T I F T REG IONAL MEDICAL CENTER FALL 2009

Brushing Teeth Can Boost Heart Health

Keeps Kids Safe at TRMC

HumptyDumpty

Sweet SubstitutesHow to Make Snacks Healthier

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Approximately 1,000 women attended the Eleventh Annual Tift Regional Medical Center Women’s Event on Saturday, August 8. The event featured information booths, health screenings, and brunch. Highlights of the day included comedienne Sonya White and Elvis impersonator Todd Allen Herendeen.

Eleventh Annual Tift Regional Medical Center Women’s Event

Third Annual Tift Regional Medical Center Men’s Event

More than 300 men came out for the Third Annual Tift Regional Medical Center Men’s Event held on Saturday, July 25. The men were treated to a day of free health screenings, tailgating, vendors, and lots of football talk. Coaches from Region 1-AAAAA joined radio’s “Football Friday Night” host Chris Beckham to preview the upcoming football season.

ON HEALTH FALL 2009

Even when you’ve taken steps to avoid emergencies, your elderly parent or child may need emergency care. Having a few things on hand when you or a loved one visit the Emergency Department (ED) can make your trip easier.

To be prepared, keep thorough medical histories and medical data for each family member in an easily accessible place. Included on this sheet should be contact information for physicians, and a list of past surgeries, allergies, and current medications.

The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation recommends programming an “In Case of Emergency” contact in your child’s or parent’s cell phone directory, stored under “ICE.” This acronym indicates the person physicians and ED associates should call for information about the parent or child’s medical history, and whom medical professionals can contact should the patient arrive at the ED unconscious or unable to communicate.

If you are considering using Vicks® VapoRub® this fall to alleviate the symptoms of your child’s cold or flu, read the directions carefully.

A recent study found that while the main ingredients of Vicks VapoRub—menthol and camphor—trick the brain into thinking the child is breathing easier, these ingredients can actually cause the body to produce more mucus if used improperly. This can narrow the child’s air passages, which can lead to breathing problems, or in the worst case, respiratory distress.

Vicks VapoRub should not be used on children under the age of two, and you should never put the product under or up your child’s nostrils. This over-the-counter medication should only be applied externally to the chest and throat.

If you are unsure whether or not Vicks VapoRub or similar products are appropriate for your child, consult your pediatrician.

When an Emergency Strikes

Use as Directed

Whether it’s influenza (flu) or swine flu (H1N1), the same principles apply when it comes to preventing infection and not spreading the virus. To help you and your loved ones stay flu-free this fall, follow these tips:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or

sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also are effective. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.• If you are sick, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until

you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

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Stay Flu-Free this Fall

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“It is important for families to make good choices about what they eat,” says John Eanes, MD, pediatrician on the medical staff at Tift Regional Medical Center. “A growing number of America’s adults and children are overweight or obese, and that comes with a list of health problems that can impact their quality of life. It is possible for families to make smart choices about their eating habits and not feel deprived.”

Make a SubstitutionCreating a healthy snack doesn’t have to be difficult. Many recipes for cookies,

brownies, and muffins can be made healthier by substituting applesauce for more fattening ingredients such as butter. Also, consider adding dried fruit, nuts, or oats to appropriate recipes to make baking more nutritious.

Everything in ModerationFor those occasions when your family does want to indulge, remember this simple

fact—all foods can be part of a healthy diet in moderation.“People don’t need to completely cut out birthday cakes or holiday cookies from their

diets,” says Dr. Eanes. “These foods can be enjoyed, as long as they aren’t eaten on a regular basis. Also, keep serving sizes of full-fat treats small.”

Dr. Eanes practices with Children’s Medical Center and is on the medical staff at Tift Regional Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call (229) 391-3640.

Banana BreadLooking for a quick and easy snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than this delicious banana bread. Not only will a slice of this bread make a great snack, but it is also a great opportunity to get everyone involved in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup sifted flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup mashed bananas

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs well in a small bowl. In a medium-size bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, add vegetable oil and sugar a little bit at a time, and continue beating until mixture is fluffy. Add eggs to the sugar and oil mixture and beat well. Slowly, add some of the flour mixture to the large bowl and beat well. Then add some of the mashed bananas and beat. Continue alternating flour and bananas until everything is mixed. Pour mixture into a bread pan. Bake for 70 minutes.

Nutritional Information:

Servings: 16

Calories: 145

Fat: 5g

Let’s be honest—everyone craves sweets sometimes. Whether

your treat of choice is a chocolate chip cookie or a big scoop of

ice cream, you know you shouldn’t give into the urge too often.

The good news is that there are ways to indulge your cravings

without sacrificing your health.

Keeping Your Sweet Tooth Satisfied

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The new Emergency Treatment Area at TRMC houses seven patient beds and is designed to shorten wait times for patients. When patients arrive in the Emergency Department, they are seen by a nurse who will assess their condition on a scale of one to five. A level one case is a patient in need of critical care while level five is for minor problems such as a cut, earache, or fever. Patients assessed at levels four and five can be seen in the new minor treatment area.

“We have staff members who work only in the new Emergency Treatment Area,” says Emergency Department Nurse Manager April Dukes. “This allows patients to be seen more quickly because the staff doesn’t have to leave for the more emergent cases in the Emergency Department.”

The recent renovation also included a new waiting area, which offers warm colors, a flat-screen television, and a more open feel.

“We’ve always taken extra precautions with our children, but this new program formalizes the steps we all need to take to ensure pediatric patients are safe,” says Pediatric Nurse Manager Cara Goodwin.

Some pediatric patients, such as those who require sedation medication or extra oxygen tubing, are at a higher risk for falls and mandate special identification. The Humpty Dumpty stickers and signs alert the staff to these patients with special needs. This program is especially helpful for alerting staff members outside the pediatric department.

Information sheets are available in each patient’s room to educate families on things to watch for and ways to help protect their child.

“Every extra step we can take to protect our patients is important,” says Goodwin. “And Humpty Dumpty is helping us all do just that.”

For more information about pediatric services at Tift Regional Medical Center, visit www.tiftregional.com.

Striving to Reduce ER Wait TimesWaiting in an emergency room is not a new issue and certainly not unique to any one hospital. However, recent

renovations at Tift Regional Medical Center will allow patients to be seen more quickly.

Fall Prevention with Humpty DumptySomeone new recently joined Tift Regional Medical Center—Humpty

Dumpty! The new Humpty Dumpty Falls Risk Program has been put into

place for all pediatric patients at TRMC.

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Being separated from parents, receiving anesthesia, and getting an intravenous injection are just a few of the stressors a child may experience during a hospital visit. Laurel Branch, certified child life specialist at TRMC, seeks to alleviate children’s worries by understanding their needs.

“I always try to keep things kid-friendly, whether through my language or topics of conversation,” says Branch. “For example, talking to a child about being ‘put to sleep’ for a surgical procedure might stir up thoughts of a family pet that was ‘put to sleep’ and never came home. I explain procedures in a way kids can understand and reassure them that we’re just trying to help them feel better.”

A Fun DistractionWhile explanations are important, they may not be enough to comfort every child.

For this, Branch also keeps a supply of toys and books at TRMC.“Focusing attention on a toy or book can distract a child from hospital-related

anxiety,” says Branch. “Whether it’s blowing bubbles, watching a movie, or just talking to someone about a favorite cartoon, if it helps a child feel comfortable, I’m here to make that happen.”

To find out more about the TRMC Child Life Program, please call (229) 353-6558.

WorkSmart, a department of Tift Regional Medical Center, supports the well-being of local employees by providing businesses with cost-effective occupational health care. But there is more to occupational health care than just the treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses. Overall wellness is an important factor in keeping one’s workforce viable.

“Because the health of one’s employees can affect a company’s bottom line, our Wellness Programs provide services needed to promote an overall healthy workforce,” says Carla Hall, director of Occupational Medicine at WorkSmart. “Our Wellness Programs are designed to identify underlying and chronic illnesses that affect a company’s workforce and guide patients into treatment as necessary. The information we gather gives us opportunities to provide educational sessions to employees based on health survey outcomes. And best of all, our programs can be tailored to fit a company’s specific needs.”

Convenient CareAs a part of the WorkSmart Wellness Program, participants can have

access to the WorkSmart Clinic for non-emergent injuries and illnesses. They often pay a small co-pay based on the program’s design with the employer.

“Instead of using the Emergency Department as the primary care physician, employees can visit the WorkSmart Clinic, which saves both the company and its employees money in insurance costs,” says Hall.

For more information about the Wellness Programs available through WorkSmart, contact Carla Hall at (229) 353-6320.

A Healthy Workplace

Children’s SpiritsChildren often experience anxiety before surgery and other medical

procedures. Fortunately, the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation assists

with a program that can help ease the fears of our youngest patients.

While many factors contribute to the success of a company,

employee health and wellness may play the biggest role.

Lifting

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The cleaner your mouth, the less chance you have of suffering a heart attack.

That’s the conclusion of a new report by researchers at the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, who studied 386 heart attack victims—both men and women—and 840 individuals without heart problems.

Two types of bacteria in the mouth were more common among heart attack sufferers, but the study found that the people who had the most bacteria of all

types were the most likely to experience a heart attack. It’s unclear precisely how bacteria in the mouth may affect a person’s risk for heart attack, but studies have shown that bacteria may give rise to inflammation that causes blood clots.

The bottom line: There’s a definite link between oral health and heart health, giving you one more reason to reach for your toothbrush regularly.

Another Reason toBrush Your Teeth

A recent study found a connection between weight gain in the teen years and the development of deep abdominal fat—a risk factor for heart disease.

The study, performed by Swedish researchers, focused on 612 men between the ages of 18 and 20 and discovered that men whose body mass index (BMI) increased most dramatically during their teen years had higher levels of visceral or “hidden” fat that surrounds abdominal organs. Additionally, the study found that participants who experienced greater BMI changes during childhood were linked to the development of superficial fat—a weaker risk factor.

The study indicates that abdominal fat gain in adolescent years may have an impact on heart and overall health later in life. However, by controlling weight gain during the teen years, development of visceral fat can be managed.

The Heart of the Matter

When a loved one is at the hospital for a procedure, it can feel like sitting in the waiting room is as tough as actually being the patient. To help with this anxiety, Tift Regional Medical Center has developed a way to make a visitor’s stay a little easier.

A monitoring system has been installed in the Day Surgery area that tracks a patient’s progress from admission to recovery. When a patient is admitted for surgery, he or she is given a secret code number. Family members can then check a TV screen in the waiting area and see where their patient is by using the secret code. Knowing exactly where your loved one is can help relieve some of the stress and make the wait a little easier.

Tracking Your Loved One’s Progress

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This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

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