MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER Spring 2011www.mcmc.net

Wally's OnBoard AtThe Bistro

Breathing EasierAcupuncture

2

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to another edition of Well Aware, and thankyou for reading. In this issue, we have included our

most recent Community Benefit Report. I draw your attention to this document because

it is an important accounting of some of the activities Mid-Columbia Medical Center is involved in each year aspart of our mission and responsibilities as a not-for-profithealthcare organization.

As you will read, the many programs and serviceswe offer that qualify as community benefit initiativesbenefit thousands of people in the region we serve. This includes, for example, patients of all ages who needmedical care but don’t have the means to pay for it. As you can imagine, the poor economic conditions of thelast few years have led to a dramatic increase in the number of people who now must rely on our charity careprogram to ensure their health needs are met.

Community benefit also covers several programs and services that we offer at a financial loss toensure they remain available to the people in our community who rely on them. In addition, financial donationsmade to community organizations through our Tithing Program are part of our Community Benefit mission, as are the resources we commit to important educational, screening and support activities like Diabetes Day, Go Red for Women, school nursing services and important prenatal care programs.

But just as the economic climate has increased the number of people in our communities needing suchservices, it also is threatening our ability to continue providing them at the same levels we have in the past.Like other not-for-profit hospitals, MCMC funds its community benefit programs with revenue we receive thatexceeds the cost of the care and services we provide.

While for-profit companies return their excess revenue to private shareholders, we return ours to you.You and all of your family, friends and neighbors are our shareholders. The revenue we earn benefits all theresidents of the communities we serve, not just any one individual or a select few.

We have been fortunate to be able to continue our community benefit tradition over the years, but it isbecoming increasingly difficult. Despite our ongoing efforts to increase efficiencies and cut costs, the financialpressures mount.

Government payments to us for care provided to Medicaid and Medicare patients continue to shrink. A growing number of people are unable — or unwilling — to pay for their care. People experiencing financialdifficulties are delaying medical treatment. New competitors are directing more of their own patients to theirown for-profit centers, instead of the community hospital.

I want to assure you that Mid-Columbia Medical Center is your valuable community asset, and we arecommitted to serving our community benefit mission. But doing so has never been a more difficult, and itwon’t be getting any easier any time soon.

Duane FrancisPresident/CEO

No EasyMission

3

Inside ScoopIt is Our Mission…

To lead and act as a catalyst inpromoting health for all people.

To recognize the individual as a wholehuman being with different needs that

must be enthusiastically met.

To communicate a vision of health, art,education, technology and create a centerfor healing which will continually upgrade

the quality of life in the communityenvironment in which we live.

To empower people to becomepartners in their health care.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center is a not-for-profithealthcare organization offering comprehensive

services to the Mid-Columbia Region, and isgoverned by a volunteer Board of Trustees:

Robert L.R. BaileyDaniel Boldt

Paul Cardosi, M.D.Duane Francis

Gretchen KimseyCarina Schmidt

Wallace Wolf, Jr., D.V.M.

WellAware is published byMid-Columbia Medical Center

1700 East 19th StreetThe Dalles, OR 97058

541-296-7545mcmc.net

Photo Credits:Jim Semlor Photography, cover, pages 6 (bottom left),

8-9, 11, 12 (portraits) 13Lauri Streaker, pages 4-5, 6 (upper right), 7, 10, 15, 17, 23

Printed with Agri based inks on recycled paper,10% post consumer. All rights reserved. No information may

be reprinted without the written consent of MCMC.

Spring 2011

Breath of Fresh AirMCMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitationprogram is helping transform the lives of patients with chronic lung andbreathing disorders.

Face ValueIf you aren’t giving your face some TLC you are mistreating one of yourmost valuable assets.

Setting Chi FreeMCMC is one of the rare hospitals thathave embraced the healing powers ofacupuncture to manage patients’ painand a host of other medical conditions.

2009 CommunityBenefit Report

Fit to be TriedA host of programs are available atWater’s Edge to help individuals, fromfitness beginners to competitive athletes,improve their physical performance.

Mind Body Calendar

8

4

6

10

1116

19

A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital

(ON THE COVER)On Board at The Bistro Hood River resident – andskateboard legend – Thomas “Wally”Inouye is the new chef manager ofThe Bistro at Water’s Edge.

MCMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program ishelping transform the lives of patients with chronic

lung and breathing disorders.

Breath ofFresh AirBreath ofFresh Air

By Dick Baltus

Program director Susan Benedict, RN,supervises Sharron Browning's workout

I t would happen mostoften in the car, when

Sharron Browning wasdriving to or from work orthe store or anywhere else. She’d relax, forgetting about the softspot in her back where three ribs hadbeen removed, lean back in her seatlike anyone else would do, and thenthe problem would start.

The missing ribs, surgicallyremoved after Browning’s cancerdiagnosis, had left her lungs partiallyunprotected. Any external pressurewould “confuse” them and disrupt herbreathing. Struggling to catch herbreath, Browning invariably wouldbegin to panic, and that would onlymake matters worse.

Eventually her lungs would returnto their normal level of functioning,but only after Browning hadexperienced yet another fearfulepisode wondering if she had justdrawn her last breath.

It was only last year that thosepanic attacks were a regular part ofBrowning’s routine, but they now seemto be in the distant past. She hasn’tstopped leaning back in the driver’sseat or her chair at work; her breathingstill gets disrupted regularly,sometimes three times a day.

But now when it happens,Browning simply puts into action thelessons she learned from Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s PulmonaryRehabilitation Program. Instead ofpanic there is patience. Instead offrantic gasps for air, there is deliberate,“pursed-lipped breathing” — twoseconds to inhale each breath, fourseconds to exhale.

Instead of fear, there is calm. Andsoon, everything is back to normal.

“It has been a miracle,” saysBrowning of the training she receivedover the course of the 10-weekPulmonary Rehabilitation program.

The program employs a three-pronged approach to help patientswith an array of chronic lung andbreathing problems, such as COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease), emphysema, bronchitis,

fibrosis of the lung and asthma, saysdirector Susan Benedict, R.N.

“We focus on exercise, educationand stress reduction,” she says. “Weassess each patient when they firstcome in, then set realistic goals veryspecific to them, whether it is ‘I wantto be able to carry my groceries fromthe car to the kitchen’ or ‘I want to getout and hunt and fish again’.”

Whatever the initial goal, Benedictsays, virtually every patient leaves theprogram a different person, strongerand more self-confident than whenthey came in.

“We have had people enter theprogram in wheelchairs, and leavewalking on their own,” she says.“Others come in with oxygen tanks,and leave without needing them.People are thrilled with the progressthey make in the program.”

Benedict and exercise specialistJan Polychronis staff the programunder the supervision of a physician,and an array of other individuals arebrought in to participate on the team,including a pharmacist, dietitian,exercise physiologist and stress-reduction expert.

During the educational componentof Pulmonary Rehab they offer anarray of useful information, covering

topics from medication and nutrition tohow to get the most out of visits totheir care provider and preventingrespiratory infections. Participants learnhow to better manage stress, whichhas a role in most medical conditions,

and they benefit from individualizedand monitored exercise to buildstrength and endurance.

“Most of the patients in ourprogram are having difficultiesperforming the basic activities of dailyliving, like going from the couch to themailbox, making a bed or taking ashower,” says Benedict, who worked in MCMC’s emergency department for10 years and was an open-heart andcritical-care nurse prior to joiningPulmonary Rehab in 2009. “A lot ofpeople haven’t been doing any form ofphysical activity because they areafraid to. But we start slowly withthem and show them what they cando and help them build confidence.Then we set them up with an exerciseprogram they can continue at homeafter they have left Pulmonary Rehab.”

Benedict says the difference shesees in class participants is usuallydramatic — and not long in themaking.

“It is so wonderful to see thechanges that occur in people within acouple of weeks,” she says. “Theybecome self-confident again, knowingthey can do things they didn’t thinkthey could before. It is so rewarding tosee the quality of their lives improve

“We have had people enter theprogram in wheelchairs, and leavewalking on their own. Otherscome in with oxygen tanks andleave without needing them.”

— Director, Susan Benedict, RN

5

Continued on page 15

6

There aren’t many pleasures JudyRichardson, M.D., loves more

than traveling around the Gorge onher bike, with the warm (or blisteringhot) sun and a gentle (or gale-force)breeze caressing her face.

Her face, on the other hand,doesn’t necessarily feel the love.

“With all the time I have spentoutdoors enjoying my hobbies, andwith turning 40 closer on the horizon,I began to notice that I really hadsome skin damage,” says The Dallesfamily physician. “And it wasn’t justwrinkles, but also things that could be pre-cancerous and over time could develop into issues if theyweren’t addressed.”

So Dr. Richardson addressed them.She visited The Spa at Water’s Edge,and only a few weeks later, after aseries of facial treatments andconsistent use of a couple homeproducts, she says her skin feels andlooks better than it has in years.

“I did a series of three facials overtwo weeks,” Dr. Richardson says. “Thefirst one felt so good, and I startedusing the skin-care products after that.Then I had the second facial, and thecumulative effects of having two closetogether were amazing. I had my thirdfacial and suddenly I was seeing my30-year-old self in the mirror again.”

She’d had facials before, but onlyin a resort-like setting where the focuswas on pampering. Now she is a firmbeliever that a good health

maintenance routine is incompleteunless the face is given the sameattention as the rest of the body.

To this end, The Spa at Water’sEdge now serves as a comprehensiveresource for Dr. Richardson, not tomention the many friends and patientsto whom she has been singing thecenter’s praises.

The doctor’s esthetician MartinaRizzo echoes her client’s sentimentthat the benefits of a facial treatmentgo far beyond the fact that they justfeel so ridiculously good.

“Getting professional facialtreatments is one of the better waysto slow down the aging process andaddress other skin issues,” Rizzo says.

Rizzo says it is not just that aprofessional esthetician is trained to

FaceValueStaff and clients of The Spa at

Water’s Edge say that if youaren’t giving your face some

TLC you are mistreating one ofyour most valuable assets.

By Dick Baltus

“After I had my third facial suddenly I was seeing my30-year-old self in the mirror again.”— Judy Richardson, M.D.

Water's Edge Spa esthetician Martina Rizzo

identify skin conditions and the most effective treatmentsto address them. They also can detect skin issues earlythat may need the attention of a dermatologist. Inaddition, professional Spa staff can help clients select themost appropriate products to use at home to ensure theirskin-care routine is as effective as possible, and the resultslong-term.

“Most people are using over-the-counter skin-careproducts that they’ve seen advertised on TV,” Rizzo says.“The problem is those tend to be very generic, withlighter concentrations of ingredients, in order to ensurethey can be tolerated by the mass audience they aretargeted to.

“The Osmosis medical skin products we use have amuch higher concentration of the ingredients that arebeneficial to the skin than over-the-counter products. Andwe can use specific products to target the concerns weidentify in each individual.”

Clients who use The Spa, Rizzo adds, benefit fromindividualized treatments that begin with a professionalthoroughly examining their skin under a magnifying glass.

Typically, after the initial examination of the skin, The Spa’s estheticians will use an exfoliant, such as anenzyme mask, microdermabrasion or peel, which helpsshed dead cells so the skin can regenerate new onesfaster. This is, Rizzo says, the most important step in theskin-care process, and one many people miss in theirhome routine.

“When we are younger our skin sheds andregenerates new cells about every 28 days, but as we agethat takes longer,” she says. “A thorough exfoliation sortof tricks the skin and speeds up that process.”

One of the most unique features of The Spa atWater’s Edge is something you won’t findanywhere else in the Gorge.

It’s called a Vichy Shower, and it is a unique aquatictherapy that is inspired by the treatments used in theFrench city of Vichy. A relaxing treatment, the Vichy Showerconsists of a multiple shower head system that simulates asoothing tropical rain shower.

In the treatment, the client reclines comfortably on topof a cushioned table underneath the showerheads. Boththe front and back of the client’s body receive the fulltreatment of the Vichy Shower.

A therapist controls the temperatures and pressure ofthe Vichy shower to provide an aromatherapy massagethat can be performed either vigorously or gentlydepending on your desire and intent.

Besides being a highly relaxing treatment that canenhance other body care treatments and wraps, the VichyShower has a number of health benefits.

Acting like a thermal massage, the Vichy Showertreatment is known to reduce stress. Additionally, it worksto hydrate an individual and stimulate blood circulation,which then increases the function of the immune system.

Other benefits of the Vichy Shower include relaxingtight and sore muscles and stimulating lymph circulation,which helps the body eliminate metabolic wastes.

For more information or an appointment for aVichy Shower, please call The Spa at 541-506-5788.

Continued on page 23

Yes, We Vichy

8

“Google” the name Thomas Inouye and the firstresults that appear include:

• An interview with “Juice Magazine” in which welearn Inouye earned the nickname Wally for hisunique “wall-riding” skills as a seventh-gradeskateboarding whiz kid.

• A link to the website of a professional photographerwhose portfolio includes the November 1977“Skateboarder” magazine, with Inouye skating acrossthe cover, locks flying from beneath his helmet.

• A You Tube clip of a skater negotiating an emptyswimming pool over the description “Here is thelegend Tom Inouye on National Go Skate Day 2006.”

Hood River resident – andskateboard legend – Thomas“Wally” Inouye is the newchef manager of The Bistroat Water’s Edge.

On Board atThe Bistro

By Dick Baltus

9

You will not yet find a search result that introduces therenowned skater in his new career, but that will come soon.In the meantime, you can find Inouye yourself just upstreamfrom the actual Google site in The Dalles, at The Bistro atWater’s Edge.

The new chef manager of the dining spot that openedwith Water’s Edge last summer has a colorful backgroundthat, in addition to several years as a professionalskateboarder, includes stints as a graphic and airbrushartist, a magazine art director and a skateboard andsnowboard coach (which he still does). Inouye also hasworked every restaurant job there is, from busser to owner.

Now he is ready to bring to The Bistro’s menu andservice the same passion that once took him as high asNo. 2 in the world as a competitive skateboarder.

“This is a fabulous setting, and the concept is reallyunique in the Gorge,” says Inouye of The Bistro’s locationon the waterfront and in the environment of a centerdevoted to health and wellness. “This isn’t a health-foodrestaurant, but our goal is to show people that you canfocus on healthier ingredients and still serve delicious food.”

Inouye has both a wealth of food experience and foodexperiences to draw from when preparing the menu forThe Bistro. The Los Angeles native joined the professionalskateboarding circuit when he was only 15, and hissuccess took him around the world for competitions anddemonstrations.

“I’ve been able to experience and enjoy some greatfood in my travels,” he says.

In 1989 Inouye moved to Hood River to airbrushsailboards. There he methis wife Kathryn, whohad a degree in hotel andrestaurant management.The couple decided tomove to Seaside, whereshe managed arestaurant. Inouye caughton as a busser and soonwas a waiter, but he keptfinding himself back inthe kitchen looking overthe shoulders of the chefs.

“I wanted to see how the food was prepared so Iknew what I was talking about if customers I was waitingon would ask me questions,” he says.

Soon Inouye was moved from the front of therestaurant back to the kitchen. Over the next several yearshe and his wife worked in or ran their own restaurants inSeaside, Manzanita and Nehalem. They moved back to theGorge six years ago so their two children could benefitfrom the Hood River school system.

Inouye stayed out of cooking for several years, butfound himself missing the restaurant business. “I missedcooking and being really busy in the kitchen,” he says.“And it was getting to the point where we couldn’t evengo out to eat, because I’d always critique the food.”

When the chef manager position at The Bistro openedup, Inouye jumped at the opportunity to get back intoaction. He says the new restaurant provides uniquechallenges in that it caters to a diverse set of customers,from health-conscious members of the Water’s EdgeHealth & Wellness Center to individuals in the center’srehabilitation therapy programs who may have dietrestrictions to members of the general public just lookingfor a good meal in a beautiful setting.

“We definitely want The Bistro to be an environmentfor healthier eating,” Inouye says. “We’re not a health-food restaurant, but we want to provide plenty of optionsfor people who are interested in organic food, who arecounting calories or have diet restrictions, or for peoplewho just want to enjoy a great meal.”

You don’t need a Google search to find The Bistro orWally Inouye. Just drive to the waterfront in Lone PineVillage.

“We want to provide plenty of options for people who are interested in organic food, who are countingcalories or have diet restrictions, or for people whojust want to enjoy a great meal.” — Wally Inouye, chef manager

Hours: M-F: 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Full menu for The Bistro available atWellnessatWatersEdge.com

10

Dave Wallen was at the end of his rope.

All but incapacitated by a strokein 2006, the retired Boeing managerturned mid-Columbia rancher waswitnessing his once-vigorous lifestylebeing reduced to a daily struggle with pain and trying to maintain his independence.

“I was slowly dying,” the 69-year-old Wallen admits. “I was using a caneto try to get around, I was in a lot ofpain and was unable to use about half of my body. My doctors told me I would likely be that way the rest ofmy life.”

Wallen struggled for nearly twoyears before a friend suggested he visitJan Van Es at Mid-Columbia MedicalCenter to see if his expertise inacupuncture and Oriental medicinecould help.

“I’d tried everything else,” Wallensays. “My friend had seen Jan a coupleof times for some aches and pains, and

he had been able to help her. So I figured I’d try it.”

That was more than two yearsago. Today?

“Jan’s given me my life back,”Wallen says. “I’m back to doing rock-hunting, metal-detecting, riding myATV around the ranch. When you’reable to do things you enjoy, it reallyhelps give you back your sense of well-being.”

One of the few acupuncturistswho is actually a fully accreditedmember of a hospital medical staff,Van Es doesn’t claim to work miracles.But his skills are evidenced by the

number of patients he has helped andby MCMC’s endorsement of hispractice as part of the medical center’scommitment to providing as wide arange of treatments and integratedtherapies as possible.

“It’s great to work for anorganization that is so fantasticallysupportive of offering a wide range oftreatments,” says Van Es, who haspracticed at MCMC since March 2006.He works primarily at Celilo CancerCenter, where his treatments can helppatients use less medication to copewith the nausea, pain and fatigueoften resulting from chemotherapy and radiation.

However, Mondays the personable, soft-spoken Van Es seesnon-cancer patients at MCMC’sWater’s Edge facility.

“The majority of my practice ispain management,” he says. “Lumbarpain, hips, back and shoulders.”

Van Es has also had some successtreating allergies and certain women’shealth issues, such as menopause.

Born in Hawaii, Van Es was raisedin the Willamette Valley. He firstlearned about acupuncture while livingin South Korea during the 1990s anddecided to make it his career. He is agraduate of Oregon College of OrientalMedicine and holds a master’s degreein Oriental medicine.

As a healing practice, acupuncturedates back more than 2,000 years inChina. Only within the last half-centuryhas it gained familiarity andacceptance in the United States.

Setting Chi FreeMCMC is one of the rare hospitals that have embraced the healing powers ofacupuncture to manage patients’ pain and a host of other medical conditions.

By Jim Hays

“My friend had seenJan a couple of timesfor some aches andpains, and he had beenable to help her. So I figured I’d try it.”

— Dave Wallen

Continued on page 15

Acupuncturist Jan Van Estreats patient Dave Wallen

hank you for reading Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s Community Benefit

Report for activities occurring in 2009. Each year we prepare this publication

to highlight a sampling of the manyactivities we pursue to meet our mission.As a not-for-profit healthcare organization,

our responsibilities to the communities weserve go beyond providing access tocomprehensive and high-quality medicalcare, although that, of course, is at thecore of our mission.

But we are also committed to anarray of activities united by the commongoal of improving the overall health andquality of life of Gorge-areacommunities.

On the pages that follow you can readabout some of the specific projects,programs and services related to this goal,but in general our “community benefit”activities are designed to:

• Ensure all patients throughout ourservice area have access to high-qualityhealthcare, regardless of their ability to pay;

• Provide educational programs andsupport services that help area residentsenjoy the healthiest quality of life possible;

• Continually assess community needsand, when necessary, recruit newphysicians and providers to ensure timelyaccess to primary and specialty care;

• Provide financial support when possibleto important community programs,organizations and events;

• Support the training of healthcareprofessionals and invest in facility andtechnology upgrades so that patientsbenefit from care that is at the leadingedge of medical advances;

• Encourage our employees to volunteer their time and talents to importantcommunity causes.

All of these activities are funded by anyrevenue we receive that exceeds the cost ofthe care and services we provide. And eachyear we face additional challenges in our questto fulfill our community benefit mission.

An ever-growing percentage of everydollar MCMC receives must be used to makeup for the insufficient reimbursements wereceive from the government for the care weprovide patients covered by Medicaid andMedicare. Still more revenue is devoted to ourcharity care program.

Those and other forces beyond our controlmake it increasingly challenging to support our community benefit initiatives. However, we remain committed to maintaining andenhancing the highest standards ofperformance in the areas that we can control.

We invite you to readon to learn more.

A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital

M I D - C O L U M B I A M E D I C A L C E N T E R ’ S A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y B E N E F I T R E P O R T

1 7 0 0 E A S T 1 9 T H S T R E E T , T H E D A L L E S | W W W . M C M C . N E T

Living Our MissionT

• Support When It’s NeededFor people living with diabetes, recovering frombreast cancer, prostate cancer or stroke, copingwith chronic lung disease, attempting to loseweight or looking for advice on family matters,MCMC has been there to help. Staff membersfacilitate an array of free support groups,enabling residents of the region to meet withothers who share common concerns and canoffer valuable insights.

• Diabetes Discovery DayThis annual event sponsored by Mid-ColumbiaMedical Center offers people with diabetes,their family and others the chance to benefitfrom free screenings, educational talks,informational displays and much more.

• Hospital Land Several hundred young students fromthroughout MCMC’s service area visit thehospital each year for a fun day designed todemystify the hospital experience. This hands-onday helps give children an expectation of what ahospital visit might entail in order to reducetheir fear and anxiety should they everexperience a real hospitalization.

INCREASING ACCESSGivingBack MCMC’s aggressive efforts to recruit new healthcareproviders to the Mid-Columbiacontinue to be successful. Over the last several monthsthe following physicians andproviders opened practices inour community.

•Mark McAllister, MD Urology

• Meghan McAllister, PNPPediatrics

• Sara McCaffrey, MD Pediatrics

• Nicole Pashek, FNPPediatrics

• Ben Pate, PA-C Internal Medicine

• Bruce Schwartz, MD Orthopedic Medicine

• Margie Bolstad, DOOccupational Health

• Lawrence Elzinga, MD Internal Medicine

• Prachi Garodia, MD Internal Medicine

• David Guarraia, MDCardiology

• Brian MacArthur, MDObstetrics/Gynecology

COMMUNITYBENEF ITBy the Numbers

350The number ofcommunity

members who received a freescreening for diabetes at the annualDiabetes Day event, sponsored byMCMC. Hospital staff also wereinvolved in an array of otherscreening events throughout the year.

4,500Health-conscious

individuals who visited MCMC’sPlanetree Health Resource Center indowntown The Dalles to takeadvantage of free consumer healthinformation and guidance fromknowledge staff.

500Attendees atPlanetree Health

Resource Center’s popular free healthlecture series in 2009.

511Information packetsprepared for MCMC

patients to help them learn moreabout their medical conditions,treatment options and more.

150The number of individuals

who participated in the HeartTruth Health Walk last year, partof the MCMC-sponsored Go Redfor Women.

120Free bloodpressure checks

performed by MCMC staff at theannual Health and Safety Fair.

26The number of familiesthat participated in a

weight-loss program targeting thelocal Hispanic/Latino population.MCMC’s Mind and Body MedicineProgram partnered with La NuestraComunidad Sana to provideinstructors for the program.

3,000Membersof our

local Hispanic community whoseaccess to and understanding of quality healthcare were improvedby the presence of MCMC’s on-siteinterpreters.

Individuals and families throughout the region seeking help in theirattempts to take control of their own health once again had a reliablepartner in Mid-Columbia Medical Center. Here are some key figures.

MD

er, PNP

MD

NP

MD ne

• John Schwartz, MD Orthopedic Medicine

• Louise Sivak, MD Pediatrics

• Mark Tabor, PA-CInternal Medicine

• Maria Tomas, MDGeriatrician

• Jennifer Van Atta, PA-COrthopedic Medicine

• Carrie Vieira, PA-C Family Medicine

A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital

Each year MCMC’s financial resources are stretchedboth by voluntary, mission-driven commitments and byother forces beyond our control. In 2009, MCMCprovided the following free and/or subsidized care andmade contributions to other programs andorganizations as part of our mission to improve thehealth of the communities we serve.

$3,184,000The value of free treatment provided by MCMC last year topatients without the means to pay for their care.

$8,282,727The value of care provided to Medicare and Medicaid patientsthat was not paid for by the federal government.

$65,000Through MCMC’s unique Community Tithing program localorganizations may be presented checks based on the numberof volunteer hours logged in the calendar year by MCMCemployees. Last year, MCMC issued $65,000 in donations tothe community programs listed here.

Quality Care for AllAfter School Productions

AIM-Wasco Co. Jr. Miss

AYSO

Boy Scout Troop #352

CASA

Cherry City Crush

Columbia Gorge Community College

Gorge Roller Hockey League

High Prairie Community Council

Hood River County School District

Klickitat Co Fire Dept #13

Klickitat Co Search & Rescue Volunteers

Women of the Moose

Lyle School District #406

North Wasco Co School District #21

Northern Wasco County Parks & Recreation

Sherman Co Emergency Services

Sherman Co Historical Society

Southern Wasco Co Ambulance

Special Olympics – Wasco & Sherman Co.

Theatre Company of The Dalles

The ARC of the Mid-Columbia

The Dalles Alpine Ski Club

The Dalles Art Association

The Dalles Girls U12 Upper V Soccer Team

The Dalles Little League

The Dalles Swim Team

The Dalles Wahtonka Friends of Football

The Dalles Wahtonka High School

The Dalles Wahtonka HS Drama Dept

The Dalles Wahtonka HS Girls Soccer

The Salvation Army

Wasco Co 4-H Leaders’ Association

Wasco County Fair & Rodeo

Windy River Gleaners

Wonderworks Children's Museum

2009 TITHING FUND RECIPIENTS

The ancient Chinese believedthat a universal life energy called“chi” present in every livingcreature. This energy is said tocirculate throughout the bodyalong specific pathways that arecalled meridians. As long as thisenergy flows freely throughout themeridians, health is maintained.But once the flow of energy isblocked or “out of balance,” thesystem is disrupted, and pain andillness can occur.

Acupuncture involves theinsertion of very fine, sterileneedles at specific points in thebody to “free up” the chi energyand restore normal function. Thepoints are precisely defined in 361locations, each corresponding to anaction or medical indication.

Once a diagnosis has beenmade, and acupuncture is chosenas a treatment, the acupuncturistselects specific pointscorresponding with the diagnosis.Tiny needles are inserted duringregular visits, with the aim ofrestoring the body’s flow of self-healing energy.

Depending on the ailment andschedule of treatments, Van Es sayshe uses anywhere from four to 12of the tiny, flexible needles in asingle treatment. The insertions arepainless, as are the removals.During his series of treatments,Wallen says he was often unawarethat Van Es had inserted theneedles at all.

The number of treatments canvary. Van Es says a typical programmight require four sessions of 60to 90 minutes each, but conditionsthat have long been left untreatedmay require additional visits.

“Someone who has beendealing with a problem for severalyears would likely need more thanfour treatments to resolve theissue,” Van Es says.

Van Es is also trained in theuse of Chinese herbal remedies.“The limiting factor withacupuncture is that you can onlyuse what is available in the body,”he says. “With the herbals, youcan add to the body and speed thehealing process.”

Progress is incremental. Wallensays he noticed some smallimprovements right away, andafter several sessions he felt goodenough to stop using his cane. Hestill sees Van Es occasionally forwhat he calls “tune-ups.”

“Jan has done me a world ofgood,” Wallen says. “He cares alot about what he does. He makesyou feel very comfortable.”

For more information or to request an appointmentplease call Water's Edge at 541-506-5788.

“Jan has doneme a world ofgood, he caresa lot aboutwhat he does.He makes youfeel verycomfortable.”

— Dave Wallen

15

ACUPUNCTURE(Continued from page 10)

PULMONARY REHABILITATION (Continued from page 5)

so much and so quickly. This is the best job I haveever had.”

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation team’s passionfor their work is not lost on people like SharronBrowning, who has to talk around her own tears of gratitude when remembering her time inthe program.

“Those girls, Susan and Jan, were just sohelpful and compassionate and encouraging,”says the Hood River resident. “I learned atremendous amount. There were people a lotworse than me in my class, and we all improved dramatically.”

In late 2008 Browning was diagnosed withleiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer. After surgery toremove part of her lung, surrounding tissue andthree ribs, she thought she was out of the woods.

But she was far from well. “I was having aterrible time breathing,” Browning says. “My lungkept filling up with fluid and collapsing. I had atube in my chest and it was draining constantly. I wound up in the hospital two or three times withbreathing problems.”

Then, in December 2009, Browning was calledinto her doctor’s office. “I was finally able toremove the tube in my chest, but the doctor toldme to go home and enjoy Christmas because I wouldn’t live to see the next one,” she says.

But when Browning decided to seek a secondopinion from infection control specialists atOregon Health & Science University, she got a newlease on life. Their prognosis was much moreencouraging, and they recommended she enter apulmonary rehabilitation program to help improveher quality of life.

“I can’t tell you how much of a relief it wasthat I found this program,” Browning says. “Mylung was pretty beat up, and I was having suchdifficulty breathing. I was very, very discouraged.But the group setting of the program providessuch a supportive atmosphere. We wouldencourage each other through the exercisesessions, and by the time I left I felt wonderful.Everyone did.”

If you would like to learn more aboutthe Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at MCMC, please call 541-296-7319.

16

Trying to figure out how to start a fitnessprogram you can stick with?

Maybe you’ve been exercising for a while andwant something to make it new again.

Or perhaps you’re an athlete looking for a way totake your performance to the next level.

If any of the above describes you, The Health &Wellness Center at Water’s Edge is the place to be.

If you are just getting started on a fitness routine,the center can match you with a personal trainer whowill help you shape up without leaving you feeling run down.

Looking for a fresh twist to your workout? SayHello to Les Mills. The excitement of the fitness guru’shigh-energy “Body Pump” workouts with music isnow available at Water’s Edge.

And for the serious athlete, The Health & WellnessCenter offers sports testing designed to track everyworkout and help you achieve maximum results.

A host of programs areavailable at Water’s Edge tohelp individuals, from fitnessbeginners to competitiveathletes, improve theirphysical performance.

&&HealthHealthC E N T E RC E N T E R

T H ET H E

WellnessWellness

Fit toBe Tried

By Jim Hays

Here’s trainer Meghann Jenkins’ succinct appraisalof what people can expect from a Les Mills workout: “A lot of fun.”

Body Pump combines barbell workouts withpopular music and energetic instructors during anintense hour of strength training with some easychoreography included.

Hard work? Sure, but in a group setting withplenty of fun thrown in.

“It kind of has a party atmosphere to it,” says Jenkins.

Water’s Edge instructors have been certified toteach the Boby Pump classes, which The Health &Wellness Center will offer five times per week. Classparticipants will be instructed about proper form andtechniques for using the equipment. But it’s more thanjust lifting weights.

“The class is set up for a group setting,” Jenkinsexplains. “We think this is something that people aregoing to want to keep coming back to. If you enjoyhearing the latest music and you want a good, hardworkout, this makes a very good experience.”

17

Body Pump is one of eight classes offered by the Les Mills fitness company and the first at Water’s Edge.

“This is something that is really popular but it’s notas established around this area as in other parts of thecountry, “ Jenkins says.

To keep the Les Mills classes fresh, Jenkins says newermusic will be added every few months. Are other Les Millsclasses in the offing?

“We can’t say where we will go from here,” Jenkinssays, explaining that getting a Les Mills class up andrunning entails considerable investment in time andmoney to get staff instructors fully trained and certified foreach class. “If this works out, we might start the processagain in a few months for one of the other programs.”

To learn more or sign up for a Les Mills class call 541-506-5779 or see the Well Aware calendar.

PERSONAL TRAININGAre you disillusioned with your fitness progress?A personal trainer at the Water’s Edge Health &

Wellness Center can help you get back on track.

Whatever your level of fitness, if you’re still trying tofind a regular exercise program you can stick with, apersonal trainer can help you reach a goal that might bedifficult to attain alone.

“People like having the support and assistance of atrainer and having that one-on-one contact,” Jenkins says.“People sign up to have a trainer usually becausewhatever they are doing on their own isn’t working.Whether it’s motivation or accountability or results, theywant some help, and that’s what trainers offer.”

Water’s Edge trainers, all of whom are nationallycertified, help people set goals for themselves and thendesign workouts and programs to achieve them. Trainerscan help people start slowly so that each goal they set isanother small step on the road to fitness.

Being realistic about short-term fitness goals isimportant, Jenkins says, because it helps set up long-term success.

“People will see really dramatic results on TV andthink that they should be able to do that,” Jenkins says.

Continued on page 18

“People like havingthe support andassistance of a trainerand having that one-on-one contact.”

— Meghann Jenkins, personal trainer

18

“But a trainer can be a sounding board to show themwhat are healthy, realistic goals and how to make themwork in their own lives.”

It also helps to find to be guided by a trainer withwhom you are compatible. Some clients, Jenkins says,already have a trainer picked out when they come toWater’s Edge — through networking or therecommendations of friends. But those who don’t can justcomplete a form and The Health & Wellness Center staffwill use the information to match the client with the mostappropriate trainer.

“It’s important to have the right fit,” Jenkins says. “Wehave people with all sorts of different specialties. If youwant to train for a triathlon, we have people who can helpwith that. If you want to lose some weight or improve yourcardiac health, we have people who specialize in thoseareas, too.”

A membership in The Health & Wellness Center is notrequired to take advantage of personal trainingservices. For more information, call 541-506-5779.

SPORTS TESTINGFor serious cyclists, runners and other athletes

interested in tracking performance and progress, The Health& Wellness Center at Water’s Edge offers performancetesting aimed at helping athletes get to the next level.

“Our sports performance testing is a means by whichcompetitive athletes can determine precise training and canbenchmark themselves at their current levels of trainingand performance,” says Paul Cardosi M.D., the center’smedical director and an avid cyclist.

The tests will be part of Water’s Edge’s titlesponsorship of the second annual Cherry Blossom CyclingClassic, scheduled for April 1-3 in The Dalles. (Moreinformation at www.cherryblossomclassic.com). But theyare available at any time.

Tests offered include:

• VO2 Max test – A measure of the maximum amountof oxygen an athlete can take in. It’s considered a

predictor of aerobicperformance, according to Dr. Cardosi. Test subjectswear a mask while on atreadmill or stationarybicycle, while their oxygenintake is measured. It is

widely accepted as the single best measure ofcardiovascular fitness and maximal aerobic power.

• VO2 Submax test – A graduated exercise test inwhich subjects begin at a certain speed and thenaccelerate incrementally, using predicted heart rates vs. actual heart rates at each speed as a measurementof fitness.

• Lactate Threshold – In this test, subjects determineat what level of exertion their body begins to producelactate acid into their bloodstream faster than the bodycan metabolize it. It’s a useful measure for decidingexercise intensity for training and racing in endurancesports such as long-distance running, cycling, rowing,swimming or cross-country skiing. As the client isexercising during the test, his or her finger is prickedand a drop of blood tested for lactic acid. This is doneapproximately every three to five minutes to helpdetermine when the lactic acid “threshold” is reached.

“This helps athletes in their training and planning,”says Dr. Cardosi. “It can measure their improvementand help them determine where they are in relation toother competitors generally.”

• Body Composition Analysis – Body compositionanalysis is a physical test thatmeasures the proportion ofthe various components of aperson's body, payingparticular attention to theratio of fat to lean tissue.

• Strength Assessment – This is a measurement ofstrength and can be done either by exerting strengthagainst a static, non-moving object, or by having theathlete move against various levels of resistance.

• Resting metabolic rate –The rate at which your bodyburns calories while you arecomfortably resting. “Thiscan help guide a weight-lossprogram by determiningprecise caloric needs,” says Dr. Cardosi. “Caloric needscan vary greatly from person to person.”

While the tests are made available to the generalpublic, they are of great value primarily to competitiveathletes, says Dr. Cardosi. “If you are training hard four-plusdays a week and trying to maximize your performancegains, then these tests become more important.”

FIT TO BE TRIED (Continued from page 17)

A membership in The Health & Wellness Center is not required for performancetesting. For more information or to schedule a test, call 541-506-5779.

C L I N I C S A N D C L A S S E S F R O M M I D C O L U M B I A M E D I C A L C E N T E R

All classes are held at Water’s Edge, 551 Lone Pine Blvd., The Dalles, unless otherwise indicated. Pre-registration required;please call 541-296-7319 to register.

Spring 2011

Core Health & Wellness

Pulmonary Health ServicesThe Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program of Mid-Columbia Medical Center isdesigned for patients with chronicrespiratory disease (COPD), emphysema,asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonaryfibrosis and other chronic lung conditions.This class explores the relationshipbetween breathing disorders and physicalactivity. This 10-week clinic will guidepatients in lifestyle changes that will helpthem to improve their endurance andquality of life:

• decreasing shortness of breath;• improving physical conditioning

and exercise tolerance;• improving emotional well being.

Cardiac Rehabilitation ClinicCardiac Rehabilitation is the next stepafter a heart attack or heart surgery, adiagnosis of stable chest pain or othercardiac conditions. This 10-week clinic

includes supervised exercise,nutrition and education inheart health management.This clinic will help you regainstrength, lessen fatigue whilelearning the tools to reducecardiac risk factors. Classes areoffered throughout the yearand covered by mostinsurance plans.

Healthy Weight SolutionsWednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Begins March 30(discount for Health &Wellness Center members)

A unique 8-week progressiveweight loss and wellness clinicthat will provide a safe andsupportive environment for weight lossachievement, stress reduction and diseaseprevention. The program will focus on aholistic solution to weight management.The curriculum will include research-based integrative strategies that aresimple, practical and lifelong.

Managing Your Cholesterol for LifeMonday, April 18, 3:30 to 5 pm$10 (fee includes one support person) Free to Water’s Edge Health & Wellness Center Members

If you have been told by your doctor thatyou have high cholesterol or you wouldlike to know about the relationshipbetween nutrition and cholesterol, joinour dietitian Jennifer Zimmerman, RD,and learn how diet changes can be a big part of managing your cholesterol.This clinic will help you to develop a plan that is safe, sane and promotesdisease prevention.

Arthritis and Nutrition Wednesday, May 4, 2 to 3 pm

$10 (fee includes one supportperson.) Free to Health &Wellness Center members

Eating healthy is a smart wayto manage or prevent disease.

Jennifer Zimmerman, RD willdiscuss the value of eating healthy tobetter manage the symptoms of arthritisand to feel your best.

IndividualNutritionConsultationBy appointmentonly. Someinsurance plans

may cover a portion or all of the visit.

Meet one on one with our registereddietitian. Research indicates, nutritionplays a vital role in health and diseasemanagement. Our dietitian will guide youin eating healthy and feeling your best.

WELLNESS AT WATER’S EDGE

551 Lone Pine Blvd. The DallesMonday-Friday 5:30 am - 9 pm

Saturday 7 am- 6 pm, Sunday 1 - 6 pm

Water’s EdgeMid-Columbia Medical Center at Lone Pine Village

For information or to pre-register, call 541-296-7319.

MASSAGE

Swedish, Pregnancy or Relaxation 60min/$65 90min/$90Deep Tissue or Warm Stone ...........60min/$75 90min/$100Reflexology ............................................................................$65Botanical Mineral Bath Therapy & 60min. Massage....$99

BODY TREATMENTS & MASSAGE

Chamomile or Turkish Vichy Body Treatment................ $90Vichy Shower Exfoliation & Massage Package .............$140Chamomile Body Scrub Exfoliation ....................................$65Exfoliation and Massage .................................................. $110

ADD ONS

Massage Add 15 minutes to any massage .................$15

ORGANIC MEDI FACIALS

Signature................................................................................$75 Rosacea/Sensitive ...................................................................$85Nourishing Anti-Oxidant .......................................................$85Acne ............................................................................................$95Men’s Sport Facial ..................................................................$75

FACIAL RESURFACING TREATMENTS

Infusion Peel ............................................. $100 ea or 5/$450Microdermabrasion ..................................$100 ea or 6/$550Facial.......................................................................................$XX

ADD ONS

Add a Facial............................................................................$50

HYDROTHERAPY

Botanical Mineral Bath Therapy and Wrap ....................$45Botanical Mineral Bath Therapy & 60min. Massage....$99Sunshine Bliss Hydrotherapy Mineral Bath ....................$45Therapeutic mineral soak with added citrus and spring blossoms

WAXING SERVICES

Eyebrows ............................................................................... $15Lip ............................................................................................$10Chin .........................................................................................$10Bikini .......................................................................................$35

Underarm............................................................................ $351/2 Leg................................................................................. $35Full Leg ................................................................................ $60Full Leg with Bikini ............................................................$85

Spa Menu – Combine any two single services and receive a 10% discount excluding waxing. Gift Certificates available.

All classes are held at Water’s Edge, 551 Lone Pine Blvd., The Dalles, unless otherwise indicated. Pre-registration required; please call 541-296-7319 to register.

Freshstart –Tobacco Cessation ClassCall for Class ScheduleFreeThere’s never beena better time to quitsmoking or usingtobacco. Freshstart

provides you with the structure andsupport you need to help you quit andstay quit for good. Tobacco Cessationcoordinator Emily Curtis leads youthrough four one-hour classes designedto help you discover the keys you needto leave tobacco behind for good.

AcupunctureTherapyAcupuncture is

one disciplinetaken from

the heritage ofChinese medicine.

The technique involves theinsertion of very fine needles at specificpoints in the body which have beenshown to be effective in the treatment of various conditions.

Offered at Celilo Cancer Center or Water’s EdgeCall for appointments or more information.Water’s Edge 541-506-5788Celilo Canter 541-506-6998

Relax Your FeetSaturdays through April 1$59 introductory offer (Reg. price $65)By appt. onlyThis one-hour Spa treatmentbegins with a warm footbath using thermal mineralsalts and clinical grade essential oils. You will receive a full foot and lower legreflexology treatment. The therapistworks with all systems of the bodythrough corresponding points found inthe feet. The session concludes with awarm oil pack and application of ourcustom hydrating lotion. Your feet andbody will thank you. To schedule anappointment (subject to availability) call 541-506-5788.

Spring Cleaning for Your SkinSaturday, April 239 am to 10 am FreeDust off the shelves, clean out theclosets, but don’t forget to treat yourskin to a deep cleaning as well! We willdiscuss the benefits of facials and therejuvenating effects of our Vitamin Apeel that gives significant results, withno downtime or sensitivity.

Pulmonary Awareness DayWednesday, April 27

11 am to 8 pm Water’s Edge

Open to the public.Pulmonary

Awareness Day is anopportunity for people living with lungdisease to receive the latest informationfrom our panel of experts. Lectures willinclude lifestyle medicine and the latestmedical approaches for people withlung disease. If you have beendiagnosed with COPD, emphysema,chronic bronchitis, lung cancer,persistent asthma, pumonary fibrosis orcystic fibrosis, join us for these livelydiscussions. This is free to the public andwe welcome families and caregivers.

Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionBegins Wednesday, April 278 weekly classes; 2:30 to 4:30 pm $199In this clinic our instructor will help youexplore ancient and modern evidence-based researched healing techniques.You will experience gentle meditativeyoga and other natural techniques, called mindfulness relaxation practices, to help you activate your own naturalhealing powers.

Mother’s Day is May 8 Check our website for special spa

events: WellnessatWatersedge.comGift certificates available.

20

WORKSHOPS & CLINICS

Our center offers a medical fitness approach to achieving lasting lifestyle changes and optimal wellness.We offer a comprehensive selection of group exercise classes for all fitness levels. All group classes areincluded with membership. Non-members are welcomed. Please call for prices.

Group Cycle – Mon 5:45-6:45 am; Tues/Thurs 6-7 pm;Sat 12:30-1:30 pmA great way to get a vigorous workout on an exercisebike! Participants determine their own exertion level.

Intro to Strength – Sun 4-4:30 pmThis 30-minute class will guide beginners throughthe basics of building strength.

Core Fusion – Thurs 9-10 amThis is a mat-based core stabilization/yoga blend class.

Ride and Relax – Fri 7:30-8:30 amThis class blends cycling, stretching and relaxationto build strength and flexibility.

Water Aerobics – Mon-Thurs 9-10 am; Tues/Fri 6-7 pm; Mon/Wed/Fri 10:30-11:30 am; Wed 4-5 pmA low-impact water workout that will improvemuscle tone and cardiovascular fitness. All levels.

Zumba – Mon 7-8 pm; Wed 6-7 pmLove to dance? Try this class!.

Circuit Training – Mon/Wed Noon-1 pmBuild strength while simultaneously getting agreat cardio workout.

Personal TrainingOne-on-one sessions with a personal trainer canassist you in developing a training programand reaching personal goals. Trainers can work with your physician, physicaltherapist and other healthcare specialists todevelop safe and effective workouts.

Some class sizes are limited. Registration becomes available seven days prior toeach class. Class schedule subject to change, please check the calendar atWellnessAtWatersEdge.com.

TAI CHI Tai Chi for Balance – Mon 9-10 am; Tues 5:30-6:30 pm; Fri 1-2 pmA great introduction to tai chi. Participantsmay sit or stand during this class.

YOGAChair Yoga – Thurs 9-10 am A gentle form of yoga practiced whilesitting in a chair, or standing using a chairfor support.

Gentle Yoga – Tues/Thurs 7:30-8:30 amThis easy-does-it class is perfect forbeginners.

Hatha Yoga All Levels –Mon/Wed 6:15-7:45 pmThis class incorporates props allowingparticipants to receive the maximumbenefit from each posture.

Healing Hatha Yoga – Mon 3:30-5 pm This class is tailored to the individual.Beginners welcome!

Sunrise Yoga – Tues/Thurs 6:30-7:30 amBreathe, stretch, strengthen and beginyour day in a positive way. All levels.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga – Wed 5-6 pm

&&HealthHealthC E N T E RC E N T E R

T H ET H E

WellnessWellnessEXERCISE CLASSES

Wellness Retreats and Spa PackagesPlan a healthy and relaxingspa day retreat for yourself,family, co-workers andfriends. Contact The Spadesk for more information.541-506-5788.

Try a Tri – Register now for this 12-weektriathlon clinic, held weekly, late March toearly June. A great opportunity for beginner-to intermediate-level athletes to receivecoaching on their first triathlon, or to fine-tune those triathlon skills. All skills/disciplineswill be addressed in team-based,supportative atmosphere. Health & Wellness Center members: $96 Non-members: $144

Mindfulness & Breath WorkPart 1 Wednesday, March 16Part 2 Wednesday, March 237 to 8 pmFree

Learn simple breathing techniques that can lowerblood pressure and pulse,decrease stress and anxiety,improve immune function, easeinsomnia, improve digestion andspeed healing time. Wear loose,comfortable clothing.

Mindfulness MeditationPart 1 Wednesday, May 4 Part 2 Wednesday, May 187 to 8 pmFree Water’s Edge Meditation RoomIn this basic class you will learn the history ofmindfulness, the medicalbenefits and simple relaxationtechniques that you can use in your personal plan ofgood health.

This class is the original barbell class thatstrengthens and tones your entire body.This 60-minute workout challenges all yourmajor muscle groups by using the bestweight-room exercises like squats,presses,lifts and curls. Ten tracks of greatmusic, awesome instructors and yourchoice of weight, inspire you to get theresults you came for — and fast!

Questions? Call 541-506-5779

Now Available!

21

AEROBICS, YOGA & TAI CHI

22

Specialized Programs

Orthopedic RehabilitationOur physical and occupational therapistscan evaluate and manage conditions/injuries of the joints and soft tissues for allages, to include dysfunctions of the hand,elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, foot and spine.

Neurological RehabilitationOur team is trained to treat a variety ofneurological conditions including stroke,multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury andspinal cord injuries.

Physical TherapyFunctional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)Completed by a skilled physical therapist,FCE is used by physicians, case managers,and employers to transition injuredworkers from disability to function andemployment. FCE is the single mostreliable measure to determine if asuccessful return to work is possible.

Golf ClinicProper body mechanics are essential tocreating an effective golf swing andpreventing injury. Open to golfers of allages and abilities, this clinic will focus onhelping you achieve the best posture,balance, flexibility and muscularendurance. We train your body, the mostimportant piece of golf equipment, for amore powerful, consistent golf swing.

Mobility & Seating ClinicThis clinic is designed for individuals whoneed a power or manual wheelchair forthe first time (pediatric, geriatric, athletic);are experiencing current or recurrentissues with wounds; have had recentchanges in seating or positioning needs;have equipment that is older than fiveyears or is broken or unsafe.

Vestibular Rehab & Balance Therapy Vestibular rehabilitation is an alternativeform of treatment involving specificexercises designed to decrease dizziness,increase balance function and increasegeneral activity levels.

Women’s Health Physical Therapy A women's health physical therapist canhelp resolve difficulty with pelvic pain,incontinence, pregnancy and postpartumconcerns, and get you back to the lifestyleyou enjoy.

Occupational TherapyHand Therapy and Upper Extremity Appropriate for individuals with upperextremity wounds, scars, damaged tendonsor nerves, fractures and amputations.

Osteoporosis This program is designed to help individualsrecognize risk factors for osteoporosis andhow to address them, participate in anexercise program designed to increase bonestrength and posture, understand theimpact medications may have on bonehealth, and make wise food choices toreduce advancing osteoporosis. Following aDEXA or bone density scan your doctor mayrefer you to the program.

Lymphedema Treatment and Therapy A therapy program that will help minimizeand manage the symptoms of lymphedema.

Speech TherapyDysphagia Our speech-language pathologists arespecially trained in treating swallowing,voice and other language/communicationimpairments.

Aquatic TherapyWarm water provides a beneficialenvironment for the rehabilitation of manyinjuries and conditions. Aquatic physicaltherapy is used to improve strength,endurance, blood circulation, range ofmotion, muscle tone, coordination andbalance. Water-based therapies are ofteneffective in the management of pain as thewater allows for relaxation and increasedease of movement. Conditions that maybenefit from aquatic rehabilitation include:Arthritis, back pain, stroke, fibromyalgia,orthopedic problems, osteoporosis,Parkinson’s disease, pre-natal, cerebral palsyand spinal cord injury.

Water’s Edge 551 Lone Pine Blvd. 541-296-7202Our multidisciplinary approach to outpatient rehabilitation services includes physicaltherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and aquatic therapy.

OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES

With a physician’s referral, these therapies are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare.We will assist you to determine your insurance benefits.

Individual Certified DiabetesNurse Educator ConsultationSchedule a one on one with ourregistered nurse and learn about themany aspects of blood sugarmanagement. In this visit our nurse willwork with you and customize the visitto your specific concerns. Covered bymost insurance plans.

Individual Diabetes Nutrition EducationMeet one on one with our registereddietitian. Our dietitian will review yourblood sugars in relationship to yournutrition. Together you will customize ahealthy eating plan that will supportliving healthy with diabetes. Covered bymost insurance plans.

Living Healthy with DiabetesMay 2, 9 & 16 (evening class)July 11, 18 & 25 (day class)

The Diabetes Self-ManagementEducation Class is a learning experiencefor people who are newly diagnosed orhave a history of diabetes. In this class,you will learn blood sugar monitoring,nutrition and meal planning, stressreduction, medications and much more. We encourage a support person toattend, at no additional fee. Day andevening classes are available throughoutthe year. The Diabetes Educationprogram at MCMC is accredited by theAmerican Diabetes Association.

DIABETESAWARENESS

Rehabilitation Programs

Please call 541-296-7319 to register.

23

A facial massage and/ormask may be used next torenourish the skin, followedby the application of amoisturizer with sun screenand education to each clienton how to care for their skin

following their treatment.And because The Spa subscribes to Mid-Columbia

Medical Center’s whole-person approach to care andhealing, clients benefit from an array of extras, such ashand and feet massages.

“We’re not just focusing on the skin,” Rizzo says.“Our goal is to increase the relaxation response in ourclients to allow them to enjoy the greatest benefits of their treatment.”

Reba Lloyd says she likes to enjoy a cup of tea in TheSpa’s meditation room overlooking the Columbia Riverbefore her regular facial treatment.

“It’s something relaxing to do while I wait for mytreatment,” says Lloyd, adding that she even purchasestea for home through The Spa. “I’ve also taken soakingbaths for five to 15 minutes before my facial. The wholeexperience at The Spa is so rejuvenating. I always walk outof there feeling very positive.”

The 67-year-old Dufur resident has been visiting TheSpa since Water’s Edge opened last summer. She cameinitially when she learned it carried the Osmosis line ofskin-care products, and now she keeps coming back formonthly facials. Lloyd’s also a member of The Health &Wellness Center.

“Since I stopped working, I don’t wear a lot ofmakeup anymore, so I was interested in learning what I could be doing for my skin besides using moisturizer,”she says. “I started out with a series of five treatmentsinvolving facials and masks, some of which I would wearhome and wash off the next morning.

“It scared my husband seeing me walk in with anorange face, but my skin felt so smooth and amazing afterthat treatment.”

Lloyd says her esthetician Mary Lively even helped her uncover the cause of a mysterious skin condition thatappeared recently. “My face started peeling and my skin

became very dry, so I went to see Mary. She asked mewhat had changed in my life. I told her the doctor hadchanged my medications, so Mary rearranged myproduct line and within a week my face was back

to normal.“She’s wonderful; she really knows what she

is doing.”Dr. Richardson also is sold on the skin-care products

available at The Spa. “I’m so busy that I don’t have time todeal with some complex skin-care regimen,” she says.“What I like about the Osmosis line is I just use their soapto wash my face and their lotion with sunscreen to put onafterward. That’s it. It’s very simple.”

What’s not to love?

For appointments or information about facial andother treatments available through The Spa atWater’s Edge, call 541-506-5788 or visitwww.WellnessatWatersEdge.com to see a menu of Spa services.

The newest member of the Mid-Columbia Health Foundation Board ofDirectors isn’t someone to stand onthe sidelines and merely talk aboutproblems and issues in his community.

“I do feel an interest in beinginvolved in my community,” says Jason Corey, a 45-year-old attorney who has practiced in The Dalles for nearly17 years. “Be the change, is the idea. You can sit back andcomment on other people’s efforts to solve problems andwhether they’re right or wrong, or you can get involvedand try to do something.”

Corey grew up in Denver and Boise. He earned abachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and alaw degree at Willamette University in Salem. He and hiswife, Kristal, have four children.

Away from work, Corey lists his interests as sports,history, reading, foreign languages and photography. He is fluent in Spanish.

“We’re not just focusing on the skin,” Rizzo says. “Our goal is toincrease the relaxation response in our clients to allow them toenjoy the greatest benefits of their treatment.”

— Martina Rizzo, esthetician

FACE VALUE (Continued from page 7)

Attorney JoinsMCHF Board

1700 E. 19th St., The Dalles, OR 97058A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital

CURRENT RESIDENT

NON-PROFITU.S. Postage

P A I DMID-COLUMBIA

MEDICAL CENTERPermit #161

As expected, Water’s Edge, thehealth and lifestyle center MCMC

opened in Lone Pine Village last June, has been officiallycertified as a Gold LEED building by the United StatesGreen Building Council.

That means Water’s Edge has achieved standardsin energy efficiency, water savings, storm water runoffand use of recycled and sustainable materials thatmake it a leader in environmentally friendlyconstruction and operation.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design, and its gold designation is notattained easily. In fact, only one other building in theColumbia River Gorge meets the criteria — The DallesMiddle School.

The Green Building Council demands verificationby an independent, third-party agency. The goldcertification conferred on Water’s Edge was expected

when the building opened inSummer 2010, but was made officialin mid-February after Water’s Edgemet or exceeded all of the LEED criteria.

The purpose of building Water’s Edge to greenbuilding standards was twofold. Operation andmaintenance costs would be minimized by efficienciesin energy use, water conservation and storm waterrecycling. More importantly, however, was creating ahealthier environment for Water’s Edge employees,tenants, clients and visitors.

“Water’s Edge LEED certification demonstratestremendous green building leadership,” said RickFedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. GreenBuilding Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission haschallenged the industry to move faster and reachfurther than ever before, and Water’s Edge serves as aprime example of just how much we can accomplish.”

Les Mills Body Pump Classes Now Available

Water’s Edge Health & Wellness Center

A Weight-Loss Program That WorksA New Healthy Weight Solutions Class

Starts Wednesday, March 30

Pulmonary Awareness DayA free educational event for people with lung disease

Wednesday, April 27, Water’s Edge See Page 20

See Page 19

See Pages 16 & 21

Upcoming …

WATER’S EDGE EARNS RAREGREEN CERTIFICATION