Northwest. Your ticket to. Discover the New spring 2014 INDEPENDENCE. New inpatient rehab offers seamless care FIRST SINGLE-SITE SURGERY IN AMARILLO

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1 Discover the New spring 2014 Northwest Health News Compliments of Northwest Texas Healthcare System Your ticket to INDEPENDENCE New inpatient rehab offers seamless care FIRST SINGLE-SITE SURGERY IN AMARILLO NORTHWEST STANDS OUT IN BARIATRIC SURGERY

2 4 6 7 in this issue From the CEO TICKET TO INDEPENDENCE Our new inpatient rehab is open BABY BONDING Introducing family-centered maternity care AMARILLO S FIRST SINGLE-SITE SURGERY Dolly Aragon wouldn t do it any other way Our advertising campaign launched at the end of 2013 was a great way to start The New Northwest serves as a platform for all the ways we are striving to better serve our patients. With passion and commitment, we re making changes that express how dedicated we are to quality service. And with experience, the physicians, surgeons, nurses, technicians and staff are setting out to accomplish the best for all patients. Our commitment shows in the unveiling of our new inpatient rehab facility. Patients who are prescribed inpatient rehabilitation for physical, speech or occupational therapy by their physician can choose to stay right here at Northwest to complete recovery. Also, you can see our commitment in surgery, with our capability to perform gallbladder removal and some gynecologic procedures through a single, small incision. A robotic system is instrumental, but not nearly as important as the skills and compassion of a qualified team of surgical specialists. Finally, accreditations are placing us in a select tier of hospitals across the United States. Northwest is now a nationally accredited bariatric center, we achieved Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center and we re UHMS-accredited in treating chronic wounds. Find out all we can do for you at Sincerely, Mark W. Crawford Chief Executive Officer sign up for senior advantage Membership in Northwest Texas Healthcare System s Senior Advantage Program is free and it gives you a whole list of benefits that can make your life at 55 and over a little easier: Special discounts Reserved parking Free seminars and educational opportunities Prescription discount program Discounted movie tickets Travel club membership Medicare deductible waiver for inpatient stay (if applicable) Register now at Senior Advantage is not an insurance plan of any type 2

3 Only area hospital accredited in hyperbaric oxygen therapy the Northwest Wound Care program s accreditation by The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) means the center has met the highest industry standards and best practices for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Hyperbaric medicine involves the systemic delivery of oxygen through pressurized chambers. These treatments help reduce swelling, fight infection, build new blood vessels and ultimately produce healthy tissue. HBOT is an effective treatment for diabetic ulcers, radiation injury, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, acute peripheral arterial insufficiency and compromised skin grafts, and Northwest is the only outpatient wound center in the area that offers it. When a wound does not respond to regular medical care, advanced modalities like HBOT help patients heal, says Ashleigh Price, Wound Care/HBOT Director. First Nationally Accredited Program in the Panhandle With a strong commitment to excellence and quality, Northwest Texas Healthcare System has become a nationally accredited bariatric center according to the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This accreditation means Northwest successfully completed an independent peer review that verifies the facility and the weight-loss surgery program meet nationally recognized standards. Northwest was the first hospital in the area to offer bariatric surgery 10 years ago, says Northwest CEO/Managing Director Mark Crawford. Our dedication to constantly enhancing services has enabled ours to become the first hospital in the area to receive national accreditation for its weight-loss program. For information about weight-loss options, visit 3

4 Your ticket to INDEPENDENCE Northwest s Inpatient Rehab Center helps patients go from healing to healthy. After an accident or injury, rehabilitation can be a life-enhancing link to a renewed chapter in life. With caring support, the certified physical, occupational and speech therapists at Northwest s Inpatient Rehab Center will help get you back to your best possible quality of life safely and quickly. 4

5 Now that Northwest Texas Healthcare System has added a new, 10-bed inpatient rehab unit, patients have the option of a seamless transition. They no longer have to prepare to move to another location after experiencing a major health event and spending time in the hospital. Aaron Delong, PT, COMT, ScD, Director of Physical Medicine at Northwest, is extremely pleased with the addition. He says the new unit provides a valuable continuum of care that can help patients adjust better and improve faster. Sometimes the same therapist who saw the patient in acute care will care for him or her in rehab, says Delong. Jana Huseman, Manager of Inpatient Rehab Center, says that not moving the patient can also get therapy started more quickly. The communication between Northwest physicians and the rehab therapists is unbelievably thorough and efficient. Everyone stays connected, she says. Home-centered therapy The basic goal of rehabilitation is to assist patients in developing the skills and abilities they need to move forward with their lives. To do this, the therapists have to know something about the patient s life at home. That s why patient intake includes a complete evaluation. We create a similar environment to their home environment, says Delong. He adds that the rehab unit is equipped with a complete kitchen, as well as a washer and dryer, couch and bed. Huseman, who went through rehabilitation herself last April after an accident, says that working with actual furniture is a huge help. You re able to troubleshoot what you need to do at home, and you can practice and work on the details with a therapist, she says. 24-hour telemetry Northwest offers 24-hour telemetry in its inpatient rehabilitation unit. Used for patients who have a history of cardiac problems, this monitors the heart s electrical activity 24 hours a day, while a technician at the hospital stands by. The monitor is used to determine how the heart responds to normal activity after a heart attack or to diagnose heart rhythm problems, says Delong, It gives patients an added sense of security. Huseman notes that her own experience has helped her and her staff better understand the patient s perspective. Encouragement is very important, because patients are sometimes scared about what will happen, she says. The familiarity and comfort that develops when they can stay right here is a big help. Choose Northwest s Inpatient Rehab Center for therapy after: Stroke Brain injury Serious orthopedic condition Amputation Neurological condition Spinal cord injury Major trauma Deconditioning (diminished strength due to illness or injury) 40% of stroke survivors experience moderate to severe impairments that require special care. For more information on the Northwest Inpatient Rehab Center, call Source: National Institutes of Health 5

6 ASK THE director Family-centered Maternity Care The days of separating mom and baby after birth are fading fast. New moms usually prefer to be with their newborn, so hospitals are taking the lead and making changes in their maternity departments. At Northwest, we re initiating family-centered maternity care that brings babies out of the nursery and into their moms rooms for happier and healthier families, according to Amber Calderon, Director of the Family Birth Center at Northwest. Q: Why has the maternity unit been redesigned? Studies show mothers are more satisfied when their babies room-in with them. Changing to family-centered maternity care allows the hospital staff to spend more time with both mom and baby together. This creates an opportunity for educating patients regarding newborn care, breastfeeding and nutrition. When babies and mothers were separated, we d often lose that teaching moment. This way, we can really see what needs the family has. Q: Where do babies go now? Babies stay in the same room with their mothers. We have a pediatrician round daily and examine the baby at the bedside. Most activities take place in the room, such as bathing and feeding. This lets parents ask the care providers questions at the time care is performed. If a baby requires closer observation, he or she will be taken to the nursery, located inside our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Q: Do babies born by Cesarean section room-in, too? Yes. Mothers who have a Cesarean birth may not have the same kind of mobility other new moms may have, so they may take a little longer to begin providing care for their newborn. Relying on their nurses for support, mothers will gradually assume care of their newborn as they approach time for discharge from the hospital. Q: Does research support rooming babies in with their moms? Absolutely. The National Institutes of Health reports many benefits. For one, it makes breastfeeding easier. Studies show that mothers who room-in with their babies produce more milk, breastfeed longer and are more likely to breastfeed compared to mothers whose babies are in the nursery at night. These babies take in more milk, gain more weight per day and are less likely to develop jaundice. Furthermore, these babies are shown to cry less, be soothed more quickly and spend more time quietly sleeping. 6

7 First Single-Site surgery in Amarillo Patient bellies up to a new, more efficient technology at Northwest Texas. Dolly Aragon, 57, previously an account executive who recently opened her own business, had a hysterectomy years ago and wasn t anxious to have surgery again. So when she started experiencing cramps in December 2012, she put off going to a doctor. The cramps returned in March, then again in August, when Aragon had them twice in one week. They were so painful they brought her to tears, so she went to her family doctor. Test results sent her straight to Douglas Wyatt, MD, a general surgeon at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, who said Aragon needed a cholecystectomy (removal of her gallbladder). He recommended robotic Single-Site surgery, and I was excited about that, says Aragon. I have a friend who had her gallbladder removed last year the old way and the scars are horrible. The da Vinci HD Si surgical navigation system at Northwest has given surgeons more control, better visualization and technical advances that improve maneuverability during the procedure. It s this system that enables safer Single-Site surgery for gallbladders, where the organ is removed through a mini incision about the size of a quarter in the belly button. When it heals, it s hardly visible. Because the incision is so small, pain and scarring are reduced and recovery can be faster than with regular open surgery. My surgery was on a Wednesday, and I went to my brother s birthday party on Sunday, says Aragon. About two weeks after that, I went back to my jazzercise class. Aragon admits that she was a little nervous when she found out she was the first patient in Amarillo having a Single-Site gallbladder operation using Northwest s new da Vinci robotic system. However, the nurses were very attentive, and her surgeon, Dr. Wyatt, who she calls a very experienced specialist, put her mind at ease. I have no pain or discomfort now, and I m no longer worried about having another attack, says Aragon. I m so glad I went with the Single-Site technique. I can t imagine anybody wanting to do it another way. Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery is right for you. To find out if you re a candidate for robotic surgery, consult your doctor. To find a surgeon who uses this technique, call Direct Doctors Plus at

8 1501 S. Coulter Amarillo, TX PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 322 PONTIAC, IL Classes and seminars Call to register. All classes are FREE! Diabetes Education Second Thursday of every month 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Class includes information on preventing or managing diabetes. Bariatric Education Mondays, June 9, Sept. 8, Nov p.m. Learn more about weight loss and surgical options available. FOR NEW PARENTS Baby You Baby Me June 5, Sept. 4 6:30 p.m. For expectant mothers, this seminar teaches you how to take care of your baby and yourself before and after he or she is born. Daddy Survival Camp June 5, Sept. 4 6:30 p.m. This class teaches new dads all about feeding and bathing baby, diaper changing and how to support mom during delivery. Connect with us! Health News from Northwest Texas healthcare system Mark Crawford Chief Executive Officer Caytie Martin Marketing Director Information in Health News comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Northwest Texas Healthcare System or Universal Health Services, Inc. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. You may have received this mail because your address appears on a purchased mailing list. The companies from whom we purchase mailing lists are responsible for removing your name if you do not wish to be listed. To add or remove your name and address from our mailing list, please contact Northwest Texas Healthcare System s Marketing Department; the Direct Marketing Association, Farmingdale, NY; or log on to