Orthopedic surgeon finds home in Alex City

DREAMS DO COME TRUE

New orthopedic surgeon finds life long home in Alexander City

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Dr. Steven Baker achieved many goals as he began his orthopedics practice at Russell Medical back in August.

“It is a dream come true,” Baker said. “I always wanted to live on the lake and I always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Now I get to live out both of those dreams.

Baker already knew Lake Martin and Baker’s wife’s family is nearby.

“I grew up coming here as a kid,” Baker said. “My great grandfather and his two brothers had a cabin here. Every third weekend was my grandad’s weekend. Every third weekend we came down here. I met my wife and she is from Tallassee. It was my second home in the summer and very close to her hometown. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Russell Medical also gives Baker a chance to be more than just a doctor who only works on knees, hips, or shoulders.

“I love Alexander City because it gives me the opportunity to be a true general orthopedist,” Baker said. “I get to see a little bit of everything. If you go to a big city you specialize, the knee guy, the shoulder guy. I like to take care of the whole patient. That is fun for me. It truly is general orthopedics.”

Baker has been at Russell Medical for nearly eight months and stays booked with a wide range of patients and issues.

“I have seen a four year old who fell and broke her arm and put her in a cast,” Baker said. I have seen local high school athletes who I’ve fixed ACLs to hip and knee replacements. We do it all here at Russell Medical.”

While Alexander City may seem small, it doesn’t mean Baker is limited in what he can do for his orthopedic patients. Russell Medical has helped Baker in the operating room offer the newest in robotic surgery found in the bigger cities.

“We are trying to bring some of that technology you would see in Atlanta or Birmingham to right here in our hometown,” Baker said. “For a patient it means they get a knee that is more specific and precisely placed for their anatomy. The robot helps us get the position of the components within half a millimeter and half degree of perfection.”

The robot is a tool that helps Baker better serve his patients.

“It means faster recovery, and better outcomes with more success and patient satisfaction,” Baker said.

Baker is trained and skilled at handling equipment in his exam rooms and operating rooms but he is no stranger to the patient side of the orthopedics. He has seen greater quality of life after orthopedic issues and injuries have been treated for family members and himself.

“My dad had a clubfoot and was able to get treated and have a normal life,” Baker said. “He was a manual laborer and did everything.”

Baker has had his own orthopedic injuries and it helps him relate to patients as they come to seek his help.

“I have had both my knees, my shoulder and my hand all operated on, so I have been a patient before,” Baker said. “It’s really funny. I can talk to patients about what their scar will look like and show them.

“I have been on the patient and family side of orthopedics for a long time and now the physician side.”

Baker has seen what can happen when orthopedic issues are left unaddressed due to lack of access to medical care. It pushed Baker to seek out a career in the medical world.

“I went to an orphanage on this mission trip as a teenager and saw the kids with orthopedic issues that didn’t get treated and left them neglected,” Baker said. “I saw the contrast of the treatment my dad got and what these children got. It inspired me to look to medicine and orthopedics in particular to be my calling.”

Baker doesn’t see himself anywhere but Alexander City for a long time.

“If I left my wife would be really mad at me,” Baker said. “I love it here. We just bought a house here. We love the lake. My wife’s family is close by. We want to be here forever.”

Dr. Steven Baker is the newest orthopedic surgeon at Russell Medical.

Submitted / The Outlook

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Dr. Steven Baker is the newest orthopedic surgeon at Russell Medical.

10 doctor-recommended ways to improve your overall health

STAFF REPORT

While investing in your health and wellness can sound like an overwhelming goal, doctors say that there are easy, tangible steps you can take to feel your best and better protect your health.

“It is always the right time to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices,” says American Medical Association (AMA) president, Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”

Not sure where to start? Consider these tips from the AMA: 1. Make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older and the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age five and older. Anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines should speak with their physician and review trusted resources, including getvaccineanswers.org. 2. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes by taking a simple online 2-minute self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. 3. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity. 4. Know your blood pressure numbers. Take the time to visit ManageYourBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension -- under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. 5. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead. 6. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu. 7. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age. 8. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. 9. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication. 10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.

More health resources and tips can be found my visiting ama-assn.org.

For a happy, healthy future, consider making these 10 doctor-recommended tips for improved wellness.

Article courtesy of StatePoint Media.

Courtesy photo Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

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File / The Outlook

Ryan McMichael is unlike most healthcare professionals – his patients generally walk on four legs when they visit him.

Wetumpka healthcare worker serves four-legged patients

By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter

Ryan McMichael is unlike most healthcare professionals – his patients generally walk on four legs when they visit him.

The 23-year-old has called Elmore County home since 2020 after joining Camellia Veterinary Hospital as a veterinary assistant. McMichael had never initially envisioned himself in the medical field, but the Kentucky-native opted for a career change after serving three years in the U.S. Air Force.

“I just found out it wasn’t for me. I really enjoy the idea of lifelong learning, and the medical field is a way to practice both competency in book knowledge as well as motor skills such as with surgery. I really like the tangible application of the knowledge,” McMichael said.

McMichael added that he is particularly interested in cytology, which is studying animals’ cells under a microscope.

Following his discharge from the military, McMichael considered medical school, but discovered that he had a strong passion for working with animals more so than people and enrolled in veterinary school at Auburn University at Montgomery

“I’ve always loved animals. I figured that if I wanted to be in the medical field, it would be for animals rather than people,” he said.

Even though McMichael primarily treats animals, he added that there still very much a human element as pet owners place a great deal of trust in his care.

“I say that I gravitated towards this due to the animal side of things but it’s a pretty human aspect as well, because you’re building a relationship with the clients,” he said. “Everyone has pretty much heard of the term ‘furbabies’, because people care about their pets, like their kids, and they’re entrusting you with that care.”

Being in a smaller town like Wetumpka, McMichael added that he can approach his medical care with a more personal touch.

“I really like the small-town feel of Wetumpka, and during my time in the military, my family moved down here so I figured I would stay with them,” he said.

After graduation, McMichael said he plans to work full-time and serve as an exoitc veterinarian in a zoo or wildlife preservation.

That term includes anything that isn’t a cat or a dog. So rabbits, birds, snakes, lizards. You don’t see a lot of clinics in our area that treat them, but I think providing care for those types of animals is just as important as cats or dogs or your typical pets.

McMichael has five pets including: three cats, two birds and a rabbit.

File / The Outlook

Mental healthcare is highly personal and it’s essential that your provider is someone you can open up to, make progress with and not feel judged by.

MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND YOU

Finding the right fit for your mental healthcare provider

STAFF REPORT

Searching for a mental health provider? You likely have questions.

Recent research from virtual care provider MDLIVE suggests that confusion around finding a mental healthcare provider is common. One in five surveyed said they were concerned about finding a provider match and 70% experience confusion and uncertainty about where to begin. The research also revealed that not everyone knows the difference between the various mental health professionals -- psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, mental health coaches and others.

“Many people are ready to get depression, anxiety and stress under control by working with a mental health professional, but get bogged down right from the start. Confusion about selecting a professional that best suits their needs causes a lot of people to give up. That’s something we want to change,” says Dr. Shakira EspadaCampos, who brings more than two decades of direct practice experience to her role as behavioral health medical director at MDLIVE.

To help you in your search, MDLIVE is answering some frequently asked questions:

When is it time to see a therapist? Mental healthcare is self-care that most everyone can benefit from. However, if your emotional state is interfering with your daily life, it’s definitely time to take action. Beyond the common signs of mental illness, such as sadness, drug and alcohol misuse, trouble sleeping and mood swings, Dr. Espada-Campos notes that there are some often overlooked signals that could indicate it’s time to seek treatment. These include withdrawing from loved ones, feeling fatigued, having a lack of motivation and frequently “zoning out.” She also notes that life events such as decoupling, job loss or the loss of a loved one can often trigger the need for professional mental health support.

What’s the difference between therapists and psychiatrists? Psychiatrists and therapists can treat the same things, however, psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication, while therapists are licensed providers who can evaluate and support people with emotional or behavioral health concerns through talk therapy.

What should one look for in a provider? Mental healthcare is highly personal and it’s essential that your provider is someone you can open up to, make progress with and not feel judged by.

A good place to start is by working with a provider who has experience treating patients like you.

Understand that you may not find the right therapist on your first try. Dr. EspadaCampos encourages individuals to both trust their feelings in this regard and to take an active role in their sessions by asking questions like, “What can I do to help my treatment?” and “How can we work together to achieve my goals?”

Does insurance cover therapy? In recent years, many health plans and employers have acknowledged the importance of mental healthcare and have expanded the resources available to their members and employees. Check coverage details online or through the plan’s call center. Alternatively, you may wish to seek counseling through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP counselors can help with a variety of mental health concerns, however, members are typically restricted to a set number of sessions. If you’re suffering from a recurring mental health issue, check what options are available through your health plan.

Can therapists be seen remotely? Virtual care, an increasingly popular option, can provide private, convenient, quality care quickly, and is often offered by health plans. For example, MDLIVE’s platform makes it easy to search for a provider that meets your needs and to schedule an appointment with one of their psychiatrists or licensed therapists. MDLIVE is a covered benefit for more than 60 million Americans through health insurers such as Cigna, Aetna, certain Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and many regional and local plans. To learn more or to register, visit www.mdlive.com.

Finding a mental healthcare provider can feel overwhelming. However, identifying what you want out of care and understanding the different treatments available can help demystify the process.

Article courtesy of StatePoint Media.