September 2014 - Lee Memorial Health System

Transcription

September 2014 - Lee Memorial Health System
September 2014
Alter-G Treadmill
Reduces Weight
on Joints
“If a patient has difficulty walking
or has developed abnormalities in
their walking pattern, the Alter-G
can take as much as 80 percent of
the body weight off his or her feet,
allowing the patient to normalize
his or her gait pattern,” Tad says.
In This Issue
Foundation News and Events.................2
A Heart Healthy Recipe to Try.................3
Cardiac Rehabilitation Now Available
for Heart Failure Patients........................3
Stroke Requires Immediate Care............4
Knee Replacement Restores Mobility....4
Check the Volume – Noise-Induced
Hearing Loss is Possible, Preventable....5
Patients Live Longer with Advanced
Prostate Cancer Protocols.......................5
Patients Take Control with
Balance Vest.............................................6
Cataracts Affect Most Older Adults........6
Car Seat Inspections and a Baby Care
Class Keep Little Ones Safe.....................7
Home Health Monitors Patients
from a Distance........................................7
Children with Fever or Those Recently
Vaccinated Should Avoid Aspirin...........8
Eliminating Elective
Pre-term Deliveries..................................8
Lee Memorial Health System
Welcomes Pulmonologists......................9
An Overview of the Spectrum
of COPD....................................................9
Physician Directory...............................10
Map.........................................................11
Calendar of Events.................................12
Astronauts get the feeling of floating in space, and now,
people on Earth can defy gravity, too. The Alter-G treadmill
was designed by NASA and uses differential air pressure
to manipulate the weight that we bear through our lower
extremities.
Licensed physical therapists provide a comprehensive
evaluation for rehabilitation patients and may recommend
that patients exercise on the Alter-G. “The therapist can
program the amount of weight bearing from 100 percent
of someone’s body weight to as low as 20 percent, in 1
percent increments,” says Tad Cranfield, therapy supervisor,
Outpatient Center at HealthPark Commons. “This allows us
to limit the effects of gravity, which has many applications
for our patients.”
The treadmill is often recommended for patients who have
difficulty walking. “If a patient has difficulty walking or
has developed abnormalities in their walking pattern, the
Alter-G can take as much as 80 percent of the body weight
off his or her feet, allowing the patient to normalize his or
her gait pattern,” Tad says. “Then, we slowly reintroduce
weight bearing until they are able to walk properly on land.”
The Alter-G is especially effective for patients who have
had an injury or surgery on one of their legs or feet and
have weight bearing limitations due to surgical conditions
or pain. “We can start these patients standing and walking
earlier in the rehabilitation process with precise weight
bearing,” Tad says. “Basically, anyone who has difficulty
standing or walking, and is trying to improve their mobility,
might benefit from using the Alter-G.”
The Alter-G is designed for two types of people:
rehabilitation patients who need help with walking because
of neurological disorders, pain or weakness due to an
injury or other health problems; and people from the
community—like athletes—who may have a running injury
and want to return to training or competition. Runners who
put in high mileage training and want to avoid injury often
use the Alter-G to train without exposing their joints to the
pounding they receive on hard pavement.
“Studies show that jogging with the removal of 20 percent
of body weight does not alter metabolic responses, such as
VO2 (measure of aerobic fitness) and heart rate,” Tad says.
“This allows athletes to achieve their workout goals, while
limiting the negative effects of ground reaction forces.
“Basically, anyone who
has difficulty standing
or walking, and is
trying to improve their
mobility, might benefit
from using the Alter-G.”
“Once the Alter-G has been set, the user can stand, perform
exercises, walk or run on the treadmill,” Tad says. It does
this while keeping you safe from falling and allowing a
therapist to observe the walking pattern. Therapists and
patients are able to get feedback by viewing the patient’s
legs and feet on a screen from three different camera angles,
then make corrections to the walking pattern, in real time.
Use of the Alter-G requires a prescription for patients who
are under the care of a physician or physical therapist.
People from the community who want to use the Alter-G
do not need a prescription, but must fill out a health history
form, just like wellness clients and may need a doctor’s
clearance to exercise, depending on their health history.
“This is really a remarkable piece of equipment,” Tad says.
“It helps people rehabilitate quickly and get back to their
routine. Movement is freedom and the Alter-G helps
patients recover in ways they could not in the past.”
For more information about the Alter-G, call 239-343-7244.
To view a video on the Alter-G Treadmill,
go to tinyurl.com/AlterGTreadmill
Lee Memorial Health System Foundation News & Events
Campaign Gift Honors Dr. Arnall
Lee Memorial Health System Foundation thanks FineMark National Bank & Trust for their generous $100,000 capital campaign gift made in memory of longtime children’s
hospital leader Dr. Bob Arnall.
FineMark National Bank & Trust’s President and CEO Joseph R. Catti, who also serves as capital campaign chair, said of the gift, “We are very fortunate to be in the position to
make this gift to such a worthy cause as Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. We are honored to present this donation in memory of Dr. Bob Arnall, a dedicated
physician who worked at Lee Memorial for decades and also served as director of the children’s hospital from 1999 until 2008.”
The donation will provide lifesaving treatment for young patients through construction of the new Golisano
Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
“We greatly appreciate this generous donation from FineMark National Bank & Trust,” said Jim Nathan, president
of Lee Memorial Health System. “Choosing to honor Dr. Arnall in this way is very special for all of us who were
touched by Dr. Bob’s compassion and concern for others and who continue to benefit from his vision of having
leading edge health care for the children of Southwest Florida. We hope others will consider helping achieve Dr.
Bob’s vision by supporting the campaign to help build the new Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.”
Call 239-343-6053, visit ChildrensHospitalGoal.org or email ChildrensHospitalGoal@LeeMemorial.org to learn
how you can help save children’s lives by supporting the capital campaign.
Taking part in the check presentation were, from left, Joseph R. Catti, president/CEO,
FineMark; Sharon MacDonald, chief foundation officer, Lee Memorial Health System
Foundation; Jim Nathan, president, Lee Memorial Health System and Dr. Arnall’s son,
Robert Arnall, executive vice president & senior lender, FineMark.
Lee Memorial Health System Team Members
Donate More than $140,000
What do educational conferences, lifesaving medical equipment and a new children’s hospital have in common?
They’re just a few of the projects that will be funded through gifts made by Lee Memorial Health System employees, physicians
and volunteers during the annual RX Games giving campaign.
Friendly fundraising competition between teams resulted in $143,454 raised with Team HealthPark bringing in the highest
total for the second year in a row.
Participants took part in contests such as the bedpan bean bag toss, trivia challenges and top master chef.
Local businesses, including Bahama Breeze, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jet’s Pizza, Olive Garden, Rib City and Subway provided prizes
and delicious food to thank RX Games donors.
For information about the campaign and sponsorship exposure for your business, call 239-343-6053
or email Foundation@LeeMemorial.org.
Cheerleaders Kandi and Kip, better known as Wendy Piascik, vice president of patient care
services, and Scott Kashman, chief administrative officer for Cape Coral Hospital, provided
extra special spirit for their Cape Coral Hospital team during the 2014 RX Games. Go team!
Ada’s Cooking For A Cause
Ada’s Natural Market on College Parkway in Fort Myers recently hosted a 6-session cooking class for Lee Memorial Health System Foundation’s Impact Initiative program.
Heather and Dan Creighton, owners of Ada’s, donated 10 percent of related sales to support Cape Coral Hospital’s Optimal Healing Environment project.
More than $4,200 was raised as students learned to prepare great tasting meals made from natural, healthy
ingredients.
The series was underwritten by Kurt Maurillo from the Wolf, Metzger, Maurillo & Banfield Wealth Management
Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.
Learn more about Impact Initiative by contacting Christin Collins at Christin.Collins@LeeMemorial.org
or 239-343-6062.
Impact Initiative Cooking Class participants included, from left, Barb Stevens, Christin
Collins, Jane Gold, Noelle Melanson, Christina Schwinn, Chef Winfield, Becky Sharon,
David Collins, Terri Lee, Brittany Cohill, Jennifer Taschner-Blurton, Kavitha Taschner,
Elaine Green, Maria Taschner, Cindy Lastovica and Tiffany Williams.
Lee Memorial Health System Foundation Board of Trustees
Officers
Charles K. Idelson,
Chairperson
James W. Orr, Jr., M.D.,
Vice Chairperson
Joseph R. Catti,
Treasurer
Elaine Hawkins,
Secretary
Trustees
John Blais
Amanda Cross
James Doyle, Jr.
Dorothy Fitzgerald
Joe Gammons
Jonathan Gopman
Jerry Hemmer
William N. Horowitz
Neil LeClair
Michael Mullins
Nick Naples
Michael B. Peceri
David M. Platt
Guy F. Rhoades
Sonya Sawyer
David Shellenbarger
Madeleine Taeni
Pablo Veintimilla
Stuart Zaikov
Trustees Ex-Officio
Richard Akin
Mary Ann George
Kathy Bridge-Liles
Sandy Heise
Jim Nathan
Sue Twining
Emeritus Committee
John Gleeson
Frank Haskell
Garrett “Buzz” Reasoner
Alexander Roulston
Joseph D. Zaks
HEALTHY NEWS is published as a community
service by LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM,
P. O. Box 2218, Fort Myers, FL 33902
HealthyNews@LeeMemorial.org
September 2014
System President
Jim Nathan
Vice president Strategic Services
kevin newingham
Editorial
Jennifer Foote
Kali Lynch
Lynn Melvin
JL Watson
A Heart Healthy Recipe to Try
Three Sisters Soup
Ingredients:
6 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 16-ounce can low sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained
and rinsed
1 16-ounce can low sodium kidney beans, drained and
rinsed
1 small onion, chopped
DESIGN
KEVIN OWEN
1 celery rib, chopped
Lee Memorial Health System
Board of Directors
District 1
Stephen R. Brown, M.D.
Marilyn Stout
District 2
Richard B. Akin
Nancy M. McGovern, RN, MSM
District 3
Sanford N. Cohen, M.D.
David F. Collins
1 15-ounce can cooked pumpkin (Be careful, don’t get
pumpkin pie filling)
5 fresh sage leaves, chopped or ½ teaspoon dried
½teaspoon curry powder
Directions:
1. Bring stock to a slow boil.
District 4
Diane Champion
Chris Hansen
2. Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.
Boil for 10 minutes.
District 5
Jessica Carter
Stephanie L. Meyer, BSN, RN
3. Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin, and
simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
Recipe is from the American Heart Association
Cardiac Rehabilitation Now Available for
Heart Failure Patients
Exercise is a valuable part of recovery after a cardiac event or
after the diagnosis of a heart condition. Cardiac rehabilitation is
an effective tool in helping patients understand how to exercise
safely. In addition to exercise, cardiac rehabilitation includes
risk factor education, lifestyle modification classes and support.
Cardiac rehabilitation helps heart patients improve their quality of
life, experience fewer hospital stays and reduce the risk of
developing future heart problems.
Recently, the
Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services
“This expansion of coverage for
(CMS) expanded
HF is something that our national
coverage for cardiac
organization—the American Association
of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
rehabilitation to patients
Rehabilitation (AACVPR)—has been
with chronic, stable
lobbying for for a long time,” explains
Marion Harris-Barter, cardiac rehabilitation
heart failure (HF).
nurse who coordinates the intake for patients
Recently, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded coverage
for cardiac rehabilitation to patients with
chronic, stable heart failure (HF).
referred to the program and president of the
Florida Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Association. “HF is a condition that requires appropriate
treatment and lifelong management to keep patients out of the
hospital. Since the announcement that CMS is covering cardiac rehabilitation for HF,
we have developed new treatment plans to provide the specific education and support
HF patients need to understand and manage their condition.”
Bob Friedel
opportunity to take control, learn and manage their health. “Bob is a great example of
someone taking control of his health,” Helen says. “He has chosen to not let HF slow
him down.”
Bob Friedel, 69, was the first patient referred to cardiac rehabilitation specifically for HF.
Bob admits that Dr. Chazal was right in referring him to cardiac rehabilitation. “I
think it is a great program,” he says. “I’m really getting something out of it. I have
more energy and at my last appointment, Dr. Chazal said my heart function has
improved to 45 percent. Even though I never felt that bad before, I want to keep up
everything I’ve learned so I can keep feeling as good as I have.”
“I disagreed with my cardiologist [Richard Chazal, M.D.] because I didn’t think I
needed this program,” Bob says. “I felt great—really no different than I felt before I
was diagnosed, but he explained to me that I needed to go to rehabilitation to keep it
from getting worse.”
While not everyone gets the same results as Bob, studies show that patients
participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program generally feel better and have a lower
incidence of hospitalization for heart failure.
Helen Tolliver, RN is one of the cardiac rehabilitation nurses who worked with Bob.
“Bob has a weakened heart, but he never believed it and you wouldn’t know it if you
met him,” she says. “He looked great, felt great and worked at a high level, but the
reality is that his heart—when he started—was only working at 35 percent.”
There are specific criteria for referral, so speak to your cardiologist if you have HF and
are interested in participating in cardiac rehabilitation.
Helen, Marion and the other staff understand that patients can be frightened about a
cardiac event or the diagnosis of a heart condition, but cardiac rehabilitation offers the
3
Stroke Requires Immediate Care
Lee Memorial Health System Hospitals Provide
24/7 Access to Treatment
The fourth leading cause of death in the United States, strokes occur when the blood
supply to the brain is interrupted or severely reduced. When it comes to stroke care,
time lost is brain lost, so seek immediate attention—call 911—if you or someone you
are with experiences any signs or symptoms of a stroke.
Hospital designated
as Primary Stroke
Centers, our
community has
24/7, year-round
access to world-class
stroke care, including
lifesaving procedures
like stents and coiling
for brain aneurysms
and strokes.
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke:
F – Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it
numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
A – Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the
person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
What are the Differences between a
Primary Stroke Center
and a
Comprehensive Stroke
Center?
Primary Stroke Centers
• Takes care of most cases
of ischemic—blood vessel
blockage—types of stroke.
• Minimally invasive catheter
procedures are not
required.
• No requirement for a
separate intensive care unit
for stroke patients.
Comprehensive Stroke
Center
• Cares for all types of
stroke patients, including
bleeding—or hemorrhagic—
strokes, such as those caused
by brain aneurysms.
• 24/7 access to minimally
invasive catheter procedures
to treat stroke.
• Dedicated neuroscience
By incorporating
• Access to neurosurgery
intensive care unit for stroke
up-to-date, researchwithin 2 hours.
patients.
based protocols, Lee
• Sends complex patients
Memorial Health
• On-site neurological
to a Comprehensive
System hospitals
availability 24/7 with the
Stroke Center.
have created a hubability to perform complex
and-spoke system in
procedures.
order to provide the
• Receives patients from
best, most efficient
Primary Stroke Centers.
treatment. In other
words, the Primary
Stroke Centers serve
as the first line for
stroke patients and the Comprehensive Stroke Center is available for the most serious
cases, including patients needing neurointerventional procedures. Gulf Coast Medical
Center treats all stroke patients, while also accepting transfers from the Primary Stroke
Centers.
S – Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the
person unable to speak or hard to understand?
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence,
like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated
correctly?
T – Time to Call 911 – If someone shows any
of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go
away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital
immediately. Check the time so you know when the
first symptoms appeared.
Other symptoms include:
• Abrupt change in balance or the ability to walk
• Loss of vision in one or both eyes
Lee Memorial Health System’s HealthPark Medical Center also is working toward
Primary Stroke Center designation, which it will officially earn this fall/winter.
• Sudden onset of severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness
or altered consciousness
Remember to think F.A.S.T. when it comes to stroke. Dial 911 for assistance. And rest
easy knowing that the best care is available right here in Southwest Florida.
With the recent recognition and designation of Gulf Coast Medical Center as a
Comprehensive Stroke Center—along with Cape Coral Hospital and Lee Memorial
Knee Replacement Restores
Mobility
Trips up and down the stairs in her home were treacherous. Delivering food to the
senior center was almost impossible for Kewanee, Ill. resident Rose Melbourne.
Then, one night, the 76-year-old sat down and couldn’t get up.
“I didn’t know
what to expect,
but I did not have
to take anything
stronger than
Tylenol,”
Rose says.
“I had a fluid build-up on my knees,” Rose says. A visiting orthopedic physician
administered a shot, but the medication did little to relieve her pain.
Rose called her daughter in Florida, who suggested that she fly here to see an
orthopedic surgeon who could help determine the best treatment option. “I knew if
I came to Florida, I could see someone and stay at my daughter’s house, which has
no steps,” she says.
A few weeks later, Rose flew to Florida, moved in with her daughter, Laura,
researched physicians and met with orthopedic surgeon Edward Humbert, D.O.
Dr. Humbert determined that Rose was an ideal candidate for knee replacement
surgery. “Her cartilage was gone, resulting in the condition of bone rubbing on
bone,” Dr. Humbert says. “This condition is quite painful and results in a lower
quality of life.”
After her first surgery in October 2013, Rose decided to stay in Florida to
recuperate; then complete surgery on her right knee. “At first I thought I would wait
for a year between surgeries, but I recovered so well, I knew I wanted to regain full
mobility,” she says.
Because previous methods to treat Rose’s knees were unsuccessful, Dr. Humbert
recommended knee replacement for both knees, beginning with her left knee, which
was the most painful. To prepare, Rose exercised and changed her eating habits. She
lost 40 pounds before her surgery and another 25 pounds afterward. “I wanted the
surgery to be successful,” she says.
Rose’s experience is common, Dr. Humbert says. “So often, when patients are still
in the hospital following their first joint replacement, they want to know when they
can schedule the second one,” he says. “The technology today allows us to make a
real difference and to eliminate or reduce years of constant pain.”
Dr. Humbert advised Rose that knee replacement surgery can be painful, but she
was prepared. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I did not have to take anything
stronger than Tylenol,” Rose says. “I was discharged a week early from therapy.”
Dr. Humbert replaced Rose’s right knee in March and she returned home to
Illinois early in the summer. Her new knees take her up and down the stairs in her
house with ease and she is in the process of setting up a garage sale. She plans to
return to Florida in the near future for another visit—this time without a surgical
appointment.
“My life has changed,” she says. “I have discovered muscles I did not know I had. My
friends cannot believe I’m getting around as well as I am. I’ve slimmed down even
more and plan to go back to my volunteer work.”
Edward T. Humbert, D.O.
Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida
7331 College Parkway
Suite 300
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-337-2003
Before: Raw bone rubbing
on raw bone.
www.LeeMemorial.org
tes a
After: A new surface crea
t.
smooth functioning join
4
Check the Volume – Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is
Possible, Preventable
Whether it is music, chatter on the TV or the radio, traffic, or birds and other animals,
wherever we are, we are surrounded by sounds. Other sounds also permeate our
existence, including power tools, hairdryers, firecrackers, squeaking toys, household
appliances and emergency vehicle sirens. Though we can’t escape many of these sounds,
we can manage volume levels, distance from the source and length of time listening in
order to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
“The damage of hearing loss is cumulative,” Dr. Morgenstein says. “Slight hearing loss
in childhood or adolescence can lead to substantial hearing loss in adulthood. Hearing
loss can be permanent, so I urge parents to monitor their children’s level of noise and
length of exposure. One of the best tips I give parents is to keep their child’s MP3
player at half the maximum volume and limit the child’s listening to 20 minutes on, 20
minutes off. I remind parents that if they can hear the music coming from their child’s
ear bud, the volume is too high.”
“Noise-induced hearing loss is a significant social and public
health concern, especially for adolescents,” explains Stuart
Morgenstein, D.O., pediatric ear, nose and throat physician.
“Approximately 18 percent of people ages 6-19 years
old have noise-induced hearing loss. However, it is
preventable by limiting exposure to sounds of a certain
decibel.”
Dr. Morgenstein adds that parents can help protect their children’s ears by knowing
which sounds affect hearing and using earplugs and earmuffs, when necessary.
“This is important because noise-induced hearing loss is preventable,”
Dr. Morgenstein says.
To learn more about noise-induced hearing loss, Dr. Morgenstein recommends visiting
www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.
Decibels are the measure of the intensity of
sounds, and sounds that are higher than
85 decibels can cause hearing loss, Dr.
Morgenstein says. “For example, squeaking
toys can range from 78-108 decibels,” he
says. As kids get older, their ears are exposed
to other high decibel sounds, including
firecrackers—125 decibels; music on an
MP3 player—when listened to at maximum
volume is 75-105 decibels; and concerts—
which can range from 130-140 decibels.
Stuart Morgenstein, D.O.
Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
Golisano Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida
15901 Bass Road
Suite 102
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9890
Patients Live Longer with Advanced
Prostate Cancer Protocols
Living with
Prostate Cancer
Each year 260,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer
and 34,000 die from the disease. The numbers continue to increase because of our
aging population.
Fortunately, modern-day medicine
allows us many options in treating
prostate cancer. The earlier there’s a
diagnosis, the more successful the
chance for a cure. This is especially
important in younger patients who
have a longer life expectancy.
“Fortunately, because of newer advances in prostate diagnosis and care, most
patients with prostate cancer live long and satisfying lives,” says urologist
Steven H. Paletsky, M.D.
The disease can strike any man but the incidence is higher in black men than
white men, and is lowest in Hispanics and the American Indian population.
“Prostate cancer is very manageable when we catch it in the early stages,” Dr.
Paletsky says. “For the 80 percent of men who seek treatment, the cancer is
localized to the prostate gland itself. Approximately 20 percent of patients, when
first diagnosed, have cancer that has spread. It is extremely important to make the
diagnosis when the cancer is confined to the prostate since a cure is only possible
in those patients.”
“Not all patients need to be treated for
prostate cancer,” Dr. Paletsky warns. “Those patients who have very minimal disease
can be watched using ‘active surveillance.’ This is monitoring their PSA, performing
rectal examinations on a routine basis, and periodically performing a biopsy to see if
the cancer is increasing in size.” This treatment option is especially important in older
patients who may not be good candidates for definitive treatment.
If the cancer is detected after it has left the gland and traveled to other parts of
the body, a physician’s goal is to control the disease. About 30 percent of men
age 50 have the potential to develop prostate cancer. This incidence increases
to approximately 50 percent in 70-year-old patients. “As one ages, the incidence
of prostate cancer increases,” Dr. Paletsky says. “Approximately 1 in 7 patients
will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. Small cancers usually do not cause
a significant problem, but as the cancer increases in size, then survivability
decreases.”
Treatment options include:
• Radiation therapy: This involves approximately 40 daily treatments exposing the
prostate to a short course of radiation. Over time, this treatment has produced
better results by localizing the prostate cancer.
• Brachytherapy “prostate seeds”: This is a very common way of precisely delivering
radiation exclusively to the prostate organ. This is a form of radiation therapy since
the isotope “seed” is radioactive. The advantage of prostate seeding is that it is
generally one treatment delivered to the patient.
There is no specific known cause for prostate cancer but it appears more often as
men age. It is unusual for a man younger than age 50 to develop prostate cancer.
“At one time, researchers thought testosterone increased the incidence of prostate
cancer, but as we know today, testosterone is not the cause of prostate cancer, but
may feed a prostate cancer making it grow faster,” Dr. Paletsky says. “Decreasing
testosterone levels early, by removing the male organs (testicles), decreases the
growth rate of prostate cancer. Modern-day treatment, however, is accomplished
with drugs, which have the same effect of decreasing testosterone. One needs to
remember that testosterone is the highest in younger patients when the incidence
of prostate cancer is generally the lowest. As we age, the level of testosterone
decreases and the incidence of prostate cancer increases.”
• Surgery: All surgery is designed to remove the entire prostate. Advances in robotic
procedures and the perineal approach—which utilizes a small incision around the
rectum—have helped many patients retain continence and erectile function.
• Suppression of hormone levels: This option is for patients who have already had
a cancer diagnosis and the cancer has spread. There are certain drugs that can
do this effectively, which do not change the overall lifestyle of the patient. These
medications are all designed to decrease testosterone.
• Medication: In advanced stages of prostate cancer, medication is used to control
the disease. Physicians recommend specific drugs or types of drugs on an
individual basis.
Patients can reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by:
• Maintaining a healthy weight. Obese patients are more likely to develop prostate
cancer
“Living with prostate cancer now is certainly different than it was many years ago,”
Dr. Paletsky says. “Patients can live many years and have a good, fruitful, enjoyable life.
When properly treated, even patients whose cancer has spread, die with their cancer,
not because of their prostate cancer.”
• Reducing consumption of red meat and dairy products
• Eating healthy fruits and vegetables
Steven H. Paletsky, M.D.
Florida Specialists in Urology
7335 Gladiolus Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-689-6677
• Increasing intake of vitamins D and E, selenium, soy, green tea, lycopene
(tomato-rich products) and anti-inflammatory medications
Screening for prostate cancer is relatively simple. The first step is PSA (prostatespecific antigen), a simple blood test that costs about $30. “It is also important
to see your physician to get a digital rectal examination on a yearly basis,” Dr.
Paletsky says. “What is important is the fact that the PSA should minimally
increase on a yearly basis. An abrupt change signals the possibility of prostate
cancer. This is the ‘PSA velocity.’” The level of the PSA reflects the size of the
prostate. Small prostates have a low PSA. As the prostate increases in size with
aging, the PSA generally increases.
5
Patients Take Control with Balance Vest
For Shirley Cropper walking on her own was a struggle.
Essential tremors and peripheral neuropathy—or nerve
damage—left her unsteady on her feet, requiring the
use of a walker. After a couple serious falls, including
one that left her unconscious, she talked to her doctor
about a referral for balance therapy.
Though Shirley previously attended therapy with Dawn
Root, physical therapist, treatment was different this
time because Dawn was armed with a tool that she
thought might help Shirley—a BalanceWear™ vest.
“The weighted vest affects the body’s ability to sense
where it is in space,” Dawn explains. “By strategically
placing ¼ and ½ pound weights in various positions on
the torso, we can counterbalance weakness and improve
balance. Patients aren’t automatically cured, but we see
great improvements when used in conjunction
with therapy.”
Dawn says the weighted vest is an individualized
approach to balance therapy because the positioning
of the weights is very specific for each patient.
Additionally, some patients may just need to use the
vest during therapy sessions, while others need to wear
it all the time. Shirley wears her vest all of the time.
“The weighted vest
affects the body’s
ability to sense
where it is in space,”
Dawn explains.
“By strategically
placing ¼ and ½
pound weights in
various positions
on the torso, we
can counterbalance
weakness and
improve balance.”
“I use it every day,” Shirley says. “From the moment
Dawn put the vest on me and I tried it for the first time,
I wanted one. I remember walking a straight line and
thinking that Dawn was supporting me, but she wasn’t—for me, the vest worked
right away. Now I’m able to clean and do my thing without fear of falling.”
The weighted vest helps patients with balance and mobility loss caused by:
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
Lee Center for Rehabilitation & Wellness is currently the only facility in our area to
offer this type of therapy, though weighting patients with balance problems has been
around for a while. “The difference between weighting patients with and without the
vest is the strategic placement of the weights with the vest,” Dawn says. “We can truly
individualize the care for each patient.”
• Stroke
• Head trauma
• Brain surgery
• Osteoporosis
Dawn—who is certified by BalanceWear™—is joined by Rebecca Loiacano, physical
therapist, who is currently in the process of certification. Together they have seen
patients from as far away as Tampa and Ocala.
• Ataxia, or lack of coordination
• Cerebral palsy
“The vest doesn’t help everyone,” Dawn says. “But for those it does help, it changes
their lives.”
• Dizziness
• Inner ear issues
If you think you could benefit from the weighted vest, talk to you physician about a
referral to physical therapy.
To view a video on the balance vest,
go to tinyurl.com/BalanceVest
Cataracts Affect Most Older Adults
Graying hair, slower reaction times and cataracts can all be part of the
aging process, but seniors are not the only age group who need their
eyes checked.
“Presently, we consider aging to be the most likely cause of cataracts,”
says ophthalmologist David C. Brown, M.D. “This concept, however, is
an oversimplification. Other factors may contribute to the condition.”
Risk factors include:
• Family history of cataracts
• Eye injuries
• Some medications, such as cortisone
• Health problems, including diabetes
Regular eye exams are an integral part of a good health routine. “People
who suffer visual impairment from cataracts, even modest impairment,
are much more inclined to have automobile accidents or falls with
broken bones, and cataracts can even be a contributing factor to the
progression of dementia,” Dr. Brown says.
• Long exposure to sunlight
Common complaints of a cataract patient could include:
• Smoking
• Difficulty reading
• Alcohol
• Glare
“Because many cataracts take years to develop, the onset of visual
disturbance may be virtually unnoticed by the patient,” Dr. Brown says.
“Commonly, people feel that their glasses are outdated or inadequate,
when in fact it may be a result of cataract formation.”
Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye, and can affect people of any age,
including infants but are most common in men and women age 65
and older. Approximately 75 percent of people age 75 and older have
cataracts.
There are no medical treatments, such as eye drops or medication
to prevent cataracts. People who develop cataracts have only one
treatment option: surgery. “Over the years, cataract treatment has
improved, including surgical techniques, diagnostics and intraocular
(in the eye) lens options to improve vision outcomes,” Dr. Brown says.
www.LeeMemorial.org
Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed in
the United States. “The cataract operation is performed in a painless
manner with the aid of sophisticated surgical devices,” Dr. Brown
says. “Great advances in cataract surgery have included state of the art
lens replacement for correcting vision. These lenses can even correct
astigmatism and reading problems. Because the operation is quick
and painless, there is essentially no risk and even patients with serious
medical conditions may undergo cataract surgery.”
6
• Trouble driving at night
• Loss of color perception
David C. Brown, M.D.
Eye Centers of Florida
4101 Evans Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-939-3456
Car Seat Inspections and a Baby Care Class
Keep Little Ones Safe
It seems easy enough: purchase a car seat, read directions and install it in the car; but,
the reality is that 3 out of every 4 car seats are not properly installed.
to avoid this tragic accident. We also go over general car seat safety, and encourage
parents to sign up for the free inspection.”
To help parents, grandparents and other caregivers ensure the safety of their child’s
car seat, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Kohl’s Kids Safety
Program offer free car seat fittings throughout Southwest Florida. Golisano Children’s
Hospital also offers a Baby Care & Car Seat Safety course to help parents keep their
children as safe as possible.
Additionally, for those families who qualify, Golisano Children’s Hospital—through a
grant from the Florida Occupant Protection Resource Center (OPRC)—has a reduced
rate car seat program, as well as a special needs car seat rental program.
For more information, general injury prevention questions or to schedule a car seat
inspection, contact Lorena Rodriguez at 239-343-5803 or Sally Kreuscher, child
advocacy program coordinator, at 239-343-6199.
“It isn’t mandatory to have a car seat inspected,” explains Lorena Rodriguez, child
advocate. “But, we recommend it—especially before baby’s delivery—because the
number of car seats installed incorrectly is so high. A lot of parents think they have
it right, but the instructions are usually very general and every vehicle and car seat
is different. So, by scheduling an inspection—which takes about 25-30 minutes, we
can help teach parents how to safely and properly install the car seat. That way they
are 100 percent sure that their baby’s seat is installed correctly, which can reduce fatal
injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers ages 1-4.”
Important facts and tips about car seat and child
restraint safety:
• Car seats expire—usually between six to 10 years after they are manufactured—
because technology improves, standards change and materials wear down.
• Avoid purchasing and/or installing a secondhand car seat because it could be
expired, it could have been recalled, important information could be missing or
it could have been involved in an accident, which means it would fall short of
current safety standards.
Lorena, who is a certified child passenger safety tech, adds that car seat inspections
can be done at any time and can be very helpful for parents with multiple children in
child restraints.
In addition to completing the car seat inspections, Lorena teaches the Baby Care &
Car Seat Safety course, which helps prepare expectant parents for the birth of their
new baby.
• Rear-facing is the safest option and provides the best protection for the baby’s
head, neck and spine. The law states that babies younger than 1 year and
smaller than 20 pounds should remain rear-facing. The American Academy
of Pediatrics, as well as the child advocates, recommend keeping a child rearfacing until he or she is 2 years old or until he or she grows out of the rearfacing seat.
“The class is a real confidence
builder,” Lorena says. “We teach
parents about what to expect
the first few days, as well as
basic infant care, safe sleep, cord
care, bathing—and drowning
prevention, diapering—along
with falls prevention, and
childproofing. We spread
awareness about the dangers
of unintentionally leaving a
baby or child in the car, and we
advise parents to use reminders
• Convertible car seats are a good option because they work for babies as small as
5 pounds up to children who weigh 65-80 pounds, depending on the brand of
the car seat.
• Children younger than 13 should sit in the back seat of the car, and children
should use a booster seat until they are 57 inches—or 4’ 9”.
• Beginning in 2015, the law will require children to be in a restraint until their
6th birthday.
Home Health Monitors Patients from a Distance
There is no place like home when you are recovering from surgery, ill or
just need extra help while recovering from a health problem. With Lee
Memorial Home Health, you can receive professional health care in the
comfort and familiarity of your own home.
“Today, advanced technology medical equipment for use in the home
provides treatments and services that once were available only in the
hospital,” says Jonathan Hollander, clinical director, Lee Memorial Home
Health. “Additionally, in the privacy of your own home, you can receive
care from Lee Memorial Home Health’s highly skilled registered nurses;
physical, speech and occupational therapists; certified home health aides
and medical social workers.”
Services include:
•
•
Self-care skills (bathing, preparing food, cleaning, etc.)
•
•
•
Communication skills (speech therapy, community outreach)
Muscle re-education (learning to walk again, help with grasping,
moving)
Personal care with hygiene and related tasks
Counseling and social support
“We offer a wide range of services to meet the special medical, physical
and emotional needs of our patients,” Jonathan says. “Our team of health care
professionals will develop a comprehensive home care plan, and monitor and
review your progress. Registered nurses supervise your care and treatment. Physical,
speech and occupational therapists provide rehabilitation services as prescribed by
the physician, and home health aides provide a full range of personal care services.
Medical social workers provide counseling and social service support to you and
family members.”
Telehealth is one of the program’s vital components. Telehealth allows remote
monitoring of a patient’s blood pressure, oxygen level, heart rate and weight, as
appropriate. “The installers take the Telehealth equipment to the home and train our
patients or their caregivers on how to take the patient’s vital signs,” says Cathy Brady,
manager, Telehealth and Lifeline programs. “Once the vital signs are taken and
questions are answered, this information is transmitted to our central monitoring
station here in Home Health. We have nurses who review this information. If the
patient has an abnormal vital sign reading or answers yes to one of the disease
specific questions, the Telehealth nurse will intervene.”
taking the incorrect amount or taking medications at the wrong time. “The
medication dispenser is used for someone who is unable to safely manage their
own medications,” Cathy says. “This could be due to a physical or cognitive reason.
The medication dispenser is filled by a loved one, a friend or caregiver. Both of the
medication dispensers are locked and monitored. The dispensers are programmed at
predetermined times to dispense the users medication.”
The dispensers provide audible and visual reminders that it is time to take
medication, thus increasing medication compliance by the user. Multiple alerts can
be sent to the caregiver, acknowledging missed doses, as well as reminders that it is
time to refill the dispenser and loss of electricity.
“The medication dispenser gives the user and family or caregiver peace of mind,”
Cathy says.
Call your physician to find out if Lee Memorial Home
Health is right for you or call Home Health for an
evaluation, 239-418-2900. Most of the services are covered
by major insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid.
Home Health and Telehealth services are designed to keep patients comfortable
in the own homes, avoiding unnecessary trips to the emergency department and
hospital admissions. Another component is two medication dispensing systems.
These systems help reduce medication errors, whether due to missed doses,
7
Children with Fever or Those Recently Vaccinated Should
Avoid Aspirin
Low-dose aspirin comes with a warning: Children and teenagers younger than 18 years
old should not take aspirin if they have chickenpox, flu or any undiagnosed illness, or
if they have recently received a vaccine. The reason: The threat of Reye’s syndrome.
Symptoms can include:
Reye’s syndrome is a condition that develops in children and teenagers, usually after
exposure to aspirin during a viral infection, particularly varicella (chicken pox) or
influenza (the flu).
• Stupor
• Vomiting, followed by confusion
and agitation
• Coma
• Enlarged liver
“Its symptoms are related to encephalopathy (brain dysfunction) and acute liver
dysfunction and they usually show up several days after the viral infection is no longer
apparent,” says family medicine physician Charles “Jack” Arnold, M.D.
• Infants can have seizures and
apneic episodes (pauses in breathing)
To treat the disease, physicians focus on lessening the stress on the brain. This is
accomplished by preventing seizures and relieving intracranial (brain) pressure.
“The ideal situation is for a patient to take other medication and eliminate the chance
of developing Reye’s syndrome,” Dr. Arnold says. “But if it’s too late, we can administer
anti-seizure medication. Patients with Reye’s should be adequately oxygenated, with
their head in a tilted, upright position.”
Children who develop Reye’s have a 31 percent mortality rate. Children who develop
high blood ammonia levels and children younger than age 5 are the most at-risk for
developing the condition. The high ammonia levels represent a greater degree of acute
liver dysfunction.
“The good news is the incident rate of Reye’s syndrome is down,” Dr. Arnold says.
“When first identified, it affected as many as 1 in 100,000 people. Now, it affects 1
in 1,000,000. This is most likely due to the FDA labeling on aspirin products and
increasing public knowledge of the dangers of aspirin use to
treat fevers in children suffering from the flu or chicken pox.”
Charles “Jack” Arnold, M.D.
Family Medicine
Lee Physician Group
2780 Cleveland Avenue
Suite 709
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-3831
Eliminating Elective
Pre-term Deliveries
The final weeks of pregnancy can feel like time slows down as the excitement
and anticipation of meeting your new baby grows. While it may be tempting to
schedule an earlier delivery, it is not the best option for your baby, as significant and
important growth takes place during the last weeks of gestation. Additionally, many
hospitals, including Lee Memorial Health System hospitals, have changed their
policies to curb early elective births prior to 39 weeks.
Babies born prior to 39 weeks tend to have breathing and feeding problems, and
increased risk of infection.
“About four years ago, we noticed that there was an increased number of 37-38
week babies going to the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] with respiratory
issues,” explains Christine “Chris” Jabaay, RN, Lee Memorial Health System director
of labor and delivery. “At the same time, the Florida Perinatal Collaborative and the
March of Dimes were launching a pilot study to eliminate early elective deliveries.
We decided to apply to participate in the study, and HealthPark Medical Center was
chosen to participate.”
Chris says the 2010 baseline submitted to March of Dimes showed that 30-35
percent of deliveries were elective and prior to 39 weeks.
“Early on, we had good physician backup and administrative support,” Chris says.
“Dr. Mary Yankaskas [obstetrician/gynecologist on Lee Memorial Health System’s
medical staff] took the lead on helping to create the new policy. If other doctors had
questions about the policy, then she was able to meet one-on-one with the doctor.
Now, we have Dr. Sarah DiGiorgi [obstetrician/gynecologist on Lee Memorial
Health System’s medical staff] in that leadership role and she has continued to
provide great support. HealthPark Medical Center also has a dedicated scheduler,
who serves as the gatekeeper and requires valid reasons and documentation to
support the need for early deliveries.”
There are times that an early delivery is medically necessary, Chris says. “An early
delivery is much different from an elective early delivery,” she says. “Because of that,
today we see less than 5 percent—usually 2 percent or less—of births that are prior
to 39 weeks.”
There are times that an early delivery is
medically necessary, Chris says. “An early
delivery is much different from an elective
early delivery.”
The success of the initiative and new policy recently earned Lee Memorial Health
System’s Cape Coral Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center recognition from the
March of Dimes and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for
the significant reduction in early elective inductions and cesarean deliveries.
Chris reminds all new parents that, if the pregnancy is a healthy one, allow labor to
begin on its own—it’s the healthiest start for the baby.
www.LeeMemorial.org
8
Lee Memorial Health System Welcomes Pulmonologists
We are pleased to welcome new pulmonologists to Lee Memorial Health System. They provide much-needed care to members of our community.
Brian Horner, D.O.
Pulmonology
tinyurl.com/DrHorner
Ragai Meena, M.D.
Pulmonology
tinyurl.com/DrMeena
His areas of expertise:
• Bronchoscopy
• Critical care medicine
• Sleep medicine
• Lung diseases, including
emphysema, pneumonia,
COPD and lung cancer
His areas of expertise:
• Bronchoscopy
• Critical care medicine
• Sleep medicine
Stephen Wilczynski, M.D.
Pulmonology
tinyurl.com/DrWilczynski
His areas of expertise:
•Lung diseases, including
asthma and COPD
•Critical care medicine
•Pulmonary testing
9131 College Pointe Court, Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9130
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease that affects
millions of Americans, and is more common among Caucasians. This condition takes
years to develop and usually is associated with tobacco use and smoking. COPD
affects the airways and lung tissue in a way that results in a variety of symptoms,
including shortness of breath, decreased endurance, chest pain and chronic cough
with sputum production.
“There is a wide spectrum of COPD symptoms,” explains Ragai Meena, M.D.,
pulmonologist. “The condition causes the airway to narrow during exhalation,
which gives the feeling of shortness of breath and air being trapped in the lungs. An
inflammatory component of the disease process leads to an overproduction of mucus
and sputum. Hence, symptoms may vary from one person to another.”
As the disease progresses through the years, patients may experience worsening
COPD, which result in acute inflammation with or without an infection and require
specific treatment with anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics. “The endstage of COPD is emphysema,” Dr. Meena explains. “In this stage of the disease,
patients are very short of breath, may require oxygen therapy and inhalers to help
with breathing, and sometimes require being admitted to the hospital or the intensive
care unit (ICU) if they are acutely ill.”
To diagnose COPD, doctors perform a pulmonary function test (PFT). “The
pulmonary function test is considered the gold standard for diagnosis by the
American Thoracic Society (ATS),” Dr. Meena says. “During the test, we look at how
much air the patient inhales and exhales, as well as how quickly the patient exhales.”
Other tests used to diagnose COPD include chest X-rays or arterial blood gas
analysis (ABG)—which measures how well the lungs are bringing oxygen into the
blood and removing carbon dioxide. Smoking cessation is a key component of the
management plan of this condition, which may help slow the progress of the damage
to the lung tissues.
Dr. Meena says the focus of treatment has shifted over the past few years. “It used
to be focused on inhalers to make the airways wider and reduce the inflammation,”
he says. “Now the focus is on combining inhalers with improving the quality of
life, keeping patients from being admitted to the hospital and increasing a person’s
endurance with pulmonary rehabilitation.”
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive program that helps patients increase
their understanding of their disease, teaches breathing techniques to decrease anxiety
with air hunger, advises patients of dietary modifications and proper medication use,
and helps them develop an emergency action plan. The program also involves upper
and lower body weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing exercises.
Lee Memorial Health System hosts the
“Huffers and Puffers” support group
for COPD patients, friends, family
members and caregivers.
“We prescribe pulmonary rehabilitation based on a standardized staging system for
COPD severity (GOLD staging) and patients’ symptoms,” Dr. Meena says. “This
program is approved by Medicare due to its benefits of improving quality of life.”
Time: 1-3 p.m., third Friday
of the month
By maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, smoking cessation, properly
taking medication and keeping up with doctors’ appointments, patients can feel better
and slow the progression of lung damage.
Ragai Meena, M.D.
Pulmonology
Lee Physician Group
9131 College Pointe Court
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9130
tinyurl.com/DrMeena
Location: Lee Memorial Hospital
Medical Office Building, Suite 705
Registration and for More Information:
Call Nayda Agosto at 239-343-3520
9
P h y s i c i an
Adult Physicians
Allergy/Immunology
Gaston Turnier, M.D.
Lee Ann Dunnington, ARNP
11.4761 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 3
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-9722
12.1265 Creekside Pkwy.
Ste. 200, Naples, FL 34108
239-254-2470
Cardiology
James A. Conrad, M.D.
Robert M. Grohowski, M.D.
Subhash Kshetrapal, M.D.
Steven T. Lee, M.D.
Brian C. Taschner, M.D.
Nicole Charles, ARNP
Virginia Pearson, ARNP
2. 16261 Bass Road, Ste. 300
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-6410
Michael Bolooki, M.D.
Robert Cross, M.D.
Horace Dansby, M.D.
Kiran Mangalpally, M.D.
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-424-1660
Lynne Einbinder, M.D.
Jihad Khalil, M.D.
John R. Macaluso, M.D.
Jesus Mendiolaza, M.D.
Jian Xin Qin, M.D.
Barbara Asorian, ARNP
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste 302
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9700
Brian K. Arcement, M.D.
James F. Butler, D.O.
Vladimir Ilic, M.D.
Murali M. Muppala, M.D.
Courtney Chumbley, ARNP
Vicki Hayes, ARNP
Bradley Klement, PA
9. 14051 Metropolis Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-9270
M. Erick Burton, M.D.
Richard A. Chazal, M.D.
Michael A. Corbellini, D.O.
Michael D. Danzig, M.D.
Roshan Vatthyam, M.D.
Karen Booth, ARNP
Denise Bounds, PA-C
3. 3501 Health Center Blvd.
Ste. 2330
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-495-4375
10. 9800 S. HealthPark Dr.,Ste.320
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-6350
Community Health Centers
Carrie Gittings, M.D.
Luzan Phillpotts, D.O.
Virginia Bihari, ARNP
Julieann Chapman, ARNP
Mary Dion, ARNP
Janet Loo, ARNP
Frances Munroe, ARNP
Ericka Small, ARNP
13.1435 SE 8th Terrace, Ste E
Cape Coral, FL 33990
239-424-2757
19.3511 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33916
239-343-4910
20.13279 N. Cleveland Ave.
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
239-652-4111
Endocrinology
Heitham Ajlouni, M.D.
Patricia Sareh, M.D.
Dawn Stoner, ARNP
Ruth Taggart, ARNP
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste 302
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9686
Family Medicine
Whistler Mondesir, M.D.
Rodolfo Perez-Gallardo, M.D.
Joseph R. Salaz, M.D.
Albert van Zyl, M.D.
Lynn Billet, ARNP
Sue Hook, ARNP
Pam Salaz, ARNP
16.5225 Clayton Court
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-8240
Joseph Hobson, D.O.
Barbara Baker, ARNP
7. 8960 Colonial Center Blvd.
Ste. 300
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9627
Gregory E. Krill, M.D.
2. 16271 Bass Road
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-7100
Priscilla Ndiang’Ui, FNP-BC
5. 930 S. Main St.
LaBelle, FL 33935
863-675-4450
Sebastian Draulans, M.D.
Manuel A. Garcia, M.D.
Erin Lake, ARNP
Judith Wagoner, ARNP
Same day and Saturday
appointments available.
Call Center open
7 a.m. – 7 p.m., 7 days a week
239-481-4111
www.LeeMemorial.org
8. 9131 College Point Court
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9100
Gilberto Riveron, M.D.
Nicole Kauffman, ARNP
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-424-1600
Hilario David, M.D.
Alla Zhukova, M.D.
6. 507 Cape Coral Pkwy.
Cape Coral, FL 33904
239-541-4421
Christina Cavanagh, M.D.
Julia Fashner, M.D.
Alfred Gitu, M.D.
Gary Goforth, M.D.
Brian Selius, D.O.
Roseane Illes, Ph.D.
Elena Reyes, Ph.D.
18. 2780 Cleveland Ave., Ste. 709
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-3831
Patricia Daneshmand, D.O.
Thomas Harris, M.D.
Rick Waks, D.O.
Amanda Volberg, ARNP
Arlene Wright, ARNP
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste. 300
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9470
Anjana Chaudhari, M.D.
3. 3501 Health Center Blvd.
Ste. 2310
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-495-5020
General Surgery
Eric A. Goldsmith, D.O.
11.4761 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 3
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-424-1611
William Kokal, M.D.
Darren Miter, D.O.
8. 8380 Riverwalk Park, Ste. 100
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9960
Bertrand Fonji, M.D.
Eric A. Goldsmith, D.O.
Barry Haicken, M.D.
13.708 Del Prado Blvd., Ste. 1
Cape Coral, FL 33990
239-424-2755
General & Vascular Surgery
Moutaa BenMaamer, M.D.
John Moss, D.O.
8. 8380 Riverwalk Park, Ste. 100
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9960
House Calls – Geriatrics
Jennifer Cittadino, ARNP
Amie Peterson, ARNP
8. 12600 Creekside Lane, Ste. 6
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9219
HIV Services
Douglas G. Brust, M.D.
18.2780 Cleveland Ave., Ste. 819
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-3764
Infectious Diseases
Alvaro Beltran, M.D.
Esther Morrison, M.D.
Manuel Revuelta, M.D.
18.2776 Cleveland Ave., Ste. 809
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-9680
Mary Beth Saunders, D.O.
Rajendra S. Sharma, M.D.
James Toomey, M.D.
10.9981 S. HealthPark Dr., Ste. 454
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9710
10
D i r e ctor y
Internal Medicine
George Ball, M.D.
Patrick Bowman, M.D.
Paul Mantell, M.D.
Tina Wood, ARNP
1. 1569 Matthew Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-8220
Anjana Chaudhari, M.D.
Alberto Concepcion, M.D.
Jason Triana, M.D.
Petra DeBolt, ARNP
3. 3501 Health Center Blvd.
Ste. 2310
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-495-5020
Francisco Marasigan, M.D.
Bharath Radhakrishna, M.D.
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-424-1600
Kai-Fu Chow, M.D.
Priscilla Ndiang’Ui, ARNP
5. 930 S. Main St.
LaBelle, FL 33935
863-675-4450
John Ardesia, D.O.
Adriana Loukanova, M.D.
Leah Lynch, M.D.
Gaurav Nayyar, M.D.
Binh Truong, M.D.
Diana Young, M.D.
Mary Ellen DeMartini, ARNP
Vicky Brooks, ARNP
Shawn Steiner, ARNP
Kathryn Udell, ARNP
2. 16271 Bass Road
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-7100
Ellen Hoefer-Hopf, M.D.
Milena Loukanova, M.D.
Felix R. Mestas, M.D.
Barbara Spokas, PA
6. 507 Cape Coral Pkwy.
Cape Coral, FL 33904
239-541-4421
Carmen Barres, M.D.
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste. 300
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9470
Charles Briseño, M.D.
Shailaja Hegde, M.D.
Aldith Lewis, D.O.
Bruce J. Lipschutz, D.O.
8. 9131 College Point Court
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9100
Memory Care – Geriatrics
Vasyl Kasiyan, M.D.
Aboo Mannan, D.O.
Tanja Mani, Ph.D.
Michael Shain, Ph.D.
Denise McPherson, ARNP
Judith Anne Petrin, ARNP
8. 12600 Creekside Ln., Ste. 7
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9220
Neurosurgery
John J. Dusseau, M.D.
Jeffery S. Henn, M.D.
Saman P. Javedan, M.D.
Dean D. Lin, M.D.
7. 8931 Colonial Center Blvd.
Ste. 401
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-3800
10.9981 S. HealthPark Dr., Ste. 120
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-433-8888
13.708 Del Prado Blvd., Ste. 6
Cape Coral, FL 33904
239-343-3800
18.2780 Cleveland Ave., Ste. 819
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-3800
Gregory Velat, M.D.
24.13681 Doctor’s Way, Suite 350
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-3800
Outpatient
Radiology
Appointments
Available
Evenings
and Saturdays
239-424-1499
Neurointerventional Radiology
Nasser Razack, M.D.
Creed Rucker, M.D.
24.13681 Doctor’s Way, Suite 350
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-3800
Obstetrics/Gynecology
John Oliva, M.D.
Dirk Peterson, M.D.
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-424-1600
Shelly Chvotzkin, M.D.
Edward Marineau, M.D.
Bipin Shah, M.D.
Kwee Green, CNM
Tammy Leuttich, CNM
Christina Sierra, CNM
Cindy Stewart, CNM
Kristin Trout, CNM
Mandi Wade, CNM
2. 16271 Bass Road
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-7100
5. 930 S. Main St.
LaBelle, FL 33935
239-343-7100
23. 4040 Palm Beach Blvd., Ste. F
Fort Myers, FL 33916
239-343-7100
18.2780 Cleveland Ave., Ste. 709
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-343-3800
Kevin S. Campbell, M.D.
Diana D. DeVall, M.D.
Martin Ebenger, M.D.
Deidre Fish, M.D.
Melissa Lee, M.D.
Cherrie Morris, M.D.
Patricia Hunsucker, ARNP/CNM
Nancy Redecker, ARNP/CNM
Zoe Sheppard, ARNP/CNM
Kim Town, ARNP
Denise Waszkowski ARNP/CNM
3. 3501 Health Center Blvd.
Ste. 2130
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-343-6100
11.4761 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 4
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-6100
15.15901 Bass Road, Suite 100
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-6100
Occupational Health Services
Paul Fortier, M.D.
Andrew Singh, M.D.
Kelly Campbell-Wigington, ARNP
Carolyn Hoffman, ARNP
Daniel Nalepka, PA-C
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-343-9841
11.4771 S. Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-9841
2. 16230 Summerlin Rd., Ste. 215
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9841
n
vela
e
l
C
N.
143
John Distasio, M.D., PhD
Denise Drago, M.D.
Kimberly Ghuman, M.D.
Pierre Loredo, M.D.
Anthony Pietroniro, M.D.
Thomas Schiller, M.D.
Lindsay Schwandner, M.D.
Martin Sherman, M.D.
Piedade Silva, M.D.
Nancy Witham, M.D.
William Daniel Wood Jr., M.D.
Cynthia Hohman, ARNP
Amy Hicks, ARNP
Kori Howell, ARNP
Julie Vega, ARNP
3. 3501 Health Center Blvd., Ste. 2220
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-343-9888
11.4751 S. Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-9888
d
ck Br
o
Hanc
20
Cape Coral Pkwy.
G
Mc
d.
Blv
Pediatric Nephrology
Irina Gershin-Stevens, D.O.
15. 15901 Bass Road, Suite 102
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9890
10
15
2
Sum
lin
mer
(Hematology/Oncology)
Kim Shimoda, Ph.D.
10. 9981 S. HealthPark Drive, Ste. 158
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-5333
Pediatric Sleep Medicine
Jose Colon, M.D.
17. 13601 Plantation Road
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-0762
Pediatric Surgery
Rodrigo Mon, M.D.
Amy Stanfill, MD.
Indravadan Vyas, M.D.
15. 15901 Bass Road, Ste. 108
239-343-9890
Pediatric Specialty Clinic
Naples
13.650 Del Prado Blvd., Ste. 107
Cape Coral, FL 33990
239-343-9888
12.1265 Creekside Pkwy., Ste. 200
Naples, FL 34008
239-254-4270
Pediatric Specialty Clinic
Port Charlotte
14.260 Beth Stacey Blvd., Ste. C
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
239-343-9888
22 .18316 Murdock Circle, Suite 106
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
941-235-4900
Pediatric specialties available:
• Allergy & Immunology
• Endocrinology
• Hematology/Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Surgery
14
Exit
131
Port Charlotte
17
Tam
iam
i Tr
ail
No
rt
h
Exit
22 128
Pediatric
Specialty Clinic
Cochran Blvd.
Alico Rd.
Rd.
Pediatric Neurology
Margie Morales, M.D.
Guillermo Philipps, M.D.
Britt Stroud, M.D.
Eric Vernier, M.D.
Calee Vandeveer, ARNP
15. 15901 Bass Road, Suite 108
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-6050
Pediatric Psychology
24
9 21
Lee Blvd.
Exit
136
y.
Daniels Pkwy.
Gladiolus Dr.
7
Six Mile Cypress Pk
w
16
8
Exit
138
Colonial Blvd.
1 11
6
r
Fort Myers
Plantation Rd.
18
Cape Coral
o
reg
23
Bea
19
Metro Pkwy.
13
m
Pal
Naples
Immokalee Rd.
Bonita
Springs
Lee Memorial
Health System
Hospitals
Coconut Rd.
Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., 7 days a
week. For information or appointments, call 239-481-4111.
11
Vand
erbilt
Be
3
Cape Coral Hospital..................... 239-424-2000
Blood Center Location
Bonita Beach Rd.
636 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33990
Gulf Coast Medical Center............ 239-343-1000
13681 Doctor’s Way, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Andrew Singh, M.D.
Avery Wright, D.O.
Joy Coburn Weiner, ARNP
Karen Knific, ARNP
James Perry, PA
Sonya Powell, ARNP
Cynthia Reichelt, ARNP
Laura Snyder, PA
Lauren Wright, ARNP
Bonita Springs
Bonita Community
Health Center
3501 Health Center Blvd.
Urgent Care
7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. and Sun.
239-949-1050
Corkscrew Rd.
Exit
116
CONVENIENT CARE These walk-in medical centers provide
treatment when you have common medical problems or
minor, nonlife-threatening emergencies. Lab and X-ray
services are available. Most major insurance plans are
accepted. No appointment needed.
Cape Coral
• 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Pediatric
Specialty
Clinic
Exit
123
Convenient Care
locations
Ann Boudreaux, M.D.
Karen Calkins, M.D.
Nicole Higgs-Doughty, M.D.
Karl Friedrich, M.D.
Alan Goldstein, M.D.
Saiful Islam, M.D.
Chris Loutzenhiser, D.O.
Tiffani MaGee, M.D.
Abel Natali, M.D.
Douglas Schulze, M.D.
Fort Myers
• 4771 S. Cleveland Ave.
(North of Page Field)
• 16230 Summerlin Rd., Ste. 215
(Summerlin & Bass Rds.)
12
Goodlette-Frank Rd.
Estero
Bonita Springs
Tamiami Trail North
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Michelle Hoffman, M.D.
Stephanie Stovall, M.D.
10. 9981 S. HealthPark Dr., Ste. 454
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9710
y.
g Pkw
.
lvd
B
ch
Vanderbilt Drive
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Craig MacArthur, M.D.
Cameron Nicholson, M.D.
Emad Salman, M.D.
Kelly Sawzcyn, M.D.
Pam Wojciki, ARNP
10. 9981 S.HealthPark Drive, Ste.156
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-5333
4
Rd.
Pediatric Physicians
lan
Is
Pine
Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
Stuart Morgenstein, D.O.
15. 15901 Bass Road, Ste. 108
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9890
Pediatric Endocrinology
Asjad Khan, M.D.
Cayce Jehaimi, M.D.
Dina Pearson, M.D.
Sujana Reddy, M.D.
Tammy McCarty, ARNP
15. 15901 Bass Road, Ste. 102
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-9890
Exit
141
.
d Rd
Bass
16.5216 Clayton Court
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-343-8260
Rheumatology
Shabnam Ali, M.D.
Juan Bustillo, M.D.
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste. 204
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9633
Sleep Medicine
Jose Colon, M.D.
Javaad Khan, M.D.
Debra Peck, ARNP
17.13601 Plantation Road
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-0762
Spine Center
Sebastian Klisiewicz, M.D.
Donna Lanthier, M.D. Periwinkle
Way
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste. 210
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9430
Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine
Lisa Chow, M.D.
Robert Kupsaw, M.D.
21. 13778 Plantation Rd.
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-343-0454
5
Pediatric Cardiology
Eric Eason, D.O.
15. 16281 Bass Road, Ste. 301
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-343-7490
Cleveland Ave.
Rahul Challapalli, M.D.
Vijay Das, M.D.
Razak Dosani, M.D.
Abusayeed Feroz, M.D.
Sagar Naik, M.D.
Janice Kirk, ARNP
4. 1682 NE Pine Island Road
Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-343-8260
Pediatric Specialties
Del Prado Blvd.
Palliative Care
Ahmed Hassan, M.D.
Rabia Khan, D.O.
Colleen Tallen, M.D.
7. 8960 Colonial Center Dr., Ste. 206
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-343-9560
Pulmonology
Brian Horner, D.O.
Ragai Meena, M.D.
Sunil Pammi, M.D.
Stephen Wilczynski, M.D.
Nancyann Harrod, ARNP
8. 9131 College Point Court
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-343-9130
(Daniels and Metro Parkway)
HealthPark Medical Center.......... 239-343-5000
9981 S. HealthPark Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33908
(Summerlin and Bass Road)
Golisano Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida.............239-343-KIDS (5437)
Lee Memorial Hospital................. 239-343-2000
Blood Center Location
2776 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901
The Rehabilitation Hospital......... 239-343-3900
3
7
Bonita Community
Health Center ......................... 239-949-1050
Blood Center Location
3501 Health Center Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Regional Cancer Center .......... 239-343-9500
8931 Colonial Center Drive, Suite 200
Fort Myers, FL 33905
An outpatient department of Lee Memorial Hospital
calendar of events
Events & Screenings
Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center for SHARE Club.
Time and Date: 2 p.m., Sept. 8
Location: GCMC Community Room
Registration and for More Information: Call
239-424-3765
Thyroid Cancer Support Group
Time and Date: 10:30 a.m.-noon, third Saturday
of each month
Location: Lakes Regional Library
Healthy Living Lecture Series with Dr. Sal
15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
The Healthy Living Lecture Series is a free, monthly
Registration and for More Information:
program that covers a variety of health care topics. Keeping Your Balance: Are You at Risk?
Call Sally Fontaine at 239-590-0797 or
Join SHARE Club for this presentation by Nathalie taranfeather@comcast.net.
The topic of this lecture is “Sugar, Salt and Fat:
Grondin, Lee Memorial Health System physical
Additives Contributing to Chronic Illness.”
Women’s Cancer Support Group
therapist. Sponsored by Shell Point Retirement
Time and Date: 11:30 a.m., Sept. 10
Whether newly diagnosed, going through
Community.
Location: CCH Auxiliary Conference Room
treatment or in remission, this group begins
Time and Date: 10 a.m., Sept. 15
Registration and for More Information: Call
with discussion and offers a variety of optional
Location: North Fort Myers Recreation Center,
239-424-3232
expressive arts to help relieve stress and enhance
2000 Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers
the immune system. Supplies provided by a grant
Fantastic Voyage
Registration and for More Information:
from the Junior League of Fort Myers.
The advancement of technology in medicine has
239-424-3765
Time and Date: 2-3 p.m., third Tuesday of each
been staggering. How can the public keep up with
month
Exercises You Can do to Improve Your Balance
it? More importantly, most hospitals don’t have
Location: RCC, Fourth Floor Conference Room
Nathalie Grondin, Lee Memorial Health System
these advancements. How do you know which
Registration and for More Information: Call
physical therapist, will discuss and demonstrate
hospitals do unless you understand the newest
239-343-9582 or email
exercises to enhance your balance. Sponsored by
technologies for the repair of aneurysm and
Cindy.Merrill@LeeMemorial.org
Right At Home and Brookdale Senior Living.
stroke? This lecture from Nasser Razack, M.D.,
Time and Date: 10 a.m., Sept. 16
neurointerventional radiologist, describes the
Mastectomy Pre-Operative Education Class
evolution of this technology in a story-like fashion Location: GCMC Community Room
Receive hands-on training and information
Registration and for More Information: Call
for our community to enjoy.
regarding your upcoming mastectomy and
239-424-3765
Time and Date: 11 a.m., Sept. 13
valuable take-home tools to aid you during
Location: GCMC Community Room
recovery. This class is offered free of charge.
Happy
65th
Birthday—Are
You
Medicare
Ready?
Registration and for More Information: Call
Time and Date: 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesdays
SHARE
Club
invites
you
to
this
presentation
by
239-454-8725
Location: RCC Third Floor Specialty Clinic
Jo Marshall, SHINE volunteer. Jo will provide
Conference Room
you with the information you need to better
Parkinson’s Disease Functional Screening Clinic
Registration and for More Information: Class
understand the Medicare insurance options and
Do you experience challenges with speaking,
size is limited; call 239-343-9500
dressing, caring for yourself, walking, swallowing, various plans.
Time and Date: 2 p.m., Sept. 18
bathing, driving or balance? Attend a Parkinson’s
Location: LMH Auditorium
Disease Functional Screening Clinic to find out
Registration and for More Information: Call
how you can improve in these areas and become
Diabetes Self-Management Classes
239-424-3765
more involved in your community.
A 10-hour education program discussing all
Time and Date: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sept. 13
aspects of diabetes self-management, including
Location: GCMC Medical Office Building, 13685 Arthritis: A Patient’s Perspective
Join SHARE Club for this presentation by longmeal planning, exercise, stress management,
Doctor’s Way, Suite 250, Fort Myers
standing advocate for patients with rheumatoid
medication therapy and prevention of
Registration and for More Information: Call
arthritis (RA), Barbara Carley. Barbara has 53 years complications. Classes are available in English and
239-418-2000
of experience with her own personal battle with
Spanish.
RA. Sponsored by Right At Home.
Free Car Seat Fitting
Time and Date: Weekly morning, afternoon and
Time and Date: 10 a.m., Sept. 25
Three out of four car seats are not properly
evening classes available
Location: LMH Auditorium
installed. Join Golisano Children’s Hospital of
Location: LMH, CCH and GCMC
Southwest Florida and Kohl’s Kids Safety Program Registration and for More Information: Call
Fee: Diabetes education is a covered benefit for
239-424-3765
for a free car seat fitting and safety check. Parents
Medicare and most commercial insurances.
and grandparents are invited to have car seats
Registration and for More Information: Call
checked. Appointments are encouraged;
239-424-3127. Must be registered and a physician
call 343-6199.
referral is required.
Bladder Cancer Support Group
Time
and
Date:
3-5
p.m.,
first
Wednesday
of
Naples
Pregnancy & Diabetes Program
every month
Time and Date: 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 15
An educational program for expectant mothers
Location: RCC
with diabetes or gestational diabetes. This
Location: Collier County Health Department,
Registration and for More Information:
program is available in English and Spanish.
3339 Tamiami Trail E., Naples
Contact Karen Godfrey, Bladder Cancer
Time and Date: Weekly classes available
Advocacy Network volunteer advocate at
North Naples
Registration and for More Information:
239-992-4809 or via email
Time and Date: 9 – 11 a.m., Sept. 16
Call 239-424-3127
at kgod@comcast.net
Location: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Store, 4172
Tamiami Trail, North Naples
Blood Cancer Support Group
Diabetes
Cancer
Lehigh Acres
Time and Date: 9 – 11 a.m., Sept. 19
Location: Lehigh Acres Fire Station 104,
3102 15th Street SW, Lehigh Acres
LaBelle
Time and Date: 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 20
Location: LaBelle Fire Department, 290 South
Main Street
Mobile Autism Screening
Free autism screening for children younger than
age 5.
Time and Date: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sept. 19
Location: Cape Coral Library, 921 SW 39th
Terrace, Cape Coral
Registration and for More Information:
Appointments are encouraged; call 239-343-6838
Young Driver Program
This program—which is a supplement to drivers’
education—teaches young drivers the legal
issues of driving, how to stay focused and the
responsibilities that go along with the driving
privilege. This program is offered free of charge and
is geared to the 15-20-year-old driver.
Time and Date: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Sept. 23
Location: LMH Auditorium
Registration and for More Information:
Reservations are required; call 239-343-3797
SHARE Club
Drawing Class with Doug MacGregor
Join SHARE Club and Doug MacGregor, local
cartoonist, for this four-week class designed to
teach you to draw.
Time and Date: 10 -11:30 a.m., Sept. 3, 10, 17
and 24
Location: Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center,
16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers
Fee: $30 for SHARE Club members and you
must have a Lee County Parks & Recreation
membership
Registration and for More Information: Call
239-424-3765
How Balance Exercises and Tai Chi Can Prevent Falls
SHARE Club invites you to this presentation by
Marc Rowe, M.D., retired surgeon and instructor
of tai chi and qi gong. Dr. Rowe will discuss
and demonstrate various exercises that have
been proven to reduce your risk of falls. He also
will, along with fellow SHARE Club members,
demonstrate tai chi. Dr. Rowe teaches tai chi at the
www.LeeMemorial.org
Time and Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Registration and for More Information:
Registration is required. Contact Seth Berkowitz
at877-534-0090 or Seth.Berkowitz@LLS.org
Weight Loss
Weight Management
Individualized weight loss counseling with a
registered dietitian. Dietitian will give you a
customized eating plan to help you achieve your
weight loss goals.
Time and Date: Weekly counseling sessions are
Brain Tumor Support Group
Time and Date: 6:30-7:45 p.m., third Tuesday of available
Registration and for More Information:
each month
Call 239-424-3120
Location: LMH Volunteer Conference Room
Registration and for More Information:
Community Weight Loss Management Program
Call Dona Ross at 239-433-4396 or Barbara
Open to anyone in the community, this weight loss
Hardwick at 239-343-3167
program features 30 minutes of group activity and
30 minutes of discussion. This 8-week program
Cancer Nutrition Seminar
is a great way to create a healthy lifestyle in a
This free monthly seminar is for oncology
patients, survivors and caregivers. Each month
motivating group setting.
features a different topic and food demonstration Time and Date: 6 -7 p.m., Sept. 8 (Mondays
with tastings and recipe.
through Oct. 27)
Time and Date: 2-3 p.m., second Wednesday of Location: WCCC
the month
Registration and for More Information: Contact
Location: RCC, Fourth Floor Conference Room Sarah Mitchell at 239-424-3231 or
Registration and for More Information:
Sarah.Mitchell@LeeMemorial.org.
Contact Valerie Butram at 239-343-9559 or
Valerie.Butram@LeeMemorial.org
The Aphasia Group
For those who have difficulty talking due to stroke.
Time and Date: 9-10 a.m., Tuesdays
Location: WCCC
Fee: First session free, then $10 per session
Registration and for More Information:
Call Nancy Gizzi at 239-424-3572
Pregnancy / New Baby
Childbirth Preparation
Understand the birthing process, choices in
obstetrics, birthing fundamentals, breathing,
relaxation, cesarean preparation, breastfeeding
fundamentals and mother/baby care. Includes
access to an on-line learning program plus a
3-hour Tour and Talk session that is conducted
by nurses who are nationally certified by the
International Childbirth Education Association.
Women and their support person will receive
a tour of the birth facilities and birthing beds;
provides the opportunity for women to ask
questions and seek additional information about
the birthing process.
Time and Date: Classes take place throughout
the year
Locations: HPMC, GCMC, and CCH
Fee: $60 per couple (scholarships are available)
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-343-5271 or
visit www.LeeMemorial.org/BirthEd
Baby Care & Car Seat Safety
This is a one-time class for expectant parents.
The class assists parents in becoming more
comfortable and confident in their parenting
role following the birth of their baby. This class
also teaches parents how to properly use and
install child restraints.
Time and Date: Classes take place throughout
the year.
Locations: Vary
Fee: $20 per couple, $5 per additional person in
attendance
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-343-5101 or email
Lorena.Rodriguez@LeeMemorial.org
Breastfeeding
Plan to give your baby the best possible start.
Learn about common problems encountered
during the first few weeks. All classes are taught
by board certified lactation consultants.
Time and Date: Classes take place throughout
the year
Locations: HPMC and GCMC
Fee: $20 per couple
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-343-5271 or visit
www.LeeMemorial.org/BirthEd
Pediatric CPR & First Aid
This course teaches caregivers to respond and
manage illnesses in a child or infant in the first
few minutes until professional help arrives. The
course covers infant/child CPR and First Aid
basics.
Locations: Vary
Fee: Please contact us for prices.
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-343-5101 or email
Lorena.Rodriguez@LeeMemorial.org
Other
Ostomy Support Group
For individuals considering or who have had
an ostomy (colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy),
and the spouses or caregivers of individuals with
ostomies.
Time and Date: 12:45-2:30 p.m., first Tuesday
of each month
Location: Myerlee Manor, 1499 South
Brandywine Circle, Fort Myers
Registration and for More Information:
Call Howard Weisberg at 239-482-8433
Yoga at HealthPark Medical Center
Join us to relax, de-stress, energize and refresh
with yoga at HealthPark Medical Center.
Bring a mat, beach towel or blanket and wear
comfortable clothing. Beginners welcome.
Sponsored by Lee Center for Rehabilitation &
Wellness.
Time and Date: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesdays
Location: HPMC Room 201
Fee: $5/class
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-418-2000
Huffers & Puffers Support Group
For COPD patients, friends, family members
and caregivers.
Time and Date: 1-3 p.m., third Friday
of each month
Location: LMH Medical Office Building,
Suite 705
Registration and for More Information:
Call Nayda Agosto at 239-343-3520
Gentle Yoga – Multiple Sclerosis Society
Complimentary yoga class for members of the
Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Time and Date: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tuesdays
and Thursdays
Location: LCRW
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-418-2000
It’s All About You
Can I improve my quality of life? Yes, you
can—even with chronic diseases like arthritis,
high blood pressure, diabetes and other health
conditions. Learn how to cope and enjoy your
life. This 6-week workshop teaches people with
chronic health conditions how to better manage
their health and the symptoms that accompany
chronic illnesses, such as pain, depression and
fatigue. Workshops are facilitated by leaders,
many of whom also have a chronic illness.
Time and Date: Vary
Location: Vary
Registration and for More Information: Call
239-424-3122
Loss of an Adult Child
Time and Date: 6-7:30 p.m., first and third
Tuesday of each month
Location: GCMC Community Room
Registration and for More Information:
Call Mark Geisler at 239-343-1126
Weight Management Exercise Program
Commit to eight weeks. This program meets
once a week for one hour. Participants work out
together and then have a discussion/lecture.
Time and Date: 6-7 p.m., Sept. 29
Location: WCCC
Registration and for More Information:
Contact Sarah Mitchell at 239-424-3231 or
Sarah.Mitchell@LeeMemorial.org
Lifestyle Coaching
This service is available for Wellness Center
members and nonmembers. Are you looking
for motivation, accountability, direction in one
or more areas of your well-being? This is what
lifestyle coaching session can do for you.
Time and Date: Vary
Location: WCCC
Registration and for More Information:
Contact Sarah Mitchell at 239-424-3231 or
Sarah.Mitchell@LeeMemorial.org
Better Breathers
For COPD patients, friends, family members and
caregivers.
Time and Date: 2-4 p.m., third Monday of each
month
Location: WCCC
Registration and for More Information: Call
Jan Burket, COPD advocate, at 239-217-0545
Free Memory Screenings
Time and Date: 1-3 p.m., every Monday
Caregiver Support Group
Location: Lee Physician Group Memory Care,
This group focuses on the unique needs and
12600 Creekside Lane, Suite 7, Fort Myers
Colorectal Cancer Support Group
Preoperative Joint Replacement Class
concerns of those caring for a loved one,
Registration and for More Information:
Time and Date: 4:30-6 p.m., fourth Tuesday of
Everything you need to know to feel comfortable regardless of their medical condition.
each month
before joint replacement surgery.
Time and Date: 4:30-6 p.m., second Wednesday Appointments are encouraged; call 239-343-9220
Location: RCC, Fourth Floor Conference Room
Time and Date: 10-11 a.m., Fridays at Gulf
of each month
Trauma Support Group
Registration and for More Information:
Coast Medical Center or varied times and dates Location: RCC lobby
A support group for people and caregivers who
Call Larry Mickley at 239-454-3308
at Lee Memorial Hospital
Registration and for More Information:
have survived traumatic injury.
Location: GCMC and LMH
Call
Mark
Geisler
at
239-343-1126
Multiple Myeloma Support Group
Time and Date: 6:30-8:30 p.m., second Tuesday
Registration and for More Information: Call
Time and Date: 6-7 p.m., third Tuesday of the
of
each month
Pulmonary
Fibrosis
Support
Group
Gulf Coast Medical Center at 239-343-0300 or
month
Location: LMH Med Room 3
Time and Date: 1-3 p.m., third Wednesday
Lee Memorial Hospital at 239-343-3411 and
Location: Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark
Registration and for More Information: Call
of each month
leave a message
Circle, Fort Myers
239-343-2561
Location: LMH Medical Office Building,
Registration and for More Information:
Stroke Support Group
Suite 705
Contact Joanie Borbely at 860-655-7107 or
For caregivers and stroke survivors.
Registration and for More Information:
jborbely@myeloma.org
Time and Date: 10:30 a.m., every Tuesday
Call Lynne Puglise at 941-875-5732
(except third Tuesday of the month)
Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
Location Guide
Yoga
Location: CCH Room A
Time and Date: 3-4 p.m., fourth Tuesday of each Registration and for More Information:
This class is available to the general public with
To save space, we have abbreviated
month
priority given to current cancer patients and
Call 239-424-2317
the names of our locations. Here is a
Location: GCMC Medical Offices, 13685
primary caregivers; no experience needed. Mats,
guide to help you:
Doctor’s Way, Suite 250, Fort Myers
Aquatic Art
straps, blocks and aromatherapy provided by a
Registration and for More Information: Call
Pool exercises for people with Parkinson’s
CCH – Cape Coral Hospital
grant from the Junior League of Fort Myers.
Stacey Brill at 239-343-1645
disease.
Time and Date: 10-11 a.m., Wednesdays
GCMC – Gulf Coast Medical Center
Time and Date: 1-2 p.m., Mondays and
Location: RCC, Fourth Floor Conference Room
Ovarian Cancer Support Group
HPMC – HealthPark Medical Center
Wednesdays
Time and Date: 2-4 p.m., first Sunday of
Fee: $5/class for cancer patients and/or caregivers
Location: WCCC
LMH – Lee Memorial Hospital
each month
or $10/class for general public
Registration and for More Information:
RCC – Regional Cancer Center
Location: LMH 6-North
Registration and for More Information:
Call 239-424-3220
Registration and for More Information:
WCCC – Wellness Center of Cape Coral
Call 239-343-9503; registration is required
Call Barbara Hardwick at 239-343-3167
LCRW – Lee Center for Rehabilitation
Ortho / Neuro / Spine
& Wellness
12
3900.01 8-14