OXFORD T H E G O O D L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E F R O M M C C U L L O U G H - H Y D E | T R I H E A LT H
SPRING 2021
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TRIHEALTH.COM/MHMH
MAMMOGRAMS: SAFER THAN EVER COMMUNITY VACCINATION MHMH: A 2020 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
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“I got the vaccine because I believe in it,” says Oxford attorney Jim Robinson.
sore shoulder for half a day.” As COVID-19 vaccine doses become available, MHMH has the capability to vaccinate 100 patients a day. Immunizations will continue on scheduled weekends as long as the hospital receives allotments of vaccine from the state. “The COVID-19 immunization program has been organized centrally by TriHealth,” says Pam Collins, Chief Patient Services Officer. “The system is helping us offer these services to our local community.”
HOW TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT
GETTING VACCINATED FOR EACH OTHER HOSPITAL STAFF HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING TO VACCINATE AS MANY OXFORD RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. IN LATE JANUARY, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital | TriHealth (MHMH) provided its first three days of community COVID-19 vaccinations. Jim Robinson, a community leader and prominent Oxford attorney, was one of the patients vaccinated that weekend. “We lost my mother-in-law to COVID,” says Robinson. “She was 100 years old and fully competent until shortly before her death. I got the vaccine because I believe in it and in science.” Robinson’s experience at MHMH was first-rate. “The staff was wonderful. After I signed in, a volunteer personally walked me up to the vaccine area. Everyone was friendly, and the procedure was efficient. My only side effect was a
TriHealth is offering two ways to schedule a vaccination appointment. The first uses Epic, a national electronic medical record system. Patients who have been seen by a TriHealth physician can create a personal MyChart account (visit trihealth.com/coronavirus), where they’ll see messages that alert them when they can sign up online for vaccination. The second method is via a central call center that has been set up to accommodate patients who might feel more comfortable talking to a person rather than using a computer to register for a vaccination appointment. Collins adds: “Through the Helping Hands program, McCullough-Hyde nurses and other hospital team members have been volunteering on scheduled weekends to help with vaccinations. These employees are part of the glue that adds a personal touch for residents in the community.” They’re one of the reasons Robinson is such a longtime fan of the hospital, whose board he served on for 10 years. “Many volunteers I saw the day of my vaccination were friends and neighbors. We’re lucky to have such a fine, close-knit hospital right here in our small town.”
SHARE YOUR ‘WHY’ If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital encourages you to share the “why” behind your decision. Inspire others to help protect our community by committing to being vaccinated when they’re eligible. Add a profile frame to your Facebook account (find our frame here: https://bit.ly/3nfQrLQ) or post a photo of your “I got vaccinated for YOU” sticker from MHMH. One thing you should NOT do is post a photo of your vaccination card. It contains personal information that can leave you vulnerable to identity theft and give online scammers information they can use to create counterfeit vaccination cards.
IF YOU’RE A TRIHEALTH PATIENT AND WOULD LIKE ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, CHECK YOUR MYCHART ACCOUNT FREQUENTLY. DON’T HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SET ONE UP AT WWW.TRIHEALTH.COM/CORONAVIRUS. TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BY PHONE, CALL 513.862.6843.
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Spring-Clean Your Medicine Cabinet SAFELY DISPOSE OF UNNEEDED MEDICATIONS TO HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS AND DRUG ABUSE. IS YOUR MEDICINE CABINET brimming with half-empty bottles of unneeded or expired medication? Many people accrue a collection of leftover drugs over time, the result of injuries that healed sooner than expected or old medication that wasn’t needed once a new drug was prescribed in its place. You may not give your unwanted drugs a second thought, but there are sound reasons to get rid of old medications cluttering your cabinet. Safeguarding children. A curious child who looks through your cabinet may wonder why you have colorful “candy” in the bathroom, then sample a few pills. This can lead to poisoning or even death. Stopping drug abuse. A teen or adult who’s seeking a high may check your cabinet for pain medication or other substances, assuming that you’ll never miss pills from a forgotten vial. This is particularly worrisome if your medicine
cabinet holds highly addictive prescription opioids. Fifty percent of people who misused prescription painkillers got them from a friend or family member. Sharing isn’t caring. Even giving your unneeded pills to a friend or relative who takes the same medication can be harmful, especially when the medication has expired or the dosage is higher than intended. Unintentional drug overdoses are Ohio’s leading cause of accidental death. Protecting the environment. You may be inclined to flush unwanted medications down the toilet, but this can contaminate the water supply in your area. Instead, seek out a drug-takeback program, which many counties and municipalities offer (see sidebar). Disposing of outdated or unneeded medications responsibly will help keep your loved ones safe, the environment clean and your medicine cabinet tidy.
THE COALITION FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY WILL BE HOSTING MOBILE MEDICATION TAKE-BACK DAYS IN THE GREATER OXFORD AREA THIS SPRING. LEARN MORE AT WWW.HEALTHYOXFORDAREA.ORG.
RX EASY RX DISPOSAL It’s convenient to dispose of unneeded or expired medication in Oxford. Medications can be dropped off at: • Oxford Police Department 101 E. High Street. • Oxford Township Police Department 925 Collins Run Road. • Miami University Police Department 4945 Oxford Trenton Road. Be sure to black out or remove all personal information before putting prescription drugs in a drop box. WHAT’S ACCEPTED: Prescription and over-the-counter solid medications (tablets and capsules); liquid medications; creams and ointments; nasal sprays; and pet medications. Needles are accepted at Oxford Police Department and Miami University Police Department, but must be separated out from other medications. WHAT’S NOT: Intravenous solutions and injectables. Oxford Township Police Department does not accept needles.
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EACH YEAR, the Oxford Chamber of Commerce honors two local organizations with its Business of the Year award. McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital | TriHealth (MHMH) is honored to have received this important recognition for 2020. Chamber members and members of the Oxford community can nominate businesses based on their contributions to the city throughout the year. Nominations are reviewed by the Chamber’s board of directors and two winners are selected. “To be considered for this award, nominees must be a Chamber member in good standing and provide a positive work environment and excellent customer service,” says Chamber President Kelli Riggs. “Nominees must also promote the development of business in Oxford, be involved in the community and offer contributions to civic life.” The other 2020 Business of the Year winner is the City of Oxford. MHMH and the city have served together on the Coalition for a Healthy Community since its inception in 1999. At no time has their partnership been more important than during the COVID-19 crisis.
IT TAKES A TEAM
HONORED TO
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HAS BEEN NAMED AN OXFORD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR 2020. 4
To ensure a coordinated response to the pandemic, a Leadership Team— including MHMH, the City of Oxford, Miami University, the Chamber, the Township, Butler County Health Commission, Talawanda School District and Enjoy Oxford—has been meeting weekly. This team reviews Board of Health COVID-19 numbers, hospital capacity, how to assist residents at highest risk and strategies to support local businesses. “The biggest thing we wanted to do was remain transparent and be in constant communication,” says Michael Everett, President and COO of MHMH. “Working together allowed us to develop response plans to keep our community safe and informed with open communication and consistent messaging.” For example, these groups established Red Brick Fridays, where
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worked hard, together with Miami University, Enjoy Oxford, the Chamber and others, to make sure that we stay safe during the pandemic and always have the most current information,” says Robinson. “Thank you both for all you have done and continue to do for the Oxford community!” “There’s a strong bond between MHMH and the City of Oxford,” says Everett. “It’s built on trust, transparency and a willingness to serve our community together to ensure that we’re all safe.”
Far left: On behalf of McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, Pam Collins, Chief Patient Services Officer, and Michael Everett, President and COO, accept the Business of the Year award and a painting by local artist Jean Vance. Above, from left: Attorney Jim Robinson, Kathy Fawley (Chamber member), Pam Collins, Michael Everett and Kelli Riggs (Chamber President).
streets are closed to create a safe way for people to get out of the house and into local businesses; organized the distribution of masks to local businesses and shoppers; and made counseling available to anyone struggling during the pandemic. In partnership with the City of Oxford, through the CARES Act, MHMH has been providing free COVID-19 testing for those without health insurance. In addition, the hospital is a registered provider of COVID-19 vaccinations.
MEANINGFUL SUPPORT Everyone at MHMH is truly honored to receive this award. “In return,” says Everett, “we wish to acknowledge all the support we’ve received from the community over the past year, from meals and coffee to wonderful cards, personal protective equipment and financial donations. Those thoughtful gestures and generous gifts have made
a real difference to our staff.” Douglas Elliott, Oxford City Manager, says the Business of the Year award is very meaningful, particularly now. “It’s a great honor for the City, McCulloughHyde Memorial Hospital, and all of our wonderful, dedicated, hardworking fellow employees with both organizations,” he says. Acknowledging that 2020 was a very turbulent and challenging year for the city and its residents, Elliott is optimistic about the future. “Although the pandemic crisis isn’t over, I’m confident that our community will meet the challenges we face in 2021!” Congratulating both organizations on receiving this prestigious award, Jim Robinson, a community leader and prominent Oxford attorney, recognized the value that each brings to the city year after year, but especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. “McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital and the City of Oxford have
COALITION FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY The strong partnership between McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital | TriHealth (MHMH), the City of Oxford and other community organizations has resulted in a number of impactful programs for the city and its residents. • A $1,000,000 grant to prevent drug abuse and support treatment and recovery. • Yoga in the Park, started seven years ago with the City and the Coalition for a Healthy Community. • Drug Take Back days in partnership with local police departments (see page 3). • Publication of the Mental Health Resource Guide, used by the Oxford Police Department. • The FRESH Air Fair, produced annually together with the Oxford fire and police departments and the City of Oxford.
TO SUPPORT MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BY MAKING A DONATION, PLEASE CALL 513.664.3850 OR VISIT WWW.TRIHEALTH.COM/MHMHFOUNDATION.
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weight-bearing WORKOUTS GET IN SOME EXERCISE. YOUR BONES AND JOINTS WILL THANK YOU. EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT for bone and joint health. A regular exercise routine can help you maintain bone density and help reduce joint pain. It also offers the added benefit of helping you shed excess weight that might stress your joints, and of helping you maintain good balance. Everyone should aim to get at least two hours of aerobic activity each week. Below are four exercises that are beneficial for stronger bones and joints.
WALKING OR HIKING
WEIGHTS
DANCING
CLIMBING STAIRS
This is the most easily available exercise. It doesn’t require equipment, special clothing or accessories. Be sure to have comfortable shoes and just start walking. When the seasons become colder or wetter, a few laps around the mall are equally as beneficial.
To build strong bones and joints, use lighter weights or a rubber resistance band. Aim for enough of a workout to tire your muscles without causing joint pain. Make sure to work all of your major muscle groups, including arms, legs and core.
If you haven’t dusted off the old dancing shoes in a while, now’s the time. Dancing provides a workout for the whole body. Music is a mood lifter and makes exercise more enjoyable.
If you have stairs at home or at the office, take them. If you’re shopping, hit the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. If you have access to a tall building, you can even make a game of it, trying to best your last time and number of stairs climbed on each outing.
A consistent regimen is key to good health. Only a few minutes a day will keep you on the path to developing bones and joints that will support you for a lifetime. Remember to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
WHEN SURGERY’S NEEDED
If you’re experiencing joint pain, it may indicate a larger issue. Talk to your doctor, who may recommend a visit to an orthopedic specialist. If the specialist finds that you need a joint replacement, call TriHealth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at 513.856.5971.
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6Exercise Myths, BUSTED 8
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DON’T LET THESE RUMORS SIDETRACK YOUR FITNESS PROGRAM. AT THE BEGINNING of every year, knowing that exercise is critical to good health, millions of people resolve to live a fi tter life. Why do so many wellintentioned exercisers fail to persevere? Often, it’s due to mistaken beliefs about how best to get in shape and what it takes to see results. Here, we debunk six common exercise myths.
MYTH #1: “No pain, no gain.” Most fi tness experts agree on the foolishness of this old saying. Pain is an inflammation response that means your body is trying to heal an injury. And yes, to some extent it’s injury—damage to muscle fibers—that causes the soreness you feel the day after you exercise. But soreness is not the measure of a good workout. Instead, judge your success by whether you’ve met your exercise goals. If you feel less stressed, more fi t, more energetic and more fl exible, then it’s a quality workout. Post-exercise soreness should be gone in 24 to 48 hours. If it lasts longer, scale back on exercise for now—and see your doctor. And what about pain you feel during the workout itself? It’s your cue to stop that particular exertion. Once you reach “Ouch!” you’ve gone too far.
MYTH #2: “Exercise can help you spotreduce.” Men want six-pack abs. Women want thinner thighs. Many people think that by focusing on their problem areas, they can ensure rapid results. They’re wrong. Your body is not able to fine-tune itself that way. It can’t pick and choose where it takes fat from. You need a more holistic approach. The goal is to burn as many calories as you can—and not just during the workout itself. That means you need to do strength training, which has been shown to speed your metabolism, so you’ll continue to burn calories long after a workout has ended. If you want to change your appearance, you’re better served by training the body as a unit.
MYTH #3: “It’s best to work out early in the morning before you eat.” Many people start their day with a trip to the gym. Experts say there’s no proven optimal time for exercise, but getting your workout done early in the day, before you get too busy or too tired, is a great habit—just don’t do it on an empty stomach. To burn fat requires intense exertion. If your system hasn’t had fuel since the night before, odds are you won’t have enough ready energy to push your muscles as they need to be pushed. You’ll risk drops in blood pressure and blood sugar— and even dizziness. In short, you won’t have a good workout. Of course, you shouldn’t exercise right after a big breakfast, but do eat something.
MYTH #4: “You must work out every day.” Some New Year’s exercisers will go to the gym two to three hours daily. At first, they see results. But then they hit a plateau. At that point, they actually regress because they’ve been working too hard, and their results come undone. So they lose interest and stop. One problem is that they’ve failed to give their muscles a rest to rebuild. Overdoing your workouts can break muscle down as opposed to building it up. And the central nervous system needs time to recover. If it keeps firing the same muscle group relentlessly, those muscles don’t work efficiently. It’s like an engine that runs hot—you can’t keep pushing it at 60 miles an hour all day every day. It’s true that fitness guidelines call for adults to get an hour of physical activity every day. But that doesn’t mean daily workouts at the gym. Map it out so you do different things on different days. Don’t do heavy weight training every day. Do some flexibility or balance training. Add jogging outdoors. Go for a walk. Ride a bike.
MYTH #5: “Lifting weights bulks up women too much.” To build visible muscle,
you need two things: lots of calories and lots of testosterone. Females typically don’t have enough of either. So unless they’re taking testosterone supplements and consuming 3,000 calories a day, women simply cannot build muscle mass the way men can. That’s not to say heavy workouts won’t make a noticeable difference in how you look. Exercise, particularly cardiovascular training, will help you work off excess fat, which makes the muscles you already have more visible. Strength training will add tone and definition. It will also make you stronger, but being stronger is different than having bigger muscles. And for females, being stronger is what it’s all about. Because they naturally have less muscle and bone mass, women are at greater risk than men for the bone-wasting disease osteoporosis. Resistance training strengthens both muscle and bone, and has been proven to fight osteoporosis.
MYTH #6: “Exercise is a bore.” This is the myth with a kernel of truth. If you do exactly the same things every time you work out, it can become boring. That’s one reason you should change your routine at least every four to six weeks. Experienced exercisers should change it every day. Even changing the sequence of your exercises or popping new tunes in your music player can fight monotony. But bigger adjustments—adding a new exercise, for instance—can help in another way. By keeping your body off guard, such changes help you avoid plateaus and continue progressing. Our bodies can adapt to almost anything, including an exercise routine. We need to “surprise” our muscles to keep them from getting too comfortable. So keep your exercise interesting by checking out the machines you haven’t used yet, signing up for a personal training session to get fresh ideas or taking up a new activity.
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UNDERSTANDING
Endometriosis
WHEN TISSUE FROM THE LINING OF THE UTERUS SHOWS UP WHERE IT DOESN’T BELONG, PAIN CAN RESULT. DOCTORS DON’T KNOW exactly what causes endometriosis, a painful condition in which tissue that’s similar to endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, grows outside the uterine cavity. Nevertheless, several effective treatments are available to bring relief. During menstruation, endometrial tissue thickens, breaks down and bleeds. When it grows outside the uterus, most commonly attaching to the ovaries, fallopian tubes or lining of the pelvis, it continues to do the same. However, the tissue being shed in these locations has no way to exit the body. Over time, nearby tissue can become irritated and scar tissue can develop, causing pain. Estrogen plays a role, so symptoms of endometriosis disappear during pregnancy and after menopause (unless you take estrogen). Endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can have other causes, such as irritable bowel syndrome and interstitial cystitis. For a firm diagnosis, endometriosis must be seen during surgery or proven with a biopsy. Diagnosis and treatment are sometimes combined during laparoscopy, in which a surgeon inserts a scope through a small incision near the navel and uses fiber-optic lights to examine the pelvic organs. If endometrial tissue is located outside the uterus, it’s removed or destroyed using a laser,
electrocautery or other small surgical instruments. Other treatments for endometriosis include pain medication and hormone therapy. The best treatment for each patient depends on individual clinical circumstances. If you’re experiencing symptoms like those listed in the chart, see your doctor. Painful periods with heavy or irregular flow Tenderness of the abdomen
WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Longstanding infertility
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR BOARD-CERTIFIED OB/GYNS, CALL OXFORD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AT 513.523.2158.
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Lower back pain
If you experience any of these symptoms, which may indicate endometriosis, talk to your doctor. Painful intercourse
Chronic pelvic pain
Painful bowel movements or urination during periods
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DO YOU NEED A MAMMOGRAM? DON’T DELAY. SCHEDULE TODAY.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING SAVES LIVES—AND GETTING A MAMMOGRAM IS SAFER THAN EVER.
NEED-TO-KNOW NUMBERS
Early detection can be lifesaving. If you’ve put your mammogram on hold due to the pandemic, wait no more. Safety protocols for breast screening are firmly in place, including: Screening for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry.
Strict social distancing measures. Enhancing already rigorous cleaning and disinfecting practices. Mandating a mask or face covering for all patients and staff.
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK
98.9%
5-year survival rate for stage I breast cancer
40%
3.5 million
mammography has helped reduce breast-cancer deaths by 40% in the U.S. since 1990
breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
1 in 8
U.S. women will have breast cancer in her lifetime
50 YEARS OLD
Perform breast self-exams.
the age at which women of average risk should begin annual mammograms
Maintain a healthy weight.
1 in 6 75%
breast cancers occur in women aged 40–49
Stay active and exercise.
Eat fruits and veggies.
of breast cancer patients have no family history of breast cancer
Limit alcohol consumption. TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MAMMOGRAM, CALL OUR SCHEDULING DEPARTMENT AT 513.524.5555.
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Grade A for Hospital Safety
*Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Fall 2020
TriHealth.com/MHMH
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