Carolinas Health · 2017-07-20 · 2 Fall 2007 Carolinas health | W hen children are sick, parents want the best care from doctors who understand their unique needs. They’ll find

CarolinasHealthFall 2007

preventing CerviCal CanCerA new vaccine can help

help For headaChes

diabetes onthe goTips for a healthy trip

introduCing levine Children’s hospital

healthy events for you!Page 11

the magazine of Carolinas Medical Center

2 Fall 2007 Carolinas health | www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org

When children are sick, parents want the best care from doctors who understand their unique needs. They’ll find both—plus much more—at

Levine Children’s Hospital. A state-of-the-art, 234-bed hospital, LCH opens this

October, providing the region with the largest, most specialized children’s hospital between Atlanta and Washington, DC.

LCH is designed to capture a child’s attention, stimu-late the imagination and promote a positive, healing attitude. Starting at the front door, you will know this is no ordinary hospital. The entrance, which is exclusive to LCH, opens to a breathtaking atrium that will be inviting to children of all ages. With larger rooms that encour-age parents to stay overnight with their child, increased family space where families can take a break or visit with loved ones, and a fully-equipped Family Resource

Our world revolves around children

did you knoW?

levine Children’s Hospital provides inpatient care to more children

than any other medical facility in North Carolina or South Carolina.

Levine Children’s Hospital gets set to open its doors!

www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org | Carolinas health Fall 2007 3

a healthier, happier Futurelevine Children’s hospital:• is the region’s only institutional member of the

National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI)

• treats more pediatric patients per day than any other hospital in North Carolina

• has more board certified physicians in more pediatric specialties than any other hospital in the region

• has the region’s only 24/7 children’s emergency department

• has the only pediatric cardiovascular intervention and surgery program in the region

• has the region’s only ECMO heart-lung bypass capabilities for newborns and pediatric patients

• has the highest level of neonatal care in the region with in-house neonatologists available 24/7

• has the region’s only pediatric transplant program (heart and kidney)

• has the region’s only pediatric dialysis unit

• has the region’s only pediatric cardiovascular ICU

• is the largest children’s hospital between Atlanta and Washington, DC

Center that will keep you connected, LCH has been designed with the entire family’s needs in mind.

Staffed with some of the best medical professionals in the country, the hospital leads the region in offering more than 30 specialized pediatric services, including kid-ney, liver and heart transplants; cardiac and cancer care; neurosurgery; rehabilitation services; and the highest level of neonatal intensive care.

“The word is getting out, and more parents are real-izing that these high-level specialized services are here for children—right in their own backyard,” says Martha Whitecotton, hospital administrator.

Keeping pace with a grOwing cOmmunity When The Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical

Center opened in 1992, it not only met the needs of the region’s kids, but also surpassed them. Today, however, more than a half-million children live in the 28-county

region surrounding Charlotte, and an additional 100,000 children are projected to be born into or move into this area by 2015.

It’s time for a dedicated pediatric facility that can accommodate every child with every imaginable need. “Providing a family-centered facility is vital to keeping pace with the growing need for children’s healthcare in our region,” says James E. S. Hynes, chairman of Carolinas HealthCare System’s Board of Commissioners.

learn More!

read the latest news, view photos and learn how you can support our newest hospital at

www.levinechildrenshospital.org.

“Providing a family-centered facility is vital to keeping pace with the growing need for children’s healthcare in our region.” —James e. s. hynes, chairman, Carolinas HealthCare System’s Board of Commissioners

meet Our new dOctOrsoin us as we welcome the following physicians who have recently joined our growing family. To find a physician near you, call 704-355-7500 or visit www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org.J

Fall 2007 Carolinas health | www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org 4

Olga BrOOKs, mdMMG–South Park

susan BrOwn, md Greater Carolinas Women’s Center

tara Byer-parsOns, md Charlotte Medical Clinic

daniel carrizOsa, md Carolinas Hematology/Oncology Associates

steven w. diBert, mdCMC Department of Neurology

maria dichOsO- wOOd, mdIndian Trail Family Medicine

BarBara F. eisenBurg, md Piedmont OB/GYN

allisOn engen, mdCMC Department of Pediatrics

cheryl geren, mdCharlotte Medical Clinic

Barry J. hanger, mdMMG–Ballantyne

JaKO madJarOv, mdSanger Clinic

JOseph mOlitiernO, mdPediatric Urology Specialists

daniel parsOns, mdCharlotte Medical Clinic

david petersOn, mdUniversity Internal Medicine

angela schang, mdMcKay Urology

marK spears, mdCharlotte Medical Clinic


these symptoms, contact your doctor: • headaches associated with whole-body symptoms

including fever, weight loss, stiff neck or recent trau-ma to the skull

• headaches associated with certain illnesses, such as can-cers and diseases or drugs that affect the immune system

• headaches associated with changes in neurological function or level of awareness

• the sudden onset of severe headaches• the “worst headache of my life”• a new onset of headaches after age 50• a progressive increase in headache frequency

and/or severity• headaches that awaken you at night• headaches that fail to respond to appropriate

therapy

My head is killing me; it must be a brain tumor.” My patient was certain that her ever-increasing

headaches signaled the end. Fortunately, she had no evidence of

any abnormality in brain function—no confusion, difficulties in speech, move-ment disorders or seizures. I began the delicate process of reassurance, coupled with a thorough evaluation and a plan for her to regain control over this all-con-suming spiral of pain.

Headaches—ranging in intensity from a dull annoyance to incapacitating pain—occur in 90 percent of adults. Most peo-ple, however, don’t realize that the brain itself is not sensitive to pain. Headaches arise from pain-sensitive structures such as the skin and muscles of the face and scalp, the lining of the brain and skull, blood vessels and nerve roots. Patients with brain tumors don’t have any more headaches than the rest of us.

headache types and causesCommon types of headaches include migraines (a

recurring pattern of headache, often pulsing and asso-ciated with other symptoms such as nausea or sen-sitivity to light); tension-type headaches (a pressing or tightening-quality headache of mild to moderate severity that inhibits but doesn’t prohibit activity); cranial neuralgias (bursts of intense stabbing or burn-ing pain affecting one side of the face); and post-traumatic headaches (resulting from incidents such as minor motor vehicle accidents).

Headache causes include dental or sinus disease, glaucoma, dietary causes (caffeine, MSG, alcohol), toxins (carbon monoxide exposure), other medi-cal diseases (emphysema, sleep apnea, hypertension), drug side effects, sleep deprivation and environmental causes (altitude, allergies).

when tO Be cOncernedThe following symptoms might indicate a more

serious medical problem. If you experience any of

Dr. Richardson is a practicing physician with Charlotte Medical Clinic and a clinical professor of medicine at the UNC School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. Check out his podcast at www.carolinasmedicalcenter.com to hear more about treatment options for serious headaches.

By Michael Richardson, MD

Just a headache, or something more?

3 mg/L is considered high risk. If your CRP level is less than 1 mg/L, you’re at low risk, and a level between 1 and 3 signals average risk.

“Measuring CRP has improved our ability to assess a patient’s risk for cardiovascular disease,” says Geoffrey Rose, MD, of Sanger Clinic. “However, as with any test, the CRP value has to be interpreted in context. Patients who have an acute illness (such as the flu) or who have chronic inflammatory dis-orders (such as rheumatoid arthritis) will have high values. CRP is most useful in patients who other-wise appear well; an elevated CRP in such patients appears to confer increased risk for cardiovascular events.”

By considering your CRP level with your cho-lesterol and blood pressure levels, your risk for heart disease may alert your doctor to a problem before your heart health reaches a danger zone. You can lower your CRP with lifestyle changes like increas-ing exercise, losing weight and improving your diet.

whO shOuld have the test?

The American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the test only for those at inter-mediate risk of developing coronary heart disease in the next 10 years and only in addition to traditional lipid profiles and blood pressure readings. Because of the test’s simple nature and low cost, however, chances are good that other patients and doctors will seek CRP testing, too.


if you’re like most heart-conscious people, you probably know your blood pressure and choles-terol readings. You know whether you need to

lose weight—and how much. You may now want to add a new vital statistic to

your dossier—your C-reactive protein level (CRP), a protein found in the blood that’s associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease.

CRP is normally produced by your liver when your immune system responds to an injury or infec-tion. It’s a sign of inflammation, in the same way a fever means the body is fighting an infection. Researchers believe that when cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in blood vessels and form plaque, vessels become inflamed. As inflammation increases, the plaque can rupture, leading to blood clots and blockages, which cause heart attack or stroke.

getting testedYour healthcare provider can check your CRP

with a simple blood test. A CRP level higher than

A new tool to check your heart disease risk


now, families in Matthews, SouthPark and Mint Hill communities won’t have to travel far to find exceptional physicians and healthcare services.

That’s because several new offices opening this year bring the healthcare services families need—from pri-mary care to gynecologic, pediatric and urgent care—right to their own neighborhoods.

“These areas have experienced a high degree of growth, but they’re underserved in terms of physician services available,” says Dan Wiens, senior vice president of operations for Carolinas Physicians Network. “Our centers will offer great care in a convenient location that’s close to where they live.”

yOur One-stOp healthcare destinatiOn The new offices will meet families’ healthcare needs

in one location, housing a variety of medical services in spacious, comfortable surroundings. “It’s meant to be one-stop shopping for outpatient services,” explains

Wiens. Services to be offered in the new locations include:

• obstetric and gynecologic care• family medicine • adult medicine• pediatric care• urgent care (open seven days a week)• on-site pharmacy • lab services • imaging services

Outstanding care—now closer to home

We’re CoMing to your neighborhood!Look for these new medical offices coming soon:

loCation opening

CMC-Matthews September 11

332 Sam Newell Road

CMC-Morrocroft October 13

4525 Cameron Valley Parkway (SouthPark area)

CMC-Mint hill November 3

10545 Blair Road

need a neW doCtor?

With more than 600 physicians in a variety of specialties, we make it easy to find the right

doctor for you and your family. To search our online physician directory, visit www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org and click on “Find a Physician.” Or if you prefer, call our Physician Referral Line at 704-355-7500 to speak with a referral associate.

tired of filling out forms every time you visit the doctor’s office or hospital? Help is on the way.

Carolinas Medical Center is installing palm scanners that identify patients by the unique vein patterns in their hands, virtually eliminating the pos-sibility that personal information could be misused during the patient registration process.

high-tech identiFicatiOnCMC is the first known healthcare provider in the

country to use this technology, which pairs a palm- scanning device with a durable cradle and software system designed by the hospital.

The scanner uses near-infrared light to map the vein patterns in a patient’s palm. The digital image is then converted into a number that correlates with the patient’s medical records. Since a number, not an image, is stored with the palm scanner, there is no chance an image could be stolen and illegally reproduced.

Vein patterns in a palm are considered more unique than a fingerprint. In an emergency, a positive identifica-tion can be made even if the patient is unconscious.

“We looked at several technologies before choosing the palm scanner,” says Jim Burke, director of Information Services. “We eliminated retinal scanners because we felt they would be too invasive for our patients. We also passed


new technology working for youPalm scanners making their way to CMC hospitals

a ‘hand’-y identiFiCation tool: the new palm scanners to be introduced at carolinas medical center will offer safe, secure and speedy registration.

on fingerprinting because of the wear and tear on the equipment caused by repeated cleanings and the fact that actual fingerprint images are stored in those systems.”

Because some insurance companies still identify patients by Social Security numbers, CMC must obtain that infor-mation the first time a person registers. On subsequent visits, patients will simply provide a birth date and have their palm rescanned to establish a positive identification.

prOtecting patients“The process eliminates the possibility that

someone could overhear or see sensitive personal information when it’s given to the registrar,” says Roger Ray, MD, chief medical officer for Carolinas HealthCare System. “Also, the technology pre-vents an individual from using someone else’s Social Security number or health insurance card to obtain services.”

CMC expects to install the scanners at all patient registration areas of its Charlotte-area hospitals by the end of the year. Plans call for the scanners to be placed in all other patient facilities, including physi-cian offices, by the end of 2008.

pediatricians are recommending young girls receive the vaccine at age 11 or 12. Dr. Jain says women older than 26 should still ask their healthcare provider about vaccination, however, because they may still benefit from it.

If you already have HPV, Dr. Jain recommends getting the vaccine because it can still protect you from one of the HPV strains you don’t have. Whether Gardasil will provide lifelong immunity isn’t known yet, because the vaccine is so new.

Ultimately, the choice of whether to get vaccinated or to vaccinate your child is up to you and your doc-tor, but Dr. Jain encourages people to do it. “There are so many cancers and medical disorders out there that we can’t protect ourselves against … it would be a shame not to take advantage of this vaccine.”

9www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org | Carolinas health Fall 2007

Females gained a new ally when the cancer vaccine Gardasil® won approval from the Food and Drug

Administration last year. Clinical stud-ies showed it was nearly 100 percent effective in guarding against a virus that can lead to cervical cancer— news that created quite a buzz.

“How many vaccines for cancer have you heard of? There are no oth-ers,” says Astrid Jain, MD, an obste-trician and gynecologist at Eastover Ob/Gyn. Dr. Jain estimates her office vaccinates at least 100 people a week with Gardasil.

aBOut the vaccine Gardasil works to protect against

four strains of the sexually transmit-ted human papillomavirus (HPV) that account for most cases of cervical can-cer, genital warts and a precancerous condition known as cervical dysplasia. The vaccine is administered in three injections over six months.

While this vaccine will help protect future gen-erations of women from developing cervical cancer, it’s important to continue having regular Pap and HPV tests. Pap tests can find cancer early or before it starts, so consult with your healthcare provider about how often you should be getting one. Testing is also important because Gardasil doesn’t protect against any of the other strains of the virus—there are more than 100—and some of these can also cause cancer.

whO shOuld get it?Currently, Gardasil is approved for use in females

ages 9 to 26; most insurances cover vaccination for girls and women who fall in that age range. Many

Guarding against cervical cancer A new vaccine

can help

We Can help you stay healthy!

to find a physician for you and your family, call

704-355-7500 or visit www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org.

When you hear the word “pampering,” what comes to mind? An expensive mas-

sage? A facial? How about chatting with a dear friend over a steaming cup of tea? In fact, having a heart- to-heart with another person is a great way to put stress to rest. Studies suggest that people with friends even have an edge when it comes to living longer.

What’s behind the power of friend-ship? First, the very act of talking to a friend helps you vent feelings you might otherwise keep bottled up. Second, true friends offer a nonjudgmental ear. Third, they give you the confidence to tackle a tough problem. And, of course, a friend makes you feel valued. “People who have strong social support systems are more equipped to manage stress success-

fully,” says Octavio Salazar, MD, chair of the psychiatry department at Carolinas Medical Center-Randolph.

If you’re feeling a bit lonely, follow these tips for building a support network:• Join a club. Find an activity you enjoy—and sign up! Try a book or theater club. Maybe a physical pur-suit—hiking, say—is more your style.• volunteer. Besides meeting other humanitarians, helping those less for-tunate may remind you to count your blessings.• Find out whatever happened to your college roommate, your best friend from grammar school, the fellow who shared your office for 10 years. Sometimes a phone call to a long-lost friend is enough to make you feel good.

stress busters

k eep your stress in check with these

common-sense tactics:

• Eat balanced meals and avoid high-fat fast food.

• Get enough sleep.

• Exercise daily.

• Don’t use alcohol, cigarettes or recreational drugs—they create more stress.

• Slow your breathing. Breathe deeply and consciously.

• Take a yoga or medita-tion class.

• Stay in touch with or visit friends and relatives.

• Jot down your feelings in a journal. Record your blessings, too.

• Get emotional support. For example, if you’re grieving, meet with oth-ers who can empathize.

• See a therapist if stress seems overwhelming.


need help?

the Behavioral Health Centers of Carolinas

Medical Center offer a 24-hour call center, staffed by experienced mental health clinicians and registered nurses, to pro-vide help to anyone with a mental health or sub-stance abuse problem. To speak to a counselor, call 704-444-2400 or 1-800-418-2065.

the stress-beating power of friendship

Calendar


mall walKers prOgramJoin us to hear physicians and healthcare professionals speak on various health and wellness topics. All programs are free to attend and a continental breakfast is provided.Where: southpark Mall Food CourtFirst Tuesday of each month, 8:30 a.m.Where: Carolina place Mall Food CourtLast Wednesday of each month, 8:30 a.m.Where: northlake Mall Food CourtFirst Wednesday of each month, 8 a.m.

sOuthern wOmen’s shOw Carolinas Medical Center is the exclusive healthcare sponsor of the Southern Women’s Show in Charlotte. Stop by our booth to learn more about maintaining good health and establishing healthy eating habits. When: Thursday, September 20–Sunday, September 24 Where: Charlotte Merchandise Mart

diaBetes health FairIn honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, CMC will host an informational diabetes health fair. Open to the public.When: October 20, 2–4 p.m.Where: South Park Mall, Center CourtCall: 704-355-1065

weight-lOss surgery inFOrmatiOnJoin us for a free information session about CMC-Mercy’s bariatric (weight-loss) services. Topics include the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and gastric adjustable band (Lap-Band®) pro-cedures, the preoperative process and life after surgery. When: Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 6:30 p.m. Where: CMC-Mercy Auditorium, 2001 Vail Ave. Call: 704-355-9484

BOOt camp FOr new dadsTaught by fathers, this class enables new dads to step up to the challenge of being a dad and feeling confident bringing the new baby home. Topics include breastfeeding, diaper changing and supporting mom.When: Please call for class scheduleWhere: Carolinas Medical Center and CMC-Pineville

We’re committed to improving the health and wellness of your family by offering a wide variety of community health events, educational seminars and wellness classes. To view a complete list of upcoming events and classes, visit

www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org/events or call 800-456-7488 for more information.

Mark your calendar

Fall 2007

Cost: $10Call: 704-355-baby for more information

Quest—cancer wellness prOgram QUEST is a free, eight-week cancer wellness program that includes education, support and a personalized exercise program. When: Call for start datesWhere: CCMC Health Centers at the Harris, Dowd, University, Siskey and Simmons YMCAsCall: Lori Modzik, RN, at 704-617-2715

new BeginningsThis early pregnancy class for new parents is taught by a registered nurse and offered once a month at Carolinas Medical Center. We suggest taking this class during the first or second trimester. The class is free of charge. Call: 704-355-baby for more information

inFant/child cpr classCarolinas Medical Center offers CPR classes for parents, grandparents and caregivers who want to learn lifesaving skills for their new baby and/or older child. Class includes information for newborns to children 8 years of age. All classes are taught by certified CPR instructors. When: Please call for class scheduleCost: $10 Call: 704-355-baby for more information

B.a.B.y. classesJoin us for “Beginning A Beautiful Year,” a class where parents support other parents.Where: Morehead Medical plaza, 1025 Morehead Medical driveFirst and third Monday of each month, 1:30 p.m. Where: CMC-northcross, 16455 statesville roadLast Wednesday of each month, 6 p.m.Call: 704-355-baby for more information

chOlesterOl screeningsTests include total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL ratio and glucose level. All tests require a 12-hour fast (noth-ing to eat or drink except water). Open to the public. Visit www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org for a complete schedule of upcoming health screenings.


the team is required to take extensive training in a hos-pital emergency department and intensive care unit.

The team is equipped with mobile athletic train-ing vehicles, complete with two patient beds that can be taken into even the most remote places, as well as fully operational first-response helicopters, bicycle medics, ambulances and portable medical tents that can handle events of all sizes.

here FOr Our cOmmunity

Floyd recalls numerous times when the rapid response of his team saved lives. While the number of patients his team has treated is impressive, “We under-stand that statistics never tell the whole story,” he says. “It’s the testimonials like, ‘If

your team had not been there, I would not have lived,’ that make you feel good and accomplished. The care and dedication of each team member collectively save lives making a huge impact in our community.”

on a sunny day in May, 9-year-old Timmy Rodriguez,

the Mountain Lions’ best hitter, stepped up to bat. Timmy had waited for this day for months as the Mountain Lions faced their long-time rival, the Mavericks.

Feeling the antici-pation of what was to come, Timmy took a deep breath and locked his eyes on the pitcher. The pitcher quickly sized up, drew back and—swoosh—threw a fastball at Timmy.

Ready and waiting, Timmy swung at the perfect moment. His bat connected with the ball, sending it deep into the outfield. Timmy ran and slid onto first base. That’s when it happened—Timmy landed the wrong way and sprained his ankle.

Luckily for Timmy, Carolinas Medical Center’s Sports Medicine and Special Events team was close at hand. The team attends hundreds of sporting and other events each year; last year, in fact, they provid-ed coverage to more than 3.5 million people attend-ing events and treated 21,859 patients for conditions ranging from minor abrasions to major trauma.

a well-trained and Fully eQuipped teamTeam director Mike Floyd carefully selects his

team of lifesavers, who range from EMS paramedics to registered nurses and physicians. Each member of

Keeping everyone safe, all the time

the sports MediCine and speCial events teaM

We’re here For you!

look for the Carolinas Medical Center Sports Medicine and Special Events team at indoor and

outdoor events throughout the greater Charlotte area. For more information or to have the team at your event, call 704-512-3820.


for your journey (if you’re flying, pack half in your carry-on and the rest in your checked suitcase)

• enough blood and urine test kits• extra batteries for your glucose meter• medicine for diarrhea and nausea and an anti-

biotic cream for cuts• a snack pack of crackers and cheese, juice, fruit,

peanut butter and hard candy

dOctOr’s Orders: relaxAfter you’ve arrived, take a couple of days to ease

into your vacation. Monitor your blood sugar closely. If you go sightseeing, stick to your meal and medica-tion schedule religiously.

thanks to modern medicine, even people with diabetes find there’s practically no limit to the places they can go or the things they can do—

provided they’re properly prepared. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, don’t think

you can’t tour Europe. But before wishing the neigh-borhood bon voyage, you need to take precautions to guarantee your dream getaway doesn’t become a health nightmare.

The American Diabetes Association suggests you begin by thinking through your trip from start to fin-ish—taking into account whether you’ll be changing time zones, diets or activity levels—because you’ll have to adjust accordingly.

taKing precautiOnsFirst stop: the doctor’s office for a checkup. While

there, be sure to obtain a letter from your physician explaining your diabetic condition, how you treat it (especially if you inject insulin) and allergies. And get an extra prescription in case you should lose or mis-place your medication.

Take along your diabetes ID bracelet or neck-lace. For overseas trips, know how to say “sugar” or “orange juice” in the native language. Get inoculated against hepatitis A and any other diseases, such as malaria, you may catch in other countries.

How can you tell what vaccines are needed? Most hospitals can advise you, or you can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for more information. But get them in time: Some vaccines take up to three weeks to be effective.

On the rOad againThe night before you travel, make sure you have

these items:• twice the medication and syringes you need

Traveling when you have

diabetesTry these tips for a healthy trip

CoMprehensive diabetes Care

the Carolinas Diabetes Center’s team of profes-sionals works with patients to help them man-

age their diabetes as independently as possible. Patients can be referred to the center by their doctor. For more information, call 701-446-2320.


surgery date—about a day or two before. Older children can be told a week in advance to give them time to think of questions.

• Let your child know that it’s OK to be scared.• Besides clothing, help your child pack some spe-

cial items to make the hospital room more homelike: family photos, books, CDs, toys or a favorite blanket.

• Arrange a prehospitalization tour so the building is familiar to your child when he or she checks in. If that’s not possible, Isenhour says the hospital offers picture books to familiarize your child with rooms and medical equipment.

helping yOur child adJustWhen your child returns home, you should be

prepared for temporary behavioral changes, Isenhour says. Recently potty-trained toddlers may go back to wetting their pants, a child may not want to eat or they may demand more affection. Tears can flow easier.

“Kids are so used to a routine,” says Isenhour. “Hospital stays can really be a disruption.” Help your child adjust by letting them express their feelings openly and being more patient.

hospital stays can be intimidating enough for adults—unfamiliar surroundings, strange medi-cal equipment, people performing tests on you

and taking blood samples. Now just imagine how a child might feel.

“The experience—the fear—is magnified,” says Heather Isenhour, a certified child life specialist at Levine Children’s Hospital.

That’s why the staff at Levine Children’s Hospital is committed to helping children feel comfortable and relaxed during their hospital stays. As a child life specialist, Isenhour’s job is to make your child’s hospital experience as stress-free as possible. “We use play to work through their fears,” she says. Anatomically correct dolls with removable parts, for example, demonstrate procedures like appendec-tomies to young patients. And Isenhour tackles fears of shots by making syringes fun: Kids can use play syringes to shoot water instead. Distractions such as toys, movies and music are also available.

what yOu can dOWhile Levine Children’s

Hospital staffers do their part to ease worries, it’s important for parents to prepare their child as well. Isenhour offers these tips:

• Be honest with your child about the procedure. Taking the mystery out of what’s coming can lessen anxiety.

• Tell your toddler close to the

Preparing your child for a hospital stay

Tips from Levine Children’s Hospital

CheCk us out!

visit www.levinechildrenshospital.org for more information about Levine Children’s Hospital.


training them to adapt to Hansen’s deficits and find alternative ways to do things was always coupled with optimism and empathy.

The therapy team’s passionate investment of skills, knowledge, encouragement and care gave Hansen and his wife back their lives—providing the difference between surviving and living.

extending its reach tO gastOn cOuntyCarolinas Rehabilitation is experiencing exciting

growth this fall with the opening of its Mount Holly location. This brand-new, 40-bed rehabilitation hos-pital now offers inpatient and outpatient care to resi-dents in Gaston County.

Inpatient services at Carolinas Rehabilitation-Mount Holly focus on rehabilitation associated with stroke, amputation, orthopedics and general rehabili-tation care

C arolinas Rehabilitation has a tradition of pro-viding advanced rehabilitation services and a commitment to compassionate patient care. Just

ask former stroke patient Denny Hansen.2003, the 57-year-old paramedic supervisor suf-

fered a stroke during same-day surgery. Luckily, Hansen was at Carolinas Medical Center, where a neurosurgeon was able to operate within 90 minutes of the stroke, successfully removing a blood clot. Hansen survived and was transferred to Carolinas Rehabilitation to begin his journey to recovery.

Hansen couldn’t sit up without assistance or feed himself. His throat muscles were compromised, so his speech was impaired. Vestibular problems provoked such vertigo that any movement or visual clutter made him violently ill. Dehydration and weight loss became critical issues.

Hansen was no longer the strong, active person he was before. In his place was a wrecked body, a person who couldn’t understand what had happened to him and couldn’t communicate well enough to ask.

dedicated careThe team of therapists, nurses and doctors at

Carolinas Rehabilitation share a common mission: to heal, teach and inspire. They slowly pulled Hansen and his wife out of shock, motivating them with their positive attitudes. The team’s realistic approach to

Care that countsCarolinas Rehabilitation delivers expert care with a personal touch

Join us!Carolinas rehabilitation-Mount holly grand opening and ribbon-Cutting CeremonyFriday, October 5, 4–7 p.m.275 Beatty Drive, Belmont

speCialized rehabilitation serviCes

to learn more about the Stroke Rehabilitation Program or other therapy programs available at

Carolinas Rehabilitation, visit www.carolinasrehabili tation.org.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLebanon Junction, KY

Permit 19Carolinas Health Magazinec/o CHS MarketingPO Box 32861Charlotte, NC 28232-2861

1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203

Carolinas Health is published for Mecklenburg County residents as a community service of Carolinas Medical Center. There is no fee to subscribe.

The information contained in this publication is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

Copyright © 2007 Carolinas HealthCare System

CarolinasHealth Fall 2007

the magazine of Carolinas Medical Center

Documents

Carolinas Health · 2017-07-20 · 2 Fall 2007 Carolinas health | W hen children are sick, parents want the best care from doctors who understand their unique needs. They’ll find