women Summer 2015

ER or Urgent Care? Know Where to Go

Why Is My Doctor

Running Late? 7 Steps to a

Healthy Heart

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When Health Needs Turn Urgent: Your Guide to Fast Care Each year, about one in five Americans visits the emergency room. But not all of them truly face a life-or-death health issue. In fact, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 80 percent of adults who visit the ER do so because they don’t have a doctor or can’t get an appointment. Emergency care can save your life if you’re critically sick or injured. But for less severe complaints, you may get faster and less expensive treatment by calling your primary care doctor or heading to an urgent care center.

Call your doctor when: • You have an earache, cough, sore throat or cold • You have a question about a chronic health problem • You’re not sure where to go

Have question about chronic health problem

Have an earache, cough, sore throat or cold

OR CT DO

Not sure where to go

Have a simple fracture

WHEN TO VISIT THE… T N

GE RE R U CA ER NT E C butNeedinjuryfastisn’ttreatment life- or limb-threatening

Try urgent care (or your doctor) for:

Uncontrollable bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea

Chest pain or pressure Sudden, severe problem that’s life- or limb- threatening

Urges to hurt yourself or someone else

• Ear infections • Flu-like symptoms • Minor cuts and burns • Sprains, strains and simple fractures • Any other issue that requires fast care but isn’t life- or limb-threatening Urgent care centers typically stay open seven days a week. You don’t need an appointment to visit them. But, you may want to call ahead to ensure they’re prepared to handle your condition.

Head to the emergency room or call 911 for:

Have common issue such as flu-like symptoms, minor cuts or burns, or sprains

Looking for an urgent care center? Call or visit one of our OSF PromptCare locations: OSF Center for Health – Rock Cut 9951 Rock Cut Crossing Loves Park, Illinois 61111 815-639-8450

Your doctor knows you—and your medical history. He or she can serve as a valuable resource between appointments. At your next checkup, ask what to do if you need help outside of office hours.

Sudden blurred or lost vision

Y NC GE ER OM EM RO

Ear infections

Head trauma or sudden confusion

Trouble breathing

OSF Center for Health – Belvidere 1954 Gateway Center Drive Belvidere, Illinois 61008 815-547-3780

2 Regarding Women Summer 2015

• Trouble breathing • Sudden blurred or lost vision • Head trauma or sudden confusion • Uncontrollable bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea • Chest pain or pressure • Urges to hurt yourself or someone else • Any other sudden, severe problem you think might threaten your life or cause you to lose a limb If you can’t call your doctor before heading to the ER, do it afterward. He or she needs to know what happened, so you can both take care of your health going forward.

Navigating Delays at the Doctor’s Office

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here are few things more frustrating than showing up on time for a doctor appointment and then sitting in the waiting room for a long time. Gaining an understanding of the possible reasons for delays, in addition to learning what you can do to make your appointment go smoothly, can help keep everyone on track.

her to predict how easy or complex a patient’s problem will be, and how much time it will take to diagnose, treat and speak with the patient. • Administrative demands. In addition to seeing patients, doctors spend hours each day on other tasks, such as making phone calls, writing emails and reviewing reports.

Q: Why do I have extended wait times to see my doctor when I have an appointment?

Q: What can I do to prevent longer wait times for patients after me?

A: Doctors run late for many reasons— sometimes it’s their fault, sometimes other patients have arrived late for appointments and sometimes emergencies are to blame. Some possible reasons include: • Patient overload or overbooking. Most doctors need to see multiple patients in short time periods. All it takes is one patient’s appointment to run long for the schedule to go awry and wait times to escalate. • Unpredictability. Until a doctor enters an exam room, there’s no way for him or

A: Do your part by being prepared and considerate of others. It can keep your appointment short and your doctor on schedule. To do so: • Gather essential items. Bring all your prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as well as vitamins, in a bag. Or make a list of what you take, including dosages. Be sure you have your health insurance card, contact information for other doctors you have seen, and any relevant medical records. • Make a list of your symptoms. Your list

should include the symptom, when it began, when it occurs and if anything makes it better or worse. • Be on time. Better yet, come in early so that you can fill out any necessary paperwork. If you’re running late, call and let the receptionist know. • Stay on task. Don’t turn the appointment into a social visit. Because most office visits are around 15 minutes, it’s important to stick to your health issues. Despite everyone’s best efforts, wait times are sometimes unavoidable before you see your doctor. So bring something with you to the office to read or work on. Having something to do while you wait can help pass the time.

Are you a patient of an OSF Saint Anthony physician? Check your health record 24/7 at www.osfmyhealth.org.

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Bunions: A Common— and Treatable—Foot The Podiatry Residency Program at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center The OSF Saint Anthony Podiatry Residency program will soon begin its third year. The program offers a 36-month podiatric medicine and surgery residency. Meet some of our residents below:

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ccording to Clifford Bliss, DPM, bunions are one of the most common problems treated by podiatrists. Dr. Bliss is one of the podiatry residents at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. “Bunions start small and gradually progress over time to the point where they become extremely painful, even debilitating for some people,” says Dr. Bliss. “The pain can be severe enough that it keeps our patients from being able to participate in activities they’ve enjoyed their entire lives.”

What Is a Bunion? Clifford Bliss, DPM Second Year Resident

Anthony Elliott, DPM Second Year Resident

Richard Bell, DPM First Year Resident

Thomas Nordquist, DPM First Year Resident

Plans for a podiatry clinic are underway and a mid-summer opening is expected. Like OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center on Facebook to receive news on the opening: www.facebook.com/OSFSaintAnthony

4 Regarding Women Summer 2015

A bunion is an enlargement of the bone or tissue around a joint at the base of the big toe or the little toe. Bunions often occur when the joint is stressed over a long period of time. Ninety percent of bunions occur in women, primarily because women may be more likely to wear tight, pointed and confining shoes. Bunions may be inherited as a family trait. Bunions may also result from arthritis, which often affects the big toe joint. Initial treatment of bunions may include wearing comfortable, well-fitting footwear, particularly shoes that conform to the shape of the foot and do not cause pressure areas. It may also involve the use of splints and orthotics (special shoe inserts shaped to your feet) to reposition the big toe. For bunions caused by arthritis, medications may help reduce pain and swelling.

Surgical Options If these options fail, your doctor may suggest surgery, which resolves the problem in most cases. The goal of surgery is to relieve pain and correct as

much deformity as possible. Surgery is not cosmetic and is not meant to improve the appearance of the foot. The type of surgical procedure performed depends upon the severity of the bunion, the patient’s age, general health, activity level and the condition of the bones and connective tissue: • Mild bunion—For this type of surgery, the surgeon may remove the enlarged portion of bone and realign the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint. • Moderate bunion—For a moderate bunion, the surgeon may cut the bone and shift it to its proper position. Whether or not the bone is cut depends on the severity and location of the deformity. In addition, the surrounding tendons and ligaments may need to be repositioned. • Severe bunion—For a severe bunion, surgery may involve removing the enlarged portion of the bone, cutting and realigning the bone, and correcting the position of the tendons and ligaments. • Arthritic bunion or big toe joint—If the joint is damaged beyond repair, as is commonly seen in arthritis, it may need

Problem to be reconstructed or replaced with an artificial joint. Joint replacement implants may be used in the reconstruction of the big toe joint. The vast majority of bunion surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis. On rare occasions, a person might need to stay in the hospital for a brief period following surgery due to other medical conditions that need to be monitored. With a variety of treatment options available, you don’t need to suffer in silence. “Having a hand in helping our patients get back to doing the things they love is very fulfilling,” adds Dr. Bliss.

Do you think you may have a bunion? To consult with an OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center podiatrist, call us at 815-227-2263.

www.osfsaintanthony.org 5

5 Tips for Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank 1. Eat with the seasons. Fruits and vegetables are usually cheaper when they’re in season. Keep an eye out for sales, and use coupons when you can. Try your local farmers market, too. 2. P  lan your meals. Take time to plan your menus up to four weeks in advance. Search for recipes using some ingredients that you already have. 3. Stick to a list. Write up a healthy grocery list and stick to it. Avoid tempting junk food aisles with candy, cookies and soda. 4. Pack your own snacks. Skip the prepackaged foods—including produce! Whole produce often costs much less than precut. Slice up fruits and veggies into single portions at home. 5. Stock up. Healthy basics like brown rice, legumes and whole grain pasta are cheap, easy to make and can go with lots of different meals. Legumes like black beans and kidney beans are a great protein option, but less expensive than meat.

6 Regarding Women Summer 2015

Prepared with CARE How We Provide a Delicious, Healthy Menu for Our Patients

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okes about bad hospital food have been around as long as hospitals themselves. Today, hospitals like OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center are hard at work to end the jokes and prepare palate-pleasing food options while meeting government-mandated requirements for diet and nutrition.

Balanced Nutrition for All Patients Hospital dietitians are guided by regulatory requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which include the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). To meet these requirements, the OSF Saint Anthony house menu is carefully planned to be nutritionally balanced to meet the average weekly nutrient targets for males between the ages of 50 and 70. Hitting that target allows the hospital to meet or exceed the average weekly nutrient targets for other adult demographic groups. Nutritional requirements and goals for pediatric diets are planned to meet the average weekly nutrient targets for children

between the ages of four and eight. As with the adult menu, this allows the hospital to meet or exceed the average weekly nutrient targets for children of other ages.

Making Healthy Choices Some of the ways dietitians meet these requirements include restricting emptycalorie foods like soda and increasing the servings of milk or other foods containing calcium and vitamin D. Servings of vegetables, fruits and whole grains are also increased. Although a hospital diet may never be as tasty as a dinner at your favorite local restaurant, the healthy menu we provide is a vital part of our all-around patient care. And improving the health of our patients is no joke. Eat Well Anytime Looking for some healthy recipes? Find great options at http://osfhealthcare. staywellsolutionsonline.com/library/ recipes/.

1

2 out of 3

Reach & maintain a healthy weight.

Americans are overweight (1 in 3 is obese)

150 minutes

7

Eat a 2 healthy diet.

You should exercise each week (30 mins per day, 5x per week)

90

%

3 Exercise regularly.

Percent of Americans who fail to eat a heart-healthy diet regularly

Yo u r by- t h e - n u m b e r s g u i d e to p r e v e n t i n g A m e r ic a’ s n u m b e r - o n e k i l l e r .

Steps to Better Heart Health

4

Control blood pressure.

120 mm 80 Hg

100 

mg/dL

A healthy blood pressure reading

6 Quit smoking.

Steps that experts recommend you take to help prevent heart disease. Your doctor can tell you what each one means for you.

Highest level your fasting blood sugar should reach

600,000 Number of people who die of heart disease in the U.S. each year (smoking increases your risk)

7 Reduce cholesterol.

We offer a full spectrum of heart care services. Rockford Cardiovascular Associates is located at 444 Roxbury Road in Rockford. Call 815-398-3000 for more information.

5 Manage blood sugar.

200 mg/dL Keep your cholesterol at this level or lower

www.osfsaintanthony.org 7

Health information mailing list OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center 5666 East State Street Rockford, Illinois 61108-2472 815-226-2000

$200

Win a Gift Card from American Express

Postmaster: Please deliver between June 29 and July 3.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Register for our drawing for a $200 American Express gift card!* Just clip and send the mail panel to: Marketing & Communications OSF Saint Anthony Center for Health 5510 East State St., Rockford, IL 61108-2381 Entries must be postmarked by Saturday, August 1, 2015, to be entered into the drawing. The drawing will be held between September 7 and 11, 2015. Please indicate significant changes in your mailing address, such as address or name change. *OSF employees and their family members in the same household are NOT eligible for the drawing.

email

phone

simply clip and send

New Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Comes to Rockford

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Jane E. Pearson, MD Diane H. Zug, MD Medical Advisors Therese Michels Editor/Writer Regarding Women is published by OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. The information is intended to educate women about subjects pertinent to their health, not to substitute for consultation with a personal physician. ©2015 Printed in U.S.A. Printed on Recyclable Paper

ccess to mental health services for children is a critical concern for families both locally and nationally. Because there are so few child and adolescent psychiatrists, many children and adolescents with mental health troubles receive care from their primary care physicians. A 2009 assessment conducted by OSF Healthcare System revealed that: • Pediatricians and family practice physicians report that annually as many as 15 to 25 percent of pediatric patient visits are related to mental health concerns. • Psychiatry, counseling and other mental health services are scarce, resulting in long waits, especially for low-income families or those with publicly funded health care. • Communication among physicians and mental health providers is limited. • Many primary care physicians are uncomfortable treating mental illness because of warnings that accompany psychotropic medications, because they lack training and experience with treating mental illness.

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A relatively new program called Resource Link offers a solution by equipping pediatricians and family practitioners with the tools to effectively screen for, diagnose and treat mental illness within the context of primary care. Resource Link offers a coordinated system of care which incorporates: • On-site physician training for all staff at the physician practice • Case-specific consultation provided to the primary care physician by a child psychiatrist via telephone and in-person evaluation of the patient when necessary • In-person mental health screening and care coordination provided to the patient by a care coordinator. The care coordinator follows up for approximately 90 days to ensure connections are made and that barriers to prevent successful engagement by the family have been explored and overcome where possible.

The new Rockford office for Resource Link is located at OSF Medical Group – Garrett Lane. For more information or to make an appointment, call Justin Nichol at 815-587-4813.