Altoona Regional Health System's Healthy Living

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A guide to Altoona Regional

outpatient services at Station Medical Center

Pages 4 & 5

Honor someone special with a tribute gift to

the Foundation

Page 7

P r o g r a m P l a n n e r : P u l l o u t c a l e n d a r i n s i d e

Health News

& Information

for Healthy

Living

digital mammograPHY

The

differencePage 3

Healthy LivingAltoona Regional’s

Healthy Living

Magazine is published

four times a year by

the Marketing and

Communications

department.

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President/CEOJerry Murray

Chief Operating OfficerRonald J. McConnell

Director, Marketing and CommunicationsDave Cuzzolina

Staff WritersPatt KeithAnne Stoltz

Contributing WriterTiffany Shaw

DesignerChip MockMock Creations LLC

For more information, please contact:

Altoona Regional Health SystemMarketing and Communications620 Howard Ave.Altoona, PA [email protected]

If you are not receiving Healthy Living Magazine in the mail and would like to,

you need to join the Healthy Living Club.

It’s free, and the magazine is just one of

the many benefits!

Join online at www.altoonaregional.org

or call 889.2630 or 1.888.313.4665.

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It seems to happen more and more often. You’re ready to leave for work in the morning but forget where you left your car keys. After a frantic search of all the common hiding places, you successfully find them, but you are left wondering: Is this normal? Or is there something wrong with my memory?

The good news: It’s probably perfectly normal aging.

“Most of the time, as we get older, we do tend to become a little more forgetful,” said Joseph Antonowicz, M.D., medical director of Behavioral Health Services at Altoona Regional. He said it happens to him more frequently since he hit his mid-50s.

“When I remember how I thought when I was in my early 30s, I could think faster,” he said. “Now it takes a little longer, and the process is a little slower.”

As people age, their thought processes may not be as quick as they once were, explained the doctor, who is board certified in psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.

losing speed

“There are changes in how the brain works in the speed of information processing, while the ability to solve problems stays the same,” he said.

So while tests have shown that complex cognitive tasks may take longer in older people, those tasks can be completed just as accurately as by younger people, he said. And older thinkers also can’t handle distractions as well as, say, a college student who studies in the dorm lounge while listening to music and eating pizza.

Occasionally forgetting the car keys or a dental appointment is a benign forgetfulness that is typical in aging and not a sign of dementia, Dr. Antonowicz said. Unfortunately, as it happens slowly with age, there are also no cures or treatments to help with a mental slip-up here or there.

When to see a doctor

The problem comes when a patient or loved one begins to notice a different kind of forgetfulness in someone. Grandma might leave the house to drive to the grocery store where she’s always shopped and come home several hours later, rattled and upset because she’d forgotten the way home. That kind of incident can indicate something more serious.

In that case, the first step is to get the patient to the family doctor, who can perform basic tests before referring the patient to a specialist like a neurologist or psychiatrist.

Dr. Antonowicz said there are different kinds of dementia that might be to blame, including Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer’s — which accounts for up to 70 percent of dementias — some patients can remember the Roosevelt

administration but are powerless to remember what they ate for breakfast, he explained. The disease affects various parts of the brain and is a complex problem that results in the death of brain neurons that cannot regenerate.

medicines can help

Two newer classes of medications can retard the progression of Alzheimer’s but do not stop it or prevent further damage.

Alzheimer’s disease is a huge concern for health care providers because with such a large percentage of the population living longer, it has become more of a risk. That’s one of the reasons there is so much research going into what causes it and how it could be prevented. Although there have been a number of studies into Alzheimer’s prevention involving anti-inflammatories, hormone replacement therapy and vitamin E, none has shown great results or been replicated.

The only study Dr. Antonowicz has seen that showed promise involved a group of nuns at a convent in Minnesota. That long-term study has indicated that those nuns who keep active mentally — through such activities as reading or doing crossword puzzles — seem to have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who had hobbies like watching TV.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for getting older and some memory changes will occur, but staying healthy physically and keeping active mentally may mitigate some of the effects and help you remember where you left those pesky keys.

Aging can rob us of our ability to . . .

Think fasT! “… as we get

older, we do tend to become a little more forgetful.”

Joseph Antonowicz, M.D.

contact:Behavioral Health services620 Howard ave.altoona, Pa 16601889.2141 option 2

Thank You!

DigitalGoing New mammography service boosts fight against breast cancer

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

In 2009, the Altoona Regional Foundation for Life kicked off its TEAM Pink campaign in support of bringing lifesaving digital mammography to Blair County.Altoona Regional employees, medical staff and volunteers, along with community members and organizations, responded with an unwavering dedication to helping.To all, thank you for raising more than $550,000!Your help was instrumental in bringing this technology to Altoona Regional, so women no longer have to travel to other counties for the service.Not only that, but you have advanced Altoona Regional’s vision of becoming a world-class health care organization. And with support from people like you, the health care system will achieve that vision.As TEAM Pink contributors, you have changed the world of health care for women in our community — and saved lives. Sincerely,

Jerry Murray President/CEO Altoona Regional

Drs. James (left) and Wertz are board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologists. Lexington radiology physicians practice exclusively at Altoona regional.

of interest. Being able to manipulate images is one of the main benefits of digital technology.

“Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can reduce the need for retakes due to over- or under-exposure,” said Dr. James. “This potentially saves additional time and reduces your exposure to X-rays.”

Because they are electronic, digital mammography images can be transmitted quickly across a network. Digital images can also be easily stored, copied without any loss of information, and transmitted and received in a more streamlined manner, eliminating dependence on only one set of “original” films.

“The addition of digital mammography at Station Medical Center completes the circle of Altoona Regional’s investment in women’s health,” said Michael Corso, admini-strative director, Imaging Services. “We want to help women receive the screenings they need in order to help identify breast cancer at the earliest stage possible.”

positions the patient to image the breast from different angles and compresses the breast with a paddle to obtain optimal image quality. But unlike film-based mammography, digital mammograms produce images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds. There is no waiting for film to develop, which can mean spending less time in the breast imaging suite.

“Unlike other parts of the body, the breast is composed mainly of soft tissue,” said Dr. Wertz. “When breast tissue is X-rayed, it creates an image that looks something like a smoky haze, making it difficult to see tiny ‘spots,’ called ‘microcalcifications,’ and other subtle signs of early cancer.”

the benefits of digital mammography

With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using the special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness, change contrast and zoom in for close-ups of specific areas

digital mammography,’ shows great promise in the fight against breast cancer.”

Mammograms play a central part in the early detection of breast cancer because they can detect changes in the breast that may be early signs of cancer but are too small or subtle to be felt.

What is digital mammography?

Digital mammography uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor, and transmitted and stored just like computer files.

“From a patient’s point of view, having a digital mammogram is very much like having a conventional screen-film mammogram,” explained Peter James, M.D., also with Lexington Radiology “Both film-based and digital mammography use compression and X-rays to create clear images of the inside of the breast.”

During all mammography exams, the technologist

Previously, many women traveled outside Blair County for the benefits of this leading-edge cancer detection method. Numerous studies prove that early detection is a vital component in the successful treatment of breast cancer.

“The use of mammography has greatly enhanced the ability to detect breast cancers at earlier stages,” said Richard A. Wertz, M.D., a radiologist with

Lexington Radiology. “Now this new

technology, called ‘full

field

As breast cancer continues to take a staggering toll on American women and their families, Altoona Regional has made a million-dollar investment to battle the disease locally.

Digital mammography is world-class technology that saves lives, and it is available at Altoona Regional’s Station Medical Center outpatient radiology facility.

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According to the American Cancer Society, women 40 years old and

older should receive an annual mammogram. To schedule

your digital mammogram at Altoona Regional, talk to your

physician and call 889.4222.

Program alerts! A Revolution in Women’s Imaging See calendar insert for details, date and time

main entrance

Neurology testing/Sleep CenterNeurology testing: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

State-of-the-art diagnostic neurology testing, including EEG, 24-hour EEG, evoke potentials and EMG services.

main phone: 889.4388 to schedule: 889.4222

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

CardiacRehabilitation

HealthForce

Neurology testing/Sleep Center

SurgicalPretesting

imaging Services

laboratory Services

Patient Registration

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Patient access (Registration)6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays

Friendly staff available to register and assist patients at Station Medical Center.

main phone: 889.6359

Easy parking, convenient hours and friendly people in a comfortable, safe environment.

HealthForce (Occupational Medicine)7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

HealthForce is available to treat employees of local businesses and industries. Services provided include physicals (DOT/NonDOT), fitness for duty evaluations and a full range of drug testing and OSHA surveillance.


laboratory Services6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays

Laboratory services include blood draws, EKGs and specimen collection and drop-off.

Results will be reported to your doctor’s office, usually within 24 hours of your visit.


Sleep Center: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday8:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. by appointment only

Comprehensive program that treats all types of sleep disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea, under the medical direction of a sleep specialist.

The Sleep Center includes monitoring to diagnose, treat and provide follow-up care for various sleep disorders.


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imaging Services (radiology)7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays

Altoona Regional at the Station Medical Center will not only make outpatient radiology services easier to reach but provide an upgrade to state-of-the-art technologies like digital mammography (see story on page 3) and wide-bore MRI.

We will also be able to maintain our patient schedule without interruption from inpatient or emergency cases. Patients can expect faster service in pleasant surroundings.

Our world-class technologies include MRI, CT, ultrasound, general radiology/ X-ray, digital mammography, bone density and on-site stereotactic breast biopsy.


StatioN MeDiCal CeNteR 17th Street • Altoona • www.altoonaregional.org

Cardiac Rehabilitation7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

After your cardiologist takes action with medicine, treatment or surgery, we can complete your care with rehabilitation. Cardiac Rehabilitation will guide in lifestyle modifications for a better quality of life.

main phone: 889.2173to schedule: 889.4222

Surgical Pretesting7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

Patients scheduled to have surgery will be interviewed and assessed by experienced registered nurses and highly skilled members of our

anesthesia team to ensure the best possible surgical experience.


Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Easy parking, convenient hours and friendly people in a comfortable, safe environment. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays

7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturdays

Provides physical and occupational therapy and speech pathology services. Two HydroTracks (underwater treadmills with resistive jets) are also available.

main phone: 889.3900to schedule: 889.4222

Meet SandyIn her role as greeter services coordinator, Sandy Thompson-Colyer will be helping to create a friendly and caring atmosphere for patients and visitors at the Station Medical Center. She will be a part of Altoona Regional’s mission of providing exceptional care by welcoming guests, escorting patients to their destinations, answering questions and coordinating a group of dedicated volunteers in ensuring service excellence!


flip flOp

Keys for safe sleepDr. Kelly Kane, board certified in pediatrics, provides important advice for helping your baby sleep safely:

• Put your baby to sleep on his back in his own crib or bassinet. Sleep should occur on a firm surface, not your bed, sofa or chair. You can have your baby sleep in the same room as you.

• Don’t put anything other than the baby in the crib for sleep.

• Do not use bumper pads or positioners as they could create a suffocation risk.

• Do not put your baby on his side to sleep because the infant could roll onto his belly and increase his risk for SIDS.

• Blankets are not recommended because they could be a tangling hazard. If you feel a blanket is necessary, it should be no higher than chest level and should be tucked into the crib mattress. Consider using a sleep sack.

• Do not allow the infant to become overheated. These signs are flushed cheeks, sweaty hair and fast breathing. If this occurs, take one layer of clothing or blanket off the child and watch carefully until he or she recovers.

“When babies sleep on their backs, they are less likely to have a life-threatening event.”

simple changes mean safer sleep for babies

For generations, mothers and grandmothers passed down the method of putting baby to sleep on his belly, until doctors began to realize that the age-old practice might be contributing to a nightmare problem — Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

SIDS is the major cause of death in infants a month to 1 year old and occurs without warning, usually while the child is sleeping. An infant’s death is ruled SIDS if it remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including a complete autopsy.

Since the national push began in 1992 to change the guidelines for how newborns are placed down for sleep, the rate of SIDS has decreased by 50 percent, said Kelly Kane, D.O., chairman of the department of Pediatrics for Blair Medical Associates.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 5,634 infants died from SIDS in 1989; that number in 2005 was 2,230. That’s a huge reduction — all because parents are being retaught to lay newborns on their backs to sleep, Dr. Kane said.

study backs up theory

“Epidemiologists have studied the connections between SIDS deaths and found that when babies sleep on their backs, they are less likely to have a life-threatening event,” Dr. Kane explained.

It’s unclear exactly why sleeping on the back helps, but it could have something to do with the baby not rebreathing his or her own carbon dioxide or increasing the flow-through to the brain’s respiratory center, she said.

Some parents worry that placing a baby on his back will cause him to choke if he spits up during his sleep. Dr. Kane said studies have shown that babies can turn their heads to the side, which is often enough to allow them to clear any spit-ups.

‘Back to sleep’ not new

Doctors and hospitals have been promoting the “Back to Sleep” campaign for years. The simple changes of laying newborns on their backs to sleep

and making some adjustments to sleeping arrangements in the crib have made huge differences across the country.

While parents learn to put baby on her back to sleep, even for naps, Dr. Kane warns parents to talk about it with other

caregivers.

“Twenty percent of SIDS deaths occur when infants are in the care of another care provider,” she noted. “Sometimes they aren’t aware of sleep procedures that can help keep your child safer. Make sure you tell them about your

Back to Sleep plan.”

contact:Kelly Kane, d.o.Blair medical associates1414 9th ave.altoona, Pa 16602 946.1655

Program alerts! More child safety: Safe Sitter class & car seat checkups See calendar insert for details, dates and times

Most often, people think of donating to a hospital foundation only upon the death of a close friend or loved one. Gifts in honor and remembrance are especially appreciated at times of loss, and many families or individuals ask that donations be made in memory in lieu of flowers. However, holidays, birthdays, wedding anniversaries and the births of children or grandchildren also provide fitting occasions for tribute donations.

many chances for tributes

Spring brings many opportunities to honor and remember those closest to us. Donations on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can provide opportunities to honor our parents. On Memorial Day we can remember family members or friends who valiantly served our country. You may also wish to acknowledge a physician, nurse or other caregiver at our hospital with a gift for the care and compassion they provided during your hospital stay or the stay of a loved one or friend.

The Foundation notifies the person being honored, or family members when tribute or memorial donations are received. All tribute gifts are recognized annually in the winter issue of Altoona Regional’s Healthy Living Magazine, and opportunities are available to make gifts that result in a tribute plaque, as occurred in the story above where donations exceeded $10,000.

Endowment funds or room naming gifts can be paid over a period of years or can be funded through planned gifts or one’s will.

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Planning for the futureDo you have a will or other important documents, such as an advance directive or power of attorney, which your family may need in the event of a medical emergency?

Would your spouse or children know where to find the documents or know your wishes should you be unable to make decisions for yourself? If not, you may want to take time this spring as you are filing your taxes to make sure your plans and documents are current.

The Foundation for Life will hold seminars later this year that may be helpful if you have not yet taken steps to plan for the future and provide for and protect your family. If you are interested in signing up for a seminar or in receiving a guide that may be helpful in planning your future, please contact the Foundation for Life at 889.6406 or visit altoonaregional.org/gift_giving.

Honor or remember SOMEONE SPECIALwith a gift to support local health care

For more information on tribute and memorial giving and on opportunities to honor or remember someone special, contact the Foundation for life at 889.6406.

The children of John and Betty Brown planned a celebration for their parents on their 60th wedding anniversary. Family members, friends, longtime business associates and fellow church members were invited.

The response to the invitation was overwhelming. Almost everyone — even those not able to attend — wanted to give a gift in honor of John and Betty on this special occasion.

Unsure how to respond to this outpouring of love, the children asked their parents. John and Betty’s response was that good health had allowed them to share 60 truly wonderful years together. They wanted gifts to be made in their honor to their local hospital’s heart center. Betty said, “Let’s make a gift that will also be a tribute to our guests and benefit our community.”

Plaque honors the couple

The story is true. The hospital received more than $10,000 in donations in honor of John and Betty. The anniversary dinner was made even more special when it was announced by the family that the hospital would be mounting a plaque outside a patient consultation room in the heart center recognizing the generosity of John and Betty’s friends on the occasion of their 60th anniversary.

On many occasions, we look for the perfect gift for family members, friends or colleagues. We often face the question of what to buy for “someone who has everything.”

Gifts directed to Altoona Regional Health System’s Foundation for Life to celebrate a special person or occasion can be thoughtful and generous acts that benefit the health of the community. Donations received are invested in facilities, equipment, programs and services that ensure the future of high quality care for our neighbors, friends and family.

Foundation holiday event raises $46,000The Foundation for Life’s annual Holiday Splendor gala and auction in November raised $46,000 to help fund the purchase and installation of the LifeNet System, which makes possible even faster care for people with heart attack symptoms.

Using LifeNet, an ambulance crew can transmit to an emergency room physician the EKG on possible heart attack patients. This allows the physician to diagnose acute EKG changes that determine if the patient is an immediate candidate for heart catheterization.

and don’t forget the Foundation for life’s

second annual golf classic on monday, June 27,

at scotch Valley country club. there will be morning and

afternoon sessions this year. For more information on

sponsoring and/or playing, contact shirley Hoyne

at 889.7673.

Program alerts! More child safety: Safe Sitter class & car seat checkups See calendar insert for details, dates and times

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PaidAltoona Regional Health System

Altoona Hospital Campus620 Howard AvenueAltoona, PA 16601-4899

A nonprofit community health care system Change Service Requested

david l. Burwell, m.d., is chief medical information officer (cmio) at altoona regional.

a s K t H e s P e c i a l i s t

What is your role as Altoona Regional’s first-ever chief medical information officer?

The position grew out of hospital administration’s insight that it will take substantial technological advancements for Altoona Regional to meet the challenges of the future.

My role is to serve as a liaison between the medical staff, the Information Technology (IT) department and administration during planning, selection, implementation and optimization of clinical information technology. As a practicing family physician, I have the experience of direct patient care that aids in understanding the technology needs of our outstanding medical staff.

Why is it important to bridge clinical expertise with the latest technology?

It is my belief that current and future technology can improve the quality of patient care at Altoona Regional.

How will computerized physician order entry (CPOE) serve both the patient and physician?

As one of the first clinical IT initiatives that I am involved with, CPOE’s goal is to improve patient care by reducing medical errors, improving workflow processes and aiding providers with order sets based on national standards. [Order sets help clinicians quickly select appropriate tests, nursing measures, medications.]

P R o F i l e

A graduate of Hollidaysburg Area High School, Dr. Burwell is board certified by the American Board of family Medicine. He received his medical degree from the ross University School of Medicine and completed his residency with Altoona family Physicians. Dr. Burwell resides in Hollidaysburg with his wife and son.

Before implementing CPOE, my real first task is evaluating and upgrading our current computer systems to make them user-friendly for our physicians, nurses and additional staff.

What’s next for health care information technology at Altoona Regional?

After upgrading our IT infrastructure and implementing CPOE, I am going to take aim at implementation of computer documentation to eliminate paper charting. At the same time, I share the vision of Dale Fuller, Altoona Regional’s chief information officer, of improving connectivity in our community.

We are looking at many options to improve the flow of information among the hospital, local physicians, regional hospitals and, most important, our patients. Follow our IT advancements and developments either on our Web site (www.altoonaregional.org) or by becoming one of our Facebook fans.

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Altoona Regional Health System's Healthy Living