Jillian Michaels

Allenmore Hospital | Good Samaritan Community Healthcare | Mar y Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center | Tacoma General Hospital | MultiCare Clinics
HealthyLiving
WINTER 2008 | www.multicare.org
Jillian
Michaels
of Tv’s The Biggest Loser
wants you to
Do Something Healthy!
Meet her Jan.
24
PAG e 8
KIDS
COUNT!
LOOK InSID e
[spotlight]
A message from the CEO
Happy 2008!
Most of us start out
the new year brimming
with resolve—to eat
better, exercise more
and be healthier. But by
February many of us fall
into our old ways and
are discouraged by our
lack of progress or willpower.
Change is hard to accomplish and sustain.
Research has shown that it takes at least
three weeks to shake old habits and for
new ones to take root—and that relapses
are normal.
Let MultiCare give you extra motivation to
stay on track at the ninth annual Do Something Healthy—featuring keynote speaker
Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser television program—Thursday, Jan. 24, from 6 to
9pm at the Greater Tacoma Convention and
Trade Center (see page 8 for details).
Last year more than 1,000 people
attended this inspiring event, where we also
kicked off Pierce County’s Biggest Winner in
partnership with the YMCA of Tacoma–Pierce
County and the Tacoma–Pierce County Health
Department. Two teams totaling 10 community members competed to reach their fitness
and weight-loss goals.
Read about how local participants Aaron
Stewart and April Waddington are faring almost
a year after the last competition in the article
on page 11. I think you’ll find their stories
highly motivating.
We’ll be kicking off the 2008 Pierce County’s
Biggest Winner competition at Do Something
Healthy. So call to reserve your spot today.
Good health is the best gift we can give
to ourselves, our families and our community.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2008.
Diane Cecchettini, RN
President and CEO
MultiCare Health System
MultiCare
now answers
the phones 24/7
You’ve got a lot on your plate. We know not
everything can get done during regular workday hours. That’s why MultiCare is pleased to
unveil our new 24/7 call center.
Now you can call MultiCare for physician
referrals and class and event registration
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Appointment scheduling will continue to be
available during the hours of 7am to 7pm.
MultiCare Health System is a leading-edge,
integrated health organization made up of four
hospitals, numerous primary care and urgent
care clinics, multispecialty centers, Hospice and Home
Health services, and many other services. A not-for-profit
organization based in Tacoma since 1882, MultiCare has
grown over the years in response to community needs.
Today we are the area’s largest provider of health care
services, serving patients at 93 locations in Pierce,
South King, Kitsap and Thurston counties. Learn more
at www.multicare.org.
Healthy Living is published as a community service for the
friends and patients of MultiCare Health System, P.O. Box 5299,
Tacoma, WA 98415-0299. 800-342-9919, www.multicare.org
For comments or suggestions about HEALTHY LIVING, please write
to us at hleditor@multicare.org. Information in HEALTHY LIVING
comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any
concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your
health, please contact your health care provider.
Copyright © 2007 Coffey Communications, Inc.
| Healthy Living
CUN21158c
7
Mischief
makers at
it again?
Sharing toys and
games is great,
but germs? No,
thanks. Here are
a few quick tips
to keep pesky
germs at bay.
10
Kids’ weight:
Tackle the
issue now
Nowadays it’s
not just adults
who deal with
weight—your
kids are also
fighting the battle
of the bulge.
MultiCare goes red
FAMILY MeDICIne CenTeR
Comprehensive, convenient
family medicine in Central Tacoma
Taking care of your heart is more important
than you may know. That’s why MultiCare
Health System has joined forces with
the American Heart Association to
launch Pierce County Goes Red. This
yearlong movement gives women the
tools and knowledge they need to
reduce their risk of heart disease
and stroke and protect their
health.
“Too few people realize that
heart disease is the no. 1
killer of women—and men,”
says Uma Krishnan, MD,
cardiologist and Go Red
For Women ambassador.
“But the good news is heart disease
can be largely prevented.”
How can you Go Red? Learn the signs and
symptoms of a heart attack. Schedule a heart
checkup. Wear a red dress. However you choose
to Go Red, do it for the health of your heart.
To schedule your heart checkup, call 253403-2898.
Go Red and Go Red For Women are trademarks of AHA. The Red Dress Design is a
trademark of U.S. DHHS.
The MultiCare Family Medicine Center opened in november 2007 in
response to a growing need in the Tacoma area for comprehensive
medical and obstetrical care for families.
Christina Kelly, MD; Stacy Merrifield, DO; and Sarah Haastrup, MD,
provide a wide range of services, including obstetrical and newborn
care, routine checkups and immunizations for all ages, well-woman
exams, and illness or injury care for men and women.
The new MultiCare Family Medicine Center is located at 2420 S.
Union Ave., Suite 100, in Tacoma. Appointments can be made by calling
253-301-6750.
11
Catching
up with
the losers
MultiCare’s
Biggest Winners
are still going
strong. Check
their progress
since the
contest.
12
Join MultiCare and the American Heart
Association on National Wear Red Day for our
Go Red For Women Rally, featuring free health
screenings, food, entertainment and more!
Friday, Feb. 1
Tacoma Mall (outside of Macy’s)
11am to 1pm
Take steps
for better
health
From yoga and
aerobics to support groups and
safety classes,
MultiCare wants
to help you take
charge of your
health.
Interested in weight
control? Look for the
tape measure!
www.multicare.org | 3
[winter sports]
Protect your knees this winter sports season
The slippery slope of
winter sports
Regardless of the types of activities
you participate in this winter, safety should
be a top priority—especially when it comes
to protecting your knees.
“The knee is the largest joint in the
body and one of the most easily injured,”
says David Coons, DO, orthopedic
surgeon with MultiCare Sports Medicine.
“Each year millions
of people end up in
doctors’ offices with
knee pain.”
When pain management and lifestyle
David Coons,
changes are not enough
DO, orthopedic
to keep knee pain
surgeon
from interfering with
your life, a surgical
procedure may be a good option. With
recent advances in surgical procedures, knee
surgery has become increasingly less invasive—reducing pain, scarring and recovery
time. Specialists like Dr. Coons, who is
fellowship-trained in sports medicine and
arthroscopy, can offer the most advanced
procedures available, such as ligament
reconstruction and cartilage transplants, to
help people return to their active lifestyles
following a knee injury.
of tendon from the patient’s knee or donor
tissue.
Cartilage is the smooth, connecting
tissue that covers the ends of the bones
3 common injuries
in a joint and enables joints to support your
The three most common winter sports knee weight when you bend, stretch, walk and
injuries are meniscus tears, anterior crucirun. Cartilage loss can occur when there
is trauma to the knee caused by a sports
ate ligament (ACL) injuries and cartilage
damage.
injury or accident.
The meniscus is cartilage that acts as a
A cartilage transplant—taking healthy
buffer between the two large bones of
cartilage from another location in the joint
the knee. Tears in the meniscus can occur
and placing it in the damaged area—is often
when you twist or overflex your knee.
the best option in this case. Dr. Coons has
written articles on this technique and has
“A clean tear in a younger athlete can
years of experience performing this type of
most likely be repaired,” Dr. Coons explains. “Removing the damaged area is a
procedure.
more likely option for the older adult, as
Another option for repairing damaged
the meniscus becomes more brittle with
cartilage is microfracture surgery, in which
age and is more prone to tearing.”
the bone is penetrated to expose marrow
With a very traumatic injury, he says,
cells. The cells can then access the damaged
a meniscus can be transplanted.
area and fill in the cartilage gap.
Ligaments are bands of tough, elastic
connective tissue that surround a joint
Small incisions mean
to give support and stabilize the joint’s
big improvements
Arthroscopy enables surgeons like
movement. The ACL is frequently injured
when the knee is force-twisted. The damaged Dr. Coons to diagnose and treat knee
ligament can be reconstructed using a strip disorders by providing a clear view of
3 1 2 Children on the slopes: Playing it safe
More than 60,000 children are treated
in emergency rooms each year for winter
sports-related injuries. Help your kids stay
safe this season.
• Buy your children properly fitted winter
sports helmets for skiing, sledding and
snowboarding.
• Make certain that their helmets and other
equipment are in good working order.
| Healthy Living
• Look for clothing made of newer coldweather fabrics that provide warmth without
bulk.
• Ensure that they wear sunglasses or
goggles.
• Arrange for them to take lessons before
they try to ski or snowboard.
• Remind them to watch out for trees, rocks
and other people.
• Train them to monitor their speed so that
they can stay in control.
• Supervise their activities.
• Direct them to skating rinks instead of
ponds.
For more information about keeping
your family safe this winter or helmet sales
and rentals, call the Mar y Bridge Center for
Childhood Safety at 253-403-1234.
the inside of the knee through small incisions, using
a pencil-size instrument called an arthroscope. The
scope has a small camera that transmits an image of
the knee to a television monitor. during the procedure, surgical instruments can be inserted through
other small incisions in the knee to remove or
repair damaged tissue.
arthroscopy involves smaller incisions, which
can mean faster healing and recovery and less scarring. Patients are often able to return home on the
same day of the procedure. every case and patient
is unique, dr. Coons notes, but typically, full
recovery time from arthroscopic knee surgery is
two to six months, depending on the procedure.
Getting you back in action
Regardless of the type or severity of a knee injury,
dr. Coons spends time with each patient to evaluate
his or her condition and provide the information and
guidance he or she needs to determine the best course of
treatment.
“I give my patients all the options and the pros and
cons of each one,” he says. “We work together to find the
solution to their problem and determine the best way to
get them well and back to living healthy, active lifestyles.”
for more information or to make an appointment
with dr. Coons, call 253-459-7000.
Monday Acute Sports
Medicine Clinic
Injured during a Saturday night game?
Overdo it on the slopes on Sunday? Then
the Monday Acute Sports Medicine Clinic at
MultiCare Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Center may be just what the doctor ordered
to reduce your time between injury and evaluation, rehabilitation and recovery.
Mark Mariani,
“Whether you’re a high school
MD, sports medi- or college player or a recreational
cine specialist athlete, the clinic can help you return to play quickly and safely,” says
Mark Mariani, MD, a family medicine physician at MultiCare
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center who is fellowship-trained
in sports medicine.
Clinic hours are from 1 to 5pm every Monday. Appointments are recommended. (If you are injured over the weekend, call Monday morning for
an afternoon appointment.)
For more information or to make an appointment, call 253-459-6999.
www.multicare.org | 5
Robotic-assisted surgery
Two years ago when Cathy Lensing
needed to have gynecological surgery, she
was concerned about the impact that the
surgery would have on her active lifestyle.
“I taught spin classes and circuit training,” she says. “I also love to run. I have a
hard time not being active.”
Even fit and healthy men and women
experience problems
that require surgery,
such as prostate issues
and gynecological ailments like abnormal
bleeding, endometriosis
and cancer. And, in the
past, these surgeries
Champ
were invasive, involving
Weeks, MD
long, painful recoveries
that could last months,
as well as significant
scarring.
But today roboticassisted surgical
techniques—many
of which were pioneered in this region
John P.
by MultiCare—
Lenihan, MD
eliminate these drawbacks and allow patients to return to their normal, active lives
within a matter of weeks.
“Robotics technology is used in surgical
procedures to create 3-D visibility and improved precision,” says Champ Weeks, MD,
a board-certified urology surgeon with MultiCare Urology Services. “It allows surgeons
to perform surgery with much smaller incisions, making surgery easier on the patient.”
In the case of prostate surgeries, this
| Healthy Living
fast
gets you back in action
means being able to remove the
cancer while bypassing nerves linked
to sexual function and urinary
incontinence. Studies show that
six months after robotic-assisted
surgery, 95 percent of men are
back to their old selves—a much
higher percentage than with traditional, open prostatectomies.
Patients who must have gynecological
surgeries also benefit from the low impact
that robotic-assisted surgeries have on their
bodies.
“I’m grateful that I listened to
what my surgeon at MultiCare
recommended,” says Lensing.
“The recovery time is a big piece
of it.” Lensing, who was one of
the first patients in the region
to have robotic-assisted surgery,
was back to teaching fitness
classes within four weeks.
Although health systems that use robotic technology often have similar devices,
robotic-assisted surgery programs are not
all alike. It is the skill and experience of the
surgeons using the technology that make
the real difference—and an area in which
MultiCare carries a distinct advantage over
new programs in the area.
“Patients definitely want to choose a
surgeon who has ample experience using the
robotics technology,” says John P. Lenihan,
MD, a board-certified gynecological surgeon
with Tacoma Women’s Specialists, who performs robotic surgeries regularly at MultiCare.
“The skills of a roster of surgeons who have
been performing these procedures for years
with a well-trained and experienced surgical
staff are the real core of a successful program
like MultiCare’s robotic-assisted surgery
programs.”
Cathy Lensing
Robotic surgery
at MultiCare
MultiCare was the first in the Pacific Northwest
to offer robotic-assisted gynecological and prostate surgical programs, starting in June 2005.
Our specially trained surgeons have completed
more than 300 robotic-assisted surgical procedures since the programs’ inception.
For more information or to find a surgeon who specializes in robotic-assisted
surgery, visit www.multicare.org.
Are
your
kids
making
you
sick?
Be a germbuster!
1
LATHER UP! Use soap and water all over
your hands—don’t miss a fingernail! Scrub
20 seconds, long enough to sing the “Happy
Birthday” song twice.
2
AH-CHOO!
If you can’t
reach a tissue, sneeze
or cough into the inside
of your elbow (not your
hands—YUCK).
3
Keep germs at bay
There are several ways to reduce the germs
your kids bring home, Patrick advises:
• Teach kids to wash their hands well,
especially after using the toilet. you can
find pointers for effective handwashing
techniques at right or at the U.s. Centers
for disease Control and Prevention’s website, www.cdc.gov/cleanhands.
show kids how to cough and sneeze into
their sleeves rather than into their hands.
encourage kids to keep their hands
away from their faces.
find out if your child’s school permits
the use of alcohol-based sanitizers or
antibacterial cloths. Wiping off shared
surfaces will reduce the germs in the
environment.
In addition, a strong immune system
helps kids fight off infections, Patrick says.
so make sure your child is eating right and
getting enough rest and exercise.
“getting vaccinated for vaccine-preventable illness is [another] good way to
stay healthy this winter,” adds Rosalind
Ball, RN, MN, CIC, Infection Control
Practitioner, good samaritan Hospital.
Visit www.multicare.org/kids for more
tips about keeping kids healthy.
4
BE SURE
TO WASH:
• Before touching
food • After
handling pets
• After coughing,
sneezing or nose-blowing • Before and
after touching a wound or being with
a sick person • After touching
garbage • After using
the toilet (FOR
SURe)!
•
•
•
✂
yoU TeaCH your kids to share their toys
and games. But how do you teach them not
to share their germs?
“Think about the 25 to 30 students in
typical classrooms,” says Marcia Patrick, RN,
MsN, CIC, director, Infection Prevention
and Control at MultiCare. “That’s a lot of
germs being shared, and lots of opportunities to bring something home.”
Consider all of the shared areas in
classrooms—desks, pencil sharpeners,
pencils, crayons, light switches, textbooks
and other instructional materials, computer
keyboards, and cafeteria and gym surfaces.
“any or all of these can contain germs
from the mouths and noses of kids, as well
as fecal matter from hands not washed
thoroughly after using the toilet,” Patrick
says. “another child comes along and
touches that surface, then rubs his eyes
or nose, and ends up with the infection,
which he, of course, takes home with him.”
NO WATER? Gellin’
works too. Rub cleaning gel (at least
60 percent alcohol) all over
your hands until they’re dry.
Sources: Marcia Patrick, Rn, MSn, CIC, and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
www.multicare.org | 7
The Big
T
THeRe’s a picture of Jillian Michaels on her website
sporting a black, sleeveless T-shirt with “Bully”
written across the front.
sure, the black team’s coach on TV’s The
Biggest Loser has the title of television’s toughest
trainer. But ask MultiCare Center for Healthy
living’s elizabeth Barnard her impressions of
the weight-loss reality show star, and she’ll
point out how Michaels cares and wants
others to reach their healthy goals.
“she’s trying to help people realize that
they can do it,” says Barnard, the Center’s
Community events Coordinator. “she’s not
pushing them beyond their capabilities—
she’s pushing them to their capabilities.”
If you’ve seen the show, you know
Michaels is extremely fit, and you’ve watched
her help others lose a lot of unwanted
pounds and learn how to live healthy lives.
Now you can see Michaels in person at
this year’s do something Healthy event,
which is bound to include an inspirational
dose of “anybody can do it” when it comes
to getting physical, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight, Barnard says.
“People want to live a healthy life, but
You can win by
Jan. 24
Do Something Healthy 9
Meet Jillian Michaels and sign up
for the Million Minute Mission.
8 | Healthy Living
February
Start classes at the
YMCA. (Register online:
www.tacomaymca.org.)
gest Winners
are the biggest losers
sometimes they don’t know how to get motivated or where to start,” Barnard says. “Do
Something Healthy is a great first step to
learning more about health and nutrition
and getting the motivation to make healthy
changes to their lives.”
In addition to helping others succeed,
Michaels’ own healthy pursuits have led to
several personal successes. She has a weekly
radio show, fitness DVDs and two published
books, including her latest, Making the Cut:
Thirty Days to the Strongest, Sexiest You.
According to her website, the energetic fitness trainer and life coach struggled with her
own weight, so she knows firsthand about the
challenges. Then came martial arts, a source
of her passion for fitness training.
This passion, along with Michaels’
desire to help people reach their fitness goals,
should make the Do Something Healthy
event all the more inspirational and exciting.
In addition to Michaels’ featured presentation, Do Something Healthy will include
a health fair and screenings, and a registered
dietitian and personal trainer will be available
to answer attendees’ questions about nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity.
And if previous events are an indication—
this is the ninth year Do Something Healthy
is taking place—people will walk away with
something they can use to better their health,
perhaps profoundly so. Barnard has seen it
before: “Participants have taken information
from this event,” she says, “and used it to
change their lives.”
Do Something Healthy 9
Meet Jillian!
When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 6 to 9pm
Where: Greater Tacoma Convention and
Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma
Join the Million Minute Mission
Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it: Help your Pierce County friends and neighbors reach a goal of logging millions of exercise minutes.
It’s called the Million Minute Mission—a community-wide fitness event led by the MultiCare Center
For Healthy Living—and it’s a fun way to get physical, get healthy, and win individual or team prizes.
Here’s how it works: You register online—it’s easy—and then log
an average of 30 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week,
Jan. 24 through June 14. Kids can aim for 30 to 60 minutes.
You also track your progress online, so you can see your healthy
minutes add up! Get the details at www.multicare.org/mission.
This year’s theme: Weight Maintenance—
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Special guest: Jillian Michaels, trainer from
NBC’s The Biggest Loser, 7pm
•
•
•
•
Health fair and screenings, 6 to 7pm
Bring a question for “Ask the Dietitian”
Have Michaels sign her book
Cost: $10
Preregistration is required.
Register online at www.multicare.org.
losing­ — one inch at a time
March
Get your Passport
to Healthy Dining at
www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
April
Tracking your weight each
week is one good way
to monitor your health.
www.multicare.org/mission
May
Thirty minutes a day:
Keep logging your exercise at
www.multicare.org/mission.
June 14
Sound to Narrows
Fun and fitness for a great
cause and the Biggest Winner
finale. See you there!
www.multicare.org | [healthy families]
gRoWNUPs aReN’T the only ones at
risk for being overweight or obese. More
and more children are too.
What can parents do to help? Take
action, says nutrition expert Monica
dixon, Phd, Rd.
dixon is working to establish an optimal
Weight Clinic at MultiCare’s Mary Bridge
Children’s Hospital & Health Center. she
is researching the causes of the childhood
obesity epidemic and exploring what
hospitals, schools, governments and others
can do to turn the tide.
It’s a complex matter, she says. But she
adds that the best place to begin preventing
childhood obesity is at home.
“There’s a lot parents can do to help kids
manage their weight,” dixon says.
get started by following these tips:
Serve whole foods. “Think fresh fruit,
vegetables and dairy, whole grains, nuts and
oils, and less processed foods,” dixon says.
offer kids water instead of pop or juice.
Eat together. family meals give you
better control of food choices and are also
a chance to bond with your kids and teach
them manners.
“There are so many advantages,” dixon
10 | Healthy Living
Help your kids
manage their weight
says. “There are even studies that show
that kids who eat with their families often
are less likely to use drugs or join gangs.”
Exercise as a family. “There are lots
of things you can do together—hiking,
biking, playing in the park,” dixon says.
“Having an active family helps children
remain active as adults.”
Talk to your doctor. your child’s doctor
can determine if your child is overweight.
He or she also can give you advice on safe
ways to help children take off extra pounds.
for more information, visit Kids get
fit at www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
Pierce County gets your family fit
Pierce County residents, are you ready to
make good on those new Year’s resolutions?
Let Pierce County Gets Fit help you and your
family meet your 2008 fitness goals.
Pierce County Gets Fit is a partnership
between MultiCare Health System, the YMCA
of Tacoma–Pierce County and the Tacoma–
Pierce County Health Department. Formed
in 2005, the goal of Pierce County Gets Fit
is simple: Help you and
your family get fit by promoting good nutrition and
physical activity. Best of all, it’s easy to
participate.
Whatever your health challenges or fitness
goals, Pierce County Gets Fit has something
for adults and kids alike.
visit www.piercecountygetsfit.org today.
[update]
Catching up with
the Biggest Winners
lasT feBRUaRy, two teams of five contestants took part in a four-month weight-loss
competition modeled after The Biggest Loser
TV show. a collaborative effort of MultiCare
Health system, the yMCa of Tacoma–Pierce
County and the Tacoma–Pierce County
Health department, Pierce County’s
Biggest Winner contest and ongoing
weight-maintenance program were
designed to help Pierce County residents
adopt healthier lifestyles.
While the competition ended months
ago, the contest’s top two “losers” are still
going strong.
What’s new with Aaron
aaron stewart may have been the contest’s
first-place winner, but he considers his improved health and lifestyle the real prize.
“It was the best experience of my life—
from the fellowship to the weight loss to
the whole transformation of my diet and
how I think about food,” he says.
a 32-year-old executive pastor from
University Place, aaron is a former college
football player who feels just as strong today
as he did while playing for Pacific lutheran
University more than a decade ago. aaron
weighed 295 pounds coming into the competition and has lost a total of 52 pounds,
or 20 percent of his body weight. He credits
MultiCare dietitians, the yMCa trainer,
fellow teammates and his wife for his success.
“What I really learned is that it’s
not about dieting,” he says. “It’s about
changing the way we eat.”
aaron continues to exercise
regularly at the yMCa with
his wife, as well as fellow team
member Chris Waiss. He’s kept
the weight off and plans to lose
five to 10 more pounds.
Checking in with April
april Waddington was determined to make
a dramatic change in her weight and lifestyle. and she did, coming in second overall
in the contest and losing nearly 50 pounds
and 17 percent of her body weight.
The 34-year-old family support worker
from Puyallup battled her weight for more
than a decade and was 278 pounds when
the competition began. athletic in school,
april was inspired to participate by the
competitive nature of the contest.
“Having such a great team motivated
me to do more—for myself and the team,”
she explains. “I had to be accountable to
someone, and that made a big difference.”
april looks forward to reaching her goal
weight of 165 pounds. The key, she says,
is combining low-fat proteins
and a high-fiber diet chock-full
of fruits and vegetables with an
exercise program that includes
fitness classes, weight training
and yoga.
“There’s no magic pill,” she
says. “It takes work, but it’s worth
it. I feel 100 percent better!”
2008: Be our next Biggest Winner!
MultiCare Health System, the YMCA of Tacoma–Pierce County and the Tacoma–Pierce County
Health Department challenge you to get fit and be healthy in 2008. A MultiCare physician and
registered dietitian, along with a personal trainer from the YMCA, will oversee the Pierce County
Biggest Winner program to ensure that participants are losing weight and exercising in a safe,
healthy way. Applications for the program are available at www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
www.multicare.org | 11
[calendar of events]
Smart steps for a healthy life
CHECK YOUR HEALTH
Breast Health Center
Personal Wellness Profile
Body Composition Testing
Everything you need for breast health:
mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic
biopsy, clinical breast exams and education.
allenmore Hospital: 253-459-6311
Tacoma general Hospital: 253-403-1155
Find out where your health stands with a
wellness profile to analyze your nutrition,
fitness, stress and heart health. Includes
cholesterol and glucose screenings. (Not a
replacement for physician exams.)
Men’s and Women’s HeartAdvantage Screening
fee: $45
253-403-6340
A personalized consultation, risk assessment
and basic lab tests.
Resting Metabolic Rate Screening
Check your body-fat percentage and lean-mass percentage, and
set a goal for your weight.
fee: $15
253-403-1503
Bone Density Screening
Comprehensive DEXA screening for
osteoporosis.
allenmore Hospital
253-403-1059
fee: starts at $55
Tacoma general Hospital
800-342-9919
Good health for active adults
Adult Day Health
Grandparenting for the 21st Century
Promoting independence for older
(and disabled younger) adults in
Tacoma.
The latest on childbirth, infant care and
childproofing your home. Plus, tour the
Family Birth Center!
253-459-7222
fee: $42 per couple
Tacoma general Hospital
253-680-7500
EverActive®
If you’re at least 55, enroll now and
enjoy benefits in health and finance,
travel, and entertainment.
fee: $25/single or $39/couple
800-485-0205
Get the exact measurements you
need to successfully lose weight.
The comprehensive target calorie
report will show you how to eat
the maximum amount of food
and still lose weight.
fee: $40
253-403-1503
HomeLink Emergency Response
Our in-home personal emergency response
system provides a direct link to our medical
monitoring center for instant help when you
need it.
fee: $38/month plus a one-time $45 activation fee
253-459-8263
12 | Healthy Living
Unless otherwise noted, visit www.multicare.org/classes or call 800-342-9919 for information or to register.
January
through
March 2008
Unless otherwise noted, visit www.multicare.org/classes
or call 800-342-9919 for information or to register.
FAMILY HEALTH AND SAFETY
Car Seat Inspections
Call for times and locations.
Car seat inspections and phone
consultations by certified technicians.
BRIDGES: A Center for Grieving Children
Kent, silverdale, Tacoma
253-403-1234
Grief support groups with children 4 to
18 years old who have experienced the loss
of a parent or sibling. Concurrent groups
for parents and children.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
253-272-8266
Children’s Asthma Education
Education for children with asthma
and their families.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
253-403-3131
Parenting: Love and Logic
Based on the parenting philosophy that allows
children to live with the consequences of their
choices, while giving guidance and support
with love.
fee: $50/person
six-week class, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Tacoma general Hospital
253-680-7500
Children’s Diabetes Education and Clinic
GET MOVING WITH
CLASSES AT THE YMCA
Join the yMCa and receive $50 off the
joining fee. for first-time members only;
must be age 15 or older to join. for more
information, branch schedules or to
register, call 253-534-7820 or visit
www.tacomaymca.org.
12-Week Personal Fitness Program
Supervised exercise program for the adult
fitness beginner. A great way to get started.
Immunizations on the Go
For children 0 to 18 years old in
Southwest Washington.
available at various locations
253-403-1767 or
800-552-1419, ext. 1767
Active Older Adult Fitness
A fun, low-impact aerobic class for
people 55+.
Water Aerobics
Life Jacket Loans
Free life jacket loaners available year-round.
Loaned for up to one week, limited quantities.
Individual education for children newly
Kent, olympia, silverdale, Tacoma
diagnosed with diabetes and for their families. 253-403-1234
By appointment for those who need further
education or review. Classes, camps and
support groups also available.
Cardio workout in
the water. Great for
all levels.
Yoga/Pilates
Combines stretching with
strengthening movements
for a low-impact, high-result
workout.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
253-403-3131
ZUMBA
Custom-Fit Helmet Sales
The new trend in cardio fitness...Latin
dance! Appropriate for all fitness levels.
Get custom-fit helmets, available
in both child and adult sizes,
to use with bikes, scooters,
skateboards, skates, skis and
snowboards. Wearer must
be present for custom fit.
Bike helmet: $7
Multi-impact
helmet: $10
ski helmet (November–
february): $15
Covington, Kent, olympia,
silverdale, Tacoma
253-403-1234
PATHWAYS LECTURE SERIES
“Hold Onto Your Kids”—Dr. Gordon Neufeld
Best-selling author dr. gordon Neufeld talks about the pivotal role a
good bond with parents plays in a child’s healthy development.
according to dr. Neufeld, societal change is endangering the
child-parent relationship, and peers are increasingly replacing
parents as key players in kids’ lives. Join us for a dynamic, inspiring discussion about what we can do to cultivate the kind of
relationships with our children that keep them safe, healthy and
thriving throughout their lives.
fee: $18 in advance; $25 at the door
Tuesday, March 11, 7 to 9pm, annie Wright school–Kemper Center,
Tacoma. Register online at www.parentmap.com; click on “Pathways.”
www.multicare.org | 13
[calendar of events]
Smart steps for a healthy life
Insulin Pump Instruction
Living With Heart Failure Series
Individual education.
For patients and families. A comprehensive
approach to treatment, medications, nutrition
and exercise.
Cost covered by most insurance plans.
253-403-1726
253-403-4590
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Classes for adults with chronic lung conditions.
Cost may be covered by insurance.
allenmore Hospital
253-459-6623
QuitTobacco Support Group
TAKE CONTROL
Aquatic Therapy
Rehabilitation classes.
MultiCare orthopedics & sports Medicine
Center
253-459-6999
Cardiac Health & Rehabilitation Program
Medically monitored exercise therapy and
lifestyle education on risk-factor reduction,
medications, nutrition and stress-reduction for
patients who have had a heart attack, cardiac
bypass surgery, angioplasty/stents, heart valve
surgery or angina. Requires a physician referral.
Tacoma general Hospital
253-403-1058
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Support group for people with CHF and their
families. Please call for class availability.
253-403-4590
Diabetes Education
A 12-hour group course for adults with
diabetes. Individual appointments available.
Cost covered by most insurance plans.
253-403-1726
14 | Healthy Living
Great success rates! No matter where
you are in the quit process, this group is for
you. Topics include tobacco addiction, successful cessation practices, individualized
quit plans, nicotine replacement therapies,
cessation medications, withdrawal symptoms,
coping skills, relapse and recovery. Drop-ins
and support people are welcome; low-cost
nicotine patches are available. For best results,
we recommend weekly group attendance for
one year following your final quit date. Call
for more information.
• allenmore Hospital, boardroom:
Mondays, noon to 1pm
• good samaritan Community Healthcare:
Mondays, 7 to 8pm
• Tacoma general Hospital, 6M:
Tuesdays, 11:45am to 12:45pm
• MultiCare gig Harbor Medical Park:
Wednesdays, 7 to 8pm
253-223-7538
Yoga for Cancer Survivors
Designed for those who have faced
cancer. Appropriate for beginning participants.
253-403-1073
Tobacco Cessation QuitSmart™
Identify and conquer your personal challenges in
quitting tobacco by laying a solid foundation
for a successful quit. Class topics are designed
to take you through the first year of quitting.
A variety of activities ensures easy absorption
of the material. You don’t have to have quit to
come to class, just have an interest in learning
how to do it! QuitSmart works in conjunction
with our support groups. Workbook included.
fee: $80 (scholarships available to incomequalified participants)
• allenmore Hospital:
saturday, Jan. 19, 9:30am to 3:30pm
• good samaritan Community Healthcare:
saturday, feb. 9, 9:30am to 3:30pm
• MultiCare gig Harbor Medical Park:
saturday, March 15, 9:30am to 3:30pm
800-485-0205
MARCH IS NUTRITION MONTH!
start the month off right—get your Passport to Healthy dining.
MultiCare Center for Healthy living—in partnership with the
Washington state Restaurant association, Tacoma–Pierce County Health
department and the yMCa of Tacoma–Pierce County—will present
a yearlong program designed to provide you with healthy meal options in
restaurants. The get fit Passport to Healthy dining gives you a list of restaurants that will be
offering four get fit meal options. each meal option will meet our get fit healthy criteria.
But wait, there’s more! Not only will you have get fit meal options, but you can also
earn get fit incentives. for every 10 get fit meals you purchase, you’ll be able to receive
an incentive, such as a pedometer, a water bottle and more.
for more information, please visit www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
Unless otherwise noted, visit www.multicare.org/classes
or call 800-342-9919 for information or to register.
YOUR HEALTHY PREGNANCY
OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Bates and Tacoma General Pregnancy Classes
Bates Technical College, in cooperation with
Tacoma general Hospital’s family Birth Center,
offers a variety of childbirth and related classes
at Tacoma general. To register, visit www.bates.
ctc.edu/registration or call 253-680-7500.
Programs and activities to help us build a
healthier community.
• Massage for Pregnancy and Labor Class
Massage techniques for labor support partner
and mom.
fee: $42/couple
• Prepared Childbirth
Five-week series or weekend classes prepare
mom and partner for birth and parenthood.
Plus, tour the Family Birth Center!
fee: $80/couple
• Breastfeeding 101
Choose the best feeding option for mom and
baby using current information.
fee: $15/couple
Healthy@Work
Boost productivity and reduce absenteeism
with this work-site wellness program. Program
offerings include health screenings, tobacco
cessation, and health education programs
and classes, all taught on-site for both large
and small companies.
253-403-7895
MultiCare Center For Healthy Living
Education and programs for community members and corporations. We
promote health and wellness with exercise,
nutrition, weight loss, life balance and
tobacco cessation. This community resource
is made possible by generous gifts donated
through the MultiCare Health Foundation.
800-485-0205, www.multicare.org
Gestational Diabetes
Learn about blood-glucose testing and meal
planning in this 2½-hour class for moms
with gestational diabetes.
Cost covered by most insurance plans.
253-403-1726
SmartMenu
The MultiCare Center For Healthy
Living offers free menu analysis to restaurants participating in the Tacoma–Pierce
County Health Department’s menu labeling program.
WIC Nutrition Program
253-403-7894 or 253-405-8024
Federal nutrition program for low-income
pregnant and breastfeeding women and for
their children up to age 5.
Power Cooking: Empower
Yourself to Healthy Cooking
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
and 10 other locations
253-403-1349
Are you expecting?
The skilled family physicians at the
MultiCare Family Medicine Center
can provide comprehensive care for
you and your baby.
Learn how to fix and freeze 30 nutritious
meals and sample many of the finished
products. Class taught by a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator from
MultiCare Health System.
fee: $30; $15 for yMCa members
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 6 to 9pm
Jackson Hall, 315 Martin luther
King Jr. Way, Tacoma
see page 3 to learn more.
www.multicare.org | 15
[support]
SM
Keep in touch with CarePages
CaRePages aRe free, private, personalized web pages that allow you to stay in
touch with family and friends before, during and after hospitalization. all MultiCare
patients and families can create and update
a web page where they can share their latest
news with friends and family and receive
messages of support.
before
CarePages let you:
Update your loved ones all at the same
time without repeated phone calls or e-mails.
Create web pages that are not open to
the general public.
send comments and compliments to
caregivers.
share photos, contact information,
•
•
•
•
See what Pierce
County’s 2007
Biggest Winners
look like now!
MultiCare Health System
P.O. Box 5299
Tacoma, WA 98415-0299
visiting hours and other information on
your schedule.
CarePages provide a free, convenient way
for you to keep loved ones updated and
for them to provide you with emotional
support.
Visit www.multicare.org or www.
marybridge.org to create a CarePage.
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
MultiCare
Health System
Page 11
PC
STAY HEALTHY THIS WINTER! | SIGn UP FOR A CLASS. See PAGe 12.