903-885-7671 � July 2011

What’s your risk for an AAA? page 3

Let Memorial handle your next heart procedure page 4

Learn about stroke rehab at Memorial’s CARE Unit page 6

HEALTH@Memorial

The Children’s Therapy Garden makes treatment fun

The Roberts Family,

past co-chairs of the Gala

5th Annual Lights of

Life Gala

A new digital mammography machine provides fast results

The Gardens at Memorial offer a respite

Patients go mobile with the Hospice and CARE Unit van

Gala GiftsContributions made possible by the Lights of Life Gala enhance the lives of patients and their families page 2

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Hopkins County Memorial Hospital115 Airport Road, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

Chief Executive Officer: Michael McAndrew

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer: Donna Geiken Wallace

Chief Nursing Officer: Terri Bunch

Marketing/Managed Care and Volunteer Coordinator: Sherry Moore

Memorial Hospital Main Number:903-885-7671

Memorial Hospital Physician Referral:903-439-4062

Memorial Hospital Volunteer Opportunities: 903-439-4062

Educational Programs: 903-439-4149

Hopkins County Health Care Foundation:903-438-4799

Memorial Hospital Mission: Provide an exceptional patient experience through quality patient-centered care and a work environment that attracts and retains the best staff, physicians and volunteers.

Memorial Hospital Vision: To be the leader in Northeast Texas by offering high quality hospital and physician services that meet the health care needs of our region and that our patients will recommend to others.

Visit hcmh.com or call 903-439-4062 for information about Hopkins County Memorial Hospital services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more.

Health@Memorial is published four times a year by McMurry. © 2011 Baylor Health Care System.

The material in Health@Memorial is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

Hopkins County Memorial Hospital is affiliated with but not controlled by Baylor Health Care System or its subsidiaries or community medical centers.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Hopkins County Memorial Hospital or Baylor Health Care System.

Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients.

If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75201, or e-mail robinv@baylorhealth.edu.

2 Health@Memorial July 2011 � To make a donation, visit hcmh.com

5 Years of SuccessThe Lights of Life Gala brings welcome additions to Memorial Hospital

Over the past fi ve years, the annual Health Care Foundation Lights of Life Gala has raised funds to sup-

port Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. And with a quick stroll through the hos-pital and around the grounds, you can see tangible evidence of this support. Jackie Thornton, Foundation director, walks us through the projects that the Foundation has helped fund with the Gala’s proceeds.

The Gardens at Memorial, a two-year project, off er a tranquil outdoor space for walks and relaxation. Patients, family, friends and staff can enjoy the greenery and waterfall as they stroll or sit, and the Foundation hosts a concert in The Gardens every May. Last year, a board member donated a gazebo for The Gardens, and this year, a local Eagle Scout provided a fl agpole. Trees can still be purchased in memory or in honor of someone special.

The Children’s Therapy Garden gives children who need special help a place where therapy feels more like play. They can walk barefoot in the mulch and grass, learn to climb steps on the slide and ride tricycles and scooters on the sidewalk perimeter. To enhance the space, an Eagle Scout built a sandbox for the children.

Memorial Hospital added a digital mammography machine so the women of Sulphur Springs and surrounding communities can take advantage of this technology without traveling long distances. Digital mammograms give women fast feedback, cutting the anxiety this test often creates. Plus, the results are easily stored and copied for backups and second opinions.

Funds raised from the 2011 Gala will be used to purchase a handicapped-accessible van for the Hospice andCARE (Center for Acute Rehab Excellence) units. Hospice patients will be able to use the van for a memorable outing with loved ones. CARE Unit patients, who are often recovering from broken hips, will use it for trips into the community, such as grocery shopping excursions, to help them prepare to return home and to indepen-dent living. � By Stephanie Thurrott

Pam and Tom Sellers, 2011 Gala chairs.

BE SUPPORTIVE

Help Your Hospital

For more information about how you can help the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation make a diff erence, please call 903-438-4799.

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©Photoshot For a physician referral, visit hcmh.com l July 2011 Health@Memorial 3

A bdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be deadly, but with a simple screening test you can find out if

you need treatment.An AAA occurs when the wall of the

aorta—the body’s largest artery—pro-gressively weakens and begins to bulge. Left untreated, an AAA may continue to enlarge and eventually rupture, causing internal bleeding and possibly death. But 95 percent of AAAs can be successfully treated if detected early.

Often, these aneurysms are symptom-less. That’s why screening is key. But some people report:l A pulsing feeling in the abdomenl Unexplained, severe pain in the abdo-

men or lower backl In rare cases, pain, discoloration or

sores on the feet“A safe, painless ultrasound test

can accurately measure the size of the aneurysm to determine the need for treatment,” says Julio Calderin, M.D.,

a vascular surgeon on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital. “In most situations, people with ruptured aortic aneurysms die before they reach the hospital.”

Talk to your doctor about being tested for AAAs if you have any of the following risk factors:l Are more than 60 years old (particu-

larly if you are male, since men are at higher risk)

l Have a history of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

l Have a family history of AAAsl Were or are a cigarette smokerl Have high blood pressurel Have chronic lung disease

If your ultrasound scan shows an AAA, your doctor will outline your treatment options. Smaller AAAs may improve if you quit smoking, manage your blood pressure and take recommended medi-cation. For larger aneurysms, your doc-tor may recommend stent placement or surgery. l By Stephanie Thurrott

Silent but DeadlyFind out if you’re at risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm

Healing VeinS anD arterieSIn addition to an AAA diagnosis and treatment, Julio Calderin, M.D., a vas-cular surgeon on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital, can help people who need a wide range of vascular pro-cedures, including:l Carotid artery surgery and stroke

preventionl Evaluation and management of

venous diseasel Varicose veinsl Venous stasis ulcers of the legsl Placement and removal of inferior

vena cava filtersl Deep vein thrombosis l Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

diagnosis and treatmentl Arterial bypass surgery for PAD and

limb salvage surgeryl Thoracic outlet syndrome evalua-

tion and treatmentl Creation and maintenance of vascular

access for hemodialysisl Noninvasive vascular laboratory

testing

aVoiD an aaa

See an expertNeed a vascular surgeon? For an appointment or more information, please call 903-438-8330 or visit hcmh.com.

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4 Health@Memorial July 2011 l For the career of a lifetime, go to hcmh.com

When Richard Teer, a lifelong resident of Como, Texas, needed cardiac catheterization, he didn’t

have to travel far. The catheterization lab at Memorial Hospital offers a wide range of services right in Sulphur Springs.

“I had a stress test last June, and it showed some problems,” says the 70-year-old retired superintendent of schools. “I needed to go straight to the cath lab, and they determined I needed bypass surgery.” Several months later, when one of the bypasses was showing some blockage, he returned to the cath lab. There, doctors cleared the vessel with a balloon angioplasty procedure, helping Teer avoid additional surgery.

Fortunately, for residents, the cath lab offers a wide range of procedures and treatments. “Except for open-heart sur-gery, people can get anything here they could get anywhere else,” says Chasity Collins, the lab’s scrub technician. The lab’s offerings include:l Pacemakers, which treat abnormal

heart rhythmsl Defibrillators, which help reduce the

risk of sudden cardiac death

l Peripheral studies of blood vessels in the legs, neck and kidneys that can identify and measure blockages

l Cardiac catheterization procedures, including diagnostic tests for coronary artery disease, angioplasty and stents

l Intracoronary sonograms, where a tiny camera on a small ultrasound catheter can be threaded into the heart to help with diagnosis and evaluation

l Treatments for peripheral artery dis-ease that include drilling out the plaque“Local people enjoy being able to be

close to home and having their families right here with them. It’s not such a has-sle trying to get home,” Collins says.

Plus, waits are usually short at the small-town facility. “We get you in, get you done and get you on your way,” says Lacy Stout, R.N., BSN. l By Stephanie Thurrott

Convenient Cardiac CareMemorial Hospital’s heart catheterization lab offers close-to-home convenience

Heart Smart

Get the treatment Your Heart NeedsFor more information on cardiac services at Memorial Hospital, please call 903-439-4062.

Our Heart Catheterization Lab PhysiciansThe following doctors are on hand to help you with a variety of heart procedures.

INterveNtIoNal CardIoloGYManuel W. Cruz, M.D., FACCJeffrey R. Gladden, M.D., FACCDonald Wurzburg, M.D., FACC

CardIaC eleCtropHYSIoloGY Adam R. Shapira, M.D., FACC

Aaron Howington, R.N.; Joe Stringfellow, R.N.; Chris Gall, R.T.; Nolan Willis, R.T., Director; Lacy Stout, R.N.; and Chasity Collins, R.T.

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Diabetes Patients Make Gains on Weight LossBaylor studies drug’s potential for overweight people with type 2 diabetes

BE PART OF THE STUDY

Want to Be Active?

Participants will be enrolled in the study as late as the end of July. For information, call 214-818-7155.

The drug being tested mimics a peptide hormone that stimulates release of insulin

after a meal, and also can help control appetite by sending the brain a message that one has just eaten and should not have to eat again.

People who have type 2 diabetes often find themselves caught in a vicious circle of weight gain. Being overweight or obese can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, and

some medications used to treat the condition can cause more weight gain. In addition, it’s often harder for people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight.

Losing weight, and keeping it off, can help people with type 2 diabetes better manage their condition. It can also reduce their risk of other health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

That’s why Baylor is participating in a multicenter study to see if a diabetes medication that’s already on the market might help people lose weight while controlling their diabetes. The drug has been shown to help people with diabetes manage their blood

glucose levels, and other studies have examined how it can help people without diabetes lose weight.

“This new study is going to look at patients with type 2 diabetes and focus on using slightly higher doses than we usually do, to see if we can have a real effect on their weight as well as their blood glucose,” says Priscilla Hollander, M.D., Ph.D., an endocrinologist on the medical

staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Baylor Endocrine Center.

The drug being tested mimics a peptide hormone that stimulates release of insulin after a meal, which is important in controlling glucose. It also can help control appetite by sending the brain a message that one has just eaten and should not have to eat again. It can also slow the emptying of the stomach and make people feel fuller longer. Patients with type 2 diabetes make less of this hormone than individuals who do not have diabetes.

During the 56-week study, participant groups will be given varying doses of the drug and one group will receive a placebo.

“We’re hoping this medication might have a unique advantage in helping people with diabetes lose weight,” Dr. Hollander says. “And, hopefully, losing the weight will have a favorable effect on their diabetes and their overall health.” l  By Amy Lynn Smith

Visit us at hcmh.com l July 2011 Health@Memorial 5

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6 Health@Memorial July 2011 � Sick? Click. Visit hcmh.com Portrait by John Derryberry

WATCH THE VIDEO

In Dane’s WordsTo watch Dane’s video and get more healthy ideas and stroke-prevention tips, download our digital magazine at BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive.

Stroke Knows No Age

Six years ago Dane Taylor of Dallas was working as a makeup artist on a photo shoot in Cancun, Mexico, when a debilitating headache struck.

“I had a history of migraines, and this headache went into a second day. By noon I couldn’t keep working—I had to go back to my room,” she says.

She woke, and noticed trouble moving her right arm and leg, but thought she had slept on them wrong and went back to sleep. The next morning, she tried to return to work but was exhausted. She spoke to her co-workers, but they couldn’t understand her jumbled words. They took her to a local hospital and the next

day she traveled to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, where MRIs determined the then-50-year-old had experienced a stroke. While she didn’t have

A ‘brain attack’ can strike anyone. Here’s how to strike back

Recovering from her stroke was made a bit easier for Dane Taylor with help from her therapy dog, Bebe.

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Find Dr. Right. Visit hcmh.com l July 2011 Health@Memorial 7Doctor and patient ©Photoshot

a family history or other known risk factors, the MRI uncovered an unusual vein configuration in her brain.

Stroke affects everyone differently. For Taylor, the trouble with her right limbs passed quickly. “I could walk, and my mobility was fine, but I couldn’t speak,” she says. With rehab sessions three or four times a week, she regained her speech, although she still notices some aftereffects of the stroke, particularly when she is tired.

“My memory isn’t what it used to be, and I’m not great at math,” she says. But thanks to her hard work in rehab, she has returned to work and to the activities she enjoys.

Different Causes, Same SymptomsThe causes of stroke in younger people are often different from those in seniors. Younger people are more likely to have an abnormality or coagulation disorder that triggers a stroke.

But younger people with a lot of risk factors—obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels—are at risk of stroke triggered by arterial disease, just like their older counterparts.

Reginald Cole, M.D., a neurologist on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital, recommends a diet low in saturated fats, low in salt and high

in fruits and vegetables to reduce stroke risk.

“I also tell my patients to watch carefully the calories they consume every day,” Dr. Cole says. “This simple cut helps to prevent overeating and as a result helps to prevent obesity, which puts them at greater risk for stroke.”

In people of any age, symptoms are the same. (See “FAST Action.”) If you

notice these symptoms in yourself or someone else, get help right away. With the most common type of stroke, clot-busting drugs can help prevent brain damage and long-term effects, but they need to be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

Of the 795,000 strokes in the United States per year, less than 5 percent get help in time. Knowing the warning signs can improve this percentage—and improve outcomes. l

WHAT’S YOUR RISK?

Stroke Smarts

Quiz yourself on stroke risk factors, get stroke prevention tips and hear a mind-strengthening podcast, all at BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast.

FAST Action The acronym FAST can help you recognize stroke symptoms in yourself or someone else:Face: Look for drooping on one side of the face, particularly when smiling.Arms: When raising both arms, does one drop downward?Speech: Do words sound slurred or unusual?Time: Call 911 if you spot any of these signs. And note the time you first noticed

symptoms so medical staff can track how much time has elapsed.(Source: National Stroke Association)

Recovering from StrokePeople in Sulphur Springs and nearby communities who experience strokes can work toward recovery at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital’s CARE Unit (Center for Acute Rehab Excellence).

When people first arrive at the CARE Unit, the staff assesses them. Under the direction of Reginald Cole, M.D., a neu-rologist on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital, they then build a program designed for maximum progress.

With round-the-clock physician care and rehab nursing, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy, the unit is well equipped to handle the needs of people recovering from stroke.

Patients receive three hours of therapy a day, tailored to their individual needs. “Some people need to focus on hand-eye coordination, while others need to work on strengthening or safety. They work on bathing, showering and dressing, trying to bring those skills back. Whatever their needs, our goal is to get them home,” says Hope Johnson, director of the unit.

Soon, the CARE Unit also will have a van that can transport people to the grocery store and other community locations to help them further build their skills.

Becky Ragan, Community Education manager, says nurses and physicians see each patient every day. “We also have them socialize as much as possible. They eat all three meals in the dining room. The occupational therapists might have them work on craft projects together or work together on therapy in the gym,” she says.

The unit recently was recognized for having outcomes among the top 10 percent nationwide. Visit hcmh.com/CAREUnitatMemorial.htm for more information. l By Stephanie Thurrott

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Hopkins County Memorial Hospital 115 Airport Road Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

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