Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan can be tricky and very confusing, whether it is for you or for a parent. There are many choices, including HMO, PPO and Private Fee For Service (PFFS) plans.
The main difference between HMO/PPO plans and PFFS plans is that HMO and PPO are contracted plans. Doctors and hospitals agree to participate in these plans for a set rate, and enrollees in these plans know which providers are available to them if they choose these plans. With PFFS there is no contracting, and while the rule says that an enrollee can see any doctor or go to any hospital, that only includes any provider that agrees to accept the plan.
Why would a provider decide not to accept a PFFS plan, you ask? The plan tells you they pay the same as Medicare and there are no authorizations or referrals required, so why not? The reasons are many, but the most important one is that the provider does not have a relationship with this company, contractual or otherwise.
How do they know they will be paid? The company could go bankrupt, or simply stop paying claims. Unfortunately there have been plans that have gone out of business and it is always the provider who ends up unpaid after already rendering care.
So do you stay with traditional Medicare and buy a supplement, or try to save money and get some extra benefits with a Medicare Advantage Plan? The answer is that it depends on you and your spouse. Do you have a lot of health problems? Do you want to see any doctor you want without any restrictions, not worry about getting something authorized, don’t want endless copays and coinsurance? Then you may want to spend the extra money and stay with traditional Medicare and buy yourself a Medigap plan.
If you’re generally healthy, don’t mind going through the steps needed when an authorization is required and like getting extras such as memberships in a health club, you might want to choose an HMO or PPO. Just make sure your physicians accept any plan you’re considering and that the copays, deductibles and coinsurance amounts are within your budget.
Private Fee For Service plans are the third choice. If you choose one of these plans, or if your former employer enrolls you in one of these plans, you may have to do a lot of homework and doctor shopping to find physicians who accept your plan. Make sure the physician knows it’s a PFFS plan and doesn’t require contracting, and don’t be afraid to get the plan involved to educate the physician – that’s their job.
Whatever you choice you make, don’t make it lightly, explore all of your options before enrolling in any Medicare Advantage Plan. Don’t just look at the brochures from one plan at a restaurant during a free lunch. Take some time before making your decision – it’s an important one.
--Susan Moore
Managed Care Analyst
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Understanding Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.
An estimated 267,000 women die each year from heart attacks, which kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
I find this statistic to be startling! In fact, I’m sure if you ask many women today they probably would also be in disbelief.
Go Red for Wom
en is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement to help women improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Martin Memorial is a long-time supporter of the Red Dress Heart Truth campaign. Recently, Martin Memorial hosted its second-annual “Heart of a Woman” program to call attention to the rising incidence of heart disease in women through education. (The committee that put the program together is pictured at left) Heart disease is largely preventable, by living a healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk profile.
The risk factors you can’t control:
· Increasing age
· Gender
· Heredity (family health history) and race
· Previous stroke or heart attack
The risk factors you can control or treat:
· High blood pressure (hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal, which makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. If you have hypertension, you may need to lose weight and be more active. Eat less salt and more fruits and vegetables. Take your medications as prescribed and limit alcohol consumption.
· Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your arteries and heart. Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease among women. Set a quit date and stick to it.
· Lipids (Cholesterol and Triglycerides) have no symptoms, and many people who have it don’t know it. It’s important to find out what your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. Control your lipid levels with weight loss, exercise, wise food choices, and medications if prescribed.
· Inactive Lifestyle increases you’re your chances to develop heart disease. Regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity improves your cardiovascular fitness.
· Excess Weight can raise your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of getting diabetes. Adhere to a sensible program of healthy eating and regular physical activity that will help you reach and stay at a healthier weight.
· Diabetes puts you at an even greater risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. It’s vital to have your blood sugar controlled. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes.
· Stress over a long period of time and a unhealthy response to it, may create health problems in some people. Find healthy ways to handle stress.
Decide today to reduce your risk by making healthy lifestyle changes. Take care of your heart by promising to love your heart.
--Melissa Zinderman
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
An estimated 267,000 women die each year from heart attacks, which kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
I find this statistic to be startling! In fact, I’m sure if you ask many women today they probably would also be in disbelief.
Go Red for Wom
en is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement to help women improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Martin Memorial is a long-time supporter of the Red Dress Heart Truth campaign. Recently, Martin Memorial hosted its second-annual “Heart of a Woman” program to call attention to the rising incidence of heart disease in women through education. (The committee that put the program together is pictured at left) Heart disease is largely preventable, by living a healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk profile.The risk factors you can’t control:
· Increasing age
· Gender
· Heredity (family health history) and race
· Previous stroke or heart attack
The risk factors you can control or treat:
· High blood pressure (hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal, which makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. If you have hypertension, you may need to lose weight and be more active. Eat less salt and more fruits and vegetables. Take your medications as prescribed and limit alcohol consumption.
· Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your arteries and heart. Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease among women. Set a quit date and stick to it.
· Lipids (Cholesterol and Triglycerides) have no symptoms, and many people who have it don’t know it. It’s important to find out what your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. Control your lipid levels with weight loss, exercise, wise food choices, and medications if prescribed.
· Inactive Lifestyle increases you’re your chances to develop heart disease. Regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity improves your cardiovascular fitness.
· Excess Weight can raise your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of getting diabetes. Adhere to a sensible program of healthy eating and regular physical activity that will help you reach and stay at a healthier weight.
· Diabetes puts you at an even greater risk of cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. It’s vital to have your blood sugar controlled. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes.
· Stress over a long period of time and a unhealthy response to it, may create health problems in some people. Find healthy ways to handle stress.
Decide today to reduce your risk by making healthy lifestyle changes. Take care of your heart by promising to love your heart.
--Melissa Zinderman
Cardiovascular Patient Educator
Monday, February 25, 2008
Nothing but ’Net
One of my favorite things to do on a Monday is surf the Internet to see what wonderful new health discoveries are being made and what trends are hot right now. Because while anyone can try to find a cure for cancer, there are plenty of other scientific niches that need to be filled.
Here are a couple quick samples of news items that grabbed my attention on today’s spin ’round the World Wide Web.
Goodbye Toupee, Hello Baldness Drugs: According to a Reuters story out of London, researchers have found a gene the causes hair loss. The discovery may lead to new drugs that could cure baldness. Granted, the discovery is aimed at a rare hereditary condition and not necessarily your regular male-pattern baldness, but it’s a first step toward putting that rug away.
Give These People a Hand: For people who feel their hands aren’t exactly as pretty as they should be, new cosmetic procedures are available to provide them with a “hand lift.” That can include treatments to get rid of age spots, bony hands and other maladies that occur as we get older. According to an MSNBC.com story, new techniques to beautify old hands have created a market for cosmetic procedures. Surely retired hand models out there are giving them a thumbs up.
Dialing Up Infertility: If you’re a guy and you’re thinking about having kids, perhaps you shouldn’t answer that cell phone next time it rings. A new study, which you can read about in USA Today, suggests that cell phones could cause lower sperm count, as well as, and I quote, “more poor ‘swimmers’ and abnormally formed sperm.” The study authors are quick to point out that the data are “quite preliminary” but if you’re thinking about procreating soon, perhaps you should just use a land line.
There’s more, much more. Some of it is actually valuable information, some of it not so much. It does make you wonder why there are clinical trials on genetic hair loss when there seem to be much more important health issues that the money could be used for.
Still, I’m waiting for some intrepid scientist to discover the magic pill that gives me six-pack abs and Tiger Woods’ golf swing. Now that would be a medical miracle.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Here are a couple quick samples of news items that grabbed my attention on today’s spin ’round the World Wide Web.
Goodbye Toupee, Hello Baldness Drugs: According to a Reuters story out of London, researchers have found a gene the causes hair loss. The discovery may lead to new drugs that could cure baldness. Granted, the discovery is aimed at a rare hereditary condition and not necessarily your regular male-pattern baldness, but it’s a first step toward putting that rug away.
Give These People a Hand: For people who feel their hands aren’t exactly as pretty as they should be, new cosmetic procedures are available to provide them with a “hand lift.” That can include treatments to get rid of age spots, bony hands and other maladies that occur as we get older. According to an MSNBC.com story, new techniques to beautify old hands have created a market for cosmetic procedures. Surely retired hand models out there are giving them a thumbs up.
Dialing Up Infertility: If you’re a guy and you’re thinking about having kids, perhaps you shouldn’t answer that cell phone next time it rings. A new study, which you can read about in USA Today, suggests that cell phones could cause lower sperm count, as well as, and I quote, “more poor ‘swimmers’ and abnormally formed sperm.” The study authors are quick to point out that the data are “quite preliminary” but if you’re thinking about procreating soon, perhaps you should just use a land line.
There’s more, much more. Some of it is actually valuable information, some of it not so much. It does make you wonder why there are clinical trials on genetic hair loss when there seem to be much more important health issues that the money could be used for.
Still, I’m waiting for some intrepid scientist to discover the magic pill that gives me six-pack abs and Tiger Woods’ golf swing. Now that would be a medical miracle.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Power of Hand Hygiene
We often underestimate the power of hand hygiene as it relates to preventing illnesses. It is well-documented that the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective handwashing.
Improved adherence to hand hygiene has been shown to terminate outbreaks in healthcare facilities, to reduce transmission of antimicrobial resistant organisms and reduce the spread of overall infections. Many commonly seen infections are spread from contaminated hands, such as the flu and food-borne illnesses.
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. However, if soap and clean water are not available, use of an alcohol-based product to clean your hands is acceptable. Alcohol-based handrubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.
When using an alcohol-based hand rub remember to cover over all surfaces of hands and fingers. Handrubs should also be allowed to dry on your hands and not be wiped off.
When should you wash with soap and water?
· Before and after preparing food. This is especially important when handling any raw meats.
· Before eating food.
· After going to the bathroom.
· After changing diapers or cleaning a child who has gone to the bathroom.
· Before and after tending to someone who is sick.
· After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
· After handling an animal or animal waste.
· After handling garbage.
· Before and after treating a cut or wound.
Remember that the very best way to prevent yourself from getting sick or spreading illnesses to others is through handwashing. For more information about handwashing, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.
--Bonnie Hannon
Manager, Martin Memorial Hospital South Infection Control
Improved adherence to hand hygiene has been shown to terminate outbreaks in healthcare facilities, to reduce transmission of antimicrobial resistant organisms and reduce the spread of overall infections. Many commonly seen infections are spread from contaminated hands, such as the flu and food-borne illnesses.
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. However, if soap and clean water are not available, use of an alcohol-based product to clean your hands is acceptable. Alcohol-based handrubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.
When using an alcohol-based hand rub remember to cover over all surfaces of hands and fingers. Handrubs should also be allowed to dry on your hands and not be wiped off.
When should you wash with soap and water?
· Before and after preparing food. This is especially important when handling any raw meats.
· Before eating food.
· After going to the bathroom.
· After changing diapers or cleaning a child who has gone to the bathroom.
· Before and after tending to someone who is sick.
· After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
· After handling an animal or animal waste.
· After handling garbage.
· Before and after treating a cut or wound.
Remember that the very best way to prevent yourself from getting sick or spreading illnesses to others is through handwashing. For more information about handwashing, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.
--Bonnie Hannon
Manager, Martin Memorial Hospital South Infection Control
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Little Things
It’s the little things that make a big difference. Let’s talk about the Activities of Daily Living, the “ADLs.” Fitness takes on many different looks. The most obvious would be the outward appearance however, noticing large changes takes time. Stop and look back eight weeks. Do you remember your first time on the treadmill, elliptical or any piece of cardio equipment? Remember how difficult it was? 
Now you’re cranking out the miles. The fitness milestones can be felt in ADLs. Now you can walk through Wal-Mart or the mall and it is almost effortless. Pat yourself on the back. You are becoming fit and it shows.
Remember the first strength training session? Everything felt so heavy and so awkward. Now, eight weeks later, you can lift multiple grocery bags, carry your own golf clubs or fly through the airport with your overstuffed bags. Strength training is working and you are looking good.
These are some of the benefits of your training and hard work. These changes are gradual. Ask yourself a few questions:
- Am I sleeping better at night?
- Do I have more energy?
- Am I hitting the golf ball that extra 20 yards?
- Are my clothes fitting better?
If you answered “yes” to at least two of these questions, I would have to ask, “Why would you ever return to your sofa?”
Your personal trainer is there for you. We cheer you on when you need that extra boost and we guide you, insuring that you exercise safely. Your personal trainer is there to make you do that one additional repetition, lift those few extra pounds or run that extra 100 yards.
Many of us need a cheering session and a mentor. You’ve come this far. Don’t you feel more alive now?
--Jane Reynolds, certified personal trainer, health and fitness instructor
Martin Memorial Hospital South Health and Fitness Center
Monday, February 18, 2008
Writing Checks Our Bodies Can’t Cash
We men, as a general rule, are competitive.
Want proof? Look no further than the manly competition between Maverick and Ice Man in the classic ’80s movie “Top Gun” if you don’t believe me. Whether it’s flying by the seat of their pants in their F-14 Tomcats or their shirtless, oiled-up volleyball game on the beach, being a man is all about who wins and who loses.
And, presumably, who looks best doing it.
I say this after reading through the March edition of Men’s Health magazine, which is delivered to my home each month. A couple years ago, I asked my wife for a subscription as a Christmas gift, figuring that it would motivate me to get in better shape, eat better, work out harder.
After all, being a guy – and thus, competitive – shouldn’t I see a challenge to my manhood in each shirtless model, his impossibly perfect six-pack abs mocking my own, somewhat more rounded stomach?
The answer, apparently, is no.
Because for most average schmoes like myself, we’re about as likely to be Maverick’s wing man as we are to become a Men’s Health cover model.
Does that mean we should give up trying to get healthy? Definitely not – though we may be better off focusing on simply staying fit than trying to look like Matthew McConaughey (the March cover guy).
Especially for those of us who are getting a little older, it’s important to realize we might not be able to do everything we’d like to do physically (say, bench press a Volvo). That doesn’t mean we should just go back to sitting on the couch, a bag of chips in one hand, the remote control in the other as we watch Maverick and Ice Man duke it out in the skies for the hundredth time.
Colleen Specht, manager of the Martin Memorial Treasure Coast Health and Fitness Center, gives some tips on the Feb. 11 edition of Martin Memorial Healthcast that can help you set realistic goals to get and stay healthy.
You may not end up on the cover of a magazine, but you’ll feel better just the same.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Want proof? Look no further than the manly competition between Maverick and Ice Man in the classic ’80s movie “Top Gun” if you don’t believe me. Whether it’s flying by the seat of their pants in their F-14 Tomcats or their shirtless, oiled-up volleyball game on the beach, being a man is all about who wins and who loses.
And, presumably, who looks best doing it.
I say this after reading through the March edition of Men’s Health magazine, which is delivered to my home each month. A couple years ago, I asked my wife for a subscription as a Christmas gift, figuring that it would motivate me to get in better shape, eat better, work out harder.
After all, being a guy – and thus, competitive – shouldn’t I see a challenge to my manhood in each shirtless model, his impossibly perfect six-pack abs mocking my own, somewhat more rounded stomach?
The answer, apparently, is no.
Because for most average schmoes like myself, we’re about as likely to be Maverick’s wing man as we are to become a Men’s Health cover model.
Does that mean we should give up trying to get healthy? Definitely not – though we may be better off focusing on simply staying fit than trying to look like Matthew McConaughey (the March cover guy).
Especially for those of us who are getting a little older, it’s important to realize we might not be able to do everything we’d like to do physically (say, bench press a Volvo). That doesn’t mean we should just go back to sitting on the couch, a bag of chips in one hand, the remote control in the other as we watch Maverick and Ice Man duke it out in the skies for the hundredth time.
Colleen Specht, manager of the Martin Memorial Treasure Coast Health and Fitness Center, gives some tips on the Feb. 11 edition of Martin Memorial Healthcast that can help you set realistic goals to get and stay healthy.
You may not end up on the cover of a magazine, but you’ll feel better just the same.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, February 15, 2008
Take a Drive, Fight Breast Cancer
Have you ever dreamt of cruising around town in a cool BMW? Well, now is your chance.
On Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Coggin Motor Mall in Fort Pierce you can do just that. Want to drive a sporty Z4 convertible? An X5 SUV more your style? Or maybe you’d like to do both – no obligation, no guilt, just pure fun – all for a good cause.
Better yet, for every mile you drive one of BMW’s special fleet of cars on Feb. 20, BMW will donate a dollar to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Does it get any better than that? You have fun, they make the donation.
This is the 12th year BMW has partnered with Susan G. Komen to provide the BMW Ultimate Drive experience. A special fleet of 25 BMW vehicles travels to different cities around the country. For every mile the cars are driven on a predetermined public route, BMW will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen. To date BMW has donated more than $11 million dollars. Their goal this year is to reach $12 million.
Susan G. Komen has done wonderful things for breast cancer. Nationally, people are smarter and lives are being saved as a result of the funds raised by Susan G. Komen for breast cancer education and research.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has formed a solidarity of survivors that has changed the way people think and act about cancer. Locally, the breast health navigator program at Martin Memorial is supported by grant funds from Susan G. Komen. The breast health navigator program also provides patient referrals to Pink Tie Friends, Inc., a local volunteer organization that helps pay for treatments for local breast cancer patients that are under-insured or uninsured. Together, we make a difference.
This year’s ultimate drive goes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To register for your opportunity to drive some fabulous BMW cars, call (877) 4-A-DRIVE.
Come have some fun, enjoy the festivities, drive a dream car and support breast cancer.
--Connie Karol
Client Services Liaison, Martin Memorial Laboratories
On Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Coggin Motor Mall in Fort Pierce you can do just that. Want to drive a sporty Z4 convertible? An X5 SUV more your style? Or maybe you’d like to do both – no obligation, no guilt, just pure fun – all for a good cause.
Better yet, for every mile you drive one of BMW’s special fleet of cars on Feb. 20, BMW will donate a dollar to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Does it get any better than that? You have fun, they make the donation.
This is the 12th year BMW has partnered with Susan G. Komen to provide the BMW Ultimate Drive experience. A special fleet of 25 BMW vehicles travels to different cities around the country. For every mile the cars are driven on a predetermined public route, BMW will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen. To date BMW has donated more than $11 million dollars. Their goal this year is to reach $12 million.
Susan G. Komen has done wonderful things for breast cancer. Nationally, people are smarter and lives are being saved as a result of the funds raised by Susan G. Komen for breast cancer education and research.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has formed a solidarity of survivors that has changed the way people think and act about cancer. Locally, the breast health navigator program at Martin Memorial is supported by grant funds from Susan G. Komen. The breast health navigator program also provides patient referrals to Pink Tie Friends, Inc., a local volunteer organization that helps pay for treatments for local breast cancer patients that are under-insured or uninsured. Together, we make a difference.
This year’s ultimate drive goes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To register for your opportunity to drive some fabulous BMW cars, call (877) 4-A-DRIVE.
Come have some fun, enjoy the festivities, drive a dream car and support breast cancer.
--Connie Karol
Client Services Liaison, Martin Memorial Laboratories
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Reaching Goals with Fuzzy Math
The holidays are thoroughly over at this point and I did lose the 14 pounds that I planned.
I lost eight actual pounds plus I didn’t gain the seven that experts say most people gain during the holidays, so I figure that’s 15! I actually exceeded my goal by one pound.
Some people might find faults in my math. I choose not to.
I did, however, find faults in my goal. Having a goal to lose weight is not very realistic because it’s too easy to amend during the timeframe allotted. If the plan was one pound per week, then if I didn’t lose one pound this week then I’ll just lose two next week. This type of carrying over effect is too typical.
When I thought about it, losing weight is an outcome or a byproduct of a goal. My goal should have been to eat sensible portions of healthy foods, no second helpings and increase my fitness by running no less than three times per week. The weight will come off whether I plan for it or not.
I took two weeks off from running during the holidays due to uncontrolled circumstances, but I started back up in January. I kept it going with the plan to run in the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K” on Feb. 9.
My training went well enough and when the “Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K” came around on Jan. 19, I went ahead and ran in it – three weeks before I’d planned to run in a race! I have to tell you, it was a great event. The massive amount of the community present for such a great cause was very touching.
Last Saturday was the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart.” I ran in it and actually improved my race time from three weeks earlier. It was another great cause and it attracted 270 runners, plus hundreds of others from the community to support the Frances Langford Heart Center.
I know that I’m not setting any records in these races and I’m never going to; but I am doing a small part to support my community while increasing my fitness.
I’m going to try to keep up this whole running thing. It seems to be good for all of us.
--John Romano
Director of Medical Surgical and Neuroscience Services
I lost eight actual pounds plus I didn’t gain the seven that experts say most people gain during the holidays, so I figure that’s 15! I actually exceeded my goal by one pound.
Some people might find faults in my math. I choose not to.
I did, however, find faults in my goal. Having a goal to lose weight is not very realistic because it’s too easy to amend during the timeframe allotted. If the plan was one pound per week, then if I didn’t lose one pound this week then I’ll just lose two next week. This type of carrying over effect is too typical.
When I thought about it, losing weight is an outcome or a byproduct of a goal. My goal should have been to eat sensible portions of healthy foods, no second helpings and increase my fitness by running no less than three times per week. The weight will come off whether I plan for it or not.
I took two weeks off from running during the holidays due to uncontrolled circumstances, but I started back up in January. I kept it going with the plan to run in the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K” on Feb. 9.
My training went well enough and when the “Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K” came around on Jan. 19, I went ahead and ran in it – three weeks before I’d planned to run in a race! I have to tell you, it was a great event. The massive amount of the community present for such a great cause was very touching.
Last Saturday was the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart.” I ran in it and actually improved my race time from three weeks earlier. It was another great cause and it attracted 270 runners, plus hundreds of others from the community to support the Frances Langford Heart Center.
I know that I’m not setting any records in these races and I’m never going to; but I am doing a small part to support my community while increasing my fitness.
I’m going to try to keep up this whole running thing. It seems to be good for all of us.
--John Romano
Director of Medical Surgical and Neuroscience Services
Monday, February 11, 2008
Patient Web Sites Keep People Connected
For a lot of us here in Florida, the Sunshine State isn’t our native land.
We’ve been chased away by cold, state income taxes or perhaps the law. Whatever the reason, we hit the Interstates coming south, got stuck in the swamps or the sand, and simply stayed.
Many of our family and friends, on the other hand, remained wherever they were. And while that distance keeps them from popping in at inopportune times, it can also make it more difficult to communicate with them when necessary.
That includes when people go to the hospital, a time when communication with loved ones can be critical but difficult. To help keep people connected, no matter where they live, many hospitals have begun using personal patient Web sites designed to let others know what’s going on with friends or family.
An article on MSNBC.com discussed how two popular Web sites, CaringBridge and CarePages, have made huge impacts on people’s lives. Through the sites, patients or their families can document the progress of illnesses or injuries, while receiving communications from well-wishers.
Some of the sites have even earned national recognition.
In May 2007, a CNN.com story about a teen-aged cancer patient named Miles Levin who wrote on CarePages, helped draw roughly 25,000 viewers to his site.
I was one of them. And though I’d never met Miles before, when he died in August it affected me nonetheless. It was a powerful medium that, according to writings from his mother, helped him through the process of dying and helped his family cope with the loss.
Martin Memorial began using CaringBridge in October 2007, and the site has been highly utilized. In January 2008 alone, there were more than 5,600 total visits to Martin Memorial CaringBridge sites, with nearly 500 guestbook messages sent to patients.
The sites are easy to use and since they’re Internet-based, they’re available just about anywhere. Even the places we ran away from all those years ago.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
We’ve been chased away by cold, state income taxes or perhaps the law. Whatever the reason, we hit the Interstates coming south, got stuck in the swamps or the sand, and simply stayed.
Many of our family and friends, on the other hand, remained wherever they were. And while that distance keeps them from popping in at inopportune times, it can also make it more difficult to communicate with them when necessary.
That includes when people go to the hospital, a time when communication with loved ones can be critical but difficult. To help keep people connected, no matter where they live, many hospitals have begun using personal patient Web sites designed to let others know what’s going on with friends or family.
An article on MSNBC.com discussed how two popular Web sites, CaringBridge and CarePages, have made huge impacts on people’s lives. Through the sites, patients or their families can document the progress of illnesses or injuries, while receiving communications from well-wishers.
Some of the sites have even earned national recognition.
In May 2007, a CNN.com story about a teen-aged cancer patient named Miles Levin who wrote on CarePages, helped draw roughly 25,000 viewers to his site.
I was one of them. And though I’d never met Miles before, when he died in August it affected me nonetheless. It was a powerful medium that, according to writings from his mother, helped him through the process of dying and helped his family cope with the loss.
Martin Memorial began using CaringBridge in October 2007, and the site has been highly utilized. In January 2008 alone, there were more than 5,600 total visits to Martin Memorial CaringBridge sites, with nearly 500 guestbook messages sent to patients.
The sites are easy to use and since they’re Internet-based, they’re available just about anywhere. Even the places we ran away from all those years ago.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, February 8, 2008
Getting Through Life’s Trials
Survivors of tough times know how to cope. It’s something you can learn, too.
A man joined a weight management program. His doctor warned him to change his lifestyle, so he fully intended to lose weight, exercise more and stop smoking. He paid for a 12-week weight management program and began to heed the advice of his doctor and the health professionals managing his program.
Two weeks into the program, he was called out of town on business, spent a week eating out, staying up late and working long hours. After returning home, he left the program.
A woman recently joined the same weight management program. She was ready for change, wanted to start the New Year on a healthy note and made the decision to join the program. She was a very motivated, patient and caring working parent with a kindergartner, commuting more than an hour every day to work, and had a mom with health issues.
In the first two weeks of our program, she kept her food diary, began to work out regularly and focused on making good eating choices. Then, over the course of the next two weeks, her mom had a heart attack and she spent 8-14 hours a day at the hospital, while continuing the same hour commute daily.
Despite the challenges, she continued filling out her food diary and making good food choices. While she did not exercise as much, she did something when she could. She also promised that she was not going to give up and would stick with her program. After receiving some ideas on how to sustain her energy while she was caring for her mom, she continued to be motivated.
What was the difference between this woman and the guy who dropped out of his program? The woman is what researchers call “resilient” – someone who is able to rebound from whatever difficulty life brings. There are several traits most resilient people share:
· They take responsibility for their actions. If they make a mistake, they will own up to it and not blame others.
· They can self-examine using their insight. They know how to take the time to ask, “How can I make this better?” or “What can I learn from this situation?”
· They focus. All their actions reflect their values and purpose.
· They have meaningful connections. Resilient people surround themselves with a strong support network of family, friends and co-workers.
· They are organized. They spend most of their time keeping up with routine tasks and preventive measures, which leaves little time for last-minute stressors.
· They know how to renew their energy daily. Resilient people know how to balance their work and life by taking care of their bodies and spending quality time with those they love.
If you can practice these traits often, you become more resilient. When life throws a curveball, you are ready.
If you need help in this area, sign up for the personal resilience workshop on Feb. 22. Call the Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing at (772) 223-2838 for more details.
--Lani Kee
Manager, Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing
A man joined a weight management program. His doctor warned him to change his lifestyle, so he fully intended to lose weight, exercise more and stop smoking. He paid for a 12-week weight management program and began to heed the advice of his doctor and the health professionals managing his program.
Two weeks into the program, he was called out of town on business, spent a week eating out, staying up late and working long hours. After returning home, he left the program.
A woman recently joined the same weight management program. She was ready for change, wanted to start the New Year on a healthy note and made the decision to join the program. She was a very motivated, patient and caring working parent with a kindergartner, commuting more than an hour every day to work, and had a mom with health issues.
In the first two weeks of our program, she kept her food diary, began to work out regularly and focused on making good eating choices. Then, over the course of the next two weeks, her mom had a heart attack and she spent 8-14 hours a day at the hospital, while continuing the same hour commute daily.
Despite the challenges, she continued filling out her food diary and making good food choices. While she did not exercise as much, she did something when she could. She also promised that she was not going to give up and would stick with her program. After receiving some ideas on how to sustain her energy while she was caring for her mom, she continued to be motivated.
What was the difference between this woman and the guy who dropped out of his program? The woman is what researchers call “resilient” – someone who is able to rebound from whatever difficulty life brings. There are several traits most resilient people share:
· They take responsibility for their actions. If they make a mistake, they will own up to it and not blame others.
· They can self-examine using their insight. They know how to take the time to ask, “How can I make this better?” or “What can I learn from this situation?”
· They focus. All their actions reflect their values and purpose.
· They have meaningful connections. Resilient people surround themselves with a strong support network of family, friends and co-workers.
· They are organized. They spend most of their time keeping up with routine tasks and preventive measures, which leaves little time for last-minute stressors.
· They know how to renew their energy daily. Resilient people know how to balance their work and life by taking care of their bodies and spending quality time with those they love.
If you can practice these traits often, you become more resilient. When life throws a curveball, you are ready.
If you need help in this area, sign up for the personal resilience workshop on Feb. 22. Call the Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing at (772) 223-2838 for more details.
--Lani Kee
Manager, Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Do You Know Your Eating Style?
Most of us have a certain style: the way we dress, how we wear our hair. But have you ever considered your eating style?
Is the ice cream in your freezer calling out your name until the last bite is finished, or will you find it three months down the road with a bad case of freezer burn? If you’re trying to lose weight, or make a habit out of healthy eating, it helps to know your eating style.
Once good nutrition is your norm, an occasional indulgence will be just that – occasional. In the meantime, which style is yours?
A little dab will do you. You are able to have a bite or two of something decadent then go right back to your healthy habits. That little taste is enough to hold you over for days or even weeks, helping you to stick to your nutrition goals.
Your indulgences are eaten thoughtfully, one piece at a time; you would not dream of overdoing it. So go ahead and keep some treats in the cabinet since you are not at risk of going over your self-imposed limit.
Out of sight, out of mind. If you don’t see that high calorie treat, you don’t want it – in your mind it does not exist. You know yourself well enough not to partake of that candy just because a co-worker offers it to you. Your little indulgence becomes a daily ritual and you’re back at square one trying to break an unhealthy habit.
You are best off avoiding desserts and high calorie snacks, even in small amounts, until you have made healthy eating your norm. Then you’ll cross over into the “little dab will do you” category and a little will go a long way.
I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. Your intention is one bite of leftovers or cake, but before you know it, the plate or container is empty and you’ve consumed a few hundred extra calories without giving it a second thought. You are best off putting all leftovers away immediately and not allowing yourself to be left alone with high calorie foods that might call to you in the middle of the night.
--Rosemarie Lembo James
Clinical Director of Nutrition Services
Is the ice cream in your freezer calling out your name until the last bite is finished, or will you find it three months down the road with a bad case of freezer burn? If you’re trying to lose weight, or make a habit out of healthy eating, it helps to know your eating style.
Once good nutrition is your norm, an occasional indulgence will be just that – occasional. In the meantime, which style is yours?
A little dab will do you. You are able to have a bite or two of something decadent then go right back to your healthy habits. That little taste is enough to hold you over for days or even weeks, helping you to stick to your nutrition goals.
Your indulgences are eaten thoughtfully, one piece at a time; you would not dream of overdoing it. So go ahead and keep some treats in the cabinet since you are not at risk of going over your self-imposed limit.
Out of sight, out of mind. If you don’t see that high calorie treat, you don’t want it – in your mind it does not exist. You know yourself well enough not to partake of that candy just because a co-worker offers it to you. Your little indulgence becomes a daily ritual and you’re back at square one trying to break an unhealthy habit.
You are best off avoiding desserts and high calorie snacks, even in small amounts, until you have made healthy eating your norm. Then you’ll cross over into the “little dab will do you” category and a little will go a long way.
I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. Your intention is one bite of leftovers or cake, but before you know it, the plate or container is empty and you’ve consumed a few hundred extra calories without giving it a second thought. You are best off putting all leftovers away immediately and not allowing yourself to be left alone with high calorie foods that might call to you in the middle of the night.
--Rosemarie Lembo James
Clinical Director of Nutrition Services
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rewriting a Family History of Diabetes
The finger prick was quick and relatively painless, the needle darting suddenly from a small lancing device to break the skin on my index finger.
Maureen Daniello, program coordinator for diabetes education at Martin Memorial, let some of the blood dribble onto a test strip that fed into a glucose meter. It was a routine I’d seen my mother do countless times, the daily monitoring of blood sugar levels that many diabetics must perform.
The numbers flashed on the meter as 117 milligrams/deciliter – well below the 160 mg/dl limit since I’d eaten just two hours prior to the test. That meant I’m holding diabetes at bay – at least for now.
I had been listening to Maureen talk about diabetes as we recorded this week’s Martin Memorial Healthcast, along with a friend of mine who is also our podcast guru. It was a sobering conversation for both of us, given our family histories, our penchant for eating stuff we shouldn’t eat, as well as the extra weight hanging around our guts.
All three are major contributors to diabetes – facts we both conveniently ignore. Still, for people like us it’s hard to pretend we’re not at risk given the family histories: my mother is diabetic, her father was, some of my mom’s brothers have it, my father’s mother had it; both of my friend’s parents were also diagnosed with it.
After our talk with Maureen, my friend tested his fasting blood sugar level and recorded a 132 and a 137 – higher than the range of 80-120 recommended. The numbers may also serve as a wakeup call.
Diabetes is a horrible disease that can affect everything from your eyesight to your feet. It is a leading contributor to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. And the problem is growing by the day.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes – including an estimated 6.2 million people who don’t know they have the disease. Another 54 million Americans are considered pre-diabetic. The total estimated cost of treating diabetes in 2007 was estimated at around $174 billion.
That’s a hefty price to pay for a disease that, in many cases, is entirely preventable. I intend to do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t get added to the list.
-- Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Listen to Maureen Daniello discuss diabetes, including ways you can prevent the disease, by visiting Martin Memorial Healthcast at www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm
Maureen Daniello, program coordinator for diabetes education at Martin Memorial, let some of the blood dribble onto a test strip that fed into a glucose meter. It was a routine I’d seen my mother do countless times, the daily monitoring of blood sugar levels that many diabetics must perform.
The numbers flashed on the meter as 117 milligrams/deciliter – well below the 160 mg/dl limit since I’d eaten just two hours prior to the test. That meant I’m holding diabetes at bay – at least for now.
I had been listening to Maureen talk about diabetes as we recorded this week’s Martin Memorial Healthcast, along with a friend of mine who is also our podcast guru. It was a sobering conversation for both of us, given our family histories, our penchant for eating stuff we shouldn’t eat, as well as the extra weight hanging around our guts.
All three are major contributors to diabetes – facts we both conveniently ignore. Still, for people like us it’s hard to pretend we’re not at risk given the family histories: my mother is diabetic, her father was, some of my mom’s brothers have it, my father’s mother had it; both of my friend’s parents were also diagnosed with it.
After our talk with Maureen, my friend tested his fasting blood sugar level and recorded a 132 and a 137 – higher than the range of 80-120 recommended. The numbers may also serve as a wakeup call.
Diabetes is a horrible disease that can affect everything from your eyesight to your feet. It is a leading contributor to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. And the problem is growing by the day.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes – including an estimated 6.2 million people who don’t know they have the disease. Another 54 million Americans are considered pre-diabetic. The total estimated cost of treating diabetes in 2007 was estimated at around $174 billion.
That’s a hefty price to pay for a disease that, in many cases, is entirely preventable. I intend to do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t get added to the list.
-- Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Listen to Maureen Daniello discuss diabetes, including ways you can prevent the disease, by visiting Martin Memorial Healthcast at www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm
Friday, February 1, 2008
Beat Your Health Enemies with Knowledge
Do you have an enemy? Come on, everyone does. Or a rival, perhaps?
If you’re a working mom, the mini-van is the enemy you love to hate. Love it for the room to cram in six runny nose T-ball players and hate it for making you feel like your mother. For a runner, it’s the ticking of the time clock when kicking it to a sprint at the finish line to beat your personal best or the 70-year-old woman who’s been running slightly ahead of you the entire 5K race. If you’re a chicken, it’s KFC.
I have an enemy. It’s cancer. It’s heart disease. It’s the deepening furrows on my brow. And I treat them as I would a business rival: gather all of the competitive intelligence about how they operate, who’s a part of the target audience and do a SWOT analysis.
Am I crazy? Some would say yes, but consider this: When you bought your last car, did you look at Consumer Reports, go online to research pricing, safety ratings, repair records? What’s your body’s disease risk rating?
Knowledge is power. That doesn’t mean that just because we know more we have to subsist on broccoli, tofu, and brown rice. Dark chocolate is good for your heart, right?
Consider the fact that if you’re a woman, until the age of 39 you have a low probability of a cancer occurrence -- just 1 in 50. But, after the age of 59, that probability skyrockets to 1 in 9. When it comes to heart disease, 75 percent of women over age 60 are affected. But don’t think heart disease hits just those in their golden years, as nearly 40 percent of women age 40 to 59 know first-hand. Are you starting to feel more powerful?
Empowering you to prevent disease and live longer is why Martin Memorial hosts screenings and forums throughout the year. Like the “Heart of a Woman” heart disease forum being held February 15 and the “A Matter of the Heart” cardiovascular screening March 15, along with many others. The forums are your opportunity to ask questions of doctors in the know and gather information to reduce your risk factors.
For complete details and to register, visit our Calendar of Events on http://www.mmhs.com/. Plan your next power play.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
If you’re a working mom, the mini-van is the enemy you love to hate. Love it for the room to cram in six runny nose T-ball players and hate it for making you feel like your mother. For a runner, it’s the ticking of the time clock when kicking it to a sprint at the finish line to beat your personal best or the 70-year-old woman who’s been running slightly ahead of you the entire 5K race. If you’re a chicken, it’s KFC.
I have an enemy. It’s cancer. It’s heart disease. It’s the deepening furrows on my brow. And I treat them as I would a business rival: gather all of the competitive intelligence about how they operate, who’s a part of the target audience and do a SWOT analysis.
Am I crazy? Some would say yes, but consider this: When you bought your last car, did you look at Consumer Reports, go online to research pricing, safety ratings, repair records? What’s your body’s disease risk rating?
Knowledge is power. That doesn’t mean that just because we know more we have to subsist on broccoli, tofu, and brown rice. Dark chocolate is good for your heart, right?
Consider the fact that if you’re a woman, until the age of 39 you have a low probability of a cancer occurrence -- just 1 in 50. But, after the age of 59, that probability skyrockets to 1 in 9. When it comes to heart disease, 75 percent of women over age 60 are affected. But don’t think heart disease hits just those in their golden years, as nearly 40 percent of women age 40 to 59 know first-hand. Are you starting to feel more powerful?
Empowering you to prevent disease and live longer is why Martin Memorial hosts screenings and forums throughout the year. Like the “Heart of a Woman” heart disease forum being held February 15 and the “A Matter of the Heart” cardiovascular screening March 15, along with many others. The forums are your opportunity to ask questions of doctors in the know and gather information to reduce your risk factors.
For complete details and to register, visit our Calendar of Events on http://www.mmhs.com/. Plan your next power play.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
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