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Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

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CHILTON COUNTY
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Page 1: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

CHILTON COUNTY

Page 2: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Compassionate Care In Your Communitywww.heartsouthpc.com

SHELBY OFFICE • 205-633-5775

SELMA OFFICE • 866-663-5775

CLANTON OFFICE • 866-663-5775

SYLACAUGA OFFICE • 256-249-1855

C. Dale Elliott, M.D., FACC

John D. McBrayer, M.D., FACC

Mark L. Mullens, M.D., FACC

Gregory D. Chapman, M.D., FACC

Munish K. Goyal, M.D., FACC

Cliff R. Vance, M.D.

David S. Fieno, M.D.

Neeraj Mehta, M.D., FACC

J. Hudson Segrest, M.D.

William B. Hillegass, M.D., M.P.H.

Our goal is improving your heart’s health. We do this with

advanced diagnostic methods and compassionate care.

Put your heart in our hands and together we will achieve our goal.

HS120831.indd 1 8/31/12 12:26:24 PM

Page 3: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Compassionate Care In Your Communitywww.heartsouthpc.com

SHELBY OFFICE • 205-633-5775

SELMA OFFICE • 866-663-5775

CLANTON OFFICE • 866-663-5775

SYLACAUGA OFFICE • 256-249-1855

C. Dale Elliott, M.D., FACC

John D. McBrayer, M.D., FACC

Mark L. Mullens, M.D., FACC

Gregory D. Chapman, M.D., FACC

Munish K. Goyal, M.D., FACC

Cliff R. Vance, M.D.

David S. Fieno, M.D.

Neeraj Mehta, M.D., FACC

J. Hudson Segrest, M.D.

William B. Hillegass, M.D., M.P.H.

Our goal is improving your heart’s health. We do this with

advanced diagnostic methods and compassionate care.

Put your heart in our hands and together we will achieve our goal.

HS120831.indd 1 8/31/12 12:26:24 PM

St. Vincent’s Orthopedics, PCFull-Service Orthopedics in One Location.

David P. Adkison, M.D.Knee & Shoulder

Thomas L. P. Johnson, M.D.General Orthopedics; Knee, Hip & Shoulder

Edward U. Kissel, M.D.General Orthopedics; Knee, Hip & Shoulder

Eli J. Hurowitz, M.D.Foot & Ankle

David M. Ostrowski, M.D.Hand, Wrist & Upper Extremity

J. Todd Smith, M.D.General Orthopedics; Orthopedic Spine

Page 4: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Table of conTenTs

Runs gaining popularity in Chilton County

picking up steam 5

Chiropractor has first-hand knowledge

helping with pain 8

Arthritis sufferers have many avenues for relief

OptiOns abOund 11

Planned unit will benefit local seniors

gOlden years 14

Tips for escaping cold/flu season

avOid the bug 19

Stay up-to-date on local events of interest

health calendar 23

PUBLISHERTim Prince

EDITORIALStephen Dawkins, managing editor

Emily Beckett, writerDrew Granthum, writer

Jon Goering, photographer

MARKETINGAlan Brown, sales manager

Zack Bates, marketing consultantKim McCulla, marketing consultant

Brandy Clackley, marketing consultant

CUSTOMER SERVICELaura Atkins, customer service

PRESSROOM & MAILROOMJimmy Ruff, production managerScott Mims, mailroom manager

Malinda Nance, mailroom managerMichael Turner, press operator

Jimmy Huett, press maintenance

CHILTON COUNTY

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Page 5: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

For the longest time, Chilton County has been known for three particular things; peaches, pag-

eants and football, in that order.

If a current trend holds, you may be adding running to that aforementioned trifecta.

It seems that more and more 5K races are popping up all over the county, from the prestigious Peach Run every June, to

the Jingle Bell walk/run in December. Running is coming back in style, and

Chilton County seems to be a hotspot for people looking to race competitively or just get in shape.

“I am not sure that running has become

picking up steamRuns gaining popularity in Chilton CountyStory by Drew Granthum, File photos

Starting gun: The Peach Run, above, and the Jingle Bell Run, left, are just two of the running events held in Chilton County each year.

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Page 6: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

On the run: Competitors come from across the region for the Peach Run, above, which is hosted by Cornerstone Fitness and Wellness; while the Jingle Bell Run, below, is paired with the Arthritis Walk to offer fun for all.

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Page 7: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

more popular, but races have definitely increased in popu-larity,” said Lori Patterson of Cornerstone Fitness. “I love that competing in a healthy activity seems to be becoming a phenomenon.”

Patterson, who is also the organizer for the Peach Run, said she felt reviving the Peach Run after a hiatus could prove to be a hit.

“I just remember it from when I was a little girl,” she said. “It was big in the ’80s and kind of died out. I wanted to bring it back.”

Patterson said there were several alternatives for those looking for help working up to a 5K distance.

“We (Cornerstone) do a 5K accountability group on Mondays,” she said. “You can download a running app, or meet with a trainer. Usually, people will stick with it if they are in a group.”

Dr. Ann Lebeck of Lemak Sports Medicine said in addi-tion to the widely known fact that running helps with weight loss, there are several more benefits that people often don’t know about.

“It improves cardio health, and obviously loses weight,” she said. “It also helps with bone density. Bone reacts to weight being put on it.

Lebeck said she gives every future runner the same walk through.

“The first thing is knowing goals,” she said. “No. 2, I want to look at their feet [to help with shoe selection]. Third, start-ing slow, being sure to warm up and cool down. If they want to run a 5k, start out about 25 percent of that distance.”

Lebeck also said that shoe choice is crucial; what may be good for one runner isn’t necessarily good for another.

“Shoes are only good for 300 miles,” she said. “Be sure to log mileage. How old your shoes are, we gauge by mileage.”

Lebeck stressed the importance of pace and being sure to rotate the direction of a runner’s normal path.

“Start slow,” she said. “You put a lot of stress on your knees by running the same way.”

Patterson encouraged runners to work out other parts of the body, not just the legs.

“Make sure you incorporate strength training or cross train-ing to avoid overuse injuries and stress injuries,” she said.

For more information about the races held around the county, check out the list below.

Peach Run•Held every year during the Peach Festvial, hosted by Cornerstone Fitness and Wellness•2012 5k winner: Fed Yarenko, 23:26•Contact: Lori Patterson (205) 280-6450

DOttie Day 5k•First event was in July 2012, hosted by the Chilton County Humane Society•2012 winner: Lucas Culpepper, 23:08•Contact: Scott Missildine (205) 755-0744

Jingle Bell Walk/Run•Held in December•Contact: Anna Blanche Young (205) 979-5700

Viking Run•First event to be held during Thorsby Swedish Festival in October•Contact: Tracia Bussey (205)-217-0978

7 Wellness

Page 8: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Dr. Rana Watson can help people suffer-ing from simple muscle, neck and back pain, headaches or an injury.

Watson, a new chiropractor in Clanton, has all the necessary education and experience, but she has another advantage when treating patients: an interest in mountain biking has provided Watson with plenty of first-hand knowledge of aches and pains and the benefits of chiropractic care for athletic performance.

Watson was named the 2011 Alabama Mountain Bike Champion in the female age 30-39 class. She raced in several competitions sponsored by About Time Events and accumu-lated enough points to earn the title.

She still loves to ride, but Watson is spending more time these days helping people—from ath-letes like herself to those just looking for relief from pain.

Watson is practicing out of Below Chiropractic Clinic. She offers instrument adjustment in addi-tion to traditional hand adjustment.

Watson also is a certified SpiderTech therapist, offering the Kinesio tape that is popular with

Chiropractor has first-hand knowledgeStory and photo by Stephen Dawkins

helping people with pain

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Page 9: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

helping people with pain

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Page 10: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

professional athletes.“It allows for a full range of motion, but

it gives you an artificial form of support and stability, unlike the old-school ath-letic tape,” Watson said.

Watson also offers a full range of pain-relieving gels and all-natural supplements for pain management and ideal health.

Consultations are free. Chiropractic candidates include athletes looking for peak performance, injury prevention or injury rehab; neck, back, shoulder, arm, hip and ankle pain; headache sufferers; those suffering from an injury; or those suffering from asthma and sinus infec-tions, carpal tunnel symptoms or arthritis.

“We can usually help 80-90 percent of these people,” Watson said.

Watson is a second-generation chiro-practor, who grew up attending seminars with her mother, who practices outside Atlanta.

“It was a pretty good experience grow-ing up in that clinical setting,” she said.

Watson earned bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from Life University in Marietta, Ga., and attended Cleveland Chiropractic College. She has worked at Cleveland Chiropractic in Kansas City and Health Star in Montgomery.

Watson relocated to Clanton because she was looking for a small-town envi-

ronment and went to working three days a week to enjoy more time with her fam-ily. An opportunity to partner with Steven Below turned out to be the perfect fit for everyone involved. Below still works out of the office, on Second Avenue South, a couple of days a week, by appointment only.

Below and Watson strive to make their services affordable, and Watson encour-aged people to consider the value of chi-ropractic treatment when making deci-sions.

“Try chiro first, drugs second and sur-gery last,” Watson said. “Try your most cost-effective solution first.”

Ribbon cutting: The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon cutting at Dr. Rana Watson’s chiropractic practice on Aug. 9.

10 Wellness

Page 11: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Arthritis affects mil-lions of people and can be a debilitating

condition that impacts a per-son’s mobility and quality of life. The March 2010 issue of Arthritis Care & Research revealed that 18.7 percent of Americans and 16.9 percent of Canadians suffer from some type of arthritis.

The word “arthritis” refers to more than 100 separate medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis-related joint problems cause pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures. Such damage can lead to joint weakness, insta-bility and visible deformities that, depending on the loca-tion of joint involvement, can interfere with the most basic daily tasks, including walk-ing, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard, cutting food, or brushing teeth.

Arthritis has no cure, though medications and physical therapy may be prescribed to help manage pain and improve mobility. There are many different medicines that may be used to treat arthritis.

Here is a look at some of the most common.

tOPical Pain RelieVeRS

These drugs are applied to areas of concern and are absorbed by the body to relieve pain. They are gener-ally effective for people who have mild symptoms in just a few areas of the body.

anti-inflammatORy Pain RelieVeRS

These pain medicines may be over-the-counter or pre-scription drugs. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are common painkillers, as are nonsteroi-dal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS. Prescription doses may be helpful for more painful symptoms.

naRcOtic Pain RelieVeRS

For pain that is not con-trolled by NSAIDS and other methods, arthritis sufferers may be prescribed narcotic drugs that are more potent. While effective, narcotic drugs are addictive. They also may cause side effects, including constipation.

SteROiDSFor a variety of reasons, ste-

roids are very useful at reduc-ing inflammation in the body. But prolonged use—especial-

ly when taken orally—can result in a number of side effects, including weight gain and acne breakouts. Doctors try to avoid these problems by injecting the steroid into the affected joint or trying other medications in combi-nation with steroids to keep the dose of steroids as low as possible.

DiSeaSe-mODifying antiRheumatic DRugS

These drugs are often used for diseases of the autoim-mune system, especially rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spon-dylitis. These medications work by interfering with or suppressing the immune sys-tem that attacks its own joints in people with these condi-tions.

antiDePReSSantSSome doctors prescribe anti-

depressants to relieve pain. It is not fully understood how the medications affect the body’s interpretation of pain, but the role of these drugs on brain chemicals may be the connection. Drowsiness and dry mouth may occur from these drugs.

Options abound for arthritis sufferers

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Page 12: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

SOMETIMES THE BREAKS JUST DON’T GO YOUR WAY…

NOT TO WORRY!We have a team of highly specialized physicians to help provide

solutions to get you back to your active lifestyle.

W W W . L E M A K S P O R T S . C O M

We accept the following insurances: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, United Healthcare,Cigna, U.S. Department of Labor, Workman’s Compensation, Healthsprings and Viva Healthcare.

831 1st Street North | Alabaster, AL 35007 | 205.358.9120

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday through Friday | 8AM - 5PM

1320 Woodfin Lane | Clanton, AL 35045

HOURS OF OPERATION Mondays 1:30 – 5 PM

Our physicians at Lemak Sports Medicine, a center of excellence in orthopedic surgery, specialize in all areas of orthopedics and primary care sports medicine.

s a leader in the sports medicine and orthopedics field, our focus is redefining

health and wellness for athletes, active professionals and youth. We believe

that the whole body cannot be healthy unless each part is healthy. With this as

our guiding philosophy, we continue to deliver an outstanding health care experiences.

LEMAK SPORTS MEDICINE: COMMITTED TO IMPROVING LIFE AFTER INJURY.

DR. MIKE PATTERSON currently

oversees our Alabaster location

has been instrumental in the

care of athletes since he started

practicing in 2000. He specializes

in Sports Medicine Orthopedics

and operates at Shelby Baptist

Medical Center and the Shelby

Ambulatory Surgery Center. Dr.

Patterson is fellowship trained

in Sports Medicine under the

supervision of Dr. Larry Lemak, and together they have

been involved in the care and rehabilitation of collegiate,

professional and high school athletes. Dr. Patterson is

involved with the community as a member of the Pelham

Rotary Club and several Chambers of Commerce, and

serves as the team physician for many local high schools.

DR. ANN LEBECK is a primary

care non-operative physician

at Lemak Sports Medicine

Alabaster. She is fellowship

trained in Sports Medicine and

has spent a great deal of her

training with collegiate and

high school athletes as well

as the weekend warriors. Dr.

Lebeck is an active member of

the American Medical Society

for Sports Medicine, the American College of Sports

Medicine and the American Academy of Family

Physicians. Dr. Lebeck is often on the sidelines providing

medical coverage to local high school athletes and

volunteering her time at large athletic events.

A

Page 13: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

SOMETIMES THE BREAKS JUST DON’T GO YOUR WAY…

NOT TO WORRY!We have a team of highly specialized physicians to help provide

solutions to get you back to your active lifestyle.

W W W . L E M A K S P O R T S . C O M

We accept the following insurances: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, United Healthcare,Cigna, U.S. Department of Labor, Workman’s Compensation, Healthsprings and Viva Healthcare.

831 1st Street North | Alabaster, AL 35007 | 205.358.9120

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday through Friday | 8AM - 5PM

1320 Woodfin Lane | Clanton, AL 35045

HOURS OF OPERATION Mondays 1:30 – 5 PM

Our physicians at Lemak Sports Medicine, a center of excellence in orthopedic surgery, specialize in all areas of orthopedics and primary care sports medicine.

s a leader in the sports medicine and orthopedics field, our focus is redefining

health and wellness for athletes, active professionals and youth. We believe

that the whole body cannot be healthy unless each part is healthy. With this as

our guiding philosophy, we continue to deliver an outstanding health care experiences.

LEMAK SPORTS MEDICINE: COMMITTED TO IMPROVING LIFE AFTER INJURY.

DR. MIKE PATTERSON currently

oversees our Alabaster location

has been instrumental in the

care of athletes since he started

practicing in 2000. He specializes

in Sports Medicine Orthopedics

and operates at Shelby Baptist

Medical Center and the Shelby

Ambulatory Surgery Center. Dr.

Patterson is fellowship trained

in Sports Medicine under the

supervision of Dr. Larry Lemak, and together they have

been involved in the care and rehabilitation of collegiate,

professional and high school athletes. Dr. Patterson is

involved with the community as a member of the Pelham

Rotary Club and several Chambers of Commerce, and

serves as the team physician for many local high schools.

DR. ANN LEBECK is a primary

care non-operative physician

at Lemak Sports Medicine

Alabaster. She is fellowship

trained in Sports Medicine and

has spent a great deal of her

training with collegiate and

high school athletes as well

as the weekend warriors. Dr.

Lebeck is an active member of

the American Medical Society

for Sports Medicine, the American College of Sports

Medicine and the American Academy of Family

Physicians. Dr. Lebeck is often on the sidelines providing

medical coverage to local high school athletes and

volunteering her time at large athletic events.

A

Page 14: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Golden years

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Page 15: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Dr. Douglas C. Clark Dr. Jason K. Dickerson Dr. Seth Williams

A senior care unit expected to open at Chilton Medical Center in December will provide more healthcare options for local seniors.

Golden Care is a short-term program for people ages 65 and older who need specialized care and treatment plans.

People ages 55–64 may be admitted on a case-by-case basis with approval from a psychiatrist.

It is a nine-bed unit comprised of single-patient rooms designed to help senior adults maximize their levels of independence and functioning.

Janet Driskell, Golden Care program director, said she hopes to gradually expand the unit to 13 beds by adding one new bed a year.

“We’re still planning on progressing,” Driskell said. “We’re really excited. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the other community agencies as well that are having to refer family members outside of the county.”

Planned unit will benefit local seniorsStory by Emily Beckett, Photos by Jon Goering

In progress: When finished, each sin-gle-patient room in the Golden Care wing at CMC will have a bed, nightstand, bathroom, wall hangings and ample space for visitors and chairs.

Opposite page: The nurses’ station is located at the center of the facility, direct-ly across from the group activity room.

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Page 16: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

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Each patient room will have a window, bed, bathroom and space for walking or chairs for visitors.

The unit also has an enclosed outdoor patio and a group activity area across from the nurses’ station.

The unit will remain locked at all times to ensure patient security, but family visitation is allowed.

To be admitted to Golden Care, patients must have a primary psychiatric diagnosis or specific behavioral issues, such as dementia (Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s diseases), depression, anxiety and emotional difficulties associated with aging.

Medical issues cannot be the primary focus of care.“Between 8 and 15 percent of people that live within the

community suffer from depression,” Driskell said. “Thirty percent of persons who are elderly that reside in nursing homes or those types of settings suffer from depression as well, and depression sometimes gets mistaken for dementia.”

Driskell said the average length of stay for someone in Golden Care is about 14 days.

The unit will offer individual, group, recreational and family therapies, living skills groups and medication management services.

The unit is primarily a Medicare based program, but staff are working toward expanding the program to all insurances

The group activity room is where patients will be able to socialize with each other and participate in group counseling sessions.

Janet Driskell (opposite page, above) is the Golden Care program director at Chilton Medical Center. Tommie Crouch (opposite page, below) is a licensed social worker who will assist patients in therapy and counseling.

17 Wellness

Page 18: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

that the hospital accepts, Driskell said. Also a part of Golden Care is Turning

Point, an outpatient center designed to be a step-down program for people ages 50 or older who are discharging from inpatient services but still need support as they adjust to leaving full-time care.

“It’s also very appropriate for residents in the community that may have become shut-ins or have mental illness or anxiety issues, and they need a place that is elder specific,” Driskell said.

Turning Point is a therapeutic

program in a comfortable environment, and licensed therapists hold interactive group sessions daily.

A board-certified psychiatrist regularly consults with patients and staff to monitor patients’ treatment in the program.

In addition, the multidisciplinary treatment team provides assessments, care planning, individual therapy, art therapy, family involvement, psychiatric services, nursing assessments and continued care and discharge planning.

Tommie Crouch, a licensed social worker, will run Turning Point, in which patients participate in the program three hours a day, up to five days a week, in the morning.

Lunch and snacks are provided, as well as transportation if needed.

“I think those programs are very beneficial, and I think they’re very needed in the community,” Driskell said.

For more information, call Janet Driskell at (205) 755-2500.

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Page 19: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

Winter’s arrival coincides with the arrival of

other things as well. The hol-iday season. Snow days from school. Weekends spent ski-ing and snowboarding with family and friends.

While each of those things is something to look forward to, one thing also synony-mous with winter is never welcomed with open arms. Cold and flu season impacts nearly every household each winter, forcing kids and adults alike to put life on hold as they rest and recover. To many people, flu shots are enough to keep them going strong through cold and flu season, but not everyone has access to flu shots. Even those who do might still get colds if they don’t take steps to stay healthy when the mercury drops. This winter, people wanting to avoid the worst of cold and flu season can take several precautions to reduce their risks of get-ting a cold or the flu.

Around the housePeople can take several steps

to make their homes safer and warmer, which should help them reduce their risk of cold and flu. Winterizing a home is perhaps the best thing a homeowner can do to make a home safer and warmer. Install storm win-dows and caulk around doors and windows to keep warm

air in the home and prevent cold air from coming in.

If winter has yet to arrive, inspect the heating system. If winter has already arrived, schedule an inspection as soon as possible. Make sure the system is working prop-erly and is clean and ready for the winter that lies ahead. Ideally, the heating system should be serviced by a pro-fessional to ensure the ven-tilation is working properly.

Homeowners with function-ing fireplaces in their homes should have the fireplace inspected and cleaned before using it for the first time.

AddressIng AttIreWinter weather should

never catch adults or chil-dren off-guard with regards to their wardrobe. Once cold weather arrives, dress appro-priately whenever leaving the home to reduce the risk of cold and flu. Appropriate attire includes wearing out-door clothing, such as win-ter coats, scarves, gloves or mittens, and wool ski hats. Those who live in areas with heavy snowfall should also wear waterproof boots when-ever going outside. It’s also important to dress in layers throughout the winter. Doing so provides extra insulation, and layers trap air effec-tively, ensuring that all that warm air produced by your body won’t escape but will stick around and keep you

Avoid succumbing to cold/flu season

19 Wellness

Page 20: Chilton County Wellness – September 2012

warm.

PrePAre for emergencIes

If a winter weather emer-gency arrives, cold and flu won’t shut down and stop working just because schools close or power outages occur. In fact, during an emergency the chances are strong that families will be stuck inside for extended periods of time. When locked indoors for long periods of time, cold and flu viruses can spread easily. Men and women should prepare for such a scenario by having an air filter on hand to ensure air quality remains clean and healthy. In addition, stock up on items such as soup or cold and cough medicine to ensure that anyone who succumbs to cold and flu during a weather emergency will have remedies at their disposal should they be confined to the home.

Parents of infant children should keep extra formula

and diapers on hand and be sure there are extra batter-ies around the house should the power go out. For infants on medication, consult the child’s physician before cold and flu season and devise a plan of caring for a sick child should a weather emergency occur.

get outsIde And exercIse

Staying indoors all winter might seem like a great way to avoid cold and flu, but it might actually make adults and children more suscep-tible. Staying indoors could be trapping you indoors with stagnant air where cold and flu germs are floating around. Stay inside during weather emergencies, but be sure to get outside in the fresh air and exercise when the weath-er allows. Regularly working out boosts the body’s immune system, which helps ward off cold and flu.

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fLu cLInIcs BeIng gIVen At heALth dePt.

The Chilton County Health Department is holding flu clinics again this year, clinic supervisor Ludean Hicks said.

The first clinic was held Wednesday. Others are sched-uled for Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. They’ll be held from 8-11 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m. at the health department.

Shots will cost $15 for those who don’t have Medicaid or Medicare, Hicks said.

Hicks said those who plan to use alternative forms of pay-ment should bring their Medi-care number or Medicaid card.

Everyone older than 6 months of age is encouraged to get the vaccine, except for those who have experienced negative reactions in the past.

Only shots will be available, not the mist vaccine, Hicks said.

Hicks encouraged those who are interested in receiving the vaccine to call ahead and make an appointment.

offIcIALs cAutIon ABout West nILe

There have been no diag-nosed cases of West Nile virus in Chilton County yet, and local residents can take steps to make sure they aren’t the first.

Alabama has seen 12 confirmed human cases of the virus, according to a Depart-

ment of Public Health press re-lease. Nine of the cases were in males, while three were in females. The ages range from 42 to 73.

About 1 in 5 people who are infected with WNV will develop symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Less than 1 percent will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues).

cmc WeLcomes dr. BInKerd

A new employee at Chilton Medical Center could be the catalyst for eliminating the need to send patients to other hospi-tals for surgical treatment.

Jon E. Binkerd, M.D., joined the CMC staff this month and is specializing in general surgery, both emergency and elective.

Binkerd, 43, earned a bach-elor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from UAB in 2002.

He completed the Rural Medical Scholars Program in 2003 and earned a master’s in health education from the University of Alabama.

Binkerd graduated from the UAB School of Medicine in 2007 and completed his general surgery residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

HEALTH briEfs

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oct. 2 | retIred educAtors fLu cLInIcThe Chilton County Retired Edu-cators will sponsor a Flu Clinic. The clinic will be at the YMCA on Ollie Avenue in Clanton. It will be conducted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. You must provide your PEEHIP insurance card. Call Nancy Shannon at 755-0195 for more information.

oct. 4 | 8th AnnuAL cAre net BAnQuetThe Eighth Annual fundraising banquet for Care Net Pregnan-cy Resource Center of Chilton County will be held at the Jemi-son Municipal Complex from 7-8:30 p.m. It is free to attend and will be hosted by Wayne Hughes. The theme is Bridges of Hope, Psalm 119:114. Christian artist Deidra Hughes will provide special music.

oct. 10 | senIor connectIon VArIetY shoWThe Second Annual Senior Connection Variety Show will be at the First United Methodist Church Activity Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be fun, food and magical enter-tainment. For more information, call (205) 755-9032.

Post-ABortIVe BIBLe studYCare Net will be hosting a

post-abortive Bible study for ladies called “Forgiven and Set Free.” There is no charge to attend, and classes will be held on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call Care Net at 205-755-6767.

eAc food drIVeGentiva Hospice and Associ-ated Foods are teaming up to assist the Chilton County Emer-gency Assistance Center in a food drive. Anyone can help by stopping by Associated Foods to donate $5 toward this cause. For more information, call Kara Hunt at 205-294-0923.

senIor exercIse cLAssesSenior Connection holds weekly exercise classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the Clanton Recre-ation Center. For more informa-tion, call 755-9032.

AgIng, dIsABILItY resource centerThe Aging and Disability Resource Center assists those 55 and older with disabilities. The center is able to locate the following resources: dental and hearing, medication assistance, nutrition assistance and more. Call 1-866-570-2998 to schedule an appointment. A representative is available every second and fourth Tuesday. The ADRC is located at Chilton Medical Center.

HEALTH CALENDAr

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Chilton • Shelby • Elmore • Autauga • Bibb • Coosa • Perry • Dallas

you’re coming home

to be with family


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