Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Martin Memorial Auxiliary Executive Committee Members Recently Inducted

The Martin Memorial Auxiliary Executive Committee recently inducted five officers. They include:

• Shelley Guerard, president. Guerard, a former executive in the telecommunications industry, takes the reins as Auxiliary president, replacing Eva Kemp who served since April 2008. Guerard, who has been with the Auxiliary for five years, began volunteering in the pharmacy and served with the guest relations team as well. She has also served as the organization’s assistant treasurer, the recording secretary and the president-elect for the past two years.

• Nick Grubbs, president-elect. Grubbs is a former chief financial officer of several health systems in south Florida, and recently retired from Monongalia Health System in Morgantown, W.Va.. He also serves as a guest relations volunteer, meeting and greeting visitors to Martin Memorial Medical Center on Wednesday mornings.

• Susan Dyall, vice president. Along with her duties as vice president, Dyall will plan and coordinate the Auxiliary’s general membership meetings. She joined the Auxiliary in 1998 as an ombudsman in the Martin Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department before becoming a reception desk volunteer at the Medical Center. She currently serves as chairman of the Medical Center reception desk volunteers.

• Nancy Goldthwaite, treasurer. Goldthwaite will continue her role as treasurer, serving her fourth and final year in the position. Goldthwaite has been an Auxilian for more than eight years and has given more than 8,000 hours.

• Terry Kish-Skidmore, recording secretary. Kish-Skidmore is serving as recording secretary, along with her duties volunteering for pastoral care and personal response services. She is also involved with the Martin Memorial Foundation, having established an endowment in memory of her late husband, Dr. Robert Kish.

The Martin Memorial Auxiliary includes more than 800 volunteers who provide nearly 200,000 hours of volunteer service annually and contribute considerable philanthropic gifts to the health system. In 2009, the Auxiliary completed its $1 million pledge for the Frances Langford Heart Center. This year, members pledged to raise $150,000 to refurbish the conference center at Martin Memorial Medical Center. And since 1978, the Auxiliary has awarded approximately $1.1 million in scholarships to 824 residents of Martin and St. Lucie counties.

(Pictured below, from left to right: Nancy Goldthwaite, Susan Dyall, Shelley Guerard, Nick Grubbs, Terry Kish-Skidmore.)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Martin Memorial’s Fit to Lose Program Can Help You Get Fit This Summer

You have made the commitment to finally lose those extra pounds and promise to stick with an exercise program. The most difficult part of making the commitment is sticking to it. I have been there and I am quite sure you have been there too. We all start out with great expectations and then somewhere down the road we seem to slip back into our old behavior patterns. The key to your success is to create new behavior.

The first task on your journey to creating new behavior patterns is to “clean up your environment.” It starts right in your kitchen and pantry. If you have made the commitment to lose weight and exercise, this task is crucial to your success.

Take it from me, it really works. I must admit, this first step can be difficult.
When you get home today, take a large trash bag and just get to it. I want you to feel empowered with this first and most important step. Say goodbye to the foods that have held you hostage. I still remember the day I decided to do this. As I was tossing processed food away (which I donated to a food pantry), I became angry at the food companies for putting so many unhealthy ingredients in my food. Look at the labels. Look at the unhealthy amounts of sodium that you have been putting into your body. I remember feeling so energized by this exercise. You can do this and once it is completed, you have a clean slate and are ready to begin.

Now that you have tackled your food environment, your next leap will be to change the way you feel about following a regular exercise program. The key again is to adopt the frame of mind that “this is a new way of life.” This is how you want to live your life.

Your healthy body will begin to crave movement. Exercise does not have to be painful or boring. Exercise does not always have to involve going to the fitness center. Exercise is simply moving your body for 30 minutes or more per day. You may want to exercise at the fitness center three days per week and then on the alternate days, go for a bike ride, walk or run outdoors. You might try tennis, swimming or kayaking.

The Fit to Lose program at Martin Memorial is here to guide you and help you, but ultimately YOU are in control. We are here to motivate you and provide the tools to help you succeed.

Here are some helpful tips that will get you started on the path to creating new behavior patterns. Making small changes in your diet and lifestyle can improve your health as well as trim your waist line.

• Start each day with a nutrient-rich breakfast.
• Strive for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Fatigue leads to overeating.
• Eat your meals seated at a table and try to have your meals with family, friends or your partner.
• Use a smaller plate to “trick” your mind. Fill up that smaller plate!
• Avoid second helpings and family-style serving.
• Choose low-fat dairy products.
• Plan ahead! Have healthy foods at your disposal. Stock up with fresh fruits and veggies. If you have been skipping breakfast because you don’t have time in the morning, then get everything ready the night before. Leave your bowl, spoon and cereal out. All you have to do is get the fat-free milk out of the fridge.
• If you are planning on working out after work, pack your gym bag the night before and take it to work. No need to stop at home and take the chance of getting all comfy on the sofa.

The Fit to Lose program begins June 28 at each of Martin Memorial’s six health and fitness centers. The 12-week summer weight loss challenge is available for adults and children ages 8 and up. It features information and tips on making productive lifestyle changes, weekly weigh-ins, cholesterol and glucose testing, individualized exercise programs designed by certified personal trainers and much more.

Please be realistic with your weight loss and exercise goals, because it takes 30 days to create new habits. Good luck!

--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician
Hospital South Health and Fitness

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Nursing Scholarships Available From Martin Memorial, Sailfish Point Foundation

Martin Memorial Health Systems and the Sailfish Point Foundation are again teaming up to help nursing students earn their degrees.

Through a generous donation from the Sailfish Point Foundation, Martin Memorial will award five $1,000 nursing scholarships this fall to students meeting criteria.

To be eligible for a nursing scholarship, students must be accepted to an accredited nursing school for fall 2010, be pursuing an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing, and must be a resident of Martin County.

Scholarship applications are available online at mmhs.com. The application deadline is Thursday, Sept. 30. For more information, please e-mail Rachel Raos at rraos@mmhs-fla.org.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

“The Starting Line” Runners Cross the Finish Line in Impressive Fashion

Editor’s Note: We received this update about “The Starting Line” program from Nancy Aldrich, site supervisor of the Martin Memorial Palm City Health and Fitness Center, following the annual Run for the Pineapple 5K.

You can read the original blog entry from Jane Reynolds here: http://martinmemorialhousecall.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanks-to-starting-line-new-runners-are.html

“The annual Run for the Pineapple 5K on Memorial Day was the finale of our 12-week ‘The Starting Line’ program for new runners. Overall we feel it was a great success. We began with 27 runners in the first week and still had 20 runners at the end of the program. Everyone did incredibly well for their first 5K and had a great time. Our runners ranged in age from 12 to 54. Our first male finisher was John Ryll at 26:13.1. Our first female finisher was Nicole Allesandrello at 26:17.5. Nicole’s finishing time was good enough for third place in the female 25-29 division. Not a bad first race ever when you go home with a medal!

This program was administered by a team of experienced runners and coaches comprised of Martin Memorial personal trainers and member volunteers. One of the coaches and a member of Palm City Health and Fitness, Rex Noble, voluntarily conducted additional weekly speed work sessions on Thursdays at 5:30 a.m. for some of the more dedicated trainees. Nicole Allesandrello was one of the Thursday morning regulars. Obviously it paid off!

Our runners really enjoyed the program, are looking forward to participating in more races in the area, and possibly participating in another running program at Martin Memorial Health and Fitness in the fall to build on what they’ve started.”


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Mariner Sands Charity Classic Raises $16,000 for Martin Memorial

Now in its fourth year, the Mariner Sands Charity Classic Doctors’ Golf Outing tournament is continuing its tradition of providing health care resources for the community.

This year’s outing attracted nearly 50 golfers, including members of Martin Memorial’s medical staff, physician assistants and other health care professionals.

The annual event, held on May 15 at Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, proved to be a successful fundraiser. The Martin Memorial Foundation received a total of $16,000 from the outing and a donation from the Mariner Sands Charity Classic. Proceeds will provide needed medical services throughout Martin Memorial.

For the past 27 years, Mariner Sands residents and businesses serving Martin County have donated more than $3.8 million to local charities and not-for-profit organizations, including Martin Memorial, through sponsorship of the Mariner Sands Charity Classic golf tournament.

Sponsors of this year’s Doctors’ Golf Outing included: Owens and Minor; Sodexo Health Care Services; Crothall; Infinity Homecare; Coggin BMW of the Treasure Coast; Mike’s Trophies and Gifts.

Among the participants were, from left to right: Michael A. Dennis, M.D.; Alton L. Thomson, M.D.; S. Scott Tapper, M.D.; Evan M. Collins, M.D.


Thursday, June 3, 2010

It May Not Sound Sweet, But Extra Sugar Can Play Role in Significant Health Issues

As a nation we are on sugar overload and we need to get control. Over the past
35 years our intake of added sugar has jumped 20 percent to give us an estimated 400-plus calories a day from sugar. These empty extra calories are hardly ones that most people can afford.

In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a new report that urges Americans to slash their intake of sugar not only because of its contribution to obesity, but also because new research suggests it may play a role in increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

The new AHA recommendations call for no more than 100 calories a day of added sugar for women (6 ½ teaspoons or 26 grams) and 150 calories a day for men (9 ½ teaspoons or 38 grams). To put it in perspective, one cup of vanilla ice cream has roughly 160 calories and 6 teaspoons of sugar (24 grams); or one 16-ounce bottle of sweetened ice tea has 12 teaspoons of sugar (48 grams) and 170 calories.

The fact is, sugar is everywhere and has many hidden names (evaporated cane juice, dextrose, brown rice syrup), some of which we think are better for us than others (honey, raw sugar). But the truth is sugar is sugar and we get too much of it.

So take a look at the nutrition label on the foods you eat for the day and add up the sugars. Chances are you’ll be surprised to see the sugars in that “all-natural cereal” or “healthy” glass of chocolate soy milk. Just remember that milk and fruit sugars occur naturally.

--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Martin Memorial Auxiliary, Martin Memorial Health Systems Give $50,000 in Scholarships

The Martin Memorial Auxiliary and Martin Memorial Health Systems recently awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships to 48 students studying for health care careers.

The Auxiliary provided $40,000 in scholarships to 38 individuals. The scholarships were available to high school seniors graduating from schools in Martin or St. Lucie counties in 2010, as well as to verifiable residents of both counties seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees in health-related fields, or business fields related to delivering health care. That includes adults interested in going back to school to further their educations. Previous scholarship recipients can apply if they meet eligibility requirements outlined in the application.

Martin Memorial Health Systems provided another $10,000 in scholarships for 10 eligible associates of the health system seeking to enhance their education in clinical, educational or business fields related to health care.

Scholarship awards are granted for one year, beginning during the fall semester of 2010 and ending with the summer semester of 2011. A committee of Auxiliary members determined which candidates received scholarships and in what amount. Amounts awarded varied and were based on grades, residency, need, other financial assistance being granted and other criteria.

“We are investing in bright, talented individuals who will receive terrific educations that ultimately will benefit Treasure Coast residents,” said Shelley Guerard, president of the Martin Memorial Auxiliary Executive Committee. “Some are future physicians, nurses and therapists who will provide care for our community. Others will serve as managers and administrators to keep our health system vibrant. This modest investment ultimately will yield exceptionally high returns.”

Last year, the Martin Memorial Auxiliary and Martin Memorial Health Systems provided a total of $50,000 in scholarships with 56 recipients earning assistance. Since 1978, Martin Memorial has awarded approximately $1.1 million in scholarships to 824 residents of Martin and St. Lucie counties.

The Martin Memorial Auxiliary includes more than 800 volunteers who provide nearly 200,000 hours of volunteer service annually and contribute considerable philanthropic gifts to the health system. In 2009, the Auxiliary completed its $1 million pledge for the Frances Langford Heart Center. And in 2010, members pledged to raise $150,000 over three years to refurbish the conference center at Martin Memorial Medical Center.