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Health Beat magazine Spring 2016
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Health BeatS p r i n g 2 0 1 6
el c a m i n o h o sp i ta l – yo u r h e a lt h r e s o u rc e i n s i l i co n Va l l e y
06
all about agingResources to help you stay active and feel your best
04
boosting heart health: Doctors’ tips
for you 11
finDing the new
normal: life after cancer
Scarlet Night
iS March 19!
At your service,
Dear Community Members,
Half of the patients we serve at El Camino Hospital are
over the age of 60. We strive to be the preferred desti-
nation for seniors during their time of need.
This edition of Health Beat focuses on older adults’
health and offers information to help you feel your best
as you age. We have a full complement of programs that
provide aid, such as eldercare counseling, which offers
help for families during transitions from independent
living to assisted living; resources/referrals for patients
with early-onset dementia; or help for those coping with anxiety and depression.
Over the past year, we have met with representatives of senior programs in five
cities, all to be commended for their local efforts supporting successful aging. These
conversations help us coordinate programs and address service gaps in our region.
We have funded and reinstituted Senior Companions, a program that encour-
ages volunteers to be companions for isolated seniors. Meet-n-Move is a support
group for caregivers of homebound individuals, which we host in partnership with
Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Caregivers meet and often go on hikes, sharing chal-
lenges and solutions they encounter while providing in-home care.
Another important update: In November, we launched myCare, our new elec-
tronic health record system. El Camino Hospital patients are now able to quickly
view test results, order prescription refills, and even review a family member’s health
record if they have been assigned as a proxy. This new record system also enables
physicians to access patient health information across providers, which is a great
benefit to patients who receive care across the community. In our view, myCare is
enhancing access to vital clinical information and improves the patient experience.
Tomi Ryba
President and Chief Executive Officer
El Camino Hospital
Building the FutureWe are enhancing our campuses for your family — to
provide up-to-date healthcare and increase services
and amenities, while also sustaining the environment
El Camino Hospital continues to work on our long-range
vision to meet our community’s healthcare needs for
decades to come. Part of this vision includes building
and renovating our facilities. Perhaps the most visible
evidence of El Camino Hospital’s facilities master plan
is the new Main Hospital in Mountain View, which
celebrated its grand opening at the end of 2009.
Over the next few years, we will continue to develop
our Mountain View campus, including the following
improvements:
• Behavioral Health Building replacement
• New integrated medical office building, with medical
offices, outpatient laboratory, the Breast Health Center
and other services
• Expansion of the North Drive parking structure
• Renovation of the Women’s Hospital
Meanwhile, we have also been making significant
investments on our Los Gatos campus to improve
infrastructure and to upgrade operating rooms, patient
rooms and visitor spaces.
VISIT elcaminohospital.org/campusdev?HB
FIND FREE VALET PARKING near the hospital’s
main entrance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l
To Our Friends and Neighbors
El Camino Hospital Board of DirectorsLanhee J. Chen , JD, PhD • Dennis W. Chiu, JD • Neal H. Cohen, MD, MPH, MS, chair • Jeffrey M. Davis, MD • Peter C. Fung, MD, MS, FACP, FAAN, FAHA • Julia E. Miller • David Reeder, MS • Tomi Ryba, MHA, President and CEO • John L. Zoglin, MBA
LocationsEl Camino Hospital2500 Grant RoadMountain View, CA 94040650-940-7000
elcaminohospital.org
El Camino Hospital Los Gatos815 Pollard RoadLos Gatos, CA 95032408-378-6131
Visit the Hospital’s Calendar OnlineFor a complete listing of programs, lectures, support groups, health screenings and other events, visit our web page. Use this shortcut: elcamino hospital.org/calendar?HBProduced by the El Camino Hospital Marketing & Communications department and DCP.
The information in this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. If you have concerns about health issues, contact your personal physician. If you would prefer not to receive communications like this from our organization, please call 650-988-7703.
Know the Signs of SepsisEven a minor cut or scrape can lead to sepsis, the body’s potentially life-threatening response to infection
Each year, sepsis kills more than 258,000 Americans, yet most Americans have never
even heard of this life-threatening condition that occurs when infection-fighting chemi-
cals released into the bloodstream trigger inflammation in other parts of the body.
“Everybody can give you symptoms of heart attack, but very few can give you the
symptoms of sepsis or even tell you what sepsis is,” says Kelly Nguyen, MSN, RN, sepsis
program coordinator at El Camino Hospital. “Sepsis is just as time-sensitive as a heart
attack or a stroke.”
Since 2009, nurses and physicians at El Camino Hospital have made a coordinated
effort to identify patients with sepsis and treat them as early as possible, saving many lives.
Note: If sepsis is not caught early, the body may go into septic shock, which causes
organ failure and has a high death rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the Sepsis Alliance recommend memorizing this acronym — and calling 911 or
going to the hospital if you have these symptoms:
S – Shivering, fever or very cold
E – Extreme pain or general discomfort (“worst ever”)
P – Pale or discolored skin
S – Sleepy, difficult to rouse, confused
I – “I feel like I might die”
S – Short of breath
TIPS FOR PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Ensure vaccinations are up to date.
• Take antibiotics as prescribed.
• See a doctor if you’re sick and not improving.
• Keep sores covered.
For more inFo about sepsis, visit elcaminohospital.org/sepsis?HB
S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 3
New and New orthy
High marks for Heart CareThe Norma Melchor Heart & Vascular Institute
(HVI) at El Camino Hospital offers unique
advantages: leading-edge therapies — surgical
and interventional — delivered by world-class
experts in a welcoming community hospital.
We’re pioneering new procedures, training phy-
sicians from around the world on some of the
newest medical techniques, and participating
in several clinical trials. Highlights from 2014:
• 100 percent of patients who come to El
Camino Hospital due to a severe type of heart
attack (STEMI) receive treatment within the
recommended time of 90 minutes or less.
• Our overall performance in the absence of
complications and mortality after aortic
valve replacement is in the top 5 percent in
the nation.
• We received the highest rating awarded
(four stars) by the American College of
Cardiology in hospital performance for
patients who have had a cardiac catheter-
ization or coronary intervention.
• Our survival and complication rates after
coronary artery bypass surgery are better
than the national average.
• We are a national leader in minimizing mor-
tality risk in acute coronary interventions.
Our results are among the top 10 percent in
the United States.
“We’re able to treat the most complex car-
diovascular issues,” says Vincent Gaudiani, MD,
NM, HVI medical director, PAMF physician and
cardiothoracic surgeon. “Our program consis-
tently receives accolades and accreditations.”
For more inFo on HVI’s advanced heart
care, visit elcaminohospital.org/heart?HB.
Visit elcaminohospital.org/hvireport?HB
to read the Norma Melchor Heart & Vascu-
lar Institute 2015 Outcomes Report.
Heart to Heart El Camino Hospital physicians talk about warning signs, prevention, and the role ethnicity plays in heart disease
César Molina, MD Cardiologist and medical director of the South
Asian Heart Center
The South Asian population has an increased
risk of coronary artery disease and diabe-
tes. We believe day-to-day habits that are
associated with insulin resistance, such
as a carbohydrate-intensive diet, lack of fiber and vegetables, and a
sedentary lifestyle, are predisposing individuals to both diabetes and
cardiovascular disease.
Anyone from South Asian ancestry worldwide can call or go online
and make an appointment to be screened, educated, and coached at
El Camino Hospital’s South Asian Heart Center. We provide a one-year
coaching program to help people improve their regular lifestyle activi-
ties to diminish their risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We
also communicate with patients’ physicians and we orchestrate their
care to help them comply not only with their medications but also with
their recommended lifestyle routine.
For more info, visit southasianheartcenter.org
edward Yu, MD
Family medicine physician at Palo Alto Medical
Foundation and physician adviser to the
Chinese Health Initiative
Hypertension — a chronic condition that puts
you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke
— is common in the Chinese community.
Chinese cooking ingredients often include high sodium levels, including
sauces such as soy, hoisin, oyster, and fish; soup bases such as bouillon
cubes; and preserved foods such as eggs and instant noodles. When
shopping for these types of ingredients, I suggest checking if there are
lower-salt (sodium) substitutes available. If possible, replace canned or
prepackaged foods with fresh ingredients.
The Chinese Health Initiative at El Camino Hospital has a wealth
of resources including a resource guide for our community’s Chinese
seniors and information sheets in English and in Chinese.
For more info, visit elcaminohospital.org/chi?HB
Neal Scott, MD, PhD
Cardiologist
The most important things people can do to
prevent heart disease are regular exercise and
an appropriate diet.
The American Heart Association, the
National Institutes of Health, and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention recommend moderate to vigorous
exercise that is aerobic — meaning you’re huffing and puffing — and at
a minimum 30 minutes a session, five sessions a week.
The diet that has been proven in millions of patients to decrease
mortality from heart disease and cancer is what’s called the
Mediterranean diet, which is based on the diet of peasants who lived
around the Mediterranean Sea in the immediate post–World War II
era. They were essentially farmers and fisherpeople, and they lived on
vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish.
Learn more about the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet at
elcaminohospital.org/meddiet?HB
4 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l
The Doctor Recommends
Cate Collings, MD
Cardiologist and medical director of Cardiac
Rehabilitation and Women’s Cardiovascular
Services
During a heart attack, women are more
likely than men to not have chest pain at all.
While a man’s experience may be “I’ve got an
elephant on my chest,” there’s a set of women who have a whole con-
stellation of symptoms, such as flu-like symptoms, which could include
nausea and even throwing up; abdominal pain; dizziness; jaw, neck,
back, and arm pain; and extreme fatigue. Older individuals — both men
and women — are also in this pocket of patients who less often have
chest pain.
If you think something is not right, go to the emergency room and
take care of it promptly.
For more info, visit elcaminohospital.org/heart?HB
Try a new indoor activity. Local recreation depart-
ments offer lots of indoor fun,
including open-gym volleyball
and Jazzercize in Mountain
View and open-gym Pickle-
ball (cross between tennis,
badminton and table tennis)
and fourth-Friday dances for
seniors (live music) in Los
Gatos. Call your nearest mall
to ask if it has a formal walk-
ing program or opens doors
early for walkers and joggers. Get your vitamin D.If you spend lots of time
indoors, you might not be
getting enough vitamin
D3, an essential vitamin
your body produces when
exposed to sunlight. A safer
way to get your daily dose
of vitamin D, which pro-
motes bone and immune
system health, is by taking
a supplement. Instead of
sunbathing, you can also
eat foods packed or fortified
with vitamin D, including
milk, salmon, cod liver oil,
and some yogurts. There’s
some disagreement among
health organizations about
recommended dosage; the
Institute of Medicine of the
National Academies recom-
mends 600 IU per day for
most Americans up to age
70 and 800 IU per day for
Americans 71 and older.
Consult your doctor.
Fill your home and workplace with plants. The benefits of houseplants
are not just aesthetic.
Studies, including one
from NASA and a 2009
HortScience study, show
certain common house-
plants have the potential to
clean indoor air by removing
harmful pollutants. Having
plants around also offers
psychological benefits:
According to a recent study
published in the Journal of
Experimental Psychology,
office workers reported
improvements in productiv-
ity, concentration, and job
satisfaction when working
within view of plants.
Prevent CO poisoning. Never use appliances such as
ovens, gas ranges, charcoal
grills, or gas-powered gen-
erators indoors to heat your
home. Change the batteries
of your carbon monoxide
detectors every six months,
and have your heating
system; chimney; and other
gas-, oil- or coal-burning
appliances professionally
serviced every year.
Lace up your skates. Show off your ice skating
skills at a public skating ses-
sion at the San Jose Sharks’
official practice facility,
Sharks Ice at San Jose. Visit
sharksiceatsanjose.com/
public-skate for more info.
Skip the tanning beds. To get a sun-kissed look
without the skin damage
or cancer risk, try a sunless
self-tanner. Topical products
containing dihydroxyacetone
(DHA), a tanning agent
approved by the FDA for
external use, are generally
considered by dermatolo-
gists to be safe alternatives to
tanning beds and sunbath-
ing. Tanning pills are not
FDA-approved and are
considered unsafe.
Wellness Guide for InsidersBefore the sunny days of summer arrive, avoid cabin
fever and indoor health pitfalls with these tips
S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 5
Body, Mind and Spirit
What are symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
Symptoms include short-term memory loss,
which eventually progresses to long-term
memory loss; behavioral issues; difficulties with
planning and making financial decisions; and
difficulties with logic and functional problems,
such as ability to drive. In advanced stages,
patients have difficulty caring for themselves.
What should readers do if they identify these
symptoms in themselves or others?
It’s important to see your primary care physi-
cian for evaluation when symptoms first
appear and to bring a family member or friend
to the appointment. Alzheimer’s disease is
a diagnosis of exclusion, involving a neuro-
logical exam and taking a thorough history,
especially from family members or friends,
since a lot of patients are in denial about
changes that are occurring.
What are the benefits of early detection?
One benefit is that you’re able to plan accord-
ingly and make financial decisions for yourself
and loved ones, while you’re still independent.
Another advantage: To be eligible for most
clinical research studies, patients need to be
in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and not
have been treated in the past.
Treatments we have right now help with
functionality, cognition, and behaviors and
also reduce some of the psychological issues
we see, such as anxiety and depression.
Medications that slow down the disease
process are available, and some of them are
generic and inexpensive.
These medications are available to our
patients if prescribed by a clinician and should
be initiated as early as possible. We also have
Alzheimer’s Association meetings for family
members and community support services
such as grants and access to caregivers. In
addition, we also have the comprehensive
OATS program for older adults with symptoms
of depression. For more info, see next page.
What can people do to reduce their risk of
developing Alzheimer’s disease?
Having type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovas-
cular risk factors such as high blood pressure,
arrhythmias, and high cholesterol, greatly
increases your chance of Alzheimer’s disease.
Leading a healthy lifestyle can either
prevent or delay onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Staying cognitively active before the disease
and even in early stages of the disease is
essential. Speaking several languages, learn-
ing how to play musical instruments, playing
chess — anything that can promote more
connections in the brain cells — will help you
combat this disease or at least slow it down.
Healthful AgingAs we Age, pHysicAl cHAnges Are normAl And expected; A poor quAlity of life is not. in tHis guide, leArn About common HeAltH issues fAcing older Adults And resources At el cAmino HospitAl tHAt cAn Help you stAy Active And feel your best for yeArs to come.
All About Alzheimer’s DiseaseInna Yaskin, DO, a geriatrician affiliated with El Camino Hospital, discusses symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the progressive brain disorder that’s the most common form of dementia and impacts memory and thinking processes
6 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l
Healthful Aging
Sex After a Heart AttackHave concerns about sex following a
cardiac event or stroke? Talk to your
physician, who can offer advice about
recommended positions, intimacy
without intercourse, and when it’s safe
to return to sexual activity. Your doctor
might recommend an exercise stress
test or taking up a brisk walking pro-
gram before resuming sexual activity.
Visit heart.org for more info.
Visit Silicon Valley Primary CareWe’ve earned special recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Our patient-centered medical home designation means our primary care is organized to pro-
vide better communication and coordination among caregivers. We’re focused on provid-ing the services and resources you need to stay healthy. For more info, call 650-962-4370 or visit elcaminohospital.org/svPC?HB
S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 7
Healthy Aging
Comprehensive Care for Older AdultsLearn more about El Camino
Hospital’s useful resources
RoadRunnersNeed a ride to a medical or dental appoint-
ment? RoadRunners volunteers provide
door-to-door transportation between your
home and health-related appointments, as
well as senior centers, local banks, beauty
shops, and markets within a certain radius
of El Camino Hospital. No wheelchair trans-
portation available. No affiliation with El
Camino Hospital required. For more info or
to make a reservation, call 650-940-7016.
Older Adult Transitions services (OATs)OATS is an intensive outpatient program
for older adults facing mental health chal-
lenges related to a long-term psychiatric
illness or life transitions such as changing
health status or grief over a loved one. A
compassionate care team led by a geriatric
psychiatrist delivers individualized treat-
ment, as well as education and support for
families. (Covered by Medicare.) For more
info, visit elcaminohospital.org/OATS?HB
or call 866-789-6089. Please visit
elcaminohospital.org/seniors?HB to
learn about additional services for older
adults at El Camino Hospital.
Could You Have Heart Failure? Some risk factors: a his-tory of heart attack; having diabetes or hypertension; being over age 75, over-weight, and sedentary
Did you know heart failure is a
leading cause of hospitalization
among patients ages 65 and older?
“Diastolic heart failure is a
disease of the elderly,” says Jane
Lombard, MD, medical director of
El Camino Hospital’s Heart Failure
Program. “As we age, we get stiffer,
and that includes the heart mus-
cle. If you think of the heart like
a balloon, it won’t stretch out to
fill. If it doesn’t fill up with blood,
it won’t pump it and it can back
up into the lungs.” (Systolic heart
failure occurs when the heart’s
left ventricle no longer contracts
normally, impacting pumping.)
The most common symptom is
shortness of breath with exertion
or when lying down. Swollen ankles
mean the condition is more severe.
The earlier you identify symp-
toms, the better, says Dr. Lombard,
a Palo Alto Medical Foundation
doctor. Prevention is even better,
including controlling blood pres-
sure, getting regular exercise, and
maintaining a healthy weight.
For info about outpatient edu-
cation, call the Norma Melchor
Heart & Vascular Institute at
650-962-4580 and ask for the
heart failure nurse specialist.
Put the Brakes on Bone LossBone mass stops increasing around age 30, but it’s never too late to protect your bones
First, the bad news: Osteoporosis, a disease
characterized by weakened bones susceptible
to fractures, has a number of risk factors you
can’t change. These include the following:
• Being over age 50
• Being female
• Having a family history of the disease
• Being white or of Asian descent
• Having a small body frame
• Having a history of fracture after age 50
The good news? You can slow bone loss by tak-
ing the following actions:
• Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of calcium
and vitamin D.
• Do weight-bearing exercises such as walking,
tennis, or dancing three to four days a week.
• Don’t smoke; limit alcohol.
Visit nihseniorhealth.gov/osteoporosis or nof.org for more info. Learn about El Camino Hospital’s
Bone Density Center at elcaminohospital.org/bonedensity?HB
8 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l
Healthy Aging
Introducing myCareEl Camino Hospital’s new online health record helps you better manage your healthcare. Here’s what you should know.
What is myCare?It’s an online, user-friendly portal
that offers patients secure access
to portions of their medical
records and can be personalized
to receive and manage medical
information. The service is free.
With myCare, you can:
• Review your health summary
from your El Camino Hospital
electronic health record
• View test results from your
hospital stay
• Access trusted health informa-
tion resources
• View your account summary
and pay your bill
• Request medical appointments*
• Request prescription renewals*
• Communicate electronically
with your medical care team*
To maintain confidentiality,
myCare is fully compliant with
federal and state laws pertain-
ing to privacy. Your name and
email address will never be sold or
leased by myCare.
Who Can use myCare?All El Camino Hospital patients are
encouraged to take advantage of
this system, and those who opt in
will be issued a myCare activation
code during their hospital or clinic
visit. This code will enable you to
log in and create your own user-
name and password. If you wish
to sign up today, you can email or
call El Camino Hospital’s Medical
Records department during hours
of operation (Monday to Friday
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Due to the sensitive nature of
medical information, all individu-
als must also sign and submit a
Release of Information request and
set up their own myCare account.
FYI: If you’re a parent, guardian,
or caretaker and wish to set it up so
you have access to a family mem-
ber’s health record, you must first
return a completed Proxy Consent
Form to one of El Camino Hospital’s
medical facilities. Then, you can log
in to your personal myCare account
and connect to information regard-
ing your family member.
When Can you use myCare?Any time you want. You can log on
to your myCare account 24/7 with
your username and password. Your
health information is reviewed
and revised after each office visit,
so your account stays up to date.
With the messaging tool, you can
communicate virtually with your
clinic team, and you will gener-
ally receive a response within
one to three business days.* Test
results are posted within one to
seven days, after your physician
has reviewed them. Also, you can
use the bill pay feature any time
for quick, simple, and paperless
transactions.
Note: myCare should not be
used for urgent situations. Please
contact your medical center if
the situation requires immedi-
ate attention or dial 911 if it is an
emergency.
hoW Can you aCCess myCare?As long as you have an Internet
connection, you can access
your myCare account easily and
quickly on your computer. On
your smartphone or tablet, use
the MyChart app.
For added details, please email [email protected], call 650-940-7066, or visit elcaminohospital.org/mycare?hB
First steps: Get a myCare activation code during a clinic visit or from our Medical Records depart-ment. Then, log in and create your username and password.
*Only available at the Cancer Center and Silicon Valley Primary Care
S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 9
Navigating Your Health
From Dreams to RealityHope to Health has breathed life into a range of El Camino Hospital programs for 10 years
“The unique
aspect of H2H is
that the members
get to vote each year on where our funds
will go.” —Betsy Dawes,
an H2H founding member
Hope to Health (H2H), El Camino
Hospital Foundation’s women’s giving
circle, is celebrating its 10th anni-
versary. Over the past decade, the
committee has contributed more than
$500,000 through its members’ pooled
donations to healthcare programs and
services at El Camino Hospital that
benefit women and families.
“A small group of women started
with the idea of creating a way to
help women in our area by finding
and funding programs that directly
improve health services,” recalls
founding member Betsy Dawes. Since
its inception, the organization has
supported, among other projects, the
gynecological care program for under-
served women at the RotaCare Clinic;
women’s screenings for heart disease
and diabetes through the South Asian
Heart Center; El Camino Hospital’s
menopause and pelvic health pro-
grams; and outpatient mental health
care for adolescents, older adults, and
women with postpartum depression.
Membership dues of $1,000 per
year underwrite the giving program.
Every winter, H2H solicits grant
proposals from patient-centered
departments at El Camino Hospital.
“Each member votes on which
programs she believes in,” Dawes
explains. ”The results are that the
hospital community benefits from the
financial boost and from the care that
went into our choices.”
H2H President Margaret Capriles
says, “We take pride in identifying
some of the great ideas from the hos-
pital staff that will improve women’s
health and as a result bring those
services to our community. Some of
these programs have gained national
recognition for being at the forefront of
their professional specialty.”
H2H members also receive invita-
tions to social and informative events
and activities held throughout the year
that focus on women’s well-being. They
hear directly from their new grantees
at a member-appreciation event in the
spring and receive feedback through-
out the year on the impact their grants
are having. “Membership is a fabu-
lous investment in women’s health,
with additional educational benefits
for yourself,” Capriles says, “and the
women are phenomenal.”
New members are always
welcome. For more info or to
join H2H, please contact Kirsten
Krimsley, El Camino Hospital
Foundation’s manager of special
events, at 650-988-4189, or
visit elcaminohospital.org/
h2h?HB
Top: Foundation President Jodi Barnard (far left), H2H
President Margaret Capriles (far right), and 2015 H2H
grantees. Right: H2H mem-bers Betsy Dawes, Margaret Capriles, Linda Rodgers, and
Donna Whitney prepare to take breast cancer awareness
carts around the hospital.
1 0 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l
Foundation News
Mark Your Calendar for Scarlet NightMarch 19: All-star event for a stellar cause
Scarlet Night, an Affair of the Heart, will be held at the Santa
Clara Convention Center on March 19, 6 p.m. It will be an
extra-special occasion this year as we celebrate the South
Asian Heart Center’s 10th anniversary.
The center was founded in 2006 to address the epi-
demic of heart disease among people who trace their origins
to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The
elevated risk, between two and four times greater than
that of other ethnic populations, is due to a combination of
genetics, behavior, and environmental factors.
The center’s initiatives include AIM to Prevent, a program
to address the twin epidemics of heart disease and diabetes,
in people who trace their ancestry to the countries in the
Indian subcontinent. South Asians have a higher incidence,
more severe presentation, and earlier onset of disease
compared to the general population, despite being mostly
vegetarian, nonsmoking, and nonobese.
For More iNFo about the center’s services, visit
southasianheartcenter.org or call 650-940-7242.
To register for Scarlet Night, visit elcaminohospital.org/
scarletnight?HB
Surviving Cancer, Embracing LifeEl Camino Hospital offers comprehensive, compassionate, and
personalized services
If you’re among the growing ranks of cancer survivors in the United States,
you may face challenges adjusting to life after cancer once you’ve com-
pleted your treatment. The good news: El Camino Hospital has a wide array
of programs and services specifically designed with you in mind.
“Our goal is to provide coordinated care and help cancer survivors feel
supported,” says Larisa Peralta, NP, APRN, FNP, OCN, coordinator of El
Camino Hospital’s survivorship program. The clinic is located in the hospi-
tal’s Cancer Center and serves all patients being treated there as well as in
Radiation Oncology. “Patients have a lot of concerns to manage — physi-
cal, emotional, spiritual, financial, and more. They may be dealing with
side effects of their treatment, fear of recurrence, or adjusting to physical
limitations or issues with intimacy. Our clinic is the place where people can
consult experts and get help finding answers that meet their needs.”
In addition to Peralta, survivorship staff includes oncologists, a
dedicated social worker, and a nurse practitioner. Patients can also access
other resources at El Camino Hospital, including the Cancer Center’s
oncology-certified nutritionist, and receive referrals to community orga-
nizations, including the American Cancer Society and Cancer CAREpoint.
Support groups — open to the community — are available too, including
separate groups for cancer survivors, caregivers, and families with young
children (facilitated by a therapist).
“Life gives us second chances, and our program is one to take advan-
tage of,” says Peralta. “We’re helping patients learn from their experiences
and make it a new beginning.”
CELEBRATE CANCER SURVIVORS DAY, MAY 14: Dave Dravecky, former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and cancer survivor, will be the keynote speaker at the event held noon–4 p.m. at El Camino Hospital, Mountain View. Space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] or 650-988-7519; or register online at elcaminohospital.org/survivorsday?HB
Take Steps to a Healthier HeartAn unexpected benefit: You may win a $250 gift card!
It’s easy to give your heart a little love. Visit elcamino hospital.org/loveyourheart and choose one or all four simple heart-healthy steps. You’ll be on your way to better health, plus be entered to win a $250 gift card to either REI or Munchery!
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Connect With Us
2500 Grant Road
Mountain View, CA 94040
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAID
SAN FRANCISCO, CAPERMIT NO. 0495
Mountain View Campus2500 Grant Road
Mountain View, CA 94040
Los Gatos Campus815 Pollard Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
2500 Grant Road, Mountain View, CA 94040815 Pollard Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
At El Camino Hospital in Mountain View and Los Gatos, we’re redefining what it means to be a community hospital with the most advanced care available, delivered in the most personal way possible. It’s an incredibly responsive approach to medicine, always ready to meet the changing needs of the valley we call home. Learn more about Dynamic Healthcare at elcaminohospital.org
YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE FACE OF SOMETHING REMARKABLE.IT’S CALLED DYNAMIC HEALTHCARE.