, Savannah, Ga. 31405 912-819-8169 arkinsb@sjchs.org

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s milder temperatures Did your and longer hours of sunlight grace coastal Georgia and the Low Country, now is a good time to reassess why your New Year’s Resolution of getting in shape has already slipped by the wayside.

Part of the problem could be a lack of planning. That’s why Knar Mesrobian, DO, encourages her patients to develop and discuss new exercise goals with her.

exercise program fizzle out before February? Talk with your physician and start again now

Dr. Mesrobian, who is herself an avid runner and half-marathoner, reminds her patients that there is some mental as well as physical preparation involved.

• Plan ahead realistically to anticipate obstacles • Give yourself a goal such as a 5K or 1-mile race on a target date • Make sure you have well-fitting sneakers with good tread traction “If you’re not planning ahead, as soon as you come across an obstacle, you’re going to give up,” she says. “So look at your life realistically. If a bad weather day is going to keep you from running or walking, do you have access to a treadmill? If you need a running partner to keep you motivated or engaged, is that person going to be available to run as much as you need them to? If they can’t go, could you go alone?”

Once you have your goal in mind, be sure to discuss with your doctor a realistic plan for getting there.

“Having that discussion is how we prevent injuries, which is of course another thing that makes people give up,” Dr. Mesrobian says. She also stresses the importance of stretching.

Knar Mesrobian, DO

“Neglecting this part is common with runners but it happens with weight trainers as well,” she says. “Tight muscles can make you prone to injuries. You want to give yourself time to stretch, and time off in between sessions as well to allow your body to heal from the vigorous activity.”

With excuses and obstacles out of the way, you’ll soon experience the health benefits that inspired you to make the resolution in the first place.

The American Heart Association recommends: • About 150 minutes a week, or roughly 20 minutes a day, of exercise Daniel M. O’Mara, MD • Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise—power walking, jogging, cycling • Add muscle-strengthening activities, like weight training, when you’re ready “The most important thing about running—more so than weight loss—is cardiovascular health,” Dr. Mesrobian says. “If you are able to get your heart rate up, even if that just means walking on an incline or power walking, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Knar Mesrobian, DO, practices Family Medicine at St. Joseph's/Candler Primary Care in Pooler. She and her fellow physicians, nurses, and staff will be serving patients in a new state-of-the-art facility on St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Pooler campus, opening on March 25.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

W

es Chatham was living an actor’s dream—a critically-acclaimed show with a dedicated following and a character he loved to play.

But then The Expanse, the science-fiction drama series starring Chatham, suddenly contracted.

“The show was doing really well in streaming, but people weren’t tuning in to the broadcast,” Chatham recalls. “Ultimately it didn’t make financial sense to have it air on the Syfy network.”

But perhaps the most expansive thing about the show is its devoted fans, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who was greeted with cheers when he announced, “The Expanse is saved.”

Make Believe

The lucky moments that every successful acting career needs are something the Atlanta-born Chatham got his first taste of while living in Savannah, where he had moved as a young child. The Tide laundry detergent brand was in Savannah as part of a national talent search for its advertising. Chatham’s sister had talked their mother into taking them to the audition, and although it seemed like playtime for him, Chatham ended up getting the part.

“It was a lot of fun, this whole process of make-believe,” Chatham says. “I got to be the Tide boy for a little while. I never forgot what it felt like, how much I enjoyed it.”

Chatham left Savannah soon after, but the unique atmosphere of the city has stayed with him.

“Savannah’s a special place for me,” he says. “There’s really nowhere else like it in the world.”

Opened Doors

The dream of being an actor also stayed with Chatham. After joining the military, he was stationed in San Diego on the USS Essex.

When his shipmates heard that Denzel Washington was making parts of his film, Antwone Fisher, on the ship, they made sure Chatham got a chance to audition. Chatham met casting director Robi Reed, who encouraged him to pursue his dream after his service.

Chatham moved to Los Angeles, where parts in films such as In the Valley of Elah, starring Tommy Lee Jones, helped open doors to roles in blockbusters like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and hit shows like The Unit. Then he was asked to read for the character of Amos in the television production of The Expanse.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

Photo (L) courtesy of The Expanse/Syfy/Kurt Iswarienko Photo (top) courtesy of The Expanse/Syfy/Jason Bell Photo (R) courtesy of Jeff Hitchcock

The actor’s path has taken him from a Savannah talent search to the outer reaches of space in a science fiction drama series

“I had read the books that the show is based on, and Amos was my favorite character,” Chatham says. “He can go bad and go dark very easily, but he doesn’t want to. I thought it was a fascinating thing to portray.”

Save The Expanse

The Expanse takes place 150 years in the future, where humans have colonized the moon, Mars, and beyond. It was a hit with critics and quickly developed a strong fan base, most evident in its streaming audience. When the Syfy channel chose not to renew it, the fans gathered more than 132,000 signatures in a petition. They even flew a Save The Expanse banner over Amazon Studios. Their passion was felt

by Bezos, who already happened to be a fan of the show. Amazon Prime picked up The Expanse for its fourth season.

“The fans had a direct impact, and they are more intense and loyal now than ever,” Chatham says. “We feel the same way about the show—I never get tired of the work, the character, or the story. It’s still really exciting.”

The Future You

The setting of The Expanse takes Wes Chatham into the far future, but when he leaves the set he has his own future in mind.

He learned in the military that the habits you have today will have a huge effect on you tomorrow.

“I’m from the South, you know—fried foods, sweet tea, all those kinds of things—I didn’t realize the impact it has in the long term,” he says. “The first time I was out at sea for three months, I suddenly had regular exercise, regular sleep, and good nutrition. I remember thinking, ‘Why do I feel so great?’”

Chatham took that feeling to devise his own kind of health pyramid, the foundation of which he says is good sleep. With a long, intense shooting schedule at work, but also two young children at home, Chatham understands the time constraints that life puts on people.

“You need to be aggressive about your sleep,” he says. “I had to really structure my time because sleep affects so much—your hormones, metabolism, aging, and just how you feel.”

Chatham builds on this pyramid with good nutrition and hydration, and then regular exercise that emphasizes mobility and staying limber. At the top is spirituality, which Chatham says can simply mean a higher purpose or meaning, with an emphasis on serving others.

“I’ve found that if I can work within this pyramid, my mind, body, and health just flourishes,” Chatham says. “And down the line, it will protect you.”

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

Radiation therapy can be an effective part of colorectal cancer treatment, depending on the site and type of tumor

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olorectal cancer can start in either of two places—the colon or the rectum. The cancer can also be referred to as either colon or rectal cancer, depending on that starting point. These cancers are grouped together because of their similarities, but the treatment plan can be different. For example, radiation therapy is commonly used for rectal cancer, but not for colon.

“It’s more difficult for surgeons to get widely around a tumor in the rectum as opposed to the colon,” explains radiation oncologist Joshua T. McKenzie, MD. “The rectum is located within the pelvis, which is sort of funnel-shaped, and within the narrow neck of that funnel. Colon cancer, on the other hand, typically occurs higher up in the abdomen and you don’t have to deal with nearby structures such as the bladder or pelvic sidewall, for example.”

Radiation therapy sends beams of high-energy waves or particles (such as X-rays) to a specifJoshua T. McKenzie, MD ic part of the body, damaging or destroying cancer cells and shrinking tumors. It is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery in the treatment of several types of cancer.

Fighting Cancer and Its Recurrence

Radiation therapy often serves two purposes in the treatment of rectal cancer. Along with being done before surgery (known as neoadjuvant therapy) to make it easier to remove, radiation can also be given to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

“If a patient has a tumor of a certain size, or if their lymph nodes are affected, there is an increased risk of recurrence, even if the surgeon is able to remove the tumor more easily,” Dr. McKenzie says.

Adjuvant therapy, done after surgery, helps keep cancer from returning and may involve both radiation and chemotherapy. Reducing the rate of recurrence is important with rectal cancer because it is even more difficult to treat a second time.

“Pelvic recurrence causes bowel and bladder dysfunction and severe pain,” Dr. McKenzie says. “In addition, it is almost never possible to go back and operate again.”

Another type of cancer in which radiation therapy can reduce the risk of recurrence while protecting nearby structures is cancer of the esophagus, which is located in the middle of the chest near the heart, lungs, and spine. Dr. McKenzie also treats patients with head and neck cancers post-operatively to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in that region.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

“The most effective treatment plan is determined by the body site, stage, and specific type of cancer,” Dr. McKenzie says.

Painless And Focused

Most patients receiving radiation therapy will receive treatments five days a week for several weeks. The process is painless and similar to getting an X-ray—patients are positioned on a treatment table and are asked to be still while the radiation beams are delivered. Each daily session usually lasts between 10-15 minutes.

“Patients with rectal cancer are sometimes treated in the prone position to help reduce the exposure of the bladder and small intestines to higher doses of radiation,” Dr. McKenzie says. “We shape the beams to conform to the shape of the tumor to help protect patients from side effects or damage to healthy cells.”

Colonoscopy: A Piece Of Cake?

One of Dr. McKenzie’s radiation therapy patients was Dennis Baxter, who after being diagnosed with rectal cancer in July 2017 is now a cancer survivor. Like many others, Baxter had heard the “horror stories” about getting a colonoscopy and avoided one himself. Today he is a vocal advocate about getting screened.

“The peace and assurance you can walk away from after a colonoscopy is certainly worth the effort you have to put in and the little bit of aggravation you might go through in getting ready for it,” Baxter says.

When Baxter first discussed the problems he was having going to the bathroom with his doctor, he underwent a CT scan that showed nothing. But the uncertainty that Baxter felt about what might be wrong was strong enough that he reached out to Steven Carpenter, MD, a gastroenterologist with The Center for Digestive and Liver Health, to receive his colonoscopy months earlier than originally scheduled. The screening revealed the tumor in his rectum.

That’s when Baxter began radiation and chemotherapy at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, followed by robotic surgery performed by Mark Blankenship, MD, of Metro Surgical, PC. More weeks of chemotherapy followed, along with the use of an ileostomy bag (the ileostomy was later successfully reversed by Dr. Blankenship as well), and just over a year after his diagnosis, it was time for another colonoscopy.

“It wasn’t a piece of cake, but it was pretty close to it,” Baxter says. “It’s really not that bad. And the comfort and assurance in knowing that everything is fine is well worth it by far.”

Learn more about Dennis Baxter’s journey to survivorship at www.sjchs.org/dennis-baxter.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

Treatment for endometriosis, a common condition among women in their 30’s and 40’s, depends on the individual

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hronic pelvic pain can affect a woman’s quality of life.

When that pain has no clear cause and no cure, this can add to the stress. Factor in the risk of infertility for some patients, and you face a potential triple-whammy in a condition known as endometriosis.

“About a third of patients with endometriosis struggle with infertility, which further complicates its management and adds an emotional component,” says OB/GYN Jessica Mullinix, Jessica Mullinix, MD MD. “It is a challenging condition, both to diagnose and to treat.”

The good news is that different treatment options are available depending on each patient’s needs, and these treatments have successfully managed pain and improved the chances of getting pregnant for certain patients.

What Is Endometriosis?

“When endometrial glands—the inside lining of the uterus—grow outside of the uterine cavity, this is called endometriosis,” Dr. Mullinix explains. “The tissue that should be growing on the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus on other organs or surfaces such as the ovaries, the bowel, the bladder, the abdominal wall, or other sites.

These endometrial tissue implants, or lesions as they are called, can cause inflammation and pain.”

Because endometrial tissue is estrogen-dependent, females of reproductive age are most affected. It is more common in women in their 30’s and 40’s; however, Dr. Mullinix says that patients that are pre-menarche or postmenopausal can be affected as well. The growths from endometriosis are benign, meaning non-cancerous, but they can still cause symptoms. The most common symptom is pelvic pain: • Cramping, abdominal pain around the menstrual cycle • Chronic pain or pressure that is present throughout the month • Can be continuous or associated with bowel movements, intercourse, or daily activities 6

Smart Living Early Spring 2019

Talking To Your OB/GYN The pain symptoms of endometriosis overlap with symptoms of other conditions, which sometimes delays the diagnosis. If a woman is concerned she may have endometriosis, she should talk about her symptoms with her OB/GYN. “I can make a presumptive diagnosis based on symptoms, a physical exam and possibly imaging, such as an ultrasound,” Dr. Mullinix says. “But the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is to biopsy a lesion. I perform laparoscopic surgery to get a sample of the tissue, which is sent to pathology to confirm the tissue type.”

The exact cause of endometriosis in unclear, and there is also not a cure for this condition. So what can be done?

Your Pain vs. Your Goals “Treatment options range from medication to surgery, and the best option for each patient depends on the severity of symptoms and the goal of therapy,” Dr. Mullinix says. “Typically, treatment starts with pain medications and hormonal therapy, which can be as simple as starting an oral contraceptive.”

For women who want to get pregnant or who are facing severe discomfort, a more tailored approach to hormone therapy and pain medication may be appropriate. Another option is surgery.

“Surgery is typically reserved for patients that fail initial medication therapy,” Dr. Mullinix says. “Surgery can remove endometrial implants, cysts, and adhesions caused by endometriosis. However, lesions can return even after surgery. So while there are many effective treatments, the lack of a cure does make endometriosis frustrating for patients.”

Though the condition can cause infertility, management of the disease can improve a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. But even if your goal is simply relief from the pain caused by endometriosis, a talk with your OB/GYN is the place to start.

“Have a detailed discussion with your physician about all of the available options,” Dr. Mullinix says. “Your needs and your therapy goals will help determine our plan.”

Jessica Mullinix, MD, is part of the My Telfair Doc team and is now accepting new patients. Her office is in Professional Office Building on the Candler Hospital campus, Suite 518.This summer she will begin offering some office hours in St. Joseph’s/Candler’s new campus in Pooler. Call 912-819-9650 or visit www.mytelfairdoc.com/drmullinix.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

= Whatever your age or your issue, physical therapy helps you get your whole self back

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hough the cause of common injuries varies with age, the mindset at the beginning of physical therapy after those injuries is pretty universal.

“We see teenage kids who have gotten hurt playing their sports to elderly people that have taken a fall, and everything in between,” says Rachel Finch, a physical therapy assistant at St. Joseph’s/Candler Physical Therapy – Pooler. “There is always apprehension when we start a certain task. For someone recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in their knee, the task might be putting some weight on that leg. For someone struggling with balance, it might be trying stairs without a railing.”

Finch and other physical therapy assistants use these various exercises and real-world simulations to help patients regain those physical abilities, either for their sport or perhaps simply for their daily life. Patients typically come in 2-3 times per week for a 45-60 minute session, depending on their doctor’s recommendations. Each visit it tailored to the individual patient’s deficits and goals.

Rachel Finch

“Ninety percent of success at physical therapy is showing up,” Finch says. She has seen how patients of all ages rebuild their confidence with each small success, which then encourages them to give their best effort the next time. It is as much a mental exercise as a physical one.

“After a patient does something a few times, and sees improvement, they are more likely to keep going and to progress well,” Finch says. “So we always try to give them the confidence that comes from practice and consistency. We want our young patients confident enough to get back out there on the court or the field, and for our patients of all ages to get back to their life.”

St. Joseph’s/Candler Physical Therapy – Pooler is moving into a bigger space as part of the new Pooler campus, opening on March 25.

Physical therapy services offered in the new space can help patients suffering from: • Arthritis • Back/neck injuries • Amputations • Movement disorders • Multiple trauma • Sprains/strains • Stroke • Surgical recovery • Cancer • Overuse injuries • Workplace injuries

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

Safe Eats For Mama & Baby Nutrition, hydration, and appropriate weight gain are essential for a healthy

pregnancy, and while there are a few things an expecting mom needs to add or supplement to her diet, there are also some things she should avoid. What’s on and off mama’s menu for nine months? Take our quiz to learn more:

1. Folic acid is a nutrient that women of childbearing age should have daily before they try to conceive.

A. True B. False A. True. Folic acid can be found in some green leafy vegetables, most berries, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, fortified breakfast cereals, and some vitamin supplements. It can help reduce the risk of certain birth defects, and is most helpful during the first 28 days after conception.

2. To maintain a healthy pregnancy, an average of ___ extra calories are recommended daily.

A. 150 B. 300 C. 450 D. 600 B. 300. The extra calories should come from a balanced diet of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with fats and sugars kept to a minimum.

3. Listeria, a type of bacteria that can contaminate deli meat and unpasteurized dairy foods, can cross the placenta and lead to infection.

A. True B. False

A. True. Pregnant women should avoid hot dogs and deli meat, as well as unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses like feta, queso blanco and fresco, and brie.

4. All of the following foods should be avoided by pregnant women EXCEPT: A. Fish with mercury B. Refrigerated smoked seafood C. Salmon D. Pate and meat spreads E. Raw eggs C. Salmon. Cooked salmon is rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, and does not have the dangerous levels of mercury in some other fish or the risk of listeria in some smoked seafood.

5. No amount of caffeine is safe during pregnancy.

A. True B. False B. False. A restricted intake may be permissible, but a woman should talk with her doctor about potential risks.

Caffeine used during the first trimester or in large amounts has been associated with miscarriage and premature birth in some studies.

Fluid intake is an important part of healthy pregnancy nutrition, while caffeine acts a diuretic, contributing to the elimination of fluids.

6. A safe amount of alcohol for pregnant women to consume in a week is about ___ oz.

A. 12 B. 5 C. 1.5 D. Zero D. Zero. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can lead to developmental disorders including fetal alcohol syndrome. Avoid all alcohol immediately if you learn you are pregnant.

This quiz was developed with the assistance of Dr. Jessica Mullinix, OB/GYN. Learn more about Dr. Mullinix on our website at www.sjchs.org, and also check out our Health Library for answers to all kinds of health-related questions.

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Smart Living Early Spring 2019

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Tea & Tour for expecting couples Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital 912-819-3360

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Prepared Childbirth Class (The Weekender) for expecting couples 912-819-3360 Daylight Savings Time Begins

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Free Yoga for Cancer Patients 912-819-8800 Hatha Yoga 912-819-8800

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Silver Sneaker Classic 912-819-8800 Support Group for Families Affected

by Mental Illness 912-819-8498

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Hatha Yoga 912-819-8800

Yoga 912-819-8800 Core & More 912-819-8800

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Mobile Mammography Rincon 912-819-6140 Mommy and Me Breastfeeding Support Group 912-819-3360

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Mobile Mammography Pooler 912-819-6140

Cancer Support Group 912-819-5704

Chair Yoga 912-819-8800

Silver Sneaker Circuit 912-819-8800

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Free Hearing Screening 912-352-4405 Hatha Yoga 912-819-8800

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Barre 912-819-8800

High Intensity Interval Training 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Savannah 912-819-6140

Mobile Mammography Reidsville 912-819-6140

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Silver Sneaker Classic 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Sylvania 912-819-6140

Mobile Mammography Hinesville 912-819-6140

Barre 912-819-8800

Tai Chi 912-819-8800

Yoga 912-819-8800

Tai Chi (Beginner) 912-819-8800

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Core & More 912-819-8800

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Mobile Mammography Sylvania 912-819-6140

Circuit Training 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Savannah 912-819-6140

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Mobile Mammography Pembroke 912-819-6140

Mobile Mammography Islands 912-819-6140

Free Yoga for Cancer Patients 912-819-8800

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Mobile Mammography Richmond Hill 912-819-6140

Circuit Training 912-819-8800

Free Yoga for Cancer Patients 912-819-8800

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Tai Chi 912-819-8800

St. Joseph’s/Candler Calendar

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Tai Chi (Beginner) 912-819-8800 Skidaway Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 912-598-9845

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Prepared Childbirth Class (The Weekender) for expecting couples 912-819-3360

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Savannah Look for the SJ/C float!

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Chair Yoga 912-819-8800

High Intensity Interval Training 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Savannah 912-819-6140

Get Your Rear In Gear 5K www.runsignup.com/Race/G A/Savannah/GetYourRearinGearSavannah

Silver Sneaker Circuit 912-819-8800

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New events are added every day.

Please visit www.sjchs.org and click on “Events” for additional information.

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Silver Sneaker Classic 912-819-8800 Free Yoga for Cancer Patients 912-819-8800

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Tea & Tour for expecting couples Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital 912-819-3360

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Prepared Childbirth Class (The Weekender) for expecting couples 912-819-3360 Palm Sunday

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Support Group for Families Affected

by Mental Illness 912-819-8498

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Yoga 912-819-8800 Core & More 912-819-8800

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Mobile Mammography Rincon 912-819-6140

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Mobile Mammography Islands 912-819-6140

Silver Sneaker Classic 912-819-8800

Yoga 912-819-8800

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Hatha Yoga 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Pembroke 912-819-6140

Mobile Mammography Sylvania 912-819-6140

Essential Tremor Support Group 912-819-2224

Barre 912-819-8800

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Tai Chi (Beginner) 912-819-8800

Prostate Cancer Support Group Multiple Sclerosis 912-897-3933 Support Group 912-819-2224

Mobile Mammography Richmond Hill 912-819-6140

Free Yoga for Cancer Patients 912-819-8800

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Yoga 912-819-8800 Core & More 912-819-8800

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Tai Chi (Beginner) 912-819-8800 Hatha Yoga 912-819-8800

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Skidaway Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 912-598-9845 Circuit Training 912-819-8800

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SJ/C’s Savannah Challenger Tennis Tournament A USTA Pro Circuit Event 912-598-3501

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SJ/C’s Savannah Challenger Tennis Tournament A USTA Pro Circuit Event 912-598-3501

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Mobile Mammography Garden City 912-819-6140 Chair Yoga 912-819-8800

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Silver Sneaker Circuit 912-819-8800

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Tai Chi 912-819-8800 High Intensity Interval Training 912-819-8800

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Mobile Mammography Springfield 912-819-6140

Core & More 912-819-8800

Good Friday

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Barre 912-819-8800

Breast Feeding Class 912-819-3360

Tai Chi 912-819-8800

Mobile Mammography Sylvania 912-819-6140

Chair Yoga 912-819-8800

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Silver Sneaker Circuit 912-819-8800 High Intensity Interval Training 912-819-8800

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Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association Support Group 912-927-8332

New events are added every day.

Please visit www.sjchs.org and click on “Events” for additional information.

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Hospital Food Is Not What It Used To Be; More Importantly, It Promotes Healing Marta Workman, BSN, RN Critical Care Nurse, Float Team

Smart Living: In the past, the food served at hospitals has often been derided as bland or unappetizing. As a float nurse who has worked on every floor at both St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital, would you say this is still a common perception?

Marta Workman: In the past six years that I’ve worked here, I’ve received more good feedback about the meals than bad. There are patients who miss their home-cooked meals, but for the most part, people find comfort in their food. It makes them feel better mentally and emotionally, but it is also promotes their healing.

We have also found that patients feel better if they have some choice in what they want to eat. So we take a collaborative, intra-professional approach, working with the clinical dietitians, medical staff, other nurses, and the catering associates to give patients some freedom of choice within their plan of care.

SL: So if the patient has a specific request or even a cultural specification, you can relay that to the dietitians and catering associates?

MW: Yes, we try to get patients whatever they need. And sometimes a family member can bring something in, as long as it fits under the guidelines of the patient’s plan of care. For example, for a cardiac patient, we have to monitor their fluid and salt intake. And in some cases, we may ask them to try a low-sodium alternative to season their food, instead of salt.

We always want patients to find that comfort from food and enjoy their experience, because part of our job is to make sure that patients are taking in the proper amount of calories, protein, and electrolytes. For patients who have little to no appetite, we may offer nutritional supplement drinks. We try to educate and explain how proper nutrition aids in the healing process within the body. Thankfully, most of our patients are hungry and look forward to their meals. And we love to work in that true Southern spirit—“good food comforts the soul!”