Spring 2006 - UPMC Altoona

SPRING 2006
Sunny days
Men’s health
Nerve center
Get back
Time for
System
into action
a tune-up?
serves as
slowly
Page 8
regional
Pages 6 & 7
neurology hub
Page 4
u
f
n
e
v
a
H
y
l
!
e
f
a
S
Page 3
As temperatures rise,
so do kids’ risks
Health News
& Information
for Healthy
Living
SPRING 2006
A message from
Jim Barner,
President/CEO
Healthy
Living
A season of renewel
for body and spirit
Altoona Regional
Health System’s
Healthy Living
Magazine is published
four times a year by
the Marketing and
Communications
Department.
“If we had no
winter, the spring
would not be so
pleasant: If we did
not sometimes
taste of adversity,
prosperity
would not be so
welcome.”
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Development
Ronald J. McConnell
Director, Marketing and
Communications
Dave Cuzzolina
Staff Writers
Patt Frank
Jay Knarr
Anne Stoltz
Design
Barash Advertising,
State College, PA
—“Meditations Divine
and Moral,”
Anne Bradstreet
For more information,
please call or write to:
Altoona Regional
Health System
Marketing and
Communications Dept.
Altoona Hospital Campus
620 Howard Ave.
Altoona, PA 16601-4899
814.889.2271
814.889.3115 FAX
info@altoonaregional.org
Again we are turning
the corner from winter’s
shadowy chill to the
warming light of spring.
I cannot help but think
that every such transition
is a metaphor for the
work we do in health care,
where, incredibly, the use
of the word “miracle” can
sometimes seem trite.
Every day at Altoona
Regional, our doctors,
nurses and other clinical
staff see people return
to their former lives after
a serious, often lifethreatening illness. Their
emergence is marked not
only by a renewed body
but a renewed spirit.
As we make this seasonal
journey of renewal, we
should remember not
to take our health for
granted. We need to
protect it, enhance it,
www.altoonaregional.org
Auxiliary donates to hospitals
Friends of Altoona Regional Health System, the system’s auxiliary,
recently donated $25,000 toward the purchase of a patient simulator
and $10,000 for furnishings to help develop a new Orthopedic Center
of Excellence on the Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
To be used on the Altoona Hospital Campus, the patient simulator
and supporting software enables the testing of nurses’, physicians’
and students’ clinical decision-making skills during realistic
patient-care scenarios.
Auxiliary President Jack Freas (right) gives Ron McConnell,
senior vice president, Corporate Development, a representation
of a check for $35,000.
2
cherish it. And in this
issue of Healthy Living
Magazine, we have articles
to help you do all three.
On Page 3 you’ll find
important information from
Safe Kids Blair County to
keep your children safe
and well as the weather
lures them into the
hazards associated with
the exuberance of youth.
On Pages 6 and 7 is a
“warning” to all couch
potatoes to avoid the
strains and sprains that
often happen when
one stirs from a winter
hibernation too quickly.
For all you men out there
who take better care of
your car than yourself,
heed the advice in our
article on Page 8 from
Dr. John Reinhardt that
could spare you an untimely trip to the “shop.”
On Page 10 is the story
of a woman whose
painful varicose veins
threatened to keep her
from fully enjoying her
daughter’s approaching
wedding, until she found a
procedure that enhanced
her quality of life.
Finally, on Page 9, you’ll
find information on
Altoona Regional’s and
Home Nursing Agency’s
Palliative Care Program —
a good option for families
in need at a difficult time.
We hope you enjoy and
learn from this issue.
And, as always, let me
know what you think by
calling 814.889.2271.
Sincerely,
SAFETY
Warm weather
brings a burning
need for vigilance to
keep kids safe
m s
o
r
f
TIPS safe kid
W
HANDLE
H
T
I
RE
A
C
“Active supervision means a parent or caregiver
gives undivided attention and is close enough to
help in case of emergency.”
The sun glints off the mirror-like surface of the swimming
pool as the 10-year-old silently glides along its bottom,
passing an open drain, her long hair flowing behind her.
The 90-degree heat radiates off the deck surface as her
parent drowsily reads a magazine.
as coordinator of Safe Kids Blair County. “Active
supervision means a parent or caregiver gives undivided
attention to the child and is close enough
to help the child in case of emergency.”
Close supervision also applies in the
home. Children should never
be left unattended in the
bathtub.
Sounds like an ideal summer afternoon, says Sherry
Turchetta, R.N., community education coordinator with
Altoona Regional Health System. But danger lurks:
Long hair and an improperly covered drain pose a
drowning risk.
“Kids can drown quickly and
quietly. A drowning child
can’t call for help. You can leave
for less than two minutes and
come back and find your child
unconscious,” Sherry warned.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury-related
deaths among children ages 1 to 4 and the second
cause of such deaths in ages 1 to 14.
Tragically, although 94 percent of parents say they
supervise their children while swimming, many
acknowledge that they engage in other activities at
the same time — talking, eating, reading or watching
another child. Simply being near your child may not be
good enough.
In addition to the obvious risks
— swimming pools, wading pools
and bathtubs — many parents
overlook the less obvious risks
associated with buckets,
toilets and puddles. Don’t
leave a toilet lid up or buckets of
water unattended. A child can drown
in as little as an inch of water.
When you’re supervising kids in the water, make sure
they stay within sight and earshot at all times. If a child
who can’t swim is beside a pool or on the shore, keep
the child within arm’s reach. Keep a phone poolside or
near the hot tub in case of an emergency. It can save
precious minutes.
“If a child is missing, check the pool first,” Sherry
recommended. “Every second counts. A near-drowning
survivor could suffer irreversible brain damage after
being underwater only four to six minutes.”
“Children need to be actively supervised at all times
when they are swimming,” said Sherry, who serves
Altoona Regional is the lead agency of the local Safe Kids chapter,
which is dedicated to the prevention of accidental childhood injuries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SAFEKIDS.ORG OR CALL 814.889.7802.
3
Pools & ng
Swimmi
• Fence it all around at least
4 feet high.
• Keep the gate locked.
• Don’t leave toys in or
around the pool.
• Swimming lessons don’t
make your child “drown
proof.”
• No diving into water less
than nine feet deep.
• Avoid overcrowded pools.
• No swimming near a dock
or marina with electrical
hookups.
Bicycling
• Remember, a bike is a
vehicle, not a toy.
• Wear protective gear
–– elbow and knee pads
and especially a properly
fitted helmet that meets
Snell Memorial Foundation
or American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)
standards.
• Maintain and repair your
bicycle.
• Don’t ride at night.
• Don’t ride while listening
to audio headphones.
• Ride with traffic and
obey all traffic signs and
regulations.
ing
d
r
a
o
b
e
t
a
Sk
& Skating
• Wear protective gear —
a helmet, elbow and knee
pads, wrist guards.
• Take lessons
when learning.
• Skate responsibly:
Maintain control and
learn how to brake and
stop quickly.
• Do not skate or ride
at night.
• Do not listen to audio
headphones.
• Yield to pedestrians.
• Check and maintain
equipment.
Boats
• Wear a personal flotation
device, or “life jacket,”
approved by the U.S.
Coast Guard. “Water
wings” and other inflatable
swimming aids do not
prevent drowning.
• Don’t let a child under
14 operate personal
watercraft, such as
Jet Skis.
• Don’t drink alcohol and
drive a boat.
Neurology
outreach
helps regional
patients
receive
faster, more
convenient
care
HUB
of activity
Altoona Regional Health
System has become a
regional hub for neurology
services for hospitals in
Blair and five surrounding
counties.
Blair Medical Associates
(BMA), an Altoona Regional
affiliate, provides a full
range of neurology services
to regional residents
through arrangements with
hospitals in Tyrone Borough
and Bedford, Cambria,
Clearfield, Jefferson and
Huntingdon counties.
Altoona Regional is the only
such provider in Central
Pennsylvania.
Tyrone Hospital
“We’re available to them 24
hours a day, seven days a week.”
“We’re available to them 24
hours a day, seven days a
week,” says Dr. Mark Lipitz,
a BMA neurologist and
medical director of Altoona
Regional’s Neurology
Department. “Relationships
such as this make it easier
for patients to access the
care they need. We are
providing stroke services to
the entire region and serve
as a hub for stroke care.”
Zhenhui (Steve) Li, M.D.
Hospitals in rural areas
Joseph Clark, M.D.
4
Dr. Mark Lipitz (left), medical director of Neurology at Altoona Regional, and
Al Godissart, R.N., director of Outpatient Services at Tyrone Hospital, review a
CT image in the Radiology Department at Tyrone Hospital.
suffer from a physician
shortage in general, said
Al Godissart, R.N., director
of outpatient services at
Tyrone Hospital.
up the phone and call a
Blair Medical Associates
neurologist, who will jump
into his car and head up
I-99 to see the patient.
“It is even more difficult for
a small hospital like Tyrone
to recruit a specialist such
as a neurologist to practice
here,” he said. “We just
can’t do it. Instead, we’ve
partnered with Altoona
Regional. It’s beneficial to
our patients, who still can
receive care within their
community.”
Dr. Lipitz is also involved
with the Tyrone Hospital
Medical Staff. He recently
presented a continuing
education lecture on how
to best treat stroke patients
in the emergency room
setting using the latest
clot-busting drug, tPA.
Dr. Lipitz and his
colleagues at Blair Medical
Associates — Zhenhui
In addition to Tyrone
(Steve) Li, M.D., and
Hospital, BMA Neurology
provides services to UPMC- Joseph Clark, M.D.
— provide full consultative
Bedford, Clearfield, J.C.
neurology services for
Blair in Huntingdon, Nason
patients at Tyrone Hospital
in Roaring Spring and
and outpatient care and
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
EMG services at their
Hospital in Altoona. Local
Tyrone office. Neurology
access for patients is
offices are also located
the real beauty of the
in Clearfield, Everett and
relationships.
For instance, when a patient Huntingdon.
The doctors can also serve
is admitted to Tyrone
regional patients without
Hospital suffering from a
leaving their Altoona
suspected seizure or other
office. They can receive
neurological disorder,
electroencephalogram, or
Tyrone physicians can pick
EEG, results electronically
from Tyrone, Clearfield,
Brookville and Miner’s
hospitals. An EEG helps
with a diagnosis when a
patient has episodes of
seizures, fainting, falling
or blacking out. EEGs at
Bedford and Nason are
read on-site.
Denise Hainsey, Altoona
Regional’s chief neurology
technician, says, “It’s
a way of providing the
patient access to a
service where there is no
neurologist and no EEG
technician available. In
many cases, the patient
remains at the other
facility instead of being
automatically transferred.”
Shirley Kooken, director of
Cardiopulmonary Services
at Tyrone Hospital, sees
both the EEG service and
the neurologists’ local
office hours as major
advantages.
“It streamlines the process
for our patients,” she said.
“It saves them a trip in
many cases.”
in satisfaction scores in
the last quarter.
“While it’s hard to
pinpoint exactly why such
significant improvement
happens, I think it’s
a response by staff
members to our service
excellence programs,”
Bob noted.
Bob Strawser,
director of
Customer Service,
does a lot of listening
and communicating
in his role.
A common area that
requires continual work is
communication, Bob said,
and better communication
is credited with rising
patient satisfaction in the
emergency department.
“Waiting time is typical
in every ER across the
nation,” he explained.
“Patients who are in the
waiting room don’t see
the more critical patients
coming in by helicopter
or ambulance. They don’t
understand that patients
who are being treated
have to undergo testing,
wait for results, then wait
for the doctor to devise a
treatment plan.
Exceeding
PATIENT
EXPECTATIONS
“All they know is that they
are waiting. One thing
that’s helped is simply
having the nurses go into
the waiting room and
apologize, explain that
additional critically injured
patients had arrived.
Most people then become
more understanding.
It really helps.”
is customer
service goal
S
E
R
V
I
C
E
E
X
C
E
L
L
E
N
C
Altoona Regional’s
attempts to address the
problem will also help.
The system is making a
significant investment
on the Altoona Hospital
Campus to add patient
space in the ER and
inpatient beds. This will
alleviate the backup of
ER patients waiting for a
hospital bed.
E
We believe in and promote a learning culture to attract and retain an exceptional
health care team in order to provide leading-edge, safe, compassionate and
exceptional care that surpasses the expectations of those we serve.
How does Altoona Regional
surpass expectations?
Bob Strawser, director
of Customer Service,
says it’s by meeting the
health system’s mission of
providing exceptional care.
Not idle words. Letters
from patients and their
families, as well as results
from patient satisfaction
surveys, back him up.
The results are reported
every quarter.
“For the last quarter, the
number of inpatients who
rated their experience
very good or excellent
on the survey totaled 86
percent,” Bob said.
“For outpatient surgery,
those numbers hit
95 percent.”
“We are trying to address
everything that interferes
with providing exceptional
care,” Bob said.
In fact, results for
emergency care, outpatient
services and outpatient
surgery all showed
significant increases
Anytime expectations aren’t met, patients or their families should call Customer Service at 889.2393 or provide
feedback via the Web site at www.altoonaregional.org/contact_form.htm
5
Springingbackintoaction
Take
your time
and ease back into warm-weather activities to prevent injuries
Sunny days are here again
— or will be soon — and
you’re facing a familiar case
of spring fever. You’re itching
to get outside and enjoy the
warmer weather by jogging
a few miles, planting your
new garden or teeing up for
a round of golf.
But if you used the cold
Pennsylvania winter as an
excuse to become a couch
potato, you need to prepare
your body before you roll off
the sofa and bounce back
into action.
“After a long, lazy winter,
the key is to start off slow,”
said Carol Miller, physical
therapist and facility supervisor at Altoona Regional’s
Tyrone Physical Therapy
Clinic. “You need to take
your time and ease back
into activities in order to
prevent injuries.”
So forget spring-cleaning
the entire house or weeding
Carol shows how to do a self-assessment
of your joint motion. Check for any pain or
pulling as you observe yourself in a mirror
doing the following:
1
2
“As we get older,
it becomes more
difficult to jump back
into activities we may
have previously done.
It’s important to stay
active year-round so
we maintain our
strength and flexibility.”
3
4
6
Lean to the right, while keeping
your arms at your side.
Place your hands on your hips and
slowly look up. Stretch your neck
muscles and test your balance.
Return your arms to your side and
lean to the left. You should be able
to lean as far over to the left as
you did to the right.
Finally, bend over and reach for
your toes.
the whole garden in one
day. Start with an easy
self-assessment of your
joint motion.
“Observe yourself leaning
forward, backward, side
to side, and turning while
looking in the mirror,”
explained Ken Kozminski,
physical therapist at Puritan
Park Clinic, another Altoona
Regional outpatient physical
therapy facility. “Do you
move evenly, or are there
some limitations, pulling or
pain in certain directions?
If one side of your body
hurts more than the other,
you should consult with
your physician.”
Next, develop a warm-up
for your muscles and joints
that includes walking and
light stretching of the larger
muscle groups — arms,
legs, neck and back.
“Try walking 10 minutes
every day for a week,” Carol
suggested. “Increase the
duration by five minutes
each week until you’re
taking 30-minute walks.”
When you’re ready for
more strenuous activity,
do not exceed your body’s
capability. If you experience
pain, take a break. If the pain
persists, stop completely
and consult your physician.
Carol and Ken frequently
see patients with muscle
and ligament sprains or
tears. Depending on its
severity, an injury could take
weeks or months to heal
and may require physical
therapy or surgery.
Lower back strains are most
common. As Ken explains,
people tend to regularly lift
more than they are able,
using incorrect techniques,
stressing back muscles.
“Gardeners, for example,
should be careful when lifting heavy bags of fertilizer
or soil,” he said. “Be sure to
bend at the knees, keep your
head up and back arched,
hold the weight close to your
body and spread your feet
for a good base of support
while you lift.”
After any activity, Carol and
Ken suggest doing some
light stretching. This helps
avoid muscle aches or
soreness.
1
2
3
KEN DEMONSTRATES THE PROPER TECHNIQUE FOR LIFTING:
1 Squat, bending at the hips and knees only. Press your chest
straight forward to help maintain a slight arch in your lower back.
2 Looking straight ahead, slowly lift with your leg muscles —
not your back. Keep your feet spread to get a comfortable,
broad base of support.
3 Make sure you have a firm hold on the object and keep it close
to your body. Do not twist your body when moving the load.
Instead, take small steps with your feet turning until you’re in
the correct position.
Altoona Regional’s
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation Department
provides expert services
on an inpatient and
outpatient basis.
Carol Miller, PT, and
Ken Kozminski, PT
And next winter, don’t let the
lack of sunlight or your busy
holiday schedule deter you
from exercising.
2
3
4
Altoona Regional physical
therapists Carol Miller and
Ken Kozminski offer these
tips for avoiding injuries
while gardening:
• Position yourself, if
possible, so that you
are not bent forward
at the waist. Change
your position frequently.
Use a small stool to sit
on while working low
to the ground to avoid
prolonged squatting.
“As we get older, it becomes
more difficult to jump back
into activities we may have
previously done,” Carol
said. “It’s important to
stay active year-round
so we maintain our
strength and flexibility.”
INPATIENT PHYSICAL
MEDICINE AND
REHABILITATION:
Altoona Hospital Campus
620 Howard Ave.
Altoona • 814.889.2356
Bon Secours
Hospital Campus
2500 7th Ave.
Altoona • 814.949.4463
Gardening
safely and
comfortably
• Begin with a warm-up.
Take a walk around the
yard and do some light
stretching before
you start.
Expert rehabilitation services for all needs
1
PROGRAM ALERT:
Window Box &
Planter Gardening
See Page 11 for dates, times.
OUTPATIENT PHYSICAL
MEDICINE AND
REHABILITATION:
Altoona Hospital Campus
620 Howard Ave.
Altoona • 814.889.2100
DUNCANSVILLE CLINIC
111 Deville Drive
Duncansville • 814.693.7684
TYRONE CLINIC
1400 Pennsylvania Ave.
Tyrone • 814.684.9477
PURITAN PARK
MEDICAL CENTER
2525 9th Ave.
Altoona • 814.943.2511
• Choose the proper tool
for the task at hand. Use
long-handled tools to
reduce strain on your
back, knees and hips.
• Pace yourself. Even if you
do not feel fatigued, take
a break for a few minutes
each hour.
• Be smart in the sun. Wear
a hat and use sunscreen
to protect yourself from
sunburn. And drink
plenty of water to avoid
dehydration.
7
PROGRAM ALERT:
Tune Up for Life …
Men’s Health Update
See Page 11
for dates, times.
S
’
N
E
M
H
T
L
HEA RENESS
A
W
A
(or lack thereof)
When you take your car
for that spring tune-up,
think about one for
your body, too.
serviced in the past
year; only 66 percent had
an annual doctor visit.
John Reinhardt, D.O., a
family practice physician
with Mainline Medical
Associates, says how
you’re living today — your
diet, exercise regimen and
lifestyle — determines
whether you spend the
next 20 years running at
peak performance or going
in and out of “the shop.”
Men, do you know the
proper air pressure for your
car’s tires but not your
cholesterol rating? How
about the number of miles
to your next oil change
but not your ideal weight
for your height? If your
answer to either question is
yes, your car’s wheels are
probably in alignment but
your priorities might not be.
“If you like spending time
in the doctor’s office, keep
sitting on the couch, eating
too much and smoking,”
he warned.
Men hear an engine ping
and make a beeline to the
mechanic, but they don’t
always listen when their
body says it’s time to see
a doctor. And while tunedin to the hum of a healthy
engine, many don’t know
the warning signs of the
common health risks
they face.
Dr. Reinhardt suggests
a few modest diet and
lifestyle changes as a
“tune-up” for the body.
A recent study suggests
men take better care of
their cars than they do
their own health: Eightyfour percent had their car
Your car’s fuel — gas,
oil, antifreeze — must
constantly be maintained
and replenished. Likewise,
the quality and quantity
tobacco and excessive
alcohol intake pose
serious health risks.
EXERCISE
of what you eat and
drink determines your
horsepower. Dr. Reinhardt’s
“Big 4 Diet” requires only
slight adjustments to your
menu but makes a big
difference down the road.
• Instead of sugar, use
a sugar substitute, like
Splenda.
• Rather than white rice,
choose brown rice.
• Trade the white potatoes
for sweet potatoes.
• Swap foods made with
white flour, like bread,
with whole grain or
wheat substitutes.
DIET
8
“If weight loss is needed,
on average you should
lose one or two pounds
per week,” Dr. Reinhardt
suggested. “You should
have monthly weigh-ins at
your doctor’s office.”
ROUTINE E
MAINTENANC
Allowing your car to sit
for extended periods is
bad — seals dry up,
tires develop flat
spots and lubricants break
down. Equally, Dr. Reinhardt
suggests a half-hour per
day of aerobic exercise,
like walking, running,
swimming or biking, to
keep your body road-ready.
“Twenty minutes of brisk
walking is a good start,”
Dr. Reinhardt said. “When
you break a light sweat and
carrying a conversation is
possible but uncomfortable,
you’ve achieved the
proper pace.”
S
T
I
B
A
H
E
H
T
K
C
KI
Like driving with one foot
on the brake and the other
on the gas, indiscretions
like smoking, overeating
and lack of exercise will
cause unnecessary wear.
While smoking gets the
most attention, smokeless
If driving your car 10,000
miles beyond its scheduled
oil change makes you
cringe, so too should the
thought of seeing a doctor
only once every couple
of years — or worse, only
when you’re sick.
From age 18 to 65-plus,
men require different
screenings for their age,
health profile and family
medical history. Based on
a doctor’s recommendation,
screenings and tests may
be conducted annually
or every couple of years
for ailments like high
blood pressure, diabetes,
colorectal or prostate
cancer, high cholesterol
and more. As with any
diet or exercise program,
consult your physician for
the plan best suited for
your make and model.
Mainline Medical Associates has offices at 792 Gallitzin Road, Cresson, 814.886.8161,
and Station Medical Center, 1414 9th Ave., Altoona, 814.941.8811.
“… so Eden sank to grief,
so dawn goes down to day,
for nothing gold can stay.”
— Robert Frost
No matter how often we’re reminded that death is a natural part
of life — the inevitable end of a journey of wonder, fulfillment,
happiness, loss, grief and change — it’s never easy to endure.
We want only for our loved ones to be as comfortable as
possible when it is “their time.”
Palliative
Care
Program
PROGRAM ALERT:
Conversations
About Life and Death
See Page 11
for dates, times.
Respectful,
espectful, compassionate care
and answers at the end of life
That’s the mission of Altoona Regional’s Palliative Care
Program — to provide and direct the care of individuals with
chronic illness while offering a bridge between treatment aimed
at a cure and the pain-free management of a terminal illness.
Physician assistant Danette George acts as program liaison
between physicians and patient families and says the goal of
the program, initiated by Home Nursing Agency, is neither to
hasten nor postpone death.
“The program allows the patient to live his or her last few
days, weeks or months as comfortably as possible and in
accordance with their wishes and their physician’s plan,”
she explained.
Donald Miller and his family never imagined needing the
Palliative Care Program. Then, his wife, Phyllis, who was 58,
was diagnosed with inoperable stage four pancreatic cancer
during a preoperative test for another condition.
“I took her to the hospital and never got to bring her home,”
Donald said. “It happened so fast that we would have been lost
without Danette. She explained procedures and things to us,
but listened to us, too.”
Having someone ensure that a patient’s wishes are honored
is among the top concerns of those with a dying loved one.
The Palliative Care Program manages each case individually,
befitting the wishes of the patient and family, and with a plan
of care developed by a team of physicians, nurses, counselors
and clergy.
Vicky Blanchard, Phyllis’ daughter, said having someone like
Danette for the family was vital.
“I just don’t know where we would have been without her,”
Vicky said. “She explained everything, from medicines to the
forms we had to fill out. In a situation like this, your thoughts
are elsewhere. You just sort of go with the flow, but Danette
went right along with us and made sure we understood
everything.”
Danette humbly accepts the praise but says what she does
stems from the program’s mission. Limiting stress, providing
support for daily living and helping patients and families make
difficult medical decisions are all goals of the program. So
too is providing emotional support by directly but sensitively
discussing end-of-life issues that contribute to depression and
anxiety.
Physician assistant
Danette George
(left) talks with Vicky
Blanchard, whose
mother, Phyllis, was
a patient of Altoona
Regional’s Palliative
Care Program.
“I could call her anytime, day or night, with any question or
concern we had,” Vicky added. “I can’t tell you how important
that was to our family.”
The Palliative Care Program
can be reached by calling
Home Nursing Agency at
814.946.5411.
9
“I didn’t want to have
to take breaks for my
legs while the rest of
me felt like going.”
Wedding overdrive has
kicked in for Teresa
Merryman, 46, and her
bride-to-be daughter,
Alicia. With an April
ceremony approaching,
Teresa has no time to be
slowed by the pain of
varicose veins.
Enlarged veins too weak
to return blood from the
lower leg to the heart,
varicose veins affect
one-fourth of Americans
— mostly women. Family
While posing no major
health threat, the veins
can cause a great deal of
discomfort, like aching,
itching and leg fatigue
and heaviness. Teresa
developed the veins 23
years ago after the birth of
her son but didn’t begin
to feel the worst effects
of this mostly inherited
condition until 2003.
“The pain was manageable for many years,”
Teresa recalled. “I regularly
wore support stockings,
which lessened the
discomfort. But the pain
eventually became more
frequent, and the veins
became more noticeable.”
New
laser
therapy
painful
varicose
veins
Teresa
Merryman
(right) enjoys
a shopping
trip with
her daughter
Alicia.
Warding off varicose veins
Dr. Burt Fazi offers these suggestions to help
prevent varicose veins from forming:
• Don’t cross your legs when sitting.
• Exercise regularly. Walking is a good
choice; it improves leg and vein strength.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid standing for prolonged periods.
If your job or hobby requires you to
stand, then shift your weight from one leg
to the other every few minutes.
• Wear elastic support stockings.
• Don’t wear clothing or
undergarments that are tight
or constrict your waist, groin
or legs.
• Elevate your legs when
resting.
• Stop and take short walks
at least every 45 minutes
when taking long car or
airplane trips.
10
medical history, obesity and
Knowing Alicia would want
pregnancy are risk factors.
her to go on several long
For many, varicose veins
shopping trips leading up
— often described as blue, to the wedding, Teresa
bumpy worms — are simply decided to research her
unsightly. For Teresa and
treatment options.
others, the condition ranges
“I finally had the mindset
from uncomfortable to
that something needed to
aching and painful.
be done,” Teresa said.
“Teresa’s veins and valves “I didn’t want to have to
in her leg were not working take breaks for my legs
properly, which allowed
while the rest of me felt
blood to regurgitate back like going.”
down to pool in one spot,”
She found two treatments
explained Burt Fazi, M.D.,
— sclerotherapy, which is
of Cardiovascular
cutting off blood flow by
and Thoracic
injecting an irritant chemical,
Surgery of
and vein stripping, which
Altoona
involves removing the vein
Inc. “This
through leg incisions. Vein
caused
stripping is quite painful and
her
requires a hospital stay.
veins to
Then she found a new
bulge
and turn minimally invasive, lowrisk laser procedure —
blue.”
endovenous laser therapy
(EVLT) — without the
discomfort associated with
the older methods.
“EVLT is a kinder, gentler
treatment for varicose
veins,” Dr. Fazi said.
“No surgery is required,
and it’s much easier to
recover from than other
procedures.”
Dr. Fazi performs EVLT in
his office, with the patient
remaining awake under
local anesthesia. He slides
a thin laser fiber through
a small catheter, or tube,
into the saphenous vein, a
large vein near the surface
of the leg. He guides it to
the problem area, where
laser energy shrinks and
collapses the vein.
“The vein closes, which
prevents blood from
pooling,” Dr. Fazi said.
“The loss of the vein is not
a problem, as the blood
is diverted to other,
healthy veins.”
EVLT has a 95 percent
success rate and is done
for pain, not cosmetic
purposes. Although
strenuous exercise,
like aerobics, should
be avoided for at least
a week, patients can
resume normal activity
immediately.
Teresa underwent EVLT on
Dec. 1, 2005. On Dec. 2,
she went shopping with
Alicia for 11 hours.
“‘Laser, zap and go’
sounded much better than
‘cut and stitch,’” Teresa
said of her decision to
have the EVLT procedure.
“I no longer experience
that tired, achy feeling,
and my ugly blue worms
are practically gone.”
Dr. Fazi notes that EVLT
is not for everybody.
More information is
available by calling
Cardiovascular and
Thoracic Surgery
of Altoona Inc. at
814.889.2328.
PROGRAMS
Healthy
Living
April, May and
April,
June 2006
Programs are open
to all adult age groups
unless otherwise specified.
Altoona Hospital Campus
is at 620 Howard Ave.
Bon Secours
Hospital Campus
is at 2500 7th Ave.
DAYTIME
PROGRAMS
PEPPI!
(Peer Exercise Program
Promotes Independence)
Friday, April 21.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
Trzeciak Suite, Education Center,
Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
We hear a lot these days about
“physical fitness.” Did you ever
think about the “fitness” of your
brain? Since the brain plays an
important part in virtually everything we do, we should do all we
can to keep it “in shape.” Shirley
Springman, community outreach
specialist for the Alzheimer’s
Association-Greater Pa. Chapter,
will share advice and strategies
on how to keep our brains healthy
and fit, including information on
how to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Ample
time will be allotted for questions.
Conversations About
Life and Death
Wednesday, April 26.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
School of Nursing Auditorium,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Join physician assistant and
palliative care liaison Danette
George and Pastor Terryann
Talbot-Moses for a conversation
dealing with end-of-life issues,
including making difficult medical
decisions, making your wishes
known to your loved ones,
addressing your spiritual needs,
and more. This program promises
to be informative and thoughtprovoking.
What You Should Know
About Ovarian Cancer
Friday, April 7, 9:30-11 a.m.
Bon Secours Hospital Campus,
Seventh Avenue parking lot.
Friday, May 12, 9:30-11 a.m.
Altoona Hospital Campus
parking garage, Blue Level.
Friday, June 9, 9:30-11 a.m.
Bon Secours Hospital Campus,
Seventh Avenue parking lot.
Look for the Safe Kids van.
What’s New With Knees?
Wednesday, May 24.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
School of Nursing Auditorium,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Join Dr. William Tyndall of
University Orthopedics Center as
he discusses what’s new in the
world of treating and correcting
knee pain, including nonsurgical
and surgical options. Ample time
will be allotted for questions.
EVENING
PROGRAMS
AARP Driver Safety
Program
All classes from 6-10 p.m.
Logan Room, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
Tuesday, April 11, and
Wednesday, April 12
Or, Tuesday, May 9, and
Wednesday, May 10
Or, Tuesday, June 13, and
Wednesday, June 14
Fee $10. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
This classroom refresher course
covers age-related physical
changes, perceptual skills,
rules of the road and more. All
automobile insurance companies
in Pennsylvania provide a
premium discount to graduates
age 55 and older. Most require
both spouses insured under the
same policy to take the class to
receive a discount.
My Feet Are Killing Me!
Osteoporosis Screening:
Free Heel Scans
Child Safety Seat
Installation Checkup
Station
Thursday, June 29,
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Trzeciak Suite,
Education Center,
Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
Fee $20, includes materials,
snacks and lunch. Registration
required. Call 889.2630 or
1.888.313.4665. Class size limited.
Certified Safe Sitter instructors
will prepare adolescents ages
11 to 13 to baby-sit infants
and young children in a safe,
responsible and competent
manner. Participants will learn
basic child-care skills; how to
keep a house secure; how to take
precautions to prevent accidents;
basic first-aid skills; how to
recognize common signs of
illness, and possible interventions;
how to treat or reduce discomfort,
and how to rescue a choking
child or infant.
Brain Health
Every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at 8:15 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Fourth Lutheran Church,
Altoona.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Ready to tone up for spring?
Are you 55 or older and looking to
improve your strength, flexibility
and balance? PEPPI can help
you do all this while combating
chronic conditions such as
arthritis and osteoporosis.
By appointment only on Friday,
April 7, 12:30-3 p.m.
Kaufman Dining Room,
Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
By appointment only on Friday,
May 5, 12:30-3 p.m.
Allegheny Room, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
By appointment only on Friday,
June 2, 12:30-3 p.m.
Kaufman Dining Room, Bon
Secours Hospital Campus.
No fee. To schedule your
appointment, please
call 889.2630 or toll-free
1.888.313.4665.
Safe Sitter Class
No fee. By appointment only.
Call Safe Kids Blair County at
814.889.7802.
Find out if your child’s safety seat
is installed properly. Your child’s
life may depend on it.
Friday, May 19.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
Trzeciak Suite,
Education Center,
Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
What are the symptoms and risk
factors of ovarian cancer? Why is
it a more difficult cancer to treat?
What are the treatment options
and how effective are they? Join
Dr. Ryan Zlupko of Altoona OB/
GYN Associates as he discusses
this very important topic. Ample
time will be allotted for questions.
Thursday, June 8.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
School of Nursing Auditorium,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
It is said, “When your feet hurt,
you hurt all over.” At this program,
Dr. Bert Altmanshofer, local
podiatrist, will discuss common
foot problems in older adults
and nonsurgical and surgical
treatment options available to
help ease the pain. Ample time
will be allotted for questions.
Tune Up for Life:
Men’s Health Update
Wednesday, April 26,
6:30-8 p.m.
Magee Lecture Hall, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
No fee. Register by calling
889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Stop treating your car better
than you treat your body!
Join Dr. John Reinhardt,
Mainline Medical Associates,
as he educates men (and
the women who love them)
on healthy body preventive
maintenance. Topics will include:
the importance of diet and
exercise, diagnostic tests and
what they mean, and general
tips for a happy, long-lasting life.
Spring Craft:
Watermelon Hat Door
Decoration
Friday, May 26, 6:30-8 p.m.
Juniata Room, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
Fee $12. Register by calling
889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Class size limited to 25.
Join Sharon Rydbom, our own
craft diva, as she guides us in
making an adorable watermelon
hat decoration to welcome
spring into your home! Materials
needed: one plastic plate
for paint, four paper towels,
scissors and a paint shirt, if
desired. This is a great project
to do with “tweeners” as it is an
easy craft to complete.
Who Gets Grandma’s
Yellow Pie Plate?
Friday, June 16.
Lunch at 11 a.m. followed by
program until 1 p.m.
Trzeciak Suite,
Education Center,
Bon Secours Hospital Campus.
No fee. Registration required.
Call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Most of us have personal
belongings that have special
meaning for us and our families.
What happens when there
is a death? Who gets the
pie plate or family Bible, and
who decides? This program
discusses the transfer of nontitled
property: what is fair, the special
meaning of objects, along with
options to distribute, and the
consequences. The focus will be
on collections, antiques, jewelry,
furniture, etc. You are invited to
bring a special family item and
share the meaning it has to you.
Dottie Bromley of Penn State
Cooperative Extension will be
presenting this very interesting
topic.
Yoga
Beginner and intermediate
classes, seven-week
series each.
Tuesdays, April 18 through
May 30.
Beginners 5:30-6:40 p.m.
Intermediate 6:50-8 p.m.
Rotunda, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
Fee $35. Register now as class
is limited to 25. Call 889.2630
or 1.888.313.4665.
Gail Murphy, instructor in Hatha
Yoga, leads this program, which
offers mind/body exercise,
breath control, stretching and
strengthening to promote mental,
physical and spiritual well-being.
11
Window Box &
Planter Gardening
Wednesday, June 7, 6:30-8 p.m.
Rotunda, OP6,
Altoona Hospital Campus.
Refreshments will be served.
No fee. Register by calling
889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.
Class size is limited.
Join PSU’s master gardeners
Dee Martin-Spallone and Susan
Daugherty as they help us “plant”
ideas for our porch and window
boxes! Their focus will include
good flower/plant choices for
small areas and containers,
getting the most coloration, and
how to properly care for these
small “gardens of Eden.”
PM&R provides
a variety of
therapies, including
physical, occupational,
recreational and speech and
language on an inpatient
and outpatient basis.
We treat both adult and
pediatric problems,
including stroke,
neurological diseases,
amputation, balance
disorders, communication
disorders and lymphedema.
Orthopedic rehabilitation
is available to patients
recovering from a hip or
knee replacement, spinal
surgeries, trauma, shoulder
reconstruction, fractures
and various repetitive
strain injuries.
Inpatient clinics serve
behavioral health,
transitional care,
rehabilitation, medical
and orthopedic patients.
PM&R has four outpatient
clinics and a speech
pathology office. Each clinic
is well-staffed and equipped
to offer state-of-the-art
therapy. At the order of
your physician, a therapist
provides a thorough
evaluation and proposed
plan of care. The therapist
may discuss the plan of
care with your physician
and will regularly provide
updates to him or her on
your progress.
Has the hospital
merger affected
the operation of
PM&R?
Yes, quite favorably.
The combined
PM&R staff affords the
community many highly
experienced and dedicated
therapists who can now
provide specialty services.
We work together to provide
our patients with the highest
quality of care at several
convenient locations.
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Altoona Regional
Health System
What specialty
services does
PM&R offer?
We will soon have a gym
area dedicated to joint
replacement patients.
PM&R staff
includes more than
30 experienced therapists,
some having specialized
training in areas such as
trauma, orthopedics and
sports medicine, chronic
pain management, hand
therapy, stroke rehabilitation,
spinal therapy and
speech production and
understanding disorders.
Our work hardening program
aims to help an injured person return to work. We can
perform a specialized type
of massage to help lymphedema patients. Aquatic
therapy is provided at three
of our outpatient clinics, one
with a therapeutic pool and
two with Hydrotrack, an
underwater treadmill.
PM&R continuously updates
equipment to treat a growing
number of conditions. We
can help patients with swallowing disorders, herniated
discs, muscular ailments
and balance disorders.
PM&R will offer special
therapies for women’s
health later this year.
S P E C I A L I S T
P R O F I L E
Paul J. Tryninewski, P.T., M.P.S.
Paul received his physical therapy degree from
the University of Buffalo and his master’s degree
in community services administration from
Alfred University. He has served as director of
PM&R at the Altoona Hospital Campus for
eight years. When he first moved to Altoona
in 1986, Paul served as the director of
PM&R at Mercy Hospital (Bon Secours
Hospital Campus).
Contact: 814.889.2100
Paul J. Tryninewski, P.T., M.P.S.
Director, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Altoona Regional Health System
12
Change Service Requested
What services
are provided by
Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation
(PM&R)?
Altoona Hospital Campus
620 Howard Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601-4899
ASK THE SPECIALIST
Paul J. Tryninewski, P.T., M.P.S.,
is the director of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation
(PM&R) at Altoona Regional.
He is responsible for the clinical
and administrative direction of
PM&R services at the system’s
two campuses and four outpatient clinics. He is also a
practicing physical therapist at
the Altoona Hospital Campus.