Focus on Health CareSummer / Fall | 2016

Colorado Plains Medical Center

Helping HeartsNew Chest Pain AccreditationPages 4 & 5

Avoiding Female Athlete TriadPage 3

Affordable Lab TestsPage 7

2016 Brush Rodeo Queen, Clara Petersen, recently visited Colorado Plains Medical Center. Sponsoring the Queen’s saddle is just one of the many ways we support the activities and organizations in our community. Photo by Sandy Schneider-Engle

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| CEO Letter |

Dear Friends,

Gene O’Hara, CEO

Leading an active lifestyle, quitting smoking, and increasing calcium intake are all great ways to reduce osteoporosis risk.

“A DEXA scan is a quick and effective way to measure bone health,” Bohl says. “All women should have a baseline test to determine their bone density and their osteoporosis

risk. It’s very easy to begin taking preventive measures.”

A safe, simple, and painless test is available at CPMC and can detect the current status of your bones and your risk for developing osteoporosis. For information, call 970-542-3326 or visit www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com.i

Since 1952, Colorado Plains Medical Center has proudly served the healthcare needs of people throughout Morgan County and surrounding communities. As part of LifePoint Health, a leading healthcare company dedicated to making communities healthier across the nation, we are building upon this legacy and strengthening our hospital for the future.

LifePoint shares our commitment to improving the overall health and well-being

of our communities and ensuring that people here have access to quality care close to home. We consider it a privilege to serve as your local healthcare leader, and we are proud to be part of a company that is genuinely committed to such meaningful work.

To deepen our connection with LifePoint and strengthen its culture within our walls, we have chosen to adopt our management company’s Mission, Vision, and High Five Guiding Principles. These important philosophies have guided LifePoint since its founding in 1999 and represent one of the reasons this organization is the right partner for Colorado Plains Medical Center.

Our new mission is Making Communities Healthier. To achieve this mission, we will focus on our vision to create places where people choose to come for health care, physicians want to practice, and employees want to work. We will also be guided by our High Five Guiding Principles:• Delivering high-quality patient care

Building Your BonesOsteoporosis doesn’t discriminate. Learn your risk level.

Did you know that a simple trip and fall could put you at risk for breaking a bone if you’ve developed osteoporosis? This is particularly true if you’re a woman.

“After menopause, women are at much higher risk for osteoporosis,” says Brian Bohl, BSRS, RTR, MR, Director of Imaging Services at Colorado Plains Medical Center. “It’s important for women to be aware of risk factors and do everything they can to reduce the ones they can control.”

Risk factors include:• A sedentary lifestyle• Smoking• Excess alcohol consumption

• Chronic intestinal disorders• Family history• Being female

• Supporting physicians

• Creating excellent workplaces for our employees• Taking a leadership role in our communities• Ensuring fiscal responsibility

While our new Mission, Vision, and High Five Guiding Principles may feature different words than our previous statements, they reflect the essence of Colorado Plains Medical Center that has existed for more than 60 years and are true to our legacy and our hopes for the future.

One of the ways we plan to implement the mission of Making Communities Healthier is through the informative articles we publish in Life’s Point. We hope that, in particular, you will see our vision reflected in articles in this summer/fall issue about osteoporosis prevention, female athlete triad, our recent chest pain accreditation, healthy sleep habits, and two new providers who recently joined our medical staff. I also invite your suggestions for future articles and new ways to achieve this new mission each day at Colorado Plains Medical Center.

Good health to you,Gene O’Hara, PharmD, MHA, FACHEChief Executive OfficerColorado Plains Medical Center

www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com2

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Building Your Bones

running On Empty?Record numbers of young women are competing in sports, but if they aren’t careful, dietary restrictions and prolonged exercise could lead to serious physical problems.

Female athlete triad is a combination of three distinct and interrelated conditions:• Disordered eating — Various behaviors that lead to

poor nutrition• Amenorrhea — irregular or missed menstrual periods• Osteoporosis — low bone mass

While anyone can be affected by female athlete triad, women who participate in sports or fitness are more likely to sacrifice proper nutrition for athletic achievements.

“Often we’ll see that women with female athlete triad are not necessarily concerned with their looks, but are simply seeking to master their craft,” says Michelle Soriano, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist at Women’s Clinic of the Plains. “This is particularly true for activities like diving, ballet, and gymnastics which emphasize the leaner, the better.”

This condition has the potential to be serious, as poor nutrition can not only hinder athletic performance now, but also can lead to major bone and health issues down the road.

The primary goal for treating triad is to see young athletes return to natural menstruation as well as improve their bone mineral density. The best way to accomplish this is to recognize the problem and seek help.

Women’s Clinic of the Plains providers offer a full spectrum of care and treatment for women of all ages. Outreach services are available in Sterling and Brush in addition to the primary practice location in Fort Morgan. For more information, call 970-542-0390.

Diving into Digestion IssuesSometimes it’s hard to tell what your indigestion is trying to communicate. That’s why Colorado Plains Medical Center has a dynamic duo of surgeons to help you read between the lines.

When the gallbladder — the organ that stores bile to digest fat — acts up, it can cause persistent indigestion, nausea, vomiting and severe stomach pain. Hardened stones that collect in the gallbladder may cause this pain.

“Many people have gallstones, but just having gallstones doesn’t mean you have to have your gallbladder out. If gallstones are detected on an ultrasound and you are having symptoms such as pain or nausea or back pain after meals, then we may need to take your gallbladder out,” says Thomas Manchester, MD, FACS, general surgeon with CPMC. “Untreated gallstones can occasionally move into the common bile duct. If this happens, you may need to be sent for a procedure to pull the stones out of the common bile duct.”

Early Gallbladder RetirementIf gallbladder removal becomes

necessary, the surgical procedure is relatively simple and offers great relief to your digestive system.

Surgeons use a lighted scope — called a laparoscope — to get a picture of what’s going on and guide them in removing your gallbladder through a minimal incision, according to Edward Lopez, MD, FACS, general surgeon with CPMC.

Is indigestion interfering with your day-to-day activities? Call 970-542-4371 and find out if it’s your gallbladder or something else.

Thomas Manchester, MD

Edward Lopez, MD

Michelle Soriano, MD

www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com 3

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What It Means To Be an Accredited Chest Pain CenterWhen a person suffers from a heart attack, every minute matters. Quick and appropriate intervention and treatment can make a significant difference in a patient’s survival and long-term heart health.

The collaborative work of our hospital and community partners to achieve this designation has distinguished our hospital as a leader in emergency care and heart health. Only an elite group of hospitals around the country hold this certification, and Colorado Plains Medical Center is one of the only hospitals in our region with this accreditation. Patients can feel confident in the ability of Colorado Plains Medical Center’s team to provide lifesaving heart care, notes Sonya Bass, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer at Colorado Plains Medical Center.

“Chest Pain Center Accreditation aligns well with our hospital’s focus on continual quality enhancement, because it is a collaborative, ongoing process that involves regular review of our cardiac care processes and procedures,” Bass adds. “Maintaining Chest Pain Center Accreditation requires the support and involvement of every member of our hospital team: admissions and triage, ER and hospital physicians, the critical care unit, cardiac rehab, discharge staff, and volunteers — everyone who interacts with our patients.”

In fact, all hospital staff will undergo annual training in the signs of acute coronary syndrome and early treatment.

After approximately a year of training and preparation, this spring, Colorado Plains Medical Center earned Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), the accrediting arm of the American College of Cardiology.

As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, we are committed to providing the best emergency heart care to the patients we serve. This means enhancing coordination among all providers involved in the

patient’s care: emergency responders, local EMS and ambulance crews, our hospital emergency department team,

the critical care unit, and cardiac rehab. It also means establishing an evidenced-based standard of care for patients with heart disease, no matter where they present within the hospital.

For example, a person who develops chest pain on

a medical unit will receive the same standard of care as a person coming into our ER.

4 www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com

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Heart Attacks Don’t Care, but We Do

Heart attacks can happen anytime, anyplace — and to anyone. When they do, every minute matters. Everyone needs to know the signs of heart disease and heart attacks.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, responsible for one in four deaths, according the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. But through education and early treatment, heart disease can be successfully treated and, in many cases, even prevented.

The accreditation offers long-term benefits to the team as well. “The processes we have adopted and ongoing review of

our procedures will help us work together more effectively as a patient care team,” Bass says. “It helps us identify operational efficiencies, which helps us treat more people. Finally, accreditation supports our relationships with local EMS and the community, by positioning our hospital as a provider of quality heart care and a resource for the community regarding heart disease.”

For more information on our Chest Pain Center Accreditation, visit the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care’s website at www.SCPC.org, or CPMC’s website at www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com.

Warning Signs of Heart AttackProtect yourself and your loved ones by knowing the warning

signs and symptoms people may experience before a heart attack:• Chest pain or discomfort• Upper body pain or discomfort

in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach

• Shortness of breath• Nausea, lightheadedness,

or cold sweats

While these are the primary signs of heart attack in adults, women can often experience less common signs and symptoms, such as:• Sharp, burning chest pain• Fluttering in the chest (also

known as arrhythmia)• Pain in the neck, jaw,

abdomen, or throat• Upper back pain• Indigestion or heartburn

• Nausea or vomiting• Extreme fatigue• Upper body discomfort• Shortness of breath• Swelling of the feet, ankles,

legs, or abdomen

The good news is that everyone can lower their risk of heart disease by practicing good preventive habits, including exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, avoiding smoking, and controlling blood pressure.

If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room or Accredited Chest Pain Center.

“Maintaining Chest Pain Center Accreditation

requires the support and involvement of every member of our hospital team:

admissions and triage, ER and hospital physicians, the critical care unit, cardiac rehab, discharge staff,

and volunteers — everyone who interacts with our patients.”

—Sonya Bass, RN, MSN

5www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com

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Welcome, New ProvidersColorado Plains Medical Center recently added two

children’s health professionals to our medical staff.Pediatrician Amy Prince, DO, FS, joined the staff in June

after practicing pediatric emergency medicine in Denver. She received her medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Prince provides a variety of pediatric services,

including treatment of illnesses and injuries, well-child exams, and immunizations.

Family nurse practitioner Laura Nehoda, MSN, FNP-C, began practicing at CPMC last winter. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of

Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Nehoda provides primary care to patients of all ages.

What is normal blood pressure for your child? The answer depends on a variety of factors, but new proposed guidelines could make things clearer.

With rates of high blood pressure rising among children, keeping track of your child’s blood pressure is more important than ever. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends most children have their blood pressure checked during well-child exams beginning at age 3. Determining what is healthy blood pressure for children is highly individualized. The current guidelines recommend physicians calculate the number based on each child’s gender, age, and height.

“For infants, the absolute lowest blood pressure we would want to see is about 80/35 mmHg [millimeters of mercury],” says Amy Prince, DO, FS, pediatrician at Colorado Plains Medical Center. “For school-age children, a healthy number would be around 105/65 mmHg. What’s considered healthy rises toward the adult benchmark — less than 120/80 mmHg — during the teenage years.”

Earlier this year, two pediatric specialists suggested simpler guidelines in the journal Hypertension. They proposed measures for healthy blood pressure of less than 110/70 mmHg in children age 3 to 11 and less than 120/80 mmHg in teens. The pediatric medical community will have to debate the proposed new rules before they can become widely accepted.

PRECURSOR TO PROBLEMSHigh blood pressure doesn’t usually cause symptoms in

children, so why worry about it? Even in children, unchecked high blood pressure can damage organs, including the heart and kidneys, and pave the way for chronic high blood pressure in adulthood. This can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Obesity is to blame for most childhood hypertension, including 85 to 95 percent of cases in teens, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Helping children shed excess weight by engaging in physical activity as a family and promoting healthy eating is the most important thing parents can do to fight pediatric hypertension,” says Laura Nehoda, MSN, FNP-C, family nurse practitioner at CPMC. “If children can control blood pressure early, their quality of life now and in the future will be much better.”

To find a provider who can evaluate your child’s blood pressure, call 1-800-424-DOCS or visit our physician directory at www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com.

Amy Prince, DO, FS

Laura Nehoda, MSN, FNP-C

checking children’s Blood Pressure

www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com6

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Two Ways to Get Lab TestsPatients can save time and money by using one of Colorado Plains Medical Center’s two affordable options for laboratory testing.

By using our Direct Access and Provider Value services, patients can visit CPMC for lab tests with no appointment required and enjoy lower out-of-pocket expenses by paying for services with cash or a credit card rather than billing them to insurance. These options are great for individuals who wish to have tests more often than their insurance allows, as well as those who are uninsured. A variety of affordable chemistry, immunology, hematology, and urine screenings are available.

Here’s a breakdown of how the two options work:

Healthy Sleep Positions and HabitsLearn about good sleep habits from Teresa Martens, RRT, RPSGT, Sleep Lab Supervisor with Colorado Plains Medical Center.

Q: Should you sleep on your side, back, or stomach?A: Consider sleeping on your side, especially if you have

obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that obstructs breathing and

DIRECT ACCESS PROVIDER VALUE

Who orders the test? Patient Provider

Who receives the results? Patient Provider

Method of payment Cash or Cash or credit card credit card

Patients are responsible for sharing the results of Direct Access labs with their providers, if they wish. Results are typically available within 24 hours.

Patients can visit the CPMC front entrance draw station for lab tests Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For a complete list of available tests, visit www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com, then under “Our Services,” select “Laboratory” and “Direct Access Testing.”

can result in serious consequences if left untreated. If you do have trouble breathing at night, avoid sleeping on your back, because your tongue is more likely to fall back and block your airway in this position. Probably the worst position is sleeping on the stomach — it is not good for neck alignment.

Q. Is body alignment during sleep important?A. To avoid neck and back pain, always keep your neck and

back in correct alignment. Side sleepers, place a pillow between your knees and try to keep your neck from falling forward. Back sleepers, prop a pillow under your knees to protect your spine.

Q. How many hours of sleep should you get?A. Adults need time to repeat four different stages of sleep

two to five times a night, which takes a good seven to eight hours. Insufficient sleep can cause health issues down the road, such as increasing your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, accidents, and certain cancers.

Q. What sleep hygiene tips are tried and true?A. Protect your bedroom from distractions, bright lights,

technology with screens, and pets. Keep it cool, dark and quiet.

Do you have other questions about sleep or sleep habits? Contact CPMC’s expert sleep team at 970-542-4452 or visit our website at www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com.

7www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com

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1000 Lincoln StreetFort Morgan, CO 80701

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 830

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FROM ZIP CODE 24506

Get Checked!The new school year is just around the corner. Start the school year by getting a well child exam this summer at Colorado Plains Medical Group.

This thorough annual exam gives the opportunity for a medical provider to not only provide any necessary immunizations and check for childhood developmental progress, but ensures that the child is physically fit to participate in various sport activities throughout the year. Well child checks allow parents adequate time with the provider to ask questions regarding their child’s healthcare, which is often not available during group sport physical clinics.

Well child exams are covered at 100 percent by all insurance companies. A cash pay option is also available. For more information or to make an appointment, call Colorado Plains Medical Group at 970-542-4390.

Colorado Plains Medical Center1000 Lincoln StreetFort Morgan, CO 80701970-867-3391www.ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com

This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. If you have any comments or questions regarding this publication, please contact the Colorado Plains Medical Center Marketing Director at 970-542-3346.

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