STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE

H E A LT H C A R E A N D W E L L N E S S I N F O R M AT I O N F O R O U R C O M M U N I T Y W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Visit us on the web at www.peacehealth.org

PeaceHealth opens two new

facilities

What’s happeningPeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center news

Two important facilities now open!Peace Island Medical Center, a new critical access hospital on San Juan Island, and the new integrated Cancer Center at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center have opened their doors.

Two groups unite to create a stronger health care systemPeaceHealth and Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) signed a nonbinding letter of intent this past summer to create a new regional health care system serving the nation’s northwest region. !e two organizations will be equal partners in the fully integrated health care system, combining all of PeaceHealth’s and CHI’s northwest operations into one new system. !e new organization will include physician clinics, outpatient care clinics, long-term care facilities, PeaceHealth Laboratories and more. PeaceHealth and CHI hope to form the new system before July 1, 2013.

$1 million telehealth grant awardedRural or remote communities in southeastern Alaska, on San Juan Island and in Skagit County will benefit from a four-year, $1 million U.S. Health and Human Services grant to expand telehealth services. !e grant will be administered in four annual payments of $250,000 to the Telehealth Network for San Juan Island EMS; United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley; and PeaceHealth facilities in Friday Harbor and Ketchikan and Craig, Alaska. !e grant will allow the network to continue to provide psychiatry consults as well as access to other specialty care not otherwise available.

An app makes it easy!A MediLocator application for iPhone and Android mobile devices is now available to help patients and visitors find their way around the hospital. It can easily help locate PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center caregivers and medical build-ings, offices, labs and pharmacies. !e app also allows users to email patients, search nearby hotels and restaurants, send flowers or make a donation—all with just a touch. !e app was designed to help patients and families better navigate their health care and enhance the overall patient experience.

Local doctor receives high honorsPeter Valenzuela, MD, Medical Director for PeaceHealth Medical Group, was honored as the nation’s top Physician Executive for 2012 by Medical Group Management Association and its standard-setting division. !e award honors a physician executive in a medical group practice who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in achieving exceptional medical group performance in the delivery of health care in his or her practice and community through personal example and collaborative team management.

Adult Day Health Center celebrates 35 yearsOne of the oldest such centers in the nation, Adult Day Health Center (ADHC) is celebrating 35 years of service to the community. ADHC services include nursing, therapeutic exercise and activities to support older adults and people with disabilities or long-term illnesses to enable them to remain in their homes. ADHC also offers support to caregivers.

Palliative Care Program turns 1In the first year of providing consulta-tions, palliative care medical staff have seen more than 400 patients, well over the anticipated 20 consults per month. Bree Johnston, MD, the program’s Medical Director, is also now the System Medical Director for Palliative Care and is working to standardize care using policies that have been shown to be most effective.

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center

!e doors are open at the new, integrated PeaceHealth

St. Joseph Cancer Center.

Bree Johnston, MD

Peter Valenzuela, MD

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PeaceHealth Laboratories in Mount VernonTHE NEWEST PeaceHealth Laboratories patient service center, at 205 Stewart Road, Suite 104, in Mount Vernon at HealthMed Centers, is a convenient new option to receive laboratory testing from skilled caregiv-ers. !e center opened in fall 2012 to accommodate an increased need for laboratory services in the community.

Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.According to Laboratory Supervisor Dwayne Bayes, the center provides blood draw and specimen collec-tion services for thousands of tests, mostly completed at the Bellingham laboratory. Billing for primary and secondary insurance is offered, as well as the EasyAccess program for uninsured patients.

For a map and directions, visit www.peacehealthlabs.org, then choose “For Patients” and “Locations.”

On the cover: Jim Barnhart, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical CenterPhoto by Edye Colello-Morton

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Feature stories

4} Straight talk. Curious about what’s going on behind the scenes at PeaceHealth? Get all your questions answered in our Q&A with the CEO.

Need a new hip? Learn about a new approach to hip replacement that’s less painful and helps patients recover faster.

One person helps 140. Jason Brockmann’s unselfish choice gave new meaning to so many people’s lives.

Keeping informedClasses and events. Keep active with others this winter in a variety of classes and events. page 7

Sharing healthy habits. Having friends who take good care of themselves can improve your own health. page 13

inside this issue

HEALTH TODAY is published three times a year by PEACEHEALTH ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER to provide health care and wellness information to residents of Whatcom and San Juan counties.

PEACEHEALTH ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER2901 Squalicum ParkwayBellingham, WA 98225360-734-5400www.peacehealth.org

Amy CloudEditoracloud@peacehealth.org

Nancy SteigerCEO and Chief Mission Officer

Information in HEALTH TODAY comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific medical issues that may affect your health, please con-tact your health care provider.Copyright © 2012 PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Copyright © 2012 Coffey Communications, Inc.HSM28922

WINTER 2013

March is colorectal cancer awareness monthIt’s no fun, but having a colonoscopy could save your life. See page 11 for details.

For more information or to schedule a screening, call PeaceHealth Medical

Group at 788-2200 or, in Sedro-Woolley, at 856-6490.

HEALTH TODAY is published at a facility with an emission system that uses up to 50 percent less natural gas than conventional methods and a chiller that saves more than 426,000 kilowatts of electricity over the previous system. $e HEALTH TODAY printer recycles all paper waste and uses inks that limit environmental impact.

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Q As you lead, what is your focus for the future?

A !e PeaceHealth vision is for every person to receive

safe and compassionate care; every time, every touch. !is vision is part of what drew me to PeaceHealth and Bellingham, and even after "ve years, I am still moved by it. I continue to think about our success in terms of the people we serve and the ways we touch their lives. In my leadership role, the focus is to ensure that PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center remains a strong and vibrant organization, rooted in the community and capable of meeting the challenges of a rapidly chang-ing health care environment.

Q How has health care changed since you arrived at

PeaceHealth more than five years ago?

A !e new reality in health care is the need to provide

the same or better health outcomes with less "nancial support from the government and other payers. !is requires us to "nd new ways

to solve old problems. We have worked hard to reduce expenses while providing better care by taking waste out of the system and increasing e#ciency. What has not changed is our mission—to promote personal and community health, to re-lieve pain and su$ering, and to treat everyone in a loving and caring way.

Q PeaceHealth St. Joseph is

expanding from being a local community hospital to serving patients in Skagit and San Juan counties. Why the growth?

A PeaceHealth, which got its start in Fairhaven in

1890, is one system serving many communities in the Northwest. As a system, we are experienced at providing health care in small, rural or remote communities. In recent years, PeaceHealth St. Joseph has been invited into two new communities. !is year we built a critical access hospital on San Juan Island in collaboration

with the local hospital district and the people of the Island, and we en-tered into an agreement to provide specialty care and management for United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley. As a result, residents of

both communities will continue to be assured of quality health care where they live. !at is the essence of community care, and we are privileged to be able to provide it.

Q How is PeaceHealth St. Joseph working to make sure that

care remains accessible and a!ord- able in the communities you currently serve?

A We are proud of our com-mitment to ensure access to

care, regardless of a person’s abil-ity to pay. !is year PeaceHealth St. Joseph provided $40 million in

CEO AND CHIEF MISSION OFFICER

!e new, integrated Cancer Center brings all cancer care and services together in one location.

“I continue to think about our success in terms of the people we serve and the ways we touch their lives.” —Nancy Steiger, CEO and Chief Mission O"cer

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uncompensated care. Obviously, ensuring access to care costs money, and this is part of what challenges us to be good stewards of our resources. Over the last "ve years, we have substantially reduced costs while increasing quality outcomes, and we will con-tinue to seek ways to improve our processes, lower costs and improve quality. It’s the “new normal”—and the right thing to do.

Q PeaceHealth is forming a new health care system with

another organization with hospitals in the Tacoma area; what’s happen-ing and why?

A PeaceHealth and the Northwest portion of Catholic

Health Initiatives (CHI) are form-ing a new partnership. Over the past "ve years, many medical groups and hospitals have joined forces to share resources in order to continue serving their com-munities. PeaceHealth, like others, must continue to grow in order to achieve economies of scale and be able to care for the health of large

populations, which health care reform requires. It is predicted that over the next "ve years, 20 percent of hospitals will close. For the sake of those we serve, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center cannot be among them. We anticipate that our partnership with CHI—which we expect will become o#cial in July 2013—will make both organizations stronger, will add value, and will en-sure quality health care and access for the communities we serve.

Q What does it actually mean that PeaceHealth is a Catholic

health care system?

A St. Joseph Hospital and PeaceHealth were founded

by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace 122 years ago. We are proud of that heritage and strive to meet the challenges of modern health care with the same spirit and sense of purpose that the original sisters brought to their work in Fairhaven more than a century ago. PeaceHealth is a nonpro"t civil corporation that is not owned by the Catholic Church but operates under its auspices. PeaceHealth maintains a relationship with church o#cials born of mutual respect and common values. We consult with the church and seek its guidance on signi"cant questions. Any issues would be addressed in the spirit of carrying

on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, which is the PeaceHealth core mission.

Q In closing, what are some recent examples of the spirit

of healing at PeaceHealth St. Joseph?

A We are dedicated to provid-ing quality health care for

the community and to the vision that each person we serve be treated with respect, caring and compassion. !at’s what drove us to partner with the community to build the region’s "rst-ever Hospice House. It’s why we launched a Palliative Care program to pro-vide holistic care for those with a chronic illness. And it’s the reason for our new, integrated Cancer Center, where a person diagnosed with cancer can receive exceptional medicine and compas-sionate care in one place, right here at home. !e healing spirit of PeaceHealth can be felt by patients and their families when they come through the doors of our hospitals and clinics, whether for heart care, joint replacement surgery or to deliver a newborn baby.

I feel very fortunate to be part of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and to work with such accomplished and dedicated physi-cians, nurses and all our caregivers, who truly embody the healing spirit in the work they do every day.

Peace Island Medical Center—like the new Cancer Center, and in response to community need—is a light- and art-"lled space designed to deliver hope and healing in a tranquil environment.

Nancy Steiger, CEO and Chief Mission O!cer

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY next year!It’s probably too early to start

dropping hints about a gift you’d really like. But it’s never too soon to take stock of your health to ensure that you’ll be in "ne form to celebrate when that birthday rolls around.

Statistics suggest the three biggest obstacles between any American and his or her next birthday are heart disease, cancer and stroke. !ose three conditions are responsible for about 1.5 million deaths every year, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

However, the AAFP also notes that there are three things you can do to signi"cantly lessen your risk for killers No. 1, 2 and 3.

Making the following changes can increase the likelihood that you’ll be blowing out candles on next year’s cake.

Don’t smoke. !is is the big one. !e fact is, smoking is the single most

Keep thosebirthdayscoming

WHAT IS A CARDIOLOGIST? If your primary care physician thinks you could have a problem with your heart or its blood vessels, he or she may refer you to a cardiolo-gist. !ese specialists diagnose and treat all types of heart disease and heart-related conditions, such as heart failure and serious heart rhythm problems.

!ese doctors also treat coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects and heart attack. Symptoms such as chest pain, short-ness of breath or dizzy spells may call for a visit to a cardiologist.

Cardiologists are not surgeons. However,

they do perform procedures that require small incisions, such as angioplasty to open a blocked artery in the heart or cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions. Some cardiologists also insert pacemakers.Sources: American College of Cardiology; American College of Physicians

Learn moreTo learn about the cardiologists on our team, visit www.peacehealth.org/ st-joseph/services/cardiovascular-center. Under “Key Services,” mouse over “Cardiology” and click on “Meet Our Team.”

F E B R U A R Y I S A M E R I C A N H E A R T M O N T H

preventable cause of death in the U.S. If you don’t smoke, hooray! If you do, quit now. Your health will improve in little ways, day by day, and in big ways over the long haul. Your doctor can help you drop the habit for good.

Eat well. Filling up on junk food, salty foods and foods high in saturated fat may raise your risk for heart disease, some cancers and high blood pressure.

Exercise more. You can cut your risk for the top three killers with 30 minutes of physical activity on at least "ve days of the week. And it doesn’t have to be 30 minutes in a row. You can exercise in chunks of 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day.

John MacGregor, MD, FHRS

Q&A with an electrophysiologistWhat is a cardiac electrophysiologist?

A cardiac elec-trophysiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treat-ment of irregular beats (arrhythmias) of the heart. Why did you choose the spe-cialty of electrophysiology?

During general cardiology training, I observed a complex procedure and came to understand that this sub-specialty can offer patients a cure for their condition in some instances. !at realization motivated me to pursue cardiac electrophysiology as a career. If you could ask people to do one thing to improve their heart health, what would it be?

If we get moving, it can not only improve our heart health; it can improve our quality of life!What do you see on the horizon for your specialty that has you most excited?

!e prospect of leadless pacemaker systems is undergoing evaluation and may move from science fiction to reality within the next few years. If so, it would represent a huge leap forward in the field of electrophysiology.What is your favorite aspect of being part of the cardiovascular team at PeaceHealth ?

I enjoy working with a group of pro-viders who bring a great deal of knowl-edge and experience to our program, and who can collaborate to do what is in the best interest of our patients.

John MacGregor, MD, FHRS, is a cardiologist with PeaceHealth North Cascade Cardiology. Specialty: Cardiac electrophysiology Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine—Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology; Cardiovascular DiseaseO!ces: Bellingham, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; Wrangell, AlaskaContact number: 788-2700

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Community

HEALTH SCREENINGS‘Take Heart’ Screening!is cardiovascular-risk screen-ing service includes electro-cardiogram, cholesterol, blood glucose, body composition and blood pressure measurements. Cost includes a consultation with a cardiovascular wellness and rehabilitation team mem-ber. Call 788-6720 to schedule an appointment. $55 ■

Exercise ConsultationA physician’s referral is required for this 1½-hour session with a cardiovascular health specialist, who will assess your exercise capacity and work with you on specific health goals to design an individualized program. Call 788-6719 for more information. $75■

■ = PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Main Campus, 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham

Classes and events are at the following locations, unless otherwise noted.

Location key

◆ = PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center South Campus, 809 E. Chestnut, Bellingham

▲ = St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham

● = PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center, 3301 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham

Winter 2013

CHILDBIRTH Classes are held at the Health Education Center or in the conference rooms off the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Main Campus cafeteria, unless otherwise noted.

FREE At Our Baby’s Birth!is class is designed to help par-ents and children make decisions about participating in the birth. Call 788-6363 for a schedule. By appointment only.

FREE Cesarean DeliveryFor families anticipating a cesar-ean delivery, this class explains hospital admitting, birth prepara-tion, options and expectations and includes a short film. Call 788-6363 for a schedule. By appointment only.

FREE VBAC Delivery!is class explains vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). It is an opportunity for women to explore their feelings and strengths to

Breastfeeding Basics and Beyond!is quarterly one-session class is co-sponsored by Bellingham Technical College. Call 752-8350 or visit www.btc.ctc.edu. $25

SUPPORT GROUPSFREE Mended HeartsCardiovascular Center peer sup-port group for those who have had heart surgery or cardiac stents, as well as their families and caregivers. Call Peter Olsen at 715-1107 for more information.

FREE CPAP Support Group!e PeaceHealth Medical Group Sleep Disorders Center is introduc-ing a health awareness group to provide information and support for people with sleep apnea. For more information, call Sue Moore at 752-5648. ➜ Second Wednesday of alternate months, beginning Jan. 9, starting at 5 p.m.PeaceHealth Medical Group, 4545 Cordata Parkway, Conference Rooms 2 and 3

enable them to succeed with a VBAC delivery. Bring your labor partner. Call 788-6363 for a schedule. By appointment only.

FREE Kangaroo KapersA program for children whose parents are expecting a baby. Children tour the postpartum and nursery areas of the hospital with their parents and puppets. To schedule a visit, call 788-6363 or go to www.peacehealth.org/childbirthcenter.

Childbirth PreparationSeveral classes are offered, includ-ing Pregnancy and Childbirth (five sessions), Preparation for Childbirth and Parenting (eight sessions), Childbirth Prepara-tion Weekend, HypnoBirthing (five sessions), and Understand-ing Birth eClass (new, partially online option). Co-sponsored by Bellingham Technical College. Call 752-8350 or visit www.btc.ctc.edu.

FREE Childbirth Center Information Tour!is one- to two-hour informa-tional tour is offered to all indi-viduals and families and includes information about the admis-sion process, hospital routines and procedures and a look at the labor rooms. Registration is required and available online at www.peacehealth.org/childbirthcenter.➜ Every other weekend➜ Wednesdays ■ !e Childbirth Center

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Winter 2013

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Adult Day Health Center provides engaging activities, nursing services, therapeu-tic exercise and support to family caregivers in order to enable adults with chronic illness, disability or mem-ory loss to remain safe and healthy where they live. It is a place of caring and warmth, where meaningful relation-ships are created through shared experiences and stories.

Staff members provide support and information about chronic illness care, falls-risk screenings, range-of-motion and balance exercises, and strength training. !e Adult Day Health Center also provides resources for caregivers—regardless of whether the person in their care attends the center— including caregiver support groups and lectures on topics related to challenges that caregivers face.

For more information about our services, call 788-6410 or visit www.peacehealth.org/whatcom/adultdayservices◆ Adult Day Health Center, South Campus

A place of caring and warmth

Heart to Heart Luncheons➜ Wednesday, Feb. 20Hotel Bellwether, Conference Room, Bellingham“Myths and Facts about Heart Disease”, Andrew Coletti, MD, and Richard J. Leone, MD, PhD

➜ !ursday, Feb. 21Skagit Casino, Bow“Preventing Heart Disease,” Don McAfee, MD, and Linda Banks, MHPE, RD, CHT

FREE Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group Living with a rare illness such as this can be isolating and frightening, but you don’t have to face your illness alone. !e support, connection and information you need are available with this support group. Call Loretta at 671-2579 for more information. ➜ Second !ursday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m. ▲

FREE Brain Injury Support GroupCall Mary Hughes at 360-631-2054 or 360-548-8536 for information.➜ Second !ursday of each month, 7 to 9 p.m. ◆ Group room

FREE Bellingham MS Self-Help GroupA self-help group for people living with MS, their significant others and their support system. Call Amy at 650-9255 to learn about the day group; phone Keith at 739-5905 about the evening group. Or email bellinghamms@yahoo.com. ➜ Second Wednesday of each month, noon to 2 p.m.➜ Second !ursday of each month, 6 to 8 p.m.▲

FREE Caregiver Support GroupOpen to all family caregivers. !e group format rotates between a speaker and a facilitated discussion. Call 788-6410 for more informa-tion, or visit www.peacehealth.org/adultdayservices.➜ Second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m.◆ Rehab Conference Room➜ Jan. 8: “Maintaining a Meaning-ful Relationship with Your Loved

One,” Carol Tyler, PhD, psychologist➜ Feb. 12: “!e Importance of Liv-ing Wills, POA and POLST Forms,” Ann Davidge, MSW, palliative care➜ March 12: “Caring Transitions—Helping Seniors Downsize and Relocate,” Pete Cilley➜ April 9: “Community and Gov-ernment Resources for Caregivers,” Aging and Disability Resources spe-cialist, Northwest Regional Council➜ May 14: “Hospice Care,” Lynda Byrd, RN, Hospice team lead

FREE Sjogren’s Syndrome Support GroupContact Linda Hughes at 676-1926 or linda927@earthlink.net for more information. ◆

FREE Grief Support GroupOpen drop-in sessions. Call 733-5877 for more information. ➜ Tuesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m. ➜ Wednesdays, 2 to 3:30 p.m. ▲

FREE Spinal Cord Injury Support NetworkFor information, call 332-8484. ➜ First Monday of each month, 7 to 9 p.m.◆

FREE Peripheral Neuropathy Support GroupFor information, call 676-0367. ➜ !ird Wednesday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m.▲

FREE Stroke Support GroupTo learn more, call 715-6420. No registration necessary. ➜ Second !ursday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m.◆

FREE ALS Support GroupCall Mary Rebar at 733-5222.➜ Second !ursday of each month, noon to 1:30 p.m.▲

FREE Gluten Information Support GroupCall 332-7435 or 734-4989 for information. Also visit www.glutenfreeway.info.➜ First Tuesday of each month, 7 to 9 p.m.▲

FREE Hepatitis C Support GroupFor information, call 733-6714.➜ !ird Monday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Health Support Center, 1212 Indian St., Bellingham FREE Evergreen Al-AnonFor information, call 734-2825. ➜ Mondays, 10 to 11:30 a.m.◆

FREE Diabetes Support GroupFor information, call 303-5124. ➜ Second Monday of each month, 7 to 9 p.m.◆

FREE Fibromyalgia Support GroupCall Natalie at 920-0490 or email windhorse20@hotmail.com for information.➜ First Tuesday of each month, time TBA▲

FREE Mending Babyloss Support GroupSupport for grieving parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or a loss within their baby’s first year of life. For information, call 303-6613 or 733-1744 or email mendingbabyloss@gmail.com. Find us online at www.mending babyloss.wordpress.com. Registration required. ▲

$25 per luncheon or $40 for both. Call Lisa Brown at 788-6792 for more information or to register.

HEALTH EMPOWERMENTFREE Joint Replacement Center Pre-HabAn innovative class offered in two sessions that cover weight loss; general and specific strength-ening; and preventive care for those with spine, hip or knee arthritis. For more information or to sign up, call 788-6024. ➜ Tuesdays, March 5 and 12, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.▲

FREE Adult Day Health Center Lecture Series: Facing the Challenges of AgingFamily and professional caregivers are invited to attend this series of lectures about how to best support people as they age. Lectures are presented by experts in the field of aging and disability on the third !ursday of alternating months. For more information, call 788-6410. ➜ !ursday, Jan. 17, 3:30 to 5 p.m.: “!e Important Caregiver Question—What if Something Hap-pens to ME?” panel presentation➜ !ursday, March 14, 3:30 to 5 p.m.: “Respiratory Conditions in the Elderly,” Donald Berry, MD, PHMG Pulmonary Medicine➜ !ursday, May 16, 3:30 to 5 p.m.: “Caring for the Person with Dementia with Dignity, Under-standing and Joy,” Tedd Judd, PhD, neuropsychologist◆ Adult Day Health, South Campus

FREE Falls Risk Reduction LectureMost falls are preventable. Learn the risk factors for falls and how to reduce them. Call 788-6420 for more information. Registration required. ➜ Tuesday, Feb. 19, 1 to 2:30 p.m.▲

FREE Advance Care Planning: My Life, My Health, My ChoicesAdvance Care Planning is a process of talking about what is important to you so that you can plan now for future health care decisions, especially at a time when you cannot speak for yourself. !is workshop will help you understand how to make your wishes known to loved ones and doctors and how to complete advance directives. Any adult over the age of 18 should consider beginning this conversa-tion. (Sponsored by the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access.)➜ Wednesday, Jan. 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.➜ Friday, Feb. 15, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.➜ Wednesday, March 20, 4 to 6 p.m.▲

NUTRITIONNutrition classes are co-sponsored by the Community Food Co-op. Please call 734-8158 to register, unless otherwise noted. Visit the co-op website for class details at www.communityfood.coop/learn/classes.

Delaying DiabetesWorkshop discussing lifestyle and diet strategies for preventing or delaying diabetes. Sample recipes will be demonstrated and served. $15➜ Monday, Jan. 14, 6 to 8 p.m.Cordata Co-op

Winter One-Pot MealsWith Lisa Dixon, RD. Register by calling Whatcom Community College at 383-3200. $35➜ Tuesday, Jan. 15, 6:30 to 9 p.m.Downtown Co-op

No-Diet Weight LossWith Lisa Dixon, RD. $15➜ Tuesday, Jan. 22, 6 to 8 p.m.Cordata Co-op

Healthy KitchenWith Lisa Dixon, RD. $10➜ Monday, Feb. 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Downtown Co-op

Simple Cooking for Delaying DiabetesCooking class with Lisa Dixon, RD, for those who are at risk for diabetes. $29➜ Wednesday, March 6, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Cordata Co-op

FREE Grief Relief for WomenA structured group to help women move toward reconciling grief and discovering new life path-ways will begin in March. For more information and to schedule a pre-registration interview, contact Whatcom Hospice at 733-5877 or jrobinson2@peacehealth.org.

FREE Memory Teddy Bear WorkshopBuild a keepsake memory teddy bear from select clothing of your departed loved one. Workshops in February and April. For more information, contact Whatcom Hospice at 733-5877 or jrobinson2@peacehealth.org.

Service of Memory!rough music, candle-lighting, stories and reading of names, Whatcom Hospice invites you to join us in honoring and remem-bering your loved ones who have died. Please bring pictures and mementos for the memory table. For more information or to have your loved one’s name read during the program, call 733-5877. Invite friends and family to join you for this event.➜ Sunday, May 5, 3 to 4 p.m.▲

FREE #e Shared Care Plan: Your Personal Health Record!e Shared Care Plan is a tool to help you better understand and manage your health information and improve your conversations with health care providers. It’s a free, easy-to-use health record that lets you organize and store vital health information, including medications, allergies, diagnoses and family history, as well as docu-ments such as advance directives. You can also connect to Child Pro-file Immunization Registry for your family’s immunization records and to PeaceHealth Laboratories for your lab results. For more informa-tion, go to www.SharedCarePlan.org or call 671-6800, option 2.

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FREE

!e PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center offers the following programs on a continual basis unless noted. Please call 788-6701 for class times and locations and to register. All classes and programs are free unless otherwise noted. !e PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center offers the following programs on a continual basis unless noted. Please call 788-6701 for class times and locations and to register. All classes and programs are free unless otherwise noted.

VISIT US ON THE WEB WWW.PEACEHEALTH.ORG

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center

Cancer Center

programs

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Healing #rough Creativity Cancer patients and survivors are invited to share their creative side together. The class focuses on watercolors, though other media may be introduced. No talent or prior training required. This class is taught by an art instructor, and all supplies are provided. For information, call 788-6701.➜ Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ●

Exercise and #riveOffered through the Whatcom Family YMCA, patients at least 90 days out of treatment can, with their doctor’s permission, partici-pate in a 12-week fitness program to gain strength and improve long-term survival while reducing fatigue and stress. For information, call Tammy at the YMCA at 733-8630. (!ere is an enrollment fee, which will include a YMCA membership.)●

Brain Tumor Caregiver GroupHosted by volunteer Marianne Brudwick, who lost her hus-band to a brain tumor and has navigated the journey, this group shares practical information to gain an understanding of the caregiving experience. Open to anyone who is caring for or has lost a loved one to brain cancer. For information, call 788-6706. ➜ First Friday of each month, 2 to 3 p.m.●

Fit vs. Fatigue Fatigue is the most common symp-tom associated with cancer and its treatment. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center and Bellingham Athletic Club have teamed up to help local residents with cancer combat fatigue. If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment, ask your doctor for a referral to this valuable program. For more information, call 788-6706.●

Look Good... Feel BetterOffered in partnership with the American Cancer Society, designed specifically for women dealing with the effects of cancer treatment and facilitated by a trained cosmetologist, this class focuses on skin and hair care. Cos-metic samples are provided. For information, call 788-6701.➜ Second Monday of each month, 1 to 3 p.m.●

!e PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center offers the following programs on a continual basis unless noted. Please call 788-6701 for class times and locations and to register. All classes and programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Cancer Survivors’ GroupOpen to all cancer survivors. Meet fellow cancer survivors, cel-ebrate victories, share hopes and concerns, and provide encourage-ment and support. For informa-tion, call 788-6706.➜ !ird Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon●

Prostate Cancer Support Group— ‘Us TOO’An educational forum and discus-sion group for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or who are interested in learning about it. Spouses or partners are welcome. For more information, call 788-6706.➜ Second Tuesday of each month, 7 to 8:30 p.m. ●

Meditation ClassChris Stephens, certified by the Self Awareness Institute in Laguna Beach, Calif., introduces a multidisciplinary approach to reducing anxiety, mood disturbance or pain. In a study of patients with breast and prostate cancer, medita-tion has been shown to improve overall quality of life, stress levels and sleep quality. ➜ Fridays, 10 to 11 a.m. ●

Women’s Cancer Support GroupOpen to all women, regardless of age or cancer diagnosis. For more information, call 788-6706. ➜ Mondays, 10 to 11:30 a.m.●

Friends and Family Support GroupIf someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, this group will be a place to receive support and information to help you cope with the challenges. No registration necessary. For more information, call 788-6706.➜ !ursdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. ●

Nutrition and Cancer ManagementLearn about the importance of nutrition during cancer treat-ment, including tips for managing treatment-related symptoms. Our registered dietitian will also discuss the role of nutrition in cancer prevention. For information, call 788-6701.➜ !ird !ursday of each month, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ●

Recent research shows that people who have polyps removed significantly re-duce their risk of dying from colorectal cancer. By having a colonoscopy, you may not simply prevent cancer, you may save your life.

!e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that screening for colorectal cancer begin at age 50—ear-lier if you’re at high risk for the disease—and be done every 10 years.

Talk with your doctor to learn when you should get screened.

New Cancer Center o"cially in business!e new PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center grand opening celebration, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, included a special blessing, light refresh-ments and tours of the new facility.

The new Cancer Center offers patients the ability to see their doctors, receive treatment and get information about valuable support services— all in one location. With a focus on tranquility and hope, the design and furnishings—as well as the artwork and water features—provide a holistic, healing environment.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Many people with colorectal cancer have no symptoms, especially early in the course of the disease. So regular screening is key for finding cancer before it spreads.

But if you have any of these symp-toms, see your doctor right away:✓ A change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a few days✓ Rectal bleeding, dark stools or blood in the stools✓ Stools that look narrower or thinner than normal✓ Discomfort in the abdomen, includ-ing frequent gas pains, bloating, full-ness and cramps✓ Weight loss for no known reason✓ Weakness and fatigue✓ Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia

Many things can cause these symp-toms, so see your doctor for a prompt evaluation.Source: American Cancer Society

Colonoscopy may be lifesaving

M A R C H I S N A T I O N A L C O L O R E C T A L C A N C E R A W A R E N E S S M O N T H

www.peacehealth.org 11

FINDING CANCER EARLY, when treatment is most likely to be successful, is a good thing. But preventing cancer is even better.

!at’s why it’s so important to know about screening guidelines using colonos-copy. !is test, which focuses on cancers of the colon and rectum, can both help prevent and detect cancer.

Colonoscopy involves the use of a long, %exible tube with a light and camera on the end. While you’re sedated, the tube is guided through your rectum and colon and the camera transmits images to a computer screen. !is enables your doctor to spot tumors and—just as important—polyps, which are growths that can some-times turn into cancer. If the polyps are removed—something that’s typically done during the procedure—cancer can be stopped before it ever starts. !at should o$er plenty of motivation to be screened.

But here’s a little more incentive:

Learn moreCall for more information or to schedule your colonoscopy.

Call PeaceHealth Medical Group at 738-2200 or, in Sedro-Woolley, at 856-6490.

For the !rst time, all cancer care services are available in one location. "e new, integrated Cancer Center is located just north of the original Cancer Center.

WHAT IF hip replacement surgery was less painful and o$ered a quicker recovery time? It sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, thanks to the availability of the anterior approach, this is now becoming a reality for many PeaceHealth patients.

Recent technological advancements have allowed more surgeons to specialize in the anterior approach and provide it to their patients. !e Joint Replacement Center at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center adopted this approach beginning last May and continues to perform a large majority of anterior hip replacements in Washington.

While all hip replacement techniques

are very successful, the anterior approach is increasingly popular because it is less invasive and does not involve removing or reattaching a muscle.

What is the anterior approach?!e anterior approach uses specialized in-struments and a surgical table, donated by the PeaceHealth Foundation, that allow the surgeon to access the hip joint by entering the front of the body and going between the hip muscles with a single incision. Because this approach does not disrupt the muscle tissue, it can result in decreased pain and faster recovery time.

!is approach can provide many ad-vantages compared with traditional hip replacement surgeries, including:

➜ Faster rehabilitation ➜ Reduced pain and recovery time, re-

sulting in earlier return to full mobility ➜ Increased stability and reduced risk of

hip dislocation.

TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

A new approach

Contact usSpeak to one of the surgeons who performs this procedure to find out if this is right for you: Steven Bruce, MD; Jim Holstine, DO; Len Kolodychuk, MD; Matthew Oswin, DO; or Ron Woo, MD, at PeaceHealth Medical Group Orthopedics, 733-2092; orJoel Hoekema, MD, at Pacific Rim Orthopedics, 733-7670.

Why choose the PeaceHealth Joint Replacement Center?!e PeaceHealth Joint Replacement Center is one of the larger joint centers in Washington, performing more than 850 hip and knee replacements a year. Our approach to customized care and our experience performing joint replace-ments has made us a national leader in total joint replacement, with outcomes published in the top five percent of the country.

By choosing us, you’ll experience a wide variety of benefits, including:✓ Specialized nurses and physicians ✓ Group physical therapy ✓ Access to a rehabilitation coach ✓ Private rooms and a personal coordinator ✓ Better patient outcomes—we received five-star ratings in 19 areas of patient care.

“Collaboration and coordination set the cornerstone of ensuring our patients, friends and family receive the health care services they need,” said James Holstine, DO, Medical Director of the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Joint Replacement Center. “Our outstanding team and world-class surgeons have contributed to the success of the program. We’ll continue to be a leader in total joint replacement surgery and a partner the community can trust.”

12 www.peacehealth.org

Bottom row, seated, from left: Carter Kiesau, MD; Matthew Oswin, DO; Steven Bruce, MD; Judson Moore, PA; Ron Woo, MD; and Joel Hoekema, MD. Seated in front of rear row: Chris VanHofwegen, MD. Top row, standing, from left: Charlie Whelan, PA; Len Kolodychuk, MD; Frazier Coe, PA; Mike Gannon, MD; Michael !orp, MD; Gary Bergman, MD; Rick Wilhoite, PA; Warren Taranow, DO; and Jim Holstine, DO.

Research suggests that the habits—whether healthy or unhealthy—of those around us can in#uence our own habits.

YOU SHARE DINNER with your kids, TV time with your spouse and lunches out with co-workers. And, without even realizing it, you may be sharing your health (or lack thereof) with those close to you.

Research suggests that the habits—whether healthy or unhealthy—of those around us can in%uence our own habits. And our choices, including the foods we eat and the way we spend our leisure time, are likely to have a subconscious but signi"cant impact on our friends and loved ones as well.

So, in the spirit of spreading good health, why not make sure the habits you’re sharing will bene"t everyone in your circle of health? To get started, try these ideas from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Band together to shed unwanted pounds. You might arrange a friendly weight-loss competition at work. Or you

Healthy habits can be contagious

and a friend may decide to keep food journals. Sharing that information can help you both stay accountable for your food choices.

Make exercise a team e!ort. Let’s face it—we’re all much less likely to blow o$ a workout if someone is waiting on us. So make exercise dates with a friend, your spouse or kids. You’ll be able to enjoy each other’s company and improve your health at the same time.

Kick the habit collectively. It can be extremely di#cult to quit smoking if those around you are still lighting up. Recruit your smoking buddies to set a group quit date. You can visit each other’s homes to be sure all lighters, ashtrays and cigarettes are tossed out. Your fellow quitters will be an invaluable source of support. You can call each other when cravings kick in, and you can share the coping strategies that keep you from lighting up.

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ORGAN DONATION: The numbers behind the need

Every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant list.

Every day 95 people receive an organ donation.

Every day18 people die waiting for a transplant.

AS FALL SLIDES DEEPER into winter, does a familiar downturn in your mood start to settle in? If so, you might have seasonal a$ective disor-der (SAD).

SAD is a type of depression linked to low amounts of sunlight that occur during the shorter days of winter. Symptoms tend to start in the fall and diminish with the brighter days of spring. December, January and February are the most di#cult months for someone with SAD.

Along with having depressive symptoms, such as low self-esteem or hopelessness, a person who has SAD may:

➜ Feel extremely tired much of the time.

➜ Lack interest in usual activities, including sex.

➜ Try to avoid social contact. ➜ Overeat or crave sweet or starchy

foods.

➜ Sleep more than usual or wake during the night or early morning hours.

While many people are only mildly or moderately a$ected by SAD, others can have signi"cant symptoms that a$ect their daily lives.

Most of the people who have SAD are women, many of whom "rst notice the symptoms in their 20s.

And since SAD is related to seasonal changes in light, people may be more likely to have SAD the farther north they live—and the episodes may be more severe and long-lasting too, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports.

Into the lightIf you suspect you have SAD, talk to your health care provider. E$ective treatments are available. It’s also important to make sure you don’t

have a more serious medical condi-tion, such as major depression.

For milder SAD, health pro-fessionals may suggest that you improve the natural lighting in your home and that you do more outdoor activities, such as walking, during daylight hours. If these changes don’t help, light therapy may be pre-scribed. Light therapy, also called phototherapy, involves increas-ing your exposure to bright white light, the source of which is often a special %uorescent light box. Light treatments typically last 30 min-utes each day during the winter.

Studies show that light therapy is e$ective in 85 percent of people who have SAD, reports Mental Health America.

Antidepressant medicines and talk therapy—either alone or with light therapy—also may be recom-mended to help you feel better.

A SEASON OF SADNESS

Dark days can trigger depression

14 www.peacehealth.org

JASON BROCKMANN was always generous. His mother remembers when the family lived on San Juan Island and she would take her tod-dler to the playground.

“We would bring a bucket of toys,” said Tammy Brockmann. “And he would make sure every child had a toy, though he would end up without one.”

!at was just "ne with Jason; he wanted others to be happy. “He was always very tuned in to those who were hurting, hungry or upset,” said Tammy.

In fact, for his high school senior project, he volunteered at the Lighthouse Mission in Bellingham. While his mother worried about safety in that neighborhood, Jason never did.

“He’d be outside joking with people. He was very accepting,” said Tammy, who added that Jason was unconditional in his acceptance of everyone—from lonely teens to adults struggling to recover from addiction. “He didn’t care about their station in life. He was very giving and would share food, his clothes, coats and cellphone.”

No surprise, then, that this

bright and caring young man decided to be an organ and tissue donor—and con"rmed that deci-sion when he got his driver’s license.

No, the surprise was that his will-ingness to give would be so quickly called upon. One evening in early March 2011, Jason was a few blocks from home, walking alongside the road to a friend’s house, when he was hit by a vehicle and killed. First responders and emergency depart-ment caregivers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center worked to keep his heart active, enabling Jason to become the “greatest single donor” in local history.

What one choice can doBecause Jason volunteered to be a donor, more than 140 people have been blessed by receiving every-thing from corneas, skin, muscle, hip bones, veins, connective tissue, heart valves, tendons, a pancreas and more. Within days of Jason’s passing, two people who had been blind could see. Others, on dialysis or in danger of losing limbs, and those with burns or needing recon-structive surgery, were made whole. And in several cases, Jason’s death

spared others the same fate.“While his earthly mission was

complete, he continues to really impact people,” said Tammy. “I don’t like that he’s gone; I miss him tremendously. But what he chose to do and the way he lived his life changed my perspective—and my own mission in life.”

!ese days, Tammy is an advo-cate for organ and tissue donation. She wants people to know that as easy and helpful as it is to give blood, it’s just as easy to give the gift of sight, quality of life or even life itself.

“Anyone can be a donor,” said Tammy. “You don’t have to be a bodybuilder or an athlete like Jason. Even if you are older or have cancer, you can still give so much.”

Jason’s greatest gift

Above, from left: “Gift of Life Donor” award; the late Jason Brockmann, Meridian High School senior; Jason’s mom, Tammy Brockmann

Learn moreTo find out more or to register for organ donation, visit Life Center Northwest at www.lcnw.org/understanding-donation and SightLife at www.sightlife.org/about/ mission.php. !en explain to your loved ones what you’ve decided—and why.

continued on page 14 www.peacehealth.org 15

Learn moreIf you would like to know more about supporting PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center through the Charitable Life Income Fund, please feel free to contact Karen Haggen.

Call 788-6851.

Email khaggen@peacehealth.org.

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HAVE YOU EVER WISHED you could do some-thing for your community that would make a big di$erence? Something that would change lives and bene"t everyone you know?

If the answer is yes, then we have a creative solution for you to consider—a way for you to make the largest gift you could ever imagine. !e best news: A well-padded checking account is not required.

Increase your income by giving!e PeaceHealth Charitable Life Income Fund (CLIF) o$ers an accessible gift plan-ning strategy that makes it possible for anyone with a marketable asset to make a high-impact contribution. When you make a gift to the CLIF, your gift is pooled with the contributions of other donors and then invested.

!e CLIF’s net investment income is distributed to CLIF donors quarterly. One or two income bene"ciaries can receive

distributions for their lifetime. After that, the full amount of the CLIF gift is trans-ferred to PeaceHealth.

!is innovative giving tool makes it possible for anyone to make a donation. By transferring gifts of appreciated stock, real estate or other assets into the CLIF, you have an opportunity to increase your monthly in-come, while at the same time support excel-lence in health care for your community.

How does it work?It’s easy! Suppose you own a piece of prop-erty that is generating little or no income. You can turn that underperforming asset into a steady income stream by donating it to the CLIF. Your property will be sold and the cash invested into the fund. As the donor, you will receive income for life. PeaceHealth, in turn, receives a gift that it can use to support great health care for everyone in our community.

Big impact, big return

Community donations helped to fund the Whatcom Hospice House and new, integrated Cancer Center. Charitable Life Income Fund gifts can make a similar, meaningful di$erence in our community.

To learn more about PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, visit our website. www.peacehealth.org

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