Health Scene Fall 2011 - Illinois Valley Community Hospital

Fall 2011
J O U R N A L O F W E L L N E S S & G O O D H E A LT H C A R E
dr. KleMCZaK:
A MOM DOC
FOR MOMS
dr. daMron:
HER GOAL IS
PREVENTION
dr. MeIer:
3-D KNEE
SURGERY
2 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
inside this issue
6}
prEVENtINg
shINgLEs Most
people 50 and older are
urged to get a shingles
vaccination. around
1 million cases of shingles
are estimated to occur
in the u.s. each year. ask
your doctor about getting
vaccinated.
7}
u.S. Food and Drug
Administration
on the cover: IVCH OB/GYN
Denise Klemczak, DO (left),
takes a moment to talk with
one of her patients, Latisha
Burke, of Oglesby.
8}
Feature stories
3-D knees. New
technology enables
surgeons to perform
custom-fit knee
replacements, which may
make recovery faster and
movement easier.
It’s all about prevention.
Elizabeth Damron, MD,
guides people toward
lifestyle changes to help
prevent medical problems
before they ever start.
Our new birth place.
The nearly finished IVCH
obstetrics unit will deliver
great benefits for patients,
families and the hospital
staff.
Photo by Steve Stout
fALL 2011
Information in hEALth sCENE
comes from a wide range of medical experts. models may be used
in photos and illustrations. If you
have any concerns or questions
about specific content that may
affect your health, please contact
your health care provider.
Copyright © 2011
Coffey Communications, Inc.
hsm26879h
hEALth sCENE is published as a community service
for the friends and patrons of:
Illinois Valley Community Hospital
925 west st.
peru, IL 61354
815-223-3300
www.ivch.org
Keeping informed
New manager, new place. Obstetrics
Nurse Manager Angela O’Bryant, RN,
arrives just as the OB unit prepares to
move into new quarters. page 5
president, IVCh Board of Directors
Kris paul
Back on track. Rehab at IVCH helped
CEo
tommy Hobbs
a LaSalle teen get back to life after a
traumatic brain injury. page 10
Director, public relations
gene Vogelgesang
With gratitude. Your gifts help provide
essential hospital equipment. page 15
Is your heart healthy?
Joint replacement excellence Award
Five years in a row!
Find out with a cardiac screening at IVCH on Friday
morning, oct. 14, or saturday morning, oct. 15.
For more information or to make an appointment,
call 815-780-3337.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
3
ivch digest
Be careful up there. If you’ll
be using a ladder—for example, to
wash windows or to clear or repair
gutters—take precautions. Place
the ladder on fi rm, flat ground.
When climbing, keep your belly
button centered between the ladder’s two outside rails. Once you’re
up the ladder, don’t lean so far to
the left or right that your belly button goes beyond those rails. Climb
down and reposition the ladder
instead.
Is it time to tackle
those home and yard
projects? Keep safety
in mind.
Here’s
to safe
cleaning
IF you’re lIKe mAny PeoPle,
spring and fall mean it’s time
to tackle those home and yard
projects that need your attention.
Whether you’ll be inside giving
everything a good cleaning or
outside getting the yard and house
in shape, consider safety.
Thousands of people are hurt
each year in around-the-home
mishaps ranging from ladder
falls to garden tool accidents, the
IVCh CAlenDAr
IVCH pink saturday
at peru Mall
saturday, oct. 1,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Get your questions about
breast cancer answered by
members of the IVCH digital
mammography team.
Mammography techs will
be distributing information
about the importance of early
detection in the treatment of
breast cancer. You’ll also be
able to make an appointment
4 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons (AAOS) reports.
These tips from the AAOS and
other experts can help keep you
safe:
Don’t throw your back out
along with those old boxes. When
lifting, set your feet shoulder width
apart and keep your back straight.
Bend at the knees—not at the
waist—and lift with your legs. If it’s
too heavy or awkward, get help.
for your own IVCH digital
mammogram.
purse auction and style
show to help hospice
tuesday, nov. 15, senica’s
oak ridge golf Club, lasalle
Looking for a new purse? Curious about the latest fashions
on display in local stores?
Fashion-conscious Illinois
Valley residents can check out
the latest styles and support a
good cause at the same time
by coming to the purse
auction and style show
Don’t overdo it. Take breaks
from activities that require
repeated motions, such as digging or pruning. While you’re at
it, drink plenty of water to avoid
dehydration.
Follow safety labels and
instructions. Th is includes direc-
tions for using cleaning products
and lawn and garden chemicals
and equipment.
Mind the kids. Never let children play around or ride on lawn
mowers, and keep chemicals and
dangerous tools and equipment
beyond their reach.
fundraiser being planned by
Illinois Valley Hospice, assisted
by Heritage Manor of LaSalle
and Peru.
Tickets are $25 and can
be purchased at the hospice
offices in the IVCH 6th Street
office building or at Heritage
Manor in either LaSalle or Peru.
Donations of new purses are
also being accepted. Call 815224-1307
to learn
more.
save the date:
benefit ball is Jan. 28
Celebrations 150, lasalle
Illinois Valley fans of big band
music have learned to keep the
last Saturday of January open
on their calendars because
that’s when the IVCH Foundation Ball is held.
The 24th annual incarnation
of the Foundation’s principal
fundraising event is scheduled
for Jan. 28, 2012. Vince Gelsomino and Phaze will provide
the music. Watch for more
details to come.
ivch digest
Please welcome our new
obstetrics nurse manager
Diabetes takes toll
on young women
The new nurse manager of the IVCH obstetrics unit came
aboard just in time to help the OB staff move into new quarters.
Angela O’Bryant, RN, will lead
the move into the new obstetrics
unit when it opens this fall following
completion of a $15.5 million construction project that is adding a third
floor to the hospital’s East Addition.
A new intensive care unit will also be
part of the new wing.
A resident of Princeton, O’Bryant
had been a nursing supervisor at Perry
Memorial Hospital since 2007. She had
Angela O’Bryant, RN
been a staff nurse in Perry Memorial’s
Women’s Health Care Unit since 2002.
Following her graduation from Illinois Wesleyan University
with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, O’Bryant began
her career as a staff nurse in labor and delivery in the obstetrics
unit at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana in 1993. She later
held similar positions at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in
Peoria, Perry Memorial Hospital, and Hammond-Henry Hospital
in Geneseo. From 1999 through 2002, O’Bryant worked as an
obstetrics travel nurse at hospitals in Chicago; San Francisco;
Bettendorf, Iowa; and Urbana, Ill.
O’Bryant has held certification as a breastfeeding educator
and in advanced fetal monitoring. She is working on her master’s degree in nursing with a focus on public health leadership
through the University of Virginia School of Nursing, with plans
to graduate in December 2011.
Diabetes may be taking an increasing toll
on younger adults, especially women, a
study suggests.
Researchers tracked hospital stays
related to diabetes for 14 years using a
nationwide database of discharge records.
During that time, the sharpest rise in hospitalizations for diabetes occurred among
30-something adults. And among people
in their 20s and 30s, women were 1.3 times
more likely than men to be hospitalized
because of diabetes, even after researchers
excluded pregnancy-related hospital stays.
Additional studies are needed. But
one of the possible reasons more young
women are being hospitalized with diabetes
is that the disease may be occurring with
greater frequency in this group. The authors
noted that obesity—a risk factor for type 2
diabetes—is more prevalent among women
than in men of the same age.
Journal of Women’s Health, Vol. 19, no. 11
LOOKING FOR
Dr. Right?
Try the “Find a Physician” link at
www.IVCH.org.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
5
In addition, it’s the only implant available with Stryker’s patented X3 Advanced
Bearing Technology. In laboratory tests,
X3 has demonstrated a lower wear rate,
which may result in a longer-lasting
implant, making this technology particularly important for younger patients.
Saving time and money
Your
new
knee in
Now at IVCH,
the latest
technology
offers longerlasting knee
replacement
with easier
motion and
faster recovery.
3-D
IllInoIS VAlley reSIDentS considering
knee replacement surgery can take advantage of the latest technological advances
when they consult Peter Meier, MD, and
Robert Mitchell, DO, surgeons at the IVCH
Center for Orthopedic Excellence. They now
offer the Stryker Triathlon Custom-Fit Knee
with ShapeMatch Technology implant.
Dr. Meier was the fi rst orthopedic
surgeon in the area to use this technology.
With an MRI or CT scan of the patient’s
knee, the 3-D imaging software creates
a surgical plan showing what size the
implant should be and exactly where it
should be placed—customized to the
patient’s individual anatomy. After the
surgeon approves the plan, a single-use
ShapeMatch cutting guide is made to aid
the surgeon during the actual surgery.
Long-term demand for total knee surgery
in the U.S. is projected to continue increasing from half a million procedures in 2005
to more than 3 million procedures in 2030.
“The ability to contain costs and increase
efficiencies while providing a new knee replacement technology like ShapeMatch to
the community is important for our hospital to meet the demands for total knee
patients well into the future,” says Tommy
Hobbs, IVCH chief executive officer.
The new technology may reduce costs
associated with knee surgery and make the
process more efficient. In fact, a study has
shown that the procedure may take less
time, which means that more patients can
receive the surgery and go home sooner.
“I’m excited to offer patients undergoing knee replacement surgery the Triathlon
Custom-Fit Knee with ShapeMatch
Technology,” Dr. Meier says. “It gives me the
ability to customize the procedure to each
patient’s unique anatomy and reaffi rms
IVCH’s commitment to provide our patients
with leading orthopedic technology and
care.”
Significant benefits for patients
learn more
The IVCH Center for
orthopedic excellence
is part of the IVCH
Medical group. For more
information or to make
an appointment with
dr. Meier or dr. Mitchell,
call 815-223-2143.
6 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
ShapeMatch Technology is available for
use only with the Stryker Triathlon Knee
System, which has the best performance
among the most frequently used brands of
total knee implants, as measured by revision rates in the National Joint Registry of
England and Wales.
The Triathlon single-radius knee implant is designed to promote easier motion
and, a study has shown, a more rapid return to functional activities after surgery.
peter Meier, Md, and robert Mitchell, do,
are the orthopedic surgeons at IVCH.
toP FIVe
ONE OF THE hoSPItAlS In IllInoIS
for joint replacement surgery
Elizabeth Damron, MD, talks
with patient Albert Lemrise,
of Peru.
To make an
appointment
with Dr. Damron,
please call
815-667-4277.
elIZabetH daMron, Md
Your partner
in prevention
PArt oF mAIntAInInG GooD heAlth is having a good
working relationship with your doctor.
Peru resident Albert Lemrise describes the connection
he has with his doctor of eight years this way:
“I feel at home with her, and that’s the way you should
feel when you’re with your doctor. Otherwise, you might
not listen to the advice you’re being given for your own
good.”
Lemrise’s doctor is Elizabeth Damron, MD, a boardcertified internist at the IVCH Utica Medical Center.
Dr. Damron earned her medical degree at Chicago’s Rush
Medical College in 1996 and completed her residency at
Cook County Hospital in 1999.
As an internist, Dr. Damron treats people 18 and older.
That means she gives out expert medical advice to everyone from young adults who still live with their parents to
people in their 90s.
a passIon For preVentIon
Much of Dr. Damron’s guidance centers on helping patients
avoid serious health problems. While medicines treat
symptoms, Dr. Damron is also interested in treating the
underlying causes by helping her patients make healthy
lifestyle choices.
“My favorite phrase is ‘Prevent it before it happens,’”
Dr. Damron says. “I don’t want my patients to develop
joint problems because they’re carrying too many pounds.
I want to help them lose weight instead. Nor do I want
them to need oxygen one day because they smoked for
years. I want to help them quit lighting up.”
When it comes to making positive lifestyle changes,
Dr. Damron practices what she preaches. She herself is a
former smoker who fi nally quit for good in January 2006.
As a result, she can empathize with patients making lifestyle changes, because she knows how hard it can be.
a supportIVe partner
Lemrise appreciates this level of care and support.
Dr. Damron has encouraged him to lose a modest
amount of weight in order to better control his sleep
apnea.
“She doesn’t nag,” Lemrise says. “She completely supports you.”
And supporting her patients—whether they’re in perfect health or gravely ill—is something Dr. Damron cares
about deeply.
“I became a doctor because I wanted a life of service in
which I might ease someone else’s pain,” Dr. Damron says.
“I knew life would go by quickly. So I didn’t want to do
something I wasn’t 100 percent committed to.”
That commitment is obvious in her willingness to carefully listen to her patients—whether they are describing a
new symptom or a major change in their lives, such as the
birth of a baby or the death of a loved one.
“You can’t bring people into your office, sit them down
and then rush them out,” Dr. Damron stresses. “A good
doctor has to take the time to listen.”
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
7
the arrival of a new OB unit
IllInoIS VAlley CommunIty
hoSPItAl is almost ready to deliver a
Make an
appointment
with Drs.
Bogard,
Guzman or
Klemczak
or with an
IVCH certified
nurse-midwife
by calling 815223-2944.
Women’s Health Care
Center physicians are
Andrew Guzman, MD;
Shyrlena Bogard,
MD; and Denise
Klemczak, DO.
8 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
new obstetrics unit. In fact, by the time you
read this, the date probably will have been
set for the public open house that will be
held just before the new OB unit opens.
A new nursery and state-of-the-art central monitoring station will take up some
of the unit’s 10,000 square feet of space. A
surgical room will allow c-section deliveries within the unit, with no need for moms
to travel to a different floor.
Other moms-to-be can look forward
to using one of the new, larger suites for
labor and delivery. Afterward, the entire
family can relax and get to know their
baby in a separate recovery room.
“It will be a more comfortable place for
patients and babies,” says IVCH obstetrician Denise Klemczak, DO. “And it will be
easier for the staff to function in the new
unit as well.”
Dr. Klemczak, along with Andrew
Guzman, MD, and Shyrlena Bogard, MD,
are the obstetrician/gynecologists on the
IVCH Women’s Health Care Center staff.
A mom doc for moms
“Women’s health has always been an
interest of mine,” says Dr. Klemczak, a
35-year-old mother of three children, two
of whom were born at IVCH. “As women,
we take care of everyone else, but we often
neglect ourselves. It’s a great privilege
for me to be part of a woman’s life when
she’s having a child, as well as
throughout her reproductive life.”
Dr. Klemczak and
her husband came
to Illinois Valley
from southeastern
Michigan. She brought
with her a commitment to help her
patients stay healthy in
mind and body.
“I want to make
sure women are
taking care of
themselves
all through
their
IVCH certified
nurse-midwives
are, from left,
Angela Reidner,
Tracey Antle
and Pam
Koehler.
Are you
expecting?
lives,” she says. “During pregnancy,
after pregnancy and when their family
is complete.”
Dr. Klemczak says that being a mother
has defi nitely influenced her work.
“Many of my patients are working moms like myself. They have to
work hard to stay organized and stay
healthy,” she says. “Certainly having
gone through pregnancy has made me
more sympathetic to my patients.”
That statement is seconded by
Latisha Burke, 32. Dr. Klemczak delivered Burke’s second child, Ella, who is
now 3 months old.
“Dr. Klemczak was fantastic,” Burke
says.
A hospital of friends
The youngest of Dr. Klemczak’s
children is 10 months old. So when
Burke arrived to give birth to Ella,
Dr. Klemczak was fresh from the experience herself.
“She was very understanding of
everything I was going through,” Burke
says. “She talked to me throughout my
labor. We ended up laughing several
times during it all. I would actually
do it again—if we were going to have
another child.”
Sign up for IVCH’s free
pregnancy e-newsletter,
9 Months and Counting.
Visit www.ivch.org/
enewsletter.htm and click
on “Subscribe.”
Burke works at a salon. Her husband of 10 years is a local high school
teacher who coaches track and football.
In addition to Ella, they have a son,
Benjamin, age 6.
And although Burke is done having
children, she has high praise for the
staff at IVCH’s OB unit.
“They are wonderful,” she says. “They
were there for us 100 percent.
“I’ve always been pleased with
IVCH,” she adds. “It has a community
feel. The people all know each other,
and they’re friends.”
An october opening
The new OB unit is scheduled to open
its doors in late October.
Look for more information about the
new unit and other hospital events at
www.ivch.org.
Certified nursemidwives: Birth
and beyond
Denise Klemczak, DO, is one of
three physicians who help bring
babies into the world in the
IVCH obstetrics unit.
But it was one of the
department’s certified nursemidwives who delivered two of
Dr. Klemczak’s own children.
In fact, says Dr. Klemczak,
the unit’s three nurse-midwives
deliver most of the babies born
at IVCH.
“Our physicians supervise
any complicated births,” she
says. “But the nurse-midwives
handle all the normal vaginal deliveries.”
A certified nurse-midwife
(CNM) is a registered nurse
who has also been trained
in midwifery. Certified by
the American Midwifery
Certification Board, CNMs
provide health care throughout
a woman’s life—from adolescence
to menopause.
The certified nurse-midwives
at IVCH are Tracey Antle, Pam
Koehler and Angela Reidner.
Midwifery as a specialty
focuses on pregnancy and childbirth. However, CNMs also can:
✓ Prescribe medications.
✓ Order diagnostic tests, like
mammograms, Pap smears and
blood tests.
✓ Perform annual checkups.
✓ Offer family planning
counseling.
After delivering a baby,
CNMs provide care for both the
newborn and the mom. That can
include help with breastfeeding.
One of IVCH’s nurse-midwives is
a lactation consultant.
“We have a very good working
relationship,” Dr. Klemczak says
of the obstetricians and nursemidwives at IVCH.
Additional source: American College of
nurse-midwives
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
9
How rehab
helps you
back to life
When Victoria “Tori” Hamel, 18, of LaSalle, suffered a traumatic brain injury, her family
chose the IVCH Center for Physical Rehabilitation and Aquatics to help her with her recovery.
Physical Therapist Christine Layhew wrote about Hamel’s treatment plan.
At the IVCH Center for Physical
Rehabilitation and Aquatics, we take
a collaborative approach with our
physical, occupational and speech
therapists to help our patients
reclaim their independence.
Whether their goals are to
maximize mobility, to become more
independent with their daily routine
or to regain their ability to communicate, we are committed to integrating our patients back into the
community. We work individually and as a team, focusing on
the patient’s as well as the family’s goals to make the most out
of the rehabilitation process.
In physical therapy, the therapist
and the family develop an individualized plan to address the deficiencies.
The main focus of physical therapy
for adults is on ambulation, balance,
strength and overall mobility.
Occupational therapy focuses
on the activities of daily living and
independence. Working with the
patient, the occupational therapist
determines the patient’s limitations
and establishes a program to correct
A successful recovery
One of our patients, Victoria
Hamel, participated in this integrative approach to rehabilitation after a traumatic brain
injury. She was involved with
all three disciplines for several
months. Toward the end of her
treatment, we did community
outings—including trips to
HyVee, Buffalo Wild Wings and
even bowling—to prepare her
for being independent again.
When we asked Tori to sum
up her experience in IVCH rehab, she said, “I had to relearn
how to walk and talk when I first
came here, and now I am jogging
and talking a lot louder.”
Enabling independence
With a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, patients
who have been diagnosed with
a stroke, traumatic brain injury,
spinal cord injury, multiple
sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or
other neurological conditions
can have a high success rate. This
approach also offers maximum
benefits to amputees and children who need rehabilitation.
The ultimate goal of an integrated approach to rehabilitation
is to enable patients to achieve independence with everyday tasks.
Three therapies, one team
All three disciplines start with
an initial evaluation assessing
the patient’s functional limitations and weaknesses.
them. In some cases, independence
is gained by increasing strength,
range of motion, coordination and
cognition. For others, independence
may be gained through adaptive
equipment or instruction in alternative ways of completing tasks.
Speech therapy focuses on an
array of areas, including articulating sounds, expressing language,
understanding language, social
language aspects, cognition and
swallowing. Speech-language
pathologists work with people
of all ages. When working with
adults, speech-language pathologists evaluate the patients’
functional needs, whether it be
using their voice or a communication device, or even finding a
diet they can eat safely.
Christine Layhew, DPT, IVCH
physical therapist, helps Victoria
Hamel work out on a treadmill.
For more information about IVCH physical rehabilitation, call 815-780-3509.
10 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
pulmonary rehabilitation
When breathing
becomes hard
A program
that works
for you If you have
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other breathing problems, ask your doctor
about a referral to the IVCH
pulmonary rehab program.
Your rehab team—which
may include doctors; nurses;
psychologists; dietitians;
and respiratory, physical and
occupational therapists—will
work together to develop a
treatment program that’s
right for you.
With their help, you can
learn how to:
✓ Manage breathing
difficulties.
✓ Function more
independently.
✓ Maintain healthy behaviors, such as eating healthy
foods, exercising and not
smoking.
American College of Chest Physicians
Learn more
about our
pulmonary
rehab program
by calling
815-780-3047.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Most of us take this life-sustaining
rhythm for granted. But breathing isn’t
always easy for people with a lung
disease—particularly if they have
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
A person with COPD may feel short of
breath during daily activities—such as
bathing, dressing and preparing meals—
and especially during exercise, according to the American College of Chest
Physicians.
Pulmonary rehabilitation can help.
Through exercise training and educational programs, pulmonary rehab helps
people with COPD stay more active,
control their symptoms and improve their
day-to-day lives.
Steps to live stronger
Components of a pulmonary rehab program may include:
Exercise training. Most pulmonary
rehab takes place in the hospital, where
exercise training is closely supervised.
An individual exercise program can
teach you what exercises will benefit you
most, as well as how often, how long and
how intensely to do them.
Lower-body exercises, such as walking or riding a stationary bike, can help
strengthen leg muscles and improve
flexibility.
Upper-body training can help increase
the endurance and strength of the arm
and shoulder muscles. These muscles
provide support to the rib cage and
can help improve breathing.
Don’t be discouraged if you have
to start slowly. As your muscles gain
strength, you’ll be able to move more
easily and for longer periods of time.
Soon you’ll be able to do daily tasks
with less oxygen demand.
COPD patient Leonard Bias, of Mendota,
works with Shawn Alleman, IVCH
cardiopulmonary rehab program leader.
Some people with severe breathing
problems may also benefit from exercises
to improve respiratory muscle function.
Your pulmonary rehab team will let you
know if this is right for you.
Social and psychological support.
Rehab programs can also help address
the emotional stresses of having a lung
disease.
Some people with COPD may have
depression, anxiety, or a negative body
image or lack social support.
Group and individual counseling can:
➜➜Teach you relaxation skills.
➜➜Encourage you to talk about your
feelings.
➜➜Teach you how to give and receive emotional support from others.
Patient education. This helps you
understand more about your disease
and how to manage it. Many topics are
covered and may include information
about:
➜➜Medications.
➜➜Oxygen therapy.
➜➜Diet, nutrition and weight
management.
➜➜When to seek medical help.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene 11
primary care doctors
Searching for Dr. Right
Looking for a new doctor? Start by asking questions.
First, ask your friends and family which doctors they
would recommend. Once you have a few names, call
the doctors’ offices and talk with the staff. You can ask:
✓✓What type of insurance does the doctor accept?
✓✓How long does a typical office visit last?
✓✓Can I get lab work and x-rays done in the office?
✓✓Which hospital does the doctor use?
If you decide to make an appointment, continue asking questions at your visit. Then afterwards, ask yourself
a few things. During your visit, did the doctor:
✓✓Listen carefully?
✓✓Treat you with respect?
✓✓Answer all of your questions?
If your response to these questions is yes, you may
have answered the big question: Is this the right doctor
for me?
National Institute on Aging
A key to better health
Bharat
Puchakayala,
MD, and Anna
Freeman, APN,
staff the IVCH
Oglesby Medical
Clinic.
Looking for a
primary care
doctor? Go to
www.ivch.org
and click on “Find
a Physician.”
12 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
What’S A Primary Care physician’s
specialty? You. And if you don’t have one
of these specialists as your medical caretaker, now is the time to get one.
Primary care physicians are trained to
take care of all aspects of your health—
physical, mental and emotional.
A primary care doctor will focus on
forging a long-term relationship with you.
He or she will ask you about your family
history, your life and work, and other factors that can affect your health.
A primary care doctor will take the
time to listen to and answer your medical
questions because he or she knows that
getting to know you is the key to helping
you make good health care decisions.
Deciding on a doctor
As an adult, you’ll probably choose between
two main types of primary care doctors.
You might select: ➜ An internist, who
treats only adults. ➜ A family physician,
who treats both children and adults.
No matter which type of doctor you
pick, your primary care physician will be
the one to:
➜➜Advise you about screening tests and
vaccines.
➜➜Treat common illnesses such as sore
throats and the flu.
➜➜Help you manage any chronic diseases,
like diabetes or asthma.
Your doctor may offer education and
counseling as well.
If you do encounter more serious
health problems, your primary care
doctor can act as a case manager. He or
she can recommend specialists, such as
a cardiologist (for heart disease) or an
oncologist (for cancer), and can help you
keep track of the different doctors and
treatments you may need.
This kind of comprehensive care
can have positive results. Research shows
that people who routinely see a primary
care doctor have better overall health
and lower health care costs than people
who don’t get that kind of medical
attention.
Comprehensive, personalized and economical care—that’s what a primary care
doctor can deliver to you.
American Academy of Family Physicians
Pick your plan
with care
Not all health insurance plansare alike. When
you choose a health plan, make sure you pick one
that lets you use the physicians, nurse practitioners
and nurse-midwives who belong to the Illinois Valley
Physician Hospital Organization (IVPHO). Not every health
plan includes the local medical providers you know and trust.
Here is a list of providers who belong to the IVPHO:
Anesthesia
Peru Anesthesia
Eugene Becker, MD
Scott T. Millington, MD
Cardiology
HeartCare Midwest
Emergency Room
Physicians
Peru Emergency
Consultants, Inc.
Family Medicine
Ricardo Calderon, MD
Mary M. Chinn, MD
Edward Fesco, MD
Kara Fess, MD
Michelle Vasquez, MD
Jane Battles, APN
Anna Freeman, APN
Melissa Ilg, APN
Gastroenterology
Geetha Dodda, MD
Edward Doran, MD
Ram Goel, MD
Jae H. Kim, MD
General Surgery
Thomas Curry, MD
Joseph Kokoszka, MD
Chenglu Liu, MD
Robert Wojcik, MD
Geriatrics
Mario Cote, MD
Gynecology
Shyrlena Bogard, MD
Andrew Guzman, MD
Robert Kinsella, DO
Denise Klemczak, DO
Tracey Antle, CNM
Elizabeth Jennings-Porter,
CNM
Pam Koehler, CNM
Angela Reidner, CNM
Internal Medicine
Mario Cote, MD
Elizabeth Damron, MD
Mark Fernandez, MD
Won Kim, MD
Joel Leifheit, MD
Constantino Perales, MD
Bharat Puchakayala, MD
Obstetrics
Shyrlena Bogard, MD
Mary M. Chinn, MD
Andrew Guzman, MD
Denise Klemczak, DO
Tracey Antle, CNM
Elizabeth Jennings-Porter,
CNM
Pam Koehler, CNM
Angela Reidner, CNM
Oncology
Gregory J. Gerstner, MD
James Knost, MD
Michelle Vasquez, MD, practices family
medicine at IVCH.
Photo by Amanda Whitlock, courtesy of the NewsTribune
Otolaryngology
Dale Chilson, DO
Bulent Mamikoglu, MD
Pain Management
Eugene Becker, MD
Ronald Kloc, DO
Pediatrics
Mark Fernandez, MD
Neelam Goel, MD
Joel Leifheit, MD
Podiatry
Elie Daniel, DPM
Larry Ketner, DPM
Nicholas Tabor, DPM
Psychiatry
Joseph Chuprevich, DO
Atul Sheth, MD
Radiation
Oncology
Neelima Kabre, MD
Thomas Zusag, MD
Radiology
Steven Coventry, MD
Paul Kim, MD
Peter Levisay, MD
Steve Lukancic, MD
Merle Piacenti, MD
Urology
Steve Chung, MD
Gerald Levisay, MD
Christian Schwartz, DO
Orthopedic Surgery
Peter Meier, MD
Robert Mitchell, DO
www.ivch.org • Health Scene 13
The road to
health after
50
ChECk IN for ChECkups
AND morE to stay on course for health,
you’ll need to keep in touch with your doctor.
all adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every two years. It’s also
important to have your cholesterol checked
regularly—ask your doctor how often you need
this test.
and depending on your sex, age and health
risks, you may need additional screenings or
preventive measures, including a: ✓ Flu shot.
✓ Mammogram. ✓ Colonoscopy. ✓ Mental
health screening. ✓ pneumonia shot. ✓ shingles
vaccination. ✓ diabetes screening. ✓ daily
aspirin to help prevent heart attack or stroke.
✓ bone density scan to screen for osteoporosis.
✓ abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.
14 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
mean paying closer attention to the details. In fact, you may
want a medical map to help keep things straight.
Fortunately, there is a map, and it’s relatively easy to follow.
It starts with steps you can take on your own—lifestyle choices
that can prevent or control many conditions that cause illness
or premature death.
According to the National Institute on Aging, you can get on
the road to health with these steps:
eXerCISe reGulArly. Th is can help you reduce
your risk for many diseases. Exercise can also
improve your balance and help you avoid falls.
Try to get 150 minutes a week of moderateintensity aerobic activity—such as
bicycling, brisk walking or pushing
a lawn mower. On two or more
days of the week, you should
also do muscle-strengthening
activities that work all
major muscle groups.
eAt A heAlthFul DIet. An eating plan rich in fruits, vegetables
and whole grains is key to avoiding
many of the health problems that
often occur in older adults. It’s also
important to avoid saturated fats
and to go easy on the salt.
national Institute on Aging
onCe you turn 50 years old, staying healthy can
StAy enGAGeD. Get
out and have some fun.
Studies show that older
adults who are involved in
hobbies or social activities
live longer, healthier lives
than their more isolated
peers.
Don’t SmoKe. If
you’re a smoker, it’s
important that you try to
quit. Quitting will reduce
your risks for cancer, heart
attack and lung disease. In fact,
quitting will likely add years to your
life. You can fi nd resources to help at
www.smokefree.gov.
WAtCh your WeIGht. Weighing too much
or too little can increase your risk for a number of diseases or even premature death.
Ask your doctor about your ideal
weight and how to maintain it.
Our primary care doctors are accepting
new patients. Check our physician
directory at www.ivch.org.
A go d
score!
the IVCh Center for Physical Rehabilitation and
Aquatics now has motion analysis software, thanks
to a grant from the IVCH Foundation.
The $3,400 computer program can be used to
identify and then help correct poor mechanics in
movement, including the movement of a runner’s
legs, the throwing motion of a pitcher, a golfer’s
swing or the lifting mechanics of a factory worker,
says Jim Schaefer, CPRA director.
The Foundation also gave $522 to purchase a
television and a DVD/VCR recorder to use with the
software.
The funds were from a $7,500 gift to the rehab
center from a former patient.
Memorials to the IVCH Foundation
the IVCh FounDAtIon gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the people of the Illinois Valley.
The following memorial contributions were received between May 1 and July 31, 2011.
In memory
Bette Arthurs
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Davis
Patricia Brown
Arlene Archer*
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Beals*
Connie Buchanan*
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Frey*
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Jackson*
Nancy Jackson*
Wanda Kofoed*
Louis Delphi
Mr. & Mrs. Charles
Ambrose***
Baker Foundation^
Minnie Delphi^^^
Louis Kozikowski***
George Goskusky
Josephine Goskusky*
Annabelle Greener
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Lamps*
Lavern Hake
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Delka*
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Pruitt*
Anastacia Layden
John Layden*
Delphine Mazzetti
Mr. & Mrs. Martin
Cochrane
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen
Collins*
Jeanne Eddy*
Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Fredericksen
Nancy Grotti
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence
Johnson
Kathy Knauf
Mr. & Mrs. James Manning
Mr. & Mrs. Charles
Marchiori
James Marchiori
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Marchiori
Laura Marchiori-Brandt
Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Nelson
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Salierno
Rita Schwager
Mary Stith
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph
Velazquez*
Shirley McDougall
McDougall family*
Joseph Mikyska
Baker Foundation^
Irene Miller
Baker Foundation^
Mr. & Mrs. Harry
Erlenborn
James & Louise Partel
Sharon Partel &
Adrienne Jacobs
Melvin Pierson
Ron & Cindy Arbisi*
Frank & Linda Ariano*
Jim Arkins*
Dean & JoAnn Benassi*
Bob & Cheri Blum*
Mr. & Mrs. James Brady*
Audrey Burgess*
Mary Lynn Burgess*
City of LaSalle Public
Library*
Hailee Clancy*
Gary & Rhonda Colmone*
Kathy Cullen Conley*
Mary Jo Credi*
Bill & Bobette Duchaine*
Pat Duchaine*
Bob & Shirley Eide*
Lena Ewald*
Jeff & Dena Ficek*
Dan & Peg Fusinato*
Shirley & Ivan Gagne*
June Gardner*
Jay Gerber family*
Dave Gruenwald*
George & Audrey
Gruenwald*
Marge Grzybowski*
Barb Guglielmetti*
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hale*
Lee Ann Hannigan*
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Happ*
Betty Happ*
Mike & Mary Kay Harris*
Bart Hartauer*
Hepner family*
T. Boo Hernden*
HyVee*
Paula Illman*
Joanne Iwaszek*
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Jalley
Dale Janka*
Dave & Marilyn Janka*
Don & Ruth Janka*
Lori Keenan*
Mary Klinefelter*
Darlene Kolodziej*
Dick & Joyce Koontz*
Jim & Jeanie Kozak*
Ken & Barb Krogulski*
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kwit*
Ed Ladzinski*
Steven & Karen Ladzinski*
Gerry Leon*
Kathy Jo & Ron Lindner*
Charles & Rhonda
Lischewski*
Ellen Mesa*
Theresa Mikus*
Joanne Milby*
Barb Mitchell*
Jack & Charlotte Moriarty*
Ron & Ginny Mrowicki*
Janice Mueller*
Raymond & Carole
Newman*
Chris Nowakowski-Brown*
Luke & Jeanna Olivero*
Ray & Carol Pakula*
Dawn Pantenburg*
Andy Petelin*
Pat & Linda Petelin*
Carolyn Pierson*
Tom & Rosalyn Pigati*
Mr. & Mrs. Don Pittman*
Gloria Pryde*
Bob & Marilyn Pyszka*
David Pytel family*
Mike & Cathy Raeber and
sons*
Todd & Traci Ruppert*
Mr. & Mrs. Greg
Samolinski*
Carol Schloeder*
Lisa Schmitz*
Bob & Lois Schott*
Mr. & Mrs. James Scolari*
Chuck & Betty Scoma*
Jerry & Sally Scoma*
John & Sharon Somolski*
John Steele*
Jill Strell*
Len & Charline Strozewski*
John & Janice Swietek*
Ray Swietek*
Rosemary Swietek*
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Taylor*
Sharon Towne*
Amy Turri*
Dorothy Urbanc*
Shirley Vohs*
Roger & Carol Vulcani*
Donnie Wahlstrom*
Ron, Rose & Ryan
Wantuck*
Ed & Joanne Wieczorek*
Greg & Shelly Zamin*
Michael Zmudka*
Ron Senica
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Ferrari
Henry Sorrentino
Michele Cavallo
Mr. & Mrs. Andy Peterson*
Ella Strezo
Baker Foundation^
Kathleen Trump
Patricia Cherny*
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Strange*
Veronica Twardowski
Tom Kovacic*
Rae Zibert
LP Class of 1958*
Gene Randolph*
*Illinois Valley Hospice
**Special Procedures
***Greening Memorial
Scholarship
^Heflebower Memorial
Scholarship
^^Adult Day Center
^^^IVCH For a Lifetime of
Care campaign
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
15
Send a cheer card to a
patient at www.ivch.org.
reach
us
Numbers to know:
Main Number
Emergency Room
Central Scheduling
Class and
Event Registration
Billing and Insurance
Human Resources
Illinois Valley Community hospital
925 west st.
peru, IL 61354
Nonprofit org.
u.s. postage
pAID
pewaukee, wI
permit No. 921
815-223-3300
815-780-3411
815-780-3199
815-780-3337
815-780-3418
815-780-3546
Oh, Baby!
We are excited to deliver some great news:
our new obstetrics unit will open this fall!
This beautiful, spacious, modern addition will offer the ideal
setting for a truly special birthing experience.
Plan to Tour Our New Obstetrics and Intensive Care Units
at Our Open House this Fall.
In the meantime, read about the construction project
at ivch.org/expansion.
925 West Street • Peru, IL • (815) 223-3300