HealthSmart October 6, 2013

7th Annual HealthSmart Expo

– Wednesday, October 9 – Gainesville Civic Center

7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Wellness Expo with Free Health Screenings 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. – Kickoff Breakfast Shuttle Available!

Gainesville Civic Center

FREE Health Screenings!

No Entry Fee! Open to the Public! See List of Exhibitors Inside

FREE Salad Lunch to the First 100 Health Screening Participants from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm!

Glucose • Cholesterol • Blood Pressure • BMI • Carotid Artery • Sleep Assessment Asthma, Hearing, Vision, Posture, Vascular Screenings Flu Shots (minimal cost) • Free Flu Shots for Medicare Part B card holders

– Platinum Sponsors – – Gold Sponsor –

– Media Sponsors – – Silver Sponsors –

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

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Food ‘expiration dates’ don’t mean what you think

By Mary MacVean

Los Angeles Times Ted Labuza ate sour cream two weeks past its due date. And lived to tell the tale.

Dana Gunders went to the market and found fat-free milk in quarts that had no date label; the half-gallons had a “sell-by” date.A container from a different brand had a “best-by” date.

Even though nearly all consumers make some decisions about what to throw away based on those stamped dates, they cannot rely on them, said Gunders, food and agriculture staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

She is the coauthor of a report issued by the NRDC and the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic calling for changes to make the dates more useful. Currently, those dates are manufacturers’ suggestions for when an

item is at its peak or are efforts to help stores manage their inventory — not indications of food safety, the report says.

Here’s what those labels mean, according to the report: • “Best by” or “best if used by”: The manufacturer’s estimate of when the food will no longer be at highest quality.

• “Use by”: An estimate of the last date it’s at peak quality.

• “Sell by”: The manufacturer’s suggested date to the grocer to no longer sell a product, based on the idea that it will still be good quality for a “reasonable” time if purchased on that date.

Still, more than 90 percent of Americans say they use those dates to decide whether to discard food, leading to tons of wasted food each year, the report notes.

“I don’t know of any data that consuming a product beyond the date has

caused illness,” said Labuza, a professor of food science and engineering at the University of Minnesota who has studied shelf life for decades.

His sour cream was OK because he keeps his refrigerator at 34 degrees.

He recommends consumers let theirs go no higher than 40 degrees — and get a thermometer to make sure.

Even at that temperature, listeria can grow, he cautioned. But that is not related to those stamped dates.

When food spoils, it might smell rotten, be slimy or soft or change color.

Those are signs that food should be discarded, Labuza said at a news conference.

In addition, food that is improperly handled, at any point from field or factory to table, can become a danger for illness, he said.

The NRDC report calls for revamping the labels so that it’s clear what any dates mean.

“We need a standardized, commonsense date labeling system that actually provides useful information to consumers rather than the unreliable, inconsistent and piecemeal system we have today,” said Emily Broad Leib, lead author of the report and director of the Harvard clinic.

An official at the Food Marketing Institute agreed that changes are needed and said the industry is al-

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Recognizing signs of PAD key to minimizing disease’s complications the touch, non-healing wounds, as well as erectile dysfunction.

Those who smoke and have diabetes are at a very high risk of PAD. Even those who do not show any symptoms of PAD, but smoke and/or have diabetes, should be tested for the disease.

The best way to lower the risk of PAD is to stop smoking,lose weight and gain control of high blood pressure and cholesterol.Your doctor will be able to talk

By Suman Annambhotla, M.D. to you about the specifics of what you Vascular & Vein Specialists at The should do to lower your risk.

Longstreet Clinic, P.C. When further treatment of PAD is Advertorial necessary,your physician may refer you It would be hard to find many people to a vascular surgeon.If symptoms have who don’t know that we’re in the midst become severe, medication or surgery of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an may be necessary. Balloon angioplasty important tool to encourage the early and stent placement are two common minimally invasive procedures detection of breast cancer.

However, most of those same people designed to open blocked arteries and probably didn’t know that last month, restore circulation back to the legs.

The balloon angioplasty procedure September, marked peripheral arterial disease awareness month.You may is performed to help open blocked areven be asking,“What is peripheral ar- teries by expanding the inner diameter terial disease and why do I need to be with a balloon mounted on a thin tube.

Cardiologists will perform this same aware of it?”

PAD is the most common type of pe- procedure in the coronary arteries ripheral vascular disease, which refers around the heart while vascular interto any disease of the blood vessels out- ventionalists perform this procedure side of the heart and brain.PAD most of- in vessels outside the heart. Stents are ten is caused by a hardening or narrow- used to help hold arteries open as an ing leading to blockage of the arteries adjunct to balloon angioplasty.

In some circumstances, balloon anin the legs associated with cholesterol deposits, also known as arteriosclero- gioplasty and stenting may not be sucsis.This narrowing restricts blood flow cessful or may not be an option. This which can damage nerves and tissue in can occur if the blockage in the artery is too long or diseased. In that situathe legs and feet.

If left untreated, PAD can result in tion, vascular surgeons can perform pain, wounds, gangrene and amputa- open extremity bypass surgery. This tion. Patients also are at a higher risk involves using a segment of vein from for stroke and heart attack.This is why the leg or arm, or using a graft (plastic it’s so important to be aware of the dis- tube) to create a new avenue for the blood to flow to the lower leg.This can ease’s signs.

There are a variety of symptoms as- be a robust and successful long term sociated with the disease, which usu- solution and can alleviate many of the ally starts with pain and discomfort in symptoms described above.

At Vascular & Vein Specialists at The the calves or legs when walking that is only relieved by rest.This is called clau- Longstreet Clinic,we are able to screen dication. Over time, this fatigue occurs for peripheral vascular disease, includmore quickly and with less and less ex- ing PAD, in our ICAVL-certified vascuertion.Other symptoms of PAD include lar lab. We also are able to offer onsite hip and thigh pain, legs that feel cool to treatment through our Vascular Access

For The Times Located within the offices of Vascular & Vein Specialists at The Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, the Vascular Access Center allows surgeons to perform a variety of procedures in an outpatient setting where patients can go home the same day.

For The Times The recovery room inside Vascular & Vein Specialists’ state-of-the-art Vascular Access Center.

Located inside the practice’s Longstreet Clinic offices in Gainesville, the access center allows surgeons to perform a variety of procedures in an outpatient setting where patients can go home the same day.

Center, which allows our surgeons to perform a variety of procedures in an outpatient setting where patients can go home the same day.

According to the American Heart Association, peripheral artery disease affects approximately 8 million Americans, as many as 1 in 5 Americans age 65 and older. Many cases also go undiagnosed because people do not understand what their symptoms mean or they have no symptoms.

We encourage you to learn more

about PAD and the lifestyle changes you can make to potentially prevent it, as well as the disease’s signs and symptoms so that if necessary you or a loved one can receive appropriate treatment.

Suman Annambhotla, MD, is a vascular surgeon with Vascular & Vein Specialists at The Longstreet Clinic, P.C.Call 678-407-2000 or visit longstreetclinic.com/veins for more information.

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

When it comes to your health, you want to be cared for by the best.

The Longstreet Clinic, P.C., is committed to innovation in health care. By embracing compassionate, evidence-based standards of care, TLC consistently receives recognition from national organizations that recognize physicians and best practices for patient-centric, outcome-based medical care.

Recognized Excellence • Received certification as NCQA Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home for 6 primary care practice sites • Achieved NCQA recognition for Diabetes and Heart/Stroke care • Earned QOPI and STAR certification for best practices in cancer care • Recognized as one of Metro Atlanta’s Top Physician Group Practices by the Atlanta Business Chronicle

TLC is comprised of over 150 providers in 16 specialties with offices conveniently located throughout Northeast Georgia to include Gainesville, Buford, Braselton, Duluth, Dacula, Oakwood, Baldwin, Dahlonega, Demorest, Lavonia & Toccoa.

770-718-1122 www.longstreetclinic.com

Internal Medicine • Pediatrics • Family Medicine • Obstetrics • Gynecology • Inpatient Medicine • General Surgery Oncology • Hematology • Physiatry • Orthopaedics • Sports Medicine • Neonatology • Perinatology • Neurology Neurosurgery • Allergy, Asthma & Immunology • Vascular Surgery • Bariatric Surgery • Medical Weight Loss

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Regular eye exams a ‘must’ to maintain good health Advertorial by Gainesville Eye Associates

highly treatable, and the recent ad- brain combines the two images into vancement of bladeless laser cataract one fluid image. surgery has made it even more so.

Symptoms of poor depth We can’t stress it enough — the Laser surgery is safer, more accurate perception can include: best way to monitor your eyesight is and offers a faster recovery. It also • General difficulty with spatial to have an annual eye exam, especially minimizes changes to vision, meaning fewer patients develop astigmatism or awareness. as you grow older.

• Lack of perspective and threeMost people see their primary care other vision problem after the surgery.

Plus, a recent study out of Australia dimension in the environment. physician once a year and their dentist • Problems with judging heights, disonce, or sometimes twice, a year. But shows that older adults who have tances, and speeds. eye sight is an area of your health that cataract surgery live longer than • Being clumsy or accident prone. is often overlooked. A recent survey those who don’t.While the associa• Difficulty catching a ball. by the Centers for Disease Control tion between cataract surgery and • Difficulty with stairs: needing to & Prevention showed that a third of lower mortality risk is not clearly hold on, tripping up. adults over the age of 40 with moder- understood, possible factors include • Difficulty with escalators: ate visual impairment believed they better physical and emotional wellhesitating to get on or off, dizziness. didn’t need a regular eye exam. Nearly being after surgery, as well as opti• Over cautiousness when driving, 40 percent said they do not get annual mism, greater confidence with indeovertaking, parking. eye exams because they are too costly pendent living, and a greater ability • Difficulty walking in a straight line, or their health insurance does not to comply with prescription medications.Another possibility is that walking into people. cover the expense.

• Running into furniture or doorThat’s a gamble you don’t need to be people with cataracts who did not ways accidentally. taking with your health.A comprehen- have surgery could have other health • Difficulty with heights or ladders. sive eye exam is more than a vision problems that prevented them from • Knocking things over or dropping assessment; it is a medical exam.There undergoing surgery. things easily. are medical conditions that have an Keep a check on depth perception effect on your eyes such as diabetes While cataracts are the most comIf you suspect a problem, please see and high blood pressure, and your eye doctor can detect these through mon age-related eye problems de- an eye doctor as soon as possible. Isa regular exam that is relatively inex- tected with an eye exam, another is- sues with depth perception can be sue that affects our daily lives is the treated with help from vision therapensive. pists or contact lenses and eyeglasses.

Good eye health is beneficial to loss of depth perception.

We all rely heavily on depth percepyour overall health, too. If you have viVision changes with age sion problems, your risk of diabetes, tion in all areas of our life whether it’s You may already have noticed hearing loss, heart problems, and high walking or driving. changes in your vision. It usually beblood pressure is greater than someone with good eye health. Of course, Deteriorating depth perception can be a gins in your 40s; seeing clearly when sign of a progressive eye disease you are reading is probably the most poor eyesight also increases the risk Depth perception is created by common eye issue for adults between of accidents, falls and injuries.

Cataracts are one of the most your eyes seeing separate images and 41 and 60. This normal aging change common vision problems we see at your brain interpreting those images. in the eye’s focusing ability, called Gainesville Eye Associates. Cataracts Basically, it is a 3-D picture of your presbyopia, will continue to progress are a clouding of your eye’s natural surroundings. To get an accurate im- over time.

It’s gradual. You’ll have to hold lens that occur in people ages 55 years age, your eyes must work properly and older, though we’ve seen cases together. If one eye is working better menus or the newspaper farther away in people younger. In fact, half of all than the other, your brain will block to see them clearly. Dim lighting will Americans have them—or have had the bad image and use the better one. have an increased effect. Corrective cataract surgery—by age 80. Cataracts In that situation, you are only seeing lenses are used to rectify this.

Other changes to your eyes can can make sharp objects appear blurry, the image from one eye, which means make colors look dull, and cause trou- you cannot judge distance or track start during this time that effect your moving objects as accurately. When eye health and the way you live. Catable seeing at night.

The good thing is cataracts are your eyes are working together, your racts can develop so slowly that older

drivers may be unaware that their vision is getting worse. That’s why it’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam annually to chart changes to your eyesight.

Some signs your eyes are changing: • You need more light or brighter lights to read in your work area.

• The glare from headlights or sun reflecting off windshields is stronger.

• You have difficulty distinguishing certain shades of color.

• Your tear glands produce fewer tears.

Adults over 40 may be particularly at risk for the development of eye and vision problems if any of the following exist: • Chronic, systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

• A family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration.

• A highly visually demanding job or work in an eye-hazardous occupation.

• Health conditions like high cholesterol, thyroid conditions, anxiety or depression, and arthritis for which you take medications.

Many medications, even antihistamines, have ocular side-effects.

As you grow older, don’t ignore changes to your eyesight. Stay on top of these changes with an annual eye exam.

Gainesville Eye Associates has offices in Gainesville, Braselton, Cornelia, Blairsville, Clayton, Hayesville, and Hiawassee, along with consultation offices in Ellijay, Ga. and Franklin, N.C. To find out more about Gainesville Eye Associates, or to schedule an appointment, contact their office today at 770-5324444. You can also learn more about the services offered by Gainesville Eye Associates by visiting their website at www.gainesvilleeye.com and following them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gainesvilleeye) and Twitter (@GainesvilleEye).

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

Sunday, April 28, 2013

gainesvilletimes com

Why see a gastroenterologist?

Advertorial A stomach ache will make you seek out a physician, though sometimes deciding which physician or what kind of physician to go to will make your stomach ache worse. There are many options, and with the high cost of health care, you want to make the right decision the first time.Your primary care physician (PCP) may be the first point of contact, especially if your insurance requires that you contact them prior to being seen by a specialist. Often, if you know what you need to be seen for, you can make an appointment with a gastroenterologist (GI) without needing to see a PCP first.

Gastroenterologists, such as the physicians of Gastroenterology Associates of Gainesville, are physicians who trained in internal medicine and received two to three years of additional training related to the digestive tract. According to Dr. Neeraj Sharma, M.D., “A gastroenterologist, by definition, is a physician who specializes in diseases of the stomach and small intestine.There are other organs that a gastroenterologist can evaluate, including the esophagus, colon, liver, and pancreas.”

Sharma went on to say,“A wide variety of diseases can affect these organs, and gastroenterologists undergo intense training and education in order to diagnose and treat these conditions. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding are just some of the symptoms that a gastroenterologist can help you with. Some of the more common disorders we diagnose and treat are reflux, Hepatitis C, cirrhosis, Crohn’s Disease, and ulcerative colitis.”

Colonoscopy and endoscopy are their main diagnostic tools of gastroenterologists. Sharma noted,“Gastro-

enterologists can evaluate the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, and the colon. Screening colonoscopy is used to look for and remove precancerous polyps to prevent colon cancer, and gastroenterologists have proven to be the most experienced and proficient at this procedure.They can also perform advanced endoscopic procedures to investigate the

ing at age 50. African-Americans have a higher chance of developing colon cancer so they should begin colon screenings at age 45. The best way to have a colon screening is to have a colonoscopy, as polyps can be removed if detected and biopsies taken if needed.A colonic polyp is a growth inside the wall of the large intestine that can often develop into cancer if

“

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers and one of the reasons it is so predominant is that individuals fail to go to see a gastroenterologist with bowel problems when they occur.

bile duct and pancreatic duct, and endoscopic ultrasound can evaluate the pancreas, as well as lymph nodes and other abnormalities around the digestive system.”

“Digestive issues are all we treat at Gastroenterology Associates,” noted Sharma,“and we are familiar with the discomfort and embarrassment that often accompanies digestive issues and are trained to deal with that.”

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers and one of the reasons it is so predominant is that individuals fail to go to see a gastroenterologist with bowel problems when they occur. Changes in bowel habits can be an indicator of something more serious.According to Sharma, “Your stomach ache may be trying to tell you something.”

Even if you are symptom free, every person should receive a colon screen-

“

By Kim V. Powell, MBA, CMPE

left untreated.This is the main reason that colon cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers.Polyps can grow undetected unless the individual has a colon screening.

Your colon screening should be performed by a gastroenterologist.

A gastroenterologist performs 400500 colonoscopies during training — before they even begin working in an office. Colon cancer is too great a disease to risk having anyone but a gastroenterologist, who is especially trained to detect issues, perform your procedure.

Not everyone who has stomach ailments needs a procedure. Often, heart burn or constant belching may interfere with your daily life, and it also may cause damage you cannot see. A gastroenterologist can help you treat this as well. Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused

when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus and causes burning and irritation. Stomach acid is erosive to the esophagus and over time can eat away the lining. Esophageal cancer can also develop from this. The burning and pain you feel is your body trying to tell you something.

So when your stomach hurts, you have heartburn or it’s time for your colon screening, don’t make it worse by trying to figure out whom to go to, look for Gastroenterology Associates of Gainesville. They are specially trained to find the source of your problem, treat you and help you get better. It is important to get treated by the physicians who are especially trained to treat stomach problems – a gastroenterologist.

Main Office

2324 Limestone Overlook Gainesville, GA 30501

Demorest Office

Located inside the Jones Clinic 638 Historic Hwy. 441 N Suite B • Demorest, GA 30575

Braselton Office

Located inside the River Place Medical Plaza 5875 Thompson Mill Road Suite 310 • Hoschton, GA 30548

Dawsonville Office

Located inside Medical Plaza 400 108 Prominence Court Dawsonville, GA 30534

Lavonia Office

Located inside the Physician’s Center of Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center 355 Clear Creek Pkwy.

Suite 1007 Lavonia, GA 30553

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Exceptional Medical Care with a Human Touch Gastroenterology Associates of Gainesville is the largest gastroenterology practice in Northeast Georgia.

Our highly qualified physicians utilize cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat a wide variety of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Many people find discussing concerns related to the digestive tract embarrassing.

Our physicians and staff understand the sensitive nature of digestive problems and are specially trained to handle any questions and concerns.

We ARE the experts.

770-536-8109 Toll Free 1-877-683-9410

Main Office 2324 Limestone Overlook Gainesville, GA

Braselton Office 5875 Thompson Mill Rd., Suite 310 Hoschton, GA

Lavonia Office 355 Clear Creek Pkwy., Suite 1007, Lavonia, GA

Habersham Office 396 Historic 441 N. Demorest, GA

Dawsonville Office 108 Prominence Ct., Dawsonville, GA

www.GastroGainesville.com

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Theft of medical identities a growing problem

By Jim Landers

The Dallas Morning News Identity theft is the fastestgrowing crime in America, and the theft of medical identities is a key part of the problem. Once a crook has that insurance card, Medicare or Medicaid number, investigators say, it is fairly simple to bill for fictitious services rendered.

An estimated 313,000 Americans will have their medical identities stolen this year, according to a recent study by the Michiganbased Ponemon Institute, bringing the total number in the last few years to 1.84 million.

Those numbers can be doubled overnight if hackers break into the quickly growing medical databases around the country. U.S. hospitals and medical centers have been hit by 56 hacking attacks in the last four years. A hacker traced to Romania lifted identities and other information from 780,000 patients in Utah’s Medicaid files in 2012.

“Medical identity theft has the potential to impede your medical treatment and the potential to kill you,” said Robin Slade of the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance. “A thief using your identity may have a different blood type, or not have the same allergies. It’s a fraud that causes your medical record to get contaminated by a perpetrator.”

Often the thefts start small. CEO Larry Ponemon of the Ponemon Institute said about a third of the people whose identities are stolen have admitted that they shared the information with a family member or a friend who lacked health insurance.

“It’s looked on as a Robin Hood crime, where a family member in need takes the ID and is treated

for an illness,” Ponemon said.

The resulting treatment goes into the record of the ID owner, however, where it can complicate future medical care — and create expensive liabilities.

“Customer liability is limited in credit card fraud, but nothing like that exists in the health care space,” Ponemon said.

People working in doctor’s offices or hospitals have downloaded patient identities onto thumb drives to enrich themselves by selling the information on black markets — on the street or in Internet chat rooms.

A federal judge in Florida became a witness for the prosecution after his medical identity was stolen this way and used to file insurance claims for two prosthetic legs. The judge testified that he had not made the claims because he had both of his legs.

Medical ID thieves don’t need wealthy targets to pull off lucrative scams. People with Medicaid or Medicare numbers are attractive as well. One of the biggest alleged Medicare frauds involved a Dallas nurse who recruited medical identities from homeless people at a shelter.

What worries federal and private insurance investigators most, however, are hackers. Seven thousand patient identities were compromised last year by a hacker at the University of Houston’s College of Optometry. In 2010, a hacker broke into the University of Texas at Arlington’s Office of Health Services data. The names, addresses, diagnostic codes and medications of an estimated 27,000 students were affected.

The Utah Medicaid hacking was the biggest so far. A hacker broke into the state’s Medicaid server and took files containing 280,000 Social Security numbers, and

names, addresses and so forth on an estimated half a million other state residents.

The break-in was traced to an Internet address in Romania, but there the trail went cold, said Tom Hudachko, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Health.

Utah set up a special response office for anyone who detected suspicious activity in their medical records and a new state office of health data security. So far, however, no one has been detected using the stolen information, Hu-

dachko said.

To make sure they haven’t been victimized, consumers should check their medical records and watch their insurance statements for any strange activity.

“It can be so easy to steal this information, and it can take so long to discover it, that tens of thousands of fake medical claims can get paid before anybody gets wise,” said Jim Quiggle, communications director for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, an industry group.

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

Stay Informed. Stay Healthy. with North Georgia’s Health & Prevention Magazine HealthWatch is a quarterly health and prevention magazine that focuses on the local health care community with news, changes and advancements in the medical field.

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As a physician or member of the healthcare profession, we invite you to advertise in HealthWatch, and to submit information and story ideas that would be of interest to our readers.

To place your advertisement, call us today!

770-535-1199

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Your news. Your Times

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic offers new technologies, advanced care Advertorial For the past 60 years, the physicians and staff of the Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic have been providing compassionate, innovative, quality healthcare to Gainesville and the surrounding communities of Northeast Georgia.

The Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic continues to provide the latest and most advanced methods of medical care to our community.

In July of this year, a retail pharmacy was added to the list of services offered at NGDC. Diagnostic Clinic patients no longer have to make an extra stop on their way home from the doctor’s office.

They can pick up their prescriptions before leaving our office. Our

east Georgia Diagnostic Clinic will have grown into a practice of 34 physicians and 12 midlevel providers.

Today, the Clinic offers care and treatment in the areas of general internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, hematology, medical oncology, nephrology, pulmonary disease and rheumatology.

Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic patients receive complete comprehensive care and enjoy acpharmacy staff is knowledgeable, cess to these convenient in-office friendly and eager to provide you services. with the best possible care. We ac• Cardiology services cept all major insurance plans, and • Clinical laboratory our pricing is competitive with all • Clinical research major pharmacy chains.

• Cancer care By the end of 2013, the North• Diabetes and nutrition education

• Imaging services • Retail pharmacy • Physical therapy • Pulmonary function testing • Sleep medicine We continue to support the vision of our community’s goal to become “HealthSmart” by encouraging patients to have an annual health exam and preventative screenings.

Be sure to visit our booth at the Expo to receive a sleep assessment screening and to learn more about the physicians and services provided at Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic. For more information, please call 770-536-9864 or visit our website at www.ngdc. com.

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

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Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s patient navigator is a “saving grace” to cancer patient Advertorial by Northeast Georgia Medical Center Jenny Ingram will never forget what it was like to hear those three words that changed her life – “You have cancer.” In late 2010, when the results of a biopsy confirmed that a lump she noticed in the shower was breast cancer, Jenny began her journey at The Cancer Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC).

“I couldn’t believe this was happening to me,” said Jenny.“I have no medical history of breast cancer. It was all so new.”

As many people do when confronted with the news of cancer, Jenny began asking friends and confidants who had experienced cancer for physician recommendations.

“I spoke with a trusted friend whose wife had gone to Emory for a second opinion about her cancer diagnosis, and her doctor recommend she stay at NGMC,” Jenny explains.

“So I came here.”

After undergoing a mastectomy at NGMC in December 2010, Jenny began a year-long chemotherapy treatment in January 2011. While cancer is a diagnosis no one wants to hear, Jenny looks back on her time at NGMC with fond memories.

“I met so many wonderful people during my time at the hospital.The facilities are beautiful, and the Imaging Center is like a spa — so relaxing, especially in such a stressful situation.”

All three of NGMC’s Imaging Centers (Gainesville, Braselton and Dawsonville) are accredited by the American College of Radiology and feature women’s imaging suites that combine a comprehensive range of breast imaging technologies with spa-like amenities such as warm robes and gourmet refreshments.

Jenny was also impressed by the quality of care she received at NGMC, the only hospital in Georgia to be

named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals (Healthgrades®) and one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals (Truven®). She found the accolades to be well deserved.

“They have attracted higher quality physicians, who in turn require top-notch nurses,” Jenny said. “That’s what you find at NGMC.” As anyone who has experienced cancer first-hand or watched a family member go through the process knows, a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. The healthcare process can be confusing, complicated by the fear of the unknown and the challenge of navigating the healthcare system. NGMC offers patient navigator services to help take cancer care beyond the clinical level — to the emotional level.

A patient navigator is someone who guides a patient through the healthcare journey. She helps schedule tests and appointments; communicates with healthcare staff and providers; addresses logistical issues such as transportation needs; and helps patients understand complex medical terms and treatment options — all the while providing emotional support for their patients.

Jenny worked with Lisa Bridges, RN, BSN, CBCN, a certified breast health navigator who works exclusively with breast cancer patients at NGMC. “I met Lisa at my follow-up appointment after being diagnosed. Before I met her, I didn’t know that patient navigators existed,” said Jenny.“Now, I can’t imagine going through this without her. Lisa was always there and always knew what was going on. I had no clue what to expect, but Lisa did, and she was there to hold my hand along the way.”

“A patient navigator is a saving grace. I know it sounds strange, but to see Lisa’s friendly face made all of the difference.”

In addition to offering education,

Lisa Bridges and Jenny Ingram

emotional support and care coordination to NGMC’s breast cancer patients as a patient navigator, Lisa also participates in the STAR Program® at NGMC (Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation). The STAR Program is the nation’s first certification program to provide hospitals with the tools and training needed to minimize the debilitating side effects of cancer treatment. NGMC is the first and only hospital in Georgia that offers this turnkey approach to cancer — from diagnosis to treatment to rehabilitation.

Jenny had her last round of chemotherapy on Dec. 30, 2011 and is now in remission. This experience has given her a new outlook on life.

“In addition to my care team, my family, friends and faith were an important part of my healing process.

After going through chemo, I appreciate life — and the people in it — even more. Every day is a gift.”

Scheduling a mammogram is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends women age 40 and older have an annual mammogram. Most insurance companies cover screening mammogram costs. n fact, the ACS reports that one in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Early detection of breast cancer through annual mammograms can lead to a greater range of treatment options, less extensive surgery and better treatment outcomes.

To schedule a mammogram at one of NGMC’s three Imaging Centers, call 678-745-5600 or visit www. nghs.com/ScheduleMammogram.

Each location offers convenient appointments to accommodate busy schedules. For more information about NGMC’s comprehensive cancer care, visit www.nghs.com.

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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